Top of the World

Yesterday was the last day of our trip, and we took full advantage by immersing ourselves in Greek culture. Although  we had seen the Acropolis from all over Athens, we finally got our chance to truly visit the top of the world. Our tour guide Nike, an expert in many different historical trades, graciously shared with us her knowledge of these ancient ruins. Our first stop was the theater, which serves a very different purpose than our theater today. The theater was extremely popular in Greek culture because it served to educate the crowd about what is right and what is wrong according to ethics. 

The next venue we visited was an ancient Greek music hall. We learned that these music halls were of Roman influence from the time of Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great was infamous for his hubris, which was a characteristic that the Greeks despised. This time, known as the "rise of the individual", brought his demise. Nike shared with us that during this time the Greeks would vote the person who held the most power out of Athens for a period of ten years to protect the city from the influence of too much wealth and power. 

The last building we visited at the Acropolis was the Parthenon, which is a symbol of great national pride for the Greeks. Surviving for over 2,500 years, the Parthenon is probably the most recognizable structure in all of Greece. The building used to feature a statue of Athena, which we originally saw about two weeks ago in London. Athens was named after Athena because she was the goddess of war and intellect, and she represented the middle class. She inspired the middle class to realize their importance, and this realization led to the explosion of democracy. 

After an incredible morning at the Acropolis, we decided to venture out on our own and spend the afternoon soaking in the Mediterranean sun. Although we all ended up badly sunburned, this view made it all worthwhile:

We had our final group dinner last night which was the best meal that we have had on this trip. 

Overall, we had an amazing three weeks traveling the world and seeing firsthand the impact the Olympics have on the entire world. 

All Good Things Come To An End

As we prepare to depart back to the States tomorrow morning, the group had one final day of exploration and adventure. Today on the final full day of our voyage, the group ventured to see the much anticipated Acropolis. After quite a hike up the mountains we reached the magnificent structure and all its glory. Regardless of the ongoing construction and preservation procedures, as we viewed this monumental structure we gazed in amazement at its pure beauty. The Acropolis is unique in the makeup of its structure simply because of how long it has been able to stay in tact, with no signs of coming down anytime soon. It's various rows of columns around the building add to it's allure. 

Prior to the Acropolis we passed other historical sites during our mini hike. Including numerous performance theaters that are still used today, The west slope of the mountain where ancient Greece political meetings were held. What's unique about this process is that everyone in the community had a say in the cities decisions, these meetings were held four times a month. We also visited the Byzantine Church, and St. Paul's rock. 

Following our sightseeing adventures the gang ventured to the beaches of Greece to enjoy our final afternoon abroad. From swimming in the ocean, playing volleyball, to simply laying on the beach taking in the sun; the group had an amazing afternoon. 

Tomorrow we venture back to States. As our time abroad comes to a close, I certainly believe everyone enjoyed the trip and learned a great deal about the history of the Olympics as well as the direction this illustrious event is heading in the future. 

The Final Stretch

Hello again! Don't worry Moms and Dads, we've all made it to Athens safely! Our last stop is here but we're not slowing down yet. We are definitely becoming professional world travelers. Yesterday, we woke up in Olympia and went to bed in Athens! 

In the morning, we walked down to the Ancient Olympia site again to see a second museum that displayed artifacts related to the Olympic Games. This was especially interesting because it connected our recent knowledge of archeological history to the Olympics. Thank you to Professor Ares, our temporary archeology and Greek culture teacher, for all of your insight! You added a ton of value to our Ancient Olympia experience. 

After the museum, we had a brief time to do some last minute shopping and grab some snacks for our bus ride. I've learned that traveling goes much faster when there is food involved. Another thing I've learned is that our group is extremely talented at falling asleep in very unique positions when we travel. (See pictures below) 

When we arrived in Athens, we checked into our hotel and had short time to unwind before we gathered on the roof to plan the rest of our day. We decided to head downtown to see the Zappeion. This building is relevant to our trip because it is where the revival of the Games began. Evangelos Zappas, a wealthy businessman, offered to sponsor the return of the Olympics and shortly after the 1st modern Games were held in Athens in 1896. A pretty gross fun fact is that Zappas'  heart is buried inside of the building to recognize his contribution to the Games. 

We took a short walk over to the Panathenaic Stadium where the archery competitions took place in the 2004 Games. The stadium is more commonly referred to as the Marble Stadium because it was rebuilt with white marble in preparation for the 1896 Games. It was amazing to see such an old venue still being used for modern sporting events. 

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped and saw the Temple of Zeus in Athens. The remnants of the temple included huge pillars that seemed to be standing alone in a giant field. The enormous size of the pillars showed how massive the temple must have been. 

