Day 23-Greece, Delphi

Today was our third consecutive day on the road, but it's been fun :) Plenty of amazing sites and adventures took place. Before we left Olympia, we visited the archeological site where the first Olympic games took place. And guess who ran where Olympic athletes once participated in footraces... :D I did! It was nice because for the next four hours, I was stuck on the bus.

For our lunch break we stopped at a beautiful seaside town where the dock came right up to the main road. It was fun to play "spot the biggest fish" because they kept getting bigger and bigger as we looked for them (in case you haven't noticed, we were pretty entertained). After a couple minutes of that, it was time to board our bus and head on out.

The monastery we went to was secluded far up in the mountains (I feel like most of them are) and was so pretty! This one was still running and so it was a nice switch up from the others we'd been seeing. I didn't see any monks, unfortunately, but I did see the founder of the monastery's, Saint Luke, body in a case (just like snow white's) that startled me upon entering the church. That was fun. Another thing I loved besides the view was a mosaic above an apse where a monk had scratched out Thomas's face because he thought he was undeserving. I thought it was telling of the monk's passion. Bottom line: I enjoyed the stop very much :)

After another two or so hours, we finally made it to Delphi, the "center of the world." According to mythology, Zeus let two eagles go at the same time, one flying east and the other west. The point where they met up was Delphi, thus the prestigious title of being center of the world :) This village is so beautiful and quaint because it's set up in the steep mountains on a hillside, overlooking a steep valley. So enjoyable! I love Greece! Yassou!

Random side note. While we were in Pompeii, there was an earthquake. How scary is that! Anyway, I think that's the first earthquake I've been in, so I thought I should mention it. Hope I don't experience anymore!

Day 22-Greece, Olympia

Just like yesterday, today was pretty much spent on the bus. We drove through so many cities that were on the coast, in the normal mediterranean terrain (that sounded repetitive), and in the mountains. I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of landscapes and very much enjoyed how often it switched during our 7 or 8 hour drive :) I also appreciated stopping every few hours to see some pretty incredible sites including the monasteries of Pantanassa and Peribleptos because of the frescos covering every wall. It was also set in the most exquisite location, high in the mountains where our bus driver impressively maneuvered up the switchbacks. It was kind of scary seeing the sheer cliff directly on my left, but I placed all my trust in Yani and he didn't let me down. I'm still alive! He really is an amazing driver, even stopping for a small turtle crossing the road and later some goats :)

Later during the day we visited the temple of Apollo Epikourios which was literally in the middle of nowhere. It took us 3 hours to get there (crossing rivers, passing through small villages, and winding up huge mountain ranges) and almost the same amount of time to reach our final destination in Olympia. It's really funny because the ancient greek temple had a huge tent covering it in order to preserve it. It was a great stopping point, though :)

Once we reached Olympia, we checked in our hotel and then enjoyed the quiet town. I had a delicious tuna salad (I just can't get enough of the tuna, apparently) and some moussaka (a delicious eggplant casserole thing). It was really yummy! After dinner, a bunch of us wound up in a ring shop where the owner resized a ring for one of our girls. He let all seven of us American girls watch his skills :) It was pretty cool and he was really nice. We finally tore ourselves away and went back to our hotel, but not after buying some of his jewelry.. :)

Such a fun day spent mostly on the road! Can't wait for tomorrow. Yassou!

Day 21-Greece, Nafplion

Road trip! Today we bused through various Greek cities stopping in Daphne (to see the monastery where several intact Byzantine mosaics have survived), Mycenae (where the lion gate marks the entrance to the ruins of the ancient city), Epidauros (where we saw the ancient Greek theater and sang some songs to test the perfect acoustics), and Nafplion where we are currently residing for the night.

