Hoovlers Abroad!: Better late than never!

I'm just positive that all of you have been anxiously awaiting this blog. Sitting at your computers, tap-tapping your fingers, thinking, "DEAR GOD why hasn't Rachel blogged yet?! Where is she?! What has she been doing?! WHAT, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, IS GOING ON!?!?!". Well your wait is over. Cause Papa Joe and I are sitting on the couch, listening to our song of the day, "Mine Mine Mine" from Pocahontas, bloggin' away. Just bloggin' hard. So really, though. We were gonna blog on Monday night, but then we watched Secret Window instead, which BY THE WAY, is SO CREEPY. Hi Johnny Depp, I love you, but I hope I never make you angry, cause YOU SO SCARY. And then we meant to blog Tuesday morning, but our internet was out all day yesterday and we couldn't! So, today we have the net back, so here we are.

On Sunday, we hadn't really made a plan for what we were gonna do. So, my mom suggested we take a walk near our villa/apartment (but really it's mostly a villa), because we hadn't explored behind us yet. So I geared up to take a short walk, but I made it VERY clear that I didn't want to go up to the castle. It's not that I didn't want to go eventually, but it's all uphill to go to the castle and my little stocky legs were just not up to the challenge. So, we start walking, and then all of a sudden, every turn we take, we're going uphill. (Note: this next part should be read aloud in your best petulant British child voice) "DADDY. Daddy, I didn't waaaant to go uphill. Whyy are we going uphill?? Didn't I sayyy? Didn't I sayyy I didn't want to go uphill?? Daddyyyyyy. I'm tireeddddd. It's hottttt. I'm sweattyyyy. DADDY!!" Needless to say, my whining didn't get me anywhere. We continued to go uphill. Papa Joe is a sneaky one. A very sneaky one. And before I knew it, we were at the foot of the castle. "JOEEEEEE. You tricked me!!!!! You tricked me, you sneaky sneaky man!" But there we were. At the castle. So there was no use being petulant or whiny about it anymore. So here are some of our pics from our castle expedition!

Our breakfast that morning! Fresh pastries from the bakery, yogurt with honey, and fresh fruit.

Lawrence of Arabia Joe is back. He's back with a vengeance.

A view of the castle on our way up. I should have known that's where we were going :)

Dad and I discussing the caption for this pic: "Dad, this would be a good place for some castle history, if you've got it." "Oh oh, ok! The name of the castle is this.."- points at Greek word in travel booklet. "Umm... no Dad, that's just the word for castle in Greek."

Joe and I in front of the Castle of Mithymna (the old name for Molivos). The oldest part of the castle dates from the 8th century B.C. Due to frequent attacks by Saracen pirates, the castle was renovated by the Genoese rulers of Lesvos in 1442 A.D.. This is the castle we see today!

Papa Joe and Mama in front of the castle!

The entrance to the castle! There was some Arabic writing over the entryway, because the Turks occupied this part of the island from 1462 to 1912.

Archaeologist Joe is in DA HOUSE.

Mama and I in one of the lookouts of the castle!

View to the harbor from the castle!

View of the castle wall from inside the castle!

Standing on the stage! They have a large stage inside the castle walls and lots of benches. During the summer months (the heavy tourist season), they have concerts and theatrical performances at the castle!

Mom- "Can I stand up here?"
Us- "NO. No you can't."
Mom- "Whyyyy??? Pleaseeee??"
Us- "Fine."
Dad- "Rachel, hold on to your mother."
Mom- "I don't need to be held on to. I don't!"
Us- "Yeah. Right."

Oh you know, just being an explorer. I'm like Dora. Only. Not animated.

Oh you know, just straight thuggin'. We're some g's.

Joe- "I wonder what they used that marble tablet for?"
Mama- "Virgin sacrifice. OOH RACHEL! Go lay on the slab! Be the sacrifice!"

From the north side of the castle, you could see Eftalou!

Archaeologist Joe- "What are all these marble inserts? What did they use them for? What do they mean? Why are they here? I must get to the bottom of this."

It TOTES looked like Pride Rock. NAAAA SEGWENYAAAA BABA KEETSEEBABA!!

Mama- "OOH the pit of despair!!!!"
Archaeologist Joe- "We believe in actuality this is the tunnel that the Greeks constructed leading to the beach."
Rachel- "OH, do we? WEE believe that?"