We started our last day in Europe with the Vatican, where we saw the exquisite Sistine Chapel and many breath taking frescos, some of which were incredibly 3-D like. After a delicious Italian lunch we walked quickly to see the last few sites in Rome including the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. we had a tiring but wonderful day in Rome, and as the sun set we headed to Feumigino Airport, ready to begin the long journey home. We were packed, ready to fly, when our flight was canceled because a British Air baggage handler back in London had a fatal accident. British Air rescheduled our flight for an early Tuesday morning which meant we missed our connection from London to LAX. We will have an extra day in London to visit places we missed on the first stop, a blessing in disguise. While we are sad to leave Rome, we are excited to be on our way! We expect to be home on Wednesday night. Our journey through Europe has been both exciting and inspiring. It's been an extraordinary trip with extraordinary seniors!
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We have had such a wonderful adventure over the past two weeks and seen many astounding sights, so it seems only fitting that Rome should be the culmination and end of our tour. Our first full day here was well spent and quite full as we toured the Colloseum, the Forum, the Basilica of St. Paul, the catacombs, and the Tre Fontane Abbey. To refresh ourselves in the midst of all the touring and hopping on and off our bus, we ate lunch at a delightful little restaurant with our guide Fabrizio. (On a side note, I think we will all be glad to get back to a country with free water in restaurants.) The day, while very enjoyable, was also very wet and cold, which gave us all reason to wear the jackets that we packed. Despite the weather, we soaked in the history and beauty of these places, managing to take lots of good pictures along the way. While we saw some beautiful ruins earlier on in the trip, they seem to pale in comparison to the majesty of the ornate churches of Rome. (I can’t wait to see the students’ faces tomorrow when we walk into St. Peter’s! I’m expecting to see some jaws dragging on the floor…). We’re looking forward to one more day in our Roman holiday to see the Vatican, St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, and the Pantheon before we start our long trip home.
Buona notte from Roma! Mrs. Cook Our ferry landed in Bari, Italy late this morning. Everyone expected it to be quite cold, but heavy duty jackets were not needed on this sunny, cloud-free Saturday. We toured the Italian country side on our way to Naples. The journey took over three hours to complete but was colored with scenes of ripe olive trees and thousands of leaves turning from summer green to fall yellow. This morning we started out on the east side of Italy, and by early afternoon we were viewing the west shore of Italy. We stopped for a brief lunch and started our tour of the famous city of Pompeii. An ancient Roman city covered by volcanic ash in 79 AD, the city was very well preserved and revealed that it had many technologies we ourselves still use. Fast food restaurants? Crosswalks? Drains? Sliding doors? Pompeii had it all. The richest house was once 33,000 square feet. The streets even had pieces of marble in them so that people could see the roads at night, as the marble would reflect the moonlight. Political graffiti was even found on the walls of buildings; one wall in particular was 15 signs deep, just one on top of the other. We visited the public baths and were shown how the Romans would heat the water and even create steam-- an ancient day sauna. Afterwards we visited the amphitheater of Pompeii. Our tour guide demonstrated that standing in the exact middle of the stage would yield the loudest sound. He then said that the teachers of the group had to sing on the stage of the amphitheater. In the end, Mrs. Cook and Mr. Edmonds, joined by Dakota and Taisha, sang the Doxology. The simple song vibrated through the stands. They were then joined by the rest of the senior class to sing the Doxology in Hawaiian. The Latin class orated a speech from Cicero briefly in Latin. After all, when in Rome-- or, well, Pompeii. We exited Pompeii as the sun went down, and are currently driving once more across Italy to get to Rome, another three hour's journey. Though it's only 5:45, the sky outside is already dark. Tomorrow we will see some of Rome's greatest sites, such as the Vatican and the Coliseum.