We went to the Noodle Bar for some amazing Chinese food for dinner. You may be skeptical of the Chinese food in Greece but let me tell you, it was killer. 

We hung out for the night in preparation for our first full day in Athens! 

Hope all is well at home! See everyone soon! 

A-Musing Experience in Greece

Today was our first full day in Athens, and boy, did we make the most of it. We started off the day by taking a bus ride out to the 2004 Olympic facilities. Unlike London, all the facilities are still in tact, so we were able to get a full understanding of what the area looked like nine years ago. We had the opportunity to hear from Greek athlete Nikos Michalopoulos, who spoke about what it meant for him to be both Greek and an Olympian, having the honor to compete inside the premiere stadium in his country. I got the sense from Nikos, as well as a video that we watched, that while America definitely has national pride, the Greeks posses something beyond our love for the red, white, and blue. We have seen this throughout our time in both Olympia and Athens, that the Greeks are such a tight knit people, and they are proud to be associated with the Olympics, and to have a stadium that represents all of the nation's past, present, and future.

After being able to run the Olympic track and see a bit more of the facility, our group ventured off to the National Archaeological Museum of Greece. Similar to the Olympic facilities, we came to understand just how important the archaeological artifacts are to country. Throughout its history Greece has had many of it's important artifacts taken from it by various museums throughout the world, as larger nations have accumulated Greek pieces over time. Because of this, the pieces that Greece does have in its possession are highly valued. We have seen Greek artifacts at various museums throughout our trip, but it was not until today that we were able to see Greek artifacts in Greece. Throughout the museum, we saw pieces from the Minoan civilization, pottery and statues found in the area, statues of those such as Athena, and fantastic jewelry made of gold. The highlight of the museum for me however, was being able to see the Antikythera Shipwreck. Found just off the coast of Greece, the shipwreck contained vital information to archaeologists that predated Egyptian artifacts, as well as containing 'The Mechanism'.

Archaeologists believe that 'The Mechanism' was used for astronomical and calendar calculations, and is widely regarded as the world's first computer, dated 150-100 BC.

Among the wreckage, there were many other significant pieces, including the above statue, as well as other statues that were preserved under the sand of the sea.

After taking the 'scenic route' on the walk back from the museum (or at least that's what Prof. Ryan called it), some took to the street for shopping, while others relaxed for an hour or two on the top of our hotel- from which you can see the Acropolis- before dinner.

Tomorrow is our last day in Athens, as well as on the trip, before we begin our travel day back to JFK and reality. We will be heading up the Acropolis, as well as heading to the beach. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely ready to get home and sleep in my own bed, but I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this has been such an awesome trip, and I really just don't want it to end. Four countries, five cities, and one lost debit card for me since this trip began, I have learned so much and had so much fun along the way.

Thanks for read
-- Kyle

Last Stop

Hello, friends! We finally made it to the last stop on our world tour: Athens! Yesterday morning, we kicked off the day with another visit to the site of the ancient Olympic ruins in Olympia, this time to explore the second museum on site there. We got to see a number of Ancient Greek artifacts, most of which related directly to the athletic aspect of the games. From busts of athletes to helmets and shields used in actual athletic competitions, we saw first-hand just how fierce the ancient Olympians truly were. Our resident Greek history expert, Professor Ares, pointed out some key items, including murals that connected the mythological and religious traditions of Ancient Greece with the heroic athletic feats of its Olympic competitors. The one shown below depicts Eros, the god of love, being crowned victor by Nike, the god of victory. Ares explained to us its meaning, which has come to permeate cultures worldwide: "love conquers all."

After leaving the museum, we got back on the bus to start the five-hour trek to Athens, which consisted of a lot of napping, gazing at the beautiful Mediterranean and (of course) a quick stop for some authentic Greek souvlaki. We arrived at our hotel around 5 PM, settling in before we headed out to explore the bustling city.

First, we walked past the National Gardens to see the famed Zappeion, a venue which was created specifically for the revival of the Olympics and served as the main home of the fencing events during the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was used again in 2004 as the press center for reporters covering the Games. An interesting fact Professor Ryan shared with us is that the heart of Evangelos Zappas, the man who financed the building yet died before ever seeing it come to fruition, is encased inside the building. 

We then saw the marble stadium, another significant venue in modern Olympic history, which was originally used in ancient times to hold the Panathenaic Games before being revamped with seats completely of white marble for the 1896 Games. From there, we visited the Temple of Zeus, which amazed us with its sheer size and age. 

