Sunday, August 17th

Today’s travel blog is brought to you by Dean in Ms. Amelio’s English class.

I felt my heart racing and my stomach aching as I rushed to finish my assignment. My mind was spiraling, trying to juggle final projects, the upcoming exam, and this blog that I just wanted to get over with. If I could just finish everything, it would all be over. One more day of hard work, and then it would finally be done. But today felt different from the past three weeks. It wasn’t just another day in Greece—it was a test of how much I had grown since arriving here.

I woke up exhausted, having stayed up far too late thinking about the work ahead of me. As if the culminating project and studying for the exam weren’t enough, this blog was also on my list. It felt almost unfair that a day so full of pressure didn’t come with some kind of break. But when the sunlight hit my face through the balcony doors, I stepped outside instead of hiding under the covers like I might have on the first day. Standing in the same spot I had when I first arrived, looking out at the same view, I felt a full-circle moment. The three weeks in between had flown by, but I knew I wasn’t the same person who had stood there before.

I showered, got ready, and took the elevator—the kind with doors you had to open by hand, not the automatic ones we’re used to—to the rooftop patio for breakfast. I greeted everyone and filled my plate with crispy bacon, a croissant slathered in Nutella, Greek yogurt with honey, and, unusually for me, a cup of hot coffee. I needed every bit of energy for what was ahead. After breakfast, we met in the lobby for our last class of the trip. Mrs. Amelio walked us through key concepts for the exam and checked in on everyone’s progress. As soon as class ended, I buckled down and worked non-stop for two hours before finally allowing myself a break for lunch.

A quick walk with friends led us to one last gyro stop. Along the way, I interviewed one of the history students, Caleigh. She told me her day was pretty relaxed and that she didn’t have much left to do besides studying for her exam in her room. I also talked to Simon, a photography student, who said he was buried in work and feeling stressed. I was surprised—I had assumed photography would be easy. Eventually, we picked up our gyros, and maybe it was just because I was starving, but it was easily one of the best of the trip. Still, I couldn’t enjoy it for long. More work was waiting back at the hotel. After wasting half an hour scrolling on my phone, I forced myself to focus again. I finished the script for my culminating video—but only after recording it more than twenty-five times before finally getting it right. By then, it was already time for dinner.

We went back to a restaurant we had visited on our second night—another reminder of how things were coming full circle. I ordered beef kebab, which tasted even better knowing this might be one of our last group dinners in Athens. On the walk back, I spotted the same man I had seen on my first day: wearing a Superman robe, walking three pit bulls with baskets hanging from their collars. It felt strange to see him again, like Athens was winking at me one last time before we left.

Back at the hotel, I dove into the hardest part of the culminating: putting the whole video together. I worked from 8:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m., glued to my screen. The hours slipped away without me even noticing. By the time I finished, I was completely drained—and I still had this blog to write. I set my alarm for 7:00 a.m., hoping I’d somehow find time to cram for the exam.

Looking back, I realize the most important lesson from today wasn’t about Greek mythology or history, but about myself. At the start of this program, I procrastinated everything—even the pre-departure work, which I left until the very last day before flying here. But now, on day 24, I can see how much I’ve changed. This program has forced me to grow up, manage my time, and take responsibility for my work. More than the incredible sights, meals, and adventures, that lesson is what I’ll carry into grade 12 and beyond.

Tomorrow comes the exam, and after that, the banquet. Just one more roadblock before this journey ends—and before I go home as a different person from the one who stepped onto that balcony three weeks ago.

Saturday, August 16th

Today’s travel blog is brought to you by Cooper in Ms. Amelio’s English class.

I couldn’t breathe. The walls of the ferry cabin felt like they were shrinking around me, pressing closer with every groan of the ship. The air was hot and stale, the kind that makes you feel like you’re breathing through a wet cloth. I had tossed and turned all night in a bunk that felt more like a coffin, and by the time morning came, I was already exhausted. That’s how my day began—claustrophobic, dizzy, and desperate to escape the boat.

Stepping onto the dock in Athens felt like waking from a nightmare. The ground wasn’t moving anymore, and I inhaled as deeply as I could, letting the fresh air clear my head. A bus was waiting for us, and though I tried to stay awake, I kept drifting in and out, watching Athens blur past the window.

When the bus pulled up to our hotel, I felt a strange rush of nostalgia. Earlier in the program, this same hotel had been my home base—the starting line of all my adventures in Greece. Leaving it felt like turning the page of a book. Now, coming back, it was like flipping back to the first chapter. Everything was familiar: the lobby, the smell of the hallways, even the way the light hit the building. I realized how quickly a place can go from being just a hotel to feeling like a memory.

