other participants

Greece 2005

May 14 and 15, 2005- Depart from Raleigh International to Athens, Greece

Kyle and I were so excited to be going to Greece! We boarded the plane to only find out that it was packed. We took our seats and decided that trying to sleep would be the best thing to do. It didn’t happen! We were both to excited to sleep.
We arrived in Athens got our luggage and took the Metro into the city. The Metro for us was by far the way to go. It was empty and easy to navigate. We had already mapped out where our hotel was and we found it easily. We were staying at the Carolina Hotel which was a nice hotel for young travelers like us.
After getting settled in we went to find some food. We had lunch at a nice outdoor café. While eating it rained for maybe three minutes. It was the only rain we saw for the rest of the trip. After lunch we decided that we would walk around the city.
We saw the Acropolis and decided that we would walk around the whole thing. While going down a back road I heard my name. It was Eric! It was great to see someone we knew. All three of us walked around for the rest of the day exploring Athens.
We had dinner and then decided that it was time to try some Ouzo. Eric and Kyle liked the taste but I decided that wine was good for me. Luckily enough Eric was staying at the same hotel we were so we decided to hang out there.

 

May 16, 2005 On the first day of the group trip we all showed up at the Pan Hotel where we were supposed to meet. We walked up to the Hill of Muses to watch the sunset and look at the unbelievable view of Athens. After we had a group dinner where we experienced real Greek cuisine. I have to say that it was interesting! Some of the items I really liked but others were not for my taste. After dinner a group of us went down to the Plaka to look around and do some shopping. It had been a long day for most of the group so we all went to bed somewhat early.

Day One of Group Trip: May 16, 2005
Hill of Muses
-Funeral monument built in 115 A.D. in memory of Philopappos who was a Roman consul
-The monument is 10 meters high with statues of Philopappos’s family
-At the top of the hill you can see a panoramic view of Athens

 

Group picture at the Hill of Muses

Acropolis from the Hill of Muses

Day 2 of Group Trip: May 17, 2005
Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, and Agora

Propylia, gates to the Acropolis

The Propylia is the monumental gate that you must go through to enter the Acropolis. It was done in the Doric order and used to have five large wooden and bronze doors. It was made out of a combination of Pentelic and blue Eleusinian marble. It was built by Mnesikles and Pericles.

Erechtheion
The Erechtheion was completed in 395 B.C. after the Peloponnesian war. It is an Ionic temple with three porches. There is an Olive tree planed outside that is said to have been planted by Athena herself. The southern porch is supported by six Caryatids. The cella has six Ionic columns. It was used to hold a wooden statue of Athena Poliase, the wearer of the sacred peplos. The north porch has six Ionic elegant columns. The floor and roof were cut out to reveal to the gods the marks left by Poseidon’s trident.  

Parthenon

The Parthenon (447-432 B.C.) was built by Iktinos and Kallikrates under the direction of Pheidias in the age of Pericles and dedicated to Athena. It is a Doric temple that has no strait lines. The columns lean inward and the stylobate curves slightly. The cult statue of Athena was housed in the Parthenon. The statue was about 40 feet tall and made out of ivory and gold. 

Acropolis Museum

Kritian Boy ( Above)

Acropolis Museum

Peplos Kore (Above)

Ancient Agora

Temple of Hephaistos, Agora

Agora Museum

Early Geometric cremation burial of a wealthy woman

About 850 B.C.

Black-figure Pottery

6th and early 5th century B.C.

Overnight Ferry from Athens to Chania, Crete

May 18, 2005

The ferry ride was awesome it was like being on a cruse. We had a great time hanging out in the Disco room. We woke up the next morning a little late and were rushed off the boat.
We got on a bus that took us to the top of the Samaria Gorge. The top of the gorge was mostly pine trees and soft dirt to walk on. There were also tall mountains around us. About two miles down the scenery started to change. The path was all gravel and somewhat hard to walk on. We came upon a small stream that we followed out of the gorge.  The whole walk was about 10 miles and well worth it. Our feet hurt but the small town of Agia Roumeli had good food and drinks to get us going again.

The Samaria gorge contains a wide variety of species of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants, some of which are unique to the area. The rock formations created by the river that runs heavily during the summer are amazing. The folds in the rocks aren’t like anything I’ve ever seen.

Top of Samaria Gorge

End of Samaria Gorge

Matala, Minoan palace of Phaistos: May 19, 2005

Matala is located on the southwest coast of Crete. The artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala bay were created in the Neolithic period and were probably used as prehistoric dwellings and places of worship. There are stone beds and fireplaces also cut into the walls. Matala was probably used as a port for Phaistos in the Minoan days. In the 1st and 2nd century the caves were used as tombs.

The Palace of Phaistos was built at the begging of the 2nd millennium B.C (MMI period). It remained in use for three centuries. It was destroyed by fire in ca. 1700 B.C. and earthquakes. On the ruins of the old palace a new palace was built. It was destroyed in the mid 15th century B.C. (LMI B).The old palace that still remains is now under a roof.

