I'm getting back into the school routine after the long break, and I have to say, as much as I miss Greece already, it is no punishment to come back to Rome for school. I went downtown this morning to tutor English and got a really delicious panini on my way back (though I am craving gyros a bit after the trip)!
Now that I am back in Rome, though, I can take the time to document my Greece trip in a little more detail for those of you interested. So:
Athens (Days 1-3)
Athens (Days 1-3)
Our trip began early Friday morning when we left Rome to take a plane to Athens. I think I am very quickly getting used to planes and airports, considering I never really flew before this year, but I still find flying more exciting than it apparently warrants according to my more frequent-flying friends (I like the little snacks they give you on board...)
The flight was short, and we landed in Athens where we met our Greek tour guide, Ioanna, who is a friend of our professor's from Oxford. Ioanna was an amazing person and told so many fantastic stories (she's originally from the south so she spoke with a southern accent instead of a Greek one)! She was in charge of planning our entire itinerary, including the first lunch we had in Greece, after piling onto a bus and taking a quick ride to Cape Sounio, where this was the view we were met with:
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| The Aegean Sea |
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| The Temple of Poseidon in the distance |
Lunch was at a seaside tavern where, in addition to having an incredible view, I tasted real authentic seafood for the first time. Mussels, calimari, and shrimp were just a few of the dishes I sampled, in addition to the notorious Greek ouzo which they had us all try - a strange drink which could not be consumed without making funny faces.
We finished lunch with just enough time to head up to the cliffs and explore the Temple of Posiedon up close as the sun set.
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| Our delicious seafood spread |
After sunset we took the bus into Athens, got settled in our hotel, and followed Ioanna through the main parts of the city for a walking tour. It's so exciting to see a new city for the first time at night; it reminded me of my first night seeing all the sights in Rome! The Acropolis was especially exciting to see for the first time, all lit up and shining from the top of the hill like a beacon.
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| Athens at night was very cool to explore |
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| Occasionally we'd run into some interesting discoveries, like this street full of lamps! |
We spent the next day focusing on the Acropolis. We hiked up the
hill to listen to our knowledgeable professor give an onsite lecture
regarding all the highlights of the Acropolis, most notably of course
being the Parthenon. Then we proceeded to explore the Agora, what used
to be the most important meeting/marketplace in ancient Greece, and the
Temple of Hephaestus which is a remarkably well-preserved Greek temple from 449 BC. Later in the
day we returned to the Acropolis to visit the museum, followed by dinner
on a rooftop restaurant where I had the best salad I have ever tasted
in my life (along with a lot of other good food and wine)!
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| The Parthenon (though I don't think the ancient Greeks put those cranes there...) |
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| The Erechtheion at the top of the Acropolis |
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| The Porch of the Maidens, or the Caryatids |
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| Another delicious meal with friends |
I thought the city itself had a very eclectic vibe. At night, all lit up, it
feels very urban and trendy. In the day it has more of a calmer,
antiquated feel. While I would describe Rome as an orange city, with all its warm-hued buildings, orange cobblestone, and soft lights, Athens is definitely a white one; with stark white buildings and scattered, worn-away ruins.
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| Rome |
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| Athens |
We left Athens early Sunday morning and headed into the mountains for Delphi, which will be coming up next!