Our first stop was a restaurant called Stone. The name was simple, but the food was unforgettable. I ordered a chicken gyro, and the second I bit into it, I forgot all about the ferry. The pita was soft and warm, the chicken perfectly seasoned, and the tzatziki tied everything together with a garlicky kick. It was comfort food in the best possible way. I had eaten here on our very first day in Athens, so it felt like the city was welcoming me back with open arms.

Food here isn’t just about filling your stomach—it’s about energy, culture, and connection. A gyro isn’t just meat and bread; it’s Greece on a plate.

In the afternoon, my two friends Charlie and Colt and I went for a massage. We laughed while walking in, joking about how weird it felt to be “fancy tourists.” But the moment it started, we weren’t laughing anymore. I hadn’t realized how much tension I was carrying until it melted away. Every knot in my back, every sore muscle from walking, loosened.

Charlie walked out and said, “I think I just met a new version of myself.” Colt smiled and added, “Best decision we’ve made.”

It wasn’t just relaxing—it was healing. After days of nonstop walking, that hour gave us space to breathe, reset, and feel completely restored.

Dinner that night was a feast: plates piled high with chicken and pork, passed around the table until everyone was full. It wasn’t fancy, but it didn’t need to be. Sharing food with friends made it taste better, like the laughter seeped into the meal itself.

But the real magic came after dinner. We stepped out into Athens at night, and the city was glowing. Shops were still open, lights bounced off the cobblestones, and there was this hum of life all around us. We wandered aimlessly, ducking into stores, pointing out random things in windows, and just letting ourselves get lost.

At one point, I looked up and saw the Acropolis glowing faintly in the distance, a reminder of how old this city really is. That’s what makes Athens surreal—you’re surrounded by modern shops and neon signs, but history is always watching from above.

I asked a couple of classmates about their day to see what stood out to them.

From the Photography class: “I caught the light hitting the Acropolis just as the sun dipped down. It was awesome. Honestly, it’s one of the best shots I’ve taken all trip.”

From the Ancient Civilizations class: “Seeing the Acropolis again today really hit me. I love it.”

Their perspectives reminded me that everyone on this program is seeing Greece through a different lens—some through art, some through history, and some, like me, through the everyday experiences that shape our journeys.

Lying back in my hotel bed that night, I thought about how strange travel is. That morning I had felt trapped and claustrophobic, convinced the day was going to drag. But by evening, I was full of good food, laughing with friends, and wandering through one of the most historic cities in the world.

The ferry became more than just a bad night—it became a metaphor. Sometimes you feel stuck, closed in, like the walls are too tight. But once you push through, the world opens up again. That’s what this day taught me: even the worst beginnings can lead to unforgettable endings.

Friday, August 15th

Today’s travel blog is brought to you by Sophia in Ms. Amelio’s English class.

The soft hum of water droplets filled the silent morning air as they pinged down. I was washing off the night before, my hands still sticky from a stop at the gelato shop, the lingering strawberry scent now fading away. Clean and refreshed, I stepped out of the shower, ready for my last day in beautiful Rethymno, Crete.

Or so I thought.

My rich and thought-provoking shower had taken much longer than I realized. By the time I checked the clock, panic had set in. I had already missed sign-in, and every suitcase (along with its sleep-deprived owner) needed to be downstairs in the luggage room by 10:15. My brain had been prioritizing the Cretan atmosphere over the strict timeline of suitcases, and now I was suffering for it.

To make matters worse, my suitcase had somehow doubled in size since we last traveled. It absolutely refused to shut. I wrestled with it, sat on it, begged it to cooperate, and finally, miraculously, the zipper held. I can’t say the same for myself: hair still wet, unbrushed, and a little frantic, I dragged both myself and my overstuffed luggage downstairs.

After hauling my stubborn suitcase downstairs, I finally escaped to the main lobby where my friends were already gathered around a table. We laughed about the night before, wandering through Rethymno’s shops, each one offering its own charm and hidden beauty. We then turned to the question of the day: beach first, or schoolwork first?

Half the group chose the sand and sun immediately, but the rest of us stayed behind to catch up on our Circe personal essays. The lobby buzzed with quiet focus as fingertips thrashed across keyboards, the morning slipping away faster than we realized. By the time our stomachs started rumbling, it was lunchtime.

