http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/ en Copyright 2008 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:45:19 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss So we're all told Americans are loathed abroad, especially in Europe. With that said, I didn't find any blatant manifestations of said hatred, but like anywhere there were folks who were much nicer than others. Keeping in mind the subjectivity, I still feel confident enough to make a completely accurate judgment. Heh. But really, the Tavern Banter Power Rankings are just that, my opinion. With that said, let's see who was the least friendly: 8. Nice - There were a bunch of upsetting things in Nice, but even then nothing was terrible. What got me was at Carnival, their festivities were fun for them I'm sure, but their floats basically lampooned Americans. Thus our presence there was a liiiiiitle awkward. The waiters we had were rude, cursing at us in French as they walked away (This happened after a girl in our group was confused about the menu, asking questions in English, frazzling the waiter. Evidently he forgot I ordered in French or didn't care). 7. Rome - For being one of my favorite cities, Romans didn't do much to help their cause. Again, they weren't unfriendly in anyway, they were just nothing special towards us. We were just another tourist, one more customer depositing our Euros. Which is fine, just don't expect to top these rankings. 6. Paris - Surprise, surprise. The French were not mean, they were not rude, they were not arrogant in my experience. They just weren't very friendly, helpful, or level headed. Getting help would be impossible if one didn't speak English and even when one did, an American accent would betray us to a few rolls of the eyes. I'm high on the French, too. The competition was stiff, though, and the Parisians just didn't match up. 5. London - Eh. The English were remarkably like what I thought they would be before I got to London. Well, the English that I could find. London is very much an international city and there are many folks from many different countries. But I did find English and the ones I met were hit or miss. Again, no anti-Americanism, but if you didn't know their little social codes, tough luck pal. I guess with such an influx of immigrants and a reduction of English presence, what is held dear to them are guarded like the Holy Grail. Good luck with that. 4. Turkey - While no one in these rankings were particularly poor, there is still a large gap between the Turkish and the English. And even though we had our fair share of, uh, interesting experiences, we had some of our best moments on our educational field trip through Turkey. For the most part the Turks were quite friendly, and what made it was our time with the Turkish school children. Good time, good times. 3. Athens - I suppose my experience would be different from the girls, who had to contend with a VERY masculine society. So no, I did not get my butt pinched or invited to spend some time with a shop keeper in a back room. But these are my rankings, and even though Athens is admittedly overrun with tourists, we were all generally treated in a positive manner. Nothing mediocre about it. From everyone, too. While some may have been lost in our cultural divide, everything was meant in a good way. 2. Wales - Wales was just like home. The people I met were so down to Earth, so welcoming, that I felt guilty imposing on the family I stayed with and their friends. They couldn't be better at showing me the ropes and what it means to be Welsh (namely, beating the English in rugby). I didn't meet a mean soul in my entire stay there and I'm fairly certain anyone would be hard pressed to come across an unfriendly person. 1. Dublin - FINALLY! Dublin tops the list after not getting out of the gutter. Whereas Wales was just like home, Ireland was even better. The people there was so helpful, so courteous, so nice, I was beginning to think it was a conspiracy. In fact it was not, and perhaps that is why I enjoyed myself so much there. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_iv_w.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_iv_w.html Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:45:19 +0000 Have you ever seen the movie "Hostel"? Don't. But if you have, surprisingly not every low cost, cheapo place is a death trap in waiting, though some may seem like it. In this installment, we'll take a look at the cities with the best lodging. As always, these rankings are 100% subjective and I'd need more than a weekend to get a good gauge of what each place has to offer, but that won't stop me from waxing poetic or railing a city anyway. Seeing as I stayed in a home in Wales, I'll leave them out of the rankings. And no, Dublin will not get any love here either as it leads off with our worst place to spend the night... 7. Dublin - I spent much time qualifying my love for Ireland before putting Dublin at the bottom of the other two rankings, but in terms of its accommodations, there can be no softening of the blow. If you ever go to Dublin, do not stay at Mt. Eccles Court. Ever. Find a comfy street corner or bus station. Whether it was the roving gangs from 3-4 AM or the 4:30 AM fire alarm, the lack of clean linen on our beds upon arrival, or the open access of the rooms, the place was the worst hostel I ever experienced. Seeing as that was my first hostel, it was like a baptism by fire. Luckily I survived. 