Ex Votos

When I was first in Athens I visited the

Flea Market in Monastiraki but I found

mostly sneakers and souvenirs and I love

nothing more than sifting through old junk

so we left and moved on to other sites.

But while hiking on Santorini with Aditya,

he told me I didn't go far enough in to find

the old stuff.

So on a layover in Athens we hopped back into

the city to do a bit more exploring.  Aditya was

right!  Too bad I had time limits and baggage

weight restrictions or I could have gone wild here.

Why didn't I buy that clock face and some

of those keys?  I did score one of those

terracotta heads that are on the edges of

the roofs on every building in Athens. 

As the airport security guy examined it

in Amsterdam, he had to take it around

to all his co-workers for show & tell.

I weighs a ton...

And then I met Achilles and his basket of

ex votos.  In so many of the churches I

visit in Europe I have seen these, along with

watches, rings, crutches, eyeglasses.  Ex

votos are a votive offering often given in

gratitude or devotion or in fulfillment of a

vow.  They are placed in a church or chapel

where one wants to give thanks.  Pilgrimage

destinations will often have a shrine decorated

with ex votos.  I bought a boy and a girl, a house,

one for marriage, one for eyes, and one with

Greek writing that Achilles told me what it meant

but I can't remember what it is.  If anyone can

help, please let me know.