We had been craving sushi all week and were thrilled to find that a restaurant called Wasabe was open. Many restaurants were closed because it was a Greek holiday called Name Day, a celebration where anyone sharing the name of a saint being honoured gets to celebrate, almost like a second birthday. August 15th is especially important, as it’s the Virgin Mary’s saint day. That means anyone named Maria, Mario, Panagiotis, or Panagiota would be celebrating all across Greece. To our surprise, one of our own classmates, who goes by their middle name, Artemis, but was baptized Maria, was celebrating too. Plates of spring rolls, edamame, and sushi arrived at the table, and between bites, we all agreed how comforting it felt to taste something familiar from back home.

After lunch, we made our way down toward the beach, but not without a quick detour. One of my friends needed souvenirs for her siblings, so I suggested a shop near the waterfront—Kalimera Store. Once our bags were filled, we finally joined the rest of the group at the beach. The early beachgoers were already sprawled out on towels, happily eating the sushi we’d carried back for them. Done with the heat of the blazing sun, we ran straight into the aqua-blue water. The ocean breeze tangled through our hair as we splashed and laughed, salt clinging to our skin.

Harper, who cheers back home, taught us a few stunts in the shallow end. I attempted to be the flyer, and though I swallowed more saltwater than I’d like to admit, I eventually got the hang of it. My friends and I couldn’t stop reliving the tubing and parasailing we’d done the day before for Harper’s Sweet 16, our voices bubbling with laughter as we replayed every detail. Our stories must have been convincing, because a new group of classmates decided to try it themselves.

A few of us were offered a half-off discount to go tubing and parasailing again. As tempting as it was, we decided to head back early so we could get ready for the long night ahead—the overnight ferry to Athens. Once we changed out of our bathing suits, we gathered in the hall outside the luggage room, trading stories with other students about our time in Crete and marveling at how fast the program had flown by.

By 5:15, the tubing and parasailing crew had returned, full of laughter and wild stories. It was time to say goodbye to the Olympic Palladium Hotel. We hauled our luggage into the elevators, then settled back into the lobby, bags in hand, waiting for departure. Just as we were about to leave, the teachers surprised us: our classmate Artemis, who was celebrating their name day, had bought little hand pies for the entire group. They came in two flavors—lemon and apple. They made the perfect little send-off treat before we loaded our luggage and boarded the bus to the ferry port.

The ferry itself was massive, named Festos Palace by Minoan Lines. The hallways twisted and turned in ways that tricked you into thinking you’d found your humble abode, only to realize you hadn’t. My roommates—Harper, Dylan, Emily, and I—finally stumbled into Room 7027, tossed our bags down, and headed straight for the dinner buffet.

The line stretched endlessly, but the reward was worth it: baskets of bread, fresh salad, souvlaki, chicken nuggets, pasta, and spinach pies. We were starving, and we ate like it was our last meal in Greece.

Back in our room, we collapsed onto the surprisingly spacious bunks. The interior was nicer than I expected: warm wood paneling, white walls, a small work desk, and even a bathroom with a shower tucked neatly in the corner. With that, we turned in for the night, sinking into surprisingly cozy beds with actual comforters. As the ferry hummed across the sea, I drifted into dreams of Athens—the city that had first welcomed us to Greece, and would soon mark the closing chapter of our journey.

What I learned on this last day in Crete is that travel isn’t just about the big landmarks or the picture-perfect moments. It’s about how you handle the small things—the suitcase that won’t zip, the shops you wander into by chance, the pie you didn’t expect but end up sharing with everyone. These little details, the messy and the ordinary, end up shaping the memory just as much as the highlights.

Crete taught me that no two days ever unfold the same way. Some start in chaos and end in calm. Others flip the script completely. But together, they remind me that it’s the unplanned, ordinary moments that make a journey unforgettable.

We’re looking forward to exploring Athens again tomorrow!

Thursday, August 14th

Today’s travel blog is brought you by Brody in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class.