This early Friday morning, we were rushed out of our beds to disembark our now familiar cruise ship. By eight
o’clock, we were on a bus, touring through Athens on our way to the National Archeological Museum. We toured through the enormous museum, viewing many Greek statues, most made of marble. We viewed the statues in chronological order, and before our eyes the statues gained volume, rather than lines for muscles and more poses that implied motion. There were also many bas-relief panels of marble that told life stories, used mostly above tombs. We also viewed a Mycenaean exhibit, a culture that was rich in gold. This was also the Greek city that Agamemnon, brother in law to the famous Helen, ruled from. Then we rushed back to the bus and drove to the ancient city of Corinth. We stopped for a delicious lunch at a little café and restaurant. The choices were between slovaki, a pork kebab with bread, a cheese pie, or a spinach pie. Students also enjoyed buying Greek chocolate, Pringles, and Oreos—a delicious reminder of home. We toured the quiet, almost deserted, ancient city ruins of Corinth in the middle of the afternoon. The sun was shining, and there were no clouds, but the air was crisp and cool. Though we did not go to the Acropolis of the city which was a three hour journey up the mountain, we viewed a temple to Athena, a famous fountain that was supposedly part of the Greek myth about Medea and Jason. The people of Corinth mostly had the problem of worshipping many gods. It was here in Corinth that Paul stayed with Aquila and Pricilla for a few years. Though Corinth was in ruins, there were traces of shops, pieces of beautiful mosaics, broken statues and columns, all obviously once part of a great city. We hopped back on the bus and took a two hour ride to the port of Patras, where a ferry was waiting to take us to the final leg of our journey—Italy. Tomorrow we will land in the port of Bari and will be on our way to Rome. We arrived early this morning in the port city of Heraklion, Crete, where we were greeted with an ominous black cloud, but with a beautiful double rainbow. Most of our group went on a special tour of the palace of Knossos which dates to the Minoan period of 1700 BC. Most remember the Minoan period by the famous Greek myth of Minotaur and Theseus. However, our tour guide informed us that such a myth was only loosely based on reality. You see, in the myth, Athens had to send twelve tributes to Crete to be killed by the Minotaur (a half man, half bull monster) in a mazelike Labyrinth. In reality the tributes were sent over to participate in ceremonial bull fights where the bull survived and the fighters were gored to death. The Labyrinth was the name for the house of the double headed axe, a ceremonial weapon used for sacrifices. It was not mazelike at all.
The archeologists believe that the palace was first ruined by a giant tsunami, caused by the earthquake of Santorini, another Greek island. It was rebuilt and then destroyed once more by a great fire. The alabaster stone structure, clay pots and frescos remain but the Cyprus wood beams and doors burned. The palace of Knossos is known for the oldest flushing toilet, oldest throne, and oldest paved road in the world. The palace has three water systems: drinking water piped in from the mountains, toilet water, and sewage. This civilized Minoan civilization is thought to be about the time of the great flood of Noah’s time. Touring the ruins this morning, all the students and adults were chilled to the bone, what with the rainy weather and freezing wind. It’ll only be 66 degrees, they said. It’ll be warm, they said. Well, we can most definitely say that the weather was most unpleasant, and the best part of the day to most was after the tour in a nice warm coffee shop. We got back in the boat, noticing for the first time that the sea was churning madly back and forth—quite a change from the nice warm weather we have been enjoying. A rocky boat ride through the afternoon sent everyone aboard the ship reeling, so most took a nice nap as the ship rolled roughly through the waves. The sea was so turbulent that we almost didn’t go to our next destination—Santorini. However, as the sun went down, the storm calmed enough for us to go to shore. Unfortunately, Santorini does not have a port, so we disembarked from the ship in small boats, which thankfully had a roof to shield us from the wind and waves. If we thought the rocking cruise ship was bad, this little boat was even worse. Sea water dripped in from windows, and the entire boat almost went perpendicular to the sea. Many had their heads down, or their eyes closed, praying for the ride to end. It was dark by the time we reached the island, and in order to get to the city, one has three options: climb up 400 steps (in the dark), ride a mule, or take the cable car. Everyone used the cable car, a pleasant ride up the mountain, though we couldn’t see a thing in the dark. Our group toured through the city, picking up souvenirs and delicious chocolate covered baklava. When we returned to the ship, the