Tavernas and Temples

The past five days have included a mixture of excitement, exhaustion, fear and amazement. One big adjustment (aside from the jet lag) has been learning to adapt to living in a city.  My apartment (see picture below), which is located in the neighborhood of Pangrati, is just about a five-minute walk from the Academic Center. However, my roommates and I quickly discovered that it’s best to leave ourselves at least ten minutes in order to make it across the busy streets of Athens.  Most cars don’t seem too concerned with stopping for pedestrians and numerous motorcycles weave in and out on the tightly packed streets.

Another adjustment has been learning to communicate with the Greek people. One part of orientation that was extremely helpful was our survival Modern Greek class that met three times over the course of the week. The pronunciation of Modern and Ancient Greek is very different so it has been helpful to know some key words and phrases. Since I’m excited to have some knowledge of a language that’s not dead, I thought I’d share some important words/phrases with you.

Γεια σου (hello/goodbye)

Συγγνώμη (Sorry)

Ευχαριστώ (Thank you)

Παρακαλώ (Please)

Θελω ένα παγωτό σοκολατά. (I want one chocolate ice cream)

Πώς σε λένε; (What is your name?)

Πού είναι; (Where is it?)

Τι κάνεις; (How are you?)

I’ve found that even if I don’t pronounce every word correctly most people are just happy that I’ve at least tried to speak to them in Greek.

            In addition to my modern Greek class, a few other highlights from this week include visiting the U.S. Embassy, eating at a Greek taverna, and enjoying a garden party held at the home of CYA president Dr. Phylactopoulos. While visiting the Embassy we were able to learn more about the services it provides Americans and even meet the Embassador himself.  The food at both the taverna and at Dr. Phylactopoulos’ home was amazing and I look forward to eating much more of it over the next three months!

            After such a busy first week, I decided to sleep in a little bit this morning and then head out to explore the city.  Below are some pictures from today’s adventures. With a few new friends in tow, I walked through the National Gardens toward the Zappeion. This building was constructed in order to hold indoor events for the first modern Olympic games in 1896. After taking a few pictures we walked to the Temple of Olympian Zeus which was built by the Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD during Rome’s control of Greece. Looking up at the towering corinthian columns it hit me just how lucky I am to be here in Athens. Around the perimeter of the temple are ruins of a Roman bath complex, a neighborhood area, and Hadrian's Arch (also dated to the 2nd century AD).  

        After seeing some later Roman construction, we shifted back to classical Greece as we entered the Acropolis Museum. We spent about two hours here taking in all of the amazing sculptures that have been relocated to the museum from their original location on the Acropolis. Some of what we saw included the caryatids (female figures) from the porch of the maidens on the Erechtheion, the remains of the two pediments from the Parthenon, and many many korai and koroi (archaic statues). Unfortuntely photography was not allowed inside the museum so I don’t have any pictures to share.

            I’m looking forward to heading back out into the city tomorrow to walk around Plaka (near the Acropolis) and Syntagma square. More pictures and stories to follow!

         Sam