When I was 14 years old, my French teacher, Mrs. Sanchez, was a “dead language” fanatic. That’s why, she proposed Latin or Greek classes. I learned already Latin but I also wanted to discover the ancient Greek and its many mythologies. Actually, she organized every year a trip either in Italy or in Greece. And, this year, which was my last year in “college”, she had planned to go to Greece. It was an opportunity for me. And, in April 2004, 40 students and 4 teachers went in Greece for two weeks to discover all the most beautiful Greek landscapes thanks to a bus.

carte_gr_ce

But the trip began badly. Indeed, we had to move away at 8pm with a comfortable decker bus. And at 11pm, an old school bus parked. We were very surprised. The driver explained to us that the other bus had broken down on the highway and so, the company called “Boulet” (no comment...) sent him with this waste and he apologized.

There was not enough space in the two holds for our luggage. So, we had to put bags which remained in the bus with us while we were already tight. Moreover, some seats were broken. Our parents didn’t want us to go in these conditions but the driver and teachers reassured and convinced them. So, we left but nobody was optimistic…

The night in the bus was very rough: we barely slept because the seats were totally uncomfortable, there were bags everywhere and some of us decided to sleep in the corridor… The next morning, on the Italian highway, a hold unlocked! We were lucky because none of our bags fell. The driver parked in an area and fixed the problem with a piece of iron wire…

Next to Venice, after 20hours spent on the road, we took a boat (during 24 hours) to cross the Adriatic Sea. The night was very funny but there was a storm and everybody was seasick…

At 8am, we arrived on Greek West coast in Igoumenista’s port. We continued to Ioannina to eat in a restaurant. We ate pasta Bolognese first, then a Milanese cutlet with rice and a dessert. It was wired because it was the same mile every evening at hotels. We noted in this first Greek city, that a lot of homes are still under construction. Our teacher told us that Greek people don’t pay housing tax if the house is not finished. So, houses are very vast with many floors for all the family (grandparents, parents, sons, cousins,…) and the roof is still under construction!

We spend the first afternoon in Meteora’s monasteries which represent one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars. Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It was very beautiful and interesting. Then, we went to Kalambaka to sleep in a hotel. (Guess what we ate…)

m_t_ores

The next day, we crossed all the Thessaly and its famous olives sea to join Delphy. The old bus rode very slowly (80km/h max) and we spent the day on road. We arrived at Delphy’s hotel at 10pm. Cookers were left and we ate cold things… Moreover, beds were uncomfortable, there were cockroaches in rooms. Our teachers were very angry!

After this awful night, we visited the wonderful site of Delphi which was, in Greek Mythology, the site of the Delphic Oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo.

delphes

Then, we took a boat to cross the Gulf of Corinth and we arrived to Olympia on evening. The hotel was clean and confortable. After dinner, we went in the city and we bought some gift and trinkets. After that, like every night, we debated with our teachers about what we saw on day and we corrected exercises about mythology and places. We spend the next morning visiting the site and the museum of Olympia and the afternoon playing some Olympic games in the ancient stadium. During the spring, Judas tree had a lot of pink flowers, which made monuments more beautiful.

olypie

After a good night, we went to Corinth. We visited a temple of Apollo on road and we arrived at the hotel by night thanks to our precious bus… Our hotel was in front of the sea. We slept very well.

The next day, we saw the antique cities of Corinth and Mycenae, and the famous Theatre of Epidaurus where you can whisper in middle of the scene and people seated in the last range can hear you. We spend a funny time in this place singing and playing…

epidaure

Then, we went to the capital Athens. In July of this year, Athens organized Olympic Games. That’s why, all the city was under construction. We were lost a moment but finally, we found our hotel. The next day, we visited the famous Acropolis. It was very wonderful and so spectacular. Then, we ate in a restaurant and we saw the Olympic Flame. Then, on the afternoon, we went to Sounion’s Cape, in front of the sea. We bathed and saw the sunset over the Temple of Poseidon. It was magic! Then, we came back to our hotel in Athens.

acropole sounion

It was the last day in Greece, and our teachers wanted us to see some typical Greek islands. So, we took a ferry in Piraeus and we visited Egine and Hydra, two islands with small white houses with blue flaps, and with gardens of orange and lemon. It is my best memory of this trip. I bought a lot of gift for my family and took a lot of photos…

iles

Then, we took the highway to go to Patras to take the boat in order to come back in Italy and then in France. But, at 20kilometers before the port, our magic bus failed on the road. My teacher called the Greek police to protect us on the highway because it was very dangerous. The police arrived with a bus to drive us to Patras in order to take the boat on time. We let all our bags in our damned bus. Our poor driver stayed too. So, we took our boat on time without clothes or toothbrushes… We spent the night at the boat’s nightclub.

The next day, the Greek bus brought us at home in France. Our parents were very surprised. My French teacher said that it was the worst travel she did but the most pleasant because she loved us… It was a great experience for me and a wonderful travel. I discovered a magnificent country. I will go back. Thank you Mrs. Sanchez!!!

P.S.: Just a last sentence to say that we recovered our luggage one week after. Indeed, the bus “died” in Greece. Our poor driver came back in France and the Greek police sent our bags at school….

Clémentine GIMENEZ

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My roadtrip in Greece

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