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Published: March 29th 2007
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Chapter four contains the climax and conclusion of the journey. We flew into Athens at 7 in the morning and had flights out at 4 the next morning so instead of getting a hotel or hostel, we decided to save money and hang out in Athens/ the airport and left our backpacks in lockers at Athens International. We took a taxi into the city because as long as you split them four ways, taxis are actually cheaper than everyone buying individual metro tickets. The first thing we decided we needed was coffee and food, and low and behold when we stepped out of our cab, what did we see like a shining beacon of hope - Starbucks. Oh Athens, you know my weakness. It was just about Mocha Frappuccino time, grande please, no whip. I kid you not, it was the best frappuccino I have ever had... and you may know I am a connoisseur of the mocha frappuccino, having drank them in over seven countries and not to mention countless US cities. It was incredible. Moving on, after getting our bearrings a bit and waking up from our early morning, we decided to walk towards the giant hill we
assumed was the Acropolis. Reaching the gate we saw the sign for students of the EU having free entry, to not only the Acropolis, but the museum we wanted to go to and pretty much all other sights in the city. Thank goodness for our Charles University student IDs. We hiked up the hill, stopping first at the Theater of Dionysis where Jess read us the history in a very dramatic way and Miles took a gazillion pictures while Josh video taped the ridiculous tourists and I tried out multiple stone seats, determining that the marble seats were far more comfortable than the plain stone seats, I could see why the aristocrats got marble for their box seats.
We continued our trek up the hill past another theater (a sham of a theater, we later learned was rebuilt recently and that's why it was "preserved" so well). Walking through small Temple of Athena Nike we enter into a greater space with the Parthenon laying monumentously in front of us. I've studied this building before in Art History class but this was pretty incredible. I generally make the joke when I see something that's suppose to be a world famous sight
saying, "I'm not impressed," but I was. It was really cool to stand there an awe at this great building. There's restoration going on all around the temple, which ruins the mood a bit, but I was glad to be there while were still too early for all the real crowds to appear. Past the Parthenon is the Erechtheion, probably my favorite building on the Acropolis, though lesser known. The Erechtheion was built to honor both the God of the sea and the goddess of wisdom and has Caryatids supporting one of the sides. (A Caryatid is a support used in place of a column formed in the shape of a woman, actually started in Greek architecture, just a bit of an art history lesson for you.) There is also an olive tree next to the Erechteion that was the supposed gift of Athena to the city after she won her battle against Poseidon to patron the city. Don't you just love Greek myths?
While atop the Acropolis the dreaded fall occured. Jes tripped over a rock fell hitting her ankle on a jagged edge sticking up. Needless to say, she was hobbling for the rest of the day. After
Jess
I think she's doing an impersonation of Keith Richards visiting the Parthenon. an average lunch, we metroed to the National Archaeological Museum, which was astoudning. Josh had suggested we go and I am so glad he did. It rivalled the Acropolis as far as interesting sights. There were so many artifacts that I had only studied in textbooks or seen on slides prior. I was giddy with excitement as we entered each new room, and impressed by the condition of the ancient statues, ceramics and metal workings. There was also an exhibit about how they restore the treasures they find in sunken shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. This was definitly the climax of the trip for me.
As we were all very tired and knew we had another 10 hours to kill before we flew out, Miles and Jess suggested we go back to Starbucks and chill on their big, comfy chairs, try to sleep a little and read and journal to wait. I swear, it was not my suggestion in the least, but I think they all wanted a mocha frap after they tried mine earlier (best frap ever), so I could be blamed a little. It was a nice, relaxing way to end the trip. We had seen all we wanted
Jess and I - unimpressed
That is indeed a lie... I was impressed. to and just wanted to lounge in eachothers' company and wait for the flight. We got to the airport at about 11 that night and took turns watching our bags, its nice to travel small groups. There really wasn't anything too eventful after that except for this outrageous American on our plane. Actually Jess would tell this story better, cause she's good at faces and voices but here I go... we sit down on the plane, Jess and Miles have seats up front and Josh and I have horrible seats in the mid section of the plane across from some really obnoxious tourists, when one turns to Josh and sees his GVSU (Grand Valley State University) sweatshirt on. "You from Grand Rapids?" We can already tell the guy is still drunk from the night before. Josh replied, "yeah, I'm from Holland and go to Grand Valley." "Yay, that's cool man, I'm from Grand Rapids." They continue to have the typically do you know so and so conversation and then the guy starts hassling Josh to take his friends and him out this weekend, cause they are visiting Prague and they don't know where to go. Josh politely told him about
seven times he had plans and he didn't have time but he would write down some cool places to go but this guy would not let off. He started shouting up to his firends at the front of the plane about "this guy, who should be his "bro" cause they're from the same town who won't take them out." Eventually he passed out and who'd think that would be the end of it, but once we got off the plane it continued. We had told Jess and Miles about it and so Jess decided to go listen to their conversation at the baggage claim and the guy was sitting there bad mouthing Josh for no reason and threatening to bag if he saw it. Honeslty, where does this guy get off? I guess Jess couldn't handle hearing it anymore and told him that Josh was her brother and it was ignorant to talk about people when you don't know who is listening. As soon as she said that all his friends hung thier heads embarrassed and walked away from him. Of course feeling ashamed and defensless he started cursing Jess, who in turn made him feel and look like the
View of Athens atop the Acropolis
Its not a very pretty city, Josh said its because the population grew faster than the buildings could, so there are a lot of small, ugly apartments everywhere... I think he's right. idiot he is with her witty intellect, even at 6 in the morning. It was an interesting way to end the trip.
Besides that little event, we pretty much had the best time ever. Little Kos and big Athens, what an adventure!
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JessNaudz
Jessica Naudziunas
BEST BLOG EVA
Hey. so seriously. I am in the university lab right now (you know how quiet it gets in here) and I saw your caption of me looking like keith richards visiting the parthenon and i was drinking water out of me old trusty nalgene smerrr and i spit the water out onto my lap and laugh so loud, but only one like stop motion chuckle and seriously EVERYONE everyone turns around and looks at me. It was so Kafka-esque. Great post girlfriend, I really enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!