Coming home

Samos was beautiful. Just lots of beach time and a trip to an ancient underground aquaduct that runs through the mountain. I just shopped on my last day in Athens and am now sitting in the airport ready to come home. I have about 20 hrs of traveling ahead of me/if not more so im trying to be as patient as possible. My first flight is 11 hrs long, so after that I know I will just be ready to be done. But then I have to clear customs in Newark before boarding a 3 hr flight to MN. I should be home around 8 pm if everything goes according to plan but not in buffalo til the morning probably. See ya soon guys!

Bergama, Ephesos, Kusadasi, and the rest of Turkey

Our days have been super hectic and the internet connection has been getting less and less powerful, leading to me not bothing with updating my blog. With only 5 days left of the trip, its weird to think that instead of updating it I could just tell you myself in about a week. But for those of you I wont see right away, here is a sum up of the rest of my time in Turkey...

The day after Troy we went to the Acropolis at Bergama, a famous mountain slope that held the second largest library of Alexander's time, second only to the one in Alexandria. More interesting that the sites was the view of the nearby turkish country side, which was green, mountainous, and really beautiful. That day we also went to the Aslkepion temple, an ancient hospital with underground tunnels that were pretty cool to walk around in. Then we stopped at a parchment shop, famous for Bergama paper, incredibly stretched lamb skin tanned and used for paintings and such. After we ate lunch at a Turkish buffet. Turkish food was maybe my favorite thing about Turkey, lots of veal and beans and veggies but also these cornbread like pastries soaked in honey and rolled in sugar. Those were by far my favorite and my goal when I get home is to learn how to make them for myself. After lunch, we went to an onyx factory, where they receive unworked onyx and carve and polish and then sell it. Seeing the onyx like that was really beautiful, but way to expensive to buy anything. Many people did buy some gifts there though. My professor Stavros got is wife a gold necklace with an onyx stone set in the middle. Stav is so cute.

After the onyx place we drove a little over 2 hours to Kusadasi (Kushadasee), the town where we spent the rest of our time in Turkey. After we received a suite, we found out that our air conditioner, 3 lights, and door didnt work. We also only had one tiny service window. The heat got so bad that by our 2 night we had to be moved to a room with at least a window to get some breeze. Other than that, the food was pretty good, and it over looked the harbor and all the good shopping and bar streets so it was a pretty good place to be.

The next day, we went to Ephesos, maybe the most famous of the ancient Greecian cities in modern day Turkey. There is the most well preserved city of the Alexandrian age all the way to the Roman empire. There our tour guide Asil went way overboard, and we stood there in the 103 degree heat for 2 hours talking and walking through the site with about 1000 other tourists. We were only about 3/4 of the way through the site though, not even to the huge theatre or the most famous library and tomb, the symbols of the city. So our group leader Jess, who isnt very nice or subtle to us or anybody else, thankfully stepped in and made him just talk about Alexander and the things that pretained to our class. That shortened the lecture quite a bit and we got back on the bus about 2 1/2 hours after arriving there, hot and dehydrated.

After cooling down we quickly visited the museum of Ephesos, which our professor didnt even want to go to but our tour guide insisted on (it had nothing to do with anything we were talking about), we went to a rug weaving place for lunch. Apparently in their free time from weaving, girls there cook traditional Turkish meals. The food was unbelievable, but the place looked straight out of a James Bond movie, and could have been the Turkish mob. After lunch the "coordinator" showed us around the place, showing us how silk is harvested from the worms and how they dye it. After talking to us about the Turkish economy and how tourism effects it, he showed us some beautiful rugs, one of which he let us walk on barefooted. After walking on it he told us the rug was worth 19,000 dollars! Crazy. Anyway after saying thank you and telling us to "look around and we know your students so let us answer your questions" salesmen flew out of the woodwork and like pounced on us, trying to sell us small rugs or pillowcases.

After that place we figured it out, Asil was taking us to places that he got extra commision for taking us, trying to get us to spend money. Parchment shop, bookstore, onyx factory, rug place, and then the next day tried to get us to go to a leather factory because "leather is important part of the culture". So after figuring out his little game, we vitoed his leather factory idea and just opted to go back and do some shopping.