6. Nice - It was safe I guess, but eight beds in a space that at best could be considered a walk-in closet and a lack of clean linen made our stay uncomfortable. One of the bunks collapsed during our stay. The staff didn't really know what was going on at the Hotel Mayerbeer and oftentimes contradicted each other. It wasn't terrible, but we'd find a new place if we had to do it all over again. At least it had a convenient location for the rest of the city. 5. Paris - I would stay in the Hotel Bastille again, as the entire Bastille area was nice and we were a stone's throw from the Metro and dining establishments. I just wouldn't go with the expectations that we could come and go as we pleased, something that was advertised to us when we booked. What was supposed to be 24 hour entry ended up being lockout after Midnight and the source of much consternation with the proprietor. Oh yeah, and for some reason the doors are impossible to open. Must be a French thing. 4. Rome - Positives of the Hotel Mosaic: Great location, affordable price, friendly staff to go along with a clean bed. I think points come off for a disgusting bathroom, expensive internet, and I had my sunglasses nicked while there. See, i told you these were subjective rankings. I did meet some cool people while there with my roommate and they have a lax checkout policy. It seemed to me like a very worldly place as it catered to folks of all ages from all over. 3. Athens - The Hotel Philippos was a nice, welcoming, and conveniently located place in which we stayed for a month after being relocated from London. It was not Hotel Herodion, its sister hotel a block away we were originally supposed to stay in until we got bumped due to availability. The internet was sub-standard and well below what we needed as students working and researching our assignments. But overall the experience was pleasurable and I was impressed by the facilities and the staff. 2. Turkey - Whether it was the Golden Horn Hotel in Istanbul or the Pine Bay Hotel in Kusadasi, each were luxurious beyond our need for our week long Educational Field Trip to Turkey. But don't tell Pepperdine; seeing as this was all on their dime, lucky students who get to experience this trip would benefit by not having their accommodations to something more our speed. After all, we like being pampered. I honestly have nothing to complain about as the view, room, staff and buffet were great at each location. So why isn't Turkey #1? 1. London - Because our house in London was a home. Sure, it wasn't a luxury hotel with a staff to make our beds and all encompassing buffet, but it was a community in every sense of the word. Much of it was literally falling apart and the remodeling that displaced our program couldn't come soon enough, but the intangible feeling that passed between the walls was nothing short of that of a family. And from what we were told (for better or for worse), when the remodeling is done in time for next fall, the place is going to be STUNNING. I may just have to go back. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_iii.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_iii.html Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:54:54 +0000 Alright, now that we have food out of the way, let's talk about the night life. Obviously while we were abroad, alcohol was legal part of the culture and there were different venues to offer the forbidden substance. Some places were very fun and offer fond memories, others... not so much. I will also take into account price in these rankings, hurting some of the bigger cities, but hey, you charge me a 20 Pound cover and I'm going to get upset. That's how we roll in the Tavern Banter Power Rankings, which may I reminder you are all according to my personal experience, nothing else. Starting off with last place... 8. Dublin - I swear, I loved Ireland, but Dublin was just not that great (you'll see this later with the accommodations rankings). The Temple Bar area had the potential to be pretty awesome, especially considering the... uh... fun nature of the Irish. But what we were to soon realize was that, to keep us riff-raff out, you had to be 23 years of age to get some admittance. Of course we found a local pub that served our needs and got us out of the cold outside. But the damage was done and our minds made up. 7. Wales - Man, these are looking like the food rankings. Wales was decidedly cheaper and more welcoming than London. Had I lived there, I'm sure I would do fine. As it is, I'm more of a pub guy than a night club guy anyway. But there just wasn't much to go out and do at night as compared to other cities. Sorry. 6. Athens - Eh. It was a fun place, and some of my fondest memories are from there, but on any given weekend it wasn't guaranteed you could find a good place. There were no clubs, which is fine by me, but the bars were expensive and very touristy and aside from the fun nights, which were really fun, the majority of the nights involved some creativity in finding decent places, which wouldn't always be a sure thing. 5. Rome - This is where the weekend disclaimer comes into play. Again, I was only there a weekend, and Rome probably has a boatload of stuff to do at night. I just didn't get to experience it. Rome is one of my favorite cities, as you'll see in the overall rankings later on, but most of the fun was to be had during the day. Nothing really at night, and taking that metro at night was scary beyond belief. 