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Eric Feigenbaum

Interests: International Affairs Travel Friends Family Writing Languages

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"Daddy, I heard some other Americans today," Ailyn said a few days ago. "Oh, that's nice - did you say hi?" "No! I don't want them here." "Yeah, we don't want other Americans around. They are embarrassing," Sennen chimed in. "Why? What's the problem with other Americans? Did they do... Continue reading

Posted Aug 17, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Just when it seemed like we made it through the craziness of a Blue Star ferry boarding on Patmos - the mass of people pushing onto the boat, the madness of the cargo hold, the gentle shove up the stairs to the reception lobby, the line to get our cabin... Continue reading

Posted Aug 16, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Soak Up The Sun

For every Alpha there must be an Omega. Today we woke to our last day in Patmos and as far as Sennen is concerned, apropos of Patmos, this is the Apocalypse. Our discussions have many variations of the same theme which include, "Daddy, why do we have to go?", "I... Continue reading

Posted Aug 15, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Spiritual Assumptions

Just as Theologia said, the church bells all over the island rang in unison in the early morning. Today begins The Dormition of the Mother of God, or Orthodox Assumption. It celebrates the passing of Mary and her ascension to heaven. One distinct difference between Orthodox and Catholic liturgy is... Continue reading

Posted Aug 14, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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The Changing Landscape Of Patmos

The landscape of southern Patmos is confusing. In the small valley surrounding Grikos Beach there are smatterings of unfinished construction, new construction and abandoned hotels. On the very upper hillsides surrounding Grikos, Petra and Sapsilla are new, large and visibly expensive houses. Last summer at a cocktail party I heard... Continue reading

Posted Aug 13, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Mohammad already knew the spots on the right side and back of the house that needed paint repair. Houses in Patmos aren't just painted, but covered in thick layers of white wash protecting the stone framework underneath. Paint here is not just an aesthetic, but a critical part of a... Continue reading

Posted Aug 12, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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From 6 to 8pm, Skala was a sea of people. A few locals, some island visitors and a LOT of cruise passengers. Just trying to get through town to do a couple of simple errands felt like navigating Disneyland on a summer day. "It's too many people. It's too crazy,"... Continue reading

Posted Aug 11, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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When the sun rose on a college all-nighter, you had a choice: get some rest or make a great start of the day, using those early morning hours to your advantage. Being a natural night owl, the early morning wasn't a time I experienced often - but like vanilla and... Continue reading

Posted Aug 10, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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There's No Place Like Patmos...

Like a 1950's salaryman, the Patmos Star leaves the island everyday at 9am and returns about 5pm. The locally owned and operated boat is something between a working ferry and a tourist boat running a route seven days a week connecting several local islands - some days more than others:... Continue reading

Posted Aug 9, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Just The Three Of Us

A little less than two years ago, I had wanted to have the kids with me in Patmos for the second half of summer because the island has a lot of international visitors in July and August. I remembered how in 2019 while playing on the beach, thee kids would... Continue reading

Posted Aug 8, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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The Perceptual Gap

My mom tells the story of how her mom and her aunt used the same disciplinary punishment on their children: standing alone in a dark closet for a few minutes. My mom found the punishment almost procedural. Standing alone in the closet as a time-out didn't seem terribly serious to... Continue reading

Posted Aug 7, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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A World Of Possibilities

"I like the lifestyle here better, but I have all the people I love at home, except two," Ailyn succinctly explained. That right there is the conundrum I feel every time I'm on Patmos. There's nothing in Westlake I like better except the people I love - two of them... Continue reading

Posted Aug 6, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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An Enchanted World

Madonna once said, "Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone." Some of the most profound words of her career. At one point, humans mostly saw the world as enchanted. We explained our world as being manipulated by deities and creatures with magical qualities ranging from elves and wood sprites... Continue reading

Posted Aug 5, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Despite thousands of years of existence, there is not a bedrock common consensus on the number of Greek islands. Counts range from 1200 to 6000 - depending on how you define "island". for example, Patmos has several small islands just off its shores - some so close people can and... Continue reading

Posted Aug 4, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Germans Now Have Crabs In Their Pockets

Our family has become very Greek. We stay up late, sleep late, eat late and aren't in a particular hurry about anything. We also eat Greek food and swim in the afternoons. Sennen and I typically start the day between 9 and 10 am while Ailyn can linger as late... Continue reading

Posted Aug 3, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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"An Italian customer even told me, 'Sorry, we're the worst guests - I know!'", Tassos told me. This is Tassos the waiter at Alas grill - the island's best gyro and meat grill establishment, not Tassos the butcher nor Tassos who runs a rental car shop in the front of... Continue reading

Posted Aug 2, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Inside The Front Door You're Always On Your Own

"I love Patmos! We are so lucky to be here!" Sennen said as he returned from the bread bakery with a loaf for the day's sandwiches. "What makes you say that?" I asked. "Because it's pretty and the people are so nice and they know us and we go and... Continue reading

Posted Aug 1, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Most days I hear, "Gingos.... no Gingos.... Gingos!" as a sleek orange striped tabby slips in the front door. Gingos - like Ginger, but with the "er" replaced with "os" to sound more Greek - was the first cat named last summer. Gingos was one of several cats hanging around... Continue reading

Posted Jul 31, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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"Daddy, can we cuddle?" Ailyn asked last night while sitting on the sofa, about to start a movie to wind down her night. While not an unusual request from Ailyn, it's magical because how many more years do I have of it? When she asks that - not always at... Continue reading

Posted Jul 30, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Double Donkey Wins

"Double donkey wins!" Ailyn exclaimed as she came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. The very salty water of the Aegean is murder on poor Ailyn's heavy, but fine curly hair. Last year the knots got so bad we were at a loss of what to do so... Continue reading

Posted Jul 29, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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"You know, I tell everyone, people from Germany, England, France - they pay thousands of dollars to come here and stay and go to the beach - even just for a day or two! We have it for free! Why shouldn't we go?" Alexander the waiter at Petrino cafe in... Continue reading

Posted Jul 28, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Apropos Of Everything

I should have seen it coming. Five days ago I walked outside and Christos at Cafe Mostra called me over. In Gree-glish he told me Michaelis the gardener has a bill. for me and presented a hand-written scrap of paper in Greek with a large numeric total. I half-expected Michaelis... Continue reading

Posted Jul 27, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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Yesterday, the north wind returned to Patmos, dramatically reducing the sweat factor. The wind in Patmos is like the shade in Bali - it can make a shockingly dramatic difference. The temperature that typically hovers around 81 to 83 degrees hasn't changed and the humidity remains at plus or minus... Continue reading

Posted Jul 26, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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French Versus Italian Beach Fights

"Maybe there will be a French versus Italian flight on the beach!" Sennen said. Ailyn had suggested that the numbers of French and Italians around the island are rising, meaning that for an eleven-year-old boy it must lead to a brawl. I'm not sure what over - although Sennen suggested... Continue reading

Posted Jul 25, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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The Cracks And Crevices

"It's very weird and hurtful that you have this person who means everything to you and then one day, they're just somebody that I used to know," Matheus said of breakups. "Like that song!" While that's very true of human relationships - so much so that cultures around the world... Continue reading

Posted Jul 24, 2024 at Me and My Family Everywhere

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