Yup! Rommel of The Sophomore Slump left California and is now living in Greece! I’m back in Europe, baby! 🙂 I’m here in the island of Crete and will be staying for a year or two.
The Sophomore Slump Recommends
Music: The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monae – “Out of this world” weird as it may be, this “concept” album saves retro R&B in the coming of 2010’s.
Movie: Fight Club – Directed by David Fincher, this is a brilliant intellectual movie packed with unconventional words of wisdom masquerading in bloody and psychological scenes.
Here is one of Tyler Durden’s words … “It is only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”
For more, here’s a blogpost of mine –> https://thesophomoreslump2.com/2014/07/11/street-food-cinema/
This is our backyard view from where I work.
Durng my first days here, I wondered when will I ever get to come close to that beauty.
I was completely okay with waiting it out. I don’t have a car right now. I don’t know the ways of the streets here. I don’t know how to get to point A to B.
So imagine my excitement when an old-time friend invited me to go to the mountains.
Weee!!! 😀
I was able to go to my first Greek travel destination within a week. I was happy as a clam. 🙂
We snaked through a very winding road on the way to Omalos here in Crete, Greece.
The drive gave me a headache. I had to close my eyes not to get dizzy. One of us actually puked, but she said she’s always that way.
But as always, never mind the hassles of traveling when you get views that are this beautiful…
.
See how tiny that person is from the picture above. Cool!
I’m not one to play on the snow but I always appreciate the beauty it creates.
Last Calls …
.
Crete is known for its beach scenes as people from all over the place come visit here during Summer. So during snowy winter season, Omalos is the way to go.
The first and this last picture is a view from my friend’s house. What a treat…
Wow absolutely beautiful. Thanks for taking us there Rommel. How exciting for you! The quote and the clip are great! So true 🙂
The movie line “sounds” a little off, but it is very well true. 👍
I did not know Greece got so much snow. I am anxious to hear all about your experience as Greece is on my list of places to go.
Just a little portion. They said it didn’t snow as much the winter before this one, and that snowy winter is unpredictable here in Crete.
Beautiful 😀
👍
Lovely views! Enjoy your new home. 🙂
You kmow it! 😀
Rommel, You have outdone yourself, you lucky dog, you. I am jealous. LOL. If you go into some of those fabulous little towns, please use that keen eye of yours to grab some street shots for me. I’ll pin them on my Pinterest board. Some of those ‘foreign’ streets are charming, others impressive, …. you know what I’m talking about. In the meantime enjoy your travels. And thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
In the meantime, I’ll be pinning some of these photos under ‘The Big Outdoors’.
I know well you are talking about. European streets are so distinguishable from others. We actually went the same weekend, but it was at night time. I need to go back there again before it gets so crowded when this season ends.
Thank you, thank you for pinning.
My pleasure, always.
You amaze me, Rommel!!! How nice to get a job there! It takes a lot of courage, doesn’t it? I am so excited for you! And thanks for the beautiful photos! Helen
😉 I’m actually assigned here. I’ve been with the same employer for more than ten years now. 😉 The hard part is moving, the process, adaptation, settling in, new people, new environment.
So amazing!! What I wanna know is, have you eaten a 2 euro gyros pita yet? 😉
I actually have not settled just yet that I haven’t really gone around. I hope to find a decent, automatic 😀 , inexpensive car. Driving here is *phew*. I did eat gyro here already. I ordered a gyro. It was so tasty that I couldn’t even tell it was chicken. 😉
You gotta eat some lamb over there!! Ohhh, I’m so jealous of all the amazing food you get to eat. Greek cuisine was definitely one of my favourites in the world. 🙂
Wow..lucky you Rommel.. 🙂 this looks like an awesome place..I didn’t notice the guy in ur photo until reading ur next line 😀
🙂 I didn’t notice the person there til I got home reviewing my pictures. 😉
hehehe 🙂 keep posting pictures.. 🙂
Wow, absolutely gorgeous scenery! Enjoy your time there!
