On Trip II

Well, I haven't been the best at blogging these days. We're on Trip II, after a mere 4 days inbetween coming home from Trip I and leaving for Trip II. But I can honestly say that the highlight of this trip so far (besides the archaeology, of course) has been the lovely little Hotel Dimitsana. Though without internet for the fourth night a row, this morning we awoke to warm bougatsa (an absolute favorite), croissants, and REAL, honest-to-goodness orange juice, next to a cozy fire. I thought I was in heaven.

Arkadia was heaven. It seems to be a pretty poor region of Greece, with many old, abandoned homes and small villages. The topography is amazing, though: steep, rocky cliffs, enshrouded in early morning fog. The landscape is lush, but large parts of Arkadia bear the effects of the Greek fires three summers ago. The landscape here is charred, barren, but with signs of life peaking through. It's stunning, really.

I hope to post some more pictures soon. Until then, tonight (and for the next two nights), we're in Pylos, in my first "repeat" hotel (ie., I stayed here for the summer session). It's right on the Bay of Navarino, and tomorrow, we'll cover Pylos, the Chora Museum, and Sphakteria. So much to do, so little time. The Autumn term is just flying by!

Trip I Schedule

We're about to kick off on our first trip to Western and Northern Greece. It's a trip that will last 12 days and cover a lot of ground. This is our schedule:

Tuesday, 9/21: Nafpaktos, Kalydon, Oiniadai, Garden of Heroes
Wednesday, 9/22: Thermon, Agrinion, Stratos
Thursday, 9/23: Nikopolis, Ephyra, Kassope
Friday, 9/24: Arta, Horraon, Dodona
Saturday, 9/25: Ioannina, Aiani, Vergina
Sunday, 9/26: Mieza, Leufkadia, Pella, Thessaloniki (Archaeological Museum)
Monday, 9/27: Thessaloniki: Agora, Churches, Rotunda & Arch of Galerius; Byzantine Museum
Tuesday, 9/28: (Potidaea), Temple of Ammon Zeus, Olynthos, Poligyros Museum, Stageira
Wednesday, 9/29: Thasos, Aliki quarries
Thursday, 9/30: Thasos (Akropolis, Walls & Gates)
Friday, 10/1: Philippi, Amphipolis
Saturday, 10/2: Dion, Dion Museum, Thermopylae

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited. There are a few places on this list that I've been to, such as Vergina, Pella, and Thessaloniki, but even more that I have never seen, and even a few of which I've not heard. Right now, I'm busily preparing my first report topic, which is on the Derveni Krater - a great opportunity, I think, to talk about not only iconography but also the burial context.

Intro

I intend for this blog to be a anthology of my impressions as a Regular Member of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens during 2010-11. I will be in Greece from September 2010 to June 2011. In the meantime, I will post a little about my Great German Adventure of May-June 2010, during which time I will be a visiting student at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Before this, I am journeying through Berlin, Prague, and Munich for a week.