Hey everyone, its Christina and Cambelle! Our first full day in Athens was busy with lots of exploring and visiting some of Greece’s most well-known places. We all got a chance to sleep in after our long travel journey and enjoyed a Greek breakfast with a view of the Parthenon. We started the day with a group gathering, where we finally got to officially meet Jonny, who is helping lead the program. The group talked about our hopes and fears that we wrote down a couple of days ago and compared them to how they may have changed now that we are actually here in Greece. We also discussed group dynamics and what we all need in order to make this a fun a productive trip that we can all get the most out of.
We then met with our tour guide, Irene who led us to the Acropolis Museum. Outside of the museum we could look down and see the original foundations of homes and streets that were built in Athens thousands of years ago. It was interesting to see such modern architecture combined with ancient buildings and was cool to imagine people living in those streets right below our feet. The second thing Irene showed us was the pottery that has been found and pieced back together and explained the process of how the Athenians made such intricate designs on the pottery. She told us the various uses of the pieces that ranged from perfume bottles to being a part of traditional wedding ceremonies. Next, we saw a wide range of statues and carvings that were a part of the original architecture in the city. Much of it was partially reconstructed to make it easier to envision what it might have looked like thousands of years ago. We all thought it was very interesting to learn that the Athenians used natural pigments to make paint, meaning that the Parthenon, statues, and other structures were once vibrantly painted, not just marble like most of us previously thought. The statues and carvings in the museum were surreal to see in person, and we both enjoyed hearing about their history and what they contributed to the city in ancient times.
Next, we got a chance to explore on our own for a couple hours. Most of us used that time to look around the museum a little more and then venture into the Plaka to find some lunch. I (Christina) enjoyed getting to explore the area and seeing all of the restaurants and shops. I would definitely like to have more time to go back and explore further.
After meeting back up with the group, we had a couple of hours before we were able to go to the Acropolis. Irene led us to a hill that had a beautiful view of the Parthenon, other ruins, and the city of Athens. We could even see our hotel! We were supposed to visit Mars Hill, where the apostle Paul preached, but it was unfortunately blocked off today. Luckily, we had a clear view from the area we visited instead. Here, we decided to take a group photo, which lead to an impromptu debrief and discussion about that we learned and enjoyed in the Acropolis Museum, and a much needed rest.
We visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon! This was an incredible experience and was really awe-inspiring. The columns and the statues were so large and made us reflect on how small we really are in comparison. We got to walk around on our own for a bit and really take in the magnitude of what we were seeing. We saw the Temple of Athena-Nike (the goddess of victory) and The Parthenon, which is a temple of Athena (the goddess of wisdom). It is mostly deconstructed at the moment, but archeologists are working to reconstruct it. Seeing the Museum of the Acropolis before was super helpful in connecting what we had learned previously with our tour guide to what we were presently seeing. Even half-constructed, the Parthenon is a breath taking experience.
John asked us some questions that we reflected on for the whole day, and we journaled our answers this afternoon. I really enjoyed the question about what our joys and discomfort were from the day. For me (Cambelle) my joys were the food and bonding with the group more. I would say the discomforts were adapting to a new culture. John also asked us what our emotional response to the sheer scale and significance of the Acropolis was. I reflected a lot on how incredible it was that so many thousands of people come to see this landmark, and here we are, seeing it as well. I was very sad to leave the Acropolis, just because the feeling you get when you are visiting this sight is unlike any other I can describe.
Thinking about ways that today helped us learn more about ourselves ...
Christina: Being in the Plaka today was a little overwhelming for me at first, but then I reminded myself to focus on the beauty of the area and to enjoy myself rather than focusing on how many people there are and how crowded it feels. It taught me to take a deep breath and slow down in similar situations, and I would like to go back to the Plaka a few more times to challenge myself to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.
Cambelle: Through the activities of today, specifically visiting the Acropolis, I learned that I enjoy taking things in slowly. I could feel the magnitude of what we were seeing, and I needed a minute to process and think. This taught me that I am a think then act kind of person, and that I really enjoy contemplating and sitting with my thoughts for a while. Seeing the Acropolis was a lesson in appreciation for me.
Thanks for reading! - Christina and Cambelle
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