Santorini is well known for its dramatic views and breathtaking sunsets and did not disappoint in the least. While it's more typically a romantic getaway, there was plenty for a single guy to see and do.
I arrived very early on Sunday morning -- found the cheapest flight I could -- I left Saturday evening at 9pm and arrived in Athens a little after 1am local time. I spent a few hours sleeping in the Athens airport before hopping the short 45 minute flight to the island of Santorini and its capital Thira (or Fira). Spotty landing in Thira notwithstanding (we'll blame that on the wind), the flights were easy and uneventful.
Knowing no one else from the wedding group was to arrive until around lunch time, I rented a car for the day and began exploring what I could. It was an unusually humid day on the island, Santorini being one of only two bona fide desert climates in all of Europe. With a layer of low-lying clouds blowing around, much of the high ground on the island was socked in. While the island was larger than expected, I managed to drive most of the main roads and explore a few of the villages by car (think extremely narrow one-way streets!) by lunchtime. For breakfast I wandered into a seaside cafe for a traditional Greek pastry, coffee, and a fresh fruit salad. This was the start of the incredible meals we would enjoy for the week.
Around lunchtime, I followed the instructions provided by our hosts to the villa in Firostefani. Actually, we had two connected villas -- one with a pool, the other with a jacuzzi. And both had plenty of outdoor space, seating, and dramatic views. As people trickled in throughout the afternoon, we all got to know each other (only one other law school friend other than the groom came, the rest were friends from the law firm, high school, and college) over some local Santorini white wine. The night culminated with a traditional Mediteranean dinner -- lamb, feta, pita, olives, etc.
The next day a few of my new friends invited me to join them on a wine tour of the island. We visited three wineries and learned a considerable amount of the history of wine on Santorini (and a little bit about the history of wine generally). We took this opportunity to stock up for the week on a few we liked. The vineyards on Santorini are not aesthetically impressive -- the grapes are not strung along vines, but rather are wrapped in circles on the ground to avoid the effect of the heat and wind. The grapes grow the the middle of the wrapped circle, shielded by their leaves. Combined with the loose, rocky soil, it makes the vineyard look like a shrub-filled desert wasteland. Regardless, the wines were a delicious and welcome addition to this trip.
We returned to the villa and gathered the rest of our friends, welcoming those who arrived on Monday. Again, a nice traditional Greek dinner with plenty of wine capped the evening.
For Tuesday, the bride's family treated all 27 wedding guests (that includes the bride and groom) to a cruise around the island. The Aegean's reputation for the bluest water in the world didn't disappoint. Amazingly, a combination of the volcanic rock, lack of sea life (sadly due to overfishing), and a lack of any tides (not sure what causes this, I need to do some research) create a purity of color beyond words. On the cruise, we visited the volcanic island which Santorini's Caldera (cliffs) overlooks. We took a dip in hot springs just off that volcanic island. And we anchored for a bountiful Mediterranean lunch on the cliffs below the picturesque town of Oia. After the cruise, the groom's family gathered everyone for the rehearsal dinner on the beach in a restaurant which was entirely built from small rocks found on the beach. Again, a great spread of food including fava beans, traditional greek meatballs, fried locally grown tomatoes, olives, feta, fried sardines, etc.
Wednesday was the wedding day, scheduled for around sunset. Most of us spent a lazy day at the villa, enjoying the beautiful weather and a book with brief excursions into the main island town of Fira for a gyro. The wedding was storybook. Just before sunset, the bride and groom arrived riding up the cliffs through the town of Fira on donkeys with a Greek band and small procession behind. Their vows were exchanged in a secular service at sunset with the bride's mother as officiant. The food was incredible and the company even better. And then we all danced the night away.
Thursday morning was spent recovering. In my vacation tradition, I woke up well before the rest of the group and spent the remainder of the morning reading/napping with a view overlooking the cliffs, volcano, and Aegean. Once a quorum was gathered, I had an amazing waffle breakfast (somehow the invention of the waffle is related to Greece, but I forget how) with strawberries, bananas, and whipped cream (okay, more like dessert than breakfast). A few of us including the bride and groom rented ATVs for a trip to the red sand beach of Kamari (more like black, but the sand wasn't as black as the black-sand beach of Perissa also on the island, so they got creative with the name). After a few hours on the beach and a few dips in the Aegean, we took the ATVs for a cruise around the island, through the lowlands, wrapping to the cliffs above. After a brief sojourn into the town of Oia, we cruised the high cliffs, arriving back to the villa in time for one last spectacular sunset. A dramatic conclusion to an incredible vacation.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Copenhagen and Majorca
I haven't posted in quite a while, and for that I apologize -- work has kept me quite busy, and a few other things have dominated my free time. I have, however, had the opportunity for a couple trips recently. While I've worked many weekends recently, I have taken the past two 4-day weekends provided by the Army for a couple trips.