The next day was a free day and we went to a local beach and did some exploring. The shop keepers are obnoxious though, yelled really gross things to passing women who dont come into their shops. So after puting up with that for long enough, we just hung out by the pool and got some Burger King, my first fast food on the trip. Amazing. Even better than the Burgerking ni the states by far. I have been craving anything spicy forever so that helped a little in my "food homesickness" as everyone here is calling it. I just want a taco like you wouldnt believe. haha

The next day on our way to Priene, I got sick on the bus and stayed and slept on the bus while the class visited 2 sites. 8 college advisors from schools in the states met us and traveled with us, to see how an arcadia summer program worked. I talked with them a little at lunch because I was feeling better (I had a piece of bread) and I was really glad they were there, because that meant Asil had a time limit and couldnt spend the lecture describing everything rock by rock. The last site was the Apollian Temple from Alexanders time, and I really didnt want to miss it so I got off the bus. Im sooo happy that I did. With column bases as large as 6 meters in diameter, this temple was my favorite place we have visited so far. Fairly well preserved, It had most of the walls and every column was about half as tall as the original, with 2 columns left at original height ( I would say like 6 or 7 stories tall, at least). Then we went back to Kusadasi but I was sick again so I spent the rest of the night in bed.

This morning we left Kusadasi and took a ferry 1 1/2 hrs to Samos, a Greek island right off the coast of Turkey. We had free time all day today, so we sat by the beach, had some lunch (I was feeling much better) and took naps. Tomorrow we have our last full class day, and then the next day free day and a review on the island. Then we have a 10 hr ferry ride to Athens on Tuesday, so we are taking our final exam on that during that time. Then Wednesday is free day to pack and do whatever else in Athens that we havent done yet, and say good bye to the city which I've spent my entire summer in. Then Thursday, after 20 hrs of traveling I will be home at last.

This may or may not be my last blog post, but maybe one more after our review on Monday. Ive had such a great time here, but Im ready to come home and get back into the loop and see everyone. BTW I really hope there is mexican waiting for me when I get back. haha See ya soon!!

Troy..and legends of Creepy Tour Guide part I

Troy. Just knowing that we were only going to stop at one city on monday, and that city was going to be Troy, put us all in a great mood on when we woke up. We left Canakkale and drove south about 40 minutes to the city Heinrich Schliemann, a treassure hunter of sorts, found when looking for the Treassury of Priam. It was great to see the legendary city, actually 9 different cities, all from different time periods. You could really see the architecture of the fallen marble, with the engravings and everything. Our tour guide, Asil, was almost too thourough, giving us way more information than anyone ever needs to hear about history. He started taking pictures as well, even though he as been doing this for years and years. A little strange. Also there was this couple who asked him to take their picture infront of the wooden horse, and after he took about 17 photos, exchanged names and emails with them, we finally got to go to lunch...

After a delicious lunch and some shopping we got back on the bus and drove....and drove....and drove. After 4 hours, we finally came to our hotel in Bergama. Sleeping on the bus is not the same as getting actual rest, and we were so exhausted from the heat and bus ride that after dinner most of us just went to bed. However, a couple of us decided to go for a walk into the city, and stretch a bit. Asil, dressed in very short red shorts, decided that he would once again be their guide. Walking them into the city, he did not leave out any details about the city or the streets or even about the animals. He started talking to my friend Annie, and being nice, she chatted with him for a minute or two while the group was looking around. Then, out of the blue, he told her she had a beautiful smile, and proceeded to ask her to SMELL him.

And so Asil, who is trying to find an american publisher for his book, is now deemed creepest tour guide ever...he is a good picture taker though, so above are some shots from Troy.

Next up Bergama and Kusadasi, Ephesos, Onyx, Turkish Baths, and more Creeeepy tourguide.

Turkey and Troy

Our last day in Thessaloniki we traveled to Phillippe, a town established by Phillip the 2nd the same year that his son, Alexander the Great was born. It was still under escavations but the part we saw still had the arches and things preserved which was pretty cool. After Phillippe we went to a museum in Amphipolis, but it started to storm so we cut the day short and headed back to Thessaloniki for one more night. After the rain stopped we walked to to old Roman Agora and saw the bzantine church of St. Demitris. After going to a famous bakery in Thessaloniki (this town was just filled with good food) we went to bed to get ready for the 6 am wake up call the next day.

Sunday was the longest day of my life. At 6:30 am, we got on the bus and headed toward Turkey, a 5 hour drive. Since it was sunday, absolutly nothing was open so we had to wait until 10:30 to use the restroom, not a very good thing when we are alway reminded to drink lots of water because of the heat. After stopping in Alexandropoli for about 15 minutes to stretch and find a bathroom, we drove the hour to the Greece/Turkey border. After waiting and then clearing out of Greecian customs, then getting our travel visas and clearing Turkey customs, it was 12:30 by the time we entered into Turkey.