4. Nice - In season, I'm sure this would be at the top of the list or at least close. But alas, we were not in season and a lot of the places our guidebooks told us were the hot spots boasted nothing but boarded up windows. We were there for Carnival, which turned out to be more fun than we thought and overall had a good time, but it was a little disappointing. 3. Turkey - The installment's surprise, Turkey really had a lot to offer, both in Istanbul and Kusadasi. Perhaps most surprising is the progressive nature of this predominantly Muslim country. We all went into Europe and its various countries with stereotypes, but none shattered them quite like Turkey. It was affordable, fun, and unique. While not quite in season on the Aegean Sea, it was still vibrant, especially when Fenerbache was playing Chelsea in soccer. Kudos. 2. London - Honestly, London, you had it all going for you. An exciting, diverse city with plenty of offerings. Pubs that harkened back to a revered tradition, bars that would make you any drink you could want. And clubs. Now, London is an expensive city, I get that. The Pound is pretty much double the Dollar and such so its tough but you go with it. But clubs where they have a 20 Pound cover charge and nine pound drinks (their cheapest) on top of that. Nope, sorry, not for me. So sure, London would make sense at number one, but man, I had to put it a slot behind... 1. Paris - And I didn't even go in the Moulan Rouge. Naturally, Paris has much to offer, and if you can work around the language barrier as I was able to, you can avoid the long lines at tourist traps and have just as good or even better a time at a hole in the wall joint. Had I not been able to speak the language, who knows what would have happened. But with a plethora of opportunities and good prices to be found, Paris gets the nod. Hey we even found an Irish pub there. And we didn't need to be 23 to get in. Point, Paris. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_ii_n.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_ii_n.html Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:46:47 +0000 OK, so here come my final thoughts on Europe. Let's start off with the food, keeping in mind I was there for a hardly enough time to consider my opinion all encompassing. Who had the best eats? Starting off with the worst... 8. Dublin - I liked Ireland, I really did. It's just the food was... eh? There was hardly a native dish that captured my palate's attention. And the imitation food was food. I wish I had experienced more in the way of food in the countryside. 7. Wales - I'm not including the home cooked meals I got and instead am judging solely on what was offered to the common traveler. Maybe they were saving all their good food for after the Six Nations Rugby tournament? 6. Turkey - Eh. We mostly ate as a group and the restaurants we ate at, if not buffets, had very generic dishes that catered more towards Western tastes. Something other than a cursory scan of the Turkish offerings would have yielded more positive results, or maybe not. What I did get to experiencing was nothing to write home about. That won't earn you points in these rankings. 5. Nice - This is where the big gap is. There was nothing particularly wrong with the food in Nice, some of it was quite good. But nothing was as outstanding as the other cities offered. A poor man's Rome would be the best way to describe it, except it doesn't come cheap. 4. London - Personally, my second biggest surprise going against conventional wisdom. I thought Dublin and London would be two peas in a pod in last place. Perhaps its just because I got to explore, investigate, and enjoy London more, but I dug the food there. The fish 'n' chips alone carried this city. Sure, I'm still weary at best of traditional English cuisine, but everything else there was great. London gets a bad rap, and undeservedly so. 3. Paris - You can't go wrong in Paris, that's for sure. French food, on the whole, is not as foreign as some have made it out to be. And with the incredible dishes, some even for a decent price (though not on the Champs-Elysees), Paris gets the nod ahead of London. Service may be poor, but the food still tastes great. C'est magnifique. 2. Athens - Bracket buster! Athens is really hit or miss, in my opinion, and if you took a poll of our group, Athens would be somewhere in the middle by virtue of being so high on some people's list and low on others. But man, did I love what Greece had to offer. Sure, suvlaki and gyros are pretty much the same thing... but it's gooooood. Don't be alarmed by the over aggressive restaurant owners that try to lasso you into their joint... chances are the more hole-in-the-wall-ish it is, the better they can cook. 1. Rome - Was there any doubt? Rome lived up to the expectations and more, from big restaurant to a small pizza joint. If you want to go to the culinary capital of Europe, you'll find it in Rome. And you know, it's pretty self-explanatory. You go to Rome to eat. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_i_le.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/european_reflections_part_i_le.