Familiar Signs of Athens- of the Institute, the Apartment, and the Red Lion
The last three months have passed quickly, working at the Institute
and touring around Greece. As my time in Athens comes to a close, I
would like to reflect on the different ventures that I experienced.
Being accepted into the intern position at the CIG, I was extremely
excited, yet a little apprehensive. It was my first time travelling
internationally, the first time away from my family for an extended
period, lots of firsts. Arriving in Athens, it took about a week to
settle in. The hustle and bustle of the city and craziness of the
streets was both visibly and audibly evident, with mopeds and motor
cycles weaving in and out of traffic, and always someone honking their
horn! After walking from the apartment to the Institute for the first
few days, I became acquainted with the atmosphere.
Drafts of Hellenistic Architecture by Dr. Frederick Winter Sorted by Chapter
At the Institute there was lots of work to be done for the Frederick E.
Winter (FEW) Archive. The main task I was assigned included organizing
and scanning the various notes and drafts that the Institute received
from the Winter family. Organizing the items did not take long- it was
the scanning that consumed most of my time. Page by page, I slowly made
my way through the papers, keeping myself entertained by listening to
music or podcasts. Looking back on all the work that I have completed
during my time at the Institute, it is great to see the development of
the FEW Archive and how it has taken shape.
View of the Acropolis from the Areopagus
With the open hours of the Institute being from nine until one, and my
normal work hours from nine until two, afternoons were free to explore. I
often found myself going for walks to the Acropolis and back or hiking
up the Lykavitos hill. Having received a free entrance card for museums
and archaeological sites from the Institute, many afternoons were filled
with touring the local exhibits. My favourite museums that I visited
were the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, and the
Museum of Cycladic Art.
The Lion Gate at Mycenae
During the weekend when there was more time for touring, I branched out
from the city centre. I went out with the other intern and the fellow of
the Institute and explored different areas. We went to Aegina for a
beach day and floated in the sea. On the “ochi” day long weekend, we
made a trip to Kalamata and toured the countryside visiting the Palace
of Nestor. I also booked two guided tours, one went to Mycenae, Nafplio,
and Epidaurus and the other to Delphi. At the Institute, working hours
can be changed to accommodate plans during the week. So, I worked double
hours one week, and took the next week off to visit with my parents and
relatives in the Netherlands. Needless to say, my time in Greece has
been full of travel and seeing new things.
Enjoying the Ambience of a Local Restaurant
One of the best things that goes hand in hand with travelling is the
exposure to different food. I have grown to like the family style that
most Greek restaurants serve their food in. Some of the best memories
here were made in secluded Greek tavernas, enjoying the authentic music
and food, just taking everything in. The foods that I thoroughly enjoyed
were gyros, paidakia, dolmades, meatballs, and potatoes with tzatziki.
Not only was the prepared food delicious, but also the fresh products
that were for sale in the street markets. In particular, I appreciated
the fresh olive oil, fruits, and vegetables that were grown by the
locals.
Darts Night at the Red Lion
Working at the Institute, I became connected with the greater
community of archaeologists in Athens. The main way that the different
archaeological schools associate is through events. In particular, the
Tuesday darts night linked a group of us mostly from the American,
British, and Canadian schools. It was nice to meet students working in
the field of classics and archaeology in a relaxed atmosphere and
interesting to hear about research that they were conducting. Pairing
this with some friendly competition in a game of darts, the evenings
were enjoyable and great memories were made.
The opportunity to live in Athens and work at the Canadian Institute
has been full of new experiences and lasting memories. I am thankful to
have been welcomed into this community and for the work that I was able
to accomplish during my three months here. Thank you for having me!
Aaron Westrik
University of Waterloo intern, autumn-winter 2022
