The last couple of days here in Greece have been considerably humid, but relief arrived this evening with a brief thunderstorm. I love the smell after a summer rain shower, and even in a city like Athens, the scent is refreshing and invigorating. After the storm passed, I sat on my apartment balcony with a cup of cranberry tea. At breakfast at our hotel in Olympia last week, I discovered the most delicious cranberry tea; although I realize I'm incriminating myself, I pilfered a few packets. Trust me, if you were fixated with cranberries and cranberry juice as much as I am and chose to study in probably the one country where cranberry juice proves nonexistent, you would have overindulged yourself.
Anyway, I sat on the balcony, taking in the sweet smell of rain, drinking my cranberry tea, reading the International Herald Tribune--and I had a sweeping feeling of comfort. With less than two weeks left, I've reached the ultimate level of acclimation. I’ve adapted to the rhythm of life in Athens, I know my way around, I can speak basic Greek phrases, I have the shops and taverns I go to on a regular basis where the owners and workers recognize me…and although I am excited to return home to see my family and share all of my experiences with people in person, a distinct part of me aches at the thought of leaving something behind that’s become so familiar. But after pondering and sipping some more tea, I realized that’s what life will always have in store. The future will continually bring new experiences and new people, which prove to be mere stepping stones on my ever-evolving path.
Speaking of the future, we visited the sanctuary of Delphi, site of the famous oracle, on Monday and Tuesday. A few columns of the Temple of Apollon remain, where Greek pilgrims in antiquity sought answers and solace from the deity. Our professor knows of a crawlspace that runs for a short distance underneath the temple, and he willingly shared this secret with us since there was no guard nearby. So, we crawled under an ancient temple! It only took around three minutes to inch our way through, and light spilled in from small openings, so it wasn’t exactly a scene from National Treasure or anything. But it was still pretty darn cool. The site also includes treasury buildings, a theatre, and a stadium where the Pan-Hellenic games occurred. Located high up in the mountains, the site offers gorgeous views of the surrounding villages and sea. Unfortunately, the oracle no longer provides her services, so I guess I’m still on my own addressing the upcoming crossroads in my life.
At this moment though, I’m seizing the day and traveling to Rome for four days, where I’ll explore the ancient sites, visit museums, sit in piazzas and eat heaps of delicious food. On Sunday, Europeans will be voting for European Union deputies, so I’m hoping to witness some aspects of European voting procedures while I’m there as well. As always, I’m sure I’ll have a number of stories to share when I return. Ciao!