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:53:14 +0000 Sunday, April 20, 2008 Benedict the Rock Star It's not everyday, nay decade, that the Pope visits America. But when any Pontiff crosses the pond to tend to his American flock, one can expect the reaction to top any visitors this country has seen. Yes, I'm looking at you, Beatles. Today was no different. My family and I arrived at our Fairfield, Connecticut meeting point bright and early this morning, though I confess to have only gotten an hour of sleep the night before as my body clock is still adjusting to East Coast time. I go to Pepperdine University in Malibu, California although this past semester I've been studying abroad in London and Greece. In my travels across Europe, I traveled to Rome and had the opportunity to see the Pope live in St. Peter's Square. While such an experience would have been unforgettable, I knew my family had been given tickets to see the Holy Father in Yankee Stadium. I made the conscious decision to forgo a mass in the Vatican and instead make my first encounter a shared experience with my family instead of by myself. I was not disappointed. We were bused straight to Yankee Stadium, normally home of my most despised sports team but today the house in which a nation of Roman Catholics was to celebrate the Easter Season with our Supreme Shepherd. The problem, though, arose when we realized it was just 8:30 AM when we arrived, a full six hours before the Mass was to begin. One would think that's a long time to brave the bitter cold and other elements that I am now convinced left me on the brink of pneumonia, but our excitement and fervor to see Pope Benedict XVI put any such displeasures to the back of my mind. Well, the crooning of Harry Connick Jr. and the spirit of the Harlem Gospel Choir didn't hurt either. Before we knew it, the Popemobile had emerged from the Yankees bullpen area and... the... place... went... bananas... People who are assuredly much smarter than I tell me that the American church is in trouble. Apparently we're not good Catholics, nor do we house an enthusiasm or vigor possessed in other more pious nations. Well thats news to the masses who could help themselves but chant for the Pontiff to emerge from the Yankee dugout (where he had taken refuge for a few moments of quiet reflection of prayer before Mass began). It certainly was not an accurate indictment of the youth present at the Mass who could be seen, for lack of a better expression, screaming there heads off after just the humblest of greetings from Pope Benedict XVI. The white and yellow towels provided in a sort of Papal goodie-bag upon entrance to the stadium were constantly waved in a manner that would put even the most Jock Jam-amped sports fans to shame. For a awe-struck, wide-eyed bloke like me, the whole scene was moving beyond the description of words. Never have I experienced, nor do I expect to in the future, such a rush stemming from the spiritual frenzy today. But while nearly everyone was caught up in the importance and energy of the moment, the message from the Holy Father was not lost, either. Pope Benedict XVI was supposed to be an arch-conservative, bookworm of Canon law. But his message of hope and peace, of unity and strength, of compassion and inspiration, don't lend themselves to any of the convenient boxes we like to put our leaders in, as per our nature. What was on display today in Yankee Stadium was an exemplary figure who had become a Pastor of our church. So from the moment he took the stage to the moment he departed, it was impossible for me not to grin and put my hand on my brother's shoulder, as we cast looks towards each other that captured the importance of the occasion. What we witnessed was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm ecstatic I got to be there to hear the Holy Father in person with my family. That's what made it all worth it for me. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/benedict_the_rock_star.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/benedict_the_rock_star.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:31:50 +0000 Saturday, April 19, 2008 Malibu Memoirs For the past week, I've been capping off my journey abroad with some time on-campus at Pepperdine in Malibu, California. I set out with a list of things to accomplish, including landing an on-campus job, picking up a minor, meeting my adviser, and settling my housing situation for next year. But while I knew I would be spending a lot of time with the guys I'm living with in a house next year - all eight of them - (and no, I'm not in a fraternity, though a few folks consider us to be) negotiating the terms of our lease, I was ecstatic to run into some familiar faces. I stayed with some friends from the DC program I was apart of Fall semester and between them (along with others during our DC reunion) and everyone who was close to me freshman year, I am very satisfied with the amount of relationships I was able to rekindle. Of course, I knowingly stalled many of these friendships by choosing to go abroad, to DC and London respectively, but the euphoria of hearing a girl shrieking my name across the caf. or the glowing smile of a guy turning around on his walk to class after I recalled a nickname of his is something completely beyond the joy I found on my own travels. Perhaps the most striking aspect, though, was not what I knew or accomplished, but watching how the campus evolved around me. Sure, there are physical changes from last year and the adjustment of life on campus according to those changes, but the new waves of... pardon the pun... Waves left me feeling a bit out of place. There are the seniors from last year who no longer walk the halls, the juniors who were all abroad last year as sophomores, and of course the incoming class of freshman who are all ready to be shipped next year to go abroad themselves. Oh how I hardly knew ye. But such is the cycle of life in Malibu. Of course I'll be sure to keep myself busy meeting all the even NEWER people next year. But as that is still on the horizon, I was happy just to make my way around the campus I called home and will once again call home. Facebook just doesn't relay that human element in our relationships with one another, so seeing friends in the flesh meant a tremendous lot to me. My trip may have been one of business in pronouncement, it was all pleasure in nature. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/malibu_memoirs.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/malibu_memoirs.html Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:12:38 +0000 Sunday, April 13, 2008 Up Next: California As if my return to the United States would mean an end to my travels. Tomorrow morning I head back to campus in Malibu, California to sort out my academic and extracurricular life for next year. Of course, seeing everyone back on campus and taking in the sights of my school which I haven't set foot on since last spring will be rewarding enough. But I do have business to attend to, making this trip absolutely necessary in case you were wondering as to the essential nature of a week in Malibu. I have to pick up a minor (Marketing), consult with my adviser and Pepperdine's PR department where I hope to find an on-campus job next year, and most of all figure out my housing situation for next year. Basically stuff that's too boring to blog about in my opinion. So over the next few days, I'll be blogging more about my reflections on Europe and what it all means... a big "so what?" It should be a nice way to round up my lasting thoughts and hopefully sprinkle in some perspective now that I'm back in the land of the free and the home of the brave. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/up_next_california.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/up_next_california.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:39:38 +0000 Saturday, April 12, 2008 The United States of America I'm finally back Stateside after being awake for 24 straight hours and getting 3 hours of quality sleep in the past 48 by the time I hit my bed here at home last night. First thing accomplished? My mane of hair has been sheered. Oh, and just for the record, European Coke tastes 1000000x better than American Coke. I'm not even lying. Blame the high fructose corn syrup that's in everything here, but we're all getting ripped off. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/the_united_states_of_america.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/the_united_states_of_america.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:22:29 +0000 I just got out of my final religion class, and conclude all work tomorrow when I take its final at 9 a.m. sharp. The reality of the conclusion of my trip is raining down pretty hard right now. I've started trying to pack all my possessions back into my duffel bag (with souvenirs, the situation can best be described as "tight") and think about the last few things here in Athens I want to try and accomplish before I leave. I've even started making plans and appointments for when I'm back in the States as I'll have a couple of days in Connecticut before I fly out to California to visit Pepperdine's campus to sort my life out there. Still, there's the mental block I have about imagining myself back in the USA. I know in just a few short days I'll be back on U.S. soil, but envisioning myself there is just hard for me to figure at this point. Sure, if it were another European city I was jetting to for the weekend to meet up with some old friends I would have no trouble accepting what lies ahead. But, as ready as I am to head back home, I'm still expecting a culture shock of sorts to occur when I'm paying in the greenback and not speaking in Euro-English to locals to get them to understand me. Of course, most of my college friends will still be at school for about another month, so I'll be able to sink into some quiet anonymity for a bit and relearn what it is to be an American. Hopefully, it's like riding a bike. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/counting_down.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/counting_down.html Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:47:18 +0000 If you wanted to use aviation metaphors to describe my current financial state, the appropriate one to apply to me currently would be a crash landing. I'm basically broke and I'm spending my final Euros. It's difficult plotting out how I'm going to buy souvenirs for family and friends back home, visit some final museums and historical sites here in Athens, and eat all on the budget of about 80 Euros. Sure, that's over $100, but that doesn't buy much love here in Athens. As it is, I will be trying to squeeze as much work in this summer as possible, especially since I'm trying to live off-campus next year. But, unfortunately, the realities of capitalism have caught up to me, and if I'm to avoid that cruel temptress -- debt-- it'll be cheap, cheap, cheap from here on out. Sorry mom and dad, that means no authentic Middle Eastern carpet! http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/down_to_my_last_euros.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/down_to_my_last_euros.