August 28 2009 Travel Series
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The Minaret | August 28, 2009 10 Travel Series N owhere in the United States can you walk down to the movie theater or grocery store and pass a 900-year-old Greek Orthodox Church or look down a street in a big city and see a real live archeological site. This was a daily experience in Athens, Greece. I studied abroad with the Jour- ney to Greece Program spon- sored by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive As- sociation (AHEPA). Our classes were offered by the University of Indianapolis Athens Campus right in the heart of the old city, Plaka. For the first two and a half weeks we took classes. In my EU and Greek Foreign Policy class we discussed multiple is- sues that aren’t even discussed in our media. For example, while we were there the Turkish Airforce was flying planes over Greek islands. This is a major issue and a conflict whether big or small could escalate very quickly. After the time spent in classes we traveled through Greece stopping at various places before arriving in Istanbul, Turkey. Our main goal there was to meet the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. He is the head of the Orthodox Church around the world. The Orthodox Church in Turkey is under serious pressure from the government. Over 6,000 properties have been stolen from the church and we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage that was one of these properties. Located on Büyükada, one of the Prince Islands off the coast of Istanbul, it is the largest wooden structure in Europe. It is in complete disarray and falling apart. Visiting the orphanage was one of the most heart-wrenching experi- ences I had. Exploring the various of issues in Greece and Turkey, and seeing them hands on was experience I will never forget. J ourney to Greece A small chapel right off the ferry dock on the Greek Island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf. The island is famous for their pistachios. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey was once a great church and then a mosque but now is only a museum. The sunset at Sounio. The Temple of Poseidon at Sounio. A picturesque street on the Island of Aegina Photos and story by Charlie Hambos
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August 28 2009 Travel Series
Transcript of August 28 2009 Travel Series
The Minaret | August 28, 2009 10 Travel Series
Nowhere in the United States can you walk down to the
movie theater or grocery store and pass a 900-year-old Greek Orthodox Church or look down a street in a big city and see a real live archeological site. This was a daily experience in Athens, Greece.
I studied abroad with the Jour-ney to Greece Program spon-sored by the American Hellenic Educational Progressive As-sociation (AHEPA). Our classes were offered by the University of Indianapolis Athens Campus
right in the heart of the old city, Plaka.
For the first two and a half weeks we took classes. In my EU and Greek Foreign Policy class we discussed multiple is-sues that aren’t even discussed in our media. For example, while we were there the Turkish Airforce was flying planes over Greek islands. This is a major issue and a conflict whether big or small could escalate very quickly.
After the time spent in classes
we traveled through Greece stopping at various places before arriving in Istanbul, Turkey.
Our main goal there was to meet the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. He is the head of the Orthodox Church around the world. The Orthodox Church in Turkey is under serious pressure from the government.
Over 6,000 properties have been stolen from the church and we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage that was one
of these properties. Located on Büyükada, one of the Prince Islands off the coast of Istanbul, it is the largest wooden structure in Europe. It is in complete disarray and falling apart.
Visiting the orphanage was one of the most heart-wrenching experi-ences I had. Exploring the various of issues in Greece and Turkey, and seeing them hands on was experience I will never forget.
Journey to Greece
A small chapel right off the ferry dock on the Greek Island of Aegina in the
Saronic Gulf. The island is famous for their pistachios.
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey
was once a great church and then a mosque but now is
only a museum.
The sunset at Sounio.
The Temple of Poseidon at
Sounio.
A picturesque street on the Island of Aegina
Photos and story by Charlie Hambos
The Minaret | August 28, 2009 The Minaret | August 28, 2009 Travel Series 11
Summer 2009
One of the many churches on the Greek Island of Aegina. Besides this one, Aegina boasts the larg-
est church in Greece.
St. Stefanos Monastery in Meteora, Greece which was converted to a nun-nery and has been since 1961. Meteora is home to some of the most important monasteries in Greece. They all sit on massive rocks, some are even seclud-ed from any direct land access.
Mt. Likavitos in Athens, Greece.
The Island of Büyükada offtthe coast of Istanbul, Turkley
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