After switching buses twice and driving for a really long time, we finally came to the coast where European Turkey ends and you can see across the straight to Asian Turkey. We drove on to a ferry that took us across the straight, and a half an hour later we were in Asia minor, in Turkey and in the middle of nowhere. Then we drove even more and came to the town by the Biga river, ancient times names Granicus. It was 4:00 pm. We finally ate lunch which was free (all the meals in turkey are free) and then had a brief lecture about the battle of granicus and its importance for Alexander. Then we drove another 3 hours to our hotel in Canakkle. So after traveling 12 1/2 hours we finally rested at a super great hotel with a pool, restaurant, and really nice rooms. We had a good dinner, and had a walk around the harbor our hotel was on, stopping to take pictures with the wooden horse from the movie Troy.

Today we went to Troy..and I will blog about that probably tomorrow...when I have more time. Right now its time for dinner in a different city, and then maybe some pool time before starting early again tomorrow. love you guys

Thessaloniki

Ive been in Thessaloniki for the past few days. Its really great. It is a hipper, collegy town with tons of stuff to do and tons of really cheap stores and good bakeries. The drive here we stopped in Thebes, just to talk about the famous war of Thebes lead by Phillip the 2nd, Alexander the Great's father. The lecture was pretty cool, but our bus driver however, is not really getting the job done. He got lost 3 or 4 times on our way to a small town monument. Even worse, he drives so slow that it took an entire 7 hours of just driving time to get to Thessaloniki, and we only had 1 break. So after we arrived in Thessaloniki after 10 hours of traveling, we finally got to our hotel. The Egnatia is super nice and most of us have double rooms, which is nice for showering and stuff. We then found a really great gyro place for dinner, and went to bed. You would think being on a bus sleeping all day would be good rest, but in reality it makes you even more tired, and in need of a really comfortable bed.

The next day we went to Dion, the ancient macadonian religios center, at the base of Mount Olympus. Seeing Olympus and the ancient town was really cool, there were still mosiac floors in some of the old courtyards. After that, we went to the beach, and after getting lost 3 times thanks to Christos (the bus driver), we finally made it for some well deserved relaxation.

On Thursday, we went to Pella and Vergina, each were ancient capitols in Macedonia at different time periods. Pella had more courtyard mosiacs which were interesting to me, because they were also in the house of Euripides, my favorite ancient playwrite. So after seeing Pella, the mosiacs and an ancient bathhouse, we drove to the middle of nowhere. We got out, crossed a bridge and came to a cave. As we sat down, Stavros told us that we were in the cave were Aristotle taught Alexander the Great for at least 3 years. Having lecture the same place where Alexander learned was beyond cool. After the cave we drove to Vergina, ancient Aege, and went to the best museum I have seen by far. It was the museum of Phillip the 2nd's tomb, complete with all the gold armor, crowns, and jewelry. There was the gold box where his bones were and an ivory couch that they sat on. Phillips tomb was a house with a sealed door, made of marble and hand painted with elaborate battle scenes. You couldnt take pictures in the museum though, and that was sad because that is definitly something I want to remember. After an exhausting day, all of us slept the rest of the evening.

Today, Friday, we first went to the Thessaloniki Archeological museum. The museum was all about the life of macadonians, and very cool. Huge marble statues, gold crowns, and even houses with gorgeous mosiacs were uncovered at that very spot, and placed in the museum. After that, we went to Olynthos, about an hour away. There was the site of a huge rival colony of Athens, one that was burned to the ground with all of the people inside. Sad as that is, today you can see all of the foundations of the city perfectly. The grid system of laying a city out like a checker board (the way most small town american cities are built) was invented here in Greece, and with just the city foundations down, you could see the grid perfectly. Then it was off to a wonderful nearby beach with soft sand, warm water, hot sun and hardly anyone on it.

When we got back to Thessaloniki tonight, we all went out for mexican food, the first I have had since I got here. I have been craving mexican sooo badly, and even though this was Greek/Mexican it was better than nothing and had real guacamole. After walking all the way there and back, stopping at a bakery on the way, Im once again exhausted and am ready for a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow we have one last full day in Thessaloniki, and then Sunday we leave at 6:30 am for Turkey. I am so excited to go, and once we get there it means my time here is almost up. Thessaloniki has been really great though, and Im really excited to go to Turkey even though I will understand even less Turkish then I do Greek.