Matala Caves

Palace of Phaistos

Ayia Triada, Gortyn, Skoteino cave: May 20, 2005

Ayia Triada is located a couple of miles away from Phaistos. It was built at the end of the Middle Minoan period. It might have been a summer palace for the king of Phaistos. The villa was destroyed by fire at the end of the Late Minoan period IB. They found linear a tablets and clay sealings, wall paintings and stone carved vases at the site. The palace forms a shape of an irregular L around the two sides of a paved court. The remains of a drainage system can still be seen today.

Gorthn was first inhabited at the end of the Neolithic period (3000 b.c.) and flourished much later in the Late Minoan period. The Gortyn Law code is located on the north wall of the Odeion. It is a complete code of law, based on Minoan tradition and dates to 450 b.c. The church of St. Titus is a large stone-built cruciform church with three semicircular conches. It also had two small apses on the north and south arms of the church.

Skoteino cave is one of the largest and most spectacular caves on the island of Crete. It was a very important sacred cave first used a place of worship by the Greeks and later the Christians. The cave depth is 160 meters and has four levels. In the cave parts of vases were found along with bone needles and late Minoan figures dating from the Neolithic to Roman periods  

Ayia Triada

Gortyn Law Code

Skoteino Cave

Lasithi Plain, Diktaean Cave, Mochlos: May 21, 2005

Lasithi Plain is 850 meters above sea level and is surrounded by high peaks. It is irrigated in the summer by windmills and covers an are of 25,000 sq. km.

The Diktaean cave was use as a Minoan cult cave. In Greek mythology the Diktaean cave was said to be the place where Zeus was born.

Mochlos was a Minoan settlement. The earliest buildings date from the EM IB. It may have been destroyed by the eruption of the Santorini volcano. There is also a prepalatial cemetery with twenty built tombs, pithos burials, and pit graves. There are also two large tombs for the burials of the elite.

Lasithi Plain

Diktaean Cave

Palaikastro, Gournia: May 22, 2005

Palaikastro is a settlement from Late Minoan period (1550- 1220 b.c.). There is also evidence for early and middle minoan periods. The original name of the town is unknown. The palace burned at the end of the Late Minoan IB period but grew again in the Late Minoan IIB period. No palace has been located yet.

Gournia is located close to the sea, at the Isthmus of Hierapetra. The first inhabitants settled in the Early Minoan III period. Remains of the middle Minoan period are also preserved. The palace was destroyed along with the surrounding town  in 1450 b.c. at the same time as all the other palatial centres of Crete. The main occupation of the people of Gournia was agricultur, stock-breeding, fishing,pottery and weaving. The palace was built on to of the hill to the west of the court.

Palaikastro

Gournia

Knossos: May 23, 2005

Knossos covers an area of 20,000 square meters. The old palace was built around 2000 b.c. but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1700 b.c. The second palace was more complex in plan and strongly resembled a labyrinth. In the middle of the 15th century the Achaeans from the Greek mainland conquered the island of Crete and settled at the palace of Knossos. They used the Greek language as indicated by the clay tablets they left behind. The language they used was linear B. The palace was again destroyed by fire in the mid-14th century b.c. (LM IIIA period).

Knossos

Knossos

May 24, 2005: Heraklion Museum, Ferry from Heraklion to Santorini

Bull’s Head rhyton
From Knossos

Bull Leaping Fresco from Knossos

Kamares Ware from the palace Phaistos

Volcano Tour, Santorini: May 25, 2005

The volcano was so much fun to walk around on. It was also cool to hear the history of the volcano. The panoramic view of Thera from the volcano was amazing. This was by far on of my favorite places to visit!

Santorini

Akrotiri: May 26, 2005

Akrotiri dates from the Late Neolithic times. It grew and became one of the main centers and ports in the Aegean. The settlement hand an elaborate drainage system and multi-storeyed buildings. They had magnificent wall-paintings, furniture and vessels. Akrotiri was in contact with Crete but also communicated with the Greek mainland, the Dodecanese, Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt. The village was destroyed by the Thera volcano when it erupted.  

Red Beach, Thera

May 27, 2005: Ferry to Naxos

Naxos: May 28, 2005

Unfinished Figure that was being carved out of Marble, Naxos

May 29, 2005 Ferry to Mykonos

May 30, 2005 Paradise Beach

Windmills

Beach day was awesom! We had a lot of fun just lying around and getting some sun!

Paradise Beach, Mykonos

May 31, 2005 Sanctuary of Apollo, Delos

Delos, Lions

Our Trip

Kyle and I after the group trip went to Rhodes for a week. We spent our time in Lindos. Mostly we stayed at the beach but at night we enjoyed the beautiful town of Lindos. Lindos is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The Acropols is an amazing sight to see especial at night. At night the beaches are deserted and great to walk on. We rented a motorbike to get around on since our hotel was a mile or two away from town. It was a great week and an amazing place to visit.

Lindos Bay, Rhodes

The Best beach ever!

Random Things

Naxos

Awesome Soup!

