Greece

You can get lost in civilizations, and if you are to do that, there is no better place for doing so than Greece.

Language, law, philosophy, athletic contests, dramatic plays- so many things in our daily lives- all had their origins in ancient Greece.

It must be terribly irritating to the people who live there now, because there is a present day country constantly unable to shake loose from its ancient past.

This picture provides a good example of what I mean. Taken in beautiful Nafpilon harbor, behind us is the remains of a Venetian fortress, dating back hundreds of years.

Everywhere are individual stones and partial pillars from temples built 2000 years ago or more, such as this:

Excavations at Nemea have led to the reconstruction of much of the original setting for the Panhellenic Games, including the stadium and track, a bathhouse and a temple to Zeus.

Changing the subject: 

Europeans eat and shop for food differently than we do. Many make it a point to go to the markets daily, preferring fresh meat, fish, dairy and vegetables to our diets of flash frozen foods which must be microwaved before eating.

There is a huge market in the heart of Athens which is always choked with shoppers demanding the very best of what is being offered. Each type of food has its own market area, so you are able to compare produce from many different vendors under one roof.

This area is devoted to meats exclusively. Note all meats are displayed in the open, uncovered and unrefridgerated. Athenians have shopped this way for centuries...