Day 1

Anonymous

This was the best wake up I have had in a long time. After traveling 10 hours on a plane to Amsterdam with a short layover, then the 3 hours flight to Athens, which I slept most of, waking up and looking out the window to the beautiful landscape below what the most amazing. The plane was over an island, I am not sure which one, but the hilly terrain companied by the white houses with orange-ish red roofs and the clear turquoise ocean surrounding it was breath taking, the sunny skies helped of course too. Within an hour of awaking to see such a beautiful sight, we had landed in the airport, got off on the tarmac, took a short bus ride to the airport where we collected our luggage, then got on the bus to take us where we will be staying. The apartments that the groups are staying in had to have been built in the 70’s or so because they have a quirky charm, with retro looking tile that only something built before I was born could have. The apartment windows over look a beautiful old Greek Orthodox Church that held a wedding tonight and will hold service early Sunday morning. The only thing we could possibly complain about this is that the 3 other girls and I that are occupying this space for the next 20ish days is that; we have had the hardest time actually being able to use our keys! We first got locked outside of our room, then were locked inside, then of course couldn’t figure out how to get back into the building, but after some practice, I think we may have managed to master the locks.

After unpacking and getting settled, the whole class hit the streets. We first went to a grocery store to pick up food that we could have in our apartments for quick breakfasts, lunches, and snacks, the usual basics, but with the language barrier, this trip was far from a quick and typical run to the store. First of all, breakfast was my plan of attack, if I have learned anything form college, it is that as long as you have cold cereal you can survive and it cures and hunger or craving you may have. So picking out the cereal wasn’t too bad, it all had pictures, so I picked the one that looked the best, no brainer. But, then it came to the milk. I had no idea which one was what, knowing from home that there are so many milk choices, I knew that this was going to be my first guess and hope I pick a good one sort of choice of the day. So I browsed the section saw the word non fat, and that its was not going to cost me an arm and a leg, and put it in my baskets. Bread was another no brainer, which one looked the best. No worries there, but when it came time to go to the deli to get some meat and cheese for sandwiches I was in shock. So many options to chose from, not knowing ham apart from the turkey, from any other sort of meats that they had. So this was my method of attack, pick the meat and cheese that looked like it had been eaten enough but had one ready to be opened, making it appear that it was so popular that they needed the next one ready to go. The first man that I spoke with in the deli didn’t understand English but luckily a very nice woman who spoke both languages was able to serve as our guide. She would ask me how many slices of meat or cheese that I would like, because I am sure she knew that I would not understand their measuring systems since I could not say half a pound, but overall, the people were very nice and the first experience with the Greek community was great.

Later that night the class went for a walk. Now when you think walk, you may think oh short 30-minute stroll around Athens, but this was no quick stroll. We first started wearing through the roads that take you to the Acropolis, which is just across the street and up the hill from our apartments, but then as we continued on this path we got deeper, and deeper into the heart of Athens. We ended up downtown, and by this time, starving. The walk along the way was beautiful. The cobble stone streets, people in the cafes and walking their dogs, the busy shops, and the clear not to cold night made it an incredible introduction to Greece. But, as we continued my love of the city then became a search for cafes, as did everyone else’s. Professor Finitsis, I am sure, felt this hunger amongst the group, and quickly took us to a place to eat. Now at home, my family and I call what we had Gyros, but here, that is what describes how the meat is cooked, by rotating on the large post and getting cooked to perfection that way, and while I never actually caught the real name of this pita filled of deliciousness, I am pretty sure that asking for a Gyro will get me the same sort of food. This particular Gyro was my first actual food in Greece and while I have had many a Gyro made by Greeks and Americans alike back home, something about eating this particular one standing in the middle of Athens, next historical churches, amongst Greek night life made this the best one I have had yet.

As we continued our walk, we spotted many places that we would like to come back and visit when we have more time, when the shops are open, and when it is not 10 at night and we have been going all day. But the tiredness nor the bad decision of wearing boots on the first outing stopped me from enjoying all of the sights and sounds, the guards standing ready all along the government building, the stray dogs that followed us, and the wonderful feeling I had to be in a place mixed of a long history and bustling modern times, where the people have been friendly, and the food has been great. I couldn’t help but smile and know that these next 20 days in Greece are going to be full of adventure, culture, history, and most of all fun.