You
might have heard a lot about Greece as an ancient world
civilization, its beautiful scenery of islands and sea, Apollo,
Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates. Olive, Olympic and their
friendly and generosity people, who love wisdom and freedom.
We experienced all this during our 11-day visit that ended on
April 8, 2008. Along with Polkrit (Art) Thomya (25th
TPY) and his two friends, we discovered the beauty of Greece
that was beyond our expectations.
We received a very warm welcome from friends of the Ship for
World Youth (SWY) of Greece -- Vasilis Tikos (SWY 6), Chairman
of SWY-Greece Alumni Association, Katerina Lygkoni (SWY 14),
Yiota Ioakeimonglou (SWY 14), Danai Karnava (SWY 18)
Konstantinos Tsgkaras (SWY 18) and their friends.
Vasilis let us stay in his cozy apartment at Asklipiou where is
not far from down town in Athens for four nights and 5 days. On
the first day, Katerina took us around down town in Athens and
later, Vasilis took us to have lunch at local restaurant and
come to his apartment for Greek coffee.
Vasilis, Art, Me and Katarina at
Visilis apartment Art and his friends, Dao, Mona at Acropolis
In Athens, we visited ancient monuments, museums and works of
art, the most famous which is the Parthenon. From Parliament, we
walked around the Syntagma Square, the Library, University, the
Academy, the shopping streets in the Plaka and Ermou area, and
the free market.
We enjoyed traditional Greek food, coffee and ice-cream in a
nice little café with a beautiful view of the ancient Acropolis
and Agora.
In the evening of the first day, we went up to the top of
Lycavittos Hill to catch a spectacular view of Athens at sunset
and to see Athens at night from hill.
Then, we moved to Katerina’s friend for party where we met her
friends who are
from the
fields of advertisement, business, international volunteers, and
the host who are from France.
Traveling broadened my perspective and enabled me
to explore the world, to gain more views of life and more
friends in profile.
We
were lucky to witness the ceremonial handing over of the Olympic
flame from Greece to China in the bright afternoon of March 30
at the Panathinaikon Stadium. Athens was the host city of the
first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and it successfully
hosted the 2004 Games. Vasilis and Katerina were among the 2004
Olympic Games volunteers. We are so proud of them
The President
of Hellenic Olympic Committee presided over together with the
Chief of Chinese Olympic Committee. There was high security had
token placed all over stadium and in front of the gate, that
protesters were stopped to enter.
Handing Over Olympic Flame at Panathinaikon
Stadium
It was a sacred and impressive ceremony. I am
overwhelmingly happy to be there
and it was emotional experience for me.
My tears of happiness was slightly falling down when the music
(only flute and drum) started playing and the marching
peacefully of the
actresses dressed as ancient priestesses hold a branch olive
leaves.
About 7,000 Greek and Chinese spectators cheered as Greek triple
jumper Hrysopigi Devetzi carried the torch into the stadium
and
handed off the Olympic flame
to China.
In the
evening, we got together with friends of SWY Greece. We had
dinner and ended with a midnight ice cream.
The next day, we took as one-day bus trip to Delphi (14th
–11th c BC), a Sacred Places of World
Civilization, home of the oracle of the god of light Apollo.
Ancient Greeks believed it was the “navel of the world.” From
Delphi, located on Mount Parnassus, we arrived at a small town,
from where we walked up to the valley of Phonic to see the site
of the Delphic oracle in the classical Greek world. There is an
archaeological museum, the sanctuary of god Apollo, an old
Olympic Games stadium and the theatre (4th c.BC),
theatre which is still used for plays and performance until now.
Temple of Apollo Statue of Antinoos View
of MT. Parnassos and donation box
We
just visited only main 4 famous places over there including the sanctuary of
Athena Pronaia. There are more to see up and up there! But it was almost 4 pm.
and we had to leave for Athens to catch a midnight train to Meteora in the
central part of Greece.
Early the next morning, we got off the train at Kalampaka, where
the rock towers of Meteora are located. Meteora is so special
because of the monasteries on the top of the rock towers that we
had to climb up to the peaks. It was cool even in April.
We spent seven enjoyable hours visiting six monasteries in
Meteora.
Though, we were tired, but did not want to miss the opportunity
to take photos of stunning rock formations. We made a wish and
prayed there. We wound up the day with a mystic night in a local
restaurant, drinking wine and listening to bouzouki, a typical
Greek musical instrument.
Mona, Art and Me
on the Rocks at Meteora where monasteries on the top |
The next day we took a train back to Athens, where
we were met by Vasilis and Katerina. We got back to
Vasilis’s home, packed up and got ready for a trip
to Santorini Island. We booked a night trip, which
was cancelled at the last minute. So we spent the
night in Piraeus before taking an early morning boat
trip to Santorini.
