This is Carl and Nikita checking in from Athens International Airport. We're just finishing up our trip, and as frequent bloggers, we're gonna go ahead and tell you about our trip. We got the OK from the US Travel Advisory to come here. They say everything is peachy and perfect, aside from the 10,000 Euro payment to get out of the country. Every detail, exciting moment, and fun festival shall be known about! (7)Γεια σας! Γεια σας! Despite the formidable looks of these cryptic symbols, "Γεια σας" simply means "hello" in Greek, an expression we heard quite often during our trip. Some other translations are "Γεια", "γειά", "χαιρετίσματα", and "Τι συμβαίνει;". The Greek language is incredibly old, with written documents dating back as far as 1350-1450 B.C.E. It is likely more ancient still, considering much of the evidence could have been destroyed, and the language could have existed prior in spoken form. The original form of the language is "Linear B", a sequence of characters that is a syllabary rather than an alphabet. These characters represented syllables and sometimes entire words or ideas. Since the time of Linear B, the language has undergone many overhauls and dialects. During Classical Greece (5th and 4th centuries B.C.E.), for example, there were two major dialects, Attic and Ionian, which later intertwined to form the Attic-Ionic dialect. After this, Koine Greek was gradually formed and spread during the expansion of the Roman Empire. It became the first Greek "common language", because it was the only dialect at the time and was spoken by a vast number of people over a large territory. It is also known as "New Testament Greek" because it is the original language of the New Testament. This language continued until the demise of Byzantine in the mid-15th century C.E. From this language stemmed modern Greek, used today. Due to its long history, Greek roots are found in many other modern languages and Greek is used often in scientific nomenclature, along with Latin.
(19) Greeks blithely enjoy many activities during their free time. Nightlife is very popular in Greece, with clubs and bars open until morning hours and active citizens awake late past nightfall, even during the work week. We spent some days with groggy eyes and stomach-fulls of coffee, not being used to the locals' idea of leisure. Tremendous mileage of coastline, totaling at 13,676 km, or 8,498 mi, allows for endless beach activities, which brings lots of tourists, including us. Sightseeing is also common among tourists, due to dramatic seaside cliffs, inland mountains, and beautiful beaches. Popular sports in Greece include, of course, water sports, but also soccer, and more recently, golf. Swimming, fishing, sailing, and surfing are some of the most popular water-related activities. Soccer is also very widespread in Greece, arising from its successful National Team, which won the 2004 UEFA European Championship, striking pride in all of Greece. Golf has recently become very popular as well, with more and more golf courses opening up.
(3) Due to our lack of prior knowledge, we had a few embarrassing encounters with native Greeks. At some point, Carl was painfully admonished for using the American "ok" sign, directed to a waiter at a restaurant. Apparently, that sign meant something extremely vulgar and insulting, due to its resemblance to a body part. Who would've known? He sure won't ever do that again... ever (hopefully). Another taboo that, according to us, is over-emphasized, is the disputed name of the Republic of Macedonia. Nearly no Greek person would EVER call the Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.) simply "Macedonia". There is a long, long political and historical background to this confrontation. Some other taboos include boys with ear-rings or long hair, as well as men who do house-work instead of their wives, and LGBT people, who are generally shunned as well.
Luckily, we made it at a special time of the year! "Ohi Day!" This is the day when the Greeks refused Italy control of certain territories in Greece during World War II. Allegedly, when the Italians demanded permission, the Greek representative responded with a simple, "No!" A few years after the war finished, Greek citizens came out of their homes and ran into the streets shouting "No!" with many other citizens, regardless of political affiliation and such. This marked a new holiday recognized by the Greek government as Ohi Day. PUT THE FIFTH REQ HERE.
(5) While we were in Greece, we saw quite bit of ancient statues, as expected. Some images often associated with the Olympics are a statue of a man reaching his arm back to throw a weighted plate, called a "discus", and the olive crown depicted in art. All of these things actually came from Greece and were part of the Ancient Olympic Games. Discus throwing was popular sport during Ancient Greece, and an olive crown was bestowed upon the victor of the games as a symbol of honor. Originally, the games were a religious event meant to celebrate Zeus, the king of all Greek Gods, as well as other Gods. The very first games were held at an area named "Olympia" in around 776 B.C.E., near the beginning of the Archaic period. Contestants would participate in various sports The games continued in this fashion for 12 centuries, heavily influencing history, and, of course, inspiring today's Olympic Games.