Ticket

Hotel in Santorini

Restaurant in Santorini

Awesome

Water

Our Hotel the first night

Hotel in Mykonos

Hotel in Lindos, Rhodes

 

 

Trip to Boliva and Peru

March 3-13

March 3 and 4

Our flight from Atlanta to Miami was short and sweet. When we arrived to Miami we ment some people from UVA and played ultimate frizbe inside the airport. The flight from Miami to La Paz seemed long but I was glad that it was an overnight flight. I didnot become sick from the change in altitude like I thought I might. We all got onto a bus and traveled down to our hotel. After we got our things in our room we went out to shop!

Flying into La Paz- Andes mountains in the background

View from our hotel view of the street from our hotel

Shopping in La Paz

After shopping and a quick rest we went to the valley of the moon. A man was playing the hand flutes while we walked around.

Valley of the moon

Anothe view of the Valley of the moon

Valley of the moon- man playing hand flutes

March 5

On the 5th we traveled to Tiwanaku. It is said to be the oldest site in the Western Hemisphere. At the begining of our tour Dr. Bauslaugh found gold! It was really cool to see what can be found in an old unexcavated pile of dirt and rubble. The site was interesting but I found the museum to be even better.

entrance to the Kalasasaya mound

Looking at the faces carved into stone at Tiwanaku

Detail of one of the faces

figre on the Kalasasaya mound that faces the entrance

Portal of the Sun atop the Kalasasaya mound

large vessal- Tiwanaku pottery

Pottery in the shape of Lamas

clay Puma heads

After a grteat day at Tiwanaku we had dinner at the hotel and then went out to a disco bar. The bar was underground! It was dark and smelled like a basement. We had alot of fun dancing and meeting the locals!

March 6

We took a bus ride from La Paz to Lake Titicaca. The bus ride was awesome because we got to see the small villages that were outside of La Paz. We crossed over part of the lake by boat and continued our journey to Copacabana. Copacabana was beautiful. When we arrived there was a festival going on. All the men and women were dressed in traditional clothing. There was music and dancing! We ate at a wonderful restaurant- we sat outside and soaked up the sun. As we walked around the town my wallet was stolen. I lost my credit card and some American money. As I ran around trying to find my wallet the rest of the group boarded onto a boat that was going to take us to the Island of the Sun. When we all got to the Island of the Sun we went to the Temple of the Sun. After we visited the temple we took about a mile hike up the Island to our hotel. The hike was tiring but well worth it. The view from our hotel was beautiful. The hotel had the greatest bathrooms but there was no water. There was also no heat and It got very cold!!

crossing over part of Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca

Copacabana

 

festival parade in Copacabana

Festival in Copacabana

Festival in Copacabana

Temple of the Sun on the Island of the sun

March 7

After waking up and having a small breakfast we went on a tour of the Island of the sun. We stared out by going to the fountain of youth. After that we got onto a boat and went to the other side of the island to visit more ruins. While at the ruin we all had a chance to lie down on a sacred stone and have our spirits cleaned. after that neet experiance we took a boat to another part of the island for lunch. After lunch we went to the Island of the moon. After the Island of the moon we went back to Copacabana and had a great dinner at our Hotel.

Fountain of Youth

Ruins on the other side of the Island of the Sun

Island of the Moon

March 8

We spent half of the day shopping and half of the day in the bus. We went through customes into Peru. We drove for what seemed forever in Peru. We will never forget about hitting the dog or sheep! We arrived at a bus station in Peru to wait for our overnight bus. We saw a person get mugged at the ATM so we were all a little worried about being there. We had a small dinner in the bus station. Jay was sick and resting in a room in the bus station. It was great because we could use the bathroom in his room for free! Our bus arrived and we got on. Katie had pick out the best seats we were right up front. It was freezing on the bus and I slept on the floor in a ball to try to stay worm. We sat next to a very unhappy couple! We got a little sleep but were very happy to get of the bus and to our hotel.

March 9

In peru we took a tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It was an all day tour that took us to many sites. We had lunch at a cafeteria like place. There were lots of flowers in bloom and animals to look at. After our tour we went to eat at a wonderful resturant that had calzones. After dinner we went to a small bar for a drink and then to bed. It was again a cold night and we had to ask for more blamkets.

Site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Site converted into a Church in the Sacred Vallry of the Incas

March 10

We visited Machu Picchu. The place was beautiful. Our tour guide was a little hard to understand but the scenery was great. We got to see the old inka trail and eveything. We stared our day by taking a train to a village right under Machu Picchu. We then took a bus up to the site. After we visited the site we had lunch in a little place that had great pizza! We got back on the train and retured to Cuzco. We went to dinner at the same place as the night before. It was once again a great meal! Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Looking at the montain from the Machu Picchu

March 11

Today I spent my day with Jay. He had been sick and by himself for like four days. We stayed in and watched some good TV. Nicole was also sick so we took care of her. I wish I could have gone and seen the sites but Jay really needed some company.

March 12

We Traveled back to La Paz. We spent the day finishing up shopping and looking around. For dinner we had a private party with bands and dancing. It was so awesome to see the culture and eat the food. Our tour guids were awesome and so were their famlies. We were very greatful to have them!! The bands were awesome and we got to learn some of the native dances. It was the best possable way to end a great trip!!

March 13

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