Ok, so I'm a little behind on my blogging, but I'm going to attempt to catch up this weekend, since I'll actually be in Athens this time and have a little bit more access to internet. The weekend of Feb. 1-3, the whole program took a trip to Ναυπλιο (pronounced NAF-plee-oh) as the end of orientation. It's a very cute seaside town on the Peloponnese and was definitely a nice change of pace from Athens. On the way there, we drove over the canal that cuts through the isthmus -- it was incredibly deep and LONG. I've never really seen anything like it in my life, and I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a ship going through it. The photo I took really doesn't do it justice.
The first night there, we spent the afternoon wandering around the old town (many Greek towns are divided into an old town, where the buildings have been preserved and the streets are narrow, and a modern, new town). It was a names day holiday for the town, so not too many people were around, but we had a lot of fun anyway. Everything was just so beautiful, and the contrast between old and new was very interesting to observe. There were moments when I thought, I wish that car weren't in front of this gorgeous traditional stone home, but then I'd realize that the car is just as much a part of the town of Nafplio as the old buildings are.
The town consisted pretty much of an ancient fortress on top of a hill for quite awhile (the acropolis of Nafplio), and was developed by the Venetians in the late 17th and early 18th century. There's also a fortress on an island in the harbor (the Bourtzi), which allowed them to control the only channel into the harbor which is accessible, and an enormous fortress on the top of the second hill in town (Palamidi fortress - more on that later).
Arcadia took us all out for dinner. There was a ton of food, including zucchini fritters (I actually LOVED them), cheese pie, french fries, and a chicken dish that tasted like sweet and sour chicken. In this (very candid) photo, are Kelly, Sara, Aubrey, my roommate Caitlin, and Jan, the program director. Afterwards, we headed over to a gelato shop for dessert, and then a few of the girls and I went to a seaside side coffeeshop/bar/lounge and sat and talked for a few hours. One of my favorite discoveries in Greece is these places -- they're not really like anything I've ever seen/heard of in the US. They have super-comfortable couches, propane heaters in the winter, and are open pretty much all day. They serve coffee, juice, tea, some small desserts, amazing hot chocolate, and alcoholic drinks, and the norm is that you sit and order one, maybe two drinks and stay for a few hours. The one we went to in Nafplio had a beautiful view out over the sea that included the Bourtzi. It's so relaxing to just sit and talk and not feel any pressure to leave -- you're truly welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Below: Sara and I enjoying our gelato at the seaside cafe (photo courtesy of Kelly).
Ok, so I'm a little behind on my blogging, but I'm going to attempt to catch up this weekend, since I'll actually be in Athens this time and have a little bit more access to internet. The weekend of Feb. 1-3, the whole program took a trip to Ναυπλιο (pronounced NAF-plee-oh) as the end of orientation. It's a very cute seaside town on the Peloponnese and was definitely a nice change of pace from Athens. On the way there, we drove over the canal that cuts through the isthmus -- it was incredibly deep and LONG. I've never really seen anything like it in my life, and I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a ship going through it. The photo I took really doesn't do it justice.
The first night there, we spent the afternoon wandering around the old town (many Greek towns are divided into an old town, where the buildings have been preserved and the streets are narrow, and a modern, new town). It was a names day holiday for the town, so not too many people were around, but we had a lot of fun anyway. Everything was just so beautiful, and the contrast between old and new was very interesting to observe. There were moments when I thought, I wish that car weren't in front of this gorgeous traditional stone home, but then I'd realize that the car is just as much a part of the town of Nafplio as the old buildings are.
The town consisted pretty much of an ancient fortress on top of a hill for quite awhile (the acropolis of Nafplio), and was developed by the Venetians in the late 17th and early 18th century. There's also a fortress on an island in the harbor (the Bourtzi), which allowed them to control the only channel into the harbor which is accessible, and an enormous fortress on the top of the second hill in town (Palamidi fortress - more on that later).
Arcadia took us all out for dinner. There was a ton of food, including zucchini fritters (I actually LOVED them), cheese pie, french fries, and a chicken dish that tasted like sweet and sour chicken. In this (very candid) photo, are Kelly, Sara, Aubrey, my roommate Caitlin, and Jan, the program director. Afterwards, we headed over to a gelato shop for dessert, and then a few of the girls and I went to a seaside side coffeeshop/bar/lounge and sat and talked for a few hours. One of my favorite discoveries in Greece is these places -- they're not really like anything I've ever seen/heard of in the US. They have super-comfortable couches, propane heaters in the winter, and are open pretty much all day. They serve coffee, juice, tea, some small desserts, amazing hot chocolate, and alcoholic drinks, and the norm is that you sit and order one, maybe two drinks and stay for a few hours. The one we went to in Nafplio had a beautiful view out over the sea that included the Bourtzi. It's so relaxing to just sit and talk and not feel any pressure to leave -- you're truly welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Below: Sara and I enjoying our gelato at the seaside cafe (photo courtesy of Kelly).
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