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December30,2007"home for the holidays"
i've been home for a week now, and i still can't believe that i had spent the last few months in Athens. of course, every time i move between places, the previous experience seems so surreal to me. christmas didn't feel...like christmas this year, and i can't explain why. perhaps it was the unusual abundance of sunshine, or the rushed madness of flying home a few days before, or perhaps it's because i didn't bother seeing the tree lit up at union square this year. whatever it was, it just didn't feel right, and christmas really seemed like a superficial blur.
leaving Athens was really difficult. i spent the last few days saying farewell to the city, visiting the acropolis and other ancient sites in the city, doing my rounds of christmas shopping in plaka and psiri, and on the last day, said farewell to the mediterranean sea from the top of filopappou hill. Athens really felt like home for me, and i miss it so much already. but i'm grateful to be back in san francisco. at least i'm in a city equally amazing in its own way, though admittedly, i've been cooped up on the southern side of the city behind golden gate park because it's a pain to make my way downtown. actually, i met up with friends for lunch in northbeach today and yes, i was so lazy that i had evan drive me down to chinatown. oh how i have forgotten the delicious jian mian of Po Kee and the delicious prosciutto paninis around northbeach! and to add to the charm, it was beautiful and sunny today, with not a cloud in the sky. the only irritating thing is that currently, arizmendi, my favorite neighborhood bakery, has been closed from christmas and will open after new years. i can't believe that i haven't had a tomato-asiago-swiss focaccia from them yet since i've been back. or at least a scone! i really miss those scones.
tahoe tomorrow until thursday, yippee! and i'm actually out of the city for once on new years.
i hope you all have a happy new year!