Day One- Athens

The very first thing I did this summer was take a 2 week journey to Greece. Athens, Naxos, Delos, Mykonos, Meteora, Delphi, Nauplion.

This trip was subsidized by the Appalachian College Association and Davis & Elkins College. It was a highly educational experience with a lot of sightseeing with a tour guide. It was really a great one in a life time trip. I will attempt to take you through the trip day by day, with photos and stories from what I learned and experienced.

ATHENS, GREECE

After a 13 hour flight over to Athens, we met with our tour company owners and bus driver and headed to the hotel, we were alerted that a peaceful protest was going on near the hotel, but noone told us what it was about, only that it was peaceful and nothing to worry about, but could possibly cause traffic problems. This wasn't the only experience like this we had while in Greece, the tourist attractions that are under the Ministry of Tourism also had a strike while we were there, that caused us to have to change our visit to the Acropolis. The Greek people seem to be very political and will stand up for their rights and for fair treatment. I found the peaceful statements they made very interesting and I hope that something comes from their efforts.

One of my first shots of Athens, a peaceful protest taking place.

We got to the hotel and to fight the urge to sleep off the jet lag, we took a hike up to Lykavittos Hill which rise 910 feet above the city, a legend explains that Lykavittos Hill appeared when Athena accidentally dropped a large rock she was going to use for the construction of the Acropolis, though this legend did not attract the attention of classical writers or historians, it has become a popular tourist spot to get an awesome view of Athens.

A view over Athens, atop Lykavittos Hill.

My first view of the Acropolis, as seen from the hill.

Athens has a great mix of architecture, with a street of modern shops leading to this old Byzantine Church.

Everywhere you go, there are motorbikes and other small vehicles lining the streets.
Greeks are much easier on the environment and on gasoline than we are.

Bakeries are another thing you see everywhere in Greece. The offer up spinach pie, cheese pie, baklava and other specialties. Most Greeks have these pies for lunch.

The jet lag got Rhiannon, while we were waiting to go to dinner!

I was very nervous about the real food in Greece, I am very picky but the first meal in Athens was so amazing, I could not wait to eat more Greek food. I had Chicken Souvlaki which is like a kabob, it is served with rice and oddly enough french fries; none of the food tasted like anything I had eaten before. The spices and cooking methods were different and wonderful. I had this dish several times in the trip, but the first time was the best.

The sign for the first restaurant we ate at, Taverna Spoulia tous Acropolis, it is on the backside of the Acropolis, delicious!

The Plaka, which is a picturesque historical neighorhood that lies in the shadow of the Acropolis, is full of shops and restaurants.

Walking around the Plaka was fun, seeing the local, large Greek families eating at their favorite tavernas, checking out the traditional Greek gifts that I would soon learn more about and just being in a foriegn country for the first time. It was all really amazing and I couldn't wait to see what else we would see on this trip.