--quick break from talking about Greece to tell you about a random trip---
I had known for awhile that Denise was planning on going to Perusia for a chocolate festival with some girls who live down the hall, but I didn't think I was exactly invited and didn't want to intrude. Well, last night at ten thirty pm Karen came into the room to talk to Denise about the trip and looked at me saying, "You're coming, right?"
That was settled. I was going.
At FIVE FREAKING THIRTY the next morning, Denise and I were up and getting ready to leave. We had to catch the 6am-or-something-like-that bus to the train station. I really wasn't registering much at that point. The cool thing about joining a travel group later on is that you can just follow everyone around and follow instructions and are usually not responsible for much. It was a nice change.
We met up with Karen, Tasha, and Emily eventually and got on the right bus, etc.
The thing was crazy crowded and full of teenagers.
I don't like teenagers much, I decided. They are loud and obnoxious. Was I ever like that? Probably. I was such an idiot when I was in highschool......it always makes me laugh when I see the same stupidity reflected in the younger generation these days.
anyway, these kids were being all loud and moving around a lot. We all just huddled together and ate some egg mcmuffins (yeah we sprung for mickey d's) and waited to get some seats. By the end of the trip we were all sitting, but there was plenty of standing time.
The train from Rome to Perusia is only about 2.5 hours. When we got there, we all decided that it was about bloody time we activated our Eurail Passes, and started getting some discounted train tickets. We hadnt done it earlier because we weren't doing much train travel. Plus, we needed to save them for ten day.
From the train station in Perusia we caught a bus to the center of the town and easily found the CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL!
Nothing was free, unfortunately. It went sort of along the lines of "chocolate, chocolate, everywhere, but not a bite to eat".
I didn't buy too much over the course of the day. I was proud of myself. Mostly, I think that has more to do with the sick feeling I get every time I think about my quickly depleting bank account balance than anything else.
There were so many things to see---even a dude in a yeti costume!
Milka was sponsoring a good chunk of the festivities, along side other chocolate companies whose names I don't remember. Neuhaus was not present...strange....
We were all in heaven, and ambled up and down the streets looking into booths and seeing all we could. The center of Perusia is really a cute area, without the festival. There is a huge cathedral and the center is all the way on the top of a hill. The view was spectacular, and there were plenty of shops to pop into once the cold became too much.
Denise got really excited to find a Body Shop. I must admit, she is slowly converting me...I like their stuff.
It was SO COLD!! I am really worried that I didn't bring enough warm clothing to Rome with me this semester. I think by the time ten day comes around, I will be wearing every ounce of clothing I own. It is parka weather!
Mira was not wearing a parka.
Burr!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Olympia
Now, then, to describe the Greece trip!!! --a much more worthwhile pastime than studying for my Literary Tradition midterm tomorrow, I can tell you.
When we arrived in Olympia, most of us were pretty tired from the journey, but excited to be in Greece. We checked into our hotel--three or four to a room (Denise and I lived with Lindsay Hurt), had mass and dinner and walked around for a bit. Olympia is a pretty touristy place--there are souvenir shops left right and center. One cool thing about Greece--you can HAGGLE! It's fun--and much easier if you happen to be a girl. he he he! success.
I used the shopping opportunity to get the two things I ALWAYS get in EVERY city we have traveled to thus far--postcards and a tacky coffee mug. As of right now I have 53 postcards to ship (my apologies to those of you waiting on them) and mugs from Rome, Barcelona, Olympia, Delphi, Nafplion, and Corinth. No idea how I am going to get them home, but they have kept this far, so good luck to me.
I was originally going to collect shot glasses from my trip, but I decided coffee mugs would be more useful-- I drink a LOT more coffee than I take shots, so there you go.
Anyway, I got my stuff and made my way back to the hotel to pass out. It was dark, and there wasn't too much to see in the immediate vicinity of our hotel without straying too far and missing curfew.
That's another thing. We have a midnight curfew when we travel on group trips. It blows, but I see the point now. Over the course of the Greece trip we had plenty of people get lost and miss it. It's a good way of keeping track of all 108 of us.
The next day, we made our way to a museum (snore) and to the ancient Olympic Staduim and training grounds. This was the cool bit: we raced!
There was a boys race, a girls race, a mixed relay, and a staff race.
I got to start the boys race! Ready?! Set! GO!
I have never experienced 50 men running at me as fast as they could before, but it was a nice thing to see before I die. I booked it out of the way. Mike McEwan won the boys race---amazing, considering he has chain-smoked since the age of 14.
