anpe's VirtualTourist Home Page

Hi! My name is Anna and I live in Nafplio, the most beautiful place in the world. If you don’t believe me, you just have to come and see it with your own eyes!

From all the places I have visited so far, my favorite is Edinburgh. Looking like it has escaped from the book with the fairytales, it has the kindest people I’ve ever met! Next country to visit: Spain!!

ITHACA , by KAVAFIS

WHEN YOU SET OUT ON YOUR JOURNEY TO ITHACA ,
PRAY THAT THE ROAD IS LONG ,
FULL OF ADVENTURE , FULL OF KNOWLEDGE ,
THE LESTRYGONIANS AND THE CYCLOPS ,
THE ANGRY POSEIDON - DO NOT FEAR THEM :
YOU WILL NEVER FIND SUCH US THESE ON YOUR PATH ,
IF YOUR THOUGHTS REMAIN LOFTLY , IF A FINE
EMOTION TOUCHES YOUR SPIRITAND YOUR BODY.
THE LESTRYGONIANS AND THE CYCLOPS ,
THE FIERCE POSEIDON YOU WILL NEVER ENCOUNTER ,
IF YOU DO NOT CARRY THEM WITHIN YOUR SOUL ,
IF YOUR SOUL DOES NOT SET THEM UP BEFORE YOU.

PRAY THAT THE ROAD IS LONG.
THAT THE SUMMER MORNINGS ARE MANY , WHEN ,
WITH SUCH PLEASURE , WITH SUCH JOY
YOU WILL ENTER PORTS SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME;
STOP AT PHOENICIAN MARKETS,
AND PURCHASE FINE MERCHANDISE ,
MOTHER -OF -PEARL AND CORAL , AMBER AND EBONY ,
AND SENSUAL PERFUMES ALL KINDS,
AS MANY SENSUAL PERFUMES AS YOU CAN;
VISIT MANY EGYPTIAN CITIES ,
TO LEARN AND LEARN FROM SCHOLARS.

ALWAYS KEEP ITHACA IN YOUR MIND .
TO ARRIVE THERE IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL.
BUT DO NOT HURRY THE VOYAGE AT ALL.
IT IS BETTER TO LET IT AT LAST FOR MANY YEARS;
AND TO ANCHOR AT THE ISLAND WHEN YOU ARE OLD,
RICH WITH ALL YOU HAVE GAINED ON THE WAY ,
NOT EXPECTING THAT ITHACA WILL OFFER YOU RICHES.

ITHACA HAS GIVEN YOU THE BEAUTIFUL VOYAGE.
WITHOUT HER YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER SET OUT ON THE ROAD.
SHE HAS NOTHING MORE TO GIVE YOU.

AND IF YOU FIND HER POOR , ITHACA HAS NOT DECEIVED YOU.
WISE AS YOU HAVE BECOME , WITH SO MANY EXPIERENCE,
YOU MUST ALREADY HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHAT ITHACAS MEAN.