Athens: A Quest For Your Ithaca

Katie's Trip to Greece-January 2011

A Donkey Ride and a Mountain Side

January24

Howdy!

This will be my final post while still in Greece. One more day and I’m headed home. This final week has been quite an adventure.

View from atop my donkey!


Wednesday, we took an Athens 1 Day Cruise to the Islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aeginia. I wasn’t feeling up to the cruise, but got through the day with a fairly good attitude. On the way, we learned Greek dances from a professional traditional dancer. Hydra was the first stop, and the favorite of the day. The port town was tiny and beautiful. I rode a donkey in Hydra, one of the more unique experiences of this trip! On the way home in the evening, we watched a showcase of traditional dances and performed some ourselves. A great time for all!

Thursday we woke up early for our visit to the Acropolis. For the past two and a half weeks, I had been admiring the great rock from all angles waiting for the opportunity to climb it and walk the footsteps of the goddess Athena. The sun was rising over the buildings of Athens and the day could not have been more perfect for a visit to one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The view of the Parthenon took my breath away despite the giant cranes and scaffolding of the restoration crews.

The Parthenon!


Friday took us on a long bus ride. We organized a two-day trip for our final weekend in Greece. First stop: Thermopylae, the location of the famous battle of 300. We briefly stopped at the commemorative statue and viewed the mountains where the last stand took place. As rain began to fall upon our shoulders, I remembered the Spartans who were rained upon by thousands of arrows.

Monastary Varlaam at Meteora


Saturday brought me to the most amazing sight yet: Meteora. Meteora is a collection of mountains, formed by glaciers, that looks as if they are suspended in mid air. In addition to the breathtaking mountains, medieval monasteries sit atop the cliffs, hanging on for dear life. I cannot aptly describe the beauty of Meteora. The solace of the monasteries, the view of the rocks between dense patches of fog, this place has stolen my words.

Meteora

Check out all the pics here:

That’s all for now folks!

Peace, Love, and Greece!