I woke up to Brennan’s excruciatingly loud alarm at 9:30 a.m. It was the kind of alarm that makes you want to clock a person in the face. But, of course, I didn’t.  I rolled out of bed, half asleep, and began making my way down all five sets of stairs. Even though I was extremely tired, I jumped down each step. Eventually, I reached the lobby and signed my name on the sheet so the teachers knew I was alive and functional. The only thing on my mind was schoolwork. Even though I was in Greece, with beaches surrounding me, my essay had to be done. I ran back upstairs, all the way up to room 509, and opened up my laptop. As I typed away, my friends sent me messages about them at the beach without me. While my friends enjoyed brunch alongside the beach, I persisted with my essay. Part of me wanted to be with them, but part of me knew I’d regret it when the deadline came around and I hadn’t done the work. One thing I’ve learned on this program is that you have to check your priorities, and sometimes school work needs to get done. I went out onto the balcony, where the city view was incredible, and I knew that I would be thinking about this months down the line, when I was back in Calgary writing in -30 degree Celsius weather.

In the meantime, my friends, Aiden, Callum, Thomas, and Simon, were enjoying themselves at the beach. They went tubing all day. When they told me about it, they said it was enjoyable; it was a real adrenaline rush. Today also happened to be Harper’s 16th birthday. I asked her what she had done, and she talked about how she went parasailing and tubing as well. Having this day to take advantage of all this entertainment was made possible by the fact that the ferry from Tinos to Crete was cancelled, and we were graciously given a makeup “weekend” on a Thursday. After locking in all day, I finally finished my essay in the early afternoon. My friends and I decided to go to the grocery store down the road, where I purchased a colossal six-pack of water. My arms were screaming by the time we returned to the room, but I knew I would be thanking myself later when I had the water later that day.

Soon after, we decided to head out again, determined to find Crete’s most fake polo shirt. We walked along the beachfront until we found a shop. Inside, my eyes fell upon a Polo so fake, it basically screamed at me. The stitching was so off, the logo was at a horrible angle, the colours were a little too bright, and even the horse looked wrong; I knew instantly I had to buy it. Sometimes the best souvenirs aren’t the prettiest ones, but the ones that bring you the most laughs. By that point, our stomachs were growling, so we figured it was time for gyros. After looking around a little bit, we ended up at the Day Night Restaurant. The man outside assured me that they had the best chicken gyro in Crete, and for five euros, it was worth a try. Turns out he wasn’t lying, the gyros were incredible, stuffed with tender chicken, fries, and tzatziki that made our mouths water. We devoured them. Will and I even split the biggest ice cream in all of Crete, topped high with strawberries, the kind of dessert that looks too good to eat but tastes even better once you’ve taken a bite.

Our stomachs full, we started the long journey back up the hill to the Olympic Palladium Hotel. The walk was long, but we arrived at the room and finally opened one of those crisp, cold waters I had planned for. For the first time all day, I was properly refreshed. At 7:15 p.m., the hotel buffet had started. The buffet was okay, but Simon was taunting us with the 28 pieces of sushi he brought to the table instead. I couldn’t help myself and took some, even though I was already full from the gyro. Following dinner, a group of us headed down to the beach again. The evening air was cool, and the streets buzzed with music. We window-shopped, and I finally selected a few souvenirs for my mom and sisters. By the time we got back to the hotel. I fell into bed, ready for the best sleep I’d had during the entire program.

Tomorrow, we have one last day to enjoy the beach before we board an overnight ferry to Athens!

Wednesday, August 13th

Today’s travel blog is brought to you by Annabelle in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class. Enjoy!

Heraklion and Knossos Tour

A few students arose with the first light, making their way to the beach for a sunrise swim. The waves rolled in and out like a steady heartbeat, while the horizon was slowly warmed with a gentle orange glow, spilling light across the water, a perfect start to the day. By 7:45 a.m., breakfast awaited the students with a generous buffet brimming with choices. The chocolate croissants were a clear favourite, their flaky layers giving way to soft, melting chocolate that lingered sweetly on the taste buds, the perfect way to start a morning.

At 8:45 a.m., the classes parted ways. The English group headed to a nearby café called Theorists to meet with their teacher and work on personal essays. Most students ordered a variety of drinks, though one decided to go all in and enjoy a full meal at nine in the morning. The photography class spent their time watching a documentary about a British-Greek photographer before creating sun prints for a project. “The sun prints,” Zara explained, “were a very different approach to photography and introduced a new aspect of creativity.” Meanwhile, the history class gathered at the same café, where the warm smell of freshly baked bread greeted them at the door. They analyzed quotes from Marcus Aurelius’s journal, then moved on to research projects on the Roman emperors, debating whether these rulers were admirable or flawed. “The research on the Roman emperors revealed a lot about historic figures and who they were as people,” said Callie. By lunchtime, students were sent off to do their own thing. Some headed to the supermarket to stock up on groceries and snacks for movie night, while others wandered into the city of Rethymno to enjoy traditional restaurants, and a few stayed behind to continue working on their assignments.

