It feels good to be back in Alikianos after our long journey away from Crete. It feels like returning to a home that I have known for my whole life. The journey was long and tough, and exhaustion peaked at times during the brutal heat. But it was very much an experience that I will never forget.
We began our journey in Heraklion where we rested and recovered from the long bus ride to the port. Heraklion was a beautiful, metropolitan area with lots of shopping and great food. The overnight boat ride was full of surprises with a restaurant on board and surprisingly comfortable beds (that felt like waterbeds half way through the night). And then it was off to Athens!
We raced through the city beginning with the "Return to Sender" exhibit that showed the fast fashion waste and the effects of overconsumption. This was one of the most powerful exhibits I have seen and really spoke to me for the issues that I could help tackle. We made our way to the Acropolis (with a delicious gyro stop along the way) and passed by many shops and vendors that had caught all of our eyes. There seemed to be smoke near the top of the Acropolis so the street was busy with emergency personnel. After that walk, we divided and conquered the city of Athens and split up until we met up later for our trip to the port. Then it was a short hour trip to Euboea.
Euboea was a grand experience for all of us. Thanks to Professor Vamvakas' connection to Mr. George Danis, we were treated like royalty. He was a very kind and generous man and I could not be more thankful. We shared many long meals together and lots of laugh. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Our hotel was right near the beach which was amazing for the afternoons. We took a trip to a local vineyard where we tasted some of the BEST wine ever (it was a dessert wine but who says it has to be). For lunch we even went to a beautiful picnic-like spot overlooking the city of Karysto. On our last night, we met with the Mayor at city hall. He was very welcoming and offered many gifts. He explained the use of wind turbines and how it impacts the energy of the city. However, there was quite some confusion on the numbers that were being produced and used. After a quick 5 hour period of sleep, we all got up and began the long journey to Cyprus. From bus to boat to a delayed plane, we managed to arrive in the city of Nicosia on Friday night.
Cyprus, and Nicosia specifically, is the most interesting place I have ever been to. The division between the south and north of the city, the intersection of all these groups of people, and the blend of antiquity and modernization created a city like no other. I spent MANY hours and steps walking around the city both day and night, and really explored it on my own. The downtown area was a hub of shopping and food. We tried a fantastic Armenian place that I may had visited twice more after. The city was lively and fun, with many streets to get lost in. However, the main attraction of the city was the emphasis on division between the Greek and Turkish sides. We crossed over the gate once and saw a completely different world than the side we were living on. It truly was an eye opening experience. The barbed wire is so prominent in every direction you look. The DMZ was filled with nothing except UN troops. However, what was interesting to me was a soccer field on the Turkish side that can be used in the dead zone. There was also very obvious immigrant population, especially in the working class. In the Greek side of Nicosia alone, there was a division amongst socioeconomic classes. The migrant workers lived a much different life than those that were among the rich and wealthy. It was really fascinating to see the complexity of the city through just the people on the streets alone. This was my first contact with the "east" and seeing it for the first time really opened my eyes to how little I have seen of the world. I would love to explore more of different places that aren't the easiest to travel to, and requires more of a challenge than just a vacation spot.
These last 10 days have taught be so much about everything. I learned a lot about myself through my walking habits and how much I could eat and drink before the walking become difficult. I also learned a lot about why Cyprus, and in general the Mediterranean, is so crucial because it is such a crossroads in the global landscape. I am very appreciative for this experience because it has changed so much of my perspective already. We are back in Crete to finish up the program now; only 3 days left. I am sad to write that so I will closing my laptop now. Αντίο!
-Benjamin Paluk
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