Lindy
Wow is right! 😀
How gorgeous! I have never been to Greece…one day soon.
I like the sound of “soon”. I’ve seen some of your beach photos, and you’ll love the old structures here.
Great photos =)
Thanks for the comment and visit, AnaLucia. 🙂
Ayan naaa! Let the journey begin…
Eto na! 🙂 I was going to wait til February before I post this because I still have a bit of California posts I need to show. But since a lot has been asking me about Greece, I decided to post this sooner. 😀
Beautiful. I’d love to visit it.
Brad Pitt in Fight Club was superb. Great movie choice.
Brad Pitt actually has an impressive resume of great movie projects.
Very True!!!
Absolutely beautiful and I did not know Greece received such an abundance of snow. I always think of warm beaches and Mediterranean white architecture. Thanks for enlightening me 🙂
Only once in a while and only in few places. Snow during winter here is unpredictable.
Rommel how wonderful, welcome to Europe! What a fantastic destination you’ve really got lucky there. I’m going to enjoy seeing what you get up to! 🙂
Thanks for welcoming. Somehow, we’re in the same territory. 😀
Rommel, you are like a bird flying around the World. Good for you!
Shhh … Don’t blow my cover. 👀 😀
I am so jealous!!! just gorgeous!! you need to change the title of this blog from “slump” to “spectacular”!!! My son went to Greece last summer, said it was just amazing, so I hope it is for you too!!! have a spectacular two years Rommel!! 🙂
You know what, I have been thinking about changing the name of my blog. 🙂 But I’m worried it’s gonna be hard for readers to identify it especially returnees. Plus, I don’t want to change all the posts with the blog title on it. 😀 I can’t wait to experience summer here in Greece. that’s what everyone has been raving about when talk about Greece.
I hope you have a wonderful time!!! and I think you can change the name, and still keep the actual address the same… not sure tho… anyway… have a blast!!! 🙂
The mountains and the surrounding valleys are truly magnificent. Thanks for posting.
I’m so glad I get to see it before the season changes. 😉
magnificent! nice stat in greece! but, i dislike cold and snow. just looking at pictures is good for me.
ahhh when it comes to weather, just nothing to the extreme would be great. 😀
Yes very beautiful… “Are Clams Really Happy?”.. Hehe.. not the ones in my chowder.. Got Oysterettes?
Oysters do have wider smiles. 😀 Thanks for the comment and visit.
Now I can be in Greece thru you Rommel. Beautiful and looking forward for more.
You are living everyone’s DREAM…and your photographs are heavenly! Do you have to pinch yourself? Love love love your photographs!!! I will be following the journey. 🙂
I’m originally from a tropical country. It was everyone’s dream to see the snow. I am truly blessed and thankful. Thanks for the compliment, Elisa.
So glad you made it safely to Crete. What a great early trip to such beauty just as you arrive! Gorgeous sunsets!!
I know. I was gonna keep it cool and not get excited. But I was so happy I got invite to go see places in under a week of being here.
Hey Rommel I loved Crete. Say hello to Palechora and Heraklion if you get there. Beautiful pics! Making us all envious! 🙂
Now I’m curious. 🙂
Congratulations on landing a job in such a beautiful place. Gorgeous photos. Look forward to seeing more, as the seasons change. 🙂
I hope the rainy season doesn’t take long. 😀
Wow! Breathtaking views from your workplace and your friend’s house!!! Thank you for taking us to Crete, Wow! Lucky you, Rommel! 🙂
I am schedule to get my new apartment next week. I can’t wait to show my view. 😀
I’m waiting… 🙂
As a kid in grade 7, I studied ancient Crete in school. I should have studied modern day Crete instead.
I’ll do my best to show some ancient places here in Crete. Read a bit of history of Crete myself. So now I can’t wait to explore.
