Unwinding after a long week

It was a long week. I have been working at my job for about a month and a half now. I am learning daily...A LOT...and there are quite a few parts of my job that I foresee being very good and will be enjoyable, and there are a few (sometimes they seem like a lot) that will be quite challenging. It seemed like during this past week, many of those challenging aspects hit me all at once. I also had a horrible headache that started Sunday and finally let up on Wednesday night. After visiting the doctor, it was discovered it was due to muscle tension, allergies and possibly a pinched nerve. Medication and a massage helped assuage that problem this week, and I will be working to get regular massage and chiropractic treatment from here to prevent that pesky issue from arising again.

Adding to the challenge, I also broke from what has become my normal morning routine of running. I used the excuse that it was because my awesome running partner was in the states for the week. And I ate a lot more bread this week...the women at the bakery across the street now know my first name... :) But truth be told, I felt lazy this week and didn't commit to my normal routine and healthier eating habits.

So alas, this week was quite a challenge overall. However, I made it through, bringing the old adage to life "All things do have an end"...and I was actually pretty glad for the end of this week.

This is not to say I did not have some wonderful moments and times this week - a relaxing coffee to catch up with a wise and good friend, a dinner out with colleagues, amazing people to work with who continue to take good care of me and provide me with some levity on things, extended Greek conversation with my landlord and family (and understanding all of it), picking up my friend (and workout partner!) from the airport, and another quick visit to IKEA (to return items and spend the refund) :)

I have since regrouped since the end of the week, and have recommitted to doing better this coming week. The beauty of a new day is a new perspective!

At the beginning of the week, I had made a plan to visit Mount Lycabettus (Liki-veet-os in Greek) on Friday night after work to get some photos of the sunset from up there and also just to unwind a bit. You can read more about this Athens icon here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lycabettus

After deciding to leave work around 7:15pm on Friday night, I was tired and a part of me just wanted to go home, have a hot cup of tea, and fall into bed. However, I forced myself to go up the mountain...and I am really, really glad I did. It was just what I needed to recharge. There was a moment when the dress I had on decided to channel its inner Marilyn Monroe over a heating grate (BIG WIND!!), and I flashed several people. I just let it go and had a great laugh about it. My mom's standard quote came to mind - "I'll never see these people again!" :) And I think I may have totally made one older gentleman's week....HA!

I continue to learn how Sophia Persephone works. I have decided that I'm going to try to find a camera class here in Athens...maybe even a camera group....it will be great to learn from others and to share methodology of photography. Plus will be a great way to meet people and to get out and do something away from work :)

So here are a few of my photos from my visit up on Friday...

The stairs leading up to Mt Lycovittos

View from the stairs

Bell tower at the top

The chapel at the top of the mountain

The cupolas at the top of the chapel...there is also a siren/speaker up there too... :)

Inside the chapel on Mt Lycovittos

After lighting a candle and saying a prayer

View of the city as the sun is coming down

My frozen yogurt in a waffle cone overlooking the sunset :) HAPPINESS!

View of the mountains and city with the sun setting

The beautiful sun getting ready to say goodbye for the day

My lesson learned from this week? Hold to your plans....they will be good for you in the end, even if you think you are too tired or too frustrated to enjoy them. This for me means my daily workouts, holding to plans to travel or experience new things, meeting up with people I've committed to meeting with, and making good decisions for my health (food, travel and peace).

I was going to try to meet up with a good friend on the 3-day Labor Day weekend but that didn't work out. So I decided to book a trip via ferry to the beautiful and relaxing island of Hydra. I'm very excited for this trip and will be excited to share the photos and experience once I return! :)

Until next time, from the sunny city of Athens...Becky :)

Song in my head: The theme song from Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure. Yes, seriously. I thought of this song this morning for some reason...I think it's because I'm on Becky's Big Adventure :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3mfqo0QbeQ