GREETINGS FROM GREECE

Trip winds down with visit to site of 1st Olympics in Athens

8/14/2013

The University of Toledo’s men’s basketball team is on an 11-day trip to Greece. Justin Drummond, a junior guard, will provide daily updates of the team’s experience.

I was really surprised when I went up to the roof of our hotel for breakfast. We had a view of the Acropolis, which we were going to go see right after eating. It was neat to see the architecture involved with the structure and we learned that it took almost 40 years to build. We saw the Temple of Athena and the Parthenon which were built over 400 years B.C. It’s been amazing to see all the marble that still remains on the sidewalks in this city.

We then visited the Athens Flea Market, and it was very busy. I bought my dad a statue of Achilles because he loves the movie Troy just like I do. I got my mom a bracelet that has her name in Greek, and it was made right in front of me.

We then stopped by the stadium that was used for the first modern Olympics in 1896 and also for the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympics. It was impressive how large it was, and I was surprised how tight the turns were on the track.

Athens reminds me of New York City a little bit the way it is so condensed and the view we saw from the Acropolis was insane. We saw all of Athens and out into the Aegean Sea that surrounds the city.

We just hung out in the hotel tonight. I think we’re now ready for the trip to be over and return home.