My Crash Course in Rome and A Few Days in Greece

Before I begin, I can safely say that the rainy season in Siena has FINALLY ended and we have seen the most beautiful days of the semester this past weekend. It took forever, but Siena is finally feeling like Spring. After spending most of the weekend lying out either in the Fortezza or Piazza del Campo, and walking around enjoying the sunshine I feel completely ready to start a new week.

Spring Break was both wonderful and exhausting. If you plan to spend only a short time in Rome, I can now assure you that you can see (almost) all of the “important” things in one day. With the sole intention of seeing the Sistine Chapel we decided to spend an afternoon in Rome before we departed for Greece, but when the bus arrived late and the Chapel was closed, we had to find alternatives. As the only one in our group having never been to Rome before, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to see the most, so we then decided to do it all. The Colosseo, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and even my first spaghetti carbonara. If you have 6 hours in Rome (or even less) you can accomplish everything with sufficient time for photos and souvenir shopping in between! Also, the metro system in Rome is super-efficient (very New York-esque) and it is so easy to get around.

After making our way to the airport we were off to Athens. The short flights around Europe are great for quick naps during travel. After arriving in Athens and unpacking at our hostel we decided to have our first authentic Greek meal and from the restaurant there was even a nice view of the Acropolis!

We also only had one full day in Athens, so after waking up early we started our journey. We did the entire city in a day starting at an archeological museum and working our way around the Acropolis, the Parthenon, their museums, the Temple of Zeus, the Olympic Stadium, and a few markets. Of course there were stops for delicious Greek food (gyros, Greek salads, and tons of tzatziki sauce) along the way as well as “freddoccinos” which are delicious iced cappuccinos that are incredibly popular in Greece.

Mykonos was next, and after a short 30 minute flight over to the island we were greeted by the owner of our hotel who drove us back and also gave us a map of the island. If you’re ever over that way I completely recommend Aeolos hotel. The staff is wonderful and their recommendations of sights and food were perfect. Mykonos is the kind of place you can relax, shop, and just see beautiful things. The windmills, pelicans, and Paradise Beach were our main stops along with the shops where they have handmade clothing, jewelry, and sandals! The weather in Greece was beautiful - 70 degrees and sunny the entire time! And also the people we encountered the entire time were so hospitable and welcoming. It was truly the perfect place to end a wonderful vacation.

After an intense day of travel home, we arrived back in Siena after midnight on Sunday completely exhausted.  It’s funny because now when we arrive back we feel like we’re “home” as opposed to simply back in Siena, and there is no better feeling than coming home after a busy break away.

Madison Bedford, University of Virginia

CET Siena Student Correspondent