After a morning full of school work, everyone piled onto the bus and set off for Heraklion, the bustling capital of Crete. The ride was full of chatter and music that quietly travelled from someone’s phone, with everyone buzzing about what they might see or buy. When we arrived, the streets were alive, shops bursting with bright colours and captivating appearances, and the air carried the smell of fresh bread, coffee, and something sweet I couldn’t quite place. We wandered in small groups, trying on clothes, picking up little trinkets, and stopping to look at anything that caught our eye. At one point, my group found a gelato shop and ordered some fruit sorbet that honestly might have been the best thing I’ve ever tasted. It was so fresh, so real, that it made me smile without thinking, like summer had been frozen just so I could eat it.

After a bit more shopping, we climbed back onto the bus and set off for Knossos, the oldest European capital and a historic landmark. There, we met with our tour guide, Maria, who walked us through the ruins of the palace, bringing its stories to life with each step. Walking into the ruins, knowing the walls had stood for thousands of years, was nothing short of breathtaking. It’s incredible to think about how much we’ve uncovered about the past, yet how many mysteries still remain. Within the palace walls, countless stories have been created and taken place, but none more famous than the legend of the Minotaur and the labyrinth where he was said to be trapped, a tale our guide shared in detail. We learned about the Minoan people, their unique culture, and the way they lived, even pausing to admire ancient tapestries that gave us a glimpse of how they looked in their own time. While everyone learned a lot of information, the history students listened with particular focus, knowing they’d be writing a journal entry on Knossos as part of their work for the day. When it was time to leave, we stepped onto the oldest road in Europe. Walking along it left a quiet, lingering awe, knowing that for thousands of years, both everyday people and great historical figures had set foot on those same stones.

We climbed back onto the bus for the final leg of the day, the ride back to the hotel. By then, exhaustion had settled in, leaving only the soft hum of music and the occasional sleepy yawn to fill the space. Dinner came and went quickly. The food was good, though it didn’t quite meet the expectations set by the other delicious meals we’d enjoyed earlier in the program. Afterward, most of the students stayed in for a Mamma Mia movie night, a perfect choice in my opinion, given our destination. The atmosphere was warm and joyful. Some students sang along, while others watched quietly, content to cherish the moment. In just three short weeks, the people in the room had become like family. The end of the program was approaching fast, and a quiet sadness lingered, as everyone realized that this little paradise wouldn’t last forever. How could school ever be this much fun again? Eventually, the night came to a close as we headed to bed, but a buzz of excitement remained. Tomorrow promised more adventures, like exploring a cave for an optional excursion, parasailing, and tubing. This kept the spirit of the program alive just a little longer.

Tuesday, August 12th

Today we have two blog posts for you. The first is brought to you by Aiden in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class.

Class Trip to Chania!

In some places, time seems to fade away; in Chania there’s a timeless feeling that stretches back thousands of years.

As I stepped out of the hotel, the warm humid air hit my face, like the blast from a hot oven. We loaded onto the chilly bus, the AC refreshing me instantly. Then we began the one-hour drive to Chania from Rethimno. We slowly drove out of the small, but busy town, and as I looked out the right window the view was like no other. Instantly the crystal clear blue ocean caught my eyes in the distance, glittering like a mirror reflecting against a shining light. Surrounding the water were mountains, filling the landscape with flecks of light grey rocks scattered throughout. It seemed as though, ages ago in the time of Cronus and Zeus, it might have rained rocks here. The dark green of the trees and rows of palm were stunning. It was something I had never seen before, the vivid colours and unique landscapes that felt like driving through paradise. 

As we got closer to Chania, the view quickly transformed. The coastline changed from mountains to small buildings packed together in neat rows. The buildings shone white, little sugar cubes along the sea. In the town, there was yet another stark difference: the modern structures blended with the old ancient ruins. 

Ms. Hrvatin’s English students made their way to a cafe to run class. Both English classes had essay workshops to discuss thesis statements and how to integrate quotes. As we worked we were surrounded by the sights and the salty smell of the Aegean Sea. We wrapped up class and started free time to explore. I  walked around with Callum, Simon, Thomas and Brody. My stomach, rumbling and whining for food, led us to 9STR, where the smell of Gyro, fresh tzatziki and crispy pita filled my senses. 