Wow, I can’t keep up with you, Rommel! Greece, how wonderful! Your photos are beautiful! Looking forward to seeing much more of Greece! 🙂
You know it! 😀
I had no idea that Greece received anything but temperate weather. Looking forward to viewing Greece through your eyes Rommel. 🙂
I know, eh. Probably not the best introductory Greece post. Oh well, it keeps me and others to look forward to something else. 😉
It has been a dream of mine to travel to Greece so I anxiously look forward to your posts. 🙂
I actually wonder about that. Greece was never really fully in my top list of places I badly want to go to. I think people just like European countries in general.
You could be right, since I have not been. South America is another place we want to explore in more depth.
Whoa 🙂 What fun you’re going to have Rommel. I forget how HIGH the mountainous areas in Crete can be … ah look at that snow …..
and so you’re in time for Spring .. with Summer round the corner … you jammy thing 😉
Those mountains, I don’t think I can reach those. But maybe, hopefully, I get to hike the easier ones.
Great place wow.
Rommel – Greece looks awesome. How cool of a life you have right now – and I am glad to get slices of it thru your blog. Greece is gorgeous! I bet you are going to be eating some good food while you are there – 🙂
oh – and what brought me here was I found an old comment from you on my blog (not that old, just from december) but seriously, your social seasoning is often not seen amidst your posts – which show us photos, humor, and traveling. so thanks for it.
and that clip from fight club is chilling. talk about some good writing – I know that is more of a dude flick (as opposed to chick flick) but whew – one of the most unique movies I have seen.
Ironically, I also reread your comment from an older blogpost of mine after I got done composing this one. 😉
The movie is actually from a book.
thx – and not that i will ever read that book – or watch the movie again – but glad I saw it because it was really good.
hope you have a great weekend my friend.
Kid, your life is unreal.
Ahihihi 😀 I’m sure we all live our own interesting lives. 😉
such a scrumptious treat, this blog post seeing first hand your new journey into Greece. beautiful photographs, as always.
This first taste of Greece sure is a scrumptious treat. 🙂
So happy to look forward to your experiences in Greece! God bless you , Rommel!
Thanks Liz. How you’ve been?
WOW. Every photo trumps the one before. Omg. Somebody’s year is looking great already. =) Glad you’re settled safely. As a Classics minor in college, I studied ancient Greek. =)
“Homer teaches his brothers.” LOL
“Rommel teaches us.” LOL!
I can’t wait to get into some ancient historical structures here in Greece.
O wow!! =) Doesn’t sound like a soph slump of a year to me. =)
What a fantastic place to base yourself, Rommel! Are you on the south side of the island somewhere? I stayed at Rethymnon in the west of the island many years ago and loved the ruggedness of the mountain passes. What a treat to see it in snow! And those sunsets… wow! 🙂 🙂
Two words…ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! Now who’s the lucky one?? You are Sir!!! 😀
Would love to hear the story of how you made it to Greece and will be there for 1-2 years ~ what a great destination…and what a view. It will be nice to get to know Crete over the next year or so…and already with this post I am stunned by it beauty and such snow and mountains. I think you must be smiling quite a bit right about now ~ amazing!
Quite simply, I’m jealous. My family (not me, specifically, unfortunately!) recently inherited a house and land in Sissi (north coast) but I haven’t had time to see it. You’re reminding me to get off my butt and plan a trip to Crete!
I see your e already here! It’s encouraging to see an adventurous spirit embracing the island, but I am curious as to what youre going to do here for 2 years!
Absolutely stunning pix, I could look at them all day, one or two are really beautiful. I shall be in Crete in June but it will be rather different then I think, if my last trip is anything to go by.
Fantastic! Now I am turning a serious shade of green!!! 😀
Oh my Greece! 🙂 Have fun and please do take millions of photos and share them with us! 🙂
I’m curious, Rommel, did you get your job before traveling to Greece or did you find it over there? It’s so great that you are having so much adventures.
Greetings,
Marianne
You live in Heaven (all hands down)
Stunning photos! We are in Greece now and have fallen in love with the country too. Haven’t had a chance to visit Crete this time but it’s definitely on the list. Thanks for the fab pictures.