Αγαπώ την Αθήνα-I Love Athens!

Pinewoods was gracious enough to allow Janice and I to tag along with the 11th and 12th grade trip to Athens this past weekend. We had a blast looking at all the sites and getting to know the older kids of the school. Athens is so rich with history, and fortunately the Art History Teacher at Pinewoods, Mrs. Amaleia, guided us around for the entire trip. She is so knowledgeable of the history of the city and structures. She also warned the students that, like the Greek mythological creature Argus, she had over 100 eyes and would be on the look out for all of them through out the tip... very fun! 


We left Pinewoods on a bus Thursday morning, and arrived in Athens around 5:00. On the way up, the weather was a bit overcast, and as we drove through the lush green mountains, all I could do was soak in the beauty. 

Thermopylae... where the Spartans defeated
the Persians during the reign of Xerxes in
480BC... Known as the Battle of Thermopylae!

Driving through Makedonia

Arriving in Athens... the waterfront overlooking
the Aegean Sea! BEAUTIFUL!

When I turned on the TV in our room, this is
what was on... WAR EAGLE!!!

The pool inside the hotel was really pretty! We
stayed at the Congo Palace Hotel a few
kilometers from the center of Athens. 

The students and I after dinner. Jordan
(to my right) was celebrating his 18th
Birthday. Very sweet group!

Through the trip, I really enjoyed talking to the Pinewoods students about college. They had many questions about studying, Greek life, social life, and much more. The students were from all over... Bulgaria, Spain, France, England, and or course, Greece. My name, Morgan, is hard to say with a heavy Greek accent (they say it morDgen). Because of this, and because I am of course American, they decided to call me Hannah Morgana after Hannah Montana. I did not mind:)

First Stop on Day #2: The National Gallery of Greece.
The paper I am holding is a packet the students filled
out about certain pieces of art Mrs. Amalia wanted
to discuss. I filled one out as well as we ventured
though a gallery of 17th-20th Century Art. 

Houses near the museum and with the Acropolis
in sight... very expensive and very nice (apparently)!

The Acropolis Museum. Held many artifacts from
the Acropolis, and even had a replica of the
Parthenon, complete with natural lighting and
the exact dimensions.

Mrs. Amalia (center) and the group of students.

A cafe inside the museum where we had lunch.
Yes, having a Greek roasted eggplant dish, while
hearing about Greek myths and history with
Mrs. Amalia, and looking out at the Acropolis...
Yes... a moment to remember. 

Janice and I snook away from the group to actually walk
up to the Parthenon. It was so much fun! This
is the Theater of Dionysious... enlarged by the Romans to
hold gladiator fights in 342BC and now occasionally holds concerts.  

THE PARTHENON!

I bought two children's books at The Acropolis Museum! 

The Temple of Athena

Standing in the Aegean Sea... very blue water and very rocky sand!

Our "after adventure" break... classic Greek Freddo Cappuchino,
cheesecake, a deck of cards, and post cards. 

Janice and I conquering Greece together! She is so fun!

We spent the evening at Badminton, where we listened to a Greek Concert. After the concert we headed back to our hotel for some much needed rest. When we woke up the next morning, we were taken on about an hour bus trip to Cape Sounion, right outside of Athens to visit The Temple of Poseidon. The drive was again beautiful!

The Temple of Poseidon! Poseidon was considered the second
most important God (Zeus =#1). People would make sacrifices
and give gifts to Poseidon as a form of worship. Since Greece is so
dependent on the sea, Poseidon was well worshiped. 

This is me and Mrs. Viki... she is the High School Greek
 teacher and very nice. She taught me a few Greek
phrases and words on the trip. 

This is a picture of the sea... looking down from The Temple of Poseidon. According to legend, The King of Athens, Aegeus, sent his son, Theseus, on a mission to Crete to kill Minotaur (a half man and half bull monster). King Aegeus told his son to sail white sails if he had won, and black if he had been killed. But even though Theseus had won, he forgot to change the sails and came into the area with the black sails still blowing in the wind. This is the spot where the Aegeus, leapt to his death at the sight of the black sails... now giving us the Aegean Sea!

Theo, Christianna, Marta, and I... sweet girls!

We were then taken to the Lavrio Handcraft-Industrial
Education Museum, where the students worked together to
make a meter stick, using old fashion systems. Lavrio
was where the first factory in Greece was located. 

This is Kostis and Mr. Mama. Mr. Mama has worked in
the factory for over 40 years and was such a sweet Greek
man. I loved the way he helped show the kids how all the
old fashion machines worked. (yes he is missing a finger)

This is Sophia, the guide and instructor, myself,
and Mr. Mama... he is so cute!

The group under a famous Lavrio clock. 

We ate at a Greek Taverna for lunch, and had a
little gelato for dessert. This is the center of
Lavrio... a very quaint area. 

We then took a trip over to the Attica Zoo... these are Lions that were massive. Also, due to the fact they were in mating season... the song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" now takes on a whole new meaning after this trip:)

A family of Apes that seemed to be posing for us when we walked up to them. I thought they were precious!

We then stopped off at a mall close by, where Janice and I ate dinner at a bistro that overlooked a shopping square. This was a Coco-Cappuccino, and a great way to end such a great trip. We headed back the next morning. 

 Athens is a great city, and I highly recommend everyone taking a trip there. The history was fascinating! Going with students made it especially fun as well. I was so proud to teach them "The Awkward Turtle", talk to them about where they were from, and tell them all my lame jokes over the bus microphone when we got lost. Yes, many thought they were lame, but it brought me back to the times my jokes Auburn Tour jokes did not go over so well:) 


Still loving the journey and thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts. I miss all my friends and family SO MUCH! My heart still sinks a little bit every time I see an American Flag... so proud to be an American!