Written By Bella & Avery
The group continued their time in Agios Ioannis, Crete, with an archeology lesson lead by Carly, in which we visited her lab and saw the process that artifacts are restored and studied. After an educationally stimulating morning, the group learned how to cook a traditional greek feta and jam dessert by our lovely chef, Kristina. As the night went on, in our American nature, the group celebrated Halloween with costumes, snacks, and a horror movie!
We started the next day off with an important lesson led by Adam about World War 2, and its relevancy to our region. The group then took a scenic hike to help feed and herd goats with a local shepherd. After getting our hands dirty from our new goat friends, we finished our hike up to a small church on the top of the mountain. Once the group had absorbed enough of the picturesque mountains surrounded by the sea, Xeno surprised us with a trip to the beach. Following naps, games, and a tour of a nearby abandoned hotel, the group headed to our favorite mini market where the owners gifted us with a free liter of ice cream, as they did after every visit. To close another peaceful day, the group held yet another fun movie night.
Our following morning started with a lesson led by Megan on our modern day education system followed by farming on the very farm we had been eating from the whole week. The farm was a previous Carpe group’s project where we weeded and added our own plants to the garden as our mark, and we hope the coming Carpe group will as well. After a filling lunch, we headed to pottery with Alex, where the group was able to practice their creativity on pots, mugs, and sculptures, complete with a coffee run.
Our final day on Crete was filled with celebration, as student Avery Farmer turned 19. The morning started off with fresh frittata and presents, followed by several hours of olive picking, during which students learned about the process of how to produce olive oil from scratch. Next, the group headed to a secluded beach cove, one of Xeno’s favorite hidden spots. Some students borrowed Adam’s goggles to gaze upon the vibrant marine life below the surface including many colorful fish, and even an octopus! We brought the olives we had picked earlier to the beach, and Xeno showed us how the salty Mediterranean water could be used for their preservation. After three months, the olives will be ready for the next Carpe group to indulge in. Following the beach, we sat down for our final Cretan lunch and students said their goodbyes to Adam. Next, we headed back into town to add the final touches to the pottery we had started the day prior. Alex showed the group how to sand and paint the semi-dried clay in order prepare it for the kiln. Our day ended with a delicious dinner which consisted of Greek pizza, French fries, and a surprise homemade, birthday cake by the talented Kristina.
The group awoke early to begin the long day of travel to Athens and were surprised with a vivid Cretan sunrise. The perfect farewell to the beautiful island! After landing in Athens, we said our sad farewells to Adam and welcomed our new group leader, Doug!
We started off our first day in Athens with a tour of the Acropolis. The group learned about the patron goddess Athena, for which the city is named, and saw various ruins of the temples dedicated to her and other mythological figures. After the tour, the group had free time to explore the surrounding town of Athens by shopping and eating authentic Greek cuisine. We ended the night with a delicious dinner and dancing in honor of Megan’s birthday!
The group awoke to an intense downpour. We headed to a Sunday brunch of chocolate pancakes, yogurt, and coffee before making our way to the Benkai Museum of Greek Culture and art. At the museum, students immersed themselves in the ancient knowledge of Greece. Through observing clothes, artifacts, paintings, and sculptures, the group came away with a deeper understanding of Greek culture and history. We finished the day with a passion class on women’s reproductive health led by student leaders, Bella and Avery, and a final delicious dinner down the street from the hostel.
On Monday, the group said goodbye to Athens and is excited for our upcoming adventure at Regreen!
