Mrs. Holt's Greek Experience

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10/21/09- Hello IVE from Greece! After 16 hours on the plane we have arrived! Athens is a very busy city! People, cars, and motorcycles all crowd the streets at the same time! It has very old buildings (thousands of years old!) right next to new streets and apartment buildings. We explored the city and found new foods. I tried a sesame seed circle (that was more like a cracker than a pretzel) and a cheese pie! But, alas, if we miss American food they have McDonalds--but the menu is a bit strange to read! See pictures below

10/22/09- I worked today presenting to 30 principals and leaders from all over Asia. I am sending pictures of the Temple of Zeus that sits right outside our hotel. I also went for a walk and found beautiful outdoor markets and shops at the base of the Acropolis. Tomorrow I will tell you more about what that is as I am taking a tour. See pictures below

Base of the Acropolis Outdoor market
10/23/09- Today we did a great deal of walking. We visited the Temple of Zeus, the largest Temple in Greece, and the Acropolis Parthenon--a temple on top of a high flat hill. We also saw the very first Olympic Stadium. The absolute amazing part is that when you visit these sites you can see layers from before 500 B.C.--before history was even written down. As the layers ascend you see rocks that Romans used, and then up a layer it is Greek construction using marble and columns. I asked our tour guide--how did they do this? How did they lift these enormous sections of columns on top of each other 100 ft. in the air? She said they used ropes and pulleys. Simply amazing! I have also attached a picture from atop a high hill overlooking the city. You will see how crowded the houses are and how very simply the Athenians live. See pictures below

10/24/09- Today I worked again all day. After the conference (the meeting where I work) the leaders here took us out to a Greek Night dinner complete with Greek dancers. It was a wonderful night! You will see real Greek dancing that ends with the crowd throwing plates on the stage and the dancers dancing on them. We ate a flaming dessert that had marsh mellows over ice cream!

10/25/09- Yesterday I worked again. Today we took a boat on the Mediterranean to three Greek Islands! It was very beautiful. You will see that the houses are all crowded up the hills by the harbor. The Islands are cleaner and more beautiful than Athens, which very sadly is covered with Graffiti. On Hydra Island they do not have any vehicles--only donkeys for transportation! We saw one man loading his donkey with groceries! The vegetables are purchased right off the street and boats. They also sell fresh fish on the streets. You will also see my sister and I standing on the boat under the Greek flag. All very beautiful, even on a rainy day. Tomorrow I pack up and then come home--so I shall see you all soon! See pictures below