Hello all,
First let me just say, I am exhausted! Since I arrived on campus on Monday they have kept us busy which has not allowed for much time for sleep. Continue reading for a synopsis of the week!
On Monday, we all arrived at the dorms, met for pizza, and then was given free time to explore around campus, the neighboring businesses, and time to meet and get to know each other. During this time we visited a small cafe and then many of us spent time in the common area of the dorm finding similarities with each other.
(Pictures from my dorm balcony)
Tuesday started with a campus tour. The American Farm School consists of students from preschool to graduate students. The actual college, Perrotis College, consists of approximately 200 students. The campus is stunning and not like your typical college campus. It is surrounded by fields, trees, and plants. There are very few buildings around campus. Tuesday also included visiting a nearby town of Thermi by the bus system. Thermi is outside of Thessaloniki. In U.S. standards we would consider it a suburb of Thessaloniki.
(The restaurant incorporated the tree! My food from the restaurant.)
Wednesday was all about the city of Thessaloniki. We did a walking tour, lunch, and then lots of free time. Thessaloniki is huge, but filled with lots of historical buildings and has stunning views. Wednesday was all about familiarizing myself with the different landmarks, so hopefully the next time I can navigate myself without getting lost.
(Remaining part of old city walls; Sunset over the sea; Alleyway in Thessaloniki)
Thursday started our trip to Meteora, where we were able to see two very famous monasteries. These monasteries were built on top of rocks. Words can not even explain how beautiful the inside, outside, and the view was. We spent a lot of time in awe of the sight. After Meteora, we headed to Trikala, a small town where we had free time and supper. During my free time, the group I was with, went exploring and found a view at the very top of the mountain.
(One of the monasteries courtyard; A monastery on a rock; Sunset in Trikala)
Friday we headed to Athens. On our way to Athens stopped to view a Stevia Cooperation. If you don’t know, Stevia is an all-natural sweetener. We talked to the owner and learned about the business side, along with a little bit of the growing and processing side. We then continued to Athens. After a long bus ride, we arrived and had some free time and then supper.
(At the Stevia Cooperative they gave us drinks sweetened by Stevia, along with a box of Stevia packets; Photo credits to a study abroad co-leader, Helen Yarenis)
On Saturday, we climbed up to view the Acropolis and the Parthenon. I am still in complete awe of history, and how we can still work to preserve it and tell a story. And let me tell you, the view was phenomenal. We then went to the new museum to see more preserved pieces. After that, we had lots of free time to explore the city. We did lots of walking, shopping, and more!
(Photos of Acropolis)
Sunday consisted of viewing Panathenaic Stadium, the only stadium built of complete marble and it is the stadium of the first modern Olympic Games. Once again views that are unbeatable. Afterward, we hiked up to Lycabettus, a point higher than the Acropolis. Here we took photos, that I can not stop looking at, along with the opportunity to eat at a small cafe. We then took off and headed back to campus and arrived after a 7.5-hour bus ride.
(A view of the stadium from the top row; Standing on the placing steps; A view of Athens from Lycabettus)
Some details:
~ The coffee is amazing. I am not sure if I will ever be able to drink coffee at home again without investing in an espresso machine.
~ Everywhere you go it is beautiful. I can not wrap my mind around how God built a place to live with such natural beauty.
~ Greece is very mountainous. I knew there were mountains but did not understand how many there actually is.
~ I am very exhausted but loved every opportunity.
- With Love, Cambrie
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