Seth Tichenor ‘10

We arrived in Crete at 6 this morning after a night crossing the Aegean.  Upon arrival in Heraklion, we were both hungry and wet.  Unfortunately, nothing is open at 6.  If I’ve learned anything in the three days that I’ve spent following Dr. L. Day, it’s to follow her when you want a fantastic meal.  After weaving in and out of alleyways and small streets for ten minutes, we arrived at a little courtyard shop.  The dish we ate for breakfast, which unfortunately I cannot spell, was a type of cream of wheat covered in a light breading loaded with cinnamon and sugar.  It was phenomenal.  Soon afterwards, we proceeded to Knossos and then Mallia.  While we visited both the “palaces” of both in the morning, my greatest impressions are not of them but of something else. 

If I had to pick the one thing that most impresses me it would be the people.   The people of both Crete and Greece, not the tourists, are some of the most genuine hearted people I have ever come in contact with.  Interestingly, they do not treat everyone like this.  From my experience, though very limited, I have found that if you sincerely try to immerse yourself into their culture, they are very accepting.  I find this intriguing.  There is a street market down the road from our hotel.  After our morning visits to the “Palace” of Knossos and Mallia, most of our exhausted group went to take naps.  I have never been the napping sort.  I found myself walking around a street market just a short walk from our hotel.  I will be the first to tell you that my Modern Greek language skills are lacking.  However, this has not deterred me from trying my best with the language.  The Modern Greek word for “Good Morning” is “kalemera” and “Thank You” is “Apheristo” pronounced “F. Harry Stowe.”  Even using simple words like these when interacting with the Greek people shows goodwill towards them.  In doing so I have found only goodwill returned to me. 

When I bought a small pot this afternoon the shopkeeper lowered the price by half because I spoke as much Greek as I could.  He said he was even impressed.  He said foreigners usually don’t do this.  This intrigues me.  The Greek people are a great people if you take the time to get to know them.  Tomorrow we journey across the island southwards to the “Palace” of Phaistos near the south coast.  The views on the coast in Heraklion are fantastic even breathtaking at times.  As we travel through the hinterlands, I can only