First, I went to Copenhagen to visit a friend from undergrad. Her family moved to Copenhagen a year or so ago, and she was in town visiting for the summer. I hopped a quick flight up, connecting in Amsterdam, and spent the weekend with her. We did the touristy stuff that Copenhagen has to offer -- although the mermaid was in Shanghai and we did not make it to Legoland. Below the post are a few highlights for the curious. We watched a couple World Cup games together, and just generally caught up -- a great weekend with an old friend.
This past weekend, a few friends of mine from work (who are actually my bosses) took a weekend trip to Majorca. The island is apparently a hot-spot for British hooligans, so after lounging on the beach during the day, we did our best to fit in with our new hooligan friends at night. It was a great trip, highlighted by a bet between the three of us not to talk one word of work which to everyone's surprise and benefit no one lost. Sorry, no pictures from Majorca -- I didn't bring my camera out once (although the scenery was beautiful and the weather even better).
As I said before, work has been keeping me quite busy. I have my first contested trial in a couple weeks, and the pace of Soldiers in the area finding themselves in trouble has not slowed. For those who are interested, I can talk a bit more about cases on the phone, but it's best if I leave out any discussion on these internet posts.
Upcoming, I have a few trips planned -- actually 4 weddings upcoming -- one at Notre Dame in August, one in Santorini, Greece at the end of August, one in Chicago end of September, and one in Ohio beginning of October -- lucky for me one of those stateside trips is paid for by the Army as I'm coming back to CVille for a conference in the middle of September.
Sorry for the quick post (and the long time since the last one). Love you all.
First, I went to Copenhagen to visit a friend from undergrad. Her family moved to Copenhagen a year or so ago, and she was in town visiting for the summer. I hopped a quick flight up, connecting in Amsterdam, and spent the weekend with her. We did the touristy stuff that Copenhagen has to offer -- although the mermaid was in Shanghai and we did not make it to Legoland. Below the post are a few highlights for the curious. We watched a couple World Cup games together, and just generally caught up -- a great weekend with an old friend.
This past weekend, a few friends of mine from work (who are actually my bosses) took a weekend trip to Majorca. The island is apparently a hot-spot for British hooligans, so after lounging on the beach during the day, we did our best to fit in with our new hooligan friends at night. It was a great trip, highlighted by a bet between the three of us not to talk one word of work which to everyone's surprise and benefit no one lost. Sorry, no pictures from Majorca -- I didn't bring my camera out once (although the scenery was beautiful and the weather even better).
As I said before, work has been keeping me quite busy. I have my first contested trial in a couple weeks, and the pace of Soldiers in the area finding themselves in trouble has not slowed. For those who are interested, I can talk a bit more about cases on the phone, but it's best if I leave out any discussion on these internet posts.
Upcoming, I have a few trips planned -- actually 4 weddings upcoming -- one at Notre Dame in August, one in Santorini, Greece at the end of August, one in Chicago end of September, and one in Ohio beginning of October -- lucky for me one of those stateside trips is paid for by the Army as I'm coming back to CVille for a conference in the middle of September.
Sorry for the quick post (and the long time since the last one). Love you all.
Friday, April 30, 2010
The Learning Curve
With the start of my military justice career, I feel like I'm constantly running as fast as I can. There's so much for me to learn, both about the area of practice and the individual cases on which I am now the responsible attorney.
The first three weeks have flown by. I have been trying to soak up absolutely as much as I can from the other attorneys with whom I work; we're losing our two most experienced trial counsels and our designated senior trial counsel in the next two months. Then there will be three brand new trial counsels running the show -- kind of a scary thought for my boss, I'm sure.
I advise seven commanders -- most of whom are captains, but also one major, one lieutenant colonel, and one colonel. Each has a different style, different expectations, and different priorities. Time management and dynamic work flow will be very important to my success.
I had my first arraignment last Friday and I did the sentencing argument in my first court martial yesterday -- lots to learn here as well. It's one thing to read court procedure, and another thing to do things properly all the time on the spot. But there is only one way to learn. Both proceedings went well enough; in the Army it's all about trying to meet the commander's intent when you can, and trying to manage expectations when you can't. For the sentencing, we met their intent for the Soldier so that's good.
I've played golf each of the last two weekends, and I plan to play again tomorrow if the weather holds. There's a pretty decent Army course just a little outside Heidelberg. I expect before I leave I'll know every hole and green just like I did the one at UVA.
After a short week of work, I'm leaving on Friday to visit Mom.
