A letter my mom sent to her mom when we were spending time in Greece. I was about five years old.
22 September 1980
Dears,
We are living in a small coastal village of 1700, Nei Parate, 25 km from Thessaloniki. Our apt. is situated on a hilltop from whose balcony we can view the beautiful sea. From our bedroom window we can see spruce, cypress trees and huge fig trees. The town church is also viewed from the same window and its bell makes a sonorous but loud alarm clock, as do the early rising roosters that abound in the village yards and streets. Grapes grow abundantly everywhere. There are olive trees and almond trees that are now bearing fruit. The grapes grow abundantly everywhere. Daily a merchant brings his truck to the village or often a horse or donkey drawn cart and sells produce, clothing, fish. Manton enjoys this curiosity and runs to the balcony to see what products the vendor has to offer. The fruit is so good as are the vegetables, I would become a vegetarian. The feta cheese is not so salty as it is in the USA. Manton loves it as do I. Bread and eggs we buy daily from the little store, a small front room of a person’s home.
For my birthday we drove to the nearest larger tourist town and had a lovely prepared meal overlooking the sea. Afterwards we bought cakes and strolled through the town with the townspeople. We have visited Thessalonika a busy crowded city of 500,000 seen the old market where all is sold, even meat, viewed some of the archaeological museum that was currently exhibiting a collection of “Alexander the Great” soon to be on display in America. I was in awe as I walked through the rooms of statues and mosaics. The beauties of the Treasures of Alexander are indescribable.
We’ve been to the beach ½ mile down the road. Never have I swam in such clear ocean water. I felt like a playful dolphin and could have lingered in the water forever.
Manton loves the beach. He is learning to ride his float and when he falls off complains not when he gets his face wet. Of course he detests the climb up hill and always mentions we should take the car. (It’s ½ mile - gas is very expensive.) My father has pointed out that all the village children walk never complaining. We pamper our children in America. Here children are more respectful.
Manton is adjusting to his new environment and sightseeing. He was homesick at first, still a bit ill and very tired. It took him 4 days to recover from the journey overseas. All is well now. Today he’s been invited to spend the afternoon with the postman’s son and I for coffee. It should be eventful.
My father is the most wonderfully patient, learned, kind man - last night he told me the history of our lineage. His father wanted to return to Greece to live but what with a family of 5 plus cousins he was unable to do so. Now my Dad has returned for him.
We plan to take some small trips in Macedonia, to the nearest island, to Mt Olympus and to Pella, home of Alexander the Great and site for excavations. If Manton holds up on these we will venture on longer journeys there is so much to see in Greece we could live here a lifetime. And I would live by the sea eternally.
