Monday, June 16

Greek Language and Culture Class

Marathon Tomb Tour

Beach time at Schoinias Beach Resort and lunch

Dinner at local tavern in Aghia Paraskevi

 

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Today was our second full day in Greece! This morning was also our first language/culture class. It seems like we are going to learn a lot of useful tools and phrases that we will be able to take with us on our day excursions! After class we headed to a beach right outside of Athens. It was beautiful. We all had a great time swimming, eating and tanning. I already feel like I have learned and seen so much, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the trip has in store.

Tabitha Nicolas

 

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Today was a very fun day! We got to see the Marathon tomb, and although it doesn’t look that interesting there is so much history behind it and well worth taking the time to learn. We also got to spend some time at the beach and soak up the sun. It was overall a great day and I can’t wait until we go sailing this weekend.

Katerina Burns

 

Sunday, June 15

Downtown Athens Tour, Panathinaiko Stadium, Parthenon, Acropolis Museum

Lunch in Downtown Athens

Dinner at traditional Cretan tavern

 

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Today was our first FULL day in Greece! Among many wonderful activities, we visited the Acropolis Museum, climbed up to the Parthenon and had a delicious Souvlaki lunch in down town Athens. After lunch we had some free time to explore the down town. I enjoyed getting to take in the culture first hand by conversing with Greek vendors and locals. Overall it was a great first day and I am excited to see what the rest of our journey will bring!

Julia Levinson

 

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When you think about the country of Greece, you usually immediately think about the Acropolis and all of the Greek ruins. Climbing up those marble steps and seeing the majestic Parthenon in person seems like such a tourist-y thing to do, yet it never gets old. I’ve visited the Acropolis once before, and I can say it just gets better every time. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do but stand there and admire the amazing structure in front of you. It was also cool to have a tour guide lead the way through the museum and up the steps, so we could hear some background information on the history of the Parthenon. And you can never take too many pictures. Selfies included.

Paula Tews

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The flight landed 35 minutes after 6 p.m. on that warm Saturday evening at the Athens International Airport. 45 excited, proud and emotional students touched down on Greek soil and headed straight to the ACG residences, their “home” for the next two weeks.

Half an hour later, they were all settled in their apartments and eagerly followed their resident assistants to the campus gardens to meet their buddies, the ACG peers.

As the meal was being served, one could not but feel that this was a vibrant group of students sharing the same values, the same beliefs, the same dreams and it would become clear that lifelong friendships were about to be built.

Nobody cared if Greece lost its first World Cup game that evening.

They are all winners! And the neighborhood of Aghia Paraskevi does not care either, instead it celebrates the arrival of the HG 2014 class!

Welcome to Greece, welcome home!