My last week

I'm sitting in my apartment and I think it just set in that this is my last week and now my last day. (I've been working on this post all week) This apartment has definitely become my home for the past month, even though the first day walking into it I never thought that possible. I love my room, mainly because its huge and made for two people to stay in it. I'm sitting here and can't believe all the things around me, everything I've collected in my time here. Lots of souvenirs from Greece and more shopping to do. My roommate and I always laugh about our bathroom, with the weird shower that we've now come to figure out how to work it properly (and to turn on the hot water 20 minutes before we get in!) to the tiny washing machine that is still pretty impossible to use. 

There are so many great things that I've come to love about Greece, that its hard to even try to get it all down on paper. First, the people. Everyone is so welcoming and open and love to talk! I fit right in, hah! I love that people begin to recognize you and respect you. I have a few restaurants that I go to that they'll know my name and my usual order. Now, I even get the famous discounts I wrote about my first week here! I never thought that would happen. I have one restaurant that I go to probably every other day, and the owner knows my favorite table and what I'm going to order. He also gives us free drinks & desserts on the house every night. Yesterday I went in and he began laughing when I didn't order my usual glass of wine, I told him he knows me so well! 

I've loved meeting everyone on the trip and learning their stories. Everyone comes from somewhere different and has different things to bring to the table. I've appreciated many of their knowledge of Greek when I was stumbling with ordering or when I had no clue what was going on. I surprised myself with the things that I figured out or the things that came naturally to me, like finding my way around on a train or ordering food in Greek using as few words as possible. 

I love the history that is Athens, everywhere you turn there is something to learn about. You can be walking down the street and run into an ancient ruin. 

I love the prices of everything, especially because although sometimes they target tourists, everyone has been very nice and I have not at all felt that I overpaid for something. The food is fantastic and you definitely don't have to pay a lot for it! Plus water is cheap, even out the most I've paid is .50. 

I love learning about the history of Greece and about the politics. I've heard stories about Greece before coming, and I definitely had different experiences than what I expected. I learned so much about politics and the peacefulness that is Greece.

I've come to love the food even though I love the food at home. I love ordering my usual bread and Greek Salad for lunch every day, and my favorite $2 Gyros. I LOVE the Fanta here, I'm definitely going to miss it because it tastes like orange juice with carbonation.

I'm glad we had internet in the apartment, because it made staying in touch with everyone easy. Also glad that Steve was able to put up with talking at weird times for both of us, and making it work!  

To everyone on the trip, thank you. You truly made this experience one of a kind and I loved learning about all of you! To EIU Study Abroad, thanks for encouraging me out of my comfort zone and helping me with direct enroll. And my parents, most importantly, thank you for everything you do for me, every day. For helping me with this trip and being here to celebrate my 21st birthday with me! 

Lycabetus Hill

Yesterday, a few of my friends on the trip and I took the very long trip up Lycabetus Hill to see the sunset. It was something that has been on our bucket list for so long that we knew we HAD to accomplish it before we left.

Now, mind you, a few weeks ago when my parents were visiting a taxi driver offered to drive us up there as a mini tour and I was like "no way! thats totally walkable!". Well, I was wrong.

The walk to the hill from our apartments was about 20 minutes, and was not bad at all. It was when we got to the hill that I started getting nervous. Walking up the hill, there were a LOT of stairs. and I mean a lot. Not only that, but they were old Greek stairs, meaning that they're not normal stairs, nope, rather these gigantic stairs that little legs like me don't really enjoy. (hate)

So we got started, and two of the boys started running to the top, yeah right. I started walking with the other two boys and they easily got ahead of me. I swear, its the long legs. We were having fun and enjoying the view on the way up, so the first half went pretty smoothly. We got to the halfway point and WOW. The view was amazing. We started taking pictures, and drinking water. lots of water. We got started up again and this is when I started struggling, haha. With the heat and the walk it was rough. For anybody reading this that played club soccer for McAuley, think Coach Jionas the first day of club when he made us just run and run and run around the field for the entire 2 hour practice. Yuck! Thats all I could think about.

But then I got to the point that I knew I wanted to make it to the top and I finally did! Woohoo! Boy was that view worth the brutal climb! We got there about half an hour before the sunset and got to walk around, see the church and just enjoy it. I got some beautiful pictures of the sunset that will be hitting facebook once I'm home! The sun went down and we got some pictures, then stopped at the cafe at the top for some drinks. After the sun went down, I could see the entire city lit up, again, no words to describe the beauty! Plus a breeze without the sun! It was the perfect way to end excursions on this trip! 

Struggling! 

Farewell Dinner (the next day!) 

The girls

Me and Eleni