Of all the amazing things we saw, I thought the highlight of the day was when a bunch of us went to the Fortress of Palamidi, just east of Nafplion. 912 steps led up to this castle (our awesome bus driver took us to the entrance) and at the top was the most powerful and breathtaking (I know I use that word a lot, but I can't think of a better word) scenic view I've seen on this trip, if not in my life. At least in the top three. I'm serious. The way the rocky coast was set against the sun breaking through the clouds was almost too much to handle. I loved seeing the mountainous background behind the vast expanse of sea. My pathetic description doesn't do it justice, I'm sorry :( I have one picture about a third of the way down that I took on my iPod, but the best ones (it was like a crazy photo-shoot up there) are on my camera. It was so fun. And I can now say I've sat on the edge of a cliff :D

Walking down all 912 stairs was an adventure, for sure. My legs were shaking around step 697. Side note: I've noticed at night when I'm walking around, my body creeks and I feel like I'm 90. It's a party (and kinda sad at the same time). I guess the bottom line is that even though my body is exhausted by the end of the day, it's totally worth it. Greece is incredible. Yassou!

Day 20-Greece, Athens

I seriously cannot get enough of Greece. Part of it is totally the food, but I also enjoy walking where people have walked for thousands of years. It's so incredible to think how much history and culture makes up a civilization like Athens (calling it a city is such an understatement) and how it's shifted from ancient to modern times.

I especially thought about this today while visiting the acropolis and taking in all of the Parthenon's splendor. It was incredible! And oh my goodness the view. Seeing the coast and most all of Athens from so far up was breathtaking :) Wish I could share better pictures.

After our time at the acropolis and a few museums (it was a full day today), we had time to wander around and enjoy more of Athens. I have to mention just a few things I've noticed since being here: 1) The street vendors aren't as pushy here, which has been nice. The only time they're extremely passionate is when they want you to eat at their restaurant. That's when they pull out all their stops (calling you beautiful, offering you wine, etc). Ps. It's awkward when you get lost and have to walk past the same guys again...and they remember you...and they just smile and laugh. 3) Pretty much all the cabs I've seen have been BMW, Mercedes Benz, and some other super nice vehicle. It's so weird! 4) I always have something slightly awkward happen daily. Today it was a little boy running past who decided to punch me in an awkward place. It was really hard to keep a straight face walking past everyone who witnessed the event until we turned a corner...at which point I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Seriously, though. Who gets punched by a Greek boy? So random. And so many things I learned ;)

I deemed my day complete after eating a fabulous dinner at a little restaurant (not Quick Pita, where I've been twice) around the tourist area. My picture just doesn't do it justice, but after tasting the yogurt sauce over a pita and perfectly seasoned kebab, I completely understood why it was called the house special! So good.

I'm sad we're leaving Athens so soon, but excited we'll still be in Greece! I'm not ready to leave quite yet. Yassou!

Day 19-Greece, Athens

I love Sundays...happy sigh. I was finally able to sleep in (until 8) for the first time in over two weeks before walking over to church :)

I also love the members in Greece. It never ceases to amazing me how much they appreciate the gospel in their lives and how strong their testimonies are. They also have the best stories to share. For example, when we were talking about faith and the consequences of misunderstanding the principle, this guy from Sierra Leone told us about a man who walked into a cage of lions because he had faith God wouldn't let him die. And then he was torn apart. You just don't get stories like that in America. I also made a friend who quizzed me about history and told me he knew something about Idaho. When I asked him if it was potatoes, he looked really confused and then asked me if I knew Hannah Montana. Don't really understand the connection, but oh well. He was really friendly and even planned out the rest of my life for me (he told me I was going to have a lot of babies...haha). Another adorable middle-aged woman told me I reminded her of/could be an actress. It was so sweet :)

After church, I walked around the city a little bit and then a group of us went to get dinner where I enjoyed a lamb kebab (thanks for the recommendation, Jenny!), frozen Greek yogurt topped with mangos and strawberries, and later some loukoumi (similar to Turkish delight). It was a great day. Good thing I'm walking around a lot tomorrow, though, because I love this food too much :)

I forgot to mention yesterday that we went to the place where Paul delivered his sermon on the unknown God (located on Mars Hill on the Areopagus). I really enjoyed the view, even though it was super slippery from so many people wanting to walk where Paul walked. It was a pretty neat experience :)

Another great day in Greece has quickly passed, but not without great memories. Yassou!

