Like a stated in a couple blogs ago, I was very excited to visit the Acropolis because I had only ever seen it on TikTok Videos and Instagram pictures. To get to the top of the Acropolis, we had to climb a lot of steps which for a pretty athletic person, it had me winded. However when we got to the top I soon realized that the hike upward was worth it. You get what you work for and boy let me tell you it was totally worth every breath I wasted climbing those steps. The higher we climbed the more unreal the view got. It did not seem real and of course my camera could not capture the intensity of Athen’s beauty. We were met with views of mountains and the city below our feet. It was just breathtaking. As we finally walked into the Acropolis, we were greeted by a gust of heavy wind. I do not know how theseInstagram models do it, because it was actually a struggle to take picture not because of the crowd but because I was constantly fighting for my life every time the wind blew. As far as the New Acropolis Museum goes, I was really impressed upon our arrival. Not only did it have air conditioning which is a luxury that I took for granted, but the set up of the museum was like no other. Everything was so pleasing to the eye and the ambiance made me want to actually learn everything there was to learn in the museum. Shortly after, we left and ended up going to a rooftop dinner which had the most exquisite view of the Acropolis as we ate and conversed. The next day we went to Delphi, where we learned more about the ancient ruins and about the offering that each city would give to Apollo. This city was by far my favorite places that we have visited thus far. It was not too touristy if you know what I mean. It was not as crowded, which gave us more time to actually absorb the city and not feel rushed to take a pictures. Do not even get me started on the view. It really gave the Acropolis a run for its money. I am still trying to decide which view I like better, but there is no debate about which city I liked better.
I am so excited for this trip mainly because I have never been to Europe before, let alone Greece. Originally, I applied for a study abroad program in Italy but I got waitlisted sadly because I did not speak any Italian. However on the last day of applications, I came across The Hospitality in Greece study abroad application. I quickly submitted my application not thinking much of it, until about a week later I received my acceptance letter while I was in the library studying for a test. “What are the chances of getting accepted into a program that you applied for last minute?”, was the first thing on my mind. I was so happy that I was finally getting the destination vacation of my dreams. It was not Italy but it was still a win for me in my book. I am looking forward to the food and the scenic views. I honestly can not wait to go to the beach, but I am more excited to visit the Acropolis because I have only ever seen it in TikTok videos or in Instagram pictures. Before the trip, I plan to do a little research about the area I am staying at, so when I do have free time I can do something fun that is in walking distance from my hotel. As far as packing goes, I of course waited last minute to get everything that I needed for the trip. I started shopping for everything about a week before leaving and I am still surprised that I managed to get everything. What I am not surprised about is forgetting things at home, which I realized once I was already here in Athens. What is also surprising, though I forgot things it was only two items as far as I am aware so far, my hair conditioner and portable charger. I noticed that I had forgotten my portable as I was pulling into the airport. That mistake costed me fifty dollars because I had to buy a new one at the airport which was not the best way to start off my trip, but hey we made it. I may notice more stuff as the trip goes on but thus far, it has only been two items that did not have the pleasure of joining us here in Greece.
So far, this trip has been amazing. Greece’s different cuisines and scenic views were breathtaking and left me away by its beauty. Although I made it here, it was no easy ride. A few of my classmates and myself missed our connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey to Athens, Greece. Keep in mind that we had just got off of an eleven hour flight and woke up at 5:30 that same morning, making us awake for more than twenty four hours. Let’s just say that it was a mess. We ended up reaching our hotel 5 hours after everyone else and had to eat dinner after everyone had already eaten. We also had to have our own summed up version of the daily meeting, which was probably a little annoying to have to repeat all over again. Not to mention, we still don’t have a way back home at the moment, but that story is for another day. However, all of the hardships were worth it especially because the night that I arrived, like I mentioned before, the view at dinner was breathtaking. The view looked so fake that if you were not there you would think it was a green screen. The sun was setting on the mountain and it was just so pleasing to the eye. Everything that night was like I had imagined before coming here. In addition, the food was so tasteful, but my favorite part was the ice cream dessert which had a berry and citrus flavor which surprisingly tasted amazing. And my favorite part….. the cats of course.
The first day we went to visit the Acropolis. Visiting the Acropolis was an unforgettable experience that gave me a deeper appreciation for wealth of Ancient Greek civilization and permanently altered the way I think about the most past and present. I had a greater understanding of the impact made by Ancient Greece to society while I was standing among these magnificent buildings because of its lasting principles of democracy art, and agricultural architecture. As far as the pre departure blog goes, I only forgot my portable charger and had to buy a fifty dollar one at Miami Airport, which was actually worth it because it has a long battery life. All in All, my first day here in Athens has been nothing but an absolute blast.
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