Athens, Delphi, Poros, Hydra & Aegina, GREECE
This semester our Educational Field Trip was to Athens, Greece and we had a great time. Monday morning we headed out early to the Geneva airport and took a direct flight to Athens on FlyBaboo (a surprisingly nice Swiss airline) on which we were served food and drinks, which made it one of the best flights ever. When we arrived in Athens we took a bus to our hotel, Hotel Herodion, located just a stones throw away from the Acropolis. That afternoon we walked around in the for cheap gyros (kebap type things that are served on pita bread) and we were successful, Tim Recchion, Andrew Hagen and I found them for less than 2 euro. 
After that we met up with Alec Eagon, Josh Stoa, and Rob Shogry and walked over to the Areopagus, where Paul talked to the people, and enjoyed the sunset from there and the view of Athens. It was indescribable.Monday night we had a great group dinner with numerous courses of tradition Greek dishes that were absolutely delicious.
Caroline Forbes, Anna Honig, Rob, Alec and I opted for a smaller and round table and so that we could have a more intimate dinner and it was very nice. That night a few of us went out and some people got drinks before heading in for a pretty early night because the next day would be full of sight seeing in Athens.
Tuesday morning we left the hotel around 8:30am and walked the few feet over to the Acropolis where we learned all about it and took some pretty awesome pictures. It was right next to the Parthenon that after Anna and I took a picture it was decided that it would be a perfect place to be propose, so we decided to pose for it, and it was made for a funny story. (Below: The FAKE proposal.)
Brady, a missionary here in Lausanne, believed us when we told him later that we got engaged in Athens. Kelly and I tried to recreate our picture from Bonifacio, Corsica on the last EFT where I was holding her next to water, but we failed and got whistled at multiple times by an evil woman. (Below: Rob, Ashley Goldman and I with our wayfarers'.)
The Parthenon was of course partially covered in scaffolding, but what isn't covered in scaffolding in Europe?! (Below: Chelsea and I soaking up some sun after being deprived in Lausanne.)
From the Acropolis we went over to Ancient Agora and learned about what happened there, which I honestly don't really remember. Again, we took a lot of cool pictures - that happens a lot.Tuesday afternoon after the Acropolis and Ancient Agora we all went to the Archeology Museum and saw some really interesting pieces of ancient art.
After the museum we all went to another good Greek meal at a restaurant not too far away and from there we went on a short bus tour of other cool sights in Athens including the Olympic Stadium used at the first modern Olympics held in 1896. 
Apparently I was really tired that afternoon and once we returned to the hotel I took a nap from 5:30 until 8:30 and then Kate Brown, Alec, Rob and I went out to the Taverna next store and I had some Veal Pasta in a Ceramic Pot and the house white wine and we just sat and talked for over 2 hours, a true European meal.
(Above: Samantha Crocker, myself and Rob hanging out at the amphitheater in Delphi.)Wednesday was all about Delphi (also spelled Delfi) which is famous for the Oracle of Delphi.
It was a roughly 3 hour trip each way by bus, but the scenery was good and it was nice to see the Greek countryside. It is incredible that so many people were caught up with Greek Mythology and such and it was interesting to learn about everything that happened at Delphi and how it was supposedly the center of the universe because of a big ravine in the mountain there. We also went to another museum in Delphi. 
That night 9 of us went out to dinner, which was so good. We bargained for the meal and got free wine and dessert and 15% off of everything. (Above: Kate Brown and Garrett Reim enjoying the meal.)
Thursday we all had an early start in order to make it to the Athen's Day Cruise we were set to embark on. Our itinerary included Poros, Hydra and Aegina. (Below: Brittni, Caroline, Kelci Haye and I aboard the boat.)
I had never been on a ship that was so rocky and many people got sick from it, but I was fine thankfully. It was beautiful to see Greece from the water and to visit places other than Athens. 
Despite the rockiness and choppy waters, we were still even able to take jumping pictures on the top deck, which was hilarious.
It was also very windy at many of the places we went, so we had some pictures with crazy hair, too (As Hagen and I demonstrate above). Before arriving at Aegina, Afton Whiddon asked if she could braid my hair and I obliged and got some cool cornrows and a trashy ponytail - that was entertaining. 
At Aegina, Kelly and I tried again to recreate our picture, but we didn't quite succeed. Aegina is famous for pistachios, so I got a bag of them and ate the entire thing in less than 2 hours since they were so good.Thursday night was our last night and before heading out to dance, 9 of us again went out to dinner and this time had a 10 course meal for only 12 euro which included wine, water and bread.
After dinner we headed back to the hotel to meat everyone and then took taxi's to the club/lounge where we all danced the night away and had an absolute blast together. I love when we all go out together. From there Chelsea Hartnett and I walked back to the hotel because we didn't want to pay 15 euro for a hostel and it was really cool to walk by the Acropolis for one last time at night.
(Above: Hayley, myself, Caroline and Andrew after a great last night in Athens.)The next morning I enjoyed the hotel buffet breakfast again before heading out with Laurence Glasscock and Chelsea to do some souvenir shopping. I mainly just had to get some postcards and a shot glass (I collect those) so after I met my quota, I headed back to the hotel to get ready for our transport to the airport where we then flew back to Geneva and took a bus home. I needed to have time to make sure and count TEAM WADE, everyone who I was in charge of counting during the week. Since Caroline and I are the Student Government Representatives here in Lausanne, we along with Morgan, our librarian, Josh and Kelly our RA's and Professor Giboney all had lists of people to count. My team consisted of Rob Shogry, Alec Eagon, Kelsey Hall, Hayley Johnson, Shannon Kirkpatrick, Karee Maxson, Rebecca Stewart and Brittni Ping. We had a large amount of team spirit and were probably the best team ever.
Athens was simply amazing and it was such a blessing to go to Greece. It would be a blessing to return some day. The day after tomorrow, Saturday, I leave for my Spring Break on which I will travel to London and Lisbon, so I will have to blog about those places later. I hope that you are all doing well, don't forget to check out the facebook photo albums from our EFT in Athens!God bless and be safe!
- Wade
PHOTO ALBUMS
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001331&id=1534470084&l=89751
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001332&id=1534470084&l=cd8d4
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001333&id=1534470084&l=96298
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001334&id=1534470084&l=66c8c
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001335&id=1534470084&l=1cc3c
