CONNECTIONS!
A Global Education
Initiative 2004
As seen in USA TODAY, April 2, 2004
10 Greek
places to
behold in the
land of the
Olympics
By Shawn Sell
USA TODAY
Let the travel plans begin. If
you're Olympics-bound to
Greece — Aug. 13 is the official
start of the Summer Games
(athens2004.com) — it pays to
know where to go in this beautiful and ancient country. "I love
Greece so much because it actually looks like the posters," says
Nia Vardalos, star of the film My
Big Fat Greek Wedding and the
CBS series My Big Fat Greek Life.
Vardalos recently completed
shooting her next film, Connie
and Carla, which arrives April 16.
"When I visit Greece, I feel such a
connection because it is my
ancestral home. While you're
there, take a taxi. The view from
the back of any taxicab in Greece
is a character-building experience. I like to imagine these grizzled drivers when they were
young boys, playing in the
streets." She shares with USA
TODAY's Shawn Sell favorite
Greek spots.
The Parthenon
Athens
"Standing at the bottom of (the
ruins of) this temple (built circa
477 to 438 B.C) and looking up,
you can feel that ancient power.
When I go to the top and look out
over the city, I like to imagine
what it all looked like 50 years
ago, 250 years ago, 500 years
ago." Greatbuildings.com/buildings/the_parthenon.html.
Photos by Michael Madrid, USA TODAY
The Erectheon: Named for Erectheus, legendary first
king of Athens, the site is across from the Parthenon.
It is famous for its south porch, with columns in the
form of draped female figures.
On Mykonos: Whitewashed churches cling to the sides of
mountains on this island in the Aegean Sea.
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Island of Tinos
Cyclades
Tinos is one of the largest islands of
the Cyclades. Its "beautiful main
monastery (the Church of Panagia) is a
must to visit," especially on Aug. 15,
the feast day of the Virgin, which
draws thousands of pilgrims. "Inside, it
is decorated with gold and silver replicas, representing people's wishes and
prayers." Greeka.com/cyclades/tinos.
Isthmus of Corinth
At 20 miles long and four to eight
miles wide, the isthmus connects central Greece with the Peloponnese
peninsula. "This man-made miracle
cuts a mountain in two, so ships can
pass" via the Corinth Canal from the
Adriatic Sea to the Aegean Sea, "and
it's really something to see."
En .wik ip e dia.org/wik i/isthmus_
of_corinth.
Island of Zakynthos
Ionian Islands
Also known as Zante, this picturesque island with mountainous villages is known for its golden beaches.
"Visit the church in the town square; a
priest is buried there, and the locals
regularly replace his worn-out shoes
because it is said he still walks the
island." Greeka.com/ionian/zakynthos.
Nauphlio
Peloponnese peninsula
Climb the 857 steps to visit the
Palamidi Fortress, constructed when
Nauphlio — "located on the mainland"
continued
— was the first capital of Greece. "The
copper-red roofs of this town are
incredible to look at, so climb the
winding streets to get a panoramic
view
from
the
top."
w w w. w o r l d 6 6 . c o m / e u r o p e /
greece.nauplia.
Island of Mykonos
Cyclades
With its white houses and bright
blue sea, this cosmopolitan island of
5,500 is called the Venice of Greece.
"Tiny whitewashed churches dot the
sides of the mountains, so rent a
minibike, go up the mountain and sit
inside one of the churches to light a
candle." Greekislands.com/mykonos.
Herod Atticus Theater
Athens
Constructed in A.D. 161, this oncemassive theater today holds only 5,000
spectators in the lower tier of seats.
"The acoustics are perfect, and the
theater is a step back in time. I heard
the Atlanta Gospel Choir here and
cried. Go at night" for a moving experience. www.harrys-athens-greeceguide.com/ancient-odeon.asp.
Island of Rhodes
Dodecanese
Rhodes is both ancient and modern.
Visit the Acropolis, "where there is a
sign that asks travelers to be respectful
of those who have fought and fallen."
Greeka.com/dodecanese/rhodes/
index.htm.
Island of Santorini
Cyclades
Known for its landscapes, this
Aegean Sea island boasts beautiful
whitewashed houses perched on cliffs
overhanging the water. "Go to the tip of
the island to a village called Oia. Stand
anywhere there and look out at the
caldera (volcano basin). It is the quietest spot on Earth. I brought my laptop and wrote parts of MBFGW, sitting
in a cafe, looking out at that water."
Greeka.com/cyclades/santorini.
Drymos
"My dad's village of Drymos," near
Thessaloniki in northern Greece, "is
tiny, quaint and built into the side of
the mountain. Sit outside at a
cafe, order an iced coffee with condensed milk and sugar (frappe), and
people-watch."
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continued
to
10 Gre ek places
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the Olympics, 1
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APPL ICAT IONS:
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National Standards
People, Places and Environments —
Students use knowledge of physical
system changes such as seasons, climate, and weather.
Science, Technology, and Society —
Students make judgments about how
science and technology have transformed the physical world.
Culture
Students predict how data and experiences may be interpreted by people
from diverse cultural perspectives and
frames of references. (NCSS)
Student Challenge on: D i v e r s i t y
APPLICATIONS: point of view, analysis, history, diversity
USA TODAY Snapshots®
People judge ethnic groups, races
I don’t have much in common with people of other
ethnic groups and races:
Agree1
Disagree2
United Great France Germany Russia Turkey
States Britian
74%
64%
33%
22%
66%
32%
65%
31%
72%
61%
26%
34%
1 — agree completely or mostly
2 — disagree completely or mostly
Source: The Pew Global Attitudes Project; surveys April 28-May 15. Margin
of error in countries’ polls ranged from ± 3 to ± 4 percentage points.
What positive statement does the Snapshot
make about the United
States? Why might a person believe that he or she
has little in common with
members of other ethnic
groups and races? Why do
you think more people
from Turkey and Great
Britain
agreed
with
the survey statement than
did those from the U.S.
and Russia?
Identify two events in
U.S. history that exemplify
tolerance. Then, cite two
that reveal a collective
attitude of intolerance. In
your opinion, do all racial
and ethnic groups receive
equal
treatment
in
America? Do you think
foreign countries view the
U.S. as a tolerant nation?
Explain. What other countries have ethnic and
racial strains?
By Shannon Reilly and Bob Laird, USA TODAY
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