Athens & Aegina, April 24-26: "Jail Cell #9"

     Tuesday morning we were asked to change rooms at Dioskouros since our whole group wanted to live together in the basement. Unforunately, Jacquelyn, Kylie, and I did NOT get a bedroom in the basement. Oh no, good ol' Dio gave us a bathroom with some beds in it. The room may have been pushing 10 square ft, no lightbulb, the windows were sealed by the fresh paint, bathroom tile and piping still existed, the cat peed on Jacquelyn's towel, and my bed was actually a cot. Oh, and I pulled down the curtain rod out of the drywall when I attempted to open the curtains. I think about everyone can imagine how ridiculous this situation was, but honestly, it is Greece, what can you do? We tried to laugh it off, knowing we only had a few nights left in Athens before our trip to Mykonos. Anyway, after the move, I went to the hospital to get my INR checked and then onto the CIG for a test review. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful and ended with a sweet, refreshing dinner of yogurt. Yum!

My jail cell, basement room #9

     I spent most of Wednesday morning studying for the test, taking the test, and eating. It was a pretty chill day. We did go shopping for a bit and I bought myself some sweet Plaka pants! PS: Happy Birthday to my wonderful baby sister Meghan! I love you!

     Thursday morning was another early start for class because we took a hydrofoil from Piraeus to the island of Aegina. Once there, we visited the Temple of Aphaea (local cult goddess) and another Classical Era sanctuary on the water. Aegina is well-known for their pistachios so of course I had to try some (they are winners, dad!) Later that afternoon, we returned to Athens, made dinner at Dio, packed for Mykonos, and headed to bed-preparing for another early morning ferry ride.

Representing LFC Greek Life in front of the Temple of Aphaea on Aegina

Attica Day, April 23: "I love bus rides"

     Monday was the Attica Day Trip. Another early morning, we rounded up at Johnny Thom's square, and boarded a private coach bus. Our first stop was the site of Rhamnous. It had a temple of Nemesis (a god, not an enemy), and a smaller temple of Thesis (also a god, not a statement). We were fortunate enough to get an all-access pass to the fortress farther down the cliff. No tourists, best view ever.  We spent most of our day at this site, and I think it was worth it. We then drove off towards our second site, Thorikos, and stopped beforehand for lunch. Thorikos is the site of the first theater of Attica and a prominent mining area. Not quite a favorable site, but I knew it was important for class. We finished off class late with the Temple of Poseidon at Sunion-the one site I have been itching to visit (thank you, Xena Warrior Princess). It was gorgeous. The temple sits on a plateau surrounded by water and could probably be a fantastic place to watch the sunset or sunrise. It was so calm and breathtaking that even though I was exhausted, I did not want to leave. Unfortunately, Greece likes bad-timing so we did eventually leave. Once we had returned to Athens, Jacquelyn and I went to the Noodle Bar for dinner for some awesome Chinese food, and tucked ourselves in for a good night's sleep.

Jacquelyn and I at Rhamnous, photo-bombed by our professor

Temple of Poseidon at Sunion

The view from the temple at Sunion

Athens, April 20-22: "Pnyx...the birthplace of democracy!"

     Friday morning we finally were able to visit the ancient sites in Athens. It is funny to know that we have been in Greece for over a month and we have never visited the local sites. Anyway, our first stop was the ancient agora of Ancient Athens. we walked around, saw the Eponymous Heroes statue foundation, the temple of Hephaistos, and many other things I must learn for my test on the 25th. :) Afterwards, we broke off for lunch, returned to visit the Kerameikos (has many tumuli and graves from the classical period), and ended class for the day. Jacquelyn and I hiked around the Pnyx for a bit to scope it out for my presentation the following day. Then we got some amazing Greek yogurt smoothies, went shopping for dinner, and returned to Dioskouros. Jake, Zoe, Jacquelyn, Kari, Kylie, and I enjoyed a nice home-made meal of chicken, sauteed mushrooms, arugula salad, and cinnamon honey apple slices.

