Our second week in Greece was amazing! We spent time in classes (mostly Survival Greek), visiting the Ancient Agora, exploring Athens, and ended the week with a trip to Volos.
On Tuesday afternoon we visited the Ancient Athenian Agora and Museum guided by John Papadopoulos. John described the Agora as the center of democracy and we learned about how the Agora was a business, political, religious, and social center of Athens. An interesting thing about the Ancient Agora is that it was built in the lowest part of Athens, so they made a drainage system to drain the swamp to build the Agora. Another interesting thing we saw was things taken from other parts of Greece and brought to the site. I enjoyed hearing about the lion spouts on the Stoa of Attalos, a building that housed the museum. The lions used to spout water out of their mouths but now when it rains they drool instead of spray.
The class week felt short because we only had 4 days of classes at CYA (College Year in Athens) and then on Friday morning we left for the trip to Volos. The drive to Volos through the countryside of Greece was gorgeous. On the way, we stopped at the archaeological site of Thermopylae and the archaeological site of Dimini. At the archaeological site of Thermopylae, I enjoyed hearing about the landscape changes the land had gone through since antiquity. The shoreline of the sea had moved back, it was cool to stand at the site and see where the sea used to be in comparison to where it is now. At the archaeological site of Dimini, we started in the central court area and then walked down to a grave. We learned the buildings were built using a stone foundation, with a mud brick foundation above the stone, and thatched roofs. The site was surrounded by mountains, there were lots of rivers around, therefore the plains were well-watered and good for agriculture. The site shows evidence of a social community with a hierarchy. We discussed the use of the walls; whether they were meant for community organization, fortifications, or both. We then went inside a royal family tomb with creepy energy.
We spent the afternoon at the hotel spa relaxing in the pool, sauna, and jacuzzi. The spa was an excellent way to chill after our journey to Volos.
On Saturday morning we went to the archaeological site of Demetrias and two museums. The site of Demetrias was founded in 293 BC by Demetrias, a son of a general of Alexander the Great. The site was one of the largest fortified cities in Greece and it is near the sea, making it an economic center and is still used as a port.
Next, we visited the Museum of the City of Volos and then the Archaeological Museum of Volos. At the Museum of the City of Volos, I learned more about the more recent history of Volos and enjoyed the artwork. The museum was built incorporating archaeological sites so it was cool to experience art and an archaeological site simultaneously. At the Archaeological Museum of Volos, it was cool to see the things the people used in the sites we had just visited.
We ate lunch in the beautiful mountain village, Portaria. In the evening, Sophia and I walked to a beach a few minutes from the hotel and had a quick swim in the cold Mediterranean water; the view was gorgeous. The nights in Volos were beautiful. I loved watching the sunset over the sea and walking along the sea-side paths at night.
On our way back to Athens on Sunday, we made a stop at the Castle of Lamia. While looking at the walls, different phases of construction were visible since the walls would be added to and rebuilt when attacked. The museum was closed but we got to enjoy the beautiful views.
Sunday afternoon we returned to Athens and had a nice dinner from Grill and Pita and dessert from Morris Brown.
Overall I really enjoyed this week, especially the trip to Volos!