If there is anything this trip has taught me, it's that nothing is ever what I expect it to be. For example: I definitely had no idea how many hills and mountains Greece has. I didn't think it was flat but wow! What a curvy country! I also didn't expect to get used to this city so quickly. I might as well be walking in Seattle.
Today's surprise came by way of Sparta. You read correctly, I was in Sparta today. I know what I expected to see and what I did see; expectation and reality were definitely not the same in this case.
I blame Hollywood and way too many hours reading Greek mythology. Mostly Hollywood.
Sparta was a very modest city, surrounded by mountains and hills, and minutes away from Mystras. Everyone was very nice there and it was so surreal to be welcomed to Sparta. I think at one point I said, and quote "This seems too tame for Sparta" as I eat my frozen yogurt.
Pretty tame looking, right? We had spent all day quoting 300 and taking excessive pictures of people kicking each other and Sparta gives us a home cooked meal and cold treats. Man, where is that fierce Sparta we all know and love? Half of us were just consistently keeping an eye out for ruins or a large, bottomless well (in which to kick someone into), but we didn't find those things.
Dr. Finitsis, though, is not one to disappoint us on day trips. He lead us to this sight for sore eyes:
Students from last year's trip told me to say hello to the statue of Leonidas. I assume this magnificent statue is what they meant.
Hello King Leonidas. Thank goodness for you, we were starting to worry about Sparta's reputation! So of course, we proceeded to take many ridiculous pictures next to, on, and around this statue. We were desperate for the Spartan experience, I guess. The locals laughed at us, but it's okay. We got some pretty sweet pictures. Like this one.
I guess what I was reminded of today was that I have to keep an open mind and realize that not everything is what it seems. Hollywood and story books aren't the most accurate resources; they romanticize everything. Despite Sparta being a tame, welcoming city without streets full of warriors, I still enjoyed myself. This is Sparta and I had a lovely time. I wish I could have stayed longer.
<3Christine
p.s. Anyone else have the urge to shout "TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL!!!" during lunch? No? Just me? Cool.
Today's surprise came by way of Sparta. You read correctly, I was in Sparta today. I know what I expected to see and what I did see; expectation and reality were definitely not the same in this case.
I blame Hollywood and way too many hours reading Greek mythology. Mostly Hollywood.
Sparta was a very modest city, surrounded by mountains and hills, and minutes away from Mystras. Everyone was very nice there and it was so surreal to be welcomed to Sparta. I think at one point I said, and quote "This seems too tame for Sparta" as I eat my frozen yogurt.
 |
| Ice Cream in Sparta |
Dr. Finitsis, though, is not one to disappoint us on day trips. He lead us to this sight for sore eyes:
Hello King Leonidas. Thank goodness for you, we were starting to worry about Sparta's reputation! So of course, we proceeded to take many ridiculous pictures next to, on, and around this statue. We were desperate for the Spartan experience, I guess. The locals laughed at us, but it's okay. We got some pretty sweet pictures. Like this one.
<3Christine
p.s. Anyone else have the urge to shout "TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL!!!" during lunch? No? Just me? Cool.
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