Someone once told me to spend more time doing bloggable things, then blogging itself. So, that is what I've been doing.

Last Wednesday was my birthday... I can't believe that I'm 22 years old. In the morning, I wandered to Starbucks and spent 5 euros on a coffee (about $7.50). I decided that it was only a good idea to spend that much on a coffee because it was my birthday. After my overpriced drink, I met up with Nick to go to our art class.

Monument of Lysicrates

After art class, Nadia and I went out to dinner to a local seafood restaurant called Stavros. I was really concerned because we were the only people in the restaurant for the first 2 1/2 hours. It was until after we left the restaurant that I remembered that Greeks don't eat dinner until at least 9 pm.

My dinner hahaha

Now- let me get into the good stuff...

On Friday, I had my first day of work at the Acropolis. It was literally the best day ever!!! I walked up through the gates to the Acropolis, through the Propylaia, and into the Parthenon where I met the architect, Mr. Kosmas Skaris. He was very enthusiastic and showed me around the work station-- which is located on the south side of the temple. Mr. Skaris introduced me to all of the architects, civil engineers, and archaeologists that work on the Parthenon. Antigoni Vrouva, who I believe will be my 'boss,' also spoke with me for a while about the AutoCAD drawings of the cella walls.

After the introductions, Mr. Skaris took me on a full tour of the Parthenon, moving past the pronaos in a matter of seconds. It was extremely hard not to stop and just admire everything going on. I wanted to take hundreds of pictures, but I did my best to remain professional and keep up with his pace. I didn't take my camera out until I was on top of the architrave of the opisthodomos. Every time Mr. Skaris would turn around to walk a different way or the conversation lulled, I would try to capture a photo. It's unbelievable the places where I walked that today. 

On top of the Parthenon

On top of the Parthenon

After my unbelievable tour, they gave me some text to read on the history of the Parthenon and the cella wall destruction/ restoration. On Tuesday, I start working on 3D AutoCAD drawings of the south cella wall inside the Parthenon with Antigoni Vrouva.

My office-- right next to the Parthenon

In one of my readings, I stumbled upon this quote:

"We admire it and destroy it through tourism, we take administrative measures to protect it and at the same time permit the complete deterioration of its environment, we conserve it through chemical research and destroy it through chemical pollution, we consolidate it and at the same time undermine the ground that supports it."-- Georgios A. Pentsos

How can we fix this problem? What can you do?...

I don't know how that day could ever be better...

On the weekend, Nadia, Carole, and I went to Sounion, Legraina, and Lavrio. The Temple of Poseidon at Sounion was beautiful, just like it was last year. 

Temple of Poseidon at Sounion

The taverna in Legraina where we ate fresh Kalamari

I truly enjoy taking adventures like this!!! It makes me think about the kinds of adventures that I could take back in the states. I wish that there were more places like this, but maybe America has a different kind of beauty. I would love to go see state parks and visit historic towns-- I think places like that have the most character. :)

More later...

Random fact-- the Greek sewage system cannot hold toilet paper. You have to throw it away before you flush. haha