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Friday, December 4, 2009

Snowman's Pink Ice Cream Shop and Athens

It's time for another double post, Pink and Sightseeing Saturday. But before I begin, I would like to finally take up Beverly on the challenge of visiting someone new. I hope you will visit Kerri also at http://princessmommychronicles.blogspot.com/. She is new and I think she will be an asset to Blogland. Just look at her contribution to Pink Saturday last week. Isn't this really adorable?

What a busy time of the year! I hope you all had a nice thanksgiving celebration with your families. Now it's time to prepare for Christmas. I had my Christmas decor taken down from the attic and I pulled my Snowman pink ice cream shop to show you for Pink Saturday. Go over at Beverly's at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ to see more amazing pinks.

I saw this at TJ Maxx last year after the holidays on a clearance table. You wouldn't believe that I paid $3.00 for it and it is made by Lenox. It is big and heavy. Just look at all the details.


It is now sitting on my buffet in the formal dining room. Not sure yet if it will stay there permanently for the holidays.

Beverly asked that we share childhood memories of a special holiday with you. What I miss the most about Christmas in the Philippines are little children caroling at night outside houses, especially in the provinces. I remember that all they had for accompaniment is a gadget that is home made out of crushed soda bottle caps with a hole punched in the center and then strung together with a wire. They would shake this like a tambourine to make noise to accompany them while they were singing. After they sing, we would give them just a few coins, like 50 centavos and they were happy.
I also miss what we call "Simbang gabi", which is a series of masses at dawn for 9 consecutive days which end on Christmas eve. The mass usually starts at 4 AM. The church bells start ringing at 3 AM to wake people up so they can go to church. I used to always look forward to the vendors waiting outside the church with their delicacies after mass, especially "bibingka", which is a mixture mostly of rice flour, eggs and sugar, wrapped in banana leaves and then cooked in between coal and then topped with shredded coconut. Yum!
Ok, now it's time for Sightseeing Saturday.
Today, I thought we should explore Athens, Greece and focus on Acropolis. Isn't this just a majestic site?
I went there with my youngest daughter Tina, my oldest granddaughter, AJ and my son in law, Scott.
And here's AJ just enjoying the spectacular view.
And who wouldn't enjoy this breathtaking view? It's the bird's eye view of the city of Athens from the Acropolis.

The Parthenon is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, an enduring symbol of ancient Greece. Its construction began in 447 BC and completed in 432 BC. It is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, who is considered their protector. It was damaged in 1687 by Venetian bombardment. The surviving sculptures, known as Elgin Marbles or Parthenon Marbles were sold to the British Museum in London in 1816. The Greek government has been trying to return them to Greece with no success.The Theater of Dionysus was used to host the City Dionysia Festival. Renowned dramatists of the classical era competed there. The open theater fell into disuse and was later renovated by emperor Nero.
It was announced by Greek authorities that they will partially restore the ruined marble theater, a 9 million project set to be completed by 2015.


According to crestock.com, the Erecthion sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. Poseidon thrust his trident into the rock and a spring burst forth, while Athena touched the ground with a spear and an olive tree grew. Athena was declared the victor and the great city of Athens was named for her while Poseidon was given a small village in Syros after it was discovered he had merely ruptured a water main. (not really).The building itself contains the porch of the maidens or Caryatids which are now copies, four of which have been placed in the Acropolis museum, hopefully to be reunited with a fifth taken from the Acropolis by Lord Elgin and put in the British Museum more than a century ago.
Caryatids are figures used as supporting columns.
Since the end of the 70', the five original Caryatids are displayed at the Acropolis Museum and are replaced in situ by exact replicas. One was sold to the British museum.
This is the original Olympics stadium where games were celebrated from 776 BC to 393 AD. It was uncovered by a German archeologist from 1875-1881. It was here where the first modern Olympics was also held. The Panathinaiko Stadium, also called Kallimarmaron, is located near the heart of Athens, has very impressive marble seats.
Below is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as Olympieion, is located (whatever is left of it) very close to the ancient Olympics stadium. It was dedicated to Zeus, the king of Oylympian gods. It was known to be the largest temple in Greece during the Roman periods. Its glory was shortlived, however, was disused after the barbarian invasion in the 3rd century.


It kinda reminds me of the Windsor Ruins in Mississippi. I hope you enjoyed a little bit of Greek history. Thanks for coming. I am still amazed how they brought all that gigantic and heavy marble to the top of the mountain in the olden days, to build the Acropolis, when there were no machineries invented yet.

Thanks Beverly for hosting another pink Saturday!

19 comments:

  1. I don't (won't) fly, so there are places I will never see...even though I love to travel. It is wonderful to see your pictures. I can't even imagine what this would be like when you are actually there. Gorgeous!

    I love the ice cream parlor...what a deal you got on that!

    Sue

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  2. How amazing Greece must be to see in person. I don't know if my brain could remember all that history, I would have to take notes! The scale of the ruins are enormous aren't they? Love the porch of the maidens, it's beautiful. It's rather sad England holds the key to so much of their history.
    It was also interesting to hear some of your traditions from the Philippines. I have never heard of either of them. Happy Pink/Outdoor Saturday Christine and have a great weekend.