We ended the night with some delicious Chinese food, and some of us spent a relaxing evening outside on our balconies. Professor Ryan showed us the best-kept secret of our hotel, which features a rooftop view of the Acropolis! I can't believe we only have a couple days left before heading home -- we'll be seeing you soon! 

Chillin' with the Acropolis PIX

Olympic Park PIX

Dan's Birthday and Archeological Sites

On Monday, the group celebrated Dan Gorman's birthday. Dan is a splendid compadre on this team, and we knew we had to give him the best 20th birthday possible. First, we all got up really early in the morning and went to the archeological sites of the ancient Greek temples and Olympic stadium. While they are mostly remnants, the stone structures makes one realize the essence of time. I found myself realizing that I was walking in the same spots as ancient Greek athletes who founded our Olympic games thousands of years before us. It was pretty surreal. The Temples of Zeus and Hera were some of the earliest monuments in Greece. The original Olympic stadium was located right beneath Mt. Kronos and P. Ryan explained that all of the men would sit on the hillside and watch the events. I could picture the entire scene happening right before me. It's one thing to see these sites in documentaries, or read them in textbooks or journals, but actually visiting them and seeing them with your own eyes gives you a whole new perspective and respect the monuments. We saw many more archeological artifacts at the Olympia Archeological Museum, located right next to the site. It's amazing how these artifacts have lasted this long in time. The most fascinated thing I saw were stones that long jumpers threw behind them during their jump to try and propel them further through the air. C'mon ancient Greeks. We'll give you the ancient olympics, but your physics weren't the greatest.
After posing as archeologists, we had some poolside chilling in the sun. We then presented Dan with his birthday gifts (a fedora and an "I Heart Greece" shirt), and went to a real authentic Greek buffet. There was music, delicious food and even plate smashing. I didn't get to smash a plate, but man does it get you real pumped up just seeing it happen. Dan went out and moonwalked across the dance floor better than MJ himself.
Once we were all partied out, the crew went up to the roof of the hotel and stargazed for a little while. It was an awesome birthday, and it wasn't even mine.
See you soon USA!

-Ian

Opa Olympia!

Hello everyone! Yesterday, we visited the ancient grounds at Olympia, the pinnacle of our Olympic Odyssey adventure! All the information that Professor Ryan and Professor Burton offered throughout the semester truly came to life right before our eyes. Entering the site sent chills down my spine, as I imagined what past Olympians must have felt as they prepared for competition. According to a Visit Greece pamphlet that we got, "The sanctuary at Olympia flourished from the 10th c. BC to AD 426, the year in which the emperor Theodosius II closed all the ancient sanctuaries." Viewing buildings and relics, previously only seen in textbooks, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Additionally, our group benefited from the countless stories and facts provided by Professor Ares, a "retired" yet lively field anthropologist. Some monuments and areas that stood out included the Temple of Hera, the Stadium, the Treasuries, and the Temple of Zeus. The Temple of Hera was the earliest monumental temple in Greece. It was built for Hera, the wife of Zeus and the goddess of women and marriage. Originally it was built from wood, but as time progressed wood became stone. To provide a glimpse into history, some of the columns have been refurbished and re-erected.
Likewise, the ancient stadium was a holy place for the Greeks and dedicated to Zeus. It is connected to the sanctuary by an overhead gateway, much like modern arenas. Full capacity was approximately 45,000 people. The Treasuries, located at the bottom of Mt. Kronos, date back to the 6th and 5th c. BC. They were located on sacred ground, providing a safe place for people to store valuables. Thus, it was unlikely that anyone would try to steal your belongings. However, if someone stole valuables or cheated during the Olympics, they would have to pay for a statue of Zeus with the offender's name on the front, bringing immense shame onto that individual. It comes as no surprise that the Temple of Zeus is centrally situated in the sanctuary. Built between 470 and 456 BC, it remains one of the most famous monuments in the world. Below are some photos of the Temple of Zeus and Temple of Hera!

After touring most of the sanctuary, we walked over to the Olympia Archaeological Museum (trying to be the best student archaeologists we can be)! It was fascinating to examine artifacts from Early Archaic and Classical periods. Highlights included a small statue of Nike, a room devoted to Pheidias's workshop, and an awe-inspiring statue of Hermes. Later that night, our group went out to dinner at a Greek buffet restaurant. After eating my fair share of food (don't worry I did), my birthday celebration truly commenced as I was given both a second Bar Mitzvah and the opportunity to dance in front of all the restaurant attendees!! Thanks to everyone for making it such a special day! Looking forward to seeing more Olympic-related sites in Athens.

Opaaaa!
Dan

Birthday Boy Pix

Olympia Pix