Oh!— Athens, part one.

Amazing mix of the most modern and most ancient. One walks along a busy, littered city street and suddenly, empty airspace appears. Look down:

No sign or other information — just one of myriad ancient ruins not yet allowed to fall victim to urban redevelopment. This site is NO one-off; I passed at least two others in less than 30 minutes of walking around my hotel. It may be ancient, but that doesn't keep graffiti artists from adding their own decorations.

Stark contrast with street stalls, shops where merchandize spills out onto the sidewalk, broken sidewalks lined with motor scooters that is modern Athens.

These entries must be short & bitty, since the iPad doesn't allow for rambling reviews of touristic excusions.  More about Stoa of Attalos in next posting:

No pot of gold at the end of these rainbows —
instead, gold spreads far beyond my neighbors, all the way to town.

This double rainbow came just when I thought I'd never resolve packing chaos into the order demanded by packing limitations. Energy surges and enthusiasm replaces the nagging concern that I might not "git-er done" by May 27th-noon deadline.

  

For those who know where I live, that bright yellow tree in foreground left is the piñon next to my garage. The closer rainbow seems to end behind the hoophouse, in the goatshed of my neighbor, Brigid Meier. Photographer using iPhone stands on my south portal (or porch for you non-Taoseños).

O Ye of Little Faith! Observe order emerge from packing chaos.

Though some may have been certain it couldn't be done, I am ready to travel for three weeks with one small checked bag, one carry-on and my longtime reliable LeSportsac handbag. Can't you see me breeze through customs, metro & bus stations, able to board the ferry or ascend any staircase with the grace of a lighter-than-usual load.

Yes, that checked bag does contain a unique design of travel clothesline which requires no clothespins and a small bottle of Dr. Bronner's super soap — highly-concentrated and scented with memories of NM lavender.

When chaos overwhelms, take a break with sunset view from westside deck:

Pre-pack chaos

Barbara's cousin John Francis "helped" her pack for a cruise to Alaska with packing drinks — from the chaos seen below, I hope that several tilts of white wine will send me to Greece checking only one small rollaboard bag. We'll see!

Starting with chaotic piles — yes, that's four pairs of shoes on the floor!

Leaving town

Ski season at Taos Ski Valley's almost over for me — heading to Treskow's steep chute through the trees a couple weeks ago. I promise you it's the camera lens, not the trees that are curving to the sky. Today is pre-pack time, gearing up to leave town for a bit. Look out for more info after next weekend. 

As Barbara's brother-in-law used to say, this photo shows "the highlight of the frolic": hanging prayer flags at the top of Kachina Peak. 

Hike takes about an hour and a half. 

Ski down took 5:30 minutes!! 

For you numbers'-junkies: hike begins at top of chair 2, elevation is about 10,900 feet. After a steep twenty minute climb through trees to Highline Ridge and a slick traverse on skis across, not down!!, the Kitchen Wall, one hikes and hikes and hikes to reach Kachina's 12,450 foot top. 

And for the really sharp-eyed among you— yes, 

you do see golf clubs behind those prayer flags!

"So to Speak," Laila Lalami

"So to Speak," Laila Lalami

Laila Lalami expresses in "the eloquent English language" points of value to anyone living, working, traveling, trying to understand how colonialism works through language. BRAVO to one of my favorite commentators on politics, society, and life.