Day 18-Greece, Athens

I don't understand how Greece is capable of being so amazing in the short time I've been here. Everything I've seen and most importantly eaten has been perfect and lived up to my previous expectations :) It was quite a process to get here, however.

We left Florence at 4 in the morning, rode in a bus for 3 hours back to Rome, waited at the airport for 2 more hours before boarding and after 2 more hours finally arrived in Greece around 12 pm. At the airport we were met by the most adorable Greek man named Kostas (same name as the guy in sisterhood of the traveling pants), who was probably around 75 and proudly sporting BYU gear. He was so cute, especially when he spoke to us in his african-Greek accent. He was also incredibly helpful, teaching us some Greek phrases (it's weird not knowing anything about the language and not being able to sound out or read it at all) I'm praying I'll remember. The last thing he told us was how to get ahold of him "in case we get picked up by the police." Surprisingly not the most comforting thing I've heard... I'll hoping I'll never have to call my buddy Kostas, no matter how cute he is.

After our orientation, we spent the afternoon enjoying the archeological museum that houses some of the ancient artifacts from the Acropolis (like the Parthenon frieze and pediment sculpture) and then wandered around some touristy areas. It was so fun :) I also ate some of the best food I've ever had in my life. Better than the tuna sandwich (which was amazing). How have I never had a gyro or baklava before?? So AMAZING. I also had an incredible Mediterranean dill salad. It was super delicious. The only sketchy thing that's happened so far happened while we were eating. There were some little kids who were definitely scouting out our bags...and then reported to an older guy. It made me nervous. Luckily I stylishly wear a money belt so my bag would have been worthless.

Besides that little part, my first experiences with Greece have been amazing and I'm looking forward to spending as much time as possible here. Yassou!

Day 17-Italy, Ravenna/Florence

It's my last day in Italy :( I'm really sad because my time here has been unbelievable, but the fact is I'm going to another incredible place so I can't be too bummed out.

Today was a great day to sit and ponder life. We spent a total of 6 hours between two trains, both of which sped past tuscany countrysides, rolling hills, winding rivers, green pastures and exquisite vineyards that collectively testified of God's majesty. It was so perfect. I'm sorry I couldn't get better pictures...these don't even come close to the real thing.

Upon arriving in Ravenna, we walked around the quaint city and visited several Byzantine and early Christian churches filled with the most intricate mosaics. We also saw a few more baptistries in which they practiced baptism by immersion before the practice of sprinkling became the norm.

After returning to Florence for the evening, I ate one more of my favorite tuna sandwiches (enjoy the picture!) and people-watched in one of the piazzas where I swear I saw Finn from Glee. He looked just like him! I have a great picture of him on my camera so ask to see it when I get home. I also saw five of the cutest long-haired Doxen on a little stroll by the river. It was a great night :)

I've had such an amazing experience here in Italy, and I feel I've learned so much about a different culture and myself. I've picked up little Italian phrases here and there, and know I can't live without meat. I love that stuff. While I know I'll miss Italy, I also know I'm incredibly excited for the next chapter in my adventure :) Ciao!

Day 16-Italy, Florence

Today was a full day. I definitely didn't want to waste a single moment of what really is going to be my last day in Florence (tomorrow we're doing a day trip to Ravenna and then leaving Saturday morning at 3 am sharp).

Beginning with appreciating more of Michelangelo and Donatello's talent, I studied an emotional Pieta (the one that contains Michelangelo's self portrait which is also the one he tried to destroy before one of his assistants stopped him) and Donatello's David which I've never really enjoyed. Way to femme for my taste.

I then went to a fashion museum with some people from my group and enjoyed exquisite evening gowns from the 1800's to the late 1990's. Of particular interest were two of Mariano Fortuny's pleated creations. Apparently they're super rare and so it was really cool to see them. I realized, however, that I'd definitely rather walk through 10,000 painting or sculpture galleries than 100 fashion museums any day. It was still pretty spectacular, though.

