MARATHI

After I conquered the Byzantine Trail for breakfast we went to Marathi, an ancient marble mine here on the island. Paros, Greece is famous for it's white magnificent marble. Marathi is over 3,000 years old and is the same quarry that was mined to make the "David," the "Venus de Milo," Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb, and the Parthenon! It was so INSANE! We went 500 ft down into this mine! Some parts we could barely move, we had to crawl through tunnels practically. It was also PITCH DARK, we turned off our flash lights at one point and you couldn't even see the person next to you, or even your hand in front of your face, AND it was completely silent. It was pretty creepy but so amazing at the same time! So crazy! OH and there were old sculptures on the walls that the ancient Greeks carved to worship the Nymphs that had lived there.
Once we got to the middle of the mine the marble was so white, when you shined your flashlight on one, the light went straight through! It was soooo neat! Enjoy the pictures!

Byzantine Trail

Yesterday, we walked the Byzantine Trail. It's basically a 2,000 yr old road that was made by the Romans. It went through-out the mountains. It was a really rough walk/hike, so I can't imagine how it was for the Greeks back then! It was beautiful though! I'll post some pics below, obviously, but they pretty much look like everything else I've posted! It's difficult to get the perfect perception of how everything looks. It doesn't look like it really, but we're practically at the top of the mountain!

Life Drawing

So last week we started life drawings. I was super nervous not because I had to draw a naked model but because I had to draw a human body and I thought it would just come out looking like a blob! Luckily, my drawings didn't come out too terribly. I mean, I'm still no artist though. It's a lot of fun to draw though, and it's so relaxing! Next week we start painting. I cannot wait! I already stretched myself a canvas to paint on! I'm kinda embarrassed of the drawings I'm going to post just because they're not very good but I'm definitely improving, especially when a month ago these probably would have looked like stick figures! :)

I'm Not An ARTIST!

I wish I had a best friend here to honestly critique my work. Everyone is too nice here, when I know I could do better. They just tell me my art looks good, and yet all of their pieces look like Da Vinci and mine nearly compares.

SUNSHINE!

The weather here is starting to get really nice. It's been in the 60's and in the sun it feels way hotter! Yesterday afternoon we laid in the sun all day and played waterfall!

My Frontyard

The other day I took a few pictures of my front yard and the sunsetting on the beach [which is practically in my front yard as well]. Here's a little idea of what I wake up to and go to bed with. :)

Yah-mahs!

In Greek, "Yah-mahs" means "Cheers." Last night we went to the local bar, the Saloon D'or and continuously yelled out "Yah-mahs!" It was quite the night, although it was practically just us students at the bar, as the Greeks are responsible and don't stay out late and drink during weekday nights haha. I sat down with the owner of the bar and enjoyed a bottle and a half of some good white wine [for free!] and smoked a REAL Cuban cigar with him as he tried to explain to me all the myths of the island and the astrological beliefs the Greeks live by. It's quite intriguing and very fascinating to hear about their lives here and to hear about the history of Greece. It made for a very enjoyable night, although I had to boycott the bar tonight due to the ample amounts of wine from last night!

Art and such

Here are a few pictures of my still life's I've been having to draw for my painting class. They're nothing too amazing but never in a million years did I think I could remotely draw these pieces!

Greek Dancing

Last night we went to dinner with our professors at traditional local restaurant. We got so much good food and free drinks! For dessert we had yogurt and honey which was so delicious!!! They also had a singer and keyboard player singing traditional music. By the end of the night, if we had danced at least once we didn't have to pay for dinner! It was so much fun!

Hiking

Today we hiked to the Mycenaen Acropolis and to some sea caves. I would hardly call it would as I felt like I was rock climbling the whole day. It was a very intense hike climbing up the mountains. I had to hand out a few band-aids as people kept getting scraped up. The landscape was so incredibly beautiful though, it was definitely worth the day trip. The pictures don't even do this place justice!

Paros Island

It has already been quite the adventure and it hasn't even been a week that I've been here. Yesterday we took a bus tour of the whole island. We saw an old castle that still somewhat remained. It was pretty neat, it was just in the middle of the water in a little cove. While I was taking pictures of the water a dolphin swam into the cove which was really cool. All the pictures I'll be posting today are just from around the island and the different towns.
Oh I feel that there's one thing I have to mention! I'm not really a picky eater but the food here is very difficult to tolerate. The Greek salads and gyros are delicious but I still have yet to get use to the other dishes. Two nights ago I ordered fried shrimp... it was fried with it's shell on along with the tail and head [eyes and all]! When myself and my friend didn't eat the shells or most of the shrimp, the owner got really offended and then brought our table free dessert. THE DESSERT was like eating tiny caviar... The owner was not too happy to see we didn't finish our dessert as well.
Aside from the food, the nightlife here is quite alright. Last night we went out for Mardi Gras just sat around and had some drinks, most of which were free and on the house from the owner. We also have a bodyguard who knows almost everyone on the island and he continued to get us free drinks as well! It was quite the night. OH and then we went to this cafe after for gyros and the guy there gave us free wine and he kept calling me his Redbull and energy because I was from Michigan and "he LOVES Michigan!" Lol
I guess you could say I'm having quite the interesting time here!
Okay so it

The island is b-e-a-utiful!!!!!! It does not even compare to Athens! The best way to describe it is to compare it to the movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." It's exactly like that! The water is so blue and clear! I can't wait for it to warm up to go swimming! The only down fall right now is my apartment because it's a cement building which is so cool because it's so authentic, but it doesn't work with the cold weather! We have super thin blankets and a small space heater that barely works! I guess the locals said that it NEVER gets this cold. It's so suppose to warm up next week so that's exciting!
Here are a few pictures of my where I'll be living the next few months!

Athens

The flight to Athens was insane, to say the least. I almost missed my flight to Germany which was stressful, if that would've happened I would've most definitely been a hot mess. haha
Once I landed in Athens though, I was completely exhausted! I dropped my bags off at the hostel, which was the shittiest place I've ever seen. I was scared to lay in the beds [i put a tee shirt over my pillow]. We then went to eat and had an abundance of wine and 12 platters of authentic Greek food! It was delicious! I then went back to the hostel and slept for 20hrs!
Dinner tonight was amazing, as well! I had torillini and the owner of the restaurant gave us free wine! THEN, we went to the most precious cafe and had hot chocolate with Baileys [it was sooooo good!]
Tomorrow I take a 4hr ferry ride to Paros, the island I will be living on, and I don't know when I'll be able to use the internet again.

I'm posting a picture of Athens as I was landing.