1949

American School of Classical Studies Athens Greece

June 12 1949Dear George:-

With my usual procrastination I put off writing to you when I first got to Athens. And later which I put off I am apt to write usually a number of times in busses or other useless places before I put pen to paper. But I do want to tell you now how very much I appreciated staying at Episkopi, and to thank you for the many things you did to make me comfortable. I consider myself most fortunate to have been able to stay with you and to work on your material and on the village inhabitants, in spite of the difficulties I had to go through with the amebae and injections.

One reason I think I delayed writing was to be able to say I was completely recovered. This I cannot yet do. The [inserted: U.S.] Navy doctors here are finding no amebae in routine examinations each week, last I still have gastro-enteritis either from a small dig-in clump of encysted amebae or from some other source. I hope this will be fixed before I go back in August.

Meanwhile I have done over a hundred skulls of ancient and medieval date at the Medical School Museum and am starting study of the 25 or so Mycenaean, Geometric, and 6th century B.C. skeletons which I have been repairing at the Agora. I am kept very busy. And every night am so tired that I fall asleep right after supper. My only relaxation has been swimming the past two Sundays. Today I strolled through the palace gardens instead - a poor substitute, but interesting for the great variety of people, from soldiers and couples to complete families with the babycarriages and equip ment for a picnic supper. The oleanders and pomegranates are in bloom. Very showy.