My Big Fat Greek Spring Break

On Friday, something very special is happening to me.

No. Sex and the City 2 is not coming out, that's not until May.

No. John Krasinski has not decided to leave Emily Blunt after meeting me on the streets of London.

No, Manolo Blahnik is not having a 90% off sale exclusively on size 9 strappy sandals.

No. It is much bigger.

I am returning to my homeland.

Yes. On Friday, March 26 at 10 pm, I, Aliki Elene Tripolitis will land in Athens. I have been preparing for this moment since birth.

I have read Edith Hamilton's Mythology not once, but twice.

I got an 105% in Mythology 1010 at university.

I have the soundtrack to Disney's Hercules memorized.

I understand natural and synthetic sponges better than any 20 year old girl should.

And I've probably eaten about 1000 Greek desserts in my lifetime.

Yes. I am ready.

You see, being Greek has always been a source of pride for me. Sure, no one can pronounce my last name and currently Greece is in economic turmoil and will possibly get kicked out of the EU (which, by the way, you're welcome American dollar) but my life really is better because I'm Greek.

For example, I always tan faster than anyone else because of my olive skin, which also keeps me from burning.

Because the sponge business has been passed down through Greek families through the generations, we often went to conventions in Orlando, which meant trips to Disney World.

I can claim John Stamos, Jennifer Aniston, and Alan from The Hangover as my people.

In the words of Gus from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, "When my people we're writing philosophy,. your people were still swinging from trees."

So, to say I am excited is an understatement. I have been faithfully practicing my Greek, and can now speak with the proficiency of, oh let's say, a toddler. Which, I think will cause absolutely no problems.

Besides Athens and Mykonos, we are also traveling to Italy, where we will see Rome and Florence. Between the food and the history of all the places I am going to, I plan on being an extremely happy camper for the next nine days. I would say its going to be a combination of a Mary Kate and Ashley movie, Roman Holiday, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Hangover.

Oh, and if I do get sunburnt? Don't worry, I'll just put some Windex on it!

Opa!

Allison

Madrid, Claro que si!

Sitting on the plane headed for Madrid, I tried to remember everything I could about Spanish History.

~Despite its fame as a Catholic nation, originally Muslims settled the city.
~Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon's marriage brought together their two kingdoms, which was beginning of the unification of Spain.
~The same couple funded Columbus and sent him off to the new world
~Their daughter, Catherine, was Henry VIII's first wife who, when she wouldn't grant him a divorce to marry Anne Boleyn, became one of the main contributors to the creation of the Anglican Church.
~They had a dictator named Franco.
~There was that Inquisition. (See Mel Brooks "History of the World Part 1" for more on that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5McSEU48Y8)


Obviously I had some learning to do. And what better way to learn than sight seeing!

We first met up with three friends from Pamplona in Madrid, Kaylee, Jackie, and Briehn. After dealing with some problems with our hotel situation, we set off to the Reina Sofia. Our guide book said that you enter the museum by high tech elevators. These elevators are apparently so high tech that they are near impossible to discover, and soon we decided to go eat dinner and abandon el museo.

After dinner and Emily's first flan experience (she didn't like it) we went searching for a tapas bar that Kaylee had found in her guide book. This once again proved too difficult for us, and while we did eventually find the bar, it was closed. So far, we were failing miserably.

The next day, however, treated us much better. The sun was out, and Emily and I couldn't help but frolic a bit after five dark rainy weeks in London. After a delicious breakfast of churros and freshly squeezed orange juice, we toured the Palacio Real, where I was excited to see a real Stradivarius violin, having read about them in a Boxcar Children Mystery. By the time we finished touring we were hungry again. We began walking to the Plaza Mayor, only to be sidetracked by the greatest word in the human language.

Queso.

Yes. We were in Spain and practically got hit by cars racing across the street to a restaurant that was promising, "100% Comida Mexicana." London is a lot of things, but not a Mecca of Mexican food. Add in two Texans and a Californian and you have five hungry girls, two mango daiquiris, a margarita, a pinacolada, and enough nachos to feed a small country.

After gorging ourselves, we decided it was time to leave Mexico and head back to Spain.