(6) Many philosophers originated in Greece. One of these was Socrates. Socrates was born in 470 B.C.E. in Athens, Greece. Although few know realize it, ancient philosophers formed a culture of thought with remnants presents in even today's world. Socrates' philosophy contained many themes, such as the use of logic and reasoning. Socrates believed that philosophy had many practical applications that would benefit the whole of society. However, at the time, his philosophy was opposing was conventional thought, and thus, along with supporters, Socrates gained enemies as well. Socrates was put to death by poison , due to "impiety" and "corrupting the youth". Surprisingly, Socrates swift fully accepted his fate, instead of seeking exile. He drank the poison without hesitation, because he was not afraid of death, which he described as "the soul leaving the body".
(9) During our trip, we ventured among many different restaurant, each with a surprisingly diverse and unique menu. Due to Greece's long and rich history, there are many varying food items typically served. Some examples are "Lagana" bread, a type of flatbread topped with seeds, which is actually quite common to be served as an appetizer with oil, even at non-Greek restaurants, and the famous "Greek Salad", which although varies between cooks, derives its influence from Ancient Greek ingredients. Olives, which are cultivated throughout Greece, are incorporated in many different dishes. Various cheeses are also used often, such as Feta cheese. It is difficult to describe Greek cuisine in a short summary, because Greek is so diverse and detailed.
(20) The most memorable attraction of our trip was certainly the Meteora. The word "Meteora" literally means "middle of the sky" in Greek, and that's no exaggeration of the awe inspiring cliffs. The elevation averages about 313 meters here, and is home to six monasteries. They are built on top of giant sandstone pillars. Rarely are such awe-inspiring sights seen.
Greece is located in the Balkan Peninsula, along with bordering countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. Turkey also borders Greece, and it has had a major impact on its history, as it was home to the Persian Empire, which led many raids into Greece. The easiest way for Persia to attack Greece was via the Mediterranean Sea. Using prior knowledge of how close Greece is located to the sea, we knew we would need to pack flip flops, board shorts, and short sleeved shirts. The Mediterranean climate also aids sightseeing, because of long daylight hours and little rainfall.
A map of Greece surrounded by many countries and the Mediterranean Sea.
Traditional Greek clothing, named the "fustanella."
Maybe something a little more mainstream would be more interesting. The Parthenon. One of the most famous architectural figures in the world. Located on the Acropolis of Athens, people flock to it every year to gaze upon its massiveness. Nikita and I took a good couple (thousand) of pictures of the structure, before moving onto the Church of the Holy Apostles. This church is a major establishment for the Easter Greek Orthodox religion, the major religion in Greece. All of the mythology stuff died out with the Roman conquest. You can imagine my surprise when I walked into town ready to worship the god Zeus!
Not all traditional clothes consist of the quaint outfit pictured here! There is a tradition on the island of Skyros, where old men wear goatskins and bells, and run around the streets making as much noise as possible. Where this tradition originates, we may never know! What we do know, is that Nikita and myself would be sure to participate in this. Right Nikita? No? Alright never mind...
This is a picture from the movie 300, depicting King Leonidas as the last alive Spartan.
Now for the interesting part of the trip. SPAAARTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! Well, not the city of Sparta, but the Battle of Thermopylae, where about 1700 Greek soldiers, including 300 Spartans, held off the Persian invasion led by Xerxes I. This battleground, is the basis of many legends and stories, including the ever famous "300", a film depicting the epic battle of the Spartans, lead by King Leonidas, defending against the onslaught of the Persians.
While Greece might seem like old news, there are actually quite interesting developments that are happening. Besides their economy constantly failing, there were actually ancient ruins found near an island named Delos. These ruins are being named "Underwater Pompeii." All archaeologists have found so far are a pottery kiln, and around 16 pots.