Alec's Greece Trip Photos Days 9-11

Monday the 22nd they visited an olive oil making plant

A dairy facility-- he asked how they keep the dairy in the pipes from going bad and they explained that they have an air lock vacuum suction system in place so that as soon as they are done filling up what they are working with the excess is sucked back out of the pipes immediately. 

The diary gifted them with this case of custard/pudding type desserts in a variety of flavors. This was another thing Alec struggled with all week... it's considered rude to turn down "hospitality" and free gifts and things but yet he feels strongly that it's also rude to waste their hard made food and products-- many time he was offered things he really did not want but felt obligated to take and of course said thank you. But then he often felt guilty knowing it was most likely going to waste. There was no way that these students could have possible eaten every last bite of this whole case. But many tried saving them in their hotel rooms and whatnot but just could not eat them all as they were often gone all day and had big huge portions of food at night usually followed by gelato and then moved hotels frequently. Alec did try one or two flavors of the custard right after it was given to them and said it was pretty good. 

Another historical site-- that I forgot the significance of. 

 

Pretty sure this was a Roman amphitheater for plays, oration, and things like that

 Countryside photos taken from the bus. 

June 23rd they checked out this neat mountaintop settlement. I was told they used a pulley system to get bricks to the top of the spires. This area is called Meteora. And these are monasteries on the spires.

he's not in this group photo or the next one... but everyone was required to have their knees and shoulders covered

courtyard of the Monastery they visited

Another winery they visited. He loved the pretty painted bottles so much.  

They took a wrong turn and with nowhere to turn around their hour or so trip turned into more than 3. The students were getting pretty vocal about needing food so they pulled over in this town and their guide got off the bus told 1/2 the students to stay with one of the chef's at the first food place he walked into then took the rest down the streets and got them food too. Alec said it was the best food of the trip (not that he got a photo of it) and they were all impressed that this woman set to work making 10-12 sandwiches with very little heads up in a remarkable amount of time. They definitely had a soft sport for this area and took a group photo near this statue in the town to remember it by.  

Wednesday they found some mouth watering desserts, toured some historic sites, and checked out a cathedral as well as the catacombs under the church. 

They went to a bakery and got some hands on experience. Some make cookies, some portioned out truffles, some made granola.. etc. 

Thursday the 25th they were headed to the isle of Rhodes-- their 3rd and final "hub." They flew from Thessaloniki into Rhodes. But first another winery! 

This one gave full size samples of wine.. I think you know what Alec thought about that! They also gave out a free bottle of wine to each of them and then they had to spend a few minutes in the airport playing around with their suitcases to get them to fit. He did not take a bottle in his suitcase as it kind of stressed him out to think what would happen if the bottle broke and his clothes were soaked. Alec did end up taking one of these empty wine bottles home to use as a vase but let his friends drink the wine first.

  

One of the girls got hurt and couldn't walk so while she got a piggy back ride into the airport Alec offered to take her giant pink suitcase. Once inside they got her a wheelchair and priority access through security and whatnot. 

 

He loved seeing all the little islands out his windows on the way into Rhodes. 

I loved seeing the beautiful color of the water! 

Others in the series:

Days 1-3

Days 4&5

Days 6-8  

Days 12-14 

Days 15-17