Day 14: Travel Day: Kalambaka, Vergina, and Crete

 Hey everyone! It’s Addie and David on the blog today!

Today marked a bittersweet farewell to Kalambaka. We left our hotel early in the morning, and while we’re excited to experience the island of Crete, it was hard to leave behind the peace and comfort we found in Kalambaka. Just yesterday, we hiked the towering rocks of Meteora and had a sauna, steam room, and pool to unwind in. Our hotel will be missed! There are lots of fun things coming up on the itinerary, though. . 

On our way to the airport in Thessaloniki, we made a pit stop in Vergina to visit the Museum of the Royal Tombs in Aigai. The scenic mountain drive to the museum was beautiful! Did you know around 80% of Greece is mountains?? The museum was underground and it was super dark with lights only over the artifacts. In the museum, there were three tombs: Philip II (Alexander the Great’s father), Philip III of Macedon (Alexander the Great’s half brother), and Alexander IV of Macedon (Alexander the Great’s son). These tombs lay under a small hill, and were excavated by archeologists in 1977. I (Addie) thought it was really interesting how recent these findings were compared to some other things we have seen on the trip so far. It is crazy that archeologists are still excavating things from thousands of years ago. There are tons of tombs all over Macedonia. The location of Alexander the Great’s tomb is still unknown, but many believe it may be underwater in Alexandria. Alexander the Great wanted his name and image everywhere, including front and center on his father’s tomb. The museum sparked reflection questions such as what kind of person we hope to become and what things we value most in life. 

 

Next, we stopped for lunch at a small buffet place on our way out of Vergina. The best part was the dog that followed us and wanted to get on the bus with our group. Then, we headed to Thessaloniki - the second largest city in Greece (behind Athens), towards the airport. We had an hour to walk around the city a little bit, and explore along the harbor. The view was stunning, and when we got off the bus, there was a statue of Alexander the Great! 

This trip has helped me (David) learn that I value conversation and connection more than lectures and history lessons. I love to learn, of course, but I crave dialogue, epiphanies through shared stories, thought-provoking ideas, and emotional exchanges. I guess I envisioned more moments of discovery through discussion rather than a bunch of facts being spewed out at us by the tour guide. Still, every moment is part of this journey of knowing myself better and even the discomfort has something to teach. For me (Addie), I have loved learning about the history of Greece and seeing these well-known places in person. It has been great getting to know the group better and connect with them daily whether that is through our discussions or just over dinner.

Mentally for me (David) today was a little rough, but I’m still deeply grateful to be here in Greece, even on a hard day. As we board our flight to Crete I’m filled with hope and anticipation for the island experience. Here’s to fresh air, a new vibe, and whatever self-discovery comes next. I (Addie) am super excited for Crete and to continue conversations amongst the group. We will be spending a lot of time outdoors in the coming days which will be nice after a while on the bus. It will also give us a lot of time to reflect and take in all the beauty of the island! 

Thanks for reading! Until next time :)

- Addie and David