one parent smarter than me...and wow talkative daughter...thanks Deb!

Wednesday 6-16-2010 Update
Late Night in Delphi:
All went to an EF Tours exclusive (more than just their tour, any EF tour that was in Delphi) Dance Party at a basement level club . The 10 Euros paid for admission and a beverage (soda). Loud music, was hot, lots of dancing fun, ending at 12:30. (note the extra sleeping opportunities below)
 
 
 
Thursday 6-17-2010
Delphi
Everyone is healthy (some a little sunburned).
 
Breakfast at the Delphi Hotel:
Bread with choices of jellies or honey, ham, feta and other cheeses, orange juice & coffee
 
In the morning they saw the Ruins in Delphi. Lots to see. Only the ruins that they had 80% of the parts were reconstructed, the rest were foundations. Saw the Temple to Apollo (the Oracle location), where only columns remain. Visited the museum where they housed the recovered statutes protected for safe keeping.
 
(Rebecca has taken a total of over 1,400 photos, many architectural for college, with her Arch. Engineering major.)
 
Delphi to Athens
3 hour bus ride (lots slept) to Athens. Had the official rest stop (driving a max of 2 hours/without a stop) and one other short stop for photos from a cliff (several slept through that minor stop).
 
Lunch was all together, and they ordering off the menu. They bought a variety of items and shared to taste test. Rebecca picked an eggplant mouska. In the near by village got an opportunity to shop (t-shirts).
 
Athens
Athens seems "crowded, crazy and dirty" compared with their other locations.
Rebecca, Libby, and Courtney are rooming together.  The Hotel has GREAT A/C, though the toilet seat in their room is not attached. One room key for all 3 girls.
 
There was 2 hours of free time in between arriving and dinner. Some went to the beach, some hung out, others (like Rebecca) took a nap. There was no shopping near by.
 
Dinner was at the hotel: salad, chicken, and rice. "All are adjusting to salads without Ranch dressing." The oil and vinegar are served in the separate containers.
After dinner they walked around and went to a cake & ice cream shop. (Pistachio for Rebecca)
 
 
Friday 6-18-2010 (tomorrow)
6:15 wake up. Bus to Port, cruise to Mikonos
They are headed on the cruise earlier than expected, and will see Athens after the cruise instead of before. Right now there is a heat wave in Athens, that should be better by the time they return.
 
They chose 3 excursions for the cruise. 2 will be on the same day (don't know the itinerary) leaving the other day to simply visit Crete without a guided tour.
1. visit the Ancient city of Ephesus (turned out to not be included in the package, cost was 60 Euros)
2. white buildings/blue roofs trip
3. a non EF tour , though set up by their EF tour guide Rachel, to include the 50 people in their group along with another EF Tour of 25 people. They will go for a boat ride and be able to dive off that boat into the water at a site.
 
Greek Night with the blue/white clothing will be saved for the last night after they get back from the cruise.
 
 
Misc. Shopping info:
Libby bought paintings the size of a piece of paper in both Florence and at the Vatican.
Michael bought a Greek pottery vase.
Rebecca bought a glass "Evil Eye" pendant. (Glass on a string) originally thought to ward off evil.
Back in Italy they all visited a wood working business where they did inlaying work and made furniture. Rebecca bought a wooden travel sized chess set.
 
Tip of the day:
Extra long phone call possible by calling the hotel directly and then forwarded to their #205 room phone. Call was FREE by using an I-touch with our home wireless internet. We had Rebecca text us when it was at the end-of-the-day open time period, and she gave us the room number.