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:31:17 +0000 For the past week, my program has departed from our (temporary) home and been touring Turkey as part of an Educational Field Trip revolving around the historic and religious offerings of the former Ottoman Empire. Starting off in Istanbul (or is it Constantinople? or Byzantium?), we spent a few nights in the city along the Bosphorous before crossing into Asia and spreading all along the Aegean coast from Pergamon to Izmir to Ephesus. It was probably one of the most eye-opening and incredible experiences of my life. And I didn't even get to experience a Turkish bath. I'll be the first to admit that my expectations going into the trip for the week were very low. I had heard from others that Turkey was more of a Mexico than anything and I've never been in a predominantly Muslim country. To tell you the truth, I had no idea what it was going to be like. But from the moment we touched down in Istanbul, I knew at the very least it was going to be different. After a flight from Greece that lasted a little over an hour we were herded onto a bus eerily similar to the tourist one from "Babel" and driven straight to our hotel, The Golden Horn, which is a stone's throw from Asia. It was a nice place with a fantastic view of the city and great location to an active, bustling shopping district (unfortunately where one of my friends had her camera pick-pocketed). And while there was so much in Istanbul we didn't get to see or experience or take in, believe me when I say we had a pretty good itinerary of the city on two continents. Among the things were saw were the Chora Church, the Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, the Underground Cistern, and the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. The Blue Mosque was only the second active mosque I've been to (along with London's Central Mosque) and provided a glimpse into a culture far too many Americans and Westerners have been sheltered from in their life. But most fun was the Spice Bazaar, which contained dozens of shops each promising a good deal and provided me with some inexpensive souvenirs. The shopkeepers were just as colorful, if not more so, than the ones here in Athens (and even one guy who promised to give one of the girls in our group anything she wanted for free in exchange for five minutes with him. Wow). Our local soccer club from our days in London, Chelsea, were even in Istanbul playing a Turkish squad while we were there, offering plenty for us to joke about with the locals (though they were doing most of the joking as Chelsea choked 2-1). At one of the museums stops, what must've been 200 Turkish elementary school students swarmed my friends and I on the steps as we were waiting for our bus to arrive and begged us for pictures, autographs, and the like. It was awesome and really enjoyable from the cultural perspective (though again, I got a lot of shouting at me about Chelsea. Why did they have to lose?). Overall, it was a fantastic place I would love to visit again. The second half of our journey took us squarely into Asia as we turned our attention to deeper in the past and a look at the footprints of ancient Greece and Rome in Asia Minor. After our flight to Izmir, we bused up to Pergamon and toured the ruin there before retracing our steps and heading south to Kusadasi where our hotel was located. Kusadasi is a tourist town like others on either side of the Aegean Sea and a good launching point for our next day's journey to Ephesus. Ephesus is the crown jewel of all ancient ruins as it contains, largely preserved, the third largest city in the time of the Roman Empire. We scampered through the ancient site in wonder of just how real it all seemed. I've seen some ruins before, but this was an example of a place we could easily imagine ourselves back in time. There was so much left there, it wasn't hard to dream up a walk down the city center to the second largest library in the ancient world or past the statesmen on their way back from the forum. It was all so real. Afterward, we went to St. John's Basilica, burial site of the Apostle John, and then back to our hotel. The next day we departed back to Izmir and began a series of flights to take us back to Athens. It was quite amazing, the trip as a whole, when I stop and think about just how many firsts I had accomplished. Beyond my first trip to Asia, or the fact it was the first Islamic country I had been to, I'm talking about actually walking down the street and hearing the call for prayer echoing through the street corners. Or being the first Americans some of these Turkish children had any interaction with and trying to leave a positive impression. Or the first time I had haggled a store owner from 30 Euro down to 15 Turkish Lyria for a knock-off soccer jersey. Each one was a step further and further away from what I have known in my life. It even makes my prior travels across Europe seem trivial in comparison. I have less then a week before I head back to the USA and I'm trying to take in every bit of Athens before I go. I love it over here and I am so very grateful for my time abroad. I can only hope that I get to spend more time in Europe and abroad some point in my life. But I'm ready for America. I've confirmed just how much I appreciate home in my own heart and what America means to me personally. Many folks are staying over here a few more weeks and trying to accomplish all that they have yet to do or see, but the one place I really want to see at this point is the Statue of Liberty as I'm flying into JFK airport, and the familiar images of Fairfield, Connecticut. That will all come soon enough. For now, well I'm going to catch my breath and enjoy a few more gyros. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/a_connecticut_yankee_in_the_ol.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/a_connecticut_yankee_in_the_ol.html Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:46:12 +0000 As promised here is my write-up from my weekend in Rome from Friday to Tuesday. Apologies again for not having enough time, it's difficult to keep up when constantly on the move! I knew from the beginning the weekend was going to be constantly tinged by the thought of our imminent move to Turkey. With that in mind, I was determined to accomplish two things: get the most out of the Boot and journey to another country I had never been to before and visit my long lost roommate from last year, Ryan, who is currently studying in Pepperdine's Florence program. I had heard mixed reports about Rome so any enjoyment achieved there would be gravy. It ended up being one of my favorite cities to have visited, perhaps second only to London. I started my trip by trying to make sure I would be as ready to go as possible for Turkey in the 8 hour interval from when I would return from Rome and then leave for Istanbul. Unfortunately they checked us out of our hotel room in Athens so we basically have to take EVERYTHING to Greece. Due to the baggage restrictions from our flight from London to Athens, my stuff has been whittled down, but it's still a pain in the neck to lug across eastern Europe. Up to my last minute before I left I was negotiating how much space I would have to store souvenirs from Rome and Turkey so it was difficult to rest before a long period of travel ahead. Part of me was just happy to leave and part my worries to he back of my mind and meet my roommate. Too bad the reality of my situation would never leave my thoughts, but I crammed it far enough back there where I was still able to enjoy myself. I flew into Leonardo di Vinci Airport and headed straight to the hostel where I was to meet Ryan. Unfortunately my lingual shortcomings struck and it took me about a half hour of walking around a not-so-fantastic area of the city before I found my hostel and my roommate who, while originally was supposed to be there hours before, met me just as I was walking in after his train trouble. Our hostel was nice, but we busied ourselves with catching up on old times and experiencing some nice Italian cuisine (an Italian fast food joint - think Sbarro). Since Ryan had already been to Rome, the next day we spent doing some of the things he missed or couldn't afford (Rome is expensive!) his first trip including the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and some castles and museums placed squarely along our route. Luckily it was culture week in Italy so all the museums were free all week, very handy for a pair of struggling backpacking college students. We talked about housing for next year, stories of our experiences apart from each other, and what we could plan on enjoying next year. After some dinner and a memorable evening out we went to bed as he was set to leave early in the morning on Sunday to head back to Florence so as to finish some impending assignments he had due. My flight on Sunday wasn't until 7:00 PM so I had a full day of sight-seeing I was still able to get under my belt. I hit all the big spots including the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the Mamertine (where the Apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned during their ministry in Rome). I was able to latch myself onto tours that were shuffling around so I got a pretty good history of the places I was visiting, albeit in bits and pieces. Still, I was so impressed with the city of Rome including the places of interest, the people, and the gelato that I wouldn't hesitate to go again. Even the knock-off soccer jerseys were reasonably priced. Overall I was glad I went and squeezed the most out of my last free weekend of my semester as we will be occupied for the duration of our trip to Turkey and time back in Athens. It was worth it enough just to see my old roommate and fellow Peppers Hall brother who willingly made the trip down to Rome again just to see me. And I'm very pleased to check off another country on my visited list as I was finally able to experience wonderful Italy. I only wish I had more time to visit! The weekend came to an end and before I knew it I'm here in Istanbul taking in another foreign culture. Hopefully I'll have time tomorrow to document my experiences here in the land of the crescent but we were promised (another) very full day, including the Hagia Sophia. Stay tuned! http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/when_in_rome.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/when_in_rome.html Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:54:37 +0000 I must say, my first impressions of Turkey, specifically Istanbul, have been nothing but positive. The city itself is beautiful on so many levels and the effect is only amplified by the view of the city our hotel affords us. We are staying right along the "Golden Horn" and in a very safe, clean, and exciting area of town. Thus far, after touching down in Istanbul, we were loaded on buses and took a brief tour of the city before heading to our hotel. Much much more is in store for tomorrow and I'll post something up at the end of the day. Also I hope to have some time to post about my trip to Rome, which was incredible. Ahhh, so much! http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/turkish_delight.