Submitted by Jacquelyn Agliata on the 2016 winter session program in Athens, Greece sponsored by the Department of English…
Our first week in Athens has been nothing short of breathtaking. From the moment we exited the airport, everyone in our group was in complete awe of the views surrounding us. There’s almost no way to describe the beauty of this country, and staying in Athens is one of the best ways to take it all in. As we settled into our apartments on the first day, we got a brief walking tour of the square which our neighborhood surrounds. Local coffee shops, bakeries and tavernas (small restaurants serving traditional Greek food) have already become familiar go-to spots for us every day. The past two days have been full of hiking up and down the hilly streets in order to travel into the heart of Athens – a surprisingly busy yet very clean city. There are flea markets, eateries and small shops lining the streets with enthusiastic owners ready and willing to explain their culture. We just went up to the Acropolis, where we stood on some of the most ancient ruins in the world. Standing atop the mountain along the Parthenon provided the most awe-inspiring views one could imagine. Mountains, houses, trees, hills, water – everything from the top was breathtaking.
After making our descent down, a few of us let ourselves get lost in Plaka, where we stumbled upon a salon that offers a trial of the Greek tradition of soaking your feet in a small tub filled with fish who eat the dead skin off of your feet. A strange sensation, but one that was completely worth doing.
As we continue to find our footing in this very heavily cultured city, we are all excited for the next two and a half weeks remaining. There is so much to see and do and we hope that we get the chance to embrace it all!