Final Update

Just a final post to conclude the blog for the Term 3 trip Greece & Turkey 2013. The bus made it safely back to Elmira Saturday night around 7:30pm, and the students who did not travel back to Elmira each made their connecting flights as well.
We also want to send out a huge thank you to Dr. Heidi Dierckx, Michalis, Selçuk, and anyone else who helped to put the trip together. It really was the most enjoyable and memorable experience we could have imagined.
Feel free to use any of the pictures from the blog!

(And remember to email Heidi any assignments by Friday May 24th)

Back in America!!!!

With a 3am wake up call, we left the hotel to begin our journey home. Our first flight (from Athens to Zurich) only took about 2 hours and we got a nice view of the Swiss Alps along the way. After a short layover we began the long 8 hour flight into New York. It was a little rough over the English Channel where there was a storm, but once we got over the ocean, a smooth flight all the way. After 1 month, we are back in the Unites States!!!!

The Swiss Alps

Landing in Newark

Day 28: Back to Athens

5/17/13

Before heading back to Athens we stopped at the Delphi Archeological Museum.  Afterwards some students decided to climb back up the site to see the stadium.

Temple of Apollo pediment




Naxian Sphinx

Syphnian Treasury

Bronze Bull

Column of Dancers

Stadium at Delphi

The brave hikers

On our way into Athens, we witnessed a quiet protest of teachers. This was a set up protest so the police knew and set up the bariers and kept the area safe.

Teachers protest in Athens

In the afternoon, we had some time to shop and see the different sites around Athens. There was one shop, where we could make our own t-shirt designs and write something in Greek on the back.

Custom made shirts

Greek Parliament building

Changing of the guards

Syntagma Square

Afternoon street shopping

This evening we had our last family meal together.

Our last dinner

Day 27: Delphi

5/16/13
The day started out driving to Delphi. The bus had a mechanical problem and we were stuck for one hour at a random hotel, so a coffee break was in order. Once that was fixed we had a great drive with amazing views. The bridge that crosses the Corinthian Gulf looked like sail boats and had a Venetian fortress on the right side.

Patras

Crossing the Corinthian Gulf

Harbor at Naupaktos, where we stopped for a break

Venetian Fort

Arriving in Delphi

We made it to Delphi with 5 minutes to make it within the site. Delphi is the site of the oracle of Apollo, with the temple of Apollo, the theater built into the hillside, and a stadium at the top of the hill.

Sacred Way, leading to the Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle at Delphi was located

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Temple of Apollo

Treasury of the Athenians

Theater

Navel or center of the ancient world

View from Hotel at Delphi

Day 26: Olympia

5/15/13

Today we started our day at 8 am with a 4-hour bus ride to Olympia, where we visited the sanctuary of Zeus and the site of the original Olympic Games, which started in 776 B.C. The Museum at Olympia houses some of the most well-known sculptures of the sanctuary.


The Beach Stop in Kalo Nero



Griffin heads





Gold and Ivory Statue of Zeus



Great Gymnasium



Palaestra



Workshop of Pheidias



 Temple of Zeus



Group photo in front of the Gateway to the Stadium



Stadium



Enjoying the sun



Treasuries

Temple of Hera

Prytaneion, where the Olympic Flame was kept burning



Horse carriage ride back to the bus, we are the lucky ones!

Lunch was at a nearby village, whose specialty was local-raised chickens.


Arriving at the hotel, we all enjoyed ourselves at the pool.