There wasn’t supposed to be a day nine, but here we are. Thankfully, the travel has gone much more smoothly today; although, I am a bit concerned about the blizzard warning for the pass that starts after our arrival. I hope that it holds off.
As I don’t really have pictures to share today, I thought that I would share some of reflections on the best and worst of the trip.
Best country: Greece
As Ioannis promised, everything was generally better in Greece: the food, our hotel, the prices, and especially the friendlier people.
Worst: France
Aside from the situation that led me to be there, France had worse food options with higher costs, but it was the outright contempt that so many of the people I came across treated me for using English that really irked me—especially in the airport.
Best meal: This award goes to the gyro I had for lunch on our first full day in Greece. Our lunch the following day comes in a close second, but parts of my Mousaka were not quite warm. However, every meal in Greece outclassed any meal in the other countries.
Worst: Dinner on our first full day in Rome. It was almost insulting. The main course was noodles with pepper, the hint of a sauce, and nothing else. At least they had the toast with tomatoes and olive oil as an appetizer, but the previous day had more than one slice per person and three different varieties (including one with an interesting olive spread).
Best flight: Some people might have been turned off by the turbulence on our flight from Rome to Athens, but the slightly larger seats on the Airbus (as opposed to our Boeing flights) made it the most comfortable flight for me.
Worst: This goes to the infamous Athens to Paris Flight even before the passport issue, as I had stabbing pains in my ears for both the takeoffs and the landings which left me unable to hear well with either ear for an hour and with my left ear until the following day (today).
Best local guide: Hands down, Penny—who guided us at Delphi—was my favorite local guide. She kept the students’ attention more than any of the others by being truly passionate about the site as well as tying her information to the present day—and even the students’ lives.
Worst: Philipo at the Vatican was not a bad guide, but he was the most difficult for me to understand. Meanwhile, the other half of the group who had Anna seemed to get more and better information.
Best gelato: Connor and I had gelato every day we were together. Interestingly, my favorite was at the airport in Rome before our flight to Athens. The chocolate-lined cup was an extra bonus, but the flavors seemed more vibrant and they had the best dark chocolate.
Worst: This goes back to the worst meal. They capped it with the smallest scoop of gelato I had seen with no offer of choice, ransoming giving people vanilla, chocolate, or some combination of the two.
Best site: All of them. Seriously, there is not a single place that I would not want to see again—preferably with more time. However, the biggest letdown was the Vatican as we missed getting to St. Peter’s Basilica.
I’m sending this now, before we board our final flight for Anchorage, but I doubt that anything on the list will change with that last leg.
As I don’t really have pictures to share today, I thought that I would share some of reflections on the best and worst of the trip.
Best country: Greece
As Ioannis promised, everything was generally better in Greece: the food, our hotel, the prices, and especially the friendlier people.
Worst: France
Aside from the situation that led me to be there, France had worse food options with higher costs, but it was the outright contempt that so many of the people I came across treated me for using English that really irked me—especially in the airport.
Best meal: This award goes to the gyro I had for lunch on our first full day in Greece. Our lunch the following day comes in a close second, but parts of my Mousaka were not quite warm. However, every meal in Greece outclassed any meal in the other countries.
Worst: Dinner on our first full day in Rome. It was almost insulting. The main course was noodles with pepper, the hint of a sauce, and nothing else. At least they had the toast with tomatoes and olive oil as an appetizer, but the previous day had more than one slice per person and three different varieties (including one with an interesting olive spread).
Best flight: Some people might have been turned off by the turbulence on our flight from Rome to Athens, but the slightly larger seats on the Airbus (as opposed to our Boeing flights) made it the most comfortable flight for me.
Worst: This goes to the infamous Athens to Paris Flight even before the passport issue, as I had stabbing pains in my ears for both the takeoffs and the landings which left me unable to hear well with either ear for an hour and with my left ear until the following day (today).
Best local guide: Hands down, Penny—who guided us at Delphi—was my favorite local guide. She kept the students’ attention more than any of the others by being truly passionate about the site as well as tying her information to the present day—and even the students’ lives.
Worst: Philipo at the Vatican was not a bad guide, but he was the most difficult for me to understand. Meanwhile, the other half of the group who had Anna seemed to get more and better information.
Best gelato: Connor and I had gelato every day we were together. Interestingly, my favorite was at the airport in Rome before our flight to Athens. The chocolate-lined cup was an extra bonus, but the flavors seemed more vibrant and they had the best dark chocolate.
Worst: This goes back to the worst meal. They capped it with the smallest scoop of gelato I had seen with no offer of choice, ransoming giving people vanilla, chocolate, or some combination of the two.
Best site: All of them. Seriously, there is not a single place that I would not want to see again—preferably with more time. However, the biggest letdown was the Vatican as we missed getting to St. Peter’s Basilica.
I’m sending this now, before we board our final flight for Anchorage, but I doubt that anything on the list will change with that last leg.
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