Hey everybody- so much to tell you. As of today, I'm all moved into my apartment in Rome and we are busy with orientation.
The past 2 weeks have been filled with strikes and riots in Athens, busy airports, venice and cinque terre and Rome. I have so much to tell you about all if it and Internet is slow so as soon as it gets better...
Stories and pictures ASAP!
Love you guys!
KP
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Strike Three Athens, I'm out (hopefully)!
I'm so sorry for anyone reading today who doesn't want to hear me vent.
That was your warning.
After coming down from a wonderful birthday weekend with all of my friends here, I was informed that the general strike and the air traffic controllers strike might continue onto this Thursday, the day that many of us are scheduled to leave. Now, nothing is for sure yet, but hearing that was the final straw.
Its been an increasing struggle here in Athens with the strikes more than anything. If they mean for it to be inconvenient, they're really doing their job. If they mean for it to be effective...think again.
Beyond the demonstrations and protests, strikes are excessively prevalent. Organizations I would never dream of going without are striking- doctors, police officers, coast guard, taxis, metro services, teachers, the post office workers...
waste management, my fav.
I know its way more complicated than that, and I should definitely spend some time doing research on why they are striking.
Maybe when I'm stuck here in Athens while my flight has been cancelled I'll read up on that.
Oh man, that was negative.
On a positive note- I had a great 21st birthday! I spent the day hanging around the flea market with Ali, Megan and Hannah, browsing over souvenirs, and then we went up to the Acropolis. Afterwards, everyone that was here (all 25 of us), went out to dinner in Monastiraki and went out to a rooftop bar for the night.
Lots of fun :)
Love you guys!
Pray that we have some easy travel days ahead of us!
KP
That was your warning.
After coming down from a wonderful birthday weekend with all of my friends here, I was informed that the general strike and the air traffic controllers strike might continue onto this Thursday, the day that many of us are scheduled to leave. Now, nothing is for sure yet, but hearing that was the final straw.
Its been an increasing struggle here in Athens with the strikes more than anything. If they mean for it to be inconvenient, they're really doing their job. If they mean for it to be effective...think again.
Beyond the demonstrations and protests, strikes are excessively prevalent. Organizations I would never dream of going without are striking- doctors, police officers, coast guard, taxis, metro services, teachers, the post office workers...
waste management, my fav.
Its truly ridiculous.
This is a huge culture shock to me too. I'm not usually directly affected when there is a strike in the United States. It just doesn't affect daily life there like it does here.
The air I breathe outside smells like rotting food, toilet paper, and cat poop. How's that for personal influence?
We've missed out on several museum visits for class because they went on strike too.
The strikes are decided pretty quickly before they happen, making it really inconvenient for everybody.
I have to admit, I don't know a whole lot about unions and strikes. But, if they strike all the time, aren't they missing out on money they could be making? And in some cases, aren't they just making it harder for themselves? Like, the garbage guys have to pick up the three weeks worth of trash eventually, right? I can't see the strike helping them.
Also, are they striking for higher wages from the government? Greece needs to get it together and fast. They have no money. Where do all these organizations and unions think money is going to come from?
There is none.
Bottom line: Its just inconvenient, and its way beyond the point of being effective.
I know its way more complicated than that, and I should definitely spend some time doing research on why they are striking.
Maybe when I'm stuck here in Athens while my flight has been cancelled I'll read up on that.
Oh man, that was negative.
On a positive note- I had a great 21st birthday! I spent the day hanging around the flea market with Ali, Megan and Hannah, browsing over souvenirs, and then we went up to the Acropolis. Afterwards, everyone that was here (all 25 of us), went out to dinner in Monastiraki and went out to a rooftop bar for the night.
Lots of fun :)
Love you guys!
Pray that we have some easy travel days ahead of us!
KP
Monday, October 10, 2011
Small Discoveries & Delphi
Hi again,
So, I've discovered a few things about myself and Athens since I've been here.
- I am on the verge of being able to cook. Or.... at least not burn things. I've been trying some new things, cooking different foods, and so far so good.
I'm not any contestant for a Fear Factor episode, but I'm working on it.
- I don't like clubs. Unless, I'm really, really, really in the mood to dance. We went to one last weekend, because we haven't really ventured into the nightlife much. I seriously walked in and lost my hearing. There is nothing appealing to me about standing next to the stereo, and having people try to talk to me by yelling even louder.
That's another thing. You can't yell in people's ears when its loud, just like you can't yell in them when its quiet. It just sounds like the teacher from Charlie Brown and they look at you like "understand?" No, no I do not.
I've accepted it. I'm a bar person, not a clubbing person.
- I'm actually pretty good at figuring out maps- when walking. Driving? I'm sticking to the Garmin for now.
- I have an unhealthy dependency on Target. I'm having withdrawals. Its just so hard not to find everything in one place.
- I love to run outside. For the last few years I've been sticking to a treadmill, but here I love it!
- These two hour classes are killing me slowly, I have a much shorter attention span than I thought.
- I hate cats. The strays here were fun at first, but now I see they leave presents on the sidewalk. Not cool.
- I'm not a fan of rain. Today is the third time its rained here. I picked a good program so far. I've heard it rains a lot in Rome. Pray the sunshine follows me!
- Not every demonstration and protest is a riot. When we came here, I figured most were going to end violently. They are always prepared for it, but very rarely does the situation escalate in that way. What they don't show on TV is beyond the crowds of demonstrators, there are Greek people with shopping bags walking right beside them who don't care one way or another about the issue. They don't interact, but they share the space in Syntagma. Now, I hate to say it because it makes me sound like I'm not being careful, but if I see a protest, I just keep walking and take another block down. No big deal.
