Greek Orthodox Easter

After arriving back in Greece Good Friday, I hardly caught my breath before I was entangled in Easter festivities (hence the delay in blog postings).  The sleepy island town I left for Turkey has blossomed and exploded with crowds and sunlight.  Paros had awoken at last.  Don't get me wrong, it still does not compare to the Paros of high season, but the greek island vacation I was promised in the program brochure has finally arrived.  Easter in Greece is a much different experience than in the States.  Friday night I went to the Church of 100 Doors where I got to witness the magnificent decorations and later in the night the whole town was out for a candle lit procession.  Saturday was spent on the beach but at midnight I joined the rest of the island to bring in Easter amidst bells ringing, fireworks, kisses, and candles.  It was amazing to see everyone old and young out to celebrate Easter.  Although I followed that with sleep, the rest of the town began the eat-a-thon.  I delayed that ritual until the next day when my landlord had a beautiful lamb dinner on the roof of my apartment building.  The day then brought multiple parties where I got to witness a lamb on the spit as well as pork and rabbit.  The Greeks love their meat.