Oh boy! Finally, a bit of peace and quiet to generate a blog entry and my first encounter with the application this side of the Atlantic finds the interface with blogger in Greek alphabet and language! I'm groping....bear with me as I attempt the best of my intuition to navigate!

Travel to Greece went like clockwork. This was especially prized given that we carried 400 lbs in 10 pieces of luggage safely to the Sifnos house. Sifnos greeted us early each morning, still jet lagged, with the beauty of the sun ascending rapidly from the ocean in a fiery ball of orange.

As usual, the news-catching stories of Greece reaching the U.S. refer to activities largely localized in the center of Athens. It is calm everywhere else, including other parts of Athens. It was only a day or two after our arrival on the island that the general strikes occurred for 4 days and ferries from Piraeus, (Athens) were not operating. Some of our friends and regular shop owners were stranded either on Athens or on Sifnos. For example, I couldn't buy flower pots for the better part of a week and until the pottery shop owner could return from Athens. Our friend and property manager, who operates a hotel, complained to us about one family staying in his hotel who was refusing to pay for the extra nights they were obliged to remain on the island. I believe he ultimately negotiated a discount. Friends living in Athens warn all of us to stay away from the center of town. One described how she stayed away from the action, yet was still too close and caught gasping whiffs of the tear gas. She learned to declare the 'center' a broader swath of the city.

Having lived abroad before we know to be concerned about our legal position in Greece and the residency permit question. The Greek consulat in San Francisco gave us each 12 month visas, which are longer than the usual 3 month tourist visa. This was to be the first step, giving us enough time to complete the process once in Greece. To demonstrate good intentions, immediately upon arriving, we visited the island’s police office, who sent us to the municipal administration office, who told us to call the county administration on the island of Milos. For second assurances Gerhard also called the province's administration on the island of Syros. We finished with a meeting in the municipal office here on Sifnos, during which a call was made to Milos. The net of it is that, because we are American, and, because we own a house in Greece, we can use our 1 year visa as justification to stay legally the full year. That's it. No need to prove local financial resources or healthcare coverage, as we were told to expect. We must apply for another month's visa extension in our 10th month, or so, to stay the 13 months we desire. And, this is to be sufficient. All done by voice; no documentation. "Whatever", as Karoline has taught us to say.