The girls race was won by Claire Rendoni, and I have no idea who won the other races. I ran it at a jog---I didn't have running shoes on and am a professional klutz. I didn't feel like chancing a broken ankle for any ancient anything.
It took forever to get back to the hotel, mostly because Mr. Rutherford left his camera case COMPLETE with his passport in it back at the stadium and, realizing this half way home, had to go back. I met him on the road looking flustered and asked if he wanted me to go back with him (remembering how he was there for me when I lost my wallet). He nodded and we power-walked all the way back. Nice exercise. It was still there, no worries.
The food in Olympia wasn't so good--at least, not the stuff we got in the hotel for dinner. Thankfully, it got better throughout the trip. Gyros are generally about 2 euro in Greece and are nothing like the ones we make here. Meat (usually pork), cream stuff, seasoning, tomato, onion, FRENCH FRIES, and you're good!
Greeks love potatoes. My aunt, Devon would have a field day here. She is, after all, Ms. Spud.
We all already know that the Mira loves fries. I was in heaven.
BAKLAVA
everyone needs to have it
often.
I tried making it from scratch last year...not enough honey!
Another thing we got to see in Olympia (on the outskirts) was the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas. I got an icon there.
Since I go to a Roman Catholic school, many lectures had to be given in advance about the difference between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, practices, and teachings. Thankfully, we have a great Western Theological Tradition prof who didn't SLANT his information to make us look like schismatic heathens. I was uber appreciative.
There are only two Orthodox peoples in the whole class: myself and a guy named Anton, who is Russian Orthodox.
We got a lot of questions in the Greek churches. It was sorta fun.
We didn't stay in Olympia incredibly long. Next stop--Delphi!
When we arrived in Olympia, most of us were pretty tired from the journey, but excited to be in Greece. We checked into our hotel--three or four to a room (Denise and I lived with Lindsay Hurt), had mass and dinner and walked around for a bit. Olympia is a pretty touristy place--there are souvenir shops left right and center. One cool thing about Greece--you can HAGGLE! It's fun--and much easier if you happen to be a girl. he he he! success.
I used the shopping opportunity to get the two things I ALWAYS get in EVERY city we have traveled to thus far--postcards and a tacky coffee mug. As of right now I have 53 postcards to ship (my apologies to those of you waiting on them) and mugs from Rome, Barcelona, Olympia, Delphi, Nafplion, and Corinth. No idea how I am going to get them home, but they have kept this far, so good luck to me.
I was originally going to collect shot glasses from my trip, but I decided coffee mugs would be more useful-- I drink a LOT more coffee than I take shots, so there you go.
Anyway, I got my stuff and made my way back to the hotel to pass out. It was dark, and there wasn't too much to see in the immediate vicinity of our hotel without straying too far and missing curfew.
That's another thing. We have a midnight curfew when we travel on group trips. It blows, but I see the point now. Over the course of the Greece trip we had plenty of people get lost and miss it. It's a good way of keeping track of all 108 of us.
The next day, we made our way to a museum (snore) and to the ancient Olympic Staduim and training grounds. This was the cool bit: we raced!
There was a boys race, a girls race, a mixed relay, and a staff race.
I got to start the boys race! Ready?! Set! GO!
I have never experienced 50 men running at me as fast as they could before, but it was a nice thing to see before I die. I booked it out of the way. Mike McEwan won the boys race---amazing, considering he has chain-smoked since the age of 14.
The girls race was won by Claire Rendoni, and I have no idea who won the other races. I ran it at a jog---I didn't have running shoes on and am a professional klutz. I didn't feel like chancing a broken ankle for any ancient anything.
It took forever to get back to the hotel, mostly because Mr. Rutherford left his camera case COMPLETE with his passport in it back at the stadium and, realizing this half way home, had to go back. I met him on the road looking flustered and asked if he wanted me to go back with him (remembering how he was there for me when I lost my wallet). He nodded and we power-walked all the way back. Nice exercise. It was still there, no worries.
The food in Olympia wasn't so good--at least, not the stuff we got in the hotel for dinner. Thankfully, it got better throughout the trip. Gyros are generally about 2 euro in Greece and are nothing like the ones we make here. Meat (usually pork), cream stuff, seasoning, tomato, onion, FRENCH FRIES, and you're good!
Greeks love potatoes. My aunt, Devon would have a field day here. She is, after all, Ms. Spud.
We all already know that the Mira loves fries. I was in heaven.
BAKLAVA
everyone needs to have it
often.
I tried making it from scratch last year...not enough honey!
Another thing we got to see in Olympia (on the outskirts) was the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas. I got an icon there.