Our next stop was by far my favorite place in Madrid, The Plaza Mayor. Originally the sight of the Spanish Inquisition, the plaza now hosts a plethora of cafe's, shops, and street performers galore, including a real life mariachi band. The pure energy buzzing around the square made it impossible not to feel happy.

The rest of the day consisted of a trip to the Plaza de Espana, which featured statues of Don Quixote, Sancho, and Cervantes, a trip to an Egyptian Temple, and of course, shopping. After our busy day, we were more than ready to take part in my favorito part of Spanish culture, the siesta.

Of course, we couldn't go to Madrid without experiencing the nightlife, so at midnight we headed to El Kapital, a seven story nightclub with a line stretched around the building. From the karaoke floor to the bar that had sofa beds (see Sex and the City Season 6 Part 1 Episode 7), I have never seen anything of its magnitude.

The next day, exhausted from our clubbing the night before, we headed out to see Spain's museums for two reasons: 1. They have extraordinary pieces of art, and 2. The rain in Spain decided to leave the plane for the day.

We visited both the Thyssen Bornemisza and The Prado, both of which featured exemplary collections including works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, and my fellow Kappa Delta, Georgia O'Keefe. In between our cultural experiences, I had my first tapa, which I enjoyed immensely. Our day concluded with a trip to the Real Madrid Stadium to soak up the pregame scene, and then back to the hotel to partake in a traditional Spanish meal: pizza. Guess my excitement for Italy next week had an effect on my food choices. Until then,

Hasta Luego!

J'adore Paris!

Growing up Beauty and the Beast was my favorite movie. I would walk around the house in a blue dress, chiming, "Bonjour!" "Bonjour!" like Belle does in the opening song of the movie. Needless to say, I have always wanted to visit France.

My desire to go to France, and Paris especially was engraved in my heart after watching Carrie finally achieve her dream of going to Paris in the two part finale of Sex and the City. And just as Carrie's Paris trip did not go exactly as planned, neither did mine.

Ok, so I wasn't abandoned by my Russian lover or slapped by him or find my true love on a bridge at night in a couture dress, but I did break my camera in the Lourve 33 pictures into my trip and lose my leather gloves I got for Christmas. Coincidence? I think not.

But besides those two tragedies, Paris was the stuff of dreams. As we drove by the Eiffel Tower on the way to our hotel, I found tears coming to my eyes. I couldn't believe I was actually in Paris, the place Rick and Inga would always have, and Marie Antoinette let them eat cake. My excitement only intensified when we got out of the cab in front of our hotel and turned around to the sight of the tower a mere five minutes away, standing tall and proud in the distance.

I honestly can't put my finger on my favorite activity in Paris.

Was it singing Disney songs in inappropriate places? "God Help the Outcasts" while touring through Notre Dame, "Beauty and the Beast" when walking down a similar staircase like the one in the dance scene at the Lourve, and of course, "Les Poissons," from "The Little Mermaid," which I sang randomly in the streets.

Was it walking down the Champs Elysees towards the Arc de Triumphe, people watching and looking at boutiques where I couldn't afford at button?

Was it finally seeing the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo and tearing up at the sight of both of them 1) because I was in the presence of such magnificent art and 2) because my camera had broken before I got a picture of them?

Was it walking down a random street of Paris and running into my dear friend Cat Williams? That was definitely a highlight of my trip. (AOT)

Was it going up in the Eiffel Tower? No. I hated every minute of that. I've had a fear of national monuments since 9/11.

Was it taking pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower? I have always seen people's pictures in front of the monument and thought to myself "Oh cool, you have a picture in front of one of the most famous landmarks in the world." Now I have one. And it is cool.

No. My favorite part of the entire trip was...eating.

Eating everything. The shortlist includes croissants, pain au chocolats, croque monsieurs, baguettes, champagne, chocolat pepits, lamb chops, canelloni, and the best french fries I have ever tasted in my life. Which was odd, since I heard those were created in Belgium. But above all were the macaroons from Laduree. There were actual French people waiting in line for those macaroons, which tells you something about how good they are.

The entire trip was unforgettable and incredible, and I barely even saw half of what the city has to offer. I hope to go back and see the Paris Opera House, sight of one of my favorite musicals, "The Phantom of the Opera," the catacombs, Versailles, the Latin Quarter, Bastille, Sacre Coeur, and so much more.

