Daily Updates
Week Seven: May 2
02 May: Randy and Rebecca Reporting: There is a disturbing trend that has begun to establish itself, which involves us getting up at even earlier hours in the morning than the first half of the trip. Today’s leaders condemn this practice as pagan and crypto-fascist and strongly move for its abolition. In today’s case, we had to catch the 7:15 ferry from Thasos back to the mainland, which was done with much enthusiasm by all (especially Chris). After our relatively uneventful ride we drove back to Kavala to visit their museum, which had a surprising amount of excellent pieces. Most people, in their attempt to appeal to the ignorant masses, picked shiny things to present to the group (gold, glass), while others went “cute” (a statue of a toddler). After a short break to buy food we jumped on our sauna-like bus and drove to Philippi, the major Roman site in the area. We wandered around the early basilicas and forum and observed the religious tourists from the limited pockets of shade, and then jumped back in our sauna on wheels to Amphipolis. This visit was marked by a wrestling match in the bathroom of the gymnasium (Evan def. Mike by pin, 3:43) and a long odyssey which involved trampling through half the wheat fields in the eastern Mediterranean basin and opening several cuts on our legs in search of the mythical “river” and its preserved wooden bridge, which we found after significant blood loss. After we climbed around on some walls, we took off again and wound up in Thessaloniki, our home for the next two nights. The evening was punctuated by furious journal writing, sunburn and scrape treatment, and sleep. Tomorrow is yet another early wakeup. Grr.
02 May: Leaders of the day,Rebecca and Randy investigate the ancient latrines.
02 May: On the boat from Thasos to Kavala.
02 May: An intriguing glass vessel from the Kavala Museum.
02 May: Melissa and Randy present an object in the Kavala Museum.
02 May: Philippi.
02 May: Philippi.
02 May: Taking notes at Philippi.
02 May: Michael and Evan become a column.
02 May: Exploring Philippi.
02 May: The well preserved latrines at Philippi.
02 May: Investigating the latrines at Philippi.
02 May: Christian Basilica at Philippi.
02 May: Ani and Liz Hiding from the Heat.
02 May: Fauna Philippi.
02 May: Sarah explores the gymnasium at Amphipolis.
02 May: Professor Christesen tries out an ancient bathtub: a little narrow.
02 May: Mike and Evan put the gym to good use by wrestling.
02 May: Evan pins Mike to the ground in an impressive display of "time".
02 May: The view from the gymnasium at Amphipolis.
02 May: Another fence to climb.
02 May: A grassy field on the way to the Strymon River.
02 May: Flora from Amphipolis.
02 May: Walking through the grassy fields.
02 May: Remains of the petrified wooden bridge that once spanned the Strymon River.
02 May: Remains of the petrified wooden bridge that once spanned the Strymon River.
02 May: Flora of Amphipolis.
02 May: Climbing offers great views all around.
02 May: The Fortification Wall at Amphipolis.
02 May: Liz peeks over the wall.
02 May: Evan gets the guys started on some ancient "vogueing".
02 May: Look Mom, no feet!
02 May: The group in front of the famous Amphipolis Lion.