Napflion

Saturday, the study abroad team took us all out to Napflion. I absolutely adored this area! It is positively gorgeous and, like Hydra, is more of the Greece we were expecting. It was the original capitol of Greece. One of my favorite parts of being in this city was actually being able to recall many of the monuments and historical sites to my Modern Greek History class (yay school!). 

Amanda, Me and Yawen inside the prison... scary....

First, we explored the Palamidi Castle where Kolokotronis was imprisoned and we even went inside the little cell (creepy). Felt very Chronicles of Narnia/Game of Thrones. The castle also holds a gorgeous view of the city below. 

She's escaping!

 After escaping the prison and exploring the fortress, we headed into Old Town Napflion. We saw the original Parliament and monuments dedicated to the first president, Kapodístrias, and the first King, Otto. The coolest part was seeing the bullet holes from Kapodístrias' murder. We also got to peek inside Saint George's Cathedral - the first Greek Orthodox church I have been inside. 

Our RA, Litsa, lights a candle
inside Saint George's Cathedral.

As we walked around this gorgeous little town, Anna and I both remarked how we wish there were study abroad opportunities in places like this. We're still adjusting to "city life" I guess. However, Athens is a very unique city. Even though it is the capitol of Greece, it doesn't feel like the big scary city I thought it would feel like. One of my Greek friends actually described Athens as a big friendly village. Or maybe, as we're figuring out how this place works, it's just starting to feel more like home rather then a massive foreboding foreign metropolis.

ANYWAY. After our tour, we ate a traditional Greek taverna by the sea. It was the BEST Greek food I have eaten yet! Dolmades, the best olives I have ever tried, stuffed eggplant rolls, spanakopita, cake, freddo cappucinos, and the MOST AMAZING lamb. The only think I caught a picture of was the lamb because we were too busy stuffing our faces with the magical Greek goodness, to the amusement of our Brazilian friend Amanda who is constantly amazed by the speed at which Americans eat, remarking, "You're food isn't going anywhere, you know!" 

Baaahhhh.

Guys. I have tried lamb several times. From my own kitchen and from fancy restaurants and not once have I really appreciated it. I don't know why I even kept bothering. But this.... was SPECTACULAR lamb. 

By the time we finished our tasty escapades, we only had 20 minutes to explore Napflion before we got back on the bus to head to a nearby winery for a tour and tastings. I wish we had had more time to really cover Napflion - it was so... soul feeding? Or at least it could have been. The tour of the winery was very interesting and cool - but I think that'll be my last winery tour. Something about fermenting grapes just doesn't appeal to my senses. (Don't get me wrong, I still love wine! Just not how it smells while it's being made...) But the view was beautiful! :) 

We are halfway through our semester in Greece! I can't believe it has flown by this quickly. I know this might seem obvious, but its still surprising that no matter how long you get to live somewhere, you will never get to see, learn or understand everything about a place. But I'm certainly grateful to have had my mind opened up to the rest of the world in the way it has been on this journey. Amanda and I had a conversation about how Americans are (stereotypically) ignorant of the rest of the world. Like how we don't really learn European history outside of WWII. Amanda wondered whether that was due to a lack of interest... and it might be. But that's not because we are arrogant ignorant Americans.... I honestly think its just because we aren't taught about other cultures as much as we should be. Amanda, as a Brazilian high schooler, was required to learn some history of America, Russia, Germany, China England, France, etc. I hate to admit that I really didn't know anything about Brazil before I met Amanda other then its language and climate... food for thought. 

Monday is a national holiday in Greece - Oxi* Day! This means NO SCHOOL MONDAY! Anna and I are looking to travel to either the island of San Torini or Crete. Thank you for reading!

*Oxi is pronounced "oh-khee" and means "no."