After lunch, we came across a street filled with stores and began shopping. Each shop was full of unique items like swords, Greek themed jewellery, soccer jerseys and countless other options. The shiny jewelry gleamed catching my eye, and the countless modern stores drew us in, reminding us of home. 

We continued exploring as we made our way down to the port where another gust of the sea air and cold breeze surrounded us. The closer I got to the edge,  the louder the waves crashed against the rocks. The sound hit my ears, calming me like a slow melody. All the restaurants tried to welcome us with their warm hospitality, offering me a table and trying to get me to eat the fresh seafood.  

Our time to explore ended, and the Ancient Civilizations teacher, Trevor, took us to see Ancient ruins. It was so interesting to remember all the people who have been on this island for thousands of years and how they have protected these ruins and the heritage behind it. It was like stepping into a time machine, with some of the houses actually built into the ancient structures.  

As I walked across the old roads, back to the bus, the firm stone beneath my feet, I realized  how meaningful this experience was to me. We had the privilege to explore Chania. This small day trip reminded me that globalization has brought this country so far. It made me think of how Greece has evolved over time. This excursion was significant to me as we got to discover more of Crete, and it reminded me to be grateful that I have parents and teachers who have set this up for me. 

As we travelled back to Rethimno, I decided to get other people’s opinions on today. I first interviewed Calliegh from the Ancient Civilizations class. I asked what  her favourite part of the excursion was. She replied, “I enjoyed having class on the Venetian port of Chania. Seeing the colourful buildings and the old lighthouse in person made the history I was learning feel alive.” Then I asked Brennan, from Ms. Amelio’s class, what his favourite part was. He said, “The best part of Chania was the vast dining and shopping establishments. There was something for everybody down by the exquisite port.”  Then I went to my friend Simon, from the photography class he said, “I enjoyed taking pictures of the stunning lighthouse.”

Overall it was a very enjoyable day for me, and my peers seemed to enjoy it as well. Chania had won me over with its stunning colours and historical vibe. I would recommend visiting it when in Crete!

Our second post is brought to you by Charlie in Ms. Amelio’s English class.

“Grounded for two nights?! What could I have possibly done wrong?” When I woke up that morning, I had no idea how the day would end. I was up before my alarm, the bright Crete sun bleeding through the curtains and keeping me from sleeping. I tried to fight it, but I couldn’t. Excited for the day, I got up, got ready, and went to breakfast.

Today was a class day, but not a normal one. We were going to visit an old Cretan town called Chania. These field trips are always a lot of fun for me. Walking through such a traditional, beautiful place that I’ve never been to before is an amazing experience that everyone should get to have. Seeing the culture, the beautiful old stone buildings, and trying all the different traditional foods and drinks in this old Greek town was a euphoric and fun experience.

My English class took place in a small and cozy cafe right on the water. I ordered pancakes, which did not disappoint. A local man sat right in front of my friends and me. He was middle-aged, with white and gray hair, and was very friendly. He asked me what I was doing here, and we talked for a while. He asked what I wanted to do in the future in terms of work and university. I told him my biggest goal was to go to the Olympics for wrestling. He gave me advice on not giving up on my dreams no matter what they are, and said that if you have a goal and are determined, you can achieve anything. He had a strong Greek accent but I understood everything he was saying. It was one of the best conversations I’d ever had with a stranger.

Still unsuspecting and naive of what was to come, I went on with my day. The trip to town was over and everyone got ready to get on the bus. I took everything in one last time and got on. On the bus, I started to get a weird feeling in my gut. No, it wasn’t from motion sickness, although that probably didn’t help. This was different. It felt like I was anticipating something stressful and bad. My gut was telling me something bad was to come. It bothered me the whole bus ride, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

“It’s all in my head,” I kept telling myself, and by the end of the bus ride, I had convinced myself everything was fine. Later in the day, I was sitting in the lobby of our hotel. I was socializing with my friends on a comfortable couch when Bertan, our program manager, came up to us. The first thing he said shocked me.

“You’re grounded.” It all hit me. This is what the gut feeling was about. My friends and I had been caught for breaking the rules the night before. I was immediately struck with a strong sense of guilt and regret. Why did I decide to break the rules? This program gives me so much luxury and has very few rules, but I decided to break one of them anyway.

Whether I was caught up in peer pressure or didn’t actually want to do it, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, I am my own person. I made the decision to break the rules, and now I have to face the consequences of my actions.

Tomorrow we head to Heraklion, the capital of Crete. We will also visit Knossos Palace. Stay tuned for more!

Monday, August 11th

Today’s blog is brought to you by Liv in Ms. Hrvatin’s class.

