Greece
Using music to learn a language
What is it about melody that helps us memorize words and lyrics?
This can be explained by “earworms,” which are melodies that get stuck in your head. Advertisers use this with catchy melodic jingles. Now you can use the same technique to help you learn a foreign language.
So there I was… on the donkey poo luge
Santorini, one of the Greek Islands, is a fantastic volcanic island in the Aegean. Thousands of years ago, the center of the island was destroyed in a massive eruption. The islands that survive today are pieces of the rim of the crater, plus some newly formed islands in the center… Full article…
Photo: Mazelike streets of Mykonos
Click for larger image
On the Greek island of Mykonos, the main town is full of tiny winding streets like this. Well, kind of like this, except that they’re often full of shops and people!
As you wander through the streets, it feels a lot like you’re walking through a… Full article…
“I never intended to become…”
Monday inspiration:
I never intended to become a run-of-the-mill person.”
~ Barbara Jordan
How true! In spite of the pressures we all feel to conform and fit in, when you put it like that, who wouldn’t agree? There’s no WAY I want to be a run-of-the-mill person!
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… Full article…
Friday photo: Greek Islands, relaxing on the yacht
The yacht’s tied up at the pier, and it’s time to relax. I don’t remember for sure, but I bet they were talking about dinner plans or sightseeing options (perhaps over a cocktail?), while I was taking pictures. 
Greek Myths – soap opera of the gods
In Our Time did a great radio/podcast episode on The Greek Myths. As usual, they had a fascinating discussion with the experts. The show is British & scholarly, but not stuffy.
How to cover such a huge topic in less than an hour? They touched briefly on at least a dozen topics that left me wanting to know more…
Shirley Valentine — Greece movie recommendation
I finally watched Shirley Valentine, the movie that’s been sitting on top of the TV for months. I got it because I’m watching movies about the places we travel. I was surprised to be quite captivated by it.
It’s a 1989 movie about a British woman who’s resigned to (and sick of) her routine, loveless existence…
Lost city of the Mycenaeans discovered
A partially submerged “lost” harbor town, built by the ancient Mycenaeans nearly 3,500 years ago, has been discovered along a rocky stretch of Greek coast. Florida State professor Daniel Pullen and his students are unlocking its secrets.
This is really a remarkable find. It is rare indeed to locate an entire town…
The Pitt connection
OK, I admit I’m far behind most of the country in my movie consumption (and TV and video games, too). So this will be old news to some, but I finally watched the movie Troy a couple of nights ago, with Brad Pitt et al.
The reason I promoted this to the head of my Netflix list was because our Greece trips this year include a visit to Mycenae, the powerful city that was home of King Agamemnon, who was leader of the Greek armies in the Trojan War…
US Dollar woes — but look at those drachmas!
Like many who travel to Europe and pay for European goods and services, I’ve spent plenty of time the past couple of years bemoaning how the US Dollar has sunk in comparison. Everything in Europe gets more and more expensive. Then on the home front, the cost of gas has risen substantially, so airplane tickets are up, and even driving trips in the US get more expensive! Oh, woe is us…
