Here is Niko!!

Hi Everyone

Niko is having a great time here. He has probably taken the longest to adjust as he is very settled in his life in San Diego with his school and classmates! But he has adjusted and is having a great time. Although he does ask a lot about his friends: what they are doing, where they are going for the summer, and if any are close by to him in Greece (Jonas in Norway is the closest and that makes him happy).

Niko is a lover of the sea and the ruins of Greece. He is a sponge for anything historic and is constantly on the look out for ruins as we drive anywhere. The loves the sea, swims everywhere, snorkels and loves to eat everything that comes out of the sea. His favorite is the full size, grilled squid!!! He even asked Papou for it on his own......"remember Papou last time (2 years ago) I ate squid, but the whole thing, that is what I want".......and he got it!!! Every chance we get we eat squid!!!

 

Niko's favorite things in Greece

• Swimming
• Beaches you can walk out far
• Chocolate croissants
• Squid
• Gyro
• Grilled Shrimp
• Collecting Marble rocks on the beach (we have quite a collection that will somehow be part of our 50 pounds per luggage)
• Snorkeling
• Ruins, Ruins, Ruins, Ruins - favorite close to where we live, the famous Filippi (check our your Bibles)
• His Greek Soccer Team IKE (yellow & black)
• Opening and closing our garage gate
• Greek soldiers
• His new Greek friend Dimitri
• Air Show in Kavala's port - Apache helicopter was flying a couple hundred feet from his face (no safety rules here in Greece)
• Grilled corn on the waterfront
• Chocolate ice cream at the port
• Taking ferry boats to islands

Niko misses his family and friends in the states but he is having a great time in Greece. Maybe because he is older than the twins, he is recognizing how lucky he is to have a home in Greece. He says he wants to come here is whole life.....maybe buy a big house for when he has a family (it's amazing how even young kids understand the progression of life!). I told him that I hope he enjoys coming to his other home for the rest of his life!! We are truly blessed and his dinner prayer/grace the other night said it all..................."I am thankful for this day, I am thankful for this food and I am thankful for having a good time with my family"...........Amen, and way to go Niko!!!!

Enjoy our Greek Niko!!!!

Motorcycle Rider Niko - playing at the harbor

 

Ruins at the Church of Saint Nikoloas (his church in Kavala)....sight of where Saint Paul first stepped onto European soil to preach Christianity.

Beach Boy.....sporting, but of course, military bathing suit courtesy of Zara, Kavala!

Poolside play at Riva Beach

Nothing better than squid legs!!

Niko's new friend Dimitri...............boys in any country like weapons! They can barely say anything to each other but play weapons and soldier for hours!

 

I just have to say.............love this beautiful face!!!!

Deep Thought!!!

We came, we say Apache helicopters, then we got to ride one!

 

Niko at the Ruins of Filippi.........he is our photographer at Filippi and these were the only

2 pictures he actually let me take of him!! In my entry way at our home in San Diego I have

4 blown up black and white photos taken by him at Filippi 2 years ago, and many people have

asked me where I purchased the pictures.......he truly loves taking pictures, he takes TONS

(400+ at our recent 2 hour trip to Filippi) and a lot of them capture such great details!!!

I love to see what his mind and eye capture!

 

HIS FAVORITE MEAL: SQUID. This is what "fried calamari" comes from when you order it at a restaurant! Niko's meal comes straight from the sea, grilled on charcoal and served with lemon!! Yummy he says!!!

 

Anyways, just a glimpse at Niko!! He is a joy to travel with as he soaks in the culture, history and views!! It is wonderful to see such a young person appreciate what he is seeing and at such a young age trying to truly grasp and understand the history of his ancestral country!!

I am proud of him and I love him!

 

Theo up next!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to share!

Hugs, Val