return journey almost pleasant, we had one last dinner aboard the cruise ship. Our Greek tour guide and friend, Christian, presented us with a wooden elephant to join our family of Elephants in the Room. Tomorrow, we will say goodbye to our cruise ship and say hello to Athens, Greece once more. By Lexi, Dakota, and Jenny We were gifted by a lovely, relaxing Wednesday. Our cruise ship docked on the island of Rhodes, and students were given the option of either shopping in the picturesque city or taking a morning excursion through both the main port city and the city of Lindos, about half an hour’s drive from the ship. Those who opted for shopping got their fill of Greek souvenirs, gelato, and experiencing the beautiful, ancient fortified city walls, built by the knights of St. John in the medieval times. Roaming the city, we saw large circular stones everywhere that were once the cannon balls of the Turks when they took the island of Rhodes. The island’s history is colored by their many conquerors—Greeks, Turks, Romans. Nevertheless, the castle and the many walls that protect it were well preserved and the cobblestone streets and buildings still in use. The small group that went to Lindos took a thirty-minute drive up to the town of Lindos, passing along the way many goats and olive trees. The island was incredibly rocky, and the tour guide explained that Rhodes only gets rain a few months out of the year. We stopped along the way to view one of Rhodes’ masterpieces—pottery. Each piece was made by hand, painted, and intricate designs carved into the sides. Afterwards we took the bus to the acropolis of Lindos. One had to walk up 300 steps to get to the top. The warm Rhodes day made the climb tiring, but was entirely worth it when we got to the top. At the top was a temple for Athena. On one side, one could see the white homes of Lindos, and on the other, a small, hidden bay where Paul stopped on his journey to Ephesus. The blue of the Mediterranean both in the bay and outside of it was unforgettable and reminded us of our own beaches at home. We viewed the souvenir shops at the foot of the Acropolis before heading back to the boat for lunch. More shopping in the castle walls and relaxation aboard the boat followed, primarily naps. A formal dinner altogether ended our day nicely. Tomorrow, most of us go to the island of Knossos, an optional excursion where we will view the famous Labyrinth of Greek myth and legend.
By Jenny Kimura Ephasus was certainly the most impressive archeological site we have seen. During John’s time, the city was located on the coast but over the course of time, the river has filled in creating a flat plain. Ephasus is a remarkably sophisticated city that is amazingly well-preserved. We walked the streets that Paul walked, prayed in the great theater where Paul so eloquently presented the gospel which led to a riot, and walked through the library where the greatest minds of the day spent their time. From the library, there was an underground tunnel that led to the “red-light” district (so men told their wives they were at the “library”!). There was a shopping plaza, underground plumbing, lit streets, and a bath house where the men sat on toilets all in a row while being entertained with live music. The Great Amphitheater sits 25,000 people and has, in modern times, hosted the likes of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and the Philharmonic Orchestra. Leaving the archeological site, we drove into the town where we visited a Turkish rug store. Several of us purchased rugs.
Back on the ship for lunch and naps, we set sail for the small Greek island of Patmos where St John’s Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse are located. John was “imprisoned” on Patmos and eventually had a vision in a small cave overlooking the island and Aegean Sea. It was here that he wrote to the seven churches in Asia Minor as recorded in the book of Revelation. Above the grotto, high on the hill of Patmos is St John’s Monastery built in 1100 by a Greek Orthodox monk named Christophosus. This monastery is rich in history and a storehouse of icons, handwritten parchment books, and relics. Patmos is a quaint little island, and we enjoyed some free time in the town, munching on pastries, tea and coffee. Back to the boat for more food and bed in preparation for sailing to Rhodes tonight. We will wake up early in the morning to find out who our new president will be. Today, we spent most of the day at sea. We started the day docked in Athens until about 11 AM. After we the cruise ship had finished its business at the port, the cruise ship moved along at a slow pace as we moved towards the Greek city of Mykonos. Since our boat didn’t arrive at Mykonos until about 6:00 pm we had the day to use the cruise ship as we pleased. Some people decided to sleep in while others enjoyed an early breakfast. Eventually the group convened at the ship’s library for devotions focusing on the Ephesians 3 and 4. Breaking up after the devotions many of us reconvened at tea time to enjoy some tea and pastries.