Travel Journal

Our new home for the week welcomed us with its rich history, inviting all the eager students to peel back its layers and explore the foreign island. 

Learning Under the Cretan Sun

Our first morning in Crete was an early one. Having class after a long, stomach-turning travel day felt like something I’d need time to mentally prepare for, but the day ended up being one of my favourites from this incredible journey so far. The warm sun shone brightly through the large balcony windows of our cozy hotel room, illuminating the space and drawing us out of a deep sleep, with the help of several alarms blaring from each roommate’s cellphone. Once awake, everyone began to make their way to the lobby for breakfast at the buffet. Some arrived with plenty of time to spare, while others had to dash through the halls and down flights of stairs to arrive in the lobby by 8:45 a.m., narrowly avoiding the consequences of prolonging their sleep. 

After breakfast, my English class gathered in the lobby, where our teacher explained that we would be heading to a cafe named The Theorist just minutes away, to spend our morning class surrounded by the sweet and savory scents of pastries baking in the oven. The walk there, despite being short, gave the group a taste of the beaming Cretan sun. We arrived at the cafe, faces tinged pink from the heat, and were greeted with tasteful architecture and shelves lined with books. The time spent in the cafe went to good use, with most students putting sizeable dents in their essays and culminating tasks, which they needed to complete as the program comes to an end all too soon. 

Class time was spent a bit differently across the various courses within our program. The Ancient Civilizations class began their day by walking to the Guora Gate, also known as the “Big Gate” in English. Students from this course explained to me that this gate was constructed by the Venetians when they took over the old city and built new fortifications around it. The gate served as an entrance to the new, walled Venetian city. After their walk, they made their way to the same cafe my class was working at, finding a spot on the second floor. There, their teacher taught them about the beginnings of Rome, including how their government functioned and how it eventually turned into a dictatorship under Julius Caesar. Callie, a student from this class, exclaimed, “The Big Gate was incredible to see in person, I love how we are walking distance from so many historical sites.”

The Photography class had a relatively similar morning to ours, wandering around the new island and taking countless pictures of their surroundings. They focused on using focal point and rule of thirds to capture the best shots, before eventually settling in at a cafe close to ours, chatting and getting snacks to refuel. Zara, a photography student, explained to me, “The next unit is portraiture, and our models are our peers in the program,” which sounds interesting!

Finding Our Footing in Crete 

Class ended at 11:30 a.m., and everyone was told to meet in the lobby for 11:45 a.m. for our orientation tour of Rethimno – the city we’ll be calling home until our late-night ferry back to Athens on Friday. We gathered in the room where announcements will be held for the rest of our stay, and met our tour guide, Kostas. Before setting off to roam the city with our guide, he shared with us a brief history of Crete. He explained that it’s the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean and home to roughly 650,000 people. Crete is also known as the birthplace of one of Europe’s oldest and most advanced civilizations – the Minoans.

After this introduction, we began our walking tour of the city. It’s about a 25 minute walk into the heart of Rethimno. The streets were lined with a mix of off-white buildings with rust-coloured brick roofs, along with bursts of pink flowering trees. For the length of the walk, the glowing sun bathed us in its warmth, our only solace being the cool breeze traveling from the sea as we walked along the port. Upon arrival, Kostas familiarized us with the area, and took us to a few historical sites. One site that stood out to me was the Romindi Fountain, which Kostas explained had evolved over the 16th -19th centuries. It bears a Latin inscription, a nobleman’s coat of arms, and both a lion’s head and a man’s head carved into the stone. 

Once the tour came to an end, we had free time to explore the now slightly familiar city. Some students browsed shops, others worked on assignments or lingered over lunch, while a few simply wandered the streets, soaking in the beauty of Rethimno.

A Taste of Crete

Our exploration of the city came to an end at 2:00 p.m., everyone gathering in the lobby to either be sent off for more class time, or prepare to head out to the next optional excursion: cooking! Students who opted out of this excursion spent their time working to complete various tasks –  essays for English, 20 minute presentations for Ancient Civilizations, and serious photo editing for the Photography students. Those of us who chose to go on the excursion rushed to our rooms to prepare for our next experience, ridding ourselves of our sweat-slicked clothes and instead putting on clothes we were ready to have stained with our best attempts at preparation of traditional Greek cuisine. 

