Re: MGS Greece trip photos

---

---

From: Bracey Tiede <tiede@pacbell.net>
To: medit plants forum <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Wed, November 3, 2010 9:54:32 AM
Subject: MGS Greece trip photos

We recently returned home from a three week trip to Greece to tour the
country and to attend the annual meeting of the Mediterranean Garden
Society.  The first photos are of Sparoza, the home garden of the MGS.  The
Crete photos are from the MGS meeting weekend.  This was our first trip to
Greece.  I'm still amazed at how many olive trees there were everywhere.

Please know that I really tried to edit out more of the photos but miserably
failed.  There is a slideshow button on the upper right of the page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bracey/sets/72157625175370465/

Greece was a mix of old and new.  Reminded me a bit of Mexico with new
buildings next door to concrete shells.  New high rises in Athens next to
ancient ruins.   

Travel in October was very nice.  The weather was warm, a little bit of
rain, very little traffic on the roads and few people at attractions.  No
reservations needed at hotels or restaurants. 

Greek yogurt is really tasty and Greek honey tastes different than ours,
thinner and less sweet. 

Olive trees both planted and wild are everywhere (!) as well as figs,
cypress of all kinds, pines in the mountains.  Weeds moving in are brooms,
pampas grass, goldenrod, ailanthus. 

Parking tickets cost twice as much as speeding tickets (don't ask how I
know). 

Nice new highways between large cities and across the middle of the country
were built for the Olympics a few years ago. 

Lots of sheep and goat herds crossing country roads. 

Many people were cutting greens for dinner alongside the roads and in vacant
lots.  They eat lots of salads and vegetables and little meat.

Cheers,
Bracey
San Jose CA USA