My boyhood home

At seven in the morning we reached Hannibal, Missouri, where my boyhood was spent. I had had a glimpse of it fifteen years ago, and another glimpse six years earlier, but both were so brief that they hardly counted. The only notion of the town that remained in my mind was the memory, as I had known it when I first quitted it twenty-nine years ago. That picture of it was still as clear and vivid to me as a photograph. 

From this vantage ground the extensive view up and down the river, and wide over the wooded expanses of Illinois, is very beautiful—one of the most beautiful on the Mississippi, I think; which is a hazardous remark to make, for the eight hundred miles of river between St. Louis and St. Paul afford an unbroken succession of lovely pictures. (Slightly modified from Mark Twain’s The Life on the Mississippi) 

I spent 25 years of my youth in Illinois and like Mark Twain my affection for Illinois biases my judgment in its favor; I cannot say but every time I visit it especially the largest and most beautiful of its cities Chicago I feel coming home. The picture was taken on Chicago’s lakefront here I used to live.  Nearby the Chicago River begins from Lake Michigan. Its waters eventually empty in the Illinois River a major tributary of the Mississippi.  The Illinois River joins the Mississippi approximately 20 miles to the north of the Missouri River and the city of St Louis. 

On the terrace of my boyhood home, in Athens’ St Nicholas neighborhood, playing backgammon with my childhood friend Theodosis (on the left) while my little brother Nikos is watching the game.  Mount Egaleo is noted in the background of the picture. (circa 1959)

Home Sweet Home Chicago

My 22-year residence in Chicago was an enchanted period in my life.  I truly enjoyed my work at UIC and CCH, I started my family, and immersed in many of the wonderful cultural and recreational opportunities that the city has to offer. I lived on the 41^st floor of a new high rise called Harbor Point (the curved shaped building on the left), above Monroe Harbor.  Together, with my brother and a good friend, Joe Wander, we took advantage of one of the greatest bodies of fresh water on the planet—actively sailing our boat named Ulysses.  Among the most memorable events of that era were the regattas from Chicago to Mackinac—a demanding 333-mile (289-nautical mile) race that takes place at the beginning of the summer—and the Tristate, a race that takes place on Labor Day weekend, and runs from Chicago, to Benton Harbor, to Michigan City, and finally back to Chicago.  Incidentally, in the Michigan City to Chicago leg of the Tristate we placed first!

The view of the Lake, Monroe Harbor, Adler Planetarium, Aquarium, Field Museum and the south end of Chicago’s downtown from the 41^st floor.

Night time view of Navy Pier from Harbor Point.

A river runs thru it, was a 1992 movie directed by Robert Redford.  Well, Chicago’s river runs through both the south and north parts of the city and has an interesting history.  Because of concerns regarding polluting the lake, in 1885 a remarkable civil engineering project reversed its course by taking water from Lake Michigan and discharging it into Illinois River, which takes it to the Mississippi River.  The river is lined up with parks, restaurants and condominiums.   Tourists enjoy river cruises during the summer months.  As its waters are navigable boaters use it to bring their boats to moorings in the spring and back to the boatyards for storage in late fall.  I was not aware of the feast day of Saint Patrick before coming to Chicago but it became one of my favorite holidays.  On this day the when the Irish celebrate their patron saint, the Chicagoans honor both the Irish contributions and St. Patrick who freed Ireland from the snakes with a parade and by painting the river green and by drinking green beer.  If it is one holiday that exemplifies America’s melting pot, this is it!