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  3. Christine~~~

    It was nice that you found a new blogger as Beverly has suggested. I love the adorable Halloween picture!! Could it be Tinkerbell??

    Your holiday traditions were very interesting. I am sure they hold a very special place in your heart. Did you carry any of them over to share with your children, especially the treat you bought from the vendors?

    I love the pictures of Athens. Obviously you are not afraid of heights!!! Tina looks very pretty in the pictures. Is this the same trip when you went to Turkey? The scenery is awesome and the Parthenon is breathtaking! Thanks for another great tour!!

    Wonderful post, sweet friend!

    xoxo
    Janie

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  4. What gorgeous photos of Greece. I always learn something when I travel with you. Love the snowmen's ice cream parlor. So cute, and what a great price! Hope you are having a wonderful trip. laurie

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  5. Hello dear lady! I'll be joining you next Saturday. I'm done with this semester so I can breathe more. LOL

    Anyway, Athens is one gorgeous place! And yes, I was once a caroler and we made our own "tambourine" out of bottle caps.

    Come over and see what I bought with my caroling money.

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  6. Me again... Your cloches and that tablescape, my goodness, they are amazing! That table is so gorgeous, I wouldn't be surprised if the Pres and company dined there. Wow!

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  7. Christine, what a wonderful trip you've given us. These ruins are so magnificent. I love the Porch of Maidens, and the Theatre of Dionysos. Do you know if they are doing a partial restoration in order to have performances there? Wouldn't that be a sight! Also, I can't believe the bargain you got on the ice cream shop! It's adorable. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Kathy

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  8. On this first Saturday of December ♥Jappy Pink Saturday♥. I was away for a while and sure missed running around the blogs arnd seeing all of the goodies everyone was sharing.

    Thanks for the memory...

    It was a blessing for you to make my morning so much fun. Hoping that you and those you care about spend a wonderful weekend making memories that will last a lifetime☺

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  9. Christine, that snowman scene is one of the cutest Christmas decorations I've ever seen! It's PRECIOUS!

    And I loved your memories of the early morning masses and the delicious foods afterwards.

    I also love your trip to Athens. What a great trip that must have been. Thanks for sharing all of this with us.

    Happy Pink Saturday!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  10. Oh! As always...lovely photos of your travels! I surely do miss the past couple weeks of blog reading! Maybe some time during the Christmas break, I will get a chance to do that!

    Oh! Christine, I need to ask, if you come by, please let me know if my blog pics are showing up. Or is it maybe acting up like the last time with the blog award pic on my previous post. Thank you!

    Blessings & Aloha!

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  11. Hey Christine, it has been a while since I have visited with you. I just love your find, it is precious, and $3???? And, your childhood memories seem to be priceless! It is so neat to reach back and grab those memories out again, doesn’t it?

    Love the photos of Greece, thanks for the visit. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, talk to you soon. Nicole

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  12. I loved your memory of childhood, Christine. I hope you are having a wonderful day and are looking forward to the holiday ahead.

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  13. Hi Christine, Thank you for the beautiful and breathtaking pictures of Greece and for the sweet childhood memories. Mollye

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  14. Hey Christine,
    That little snowman icecream shoppe is the cutest little thing... What a deal too!
    I love the pretty cloches that you decorated too...that nativity one is especially beautiful, and so is your black and silver tablescape...it's gorgeous.
    Hope you and hubby have a safe and great time on your cruise...we've seen that ship on tv and it's awesome...will be looking forward to your pictures!
    Big Hugs,
    Queenie
    P.S. suesuesays will be contacting you soon.

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  15. Happy Pink Saturday, Christine.

    Did you read Chandy's memory? It will definitely make you smile since you share similar memories. Here is the link. http://whatnowtablescapes.blogspot.com/

    It really is a small world.

    I love your new decoration. What a great find and bargain.

    Thank you for sharing your trip to Athens. The views are glorious.

    And, thank you for introducing everyone to Kerri.

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  16. Hi Christine,
    I thoroughly enjoyed your tour of Athens from above, especially. We learn all this in school, but there is nothing like a picture to describe it.
    I enjoyed your childhood memories -- 3 am for Mass ?
    We used to sing at the midnight mass to back up the boys choir and got home and to bed at 3 am. The different traditions are interesting aren't they ?
    You have such a lovely home. Thanks for the pictures of it and your trip.
    Miss talking to all of you....Connie

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  17. Wow-you go to some amazing places--will you adopt me?

    I came by to check in but also to subscribe--
    please come over and subscribe or re-subscribe with me as wellGoogle has lost hundreds of my subscriptions and people are e-mailing me telling me they have not received my info in weeks in their reader-some are getting it. Google confirmed that there are glitches in the Follower button and it is not working correct but it doesn't help when they loose hundreds of my subscribers---Can you come by and re-subscribe or subscribe if you haven't yet--PLEASE

    Thanks
    Cheri

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  18. Wow - your pictures are beautiful. Thanks for taking me to a place I might would never get to see on my own.

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  19. Oh wow Christine!!!,
    This is just a fabulous pictorial of Greece! I want to go, you take the best trips! I loved your Christmas memories and that snowman diner is just adorable!! Love that! Cindy

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