Though I have to say, I still have yet to find a place to rival London in my heart. Madrid is up next in two weeks with Kaylee!!

Until then,

Auvoir!

Shopping and Mexican Food

Last Friday, after class, my flatmates and I decided that since it was actually sunny out in London that we would take advantage of the weather and explore an area of London we hadn't previously visited: Covent Garden.

After stepping out of the tube station, we were immediately struck by the beautiful old architecture. The fact that the buildings housed modern shops such as French Connection (FCUK...that tricks your mind, doesn't it?), H&M, Urban Outfitters, and various other British Boutiques didn't hurt either. The other major shopping districts in London that we had visited include: Oxford Street, where we practically drowned in the sea of people pushing into stores, High Street Kensington, good but small, and Harrods/Knightsbridge area, which is fun to look at and pretend you can afford a dress for 700 pounds. However Covent Garden was exactly what we were looking for. It was crowd free during the afternoon, and had a wide range of boutiques from big chains to small unique boutiques.

One such boutique that caught our hearts and pocketbooks was Appletree Boutique, which was filled with vintage inspired, one of a kind clothes. Everything was so beautiful, and I finally found a new coat, something I have been looking for since I arrived. It is the most adorable little sailor coat, and I lurve it.

After we had shopped our hearts out, we found a Mexican restaurant that we had heard was actually edible. We successfully found margaritas, but were dreaming of El Rancho and El Maguey when they said they didn't have queso and charged us 2 pounds per 3 inch bowl of chips. However, it hit the spot, and our American hearts were satisfied.

When we left the restaurant, the atmosphere of Covent Garden had totally changed. Gone was the serene, calm shopping area, and in its place was a bustling nightlife scene. Everyone was dressed in their best British going out clothes and lines were forming outside the pubs and clubs. Since we were departing for Paris the next morning around 5 am, we went home but are excited to return again to the area.

When we first decided to go to Covent Garden, we weren't sure what to expect, and it has become one of our favorite areas. This is an example of why London is such a fantastic city. Every tube stop offers a different and exciting area, and I look forward to discovering even more treasures in the next 2 and 1/2 months.

Cheers!

Allison

P.S. Tales of my adventures in Paris will follow shortly!

Riding the tube...

Riding the Tube to work is not for the weak of heart.

You arrive on the platform with a poster of George Clooney staring back at you. A daydream of your blissful marriage together runs through your mind when a gush of wind dishevels your hair that was perfect 10 minutes ago when you glanced in the mirror before you popped out the door. The other Londoners on the platform shift subtly. They may look unruffled and engrossed in their Metros but really they are preparing for battle

As the tube speeds into the station, three things run through your mind.
1. Which carriage is the least crowded
2. Which carriage has the cutest boys
3. Which carriage will you be most likely to find an abandoned Metro laying around in.

With all these thoughts running through your head, plus the quick prayer ever since the terror alert was raised to severe, you shove your way onto the train, holding onto your purse for dear life. The doors close, and you are on your way to work.

When thought one is complete, and the train is safely moving, you can move on to processing the other two thoughts. After a cursory glance around; you will usually see at least one decent guy and 10 Metros. However, since you are squeezed in the tube near a pregnant lady and a Henry Higgins wannabe, the chances of coming into contact with either is quite small.

However, by the fourth stop it tends to clear up a little, and you can grab a Metro, usually left by the Jude Law look alike as he leaves the train. By the time you get to the story about the second ever pregnant man, its time to switch trains. You race up the stairs and across the station to the much less crowded Northern line, where 9/10 times there will be a seat waiting for you which is a welcome relief if you have idiotically decided to wear heels that day to work. You settle down with your Metro and continue on to the Mornington Crescent tube station.

When you arrive you spritely mind the gap and take the 66 (yes, there is a sign telling you how many) steps up to ground level. You grasp your oyster card for dear life, and swipe out of the station, deftly avoiding the people handing out flyers, magazines, etc. After that it's just a hop, skit and a jump across the street into the office.

Then, eight hours later, the routine begins again. There is jostling, it is smelly; the only noticeable difference is that the Metro has been replaced by the Evening Standard.

Once arriving back at Earls Court you have one more challenge: avoiding both the adjoining bakery and the Kabob place down the street.

Like I said, riding the tube is not for the weak of heart.

