Today was a pretty chill day again. We didn't have to check out of the hotel until 11:30, so we all got to sleep in and relax before our trip to the winery. Yes I said winery. I had never been to one before and it was a pretty cool experience. I hate wine. We have it with every meal, and sometimes I manage to choke down a glass or two but most of the time I don't even finish half of it. They say it is an acquired taste and I really am trying but it still tastes nasty. Anyways, the winery we went to was Lafkiotis and was set right on a hill overlooking the valleys and villages below. The view from inside the restaurant portion of the winery was spectacular! After we got our seats, the cutest older gentleman came over and introduced himself as Basil. He was born and raised in Greece, but moved to the US to get a college education at 19. He is now a professor of international business in Minnesota and also runs his own business that brings Greek wines to other international markets. Lafkiotis is one of the wineries that he promotes and he visits there about 3 times a year (sometimes bringing students with him) to check up on business and such. He explained that while Lafkiotis is a smaller winery, he does business with them because of the quality of their wine and the quality of the people behind it. He was a very passionate man and you could tell he loved his home country. He even carried the Olympic torch before the 1960 games in Rome, and then him and his son carried it before the games in 1994. So cool! When he started talking about his son, he got teary-eyed talking about how he had passed away 15 years ago from meningitis and that his passing had brought him even closer to his home country. I don't really cry, but he had me bawling talking about how he wished we could be more united as a world. He explained that until you have traveled abroad, you have never really experienced any other cultures in-depth and how can you judge another culture till you have experienced it? He mentioned the economic crisis that the Greek government is facing and how the world is so scared of the Greeks right now, but that if we were all more worldly and not as judgmental we would all be able to understand and relate to the people more. I personally know people that are afraid of anything un-American because they think other countries aren't as sophisticated, or as good as the US. That's bull. The country we are born in gives us NO predetermined right to consider ourselves better than anyone else. Period. Anyways, I will get off my soapbox now. We tried 4 different wines at lunch. Still don't like it. The meal was delicious though and afterwards we got to see where they keep their wine in barrels to age. From what everyone else tells me, the wine there was delicious, but Greek wine is not common in the US. So if you like wine, the next time you go to a restaurant or liquor store, request it. After the winery we drove to Sparta. And no I don't mean those nasty Sparta Trojans that we used to play sports against in high school (bahahaha just kidding!). For those that have seen the movie 300, yes this is THAT Sparta. After we got here, Steph, Kelsi, Lauren, and I had to Youtube the "This is Spartaaaaaaa!!!!!" clip from that movie just for the occasion. Oh how I love Gerard Butler and all his abs. When we got to Sparta we went to an olive museum (yes, it was just as fun as it sounds) and then back to hotel to relax and then dinner. We spent our afternoon watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (in English!) and lounging around. I got to talk to Kristen for the SECOND time in two days. Totally made my day! And I got to talk to talk to mom, dad, and Chris yesterday as well....missing you guys!
By the way, Greece is currently experiencing a heat wave. Our air conditioning in Steph and I's room isn't working and I am dying of heat stroke. Upper 90s till Wednesday. Pray for me.
One last thing. It is pretty cool to be in Europe while Euro 2012 is going on. If you don't know what that is you must be living under a rock; go look it up! The bars and restaurants are crazy right now with soccer fans watching the games, and the atmosphere is great. The soccer players aren't half bad to look at either. Soccer just might be my new sport (not to play of course, my feet don't work like that!).
Basil and Barnes discussing business I assume.
Gerard Butler is such a better looking King Leonidus than this guy.
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