We are officially one week into this beautiful and once in a lifetime experience. There have been some ups and downs, including initial airport troubles as well as unfortunate and inevitable covid interruptions, but I can reassure you that the ups have severely outweighed the downs and that this group is of people are perseverant, flexible, fun, and overall, quite special. It is amazing how quick everyone gets to know each other here and how connected some people become in such a short period of time, especially considering the fact that some people have to step outside of their comfort zone and many people do not know each other before entering this trip.
With that said, I would like to highlight some of these special moments that this group has experienced together throughout this first week.
One of our first excursions was to the Souda Bay War Cemetery, where 1,500 Commonwealth servicemen are commemorated from WWI and WWII. I would without a doubt say that this was the most beautiful and well-kept cemetery I have ever seen with my own eyes. The land lays right next to the water with bushes of colorful flowers surrounding the grave site, clean-cut grass, and beautiful gravestones. It truly puts a few things into perspective and allows you to take a step back from reality and feel for these families and cities, where many unknowingly lost their loved ones.
Another memorable event was not only observing the historic landmarks in Chania such as the lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences, the Maritime Museum of Crete, and the Venetian Harbor and its importance as access to the water/sea, but it was insanely cool and interesting to take our classes as a small group one day inside the museum and in a nearby coffee shop in town. It was a nice little change of scenery, and our lessons revolved around the history behind the town and the importance in its access to the sea.
One of my favorite memories from this past week has got to be our venture to the local winery, the Manousakis Winery. Everyone got to dress up nice, bond over tasty food and drinks, and learn a little bit about the history of the winery and the key role in finding ideal land for such a business. The lights strung through the trees hanging over the walkway, the gorgeous stone building where we ate, the Manousakis house, and the stone overhead for dining made for a wonderful setting.
We still have so much to do, so much to learn, and so much to look forward to. The memories are just beginning to take shape, and the best is still yet to come. I am so excited for the next few weeks in learning new things, getting closer with my classmates, going on different ventures or excursions, and experiencing the deep culture here in Crete.
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