The ship was full of passengers who were mostly
students on a study tour of the island. The ship
reminded me of the ‘‘Nippon Maru’’ -- our SSEAYP. |
Santorini is a volcanic island. In Fira, the biggest village,
there are many hotels located on the cliff. Our hotel was on a
flat land but with a fantastic view of the sea.
We watched a beautiful sunset in Fira. The next day we were in
Oia. There are many shops, cafés and restaurants in city centres
and along the cliff of Fira and Oia. Even in a small island
here, you also can find 2 prehistoric and cultural museums. We
also took a boat to see an active volcano
The beautiful sea, fantastic towns, good food and
charming hotels made our trip somemorable.
In fact, Santorini is one of the popular destinations for
honeymoon and wedding.
We
came back to Athens with speed boat and arrived at there in
there evening. Still, we wish to come back to Santorini again
someday soon. We spent the last two days with SWY Greece friends
in Athens. The night we were together in Athens. We met new
friend from Bosnia, we had dinner at a very nice Italian style
restaurant before going to a concert by famous Greek pop and
rock singer Michalis Hatzigiannis. He got Arion Awards 2007 as
Best Folk Song , Best Artistic Song, Best Pop Album, Best Song
of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Artist of the Year,
Best-Selling Single, Best-Selling Album, and Man of the Year
Awards 2007and Singer of the Year awarded by
Johnnie Walker.
SWY Greece & SSEAYP Thailand and Friends / A
dinner before Concert
The concert began at midnight, and it was over around 5 a.m. It
was a very enjoyable and exciting concert. Some of the songs
were a combination of bouzouki and modern music.
We danced along, but could not sing along. Everyone shouted ‘’Sagapao’’
(I love you). Then people began throwing carnation
flowers to Michalis to show their appreciation. He caught some
and gently threw them back to the audience. Incidentally, I got
one from him!
We went to bed around 6 a.m. and started our last day in Athens
at 1 p.m. We went to the top of Acropolis (447-438 BCE), a
sacred site at all time, to see Parthenon as it was open for
public for free after it was closed during the Olympic torch
event. Vasilis took us around the high city and told us the
history of this sacred archaeological place.
Erechtheum (421-405 BCE) on Acroplis
with Art, Vasilis |
Later,
he took us to the sanctuary of Poseidon (God of Sea)
at Sounion which is one of the most important
sanctuaries in
Attica inhabited in 7th century B.C.
He drove us along Mediterranean Sea for a few hours.
The colour of blue sea was so beautiful with
different shades of blue. We stopped at a lake and
another town for lunch. After looking around the
temple compound, Vasilis found a good location to
sit down in front of the temple, facing the sea, to
watch the sunset. It was beautiful, with the golden
ray of the sun shimmer over the vast sea.
The last night of our stay in Greece went quickly.
We looked for a Thai restaurant but could not find
one. So, we hosted a thank-you dinner for our Greek
friends at a Vietnamese restaurant instead. We came
back to Vasilis’s home for our last night here. I
put myself under the white warm blanket and went to
sleep. |
| |
|
We
packed in the morning and got ready to do our last
shopping at the free market in downtown Plaka.
Katarina met us at the market near Syntagma square
where we first met on the day we arrived in Athens.
We bought some souvenirs for friends and family. I
bought 2 T-shirts for myself which is printed in
Greek.
|
Sunset at
Poseidon Temple
|
One
of my T-shirt is gray with ‘ΕΝΑ
ΠΡΑΓΜΑ ΓΝΩΡΙΖΩ, ΟΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΓΝΩΡΙΖΩ ΤΙΠΟΤΕ’ written on it. It means
means “I know one thing, that I know
nothing.”
It is said by the famous Greek Philosopher Socrates.
Yes,
“I know one thing, that I know nothing.” It made me realizes
that I have to learn more things in life and I will not stop as
long as I live.
The whole trip strengthened the bond of friendship between us
and our friends. A friendship made through visits among former
participating youth of the two programmes -- SSEAYP and SWY.
Greece and Thailand and vise versa.
It’s a small world after all.
We may live far apart, but I am sure that the two programmes --
SSEAYP and SWY -- will bring us get together with deeper and
better understanding.
We shall meet again.
SWY Greek friends, we never
forget that
we have a home here…..…in
Greece.
“Sagapao….Greece”
to get more …
http://www.swygreece.gr
http://www.visitgreece.gr
Courtesy…
Thanks indeed to Khun Dao for her beautiful photographs (among
hundreds) she took and attached here.
Thanks very much to Art for your care and encouragement.
Article by
Supatra Pothong
(TPY'03)
Page by Kamoltham W. (TPY'18)