The Hangover: Greek Edition

Our third weekend here at Pylos, and the good times just keep a rollin'.
Instead of a planned trip, we had the afternoon of Saturday off (after the dig and no classes) and the whole Sunday to ourselves --- WOOHOO!
I've gone out these past two Saturday nights with a small group of friends to a cafe/bar in the Plataea and let's just say that both nights have been epic, in their own little ways. What's great about the Plataea is that the cafes surrounding the middle square have their tables set up there, so that's where we've been sitting and 'chillin' the night away... Until they close shop.
It's great company; great friends with hilarious conversations... Although I think they become funnier as the evenings progress...! There are cats everywhere and there was one especially last night that I remember coming over to us and looking to see if we had anything to offer it.
We had planned last night, on checking out a club after chilling at the cafe, but we ended up staying where we were, since we had started our little party in one of our rooms beforehand and dancing to N'Sync's 'Pop' with Mas Tequila... Si Sammy Hagar!
One of my friends and I had tweaked our plans for the night at the last minute when we were at the dinner table, and so we booked it to the friendly store and bought some supplies... But then we had no little handy things to pour our friend in so we had to get some at the souvenir shop...
Plan B's? Nah, we just run (literally) in the moment.

All in all, my friend and I are the best buds ever. So many inside jokes that went way too far apparently... I've just caught up with her tonight and we've filled each other with moments that are somewhat hazy and ADIOS MIO we had an awesome second night that involved elevators and making up songs with only these words: 'Oh My God' in foreign languages while wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses... THEE MU!

When in Greece, right?  Apparently some other groups of people went all out last night, so we got away scott free, fo sho homie g.
The day after, Sunday, I pulled another Olympia --- after we had gone out last Saturday, we had to get up bright and early for jolly Olympia so that day was great and rough...This time around, a friend and I went to visit the Palace of Nestor --- which was great, but damn, I love Greece!

Adio Thee Muuuuu MIO

The Intergalactic Revolution

I'm fighting another war, this time at the site with my trench mates. We paint our faces war-like with mud and clay and all have official titles: mine is 'Grand Master of the Arts' and 'High Enforcer'. Our workman is the General, our second workman is the 'Admiral', a fellow Canadian is the 'Captain', my roommate is the 'Ambassador' and it goes on and on for everyone in my trench. 
We fight daily battles with other trenches for tents (shade) and we control the whole site, since our trench supervisor, is in charge when the director isn't there. 

It's all in good fun, it makes digging in the sun for eight hours a whole lot of fun!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me

Arr Mateys!
Get ready for this one because this one's a keeper!
Our third group trip was a boat cruise around the islands of Thickly Baba and Sfaktiria and a beach party on the Golden Beach for the rest of the day.

We rented two boats which once we were clear from the harbour, we were able to stand of its sides and enjoy the view .... Absolutely beautiful!

We briefly jump off the boats to explored Delikli Baba which is the part of Sfakteria with the gap in the middle (to the left of the picture.) It is breath-taking... 
We took pictures and jumped ship to the neighbouring island where we took more picture!
The boat ride was wonderful, the water was such a nice hue of blue and the waves! They were huge --- the boat was going up and down, up and down... The view was picturesque and it was so relaxing --- just sitting on the edge of the boat and taking it all in... I'm going to have a hard time leaving this place!

 At the beach, the hotel had arranged to bring our dinner there. It was great, eating at the beach, swimming and having a jolly ol' time! I even summed up my courage and went for a dip in the ocean! (FYI: I don't do water, unless I can see what's beneath me... And let me tell you --- the water is so nice and clear, oh my God!) Friends and I played monkey in the middle with a volleyball which turned out to be a freaking good time! 

After a day at the site, this boat cruise/beach day was a perfect way to finish another day in Pylos!

It's Not Hesus! It's ZEUS!

