By Denise McGuigan, Contributor
April 7, 2010
After spending slightly less than a week in what can only be described as paradise (also known as Sorrento), we were on the road again.
This time it was to Urbino, a walled-city in Italy mainly known for being the home of the Italian artist, Raphael, who painted the famous work “School of Athens.”
Urbino was not as exciting as I’d hoped it’d be: the skies were cloudy and, to our dismay, the internet connection was down. While this normally would not matter, the internet was a necessity for studying since it is that glamorous time of year: midterm week! After scouring the entire city of Urbino for even the smallest pocket of wi-fi, we enjoyed some fabulous sights while preparing for our exams the old-fashioned way, reading books!
And while Urbino did not offer much in terms of entertainment or technology, it was an excellent environment for holding class. Our Politics class primarily focused on the development of the European Union. We learned why and how the organization was developed, which countries joined the Union and when, and the core policies of the European Union.
Prior to the trip, I knew little about the European Union, only hearing about the organization in minor detail. After some intensive classes and discussing the organization with passing Europeans, I find the Union, overall, to be a positive institution.
The European Union is a political, as well as economic, union of 27 member-states. All of the countries we are visiting on this trip are part of the European Union (a fact which will later be used in our final project). The Union was started in 1951 with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in order to unite Western Europe during the Cold War.
The ECSC was composed of six member-states including France, the Federal Republic of Germany (since the Berlin Wall had not yet fallen), the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Italy. As the years progressed, so did the number of member-states, and after several years, the EMU (the European Monetary Union) was established, thus creating the euro.
As of today, the majority of member-states have changed to the euro as their currency and the number is constantly increasing. Additionally, more and more countries are applying for membership to the European Union, primarily so their economies can be aided by the other member-states.
Needless to say, I have learned a great deal about the European Union, that these countries have become nearly reliant on one another, utilizing empathy in order to better the other’s condition.
After the European Union class, we took our Ancient and Medieval Life and Thought midterm and were on the road again, this time to Nafpaktos, Greece.
Unfortunately, in order to get to this beautiful area, we had to take a 24-hour ferry boat ride. This was disheartening to someone like me who is prone to seasickness.
However, I got through it, and was in much better spirits as soon as I stepped onto the shores of Greece. Nafpaktos is a town located near Patras on an incredibly scenic coast lining a bay. Ancient fortifications are visible along the coast, allowing an incredible view as we eat our meals, or when we sit on the balconies outside our hotel rooms.
We visited the incredible Castle of Nafpaktos, offering us an incredible view of the entire city as well as the rustic port along its coast.
Unfortunately, afterwards, it was back to the books followed by our third midterm. As for now, I am going to rest for a bit, and study for our fourth and final midterm that will take place tomorrow morning. Afterwards, I plan on taking a deep breath, relaxing, and taking in the beautiful sights ancient Olympia has to offer.
April 14, 2010
As midterm week came to a close, what better place to celebrate than in the city that embodies triumph – Olympia, Greece. As you may know, Olympia was the host of the Olympic Games. The Games date back to before 776 BC and were held every four years (known as an Olympiad) in honor of Zeus until their abolishment in 394 AD by emperor Theodosius I.
Standing on the grounds where these ancient games were once held was an incredible experience, and surprisingly, the museum was just as fascinating. The museum held many artifacts, ancient statues, and informative exhibits regarding the temples that at one time dominated its grounds.
Some of the most notable statues included Hermes holding the infant Dionysus and the Nike of Paeonius. However, my favorite exhibit involved the Temple of Zeus, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the God of Thunder that was built during the tenth and ninth centuries BCE. The exhibit holds the reconstructed pediments that once embodied the east and west sides of the temple.
The east pediment depicted the myth of the chariot race between Pelops and Oenomaus, though only fifteen figures have been recovered. The west pediment depicted the Centauromachy, the fight at the wedding of Peirithoos between the Lapiths and the centaurs after they violated Xenia. Though much of the pediments have obviously not been completely recovered, the continuous statues were still moving.
The Temple of Zeus also held one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. This statue, made by the Greek sculptor, Phidias, was built circa 432 BC, and stood 39 feet tall. Unfortunately, the statue no longer exists since its demise after its transportation to Constantinople in 475 AD. We know of its appearance and history due to a detailed account recorded by the traveler Pausanias in the second century AD.
Though much of the grounds are now in ruin, the museum provided us with illustrations of how the area once appeared, making it easier to envision the beauty that once was.
After Olympia, we made our way to the city many of us were anxiously awaiting – Athens. Though Athens will always be an epic city to visit due to its thriving culture and longstanding history, we were forced to take certain safety precautions due to the current economic crisis affecting its citizens.
Greece is facing every nations greatest fear – potential bankruptcy. The affect of this crisis was transparent as we walked through the streets. The people have become more and more desperate, causing increased levels of crime as well as rising levels of anxiety. One of the biggest questions facing the Greeks is: will the European Union bail them out in order to lessen economic tensions and avoid bankruptcy?
Fortunately, it would seem the answer is yes. Even so, the struggle is still thriving and some say the crisis has only just begun.
Though devastation throughout the city was prominent, so was the culture. Athenians crowded the streets, as did the thriving tourist industry as we walked through street fairs to the acropolis.
The acropolis was everything I had always imagined it to be. It was even better during dusk as some of us gathered on a large boulder facing the landmark in order to enjoy the sunset.
Following Athens, we arrived at what would soon become many of our favorite destinations – Meteora. This city, located near Kalambaka, is known for housing six monasteries resting atop large natural sandstone rock pillars. Pictures, let alone words, cannot begin to describe the immeasurable amounts of beauty we witnessed after hiking up to the mountaintop and viewing the heavens below.
It was amazing to me because I had never gone hiking before, let alone trekking through a place that many had compared to that of “Avatar.”
The following morning, we were able to visit the local radio station to meet with a local journalist who had apparently predicted the current economic crisis. Professor Longmire, a fellow student and I were allotted some time in the studio to broadcast some of our traveling experiences, as well as our feelings regarding Meteora.
One thing was for certain: we could all agree that if we had a chance, we would surely return to this magical place once again.

The European Union consists of 27 member-states and was started in 1951. (Photo source Creative Commons)