The first three weeks have flown by. I have been trying to soak up absolutely as much as I can from the other attorneys with whom I work; we're losing our two most experienced trial counsels and our designated senior trial counsel in the next two months. Then there will be three brand new trial counsels running the show -- kind of a scary thought for my boss, I'm sure.
I advise seven commanders -- most of whom are captains, but also one major, one lieutenant colonel, and one colonel. Each has a different style, different expectations, and different priorities. Time management and dynamic work flow will be very important to my success.
I had my first arraignment last Friday and I did the sentencing argument in my first court martial yesterday -- lots to learn here as well. It's one thing to read court procedure, and another thing to do things properly all the time on the spot. But there is only one way to learn. Both proceedings went well enough; in the Army it's all about trying to meet the commander's intent when you can, and trying to manage expectations when you can't. For the sentencing, we met their intent for the Soldier so that's good.
I've played golf each of the last two weekends, and I plan to play again tomorrow if the weather holds. There's a pretty decent Army course just a little outside Heidelberg. I expect before I leave I'll know every hole and green just like I did the one at UVA.
After a short week of work, I'm leaving on Friday to visit Mom.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Constanta
My "business trip" to Romania resulted in a few minor legal issues resolved, a few tax returns prepared, quite a few pages read, and fingers dipped in the Black Sea.
After taking a train down to the Stuttgart Flughaffe, I boarded the first of three Carpat Air flights on the way to Constanta. Carpat Air has a small fleet of prop planes, but despite being glorified crop-dusters they got the job done. I cleared customs in Timisoara on the western border of Romania, then connected in a small town in central Romania, before landing at the Mihail Kogalnicenau air strip about thirty minutes drive from Constanta. The base of Task Force East (a joint training mission between Americans, Romanians, and Bulgarians), and my temporary home, was directly adjacent to the air strip.
I was picked up at the airport by a few of the Department of the Army (DA) civilian employees I was there to assist. They showed my to the barracks room where I would stay and delivered me to the dining facility so I could eat quickly before it closed. From there, I headed to the "cantina" for a beer before heading to bed.
The Cantina.
Over the next two days, I managed to scrape out a little legal assistance for some of the deployed population; I think next time the "need" arises, it could be accomplished remotely with email and phone.
My office building.
My office.
On both Thursday and Friday night I found chaperones for a visit to Constanta. The city houses a large seaport on the Black Sea and supports a summer resort community just to the north. The "landmarks" of the city are the old closed down casino on the "boardwalk," and the headquarters of the Romanian Navy (a fleet of six ships I think). Just inland from those landmarks is a run-down area of town where the old communist regime had quarantined the large gypsy population -- what would otherwise have been the best real estate was the gypsy "dumping ground." Real estate developers have apparently noticed this, and the area is slowly gentrifying. Watch your wallets...
Romanian Navy headquarters.
The Casino on the Black Sea.
Thursday night featured dinner at "Beirut," a fantastic Lebanese restaurant, followed by drinks at a Dutch Pub. Friday night saw the deployed DAs weekly circuit: dinner and drinks at the Irish Pub (which was neither Irish nor a pub), karaoke at a Turkish-owned hole-in-the-wall, and salsa dancing late night. It was a fun couple of nights, and with Romania not yet on the Euro it was pretty darn inexpensive too.
Overall conclusions: (1) Romania is worth a visit, if only because it is so cheap (although I hear northern Romania has some worthwhile cultural attractions -- Transylvania and all that); (2) you can get by in Romania speaking English supplemented with any romance languange -- Romanian is like a poor-man's Italian; (3) when you go on a business trip to do legal assistance, bring a couple good books just in case.
Orthodox Church with adjacent Roman ruins.
Roman ruins -- a brief description in Romanian.
After taking a train down to the Stuttgart Flughaffe, I boarded the first of three Carpat Air flights on the way to Constanta. Carpat Air has a small fleet of prop planes, but despite being glorified crop-dusters they got the job done. I cleared customs in Timisoara on the western border of Romania, then connected in a small town in central Romania, before landing at the Mihail Kogalnicenau air strip about thirty minutes drive from Constanta. The base of Task Force East (a joint training mission between Americans, Romanians, and Bulgarians), and my temporary home, was directly adjacent to the air strip.
I was picked up at the airport by a few of the Department of the Army (DA) civilian employees I was there to assist. They showed my to the barracks room where I would stay and delivered me to the dining facility so I could eat quickly before it closed. From there, I headed to the "cantina" for a beer before heading to bed.
The Cantina.
Over the next two days, I managed to scrape out a little legal assistance for some of the deployed population; I think next time the "need" arises, it could be accomplished remotely with email and phone.