England vs. the United States

Hello!

Having been here a week, I am finding myself assimilating to London culture quite well. However, I still am not quite used to saying mobile instead of cell phone, and telling people to "touch wood," instead of "knock on wood," when they say something possibly jinxing. And I am getting much better at not imitating a British accent back at people when they say something to me, though I doubt that I am ever completely cured of that.

Since I don't start work until next week, I have had two fantastic days of sight seeing a relaxing. Yesterday, I went to see Avenue Q in the West End, which featured puppet nudity (yes, puppet nudity) and hilarious songs including "Everyone's a little bit racist," and "The Internet is for Porn." But what I did during the day yesterday far eclipsed my dirty Sesame Street experience.

I died and went to heaven. In this case, heaven was Harrods, the world renowned department store. It was all I could do to keep my chin off the floor while walking room to room and seeing the magnificent offerings of the store. Though all I bought was a sandwich and two cupcakes, I plan to return.

Today a few of us walked through Kensington Gardens, which has joined Big Ben, Westminister Abbey, and the Tower of London on my must see London list. It is so incredibly beautiful and I finally got to see the Peter Pan statue that I've always wanted to see. There was also a plethora of birds, and even a "Bird Lady," who held pigeons in her arms while birds swarmed her feet. Did we sing "Feed the Birds," from Mary Poppins? How could we not.

Our flat is in such a great location that we have been able to walk to most of these great locations. This has unfortunately given me a false confidence in my fitness, and I succumbed to pastries in the window 3 times today. I can only imagine what Paris will do to my waistline.

Tomorrow we head to Bath and Stonehenge, and so we are skipping the pub tonight since we have to be on our way at 7:45 am.

Cheers!
Allison

Hello!

It has now been a week since I departed from the states, though it seems infinitely longer, as it feels like I have done a million things. In reality, I have barely scratched the surface of what London and Europe have to offer, and everyday brings new and exciting things to my life across the pond.

Here's a recap of what I've been up to:

1. Visited the Tower of London. As a self-described British history buff, especially regarding the monarchy, I was in nerd heaven. It takes an odd duck to get excited about seeing the Tower Green where Anne Boleyn was beheaded, but I was like an intoxicated MU student presented with a hot box of pokey sticks. That coupled with the crown jewels and the place where they found the bodies of the two princes in the tower and I was in history heaven.
2. Went to a London club, Zoo Bar. It might have been the 5-month-old American music, or the fact that I did my "Single Ladies" dance, but it didn't seem much different than what I'm used to in the states.
3. Partook in a Panoramic Bus Tour of London, where our guide Colin shared with us the many sights of London Town. All it did was make me feel that 3 1/2 months is going to be nowhere near enough time for me to see everything I need to see. Highlights of this tour included: Buckingham Palace, the West End, and the bank where they shoot the inside scenes of Gringotts bank for Harry Potter.
4. Possibly the most awe-inspiring experience I have ever had was attending a service last Sunday morning at Westminister Abbey. For a thousand years people have worshiped there including Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton. I highly recommend going even if you aren't Episcopalian (Anglican), if simply to sample the architecture and hear the choir's voices soaring up among the rafters to the organ music.
5. At the bequest of my dear friend Miss Megan Ogar, I climbed to the top of Primrose Hill which offers not only the best view in London, but is featured in the animated classic "101 Dalmatians," when Pongo and Perdita are performing the twilight bark to alert the dogs of England of their missing puppies fate.
6. I attended the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. A hint if you ever intend to do this: Arrive early, and don't be afraid to use every single pushy, aggressive, obnoxious American stereotype to get pictures of the event. I wasn't afraid or ashamed, and I was victorious.

As you can see, I have been very busy seeing all the sights in my new home. However, yesterday I started classes and next week I will begin my internship, which will hinder my explorations a bit, though I am determined to keep sightseeing during the week. My classes seem very interesting; my professor for my British culture class even took us to the Victoria and Albert museum on the first day of class!

On Friday we are taking our first field trip to Bath and Stonehenge, and further in the future lies something even more exciting. A Harry Potter walking tour. Am I excited? Was that a rhetorical question? Will I finally get to push a cart through platforms 9 and 10? Stay tuned for further installments; I'm off to make a cup of tea.

Cheers!
Allison