From the two weeks I spent in Greece, I can firmly say that it is a truly beautiful country, and this past trip is something that I will continue to remember for years. For a man of the Florida gulf coast such as myself, the mountains and valleys are a welcome change of terrain. Traveling past Mount Parnassus on the way to Delphi where the central pagan oracle was located, you can see why the ancient Greeks considered the area to be a sacred place and even the center of creation itself. However, the most excellent natural feature of Greece that I saw was the Aegean sea: the clarity of the seawater is incredible, and the deep blue of the ocean that envelops the archipelago is absolutely sublime.

To be in a region with so much history was staggering: No matter where you turn in Athens, Aegina, or any of the other locations we visited, you’ll see buildings from a distant or not so distant past; even the smaller isles like Kalymnos, Symi, or Halki have reams of history and lore behind them. While the classical sites such as the Acropolis of Athens or the temples of Delphi are the best-lauded features of Greece’s storied history, it should not discount sites such as the castles of the Knights of St. John that checker the Dodecanese islands or the mosques and buildings constructed by the Turks. Even modern sites such as the monasteries of St. Nektarios and St. Savvas hold a deep significance to the people of Greece and form a part of Greek history, despite their 20th century origin.

Putting it succinctly, it was just wonderful to be in Greece, a country of great places that I had always wanted to visit (and would love to return to one day), and I saw plenty of less-known places that are just as wonderful, like the beautifully quaint island of Halki. Furthermore, I am glad I traveled with the wonderful group of people we had, I was worried there would be issues and division between everyone, but fortunately that wasn’t even close to being the case. My utmost thanks to the other students on the trip, to Professor Moutsatsos, to our guide George, and to the organizers of the trip. I’m sure I speak for everyone in saying that the memories of this will be treasured for years and years to come.
– Tyler, SPC Greece Study Abroad Program, May 2024