Category:

Greece

National Archaeological Museum – Athens Greece
GreeceTravel

National Archaeological Museum – Athens Greece

by ArielZachow

It’s no secret that Greece has some of the most incredible weather. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve decided to land there for so long this winter. Believe me, I’d stay the entire 8 months, if I could, but the visas are quite limited in terms of timing. 

But, of course, it would just be TOO good if there weren’t some less-than-ideal weather days. And today was one of those days! I didn’t want to be stuck up in my room doing noting all day while I waited for the rain, so I wandered my way over to The National Archaeological Museum.

Personally, I’m not a big museum gal. I don’t hate art, or history, or anything along those lines, but it’s certainly not my ideal way to spend a day. I’d rather be out exploring in the fresh air, seeing things right up close and on a larger scale. 

But it has been threatening to rain here for the last few days, and today really seemed like the day it would happen, so museum it was! 

In the off season, you can get entry for just 6€ (November 1 – March 31), and 12€ the rest of the year. And, of course, you can expect more exhibits to be closed in the off season. 

For someone that isn’t a huge lover of museums, I’m glad I stopped by! It was really interesting to see so many different pieces from different parts of the area and some that were so old, I can hardly wrap my head around it. 

With a handful of the areas of the museum being closed, I personally spent about 3 hours wandering around. That time may have been shortened for fear of the many, many, many, MANY school children that were running around and screaming. 

A few reviews I read even said that people have spent 2 and 3 entire days exploring the museum. That seems quite excessive to me, but if you’re a total history buff, schedule yourself a decent chunk of time here. 

Museum connoisseur or not, this is an excellent way to spend a day to see the history, and one of your best options for when, on rare occasion, the weather doesn’t allow you to be outside.  

And a final, though important thing to add- this museum is very English language friendly. The very few employees I spoke with talked to me in English, and all of the exhibits are listed in both Greek and English (and a few were even in Spanish!)

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
When Self Care is Selfish
GreeceTravel

When Self Care is Selfish

by ArielZachow

Yoga is so much more than just the physical practice (known as the asana practice). What many don’t know is that yoga is broken into 8 limbs. Each of the 8 limbs is to help the individual to become a better person and to help them work their way towards enlightenmen. 

Of course this is a very basic way to describe a very old and rather detailed history of what yoga truly is. Baby steps. 

One practice of yoga has resonated with me significantly more than the other parts, though I do my best to practice each, of course. But my favorite, and my main focus s the practice of Ahimsa. 

Ahimsa is a sanskrit word that translates roughly to “compassion and kindness towards all living creatures”. That definition will shift lightly, depending on where you translate, but this is the translation I was taught during my yoga teacher training. 

This may be a bit controversial for some, but I will say that I interpret that to mean living a vegan life. Not only in terms of the food I’m eating, but the products I buy, as well. Cruelty free cosmetics, no leather or wool- truly nothing that comes from an animal, to th absolute best of my ability. 

I think that something that can often be overlooked when it comes to the idea of ahimsa, is that the practice of compassion and kindness towards all living creatures should start at home. It should happen first with yourself. 

Self care is something that is becoming very popular in the main stream lately, but I don’t know that it’s being talked about in all the ways that it should be. Yes, taking time for a glass of wine is great, or a bubble bath is a great way to relax, but self care and ahimsa are so, so much bigger than that. 

Now, rather than going into a big spiel about the different ways you can practice self care, I want to just jump into the story of how traveling the world and leaving everything behind is an important practice of my ahimsa beliefs. 

Depending on how long you’ve been following me, and on what platforms, you may or may not know that I’m about to leave my home in New York and begin to travel the world for the next 8 months. I’ll leave behind my studio, my clients, my friends, husband, family, pets- all of it. (Don’t worry, the pets will be very well taken care of!) 

As I’ve shared this plan with friends, family, and clients, I’ve gotten some pretty wild reactions, as I’m sure you can imagine. 

  • “You’re traveling alone?! That’s not safe! Women shouldn’t travel by themselves.”
  • “What about your husband? How could you possibly leave him for so long?”
  • “How will you possibly pay for this?”
  •  “Lots of these places you’re going aren’t safe!”
  • “What’s wrong with New York? Why can’t you just suck it up?”
  •  “What if you get home sick?”
  • “What about your family? You’ll be alone on Christmas!”
  • “What if you have a bad time?”
  • “How could you leave ME?!”

Even though I get these questions on an almost constant basis as my trip draws nearer, I’m still never entirely sure how to respond. Do I tell people to F off and mind their own business? Do I simply say I wanted more excitement? Do I smile and nod? Or do I go into the difficulties I deal with in New York in the winter? 

I grew up in California. It will always be home for me. Over the past 8 years in New York, I’ve struggled with the long, cold winters. But over the past 2 or 3 years, my ability to deal with the weather has diminished significantly.  It is very difficult to put into words, but for more than half the year, every single year, I feel completely helpless. I can’t get out of bed, I barely can get myself dressed, I give up on my business, and I often find myself contemplating if it’s worth continuing to live when the days are so short, and so bitterly cold and the sun seems to have disappeared for good. 

Yes, this trip is a big deal. And quite drastic. But so is quite literally losing the will to go on another day because of the weather. 

Yes, I am absolutely terrified of the unknown this trip brings. Yes, I will miss my cats, my friends, my family and my clients more than I could put into words. Yes, it’s expensive (though, shockingly, not as much as you’d think). Yes, I’ll get home sick. Yes, there will inevitably be really difficult parts to this. But I need to do this. 

I spent an incredible amount of time considering my options, and the absolute best conclusion I have come to was to take this trip. To disappear into the world, do a bit of sun chasing, and spending some time doing some soul searching to see exactly what it is I want out of this world. 

Yes, this was an incredibly selfish decision. But you know what, I live my life for me first. How can I be a good wife, teacher, friend, daughter, coach, neighbor, etc. if I am not okay with myself first? 

Sometimes self care needs to be selfish. 

The word “selfish” has such a bad connotation, I think. It is perceived to be a bad thing. But sometimes it is absolutely necessary.  I truly think we need to trend away from shying away from making decisions that benefit ourselves first. 

There’s only so much that one person can give to those around them. There is a limit to what one person can give without refilling their tank, so to say. 

So that is exactly what I am doing. Taking time to me, to fulfill my needs so that I can come back and be able to give to those I love. It is unfortunate that people are upset and even offended that I am going, but I will not carry around guilt for taking time to heal myself. 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Vegan Life Festival – Athens, Greece
FoodGreeceTravelVegan

Vegan Life Festival – Athens, Greece

by ArielZachow

While on my first trip to to Greece just last month, I was lucky enough to line up my stay with the Vegan Life Festival held in Athens, Greece  the first weekend in October, 2019. 

Having seen only photos on the company’s social media (and still unable to read the Greek alphabet), I knew to expect some items for purchase and some yummy food, but wasn’t sure what I’d find beyond that. 

I anxiously counted the days until it was time for the festival and was so excited I even showed up to the event a day early. Oops. 

But finally the ACTUAL day arrived, I showed up with excitement and a massive appetite. 

Over the next 2 days I indulged in some incredible food, from souvlaki to soda to coconut ice cream. 

Overall, it wasn’t quite as English language friendly as I ad hoped, but I did not have any trouble communicating or navigating. 

And, happily, I fished my Christmas shopping nice and early. 

If you’re in Greece ad happen to be there during the Vegan Life Festival, it s absolutely worth going to. Just show up hungry and ready for lots of vegan, eco-friendly goodies.

0 comment
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail