it's my acropolis if i say so

It's only taken me close to six weeks to visit the wonder called the Acropolis which is a whole 5 minute walk from my apartment. Rain was in the forecast and no one else wanted to risk getting caught in it while up there. Alone time ended up being so wonderful especially for the completely fabulous, ancient, massive work of art and construction that I got to see. I was fighting back tears at some moments (I know, I'm a nerd). But it truly made me so emotional to be there. It's incredible. I still can't make sense of how it came together. In the museum they have the sculptures in the round that came from the pediments of the Parthenon. They have all the friezes displayed in a giant rectangle, the order and way they would have appeared if they were still on the building. And the caryatids! I mean wow. I was right there.
One random fact I learned today- the myth of Athena's birth is that someone split Zeus' head with an ax (in an effort to remedy a bad headache he had) and she came out. But that starts with the story about him swallowing Metis, his lover of sorts, when she was in the form of a fly because he thought she would have a son by him that would end up dethroning him. One of the pediments is a depiction or suggestion of taking place at the birth of Athena. Definitly not as detailed or graphic as the real story but all Greeks would have known the myth anyways at that time. And also she came out full grown, not a baby or anything crazy like that.
I've had a few conversations with some of my housemates about all the structures, buildings, and monuments that were built during this age and the people who made them. Must they have been extremely prideful and sure of themselves? Because they had to have known that they were building the greatest constructions up to that point (and arguably since that time as well). Perfectionists? Humbly trying to please the gods? Showing off to surrounding civilizations? Being the best of the best. We still do that though, perhaps only in seemingly smaller ways.
The sky was great because these full, heavy clouds were crawling closer with the sun trying to peak a little longer before it was overtaken. Storm's a comin' I thought. The rain held off for my whole venture around the rocky hill and through my time in the museum. When I went to walk home it started to downpour like crazy. A million street vendors were trying to sell me umbrellas but my mama once told me: "you're not sugar, you won't melt". And what do you know! She was right. I made it back wonderfully wet and made myself noodles and vegetables. 

It's good to be rained on periodically.

wow julia, get off my case

My roomate discovered this blog  last night and rather than commenting on all the wonderful posts already up, she chose to comment on the fact that it has been a whole week since my last one and that I need to hurry up and write again. And I thought my sisters were bad. Goodness Julia. Where's your blog???

I got peanut butter today from my lovely Jeanette back home. And her wonderful mother paid a whole $20 for shipping. That is pretty much insane. But it made me very happy that they love me enough to pay such an absurd amount.

Now I must retrace my weekend and some of the week to make this belated post. Oh, the effort. Ok here goes. I rely on my camera so much to remind myself of things I've done. It has occurred to me that this could be a faulty plan because sometimes I don't bring my camera places or don't take it out of my bag at all. No worries- I'm going to pretend that never happens.

Thursday afternoon Dina taught us how to make a few Greek dishes. We did spinach pies, cheese pies, tzatziki sauce, and zucchini balls. Greeks love their cheese. It was in everything and not in small amounts. We were rolling out filo dough, cutting them in strips and putting small dollops of either the cheese or spinach mixture onto one end. Then you make essentially a paper football by folding the filo dough over the filling in triangles. O, and don't forget the melted butter between everything. The zucchini balls were delicious but fried in so much oil. By the end of this cooking session I felt thoroughly disgusting and swore that my insides were coated with grease. Nonetheless, I got up and went running afterwards with the girls. Ended up being more of a walk than anything to fight off an opportunity for my food to come back up. Almost a week later and our fridge still has huge containers full of leftovers. I don't think anyone has touched them and I doubt anyone will. But hey I can probably make some cheese pies and zucchini balls when I come back home for whoever wants them. I would much rather just make a simple Greek salad though.

Thursday night me and Julie ventured out of our apartment bubble to find a cafe other than the stinky Starbucks we live nearby (stinky as in literally it smells like a toilet the majority of the time). Just a street away from us is a tiny tiny cafe called Sokolata, which means "chocolate" in English. They specialize in *drum roll please*....chocolate drinks! Now I'm not sure if there was just a lack of creativity in the translating services from the Greek to the English menu but both mine and Julie's beverages were called "chocolate drinks". She got a hot one with almond flavoring and I got a supposedly 'chilled' one with coffee flavoring. Julie's was theee thickest drink I've ever seen or tried in my life.

 The flavor was wonderful and rich but so thick that Julie couldn't even finish the small mug that she got. The almond flavoring was also small bits of almonds. Mine was luke warm and more liquidy in texture. Could've used a few ice-cubes but still yummy.
We effectively journaled for as long as we could stand. It's so difficult to remember to put aside time for writing. We try to make it out to somewhere we can focus, sit, and do some writing- journals, letters, postcards home.



I love this one so much



 Friday a group of us went to the biggest and bestest museum of all in Greece. The National Archaeological Museum. Now let me just take a moment to say to all who love museums that it is okay. Do not be persuaded by those who might be quite pessimistic when it comes to considering how enthralling a museum can be cough*julia*cough.  Some people just don't know how to fully grasp how wonderful these artifacts are. They haven't learned how to consider the possibilities of who once held them, who dyed that pottery and painted the picture, who sculpted the stone to make that colossal stone woman, how long ago that person had to die to be honored with that ellaborate grave monument. That one- right there. That you are standing in front of, that you could touch if you really wanted to (if you're ok with getting yelled at by the staff) Gosh. I don't know. Maybe I'm a nerd. I still love it.



Pan, Eros & Aphrodite



Saturday, let's see. Saturday we couldn't wake up in time for a 12:40p bus to Cape Sounio. I don't know how these things happen. I try to blame it on the garage door covers that we close over our windows that block out all light. Recently though we decided to stop doing that so we don't sleep in as late and so far it hasn't helped too much. My plan has been foiled. K so we made it by 1:30 for the next bus only to have the bus flash its' lights at us and go on without stopping. Me and Julia went for some tea and coffee and conversation at a nearby cafe and went back to the bus stop for the 2:40p one. Two hours later we arrived at Cape Sounio. It is solely the Temple of Poseidon, a restaurant, and small souvenior shop. We walked to both ends of the rock area until we could no further without plummeting into the o so beautiful water.  Eventually we just sat on the grass and watched the sun set. This is only a few of a million and half pictures. Enjoy!

 

a perfect weekend for gardens, a flea market, and lycabettus hill

My first weekend spent in Athens since I've been here is coming to close.

Yesterday me and Julie visited the National Gardens and walked around Plaka to document the area we live in and around with our cameras. Usually we are running through the gardens instead of photographing them. They have a really nice pond that is full of turtles. One day I ran past a turtle that had escaped from the pond and was meandering down the dirt path. I debated picking it up and bringing it back to the pond but decided to just leave him be. They also have a bunch of small streams, ponds, and pools there. A pool sized pond holds tons of fish that are so pretty. I never knew anything was in it before because the walls are raised and I can't look in really when I'm running past. Lots of statue things hidden within the maze as well. It's such a nice place to walk through because everything is so good for you. The sound of water, a bunch of animals walking around, lots of greenery, turtles and fish - a lovely saturday afternoon.

In the evening we, the whole Odyssey Group (about 18 of us I think) went on the Athens Bar Crawl. It promised to take us  to 4 bars/clubs and a shot at each one. Prior to the crawl we were to receive a gyro and choice of beer or wine (which ended up being boxed). Long story short- we only got two free shots really. It was alright as in it wasn't a terrible night. But for 20 euro it really wasn't worth what we got. We couldv'e gone to all the places they took us on our own. Most of them were nearby to where we live or in Gazi where we could easily walk over to because we have been over in that area. Most of the places were very crowded. We couldn't stay at the first one they took us to because there wasn't even close to enough room for such a big group as us. That's all right though. It was a decent time and the guides were really friendly.

Today I woke up and went down the Monistriaki Flea Market. It happens every Sunday so I haven't had the chance until today to see what it was like. I ended up going down some new streets that I didn't realize had all these interesting and unique stores that are there permanently. Walking down further past the regular stores I could go down for what seemed like ages to find people who had set up their own little stands with all sorts of things from furniture and knick knacks and socks and strange kitchen gadgets you would never really use. Basic flea market kind of merchandise. I found one shady flea market shop and bought two pairs of earring for 5euro. I'm happy with them. It was nice to see all the chaos of the flea market and walk amongst the crowds. I stopped into the shop of a well-known Poet/Sandal Maker. There, they make sandals for you right in front of you. You pick the design and they fit you and nail the straps and leather soles together. He's made sandals for Jackie O and some other famous people. All over the walls were articles that have been written about that shop. I guess he is a pretty reknowned poet as well. He isn't the only sandalmaker there though. The one I talked mostly to lived 10 years in NY and went to Parson's School of Design. He had his degree on the wall framed there. Really nice guy. I think I might go back for some sandals. Might as well. The main famous poet/sandal maker guy is pretty old now. I watched the Parson's guy make a pair of sandals for a girl there. Pretty cool.

Me, Julie, Kara, and Danae went to lunch after I got back. It took us a while to pick a place and we kept sitting down at restaurants and then getting up either because we wanted outdoor seating or didn't like the menu or it was too expensive. Eventually we made a decision. I ate my first moussaka today. It was pretty delicious. It reminds me so much of shepherd's pie and fills you up in the same way those do.

 

After lunch most of my apt decided to take a trek up Lycabettus Hill. We are told it is the best view of Athens and after getting up there I don't doubt it. It took us about 15 minutes to get to the top. There is a bell tower and a small church up there which I don't know if it is used much as a real church anymore. They had a few restaurants too which I'm sure are crazy expensive to eat at. We found where our apt is by looking for the church that our apt is next to. You could see everything- the Acropolis, the National Gardens, the Olympic stadium rings, even all the way out to the Mediterranean Sea.

 









We finished off the night with a family dinner of stir fry (which was delicious) and watching American Psycho together.

And now the weekend is over and I must go to bed. Goodnight all!

soho in athens

My first trip to Gazi was last night. Gazi is known for its clubs and being the place to go when you're going out and all that jazz. The rest of the group has already been quite a few times but I seem to have always missed it. We went to a place called soho. Yes, you heard right. Soho is in fact, not in nyc. It's in Athens, Greece.
Anyways, it was good fun all around. Some dancing. Some wine in a carton hidden in a purse. Some peanuts. I may have burned someone with their cigarette. It was fun even though the place didn't have a legitimate place to dance. Unless where we were was a very teeny dance floor. Maybe. Unlikely though. But it was a fun night with good peoples.
Today we visited the Athens Mall. It's a bit of a ride on the metro but it was nice to get a little further from the area we are used to being in. We found a store called Pull & Bear which we all thought was really cool and I got some pants from there. Yay! They're cute and army green. (i originally wrote"navy green" and it took me a while to figure out how that wasn't right).
Me and some of the girls were going to go running but on our way back to our apartment we decided we were still tired from last night and from all the mall walking and that it was getting a little bit dark so we would have to take a rain check. Instead, we went to the grocery store and bought chocolate. Smart. I know.

I'm going to go eat some now.

moshing for pastries

I am drinking a cup of tea with Julie's honey, reminiscing on yesterday's chaotic evening.

Last night a group of 7 of us girls attempted to go to a film screening at the French Institute (in Athens) called "King of the Pastries". We were told that afterwards there would be a cocktail party where we could sample pastries from expert chefs of some sort.
Now Google Maps here is not as smart as it is in America. Do not ask it for directions here. Look at a map and create your own path to the location (assuming you can correctly identify your desired place's location).
Anyways, we did not fully check and re-check and triple-check our directions and ended up in undesirable locations. I don't think I'll further describe this place but let me just say that we were advised in our first week here in Athens to avoid this area due to questionable and potentionally dangerous activities that go down there. Now it wasn't sooo bad because it was still reasonably early in the evening so there were still a lot of people around but all of us girls (dressed up to go on the town) were beginning to wonder what we would do once this film screening ended late at night and we would have to walk back through it.
Fast forward through girls walking in achey heels, finally getting correct directions from a hotel we walked into, and a slight bout of panic. We had apparently gone waaaay the wrong way and it took us forever to finally find the area. Of course....this French Institute ended up not being in a shady area of town.

We arrived 15 minutes late for the start of the movie even though we had left 30 minutes early to arrive with time to spare. The auditorium was extremely full and none of us could sit together. The movie had a bit of a home video feel to it and only half of it was in english. We watched men compete for some French chef award of some sort. It was very intense and when the cakes shattered and grown men cried it truly was heart wrenching. Afterwards, at the cocktail party, a mad dash was made for the small foyer where wine was being served. People watched as the culinary chefs finished up small sampler pastries. Cream puffs, pastries that were very similar to kit-kat bars, chocolate hexagon-cubes (?) filled with a chocolate mouse, and other things that I wouldn't be able to name.

Suddenly the chef made a slight motion giving the people permission to come forward and sample the treats. Apparently this same motion cast a spell over the crowd filling everyone with violent, animalistic hunger to acquire these most-coveted pastries. I was elbowing old men and fat ladies to get to the front of the moshpit and get something to try. I didn't even have time until later to wonder at how this somewhat classy film viewing and cocktail party turned into a moshpit to get pastries. Was this lack of organization on the part of the small foyer area? Are Greek people insane for pastries? Did we need more instruction on the proper etiquette of acquiring the food?

By the end of the night, when all the samplers were gone, I looked at the chefs on the safe side of the pastry table. Crowds still looked longing at them, pleading with their eyes "please, we need some more pastries!!!". These chefs were fighting back both looks of shock and outbursts of laughter. Animals.

HillsStonesStatues

The last excursion our group went on was to Epidavros, Mycenae, and Ancient Olympia. We also visited the wonderful cities of Galaxidi and Arahova. Here, I am tempted to write a generic list complete with bullet points of the things I saw. This is only because the whole weekend was so packed with new things that it is exhausting for me to even think of writing about it. It actually took me a while to convince myself to post another blog. Obviously I've been slacking because I didn't even blog on my trip to Mykonos last weekend ....(and don't think I will either).

So at the first site, Epidavros, we got to see the famous and fabulous Epidavros Theatre where they put on plays and such both in ancient times and in the summertime in modern day. Twice they have had opera singers there. Our guide strongly advocates for more opera shows there because it is the perfect setting for such type of music.The acoustics are what it is so well-known for. If you stand in the middle of the stage area and speak or shout you can hear yourself echo back from the auditorium. They say it is even better when the theater is full of people. I think he said it holds about 11,000. We climbed the millions of steps to the top and a girl at the bottom stood in the middle and sang. All of the tourists quieted down immediatley as she sang for a minute or so. We could hear her all the way at the top! Incredible.

Our giant bus headed out again to Mycenae. Here we saw quite a few beehive tombs. We went inside one of them which they believe to have been the tomb of king Agammemnon. It was cool to see it from the inside because I actually remembered learning about beehive tombs from my terrible art history class a few years ago. But it truly was awesome. A bunch of those tombs were around the site we were going through but some of them just looked like giant holes in the ground because the tops had fallen in. I learned that tons of gold jewelery and gold face plates were found in the tombs. Much like the Egyptians.

Oh, I have learned the story of where the Cyclops myth came from:
Once upon a time, some people called the Egyptians wanted to trade with the Greeks who lived just a stone's skip across the Mediterranean Pond. So they did.
One day, the Egyptians brought some elephants over for the Greeks to use (probably in exchange for some gold and olives).
The Greeks were happy because they could use the strong elephants to help them build all their elaborate and crazy palaces. But they were quite ignorant of the ways to care for such ginormous beasts. So the elephants died off soon enough.

Time Passes...

Greeks who had never seen an animal like the elephant before came upon elephant skulls. These skulls were huge and featured a big hole in the middle similar to the eye socket holes in human skulls. And so the Greeks feared this great monster of a man that had one large eye in the middle of its head- the Cyclops.

The end.

So we traveled up a hill where the palace area was. To enter the main palace area you first go through the Lion Gate. In ancient times the Mycenaeans had the advntage if enemies tried to besiege the castle. If intruders did get through the Lion Gate, they would be badly burned with boiling olive oil from 3-sides on top of the walls. This is not suitable conditions for trying to attack a city.

angrily taking a picture at the top? what is going on in this one.

We climbed up the pathway to the top of the hill. The mountains in the area where we were the whole weekend were incredible. The views were spectacular. It doesn't even matter that I say that because you really can't be told that and really understand how it is. I tried though....



windy- im standing in the entrance the olympic stadium area (facing the stadium).
behind me is where the temples and other buildings and structures are.



The next day we went to the site of Ancient Olympia. Where the Olympic Games originated. Most of the site is reconstruction but they chose to do minimal reconstructing of buildings with 100% authentic material,etc. So like maybe they make one column for the Temple of Zeus in entireity and a few broken columns on a platform that is the area of the building so we can imagine what the whole thing probably looked like. But anything they do make would be using the same marble, etc. from the same location that the ancient Greeks would have gotten it from. I thought that was pretty cool. And in the beggining- all the temples were to goddesses, no gods. So the Temple of Hera was the first one made there and then a bunch of years later someone came up with the idea of deity couples and Zeus became her husband and he got a bigger and better and more central temple for some reason. Meh. Not that it matters.

 Gymnos, the root of the word gymnasium, is a Greek root that means nude. Gymnasium literally translates to "school for naked exercize". I can never spell that word. All the men during the Olympics practiced, trained, and competed nude.

I feel like I learned so much at those tours but it probably isn't very interesting to hear it all if your not on an awesome tour in the original olympic site of the Greeks. I guess it's all stuff people can find on the internet.

Oh but also, a big reason they came up with the Olympics was because there was so much division between Greek communities and they wanted to bring everyone together where everyone was treated equally and having a good time and enjoying themselves so that people could make friends and ties with the other greek people. Alcohol and lots of food were plentiful because they wanted to make an atmosphere where people could talk and be happy even if they initially didn't like the person sitting next to them. Political strategy. Verrrry interesting. Ok I'll stop with random facts.

We stayed in pretty nice hotels and ate yummy food and had wonderful continental breakfasts. In Mykonos our breakfast was terrible coffee and 2 pieces of dry bread with jelly. So these ones were incredible for us.

Tonight we are going to a film showing of a movie called king of the pastries or something. But after the showing is a cocktail party of some sort where we get to eat pastries that a chef makes for us. Should be delicious.

I should just start writing about my day each day so these things dont end up being so long and chuck full of crazy stuff. Something normal would be nice.



My photo uploader is frozen now but I will try again later to add more than just the one awkward picture of me. Come back then :)