It's all Greek to me!

Remember how I said before that these next few weeks will be ridiculous and I wouldn't be able to blog for a while? Well, this past week was just the start of the real craziness that is my life studying abroad.

Pop quiz: What's better than being a second semester high school senior?
Answer: Being a second semester sophomore abroad.

Today, the team finished another class (in Ashley's case two) and QKAP is just one class away from finishing our year. This means two things:
1. The year is almost over (sad)
2. That we have the time to do some of our own exploring! (awesome)

At the beginning of our semester, we had to decide what traveling we were going to do while in Europe, so that we could find the cheapest prices for flying/eating/lodging and such. We went through many options. At one point we were going to rent-a-car and drive to Bruges, Belgium, but that didn't work out. The list was long: Spain? Prague? Copenhagen (Obscure, I know)? How were we ever to decide?

I knew coming over here that I absolutely had to 100% make it to the Netherlands. There is no question there.

But then, during research I stumbled upon it: A ridiculously inexpensive ticket to Athens, Greece.

Greece.

Flashback time?

The first movie I remember seeing in the theatres was Disney's Hercules, and to say the least, I was obsessed. I was Meg for halloween, I collected all of the McDonalds toys, I sang the songs, and as of today, I've probably seen the film at least 50 times. As a nineteen year old, I still get chills as Hercules flies off into the sunset, filled with hope at his prospects of rejoining his father on Mt. Olympus. When I was younger, I was kind of obsessed with Greek Mythology, and got really excited whenever I learned something about the mythical creators of the universe. Last year I read Percy Jackson and the Olympians and I remembered exactly how cool I thought the concept was, and how when I was nine and ten years old, I thought Zeus was responsible for the lightning in the sky.

So maybe you can imagine what went through my head when I realized a trip to the land of the Olympians was possible.

I've provided two soundtrack options, for these are both songs that describe this trip:
1. Go the Distance- Hercules. Recommended for readers above age 31, unless you're into that "hip" music. 
(Sorry I couldn't find the movie version, but here's some Michael Bolton ya'll)

2. Starships- Nicki Miniaj (I have no idea how popular this song is in America, so I hope it's not overplayed yet) Watch out older/younger audience, graphic language!

I begged and pleaded and prodded and eventually managed to convince Keith and Ashley to make the journey with me. (Jane was initially on board, but had to change her plans at the last minute and I know that Sara really wanted to come but exams didn't permit it) Now this was months ago, and truth be told, with everything that happened in March, all of the amazing experiences that went down, we honestly forgot that Greece was coming up. Ashley and I were finishing term papers the morning before we left (like typical Davidson Students) and hadn't packed at all. Getting on the train to the airport didn't seem real either. I don't think it actually hit any of us that we were actually venturing so far away until we sat in our seats on our Aegean Airlines flight.

We left on Wednesday and returned to France from Athens on Tuesday, so you can imagine we did a lot. I don't think I can possibly describe everything here. Keith and I just recounted every turn we took during the past week to Paisley in a little over an hour, and I simply don't think it's possible to outline it all in one blogpost if I want to be done before we leave for Senegal. (Keith and Ashley will probably share some stories that I didn't tell, so here are links to their blogs:
Keith - http://sandwichaujambon.blogspot.fr/2012/04/adventures-in-greece.html
Ash-  http://pas-de-soucis-a-tours.blogspot.fr/)

We arrived in Athens at about two a.m. on Thursday morning and spent a few hours in what we like to call "Hotel Baggage Claim". We didn't actually end up sleeping, but we played cards and sang Hercules, Moulin Rouge, and Wicked at the top of our lungs in the almost empty airport. A security woman even came up to us and asked us why we there. We told her we were waiting for a bus. She simply said OK and walked away.

