These past 3 weeks have been a whirlwind of nonstop excursions/activities/adventures and I just finished my final paper for my class so I thought what better time to sit down and recap one of the best experiences of my life.
We did so much that I couldn’t possibly fit it all here, so I’m just going to highlight my favorite parts. The first leg of the trip was Santorini, a small island only about an hour plane ride from Athens, the capital city on the mainland. I’m going to try to post the pictures later, as I have no laptop and the wifi is not strong enough on my phone at our hotels to upload them.
After exploring Santorini, we caught the sunset at Sounion where the Temple if Poseidon is, and it was in my top 10 greatest sunsets of all time. After Santorini, we got lost shopping in Athens but always found our way back. We visisted the most incredible museums I’ve ever seen in my life, nothing in New York or DC compares to the ones here in Greece.
After Athens, we headed to Olympia, the original site of the Olympic games, and had our own foot race on the ancient track where the original Olympians once competed, with crowning of the victors at the end and everything, it was very official.
Next we drove a few hours and beheld Mt. Olympus, home to the 12 Greek gods, staying in the foothills in a tiny town called Lithohoro. After a quick trip to Pella, a wealthy center of Philip II and Alexander the Great’s empire, where we saw Philip’s famous underground tomb (they were super strict on the no picture policy, unfortunately, but google it, he was buried in the grandest of styles).
Now we are resting and refreshing our spirits in a little resort town called Pefkohori, which reminds me a lot of those small gulf towns in Florida, except everyone speaks Greek.
The locals have been extremely friendly and welcoming and most of all, patient, with our big group of loud Americans. Their culture is so fascinating and I’m sad to be leaving, but I have to be honest and must say I won’t miss the feta cheese on everything.
Greece was everything I expected it to be and more. But I can’t wait to get home and eat some American food. I miss ketchup!
Please forgive my lack of pictures, I will add them as soon as my internet connection will allow me to upload them.
Yamas (cheers!),
Laine