A view of the agora in Athens

     Saturday was another long day around Athens. It began at the Theater of Dionysious on the Acropolis (note that we actually hiked up half way to the top, and descended-therefore making it officially 33 days since I set eyes on the Acropolis and have still not been to the top). We learned a bit about Oedipus and drama competitions. Then we moved to the Pnyx where I gave my presentation about the assembly and democracy. We had a BYOF (bring your own food) picnic there on the hillside, and then ascended the intense hill of Phillapopos. Jacquelyn, Kylie, and I have hiked that before, but not following our speed-demon of a professor. After that hill, we climbed the shiny rock of the Aeropagos, where classical murder cases were held. Class was dismissed and most of us went walking around setting dinner plans. The rest of the night involved food, showering, and leisurely book reading (my favorite).

The Theater of Dionysious

The Pnyx

     Sunday was the day. We FINALLY went to the Acropolis. We had a bright, early start (to beat the tourists), and was able to experience the masterpiece of Athens. The Parthenon was pretty amazing, but is, unfortunately, still covered in scaffolding from renovations. We spent most of the morning on site, had a break for lunch, and then went to the new Acropolis Museum. My favorite part of this museum was the pediment and metopes sculptures from the Parthenon. I wish I had pictures of this museum, but the security guards (who acted like they were protecting the American president) tried to tackle me and take my camera (not really, but you get the idea). That evening we all went out for a group dinner to a local taverna, got gelato (the best of course), and headed to bed.

At the Acropolis in front of the Parthenon

Delphi, April 16-19: "No more ouzo for you..."

     Monday was Nessa and Albion's 21st birthdays! Don't worry, we celebrated properly in Delphi. That morning we took a public coach bus to the city. A few of us were asked to ride a separate bus to even out the number of people in the buses; and I was lucky enough to ride "the party bus". Oh yes, smiley face and heart-shaped air fresheners, lip stickers on the mirrors, it was great. The best part? We left a yia-yia at the rest stop during our quick 15 minute break. Priceless. So we got settled in at the hotel and went to a sanctuary for class that afternoon. That night the group went to dinner and then out to a dance club called "downtown club". Let's just say it was SO FUN. More details in person if you would like :)
     Tuesday was rough. I cannot say I liked that day, but the site was A-mazing! The temple was cool, the fog settling in from the valley was spectacular, and the view. My goodness, the view! Pictures don't do Delphi justice. Anyway, that evening we went to dinner as a group, again. I may or may not have met this guy the night before and lucky me, he was our waiter at this restaurant. Quite funny but more-so awkward. Anyway, the rest of the night was pretty uneventful.

The fog rolling in from the valley at Delphi

     The next day was Jake Stowe's birthday. So many birthdays!! This was also the first rainy day of our trip (pretty lucky) and we spent it in a museum. It was actually a pretty interesting museum, and it was small-these are the best. After class ended, a bunch of us went back on to the site at Delphi to take pictures and walk around. We returned to our hotel, relaxed, watched some random TV episodes online, and got ready for dinner. Sam, Geoff, Nessa, Eileen, Jacquelyn, Kylie, and I went to see some incredibly adorable puppies in a field, and then walked to a small taverna for dinner. Guess what?! That guy from the other night that I met? Yea, he works there too, and was also our waiter (this guy loves to work). It was a decent dinner, but then the guy asked me to wait behind so we could chat. Okay, a little awkward. Let's just say long story short, this guy actually professed his love for me and talked about us going back to Athens and the States together. We only talked for maybe an hour total, at the most, since I met him. I guess I am a heartbreaker ;) I told him I didn't think it would work out, simply because I did not want it to. He was not a fan of that decision and eventually persuaded me to do the cowardly thing and give him my number so I could sprint back to my hotel. Well he called about 8 times that night (all unanswered I assure you) and texted me 8 times as well and finally when I told him to go away, he sent me one final goodbye text that called me a liar.

Boden in his Scottish kilt on Jake Stowe's birthday

     Thursday morning I was itching to leave this small town and get back to Athens (where the population is about 50 times larger than Delphi). We took our public coach bus back to the city where we arrived in the evening, grabbed some dinner, skyped family and friends, and headed to bed. Delphi was the best city for about the first one hour of the trip. Then it turned into 3 days of hell.

