Our days with Kabob’s parents have been spent going to different archaeological sites, all of which are at least 2,000 years old. I don’t want to be calloused to all that historical greatness, but having lived here for over a year now, I’m getting used to living next to such significant antiquity. Never thought that would be the case, but it’s heading that way, subtly.

So yesterday when we went to another ancient city, Chickpea and I spent most of our time picking flowers. It’s wildflower season here, and the grass fields are rampant with daises and poppies. She and I wiled away hours looking for the perfect flowers for the centerpiece for her upcoming tea party, and I uprooted a few species for possible planting on our balcony.

I don’t think she understood how unusual it is for a three-year-old to climb the remains of a fluted column from the Roman Empire to reach for the ultimate daisy, but such is her life here. She plays hide-and-seek in ancient temples and agoras. Yesterday we climbed walls and explored beetles in the Temple of Artemis and an ancient pool that accompanied a city’s gymnasium.

It’s not playgroup, it’s not gymboree. But it works.

posted: 08 April 9
under: culture, family