Since I go to a Roman Catholic school, many lectures had to be given in advance about the difference between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, practices, and teachings. Thankfully, we have a great Western Theological Tradition prof who didn't SLANT his information to make us look like schismatic heathens. I was uber appreciative.
There are only two Orthodox peoples in the whole class: myself and a guy named Anton, who is Russian Orthodox.
We got a lot of questions in the Greek churches. It was sorta fun.
We didn't stay in Olympia incredibly long. Next stop--Delphi!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Post Greece
Hello Everyone!!
We got back to Rome from a ten day trip to Greece this evening. I am totally zonked! I have tons and tons to write about Greece, however it may have to wait until the weekend. We have to finish up some midterms this week, and I need all the sleep time I can get. Plus, some roommate drama is helping to keep the stress levels super high around here. Life is funny. You try extra hard to steer clear of a situation,and it just seems to creep up on you that much more quickly.
I really have a very low tolerance for that kind of thing.
Anyway, Greece was absolutely lovely. If you have never gotten to experience it, I suggest very much that you try and do so. There is an endless amount to learn from each and every city. We journeyed to Olympia, Delphi, Athens, Nafplion, Mycene, and Corinth. Each was different, each was beautiful, and each deserves a blog of it's own.
To get to Greece from Rome is quite a trek, unless you opt to fly direct. We took a 7 hour bus from campus to Bari, then a 12 hour ferry from Bari to Greece. Another few hours on the bus brought us to Olympia. We traveled by bus throughout Greece, then back to port for a 12 hour ferry to Bari and another 7 hour bus to campus again.
While we were gone, our rooms were cleaned a bit and our bedsheets washed. I am hoping that the bugs cease to be an issue once the temperature drops....who knows. They could just get really really cold and seek MORE refuge in the dorm....eww.
This week we have three church summaries due in Western Theological Tradition, a Literary Tradition exam, an Art and Architecture exam, some random quizzes, and sevveerralll reading assignments.
I think its bedtime.
Next post, OLYMPIA!
Ciao!
Mira
PS. My mother and sister will be joining me in Rome for Thanksgiving!!! I am so so so unbelievably excited and can't wait to show them the city! I only wish my dad was coming too....
We got back to Rome from a ten day trip to Greece this evening. I am totally zonked! I have tons and tons to write about Greece, however it may have to wait until the weekend. We have to finish up some midterms this week, and I need all the sleep time I can get. Plus, some roommate drama is helping to keep the stress levels super high around here. Life is funny. You try extra hard to steer clear of a situation,and it just seems to creep up on you that much more quickly.
I really have a very low tolerance for that kind of thing.
Anyway, Greece was absolutely lovely. If you have never gotten to experience it, I suggest very much that you try and do so. There is an endless amount to learn from each and every city. We journeyed to Olympia, Delphi, Athens, Nafplion, Mycene, and Corinth. Each was different, each was beautiful, and each deserves a blog of it's own.
To get to Greece from Rome is quite a trek, unless you opt to fly direct. We took a 7 hour bus from campus to Bari, then a 12 hour ferry from Bari to Greece. Another few hours on the bus brought us to Olympia. We traveled by bus throughout Greece, then back to port for a 12 hour ferry to Bari and another 7 hour bus to campus again.
While we were gone, our rooms were cleaned a bit and our bedsheets washed. I am hoping that the bugs cease to be an issue once the temperature drops....who knows. They could just get really really cold and seek MORE refuge in the dorm....eww.
This week we have three church summaries due in Western Theological Tradition, a Literary Tradition exam, an Art and Architecture exam, some random quizzes, and sevveerralll reading assignments.
I think its bedtime.
Next post, OLYMPIA!
Ciao!
Mira
PS. My mother and sister will be joining me in Rome for Thanksgiving!!! I am so so so unbelievably excited and can't wait to show them the city! I only wish my dad was coming too....
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
In Greece.....Leave a Message
Hello Folks!!
Not a lot of time to write at the moment, just wanted to say hi and that I am in Athens at the moment, and will post an ACTUAL update after I get back to Rome in a few more days. I haven't forgotten about you all, its just been a little hectic and I don't always have internet and such.
Hope everyone on the home front is doing well....missing you bunches!!!
Ciao!
Not a lot of time to write at the moment, just wanted to say hi and that I am in Athens at the moment, and will post an ACTUAL update after I get back to Rome in a few more days. I haven't forgotten about you all, its just been a little hectic and I don't always have internet and such.
Hope everyone on the home front is doing well....missing you bunches!!!
Ciao!
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