Daily Updates
Week Two: April 1
1 April: Kari and Mike Reporting: After the well-deserved day off, our activities started early with a 7am wake up call from Kari and Michael “Flashmaster” Martinez. We caught the bus at 8am to Acharnes where a very helpful bus driver drove around in circles to ensure that when we exited the bus we wouldn’t have to cross the street to our destination. We had a lengthy walk up to Anemospilia, Caves of the Wind in Greek (a fitting title). The site was destroyed by an earthquake and killed 4 Minoans in the act of a human sacrifice. Sarah Murray, Chris, and Michael performed a moving reenactment of the final moments of those great Minoans.Before heading to Knossos the Professor, Sarah, Chris, and Michael ran up the very steep side of a mountain to visit the Peak Sanctuary at Iuktas. They ran like agrimia (sacred wild goats) up the mountain in record time (45 minutes) and Sarah and Michael reached the top- rewarded with a beautiful view. The rest of the group stayed at sea level and ate Mentos or took pictures. After lunch at noon we headed to Sir Arthur Evans’ masterful reconstruction of the Minoan palace at Knossos, a massive structure dating to around 1500 BCE. A light rain threatened to dampen the group’s spirits, but backstage passes from a helpful guard improved the mood (as we entered a roofed part of the palace). Ani gave her lecture on Evans’ reconstruction and the grand staircase- bravo to her. At 4:30, we were all wet and had had enough. We took the bus back to Herakleion to warm up and get ready for a rousing discussion about and quiz on the Iliad.
1 April: Our Leaders
1 April: On the Bus to Archanes
1 April: Walking Up to Anemospilia
1 April: Re-Enactment of Minoan Human Sacrificial Rite. Chris Heard It was a Barbecue.
1 April: Walking Down from Anemospilia
1 April: Evan Arrives at Knossos
1 April: Anais Ponders as Prof. Christesen Gets Us into Knossos
1 April: Ani at Her New Home Away From Home: Knossos
1 April: Sarah at Knossos
1 April: The Group Braves the Rain in the Theatral Area at Knossos
1 April: The South Propylaeum at Knossos
1 April: In the Central Court at Knossos
1 April: The Grand Staircase at Knossos
1 April: A Light Well in the Domestic Quarters at Knossos
1 April: Sarah Ponders the Light Well
1 April: Ascending the Grand Staircase at Knossos
1 April: Examining the Drainage Channel in the East Bastion at Knossos
1 April: The West Court at Knossos
1 April: The West court at Knossos
1 April: Our Iuktas Adventurers: Chris, Sarah, and Mike, with Mt. Iuktas in the Background
1 April: Ani Lectures on the Piano Nobile at Knossos
1 April: One of the Results of Mike's Extreme Close-Up Phase