Thursday, June 17, 2010

Spent class in Rosemary’s adorable garden. Challenging today too. I get discouraged with class. So hot today! Hottest day yet.

Grandma’s funeral was today. I feel sad and feel bad that I missed it.

Alora and I both took naps after class. Slept close to three hours. Woke up at 5. Shortly after that, went to center of Athens and shopped with Brooke, Amelia, and Alora. I bought a really sweet dress, a ring with these greeny rock things, a ring that’s a snake, and a few gift souvenirs. I saw the dress at one store but couldn’t decide if I wanted it, so I thought I’d come back and get it if I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Well, I really wanted it, but we were pretty far away from that store. We went by a different store and they had the dress! It was Fate, so I totally bought it.

Came back to apartment and showered. Left around 8:20 and went to an open-air movie theater in the National Gardens by the Zappieon. Saw Letters to Juliet. Pretty cheesy, but it was decent. So fun to do that. Cost 8 euros for a ticket. I got a giant coke and a big piece of pizza for only 5 euros. In Greece, they don’t dub the movies, so it was in English with Greek subtitles. Interesting they don’t dub.

Got out of movie shortly before 11. Megan, Alora, Brooke, and I walked to Varnava Square ad went to this restaurant Megan frequents often. She knows the workers on a first name basis. They give her free wine. Haha. She cracks me up; she’s so funny.

Our waiter, Yannis, started us with a free shot of Raki with honey. He took one too. That shit is potent. Burns all the way down and burns for a while. Sits with you for a long time too. Me, Alora, and Megan each had a glass of white wine. Brooke a glass of beer. Brooke and I shared a cheese pie (common food, esp. appetizer). So good. At the end, he brought another round of shots. This time it was four empty glasses and a little pitcher of the Raki. I took half a shot. Alora and Brooke didn’t want theirs. Megan took 3 I think and couldn’t finish the last shot left in the pitcher. Actually, she might not have taken Brooke’s… I can’t remember. Anyhow, we walked out and she puked on the sidewalk! But then she was okay. Haha. I was definitely buzzing.

We were going to go to the beach today, but there was a strike/demonstration so all public transportation was shut down. There was a strike yesterday and the Metro was shut down. Usually strikes only last one day, so it is odd it’s been two days. Hope it changes by tomorrow or Saturday!

Wednesday June 16, 2010

Went to the National Gardens for first part of class. Sketched at the Children’s Library there. Queen Amelia built the building for her husband (I think). Now, it’s a library. Parents are not let in. Must drop the kids off at the door and wait on benches nearby. Kids love the place. Cute little building. Saw modern sculptures there. Some are displayed with ruins. Cool. Sketched at another place where there are a couple of pillars and the tops of pillar displayed or laying down. Benches also made out of slabs of ruins.

Ruins everywhere in Athens. If they dig someplace new, they find ruins. Subway is very nice and has cases of ruins and walls of ruins. Awesome.

Saw some palace guards in their get-ups. No palace now—have a president and prime minister (and parliament), but keep guards around for tradition’s sake.

Went back and learned about perception and depth. Tough. Today was discouraging. I didn’t draw anything very well.

So hot and miserable today. It hit 98 degrees.

Booked ferry tickets to and form Spetses this weekend!

Walked to Varnava Square to look for a hat. None. Did a few sketches at the apartment.

Met at 4:30 at the Athens Centre and listened to an archeologist talk about the Acropolis—then we went there! It was incredible. Absolutely unreal. Also stopped at Theatre of Dionysus on way down. Way cool too. Hopefully we’ll go see a play there.

Ate in Syntagma Square. Exhausted. Had a doner beef…like a gyro. So good! Glass of beer…starts with a M.. can’t remember the name. It was quite good.

Decided to take tram back. Got lost/stuck on it for an hour and 40 minutes. Didn’t get off at stop 2 or 3 like we should’ve so we kept riding it. It reached its end WAY across Athens. Had to switch to another tram and ride it ALL the way back. Got off at our stop and couldn’t find way home easily. Was two ours since we’d boarded tram when we got home. Kind of comical. Today was LONG.

Stayed up til 3a.m. talking with a couple people from the spring term AHA program. They leave Saturday.