Advertisement
Published: October 19th 2008
Edit Blog Post
the Parthenon
FINALLY we went up to the Acropolis during week 5. You can see the Acropolis every day, so we have been anxious to get up there. There is the Parthenon. They say that time flies when you're having fun! Boy does it ever, as we are winding down our time here in Athens.
I leave for Rome this Saturday, which is less than a week away! I cannot believe it. Some of my friends and I were reminiscing back to the first day when we all got here. We emerged from the metro stations looking like lost little dogs. That was the day that my friend Erin and I took a taxi ride for SEVENTEEN EURO when we should have paid TWO. We were so mad at the time after we realized that we had been jipped, but today we just laugh at how inexperienced we were with taxis and really everything here in Athens. Then, we felt like tourists. Today, I almost feel like a local here in Athens.
Athens is such as neat city!! In a way, it is an East meets West kind of a city. They are up-to-date on things such as entertainment and transportation and fashion. However, there is traditions such as food, dance, family and wonderful old churches and temples that make it an Eastern City.
Also, the Mediterranean climate and the
view from the Acropolis
Here is a view of Athens and the Aegean Sea from up at the Parthenon. This is what Athens looks like, but is huge and extremely spread-out. I still can't believe 4 MILLION people live in this crazy city! warm, social people of Athens makes it such a homey place. It really doesn't feel like there are 4 million people that live here. I really have changed my views on big cities. In my mind, I thought that I would never want to live in a big city. The other day, I was thinking, wait, I do live in a big city...not only do I live in a big city, live in a HUGE city.
As I mentioned, the people here are very warm (for the most part). One other aspect that is great is that there isn't a lot of crime, rape, or murder. However, immigration is increasing which is bringing those aspects to the city. In senior seminar I am actually doing a report comparing the Immigration of the Mexicans to America to the immigration of the Armenians to Greece. Similar issues have arisen in both countries, so it should be very interesting. Anyway, back to my point, people don't worry about things such as crime and murder here. I feel extremely safe when I walk anywhere.
For example, the other night we went over to one of the directors of our school's house for
Parthenon
Here is a few of my friends and I in front of the Parthenon. dinner. His name is Alex, and he is really a cool guy. He had all 30 of us plus Mike and Jane and other CYA faculty for dinner. I can't even describe how nice it was to be in an actual home. Alex is an American who went to CYA and decided to move to Greece. Don't worry mom and dad, I don't think I am going to follow his path and never come home! Anyway, Alex and his wife have two ADORABLE little kids named Giovanna and Enzo. If you can imagine, us girls were so excited to be around little kids and we played with them for hours. It was so fun, and they were super friendly kids. Their mom, who is American too, said that the reason they are so outgoing is that in Greece, everyone talks to and plays with kids. It isn't unusual for a perfect stranger to give candy to kids, for example. People don't worry about abductions here. Giovanna and Enzo were used to playing with anyone and everyone, and were therefore super outgoing.
I can't say enough about how great this city is. Besides loving the people, I love the
The Temple of Poseidon
We went to the Temple of Poseidon last Wednesday to watch the sunset. It is up high right on the sea, and was just beautiful! food. They have fresh fruit stands on nearly every block, bakeries on every block, and gyro stores everywhere. I am going to miss traditional Greek food, but I know Italy will have some good stuff to offer in that area!!
This week on Wednesday, Mike and Jane hired a bus to take us to the Temple of Poseidon for the sunset. It was a beautiful setting...the temple is up high overlooking the sea. We had a great time, and then came back and went out for a guy on my trip, Colin's 21st birthday. We went to our favorite pub, Mike's, for some Karaoke. Much fun was had.
This week we also went to the Agora and the Acropolis! Both were amazing; see the pictures I have of them.
This weekend was spent here in Athens. We really didn't do too much at all. I did a lot of work for finals, which are starting tomorrow (Monday). On Friday night we climbed up a small mountain/big hill to watch the sunset. At the top there is a chapel called St. George's. It was hazy, so the sunset wasn't all that great, but it was still worth the
The sunset
Here is the sunset we saw when up at the Temple of Poseidon. Probably one of the best we have seen yet! climb.
We are done with finals on Wednesday!! My plane doesn't leave until Saturday evening, so we have a few days to do whatever! On Wednesday night we are going back to the Olympic Stadium where the 2004 games were held to watch a Futball (soccer) game. I am so excited for that; the fans here are apparently CRAZY!
Anyway, I definetely miss certain aspects of home while here. People being the biggest thing. I am here with a wonderful group of people, but that doesn't replace friends and family at home. As much as I absolutely love traveling and living here, in the back of my mind I know that I will be going home after 4 months, and that is what keeps me going. I can't imagine living here forever, as much as I love this city!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.22s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 8; qc: 43; dbt: 0.0379s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb