During my trip to Greece last week, I experienced ancient ruins, statues and stories of gods and goddesses who loomed over the country like ghosts on guard protecting and influencing their past history forever. This country I visited was a blueprint for the more modern history of our democratic country and its people. That was apparent in the presentations given by our knowledgeable tour guides.
As I walked the paths and stairways up from the tour bus parking lot, I saw the Acropolis and Parthenon rise up to the top of the hill like it was the zenith, the end of the hike calling to me to keep climbing, striving, going. It was mind bending.
Greek history set an example to the fathers of the USA who had fought the Revolutionary War to be free from England. They copied Ancient Greece in that the people decided what government would do, not one monarch or ruler. Laws should apply equally to all citizens. Participation in Ancient Greek assemblies through voting was carried forth in our country in the Constitution, with no women voting, non landowners, noncitizens at first which changed later in our country but stayed in Greek government.
I went on guided tours to Athens, Crete and Santorini. The Tour Director took us to many different places. We visited ancient sites like the Acropolis and Parthenon and Knossos. We ate Greek food: moussaka, spanakopita, dolmades, baklava and Greek Salad, feta cheese, eggplant. I attended a Greek cooking class with a young chef who had us make many dishes including tzatziki, stuffed eggplant, spanakopita and orange infused cake. I was trying to say Greek phrases. I was ready to become Greek but the language
is difficult and some of their letters look like a geometric shape.
Greece was captivating in a good way. It was Greek and to me it was fabulous.