Eventually we arrived at the port of Mykonos and quickly disembarked.. Known as the Pearl of the Aegean Sea, Mykonos is covered with white washed buildings with a variety of different architectural styles. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at a local harborside restaurant and the walked through the (very expensive!) shops before heading back to the ship. Tomorrow we look forward to visiting Ephasus! Today we landed in Izmir, Turkey at noon. Among the ports and docks, we got a brief tour through the city, once the ancient city of Smyrna, on our way to Pergamum. Though the ride there was an hour and a half long, Pergamum was worth the ride, however. We drove to the bottom of the tallest hill in the city, the Acropolis, the same name as in Athens. This acropolis was not as accessible, and we therefore got to ride a cable car all the way to the top. Between the breathtaking view of the city below and the ripening olive trees, traces of the acropolis’ ruins came into view. Pressed for time, we quickly viewed the ruins of the temple of Athena and Zeus, and the famous library of Pergamum, noted highly in the ancient world. We also saw the amphitheatre of Pergamum, set on a steep hill. The stairs dividing the seats were almost perpendicular to the ground, but thankfully no one tripped. After we hiked back to the top, we looked in the souvenir shops for a few minutes (Latin students, we have a surprise for you when we get back!) before heading back down on the cable car. Tonight we ate a delicious dinner, including grilled steak and linguine. Afterwards, the seniors, Mrs. Cook, and Mrs. Shaw played fishbowl charades (three kinds of charades) in the ship’s library. Tomorrow we are heading back to Athens to enjoy once more. Good night, all!
Written by a student.... Not sure which one.... Saturday morning, the Turkish city of Istanbul came slowly into view as the fog gradually cleared. Istanbul’s culture rich in history, tangling the histories of Byzantine, Ottoman, Crusaders, Greeks, and Turks. Most visible to us was Turkey’s most famous destination—Hagia Sophia, a museum with both Muslim and Christian roots. This was our first stop in Turkey, just as the sun reached directly overhead, casting a beam of sun on this ancient church. The inside of the church was utterly breathtaking. The ceilings and walls were decorated profusely with hand painted designs and intricate mosaics of Jesus, Mary, and some emperors including Justinian the Great, commissioner of the Hagai Sophia. Stained glass windows let light into the building, finishing at the top with a large dome. We also walked up to the balcony where the empress of the Byzantine Empire was once carried to via palanquin before the church services.
We then walked to Tokapi Palace, the seat of power in the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years. We were surrounded by impressive weapons, including a seven foot long broadsword and a variety of swords, guns, and bows, the seventh biggest diamond in the world, known as the spoonmaker’s diamond, ornate jewelry and furniture that was encrusted with jewels of all colors and sizes. At about 2 p.m. we stopped for lunch at a restaurant inside the palace grounds. We enjoyed Turkish food for the first time—from crispy bread rolls to cheese pie, roast lamb to mashed potatoes, vanilla pudding with a pistachio garnish to Turkish coffee. Satisfied after a delicious meal, we stopped for a restroom break and met a sweet Turkish little kid, who was unduly impressed that we were from Hawaii, but after he was shown pictures, he claimed “it was too expensive.” Still laughing over it, we headed over to the Blue Mosque, built in the 1700’s. We took off our shoes before entering and the girls put scarves over their heads, as was tradition. The interior was just as impressive as Hagia Sophia, with its walls and ceilings covered in floral patterns, gold leaf and over 260 stain glass windows. It was truly an impressive sight. The historical part of the tour done for the day, we headed to a store where we saw and touched the textures of the most famous product of the country, Turkish carpets. Each one had an incredibly intricate design, familiar to the ceilings of the Blue Mosque we had just seen. The salesman explained that silk carpets, the most expensive, took at least 14 months to complete just one. After this we separated and went shopping at the bazaar in Istanbul. Students experienced, and enjoyed, for the first time the “haggling” or bartering process. We headed back to the ship at six and had another amazing dinner aboard the ship; including lamb, pork chops, egg drop soup with lemon, Greek salad, gelato, and baklava as some of the choices. After devotions featuring Paul’s journey in Ephesus, plans for tomorrow were hatched, and then everyone was either off to bed or going to experience Greek culture at one of the late night events. Tired as we are, we cannot wait for tomorrow’s adventure—we are sailing to Izmir, once the ancient city of Smyrna, and to Pergamum. |
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