After that museum, I felt like wandering around the streets of Florence just to take it all in. So I wandered. I wandered along the riverside, wandered past a ton of fancy jewelry boutiques, wandered inside shops, and somehow found myself wandering straight into the leather market. Again. I only bought one thing this time, and it's only because I bartered it down from 30 € to 10 €. I was so proud of myself :) In case you were wondering, I'm the new owner of a super cute leather belt that I really do need. My pants do funny things when I wear a money belt. I ended my time alone by buying the best tuna sandwich I've ever had. It was so good! The fact that it didn't have too much mayo/sauce on it and that it was served on panini bread with fresh tomatoes made it probably one of the best things I've eaten here in Italy. Definitely in the top 3.

My next trip of the day took me on a little (by little I mean it was definitely a challenge) hike up to a monastery/ church where monks chant everyday starting at 6:30. It was pretty cool :) and the view was absolutely incredible. When you're higher than the cathedral dome and set up on a gorgeous hill, something amazing is bound to happen. Check out my pictures! So worth exhausting myself over. Crossing one of the bridges coming back, I also had an excellent view of the sunset. It was a surreal evening :)

The last objective of the day was to score my final gelato and buy some cookies that were unfortunately located in a sketchy neighborhood (brought me back to Naples). It's Ok. They were satisfying and totally worth the effort :) Most everything here is. I love Florence!

Day 15-Italy, Florence

Florence is incredible, sumptuous, and delightfully splendid. Happy sigh :) Maybe a bit too splendid for my budget, however. But more on that later.

Our "schooling" for the day consisted of walking the streets of Florence pointing out significant renaissance architectural types (including the Medici palace and a unique orphanage) and seeing Michelangelo's David. So amazing! By far in the top three of Michelangelo's sculptures. What struck me the most was how muscular, yet slim Michelangelo made David compared to his usual burly figures. It was a nice change. And his face. The furrowed brow and piercing gaze into the distance was mesmerizing. I love it! Following David, we decided it was time to immerse ourselves in the leather market. It was easier to find today, and I definitely used my expertise of the area to lead part of our group there.

Leather. Oh, leather. I never quite understood why everyone raved about your smell or beauty until today. Today it became increasingly difficult to resist leather gloves, leather jackets, leather purses, leather shoes, leather baby booties, leather-bound notebooks, and I could go on forever. You get the point. Well, I caved. Won't tell you at which point or what I purchased, but I will say I regret nothing :)

Following that extreme sport, I spent some time walking around embracing florentine life. I participated in a gelato festival, refused alcohol from a friendly New Yorker on the steps of the florentine cathedral (he totally pegged me as an American), enjoyed a misty-pink sunset across the river, and made friends with a Peruvian artist. I also did my laundry...which doesn't sound nearly as exciting as the other stuff I did today but somehow that's the only thing I managed to take pictures of on my iPod for you. I apologize for that. Hope you enjoy them ;) and I'll get better pictures tomorrow, I promise! Ciao!

Day 14-Italy, Florence

Our day started off chaotic (just like any other day, it seems) with us barely making our train to Florence. It was pretty relaxed after the doors closed behind us, however, and I'm pleased to say I got some homework done during our 3 hour ride (I can hear it now...Yes, I do have homework! But it's not too bad). I also played a game called "take pictures of the professors while they sleep" since they were conveniently seated across from me. I also enjoyed the Italian landscape as we smoothly coasted through what looked like picturesque heaven.

Stepping off the train and into the Florentine air made me aware of several things: 1. I could finally breathe again! 2. An italian breeze and a kiss of sun equals harmonious wonder. and 3. I LOVE Italy. The atmosphere of Florence compared to Naples is completely different. Florence just feels so safe, fresh, and relaxed :)

Not only was the essence of Florence amazing, but the things we saw today were equally as marvelous. Botticelli, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Artimesia Gentileschi all shared their splendor, making me one satisfied being. I even was serenaded inside the Florentine Cathedral by an expressive organist...probably one of the most exciting things inside the medieval church.

Other things I did today: bartered for a scarf (successfully, I might add), got lost trying to find the famous leather market (which we did...right as they were packing up), ate at an excellent kebab place (found out the mystery meat is chicken, not dog), and took a shower (it was more like a lukewarm hose bath, but without the pressure). It was such an adventurous day :) Ciao!