Club Sponsor Gary Goodson provided updates on the events throughout the week.
"The trip started with a visit to the stadium and site of the return of the Olympic games in 1896. The students then climbed the steps of the Athenian Acropolis and enjoyed seeing the Parthenon and the Caryatids of Erechtheion. What an astonishing experience this was for everyone! A walking tour of Athens followed.
The next day started with a tour of the Holy Monastery of Hosios Loukas along the slopes of Mount Helicon. This is a church built in the 10th century with splendid Byzantine artwork. The students then visited the ancient Greek ruins of Delphi, the site of the famous “Oracle of Delphi.” The Greeks considered this location to be the center of the world. Perched aside Mount Parnassus, students enjoyed a breathtaking view after a hike up the mountainside. The day continued with a tour of a Greek olive farm where samples of some of the finest olive oil in the world were had.
On Monday, students boarded a cruise ship and passed by island after island on the way to Mykonos. The Aegean Sea was angry that day, my friends, and the ship was unable to dock until late. Students went on a midnight guided tour of Mykonos, taking in its whitewashed houses, chapels, and alleyways.
The next part of the cruise was a stop on the island of Rhodes. Students got to see the location where one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world once stood: the Colossus of Rhodes. That was followed by a walking tour of Rhodes’ old town, which included a visit to the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a stunning Gothic castle built from stone and marble.
Next, students got to visit Turkey and the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, walking along the same marble-laid streets as Mary, Paul, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and Cleopatra. This was an amazing display of an ancient Greek city, with the library façade being one of the highlights.
The next stop was on the island of Patmos. Students were given a picturesque view of the island from the top of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. The way to this monastery was the highlight of this stop for many. Students visited the Cave of the Apocalypse, where John received visions from Jesus and later wrote the Book of Revelation.
The last day of the trip started with the cruise ship docking and a bus ride to Cape Sounion, where students could visit the Temple of Poseidon at the southern tip of the Attica peninsula. From there, a bus ride back to Athens ensued, with free time to explore. Some took the opportunity to visit the ancient Athenian Agora and the best-preserved temple in Greece, the Temple of Hephaestus. The day ended with a trip up a mountain overlooking Athens for a night of Greek food, learning Greek dances, and breaking many plates - a Greek tradition!
The week was filled with many historic sites, Greek Orthodox Churches, monasteries, great Greek food and desserts, mountains, islands, beautiful blue water, and a sense of brotherhood. A great time for all!"