Post date: Mar 02, 2017 3:3:5 PM
By Robert Yon
After many months of preparation, we are finally in Greece! We departed from Detroit airport on Friday afternoon (2/24) and arrived in Athens on Saturday afternoon (2/25). Approximately 20 hours of travel and a 7-hour time difference resulted in considerable jet lag, but we’re confident our exciting week of activities will help us quickly overcome it.
To facilitate getting to meetings, we are staying in the centrally-located neighborhood of Psiri, at the Euripides Hotel. Our neighborhood is known for its shops which sell herbs and spices, cured meats, and Greek cheeses. It is only a three minute walk to the central market of Athens, five minutes from Monastiraki (a plaza and the closest metro stop), 10 minutes from Plaka (the old city), and 20 minutes from the Acropolis. Our hotel is named after Euripides, one of the three great tragedians of classical Athens. One of his many famous quotations reads: “There is in the worst of fortune the best chances for a happy change.” As we study the causes and possible solutions to Greece’s economic and refugee crises, it is our hope that Euripides’ words will ring true for the country and all of its inhabitants.
We are certain this trip will offer innumerable lessons that we will be able to apply throughout our careers as policymakers. Thank you for joining us, and stay tuned for further updates about our journey!