My last few weeks in Greece...
Trip Start
Feb 18, 2008
1
23
24
Trip End
Jul 04, 2008
Athens, Attica, Greece
Friday, June 20, 2008
I'm very sad to say that this will be my last entry while in Greece because I leave on Sunday for Germany. But since the last time I wrote, everything has been wonderful!
Roxanne arrived on June 3rd and after she got off the plane we relaxed for a little while before going to see "Turandot," an opera at the Odeon Herodes Atticus, the ancient amphitheater at the base of the Acropolis. It was amazing. The costumes were exquisite, the orchestra was wonderful, and the acoustics were absolutely incredible. I'm so glad we decided to go.
On Wednesday in between my classes I took Roxy to the National Gardens for lunch. It was wonderful! And then we walked past Syntagma Square to see the guards. That night I took Roxy to meet Thalia and Yianni, some of my Greek friends.
Thursday, Kristina, Jessica, and I took Roxanne down to Plaka to do some shopping. While we were there a store owner invited us into his store. He started kissing us on the cheeks and pinching our cheeks. It was very awkward. It goes to show the difference in ideas about personal space between Greeks and Americans! Thursday night we went to see Sex and the City at the Village Cinema Theater in Pangrati. And when we got back Olivia (Kristina's friend from Cambridge England) had arrived! It was so good to see her.
Friday morning, Olivia, Roxanne, Kristina, and I left the apartment and took a ferry to Andros, where we spent three marvelous days sleeping in and relaxing on the beach. The weather couldn't have been more perfect.
On Monday when we got back to Athens, and after Greek class, we took Roxanne and Olivia to see the Temple of Zeus and the First Modern Olympic Stadium. The Temple of Zeus was very cool. Of the original 104 columns, 16 remain and they are absolutely massive and beautiful! That afternoon it started to thunderstorm so we decided to watch movies.
On Tuesday we went to Kalamaki, the beach that we always go to. On the ride there as well as at the beach we were studying for our Greek finals and some Greek people just came over and started helping us. It was really funny.
On Wednesday I took the first part of the Greek final and got a 98%! Then in between classes Roxy and I went to get coffee in Plaka. And then after photojournalism, we went to the Olympic Complex and walked the whole way around, it was the first time I got to see the swimming pools. Then we went to Hooter's for our friend Alex's birthday. The waitresses made him stand up on a chair and dance and sing. It was a lot of fun!
The next day, Roxy and I took on the role of tourists. We went up to the Acropolis, had lunch on the mountain right at the top of the Ancient Agora, and went through the Ancient Agora and the Roman Agora. And then just walked around Plaka again, where I bought a pair of BRIGHT pink pants! I can't wait to show everyone! That night we hung out with Thalia again so Roxanne could say goodbye.
On Friday, Roxy had to leave. It was really upsetting but we got to eat lunch with Chrissy at the creperie before going to the airport! And plus there was only a week left before I got to go to Germany, so it was okay! Friday night Mixos stopped by for dinner. I'm really going to miss him and all of the other Greek friends I've made!
Saturday, I stayed home and relaxed! It was wonderful! And then Sunday Kristina, Chrissy and I went to the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio. The Temple, which is still very much in tact, sits on top of a cliff. So at the base of the cliff, are several areas to go swimming. So we spent the afternoon swimming and playing volleyball on the beach with our new friend Carolina. We met her on the bus ride there. And afterwards, she came over for dinner! It was a lovely day.
Monday was a lot of studying and getting work done until the night when our entire apartment and some girls from the other apartment went to see the Tokyo Ballet, at the ancient amphitheater! And although the opera was my favorite, I absolutely loved the ballet! It was so much fun! The dancers were so talented, and so in shape that some of the moves they could do were unthinkable!
Tuesday we went to the beach, but it was incredibly hot and I was not getting any studying done so I came home a little bit early before my Statistics final. The final went really well, although I don't know my grade yet. And then 5 of my roommates and I went to Gusel (a beach club) with Yianni, Thalia, Thymios, and Theo. It was hip-hop / R&B night so we had a blast!
Wednesday we had our photojournalism presentation. I'm really glad that class is over, but I think he liked it so overall it went well! Then Kristina and I went to Starbucks for coffee and to reminisce about our trip because it was the four month anniversary of our trip. It was so much fun...we had a lot of good laughs! I'm really glad her and I got to do this together. Then we had our last full apartment dinner. And then Kristina and I went over to Thalia's house for a visit.
Yesterday we had our orientation final, which was a complete joke because the professor basically told us the answers. But it was okay because we learned all of the information 3 months ago. And then we had our BCA goodbye dinner. It was hard saying goodbye to Aphrodite (our program director) after everything she's done for us. But the food definitely made up for the sadness! I'm really going to miss eating Greek food. And the whole BCA group was there so it was really nice to be together one last time!
Today I started packing. I have no idea how it is all going to fit. But somehow I'll work it out! The next few days are a lot of saying goodbyes and cleaning. It should be good, but I'm definitely sad that it's all coming to an end! It was an amazing time and I'll never forget any of it!!!
And Sunday I will be in GERMANY! I'm not sure if I'll be able to write another entry before I get home, but expect my last one shortly after July 4th (the day I get back into the States!!)
Love you all,
Leighanne : )