We then took a bus to Port Piraeus in Athens. This was cool and all, but at the bus station a seemingly scandinavian woman came up and started talking to us. It was all fine until I realized that she was completley crazy. During a lull in the conversation, I asked her where she was from, and she went off talking about horses. At the next lull I told her that Ashley, who had been trying to avoid entrance into the conversation (with reason), loved horses, so she left me and started on her. (Sorry)

So then we got on the bus, went to the back, and she sat in the seat behind me. She then talked to us about how she was thinking of getting her tongue pierced, mumble mumble, "because some people think I talk too much!" We all silently agreed. We turned around and kept talking amongst ourselves when she reappears with a ring stuck between her nostrils and a long chain hanging from it. At some point while she swung this chain back and forth with her head she mentioned that she was in fact greek, and I realized she had no eyebrows. This is when I got sketched out. Keith noticed that the whole back of her head was shaved off. Just look ahead, team. Don't pay attention to her. At some point after she lost our direct attention, she realizes that this bus didn't go to her stop, and gets off.

We were relieved. But about five minutes after her departure, Ashley and I look at each other at the same time and wonder the same thing out loud. She had no luggage, what was she doing at the airport at 5 am!?

Whatever, we made it to the port safely.

Now all of the guide books and travel tips we read about Greece said that the country was not all Athens and the Delphi Coast; you had to spend some time on the  islands, too. And we were planing on spending at least two nights on one of them, but the problem with that was that online booking for greek ferries is really shady, and ferry times are never fixed. So what we did was get to the port and pick an island at random.

We found a ticket agency. We asked her what Island was the cheapest to get to in the shortest amount of time. She said Paros, an island in the Cyclades. Tired and hungry, we agreed to get on this absolutely titanic sized boat to make our way to the peaceful island.

The ferry was really nice. I fell asleep within two minutes of sitting down. It was also very modern, and made me realize that I've never been to an Island not connected to the mainland. (Sorry, Pawleys, Hunting and Lady's Islands don't count in this instance)Overall, the experience was amazing.

Greek Ferry Flag

Sunset from the beach 30 seconds from our Hotel

We eventually made it to Paros and found a cheap hotel. Now the inkeeper of this hotel is a local celebrity. We would just walk around town and people would recognize us as "Friends of Andreas". (To be fair we were the only tourists on the island, so everyone wanted us to eat at their restaurant or buy their sandals)
On the island everyone gave us free desert for some reason, It was a little bland but I mean, we weren't complaining.

Your standard Greek Island Photo

Your standard Greek Island Photo at night

The first day on the island was really windy, so we just explored, but the second day, the team packed up and did some exploring for the perfect beach. We made a tour around the island till we came across the perfect spot: a small alcove on a deserted part of the island. We spent the entire day there swimming and tanning. (I know, study abroad is pretty rough)

Keith and Ashley on our Private Beach

Ashley!

Our Beach (and the few of the main city on Paros)

Keith!

It was sad leaving the quiet island town, but alas, it was time to make our way into some serious site seeing and dream realization.

Bye Bye Paros!

Upon arrival in Athens, we managed to find our way to our hotel. I know our greek isn't the best, and it was a little difficult but we made it eventually. Over the course of the trip, I think we each learned a little bit about what letters mean, like for instance:

Pi = P
P= R
B= V
Y= F
Sigma = S
And then N and I can mean whatever they feel like.

I was really excited when I translated my first word into greek without looking at the english first:

Exit = Exodus!

Anywho, we stayed in a part of town that was absolutely covered in graffiti but really close to the Acropolis.  So close in fact that it took us about ten minutes to make it up to the gates!

Well, we settled into our room (We were given a free upgrade to a studio, and since Jane wasn't there, I got the big bed) It even had a kitchen so we were able to cook our own dinner to save some cash. (This dinner was christmas and dora the explorer shaped pasta and some carrots and the traditional greek easter bread!)

So we dumped our stuff and ran up to the gates of the Acropolis. There, in a nice foresty area lied two sleeping stray dogs (Do not fear parental folk, we didn't touch a single stray animal) and the gates to the monument were closed. But as we waited, a mysterious creature emerged from the sunny wood.

Smeagol.

