This past weekend CYA took us on a short, yet absolutely
marvelous field trip to the small city/town of Delphi, Greece. Having not
known much before the trip, I was really excited to be visiting a place where
people would ask questions to an Oracle who could foresee the future.
The school divided the students up into two buses to make
things more manageable once we arrived at the sites. The ride to Delphi took
about 2 hours, but first we made a stop to the Ossios Loukas Monastery.
Professor Kotoula, my Byzantine Art and Architecture teacher, guided us through
the old monastery and explained to us all the cultural significance behind the
church. What I found the most interesting of the Ossios Loukas Monastery was
the bottom chamber, where we saw figures on the wall with their eyes carved
out. I had learned in class that messing up the structure of the face alone was
the greatest way to reject or show disrespect towards an icon in a church. Seeing
that really reflected the tensions that occurred between the groups who tried
to have power in the church. After our visit, we had a quick picnic lunch
provided by the school at the monastery. Unfortunately it was super misty so
our view wasn’t spectacular, but I was super hungry and will eat food whenever
and wherever.
When we arrived to Delphi, the weather didn’t get any
better. It was super rainy and we were told that the archaeological sites of
Delphi would be extremely muddy. We decided to just relax in the hotel for the
rest of the day and grab dinner. We also saw beautiful Greek cats during this trip! They are soooo adorable and my love for cats has increased since this trip. After dinner, the girls I was sharing a hotel
with and I just decided to watch Greek soap operas and were impressed by how
much we could understand after only being in Greece for two 2 months!
The next day we rose up bright and early at 7 am. Luckily,
the hotel provided us with breakfast and I reenergized myself with croissants,
eggs and fruit. We visited the lower archaeological site at Delphi first.
There we saw a temple dedicated to Athena and there was also a surrounding
gymnasium. Every time I visit one of these temples, I am always blown away by
how much man-power was put into the works I am witnessing and the durability of
these structures. Next, we climbed our way up to the upper archaeological site
in Delphi and saw the temple of Apollo, as well as a grand stadium. We also saw where people made
their sacrifices to the Oracle! Of course I knew there were a queue of wishes
waiting to be granted, but I asked the Oracle my question anyways. I hope he
heard it! J
We finished the field trip off by going to a nearby town called
Arachova. It was super beautiful and it was the first time I had ever witnessed
a snow-covered mountain top! Greece continues to make me fall in love with it
every time I visit. I don’t know how I’m going to go back home!
Enjoy the pictures J
Temple of Athena
Temple of Apollo/Oracle site at Delphi
Cute Greek cats everywhere!
Arachova, Greece!
