It's been two and a half weeks, and while it's going by fast, it also feels like it's been a lifetime. The weather has been SO much nicer, with the sun shining and the wind dying down. I even have a decent tan (except for the minor sunburns I acquired today).
Finally shops are starting to open for the Spring, the locals are outside more, and Paros has become so much more beautiful!
Today's hike trumped all we've gone on thus far.
Not necessarily because it was prettier, as all of them have shown their unique beauty, but because of the distance and intense uphill stretches that were required.
It was a total of 8 miles and 6 hours by the time we were through conquering Agioi Pantes mountain. With our first group that wanted to do the more intense hike leaving at 9:30, and the rest of the students meeting us at the top of the mountain and walking down together.
I don't think I've ever been so sore in my life. We definitely underestimated the difficulty of climbing up...but it was a great workout and there was this surprisingly intense need to prove to myself that I could do it, so the resulting accomplished feeling was a plus.
There were a couple stops along our journey. Halfway up we stopped at our teacher Cameron's house. It was small and in a remote location, but had a cozy feeling to it and a majestic mountain that left us all completely jealous!
Also on the way back we stopped at an abandoned house. It was pretty run down but had loads of character. Couldn't help but picture restoring it...guess HGTV hasn't left me quite yet.
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| First donkey I've seen in person! They've apparently dwindled, but it was a fun surprise seeing one. |
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| Cameron's driveway and front "porch" view |
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| Inside |
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| Some of the decorative accents Cameron made, such talent! |
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| On the roof! Required a jump |
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| Cameron found these in someone's trash, and made them candle holders |
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My friend is a dork
she bought the water because of the bottle
Such a graphic designer |
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| I spy a little hobbit house? |
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| I love how this picture turned out..my friend Erin's flower decorated hair |
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| What we had climbed up so far |
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| What we had left to climb...love Abbie (Abraham's) and Hayden's faces |
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| Lunchtime, well deserved! Great picnic |
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| Time for a little harmonica |
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| Signaling the rest of the group |
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| Break time |
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| Paint chip layers on the abandoned building |
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| Erin and Allison |
The gnarly tree and the view looking upward to clouds in the "v" between hills...those are my two favorite photos. I never would have guessed the flowers in the hair...cool! Okay...it's serious schoolwork!
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