The cutest puppy in Greece

Athens, April 14-15: "Kala Paska"

     Saturday in Athens was just filled with reading, laundry, and running errands (which is code for eating). Kylie, Jacquelyn, and I made one heck of a dinner (with Jake's help) of pasta, prawns, and salad. It was so tasty and I was pretty proud of myself for teaching those two how to cook. Later that evening we all dressed up and gathered together at Boden's apartment to ring-in Easter at midnight. It is customary in the Greek Orthodox religion to hold the vigil mass at midnight and it begins with fireworks and the passing of the light with candles throughout the city. Then the mass takes place for about two hours (we did not stay the entire time, due to the fact that it was in another language). It was pretty moving, especially due to the language barrier. It was nice to be in the "easter" mindset at once point. Sunday was spent relaxing again until the evening when we had a group dinner in Plaka. It was SO fun! We broke the red eggs for luck, threw white carnations at each other, and broke plates to the tune of a Greek duo at the restaurant. Kala Paska!

The candle light pass for Easter

   

Olympia, April 10-13: "The Robe Breakfast"

     Tuesday morning we woke up early, had breakfast, and packed to leave Athens for Olympia. We were so excited because we thought we were riding in our usual coach bus; unfortunately, today was the day we began taking the public coach bus. It was not too bad, just a bit of a tight-packed bus and the occasional plea from the driver to stop eating on the bus, otherwise the six hour ride was an uneventful one. We arrived in Olympia later that evening (a town that has about 4 roads, probably a population of 350), and I decided to welcome myself to the town by taking a 16 hour nap. No, I really am not kidding. Whether I am in South Bend, Lake Forest, Athens, or India, I will always take random long naps.
     Wednesday morning was our first day of class in Olympia. We walked to the site and encountered some remarkable temples, treasuries, and tourists (my god...the tourists...). This was the site of the first Olympics and we were able to see the stadium and the training areas (gymnasium and the palaestra). This site was so serene and had the most gorgeous trees I have ever seen. We were lucky enough to return to the site and its accompanied museum the following day as well. The breakfasts were fantastic at this hotel, and it was even better thanks to the "robe crew" who came down in their hotel robes to enjoy breakfast. Overall the trip to Olympia was simple and relaxing; until the last night when my room key was stolen from the front desk. But we should all remember that I am still Lexie and my luck runs out very quickly.

The trees at Olympia

Sam and Geoff, part of the "robe crew"

The stadium at Olympia....I did not volunteer to run it, thank you

Athens, April 9: "Shh....don't tell anyone though"

     Monday we spent the day in Athens. I woke early, again, to finish writing my paper for class. Once finished (and just barely in time), we went to the CIG to meet our second professor, Maria, and learn about the timeline for this second class of the Classical Era. We had our introductions, talked about the class, assigned presentation topics (mine is the Pnyx and I don't know what it is yet-sorry), and went to lunch. After lunch, it began to rain just in time for us to walk to the National Archaeological Museum across town for class. We spent a couple of hours there, and then we got the evening off to go to the different markets to get food for dinner. On our way back to the hotel, it started downpouring, so Kylie, Jacquelyn and I stood under an overhang to wait it out. I think met my friend-we'll call him "Rob". So Rob asked me where we were from (he def. wasn't Greek but I am not knowledgeable enough to know where he was from), what we were doing in Greece, if we were enjoying it..etc etc. Then, out of nowhere, Rob asked me if I knew that the Middle East puts lasers and satellites in space that are connected to the American computers and everytime an American searches for something on the internet, the people in the Middle East can read it........then he asked me to not tell anyone (as his eyes darted all over the place)....again, another social cue decided that it was time to leave and find another overhang to stand under. Jacquelyn, Kylie, and I decided to step into the Noodle Bar to get drinks, but eventually ordered some food. It was really tasty Chinese food!! By the time we were finished, we returned to Dioskouros, showered, packed our bags for the next morning, and helped prepare the family dinner of Latina fajitas (we made the salsa!)