Sojourn in Greece

ALBA's faithful taxi driver arrived exactly at 9am to load my suitcase and knapsack into the trunk. Mother of one of ALBA's staff, she decided to drive a cab for a living after her husband died. She can manage a bit of English but French is better. She is always kind, and plays great music on her radio. and I wish we could converse more fluently in some language or other.

Heading down the hill one last time. The coast road intersects with one of the main airport roads, and the whole ride takes less than a half hour. Especially in a taxi.

She slowed down twice so I could take these gas price photos for you, dear readers. Prices are still rising here, and taxi drivers are struggling. A day's diesel for about 200km cost her 20 euros in June, and is now 30 euros or more. If I calculate right, these signs translate to $5.94 and $6.06 per gallon regular unleaded, respectively.

The flight was easy -- going west the food is always better, for starts. My seatmate was a man from Omaha who goes back to his home on the island of Samos 2 or more times a year. He's lived in the States since 1970, and credits the US with giving his children opportunities for education and success they would not have had in Greece. He loved participating in his first primary caucus last spring! Yet he misses the sea, the long conversations, his wider family. His children and his grandchildren often come with him, and all speak Greek fluently. His transnational life seems quite typical of Greek-Americans, and is a reminder that immigration is not a one-way path, but in this era of cheap travel, phone, and internet, more immigrants can belong to two places.

Flying into Philly, peering down through the clouds, all was a glowing, recent-rain green. Home!! My friends picked me up at the airport, fed me a lovely fresh and colorful salad with a leisurely conversation the Greeks would have approved of. Thanks!

And thank you for reading this Greece Sojourn blog.

Flowers by my front door step.