Love y'all!

Back at it

Pics from Santorini! Beach we stayed at. Perissa...soooo great.

View from our restaurant in Oia (Ea).

At the top of the volcano, looking towards Santorini

The rest of my Santorini vacation was so amazing. . . climbing the volcano, swimming in the hot springs, eating great food and being with fun people. Our last day there, I got up at 8 to go outside for an hour to just soke in the sound of the waves and the peacefullness that is an empty ocean-front beach. Then after finding a bakery for a quick breakfast, I packed me things got ready for a 5 hour ferry ride back to Pereias (the port of Athens). After arguing with a couple of cab drivers about using the meter ( It should only be an 8 euro cab ride, many try to charge 25 euro to tourists) we went to the education center for a free meal and to meet all the new arrivals that we will be having class with the next couple of weeks. I got a new roommate, Gwen, who is orignally from Pennsylvania but goes to school in Aberdeen, Scottland. There is also a girl named Eleni, whose parents are Greek, so she can speak the language. She is super great and we hung out later in the evening when we all went out with them to welcome them here.

Today was the first day of the new class session, and we went to the ancient Agora. In the last class session we had already been there, but Stavros related more of the information to the new topic, Alexander the Great. It was an easy day, out of the sun, and only about an hours worth of lecture.

Tonight I am celebrating the 4th by going to a huge concert for DJ Tiesto on the beach. He is really famous here, as well as in the states. But since Tiesto has a small habit of showing up kinda whenever he wants, I probably will not get any sleep before heading to the New Acropolis Museum tomorrow. The museum just opened about 2 weeks ago, and is supposed to be just absolutly gorgeous. Everyone that has been there already has said they would go back many more times because it has been their favorite.

Monday we are going to the Archeological museum one last time before hitting the road for Thessaloniki on Tuesday morning...from there we will be gone 13 days traveling up Greece and to Turkey then Eventually to the Island of Samos....and then prepare for a 10 hour ferry ride back (which is how long it takes to fly from here to New York! grooosssss).

This is our complete schedule for the next session. ...

Tue 7th-Thebes, night in Thessaloniki

Wed 8th- 2 archeological sites, night in Thessaloniki

Thur 9th- 4 sites, night in Thessaloniki

Fri 10th-2 museums, night in Thessaloniki

Sat 11th- Beaches nearby Thessaloniki, 1 site, night in Thessaloniki

Sun 12th- Drive to Turkey, visit a museum and a site on the way, night in Canakkale

Mon 13th- Troy, night in Bergama

Tue 14th- Pergamon, night in Kusadasi

Wed 15th- Ephessos, night in Kusadasi

Thur 16th- Free day in Kusadasi Turkey, night in Kusadasi

Fri 17th- 3 sites, 1 museum, night in Kusadasi

Sat 18th- Ferry to Samos island (75 min), Free day, night in Samos

Sun 19th- 3 sites on Samos, night in Samos

Mon 20th- Ferry to Athens (10hrs!), night in Athens

Tue 21st- Review day, night in Athens

Wed 22nd- Final exam, night in Athens

Thur 23rd- Fly home (11hr flight to NJ, 2 hr layover, 2 hr flight to MN)

Miss you guys lots! See ya in 2 1/2 weeks!

Santorini

Just a short update on my vacation...

Santorini is soooo awesome! After a 4 hour ferry ride we arrived in the crazy hectic port and found the driver from our hotel. We got to our hotel later, to find 2 pools, free internet, movies air conditioning, cheap drinks, and a really helpful staff. We went out for lunch then laid out on the black sand beach. This beach is one of very few black sand beaches in the world, made by volcanic activity.

Today we ventured into the island to find a winery with a great view of the island. After a wine tasting we went to the red sand beach, also made by volcanic activity. It was super great, getting to see the burgandy cliffs and then down to the black/red rock that made up the beach.

Tomorrow we are taking a tour of the island all day, going to the volcano, hot springs, a smaller island right off the coast, and then to Oia, the most famous town on the island. Thats the traditional town on all the postcards, with the most famous sunset views of any island in the mediterranean. We might even ride a donkey up the slope!

Im having a wonderful vacation, and you guys would love it here.

Love you