The summer after I graduated from high school I spent two months tramping around Greece with my friend Charlie, a graduation present (the trip to Greece, not Charlie) courtesy of los parentos. Charlie is of Greek descent and speaks the language fluently. I, on the other hand, had through countless minutes of studying learned how to count to ten, say hello, goodbye, and thank you, and swear like a sailor. Needless to say, Charlie did all the talking while I wandered off and flirted with attractive young German tourists.

Greece is a beautiful country, peopled by a friendly and generous lot. It's worth noting that at one point I left a video camera on the front steps of a train station, and when we called back after arriving at the next stop (some four hours later), they went out and found it sitting just where I had put it. Of course, there was the guy who, when we told him we were from Dallas, remarked, "Oh, the place that killed Kennedy." (Let it go, people!) Well, he was nice about it, anyway.

Highlights of the trip included a stop at the site of the original Olympic games outside (what else?) Olympia, five days on a pebble beach on the island of Ithaca off Greece's west coast, a night spent at a lodge near the top of Mount Olympus (cold!), and a week living in a tiny village of about two hundred people in northern Greece. If you ever have the chance, go. Just make sure to spend at least some time out of Athens.

July 1990 View from the Acropolis. June 1990 At the mouth of the Vikos Gorge.