Our second group trip was to the ancient site of Olympia.  Many will know this one by the colossal statue it once had in the main temple in gold and ivory ... It's one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.  We had a tour guide, but my friend and I got quickly bored, so we wandered off by ourselves and made our visit extra exciting...  Other buildings at the site that we saw were the temple of Hera, the stadium, the one erected column of the temple of Zeus, byzantine structures and a truck load of rubble that was once all part of columns and roofs.  The first structure we past by really set the tone for the rest of the visit... As you can see in by this picture

At one point, we got lost in the midst of massive stones because we hadn't paid attention to the ropes that were actually blocking off the area we were in...  I guess we somehow got into that area by the back or something, I dont' know.  Anyway, it was pretty damn funny!

The stadium, what's left of it, is pretty impressive... I would have gone for a run I think... If I hadn't gone out the night before... OOPS.
The site has a museum right next to it and that's where all the magnificent statues are located. I got some good shots too... You'll just have to wait!
We walked over and on our way, there was a Greek who was offering horse buggey rides to and from the parking lot... He was cute, mmhmm!
When we were heading back to the bus after the museum visit, my friend screamed out of nowhere as we were crossing a small bridge... A FREAKING SNAKE was slithering in between the guardrails.. GROSS ME OUT.

This trip turned out to be a whole lot of fun... especially after I clued in that this temple of Zeus, is the actual temple of ZEUS, and no just some other temple dedicated to him!

And Then There Was Superman...

I always wondered if I would find a Greek boy who was cute enough for my attention span to remember him…  Well, I guess I found one worthy of a mention!

My friends and I have a few codenames for a few people here in town, just so that we keep everything straight… and to avoid any potential eavesdroppers. This one boy in particular has been dubbed ‘Superman’.  Let me explain:

After one of our days our in the field, the beach option was Voidikilia. This beach is absolutely beautiful, even if you have to walk a good 10 kms or so, because the bus cannot reach the parking lot. When you finally reach the beach, white sand surround this lagoon-type beach.  You can walk for what seems like forever in the water, until the opening in the rocks reveal the sea… amazing!

So the Greek was there with a few friends and my friend came up with his codename after he had stretched out and flexed his muscles… Sigh!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work We Go...

It was easy to settle in Pylos once I steered my attention away from Air Farce and focused on the idea that I was living in GREECE!

Here’s a look into a day in the field:

5am: wake-up

6am: hope on the bus to the site.  The bus isn’t able to bring us right at the site. We have to walk about 2 kms to the actual site.

6:30am-1:30pm: EXCAVATE!

The way it works, for those who aren’t familiar, there is one trench supervisor per trench with a small group of students who work in uncovering various finds, such as pottery, bone, architectural features, figurines, etc. This project is fortunate enough to have hired workmen, so they do the major digging and shovelling before we go in and look for finds.

We break for lunch around 11am.  For a good part of our time at the site, there has been a local that set up shop just outside of the site and sells AMAZING orange juice and sandwiches --- his name is Nestor… Greek?! Haha!

So far, I’ve found a good amount of potsherds and two kylix bases (drinking cups), as well as bone and painted plaster which would have been a part of a fresco no doubt.

1:30pm: we either walk back towards the bus or try to grab a spot in the back of one of the workmen’s pick-up truck… It surreal the things I’ve been seeing during my stay in Greece. This little bit alone is worth mentioning because I have only (sadly) seen this kind of thing in movies: a bunch of us students cram into the pick up bed and sit on the side of the back of the pick-up truck and some sit on the tail-gate, and some stay standing! It really makes you feel like you’re living in the bush, or in the old country where things are so much more simplistic.

Often after the day is over, we have the option of going to one of many beaches in the area.  I’ve been to a few different ones a couple of times, but I usually opt for going back home because I’m so tired and would rather hang out in town with my roommate and friends before class begins.  We usually end up getting a frappe at our favourite café and sit at the pier.

5:30pm: Class. This is held by various people who work for the project, on various topics: zooarchaeology, pottery experts, history, methodology and theories, etc.

There is sometimes a staff meeting that follows right after and students are welcome to attend. It’s a great way of staying in touch with every trench and new discoveries/progresses.

7:30pm: Dinner.  I’ve written about this already, but damn!  Dinner’s here are fabulous --- all home-made and delicious!

I usually go for a walk in the Plataea with friends and watch the sunset at the pier before sticking myself in front of my roommate’s computer to do stuff before finally going to bed.

It’s a packed day and damn, has it ever gone by!