Also known as Emily Wilkes! We finally found her! Oh yeah, but she had her luggage lost on the plane. I'm sure you'd love to hear that story, too. Here is her blog url:
Emily - http://tasteofcopenhagen.blogspot.com/

She was there with her friend, Ian, too! He is a nice boy. But sadly they had to leave for their own island adventures the next day, so we ate dinner and played mafia and life was good. I still don't know the entirety of what happened next with them, so you should read her blog to figure it out with me.

Exciting news though, Emily and I are officially the hall counselors for the girl's side of 3rd Belk for the 2012-2013 school year! YAY! And Emma will be on the floor right below us!

So for the next few days we did some serious sightseeing. We dressed up in our Easter best (basically just meaning pastel colors) and saw the ruins around the acropolis, and the city on the hill itself!

Here are some photos. We were so lucky to have such fantastic weather, too. Thanks Zeus.

The Tower of the Winds ( Down, Left, Up, Down, Left, Up)

Temple of Zeus

Acropolis Museum

Odeon of Herodotus Atticus

So you know how I've seen Hercules an absurd amount of times? It's funny how much it teaches you. I wasn't surprised at all the first time I heard the tale of Narcissus, because hadn't I heard Hades' lines enough times?

Hades: I haven't seen this much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself.

Hercules has also helped me with ideas for papers on ancient greece and identifying characters in such classical works as Dante's Inferno. And here I found yet another place where Hercules has tried to engrain another important fact into my brain. This is a picture of the porch of the Erectheum. Does this look familiar? 

Well this is immediately what I thought of:

    True the real life statues aren't those of the five Muses portrayed in Hercules, but these women definitely share a resemblance!

Oh yeah! And there's the Parthenon. I swear it's bigger in real life.

After the Acropolis we went and ate kebabs/gyros/souvlaki/spinach pie and headed over to the national garden. And there was a mini zoo inside, stocked with exotic birds and turtles and goats!

Then we found ourselves in front of parliament and were there just in time for the changing of the guard!

We are such tourists.

(There is a reason for this particular song choice, which you will read soon enough!)

Now, Mythology wasn't the only thing that drew me to Greece, either.  Growing up, the Olympics were always a big part of my upbringing. Since the Winter games in Salt Lake in 2002, I've been fascinated by all of these countries coming together to compete for the world titles in all of these different sporting events. I remember in 5th grade helping make our own olympics for the grand class championship! I remember two years ago, during the Vancouver games, saying that some way, some how I would make it to London in 2012 for the games being held this summer, but I guess that didn't really pan out. The next best thing I guess would just, you know, go to the home of the games themselves!

Also, for my Davidson readers, I hope you are all watching the fantastic progress of our dear friend Caroline Queen in her amazing efforts to realize her Olympic dream in the National Olympic Kayak Trials happening right now in Charlotte. If she's reading this, We are all pulling for you over here, girl! TU ES VACHEMENT FORMIDABLE! 

Earlier in the week we decided that it would be really cool if we could go to a Greek Professional Soccer Match, you know, because it would be as expensive as dirt and it would realize Keith's  dream of going to a european soccer match. And we found one! AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM! I was so pumped.


So we took a train to the olympic village. We got there and wandered around looking for where the match was supposed to take place which was not evident, because there were about twenty people there in total.
It turns out that because of the rowdiness of the crowd in the past few games, the team wasn't allowed to have fans for a while. Sad.

The entrance

Sports complexes

The olympic village itself is vast. The buildings created to house the 2004 games were so giant, and it was so amazing seeing the places where dreams came true. Here is the problem though. I'm sure eight years ago, the village was hopping with life, tended fountains, and covered with ten times less graffiti. But now, the village is a ghost town. It's such a shame. I wish more than anything for this country that's struggling to make use of their history and do something spectacular with the resources they have. Perhaps a national basketball team? Keith and Ashley heard me rant about this enough, and as they told me, it would be really hard for them to do anything with it because they simply don't have the resources to revive their sports. How far the mighty have fallen. 

Being Easter, we cooked some pasta and then had an Easter Egg Hunt with the red hard boiled egg that was in our easter cake! I hid it and Keith and Ashley looked for it.