DELPHI
We went to Delphi (Delf-eye or delf-ee, either way) this weekend for one night. Its another site of a sanctuary and of the Oracle in ancient Greece. We left Saturday morning, drove through the mountains again, our first stop was at the monastery of Saint Luke- a Byzantine Monk in Greece in the late 900's AD. He was said to have prediction powers, and was a hermit. The church has such finely decorated details and I am continuously impressed by the great colors that are used in the churches to decorate.
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring a little and going through the museum there. I felt really sick and I was so tired of walking around that the museum wasn't very enjoyable for me. Soon enough, we checked into our hotel and I took a 2 hour nap and felt much better after.
Saturday night we spent going to dinner as a group at a nice restaurant above our hotel. Our Greek dinner consisted of:
-shredded lettuce with Olive Oil and bread
-a Spinach Pie
-Some Greek noodles and some chicken. It was cooked like you would cook ribs. Different texture.
- Dessert? Greek Yogurt with honey.
We all hung out in a few of the hotel rooms and sat on the balcony looking at the mountains and the Corinthian Sea.
Sunday morning, we woke up and made our way to the lower site. This was where they had the gymnasium and the Tholos, a circular building for which the purpose is unknown.
I've accepted it. I'm a bar person, not a clubbing person.
- I'm actually pretty good at figuring out maps- when walking. Driving? I'm sticking to the Garmin for now.
- I have an unhealthy dependency on Target. I'm having withdrawals. Its just so hard not to find everything in one place.
- I love to run outside. For the last few years I've been sticking to a treadmill, but here I love it!
- These two hour classes are killing me slowly, I have a much shorter attention span than I thought.
- I hate cats. The strays here were fun at first, but now I see they leave presents on the sidewalk. Not cool.
- I'm not a fan of rain. Today is the third time its rained here. I picked a good program so far. I've heard it rains a lot in Rome. Pray the sunshine follows me!
- Not every demonstration and protest is a riot. When we came here, I figured most were going to end violently. They are always prepared for it, but very rarely does the situation escalate in that way. What they don't show on TV is beyond the crowds of demonstrators, there are Greek people with shopping bags walking right beside them who don't care one way or another about the issue. They don't interact, but they share the space in Syntagma. Now, I hate to say it because it makes me sound like I'm not being careful, but if I see a protest, I just keep walking and take another block down. No big deal.
DELPHI
We went to Delphi (Delf-eye or delf-ee, either way) this weekend for one night. Its another site of a sanctuary and of the Oracle in ancient Greece. We left Saturday morning, drove through the mountains again, our first stop was at the monastery of Saint Luke- a Byzantine Monk in Greece in the late 900's AD. He was said to have prediction powers, and was a hermit. The church has such finely decorated details and I am continuously impressed by the great colors that are used in the churches to decorate.
Saint Luke
Outside the Church
The rooms in the monastery- some still in use today!
The inside of the church!
More gold icon-styled mosaics
The back of the church and monastery
Mount Helicon, not a bad location!
More of the church side windows
I might have already told you, but I just found out what relics are a few weeks ago. My friend Chris and I were viewing a beautiful golden and bejeweled case in one of the churches on our walking tour when he quietly explained it to me. It was a little surprising to someone who had never heard of it before. I attempted a subdued reaction leaning over the glass case...
Although I didn't view it, my classmates said that the entire collections of Saint Luke's relics remain here.
Next, we took the bus to Delphi. The ancient sanctuary and site of the Oracle. The Oracle, a pagan fortune-telling wise person believed to hold incredible powers held her seat for one day a month, nine months out of the year to important aristocrats from Athens and locals who needed answers. The magic behind the Oracle was definitely ruined when our history professor explained that it was a largely political role with lots of power. "They" whoever "they" might be, chose a poor, local woman to live in the mountains and take lots of drugs nine days out of the year. She would mumble something, and her assistant would explain the answer to the rich traveler. Huge scam, but Delphi did an excellent job of advertising, so it quickly gained lots of money and attention in ancient Greece.
This wall is the most inscribed wall in all of ancient Greece. It's covered! (Mostly legal doc. info)
Temple to Apollo
The outline of the whole Temple to Apollo
Theatre at Delphi. Can seat 5,000 people!
The Stadium
We couldn't get much closer to this stadium. The cliff we were on breaks off from time to time, and many times the rock lands in the stadium.
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring a little and going through the museum there. I felt really sick and I was so tired of walking around that the museum wasn't very enjoyable for me. Soon enough, we checked into our hotel and I took a 2 hour nap and felt much better after.
Saturday night we spent going to dinner as a group at a nice restaurant above our hotel. Our Greek dinner consisted of:
-shredded lettuce with Olive Oil and bread
-a Spinach Pie
-Some Greek noodles and some chicken. It was cooked like you would cook ribs. Different texture.
- Dessert? Greek Yogurt with honey.
We all hung out in a few of the hotel rooms and sat on the balcony looking at the mountains and the Corinthian Sea.
Sunday morning, we woke up and made our way to the lower site. This was where they had the gymnasium and the Tholos, a circular building for which the purpose is unknown.
Texture on the Tholos
Everybody
The Girls in their CSB shirts
It was a quick drive back from Delphi, and I got to spend Sunday catching up on homework and hanging out with my roommates!
More later,
as always,
Love,
Kirsten
Friday, October 7, 2011
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