My office building.
My office.
On both Thursday and Friday night I found chaperones for a visit to Constanta. The city houses a large seaport on the Black Sea and supports a summer resort community just to the north. The "landmarks" of the city are the old closed down casino on the "boardwalk," and the headquarters of the Romanian Navy (a fleet of six ships I think). Just inland from those landmarks is a run-down area of town where the old communist regime had quarantined the large gypsy population -- what would otherwise have been the best real estate was the gypsy "dumping ground." Real estate developers have apparently noticed this, and the area is slowly gentrifying. Watch your wallets...
Romanian Navy headquarters.
The Casino on the Black Sea.
Thursday night featured dinner at "Beirut," a fantastic Lebanese restaurant, followed by drinks at a Dutch Pub. Friday night saw the deployed DAs weekly circuit: dinner and drinks at the Irish Pub (which was neither Irish nor a pub), karaoke at a Turkish-owned hole-in-the-wall, and salsa dancing late night. It was a fun couple of nights, and with Romania not yet on the Euro it was pretty darn inexpensive too.
Overall conclusions: (1) Romania is worth a visit, if only because it is so cheap (although I hear northern Romania has some worthwhile cultural attractions -- Transylvania and all that); (2) you can get by in Romania speaking English supplemented with any romance languange -- Romanian is like a poor-man's Italian; (3) when you go on a business trip to do legal assistance, bring a couple good books just in case.
Orthodox Church with adjacent Roman ruins.
Roman ruins -- a brief description in Romanian.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Back in the HD
Arrived back in Heidelberg. I'll put up some info about my brief Romania travels sometime in the next couple days.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Arrived in Constanta
Arrived in Constanta (well, a small base a little outside of Constanta). There's not much to look at, nor much to do, but hopefully I'll do some good work for a few servicemen and women while I'm here. I'm hoping to get off post to do a bit of site-seeing too, but that depends on someone chaperoning me. I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
quick update
A couple things to share...
First, while I transition to my new job in military justice on 16 April, I've already started work on a case to begin my training. I can't get into the details online, but it's relatively straightforward; regardless of how simple the facts are though, the learning curve will be steep.
Second, I'm heading on a business trip to Romania this week. There are a few Soldiers and Seamen stationed there who need some legal assistance. I'm hoping to do at least a little exploring while I'm there. Expect a full report when I return...
Finally, the guest bedroom now has a bed! I hope to put it to good use in the months and years to come. Any and all are invited. I hope to see you all soon!
First, while I transition to my new job in military justice on 16 April, I've already started work on a case to begin my training. I can't get into the details online, but it's relatively straightforward; regardless of how simple the facts are though, the learning curve will be steep.
Second, I'm heading on a business trip to Romania this week. There are a few Soldiers and Seamen stationed there who need some legal assistance. I'm hoping to do at least a little exploring while I'm there. Expect a full report when I return...
Finally, the guest bedroom now has a bed! I hope to put it to good use in the months and years to come. Any and all are invited. I hope to see you all soon!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Burgenstrasse
New Year's Eve with friends
New Year's Eve was a little more low-key this year. Courtney and I went to our boss's house for dinner -- he and his wife are both young JAs and we really enjoy spending time with them. The most interesting part of the night was the fireworks. It wasn't your typical production, just the townies out having a good time. But it seemed like everyone had bought fireworks to set off. It was amateur hour for sure. The real surprise though, was the townies who brought out their handguns and gleefully fired them in the air. I hope the bullets landed harmlessly in one of the nearby vineyards.
Movie reviews have value.
Courtney and I saw "Law Abiding Citizen" today at the garrison theater. It was atrocious.
It was unnecessarily bloody and violent. It lacked thematic consistency. It reeked of cliche and absurdity at the same time, and I didn't even know that was possible. The only thing that I found more disturbing was the parents who brought their young children -- young enough to throw a minor temper tantrum during a particularly disturbing, gruesome murder.
I wish we had looked on Rotten Tomatoes before going. "Consensus: Unnecessarily violent and unflinchingly absurd, Law Abiding Citizen is plagued by subpar acting and a story that defies reason."
Sorry for the brief rant.
It was unnecessarily bloody and violent. It lacked thematic consistency. It reeked of cliche and absurdity at the same time, and I didn't even know that was possible. The only thing that I found more disturbing was the parents who brought their young children -- young enough to throw a minor temper tantrum during a particularly disturbing, gruesome murder.
I wish we had looked on Rotten Tomatoes before going. "Consensus: Unnecessarily violent and unflinchingly absurd, Law Abiding Citizen is plagued by subpar acting and a story that defies reason."
Sorry for the brief rant.
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