It was a little hard for them, but Keith eventually won eternal glory by finding it in the lamp!


The next day, was not as nice outside. In fact it started pouring, but we did see some killer monuments!


We saw the Temple of Zeus (pictured above) and toured the Plaka, the greek tourist trap where they sell tons of souvenirs and do everything they can to get you to eat at their restaurants. (Like offering free drinks and desserts? The place that offered that deal won us over for dinner)

Eventually we made it to the old olympic stadium, reconstructed at the end of the 19th century for the first of the modern Olympic games! It was huge. Tall. So many stairs that I didn't climb. We each had these audio guides, and we even raced each other on the olympic track! (I lost both of my races)

By the way, these next photos are credits to Ashley Parker (And Keith took the first one)

Me losing to Ashley

Me losing to Keith

This is you losing the game to us!

This audio guide was really dramatic, too. As we walked out of the giant pathway that the athletes took to enter the stadium, the audio guide supplied us with an audience roar, gradually increasing in volume as we walked down.

The hall of Athletes

The museum there was...well...interesting. They had all of the original Olympic posters, but they also had all of the torches carried from the Olympic Games of the past century!

 We didn't do much else that day. We explored, and ate good food and told some myths.

We then explored some more old stuff on tuesday before leaving. Ashley got some greek sandals from a really famous sandal maker whose shop was on the same dinky little street as our hotel. The Poet has served not only Sarah Jessica Parker, but John Lennon, too. Oh yeah, and Bob Saget.

I think I often said to Ashley, and Ashley to me that this was simply not real. We would often have to ask each other if this stuff was actually happening, and yeah, it was. It was really too good to be true.

We made our way to the airport on tuesday taking the metro that jumped 7 euros in price for one stop. We were so afraid that they would check our tickets (we purchased the cheapest ones possible) that we got off at the stop before the airport and took a cab. The cabbie told us that they never ever check tickets. But no worries, we made it safely onto our plane.

Going home was bittersweet. When we did our online check in, I wanted to make sure we were all together, so I asked the others if row 34 was alright with them. They were really upset when they found out that row 34 was the last row on the plane though. But I mean, you Payton folk know what great (or terrible) things come with that number right? As it turned out, there was no one in the row ahead of us, so when someone came to the row right in front of us halfway through the flight and started playing the Muppets, you know it was a good flight!

Keith and I even managed to sync up the songs on my phone in time with what was going on on screen.

Moral: 34 = Magic.

We got into Paris really really late, and it took us a while to find our bed and breakfast that didn't serve breakfast or offer towels. It just goes to show that the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy gives some really great rules to live by:

1. Don't Panic.
2. Always bring a towel.

We then wandered for a while on wednesday morning, trying to find a metro station, and I realized too late that I forgot my phone at the B&B (don't worry Mom, they're sending it back to me).

We did get into Paris, and like good little Davidson students, we studied in the Luxembourg Gardens for our final that we were to have the next day. And, most excitingly, we made a trip to the Notre Dame and stepped on the star, ensuring us a safe voyage to and from Senegal.

Now all that's left to do is finish up class, and then it's time for more exploring! This weekend, the team is having our Spring Frolics (a Davidson tradition held to celebrate...what exactly? Spring time?) since we will miss it this year, and the actual event takes place while we are in Africa.

Though this trip was planned as it happened, and wasn't nearly as planned out as our past excursions, this trip was something out of my wildest dreams. I've never been farther east, and I've never seen things so old! (except maybe SUE, the Trex at the Field Museum) The whole time Hercules ran through my brain, and I even had a moment on the ferry when I realized where exactly I was and what I was doing. Emotional.

Don't worry folks, there is more to come, but probably not for a little while. I won't blog again until after Senegal, and when I return I'll have two days before my voyage to Holland, where I will (finally) get to see the long awaited members of my extended family!!!!!

But folks, I want to know that you know that I know that every mile is worth my while.

Until next time!

Traveling Quincy