The Patron Saint of Our Program

Trip Start Sep 07, 2008
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Trip End Dec 09, 2008


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Flag of Greece  , Crete,
Sunday, September 28, 2008

We got back on the bus for the climb through the still-lingering morning mist up the hill to the ancient Minoan palace of Phaestos (FAY-stohs). We sat on the stairs of the palace's West Court, where spectators would have watched a religious processional. Indy proceeded, as the students would say, to "drop some knowledge on us." My favorite fun fact of the day from Indy: "A lot of things that look like ivory in Minoan archaeological finds are actually made of hippopotamus tooth." Where else can you learn stuff like this?

The students adore Indy. He has a quick wit, a slow temper, and a bottomless font of knowledge about ancient Greece. First they decided he was a wizard. Then they called him a rock star (they meant musical celebrity, but he made the obvious pun about archaeological stone). Then they made him a deity. No matter how fast he talks or how fast he walks, they just love him more Learning on the steps of the palace's West Court
Learning on the steps of the palace's West Court
 . Some of the students like to make up sayings about him:

"Indy doesn't walk, he floats on jet pack boots."

"Indy doesn't get hot, he had his sweat glands surgically removed in grad school."

"Indy speaks Greek, English, Swedish, and Elvish."

"Indy's like Dumbledore. He didn't take a boat to Crete, he just apparated."

It's wonderful to see how well they connect with him.
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