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/04/turkish_delight.html Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:47:50 +0000 Today Greece celebrated its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century with fantastic fanfare and pomp. To mark the occasion, a military parade was held merely a couple blocks from our hotel, which gave me an eerie impression of what a Soviet May Day celebration must've been like. I mean they had the whole gang there, the tanks, missiles, Humvees with bazookas on top, multiple fly overs by jets, bombers and helicopters of all sorts. It literally must have been the entire Greek army. Soldiers even marched in full regalia with a disciplined coordination up and down the lines, especially with the whole arms swinging thing they had going on. It was quite impressive, but hardly the ticker-tape, floats and candy throwing that mark our Memorial Day parades. An ill-placed spark would've had the whole parade route in trouble here in Athens. It was still a fun event nonetheless seeing all the Greeks lining the streets waving their flags in the shadow of Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Zeus. We even got to strike a pose in front of one of the tanks with some diplomats from Cameroon that thought it would be cool to get in our picture. It was also a special day for what was going on half way around the world... and no, not in America. I'm talking about the events in Tokyo, Japan that took place this afternoon (or night or morning depending on where you are). Major League Baseball's Opening Day was today with my Boston Red Sox squaring off against the Oakland A's in the Tokyo Dome. This was the earliest Opening Day in Major League Baseball history, but the start of the title defense couldn't come soon enough, especially now that my bracket is on life support. The Sox won, albeit in sloppy fashion, as Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched in front of his native countrymen, though the win went to fellow Japanese native son Hideki Okajima. I braved the especially slow internet service to try and watch as much of the game as possible on my MLB.TV subscription and was fortunate enough to catch some of the best moments. In fact, the coverage of the NCAA tournament and now baseball season on MLB.TV are serving as my windows back into United States culture. I forgot how much I disliked American commercials, though now I have a new appreciation for hearing something being sold to me in English. Now, excuse me while I head back to studying. With one midterm finished this morning, I still have a final to go tomorrow. I guess today can't all be one big celebration! http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/03/happy_greek_independence_dayop.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/03/happy_greek_independence_dayop.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:03:58 +0000 So here's what I have left for my time here abroad. I may have trouble catching my breath, so bear with me: Today-Thursday: Lots and lots of work. My Intercultural Communications class is wrapping up, culminating in an exam on Wednesday that is bookended by papers that are due. Tomorrow brings a Religion midterm (whose study group I will be attending shortly) and that class won't end until April 10th. Friday-Sunday: Rome, Italy. I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't go to the home of antiquity's greatest civilization and stop by to say hi to the Pope (who I just found out I will be seeing when he visits Yankee Stadium at the end of April. Sweet.). Plus you know that Coliseum isn't going to be standing for that much longer. I'll be meeting up with my roommate from last year who is currently studying in Florence and offered to give me the tour. It should be a blast and I'm excited, but I'll have little opportunity to reflect on it afterward since... Next Monday - Sunday: Turkey for our Educational Field Trip. Each program takes an EFT for a week to sojourn to another country and learn about Europe beyond our assigned host countries. We were stripped of our Spring Break due to our relocation to Greece, but they are more then making it up with this week long visit to Turkey. I have never been to a predominantly Muslim country and I am looking forward to learning about a way of life different from that practiced in the West. Looking at our itinerary, we're going to be thrown into the thick of things right away so transition time will be minimal... making it that much more exciting. Afterward we'll be heading back to Athens for another week before heading back to the USA. So that's my life for the next couple weeks. If I have light posting this week, blame the work I have due, but I hope to squeeze in a couple more entries based on Athens and out preparations for Turkey. In any event, I promise to give you a detailed account of wherever I go as always and will try and post when I can while in Turkey. http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/03/what_lies_ahead.html http://forum.connpost.com/ctyankee/2008/03/what_lies_ahead.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:59:07 +0000