Local people travel to history-rich Greece

By Ken Johnston
Editor

While the world has seen Greece as a country of economic turmoil of late, 11 people from the Rainy River area travelled there over March break to see its wealth of history.
Rainy River High School Vice-principal Dan Mack began coordinating efforts about three years ago to take a group of students and parents to Greece. “Three years ago we went to Italy. After the trip one of the parents (Marilyn Hansen) said she would love to travel one more time with her daughter (Courtney) before she graduates. So we began looking at Greece,” said Mack.
The trip was not organized by a club or any particular class at Rainy River High School. “Anyone could go,” said Mack. They did do some fund-raising but in the end it cost each person $3,000.
The flew out of Winnipeg on March 8th on a 22 hour journey. “We were wiped by the time we arrived there, but they know how we are going to be when we get there and kept us busy until bed time,” explained Mack.
Myan Miller and Courtney Hansen, who both went on the trip, said, “We slept so good the first night!”
They were taken on a guided walking tour of Athens and saw the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Even though they were exhausted, Miller says she still remembers it.
On Day 3, they toured the modern Olympic Stadium from the 2004 summer games. It was interesting but both Miller and Hansen said the visit to the historic site of Olympia, where games were held centuries ago, was even more exciting. “We got to run a race there. It was so cool to run where athletes ran so long ago and to be able say we did it too,” said Miller. She ended up finishing in fourth place, just out of the medals, but was pleased with her finish.
They also visited the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike and the Acropolis Museum on Day 3. Mack said that every historic site had its own museum. “Each site had artifacts unique to its specific site. We did learn that there are many more Grecian artifacts outside Greece than there are in it; due to pilfering over the centuries.”
The fourth day was set aside for a boat cruise on the Saronic Gulf. However, it was cut short due to weather. They did visit two islands instead of three.
Both Hansen and Miller agreed that Day 5 was by far their favourite day. “It just got better and better as the day progressed!” said Miller.
Miller said the local guides were so enthusiastic. “They made you feel like you were living the history.” They visited Delphi that day where they toured the Temple of Apollo and the Delphi Museum and later continued onto Patras.
On Day 6, they visited Olympia (as mentioned above) they continued to Argolida.
Hansen, who travelled to Italy three years ago, said that Greece was much more interesting. “While there was a lot of history and churches in Italy, the history in Greece is everywhere. The mythology is very fascinating.”
Day 7 brought them to Epidaurus, Mycenae and back to Athens.
The final day in Greece was spent at Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. “That was so cool with water all around the temple,” said Miller.
All three said the food was not as different as they thought it might be. “There was a lot of lamb,” said Hansen.
Mack said that for him with no history background, he was overwhelmed with what he saw. “I definitely have a greater interest in it. I was also shocked at the amount of massive construction that was done in ancient times without equipment.”
Both Hansen and Miller said they would do the trip again. Miller said, “It was way better than I thought it would be! I loved all the statues and the detailed work on them.”
“I didn’t realize how many temples and how much history we would see. I was amazed!” said Hansen.
Also travelling with the group was Barb Miller, Marilyn Hansen, Elaine Mack, Kathryn Williams, Martin Williams, Max Williams, Anagen Wood and Renee Big George.