The 40 minute bus ride to Ippokoronio, Nipos was not only stunning on the outside, but special on the inside as the small group of us got to know each other better. Even as we near the end of our program, we continue to understand that we all have so much more to learn about each other–only making us wish for more time together. We drove by a lengthy beach, waters as beautifully blue as a peacock’s feathers, and our guide for this excursion, Vincent, explained to us that we were in a circle of nature’s contrasts. Looking out the right side of the bus, you can see the charming waters of the beach mentioned above, and looking out the left side, an unforgettable stretch of mountains. From the slopes of the mountain, fresh, clear water rushes down its jagged edges to meet the needs of the earth below, keeping the area nourished and populated with an expanse of what seems like every kind of bright green tree, year-round. 

Once we arrived at the quaint village of Nipos, we headed excitedly to our cooking stations, tossing on our aprons and observing the ingredients laid out in front of us. 

First dish up: gamista (pronounced yeh-mee-sta) – stuffed vegetables! We were tasked with removing the tops of vibrant red tomatoes, scooping out and saving the juicy insides to add to the stuffing later. Next, we removed the top of a green pepper, discarding the seeds inside. Lastly, we prepared zucchini, hollowing out a portion of the inside with the end of a spoon to make room for a savory rice filling. The filling, rice, spices, leftover tomato and zucchini, and of course, olive oil, complemented the vegetables perfectly. Once stuffed, the vegetables were placed in a large tray, but not yet in the oven.

The next food we prepared was dolmathes (pronounced dol-maa-deez) – stuffed grape leaves.  This was a bit tricky for first-timers. Each of us was handed a grape leaf, its damp surface cooling down my hand as it rested in my palm – a welcoming feeling to combat the warmth spilling into the restaurant through the large glassless windows. Our chef demonstrated how to fold the leaves, and we followed suit. Using the stuffing from the gamista, we placed small amounts in the centre of the leaf and folded as neatly as possible. Some rolls came out perfect cylinders, others…not so much. The misshapen ones brought forth plenty of laughter from the group. Our dolmathes joined the gamista in the same tray before being sent to the oven for an hour and a half.

Our next dish was a traditional Cretan dish called dakos, which piqued the group’s interest. We were given bread called paximadi, double-baked bread that dries and hardens, allowing it to be stored for long periods before being rehydrated. On the bread we placed grated tomato, Cretan cheese, oregano, olive oil, and optionally, an olive on top. We set them aside, allowing the sweet tomato juice to soften the bread. 

Our next two dishes were classic Greek staples we’ll definitely be making at home. We began with a staple throughout our trip: tzatziki! We mixed fresh Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, salt, oregano and olive oil, to create a tangy, garlicky dip that pairs perfectly with countless dishes. We quickly moved on to Greek salad, which turned into a friendly competition, girls versus boys, to see who could prepare the best salad the fastest. Knives hit rhythmically against our chopping boards as we sliced through vegetables, keeping the pieces chunky for authenticity. The verdict: the boys won, mastering the art of chunky-vegetable-cutting.

Our final dish was our treat for the night: cheese pies. Using handmade dough, we ran it through a manual pasta maker to flatten it, then placed cheese inside, folded it over, and used a roller knife to trim the excess, creating a dumpling-like shape. 

As we waited for the gamista, we feasted on our appetizers, the scent of spices and hard work filling the air. After dinner, we wandered through the small town of Nipos, eventually stopping at a basketball court. There, two local boys joined Brennan, William and Chris from our group, for a heated game before we returned to the restaurant for our final treat, the cheese pies. We ate our dessert and socialized, building deeper bonds with each other and making memories that will stick with us for years to come. It was now time to head back to Rethimno, bid farewell and go to sleep. 

What My Heart Took Home

Today was a day full of connection and culture. Being placed in a new environment can be overwhelming at first, but learning to adapt alongside new peers strengthens the bonds between you. Through food, laughter, and shared experiences, we didn’t just learn recipes – we learned a little more about each other, and about how joy can be found in the simplest of moments.

Tomorrow 

Stay tuned for our next blog: a morning in Chania, Crete. A charming city to learn and explore in. 

Sunday, August 10th

Today we’re fortunate to have two travel blogs for you. The first one is from Kahli in Ms. Amelio’s English class.

Headed to Crete

As the doors of the elevator creak open, I make direct eye contact with two of my classmates. The smell of metal rushes to my nose, and I note that the elevator can only fit a few people, like two peas in a pod. They offer to take both my suitcase and my roommate’s, despite the limited room, so we don’t get crushed like a can. When we all meet up in the lobby with our belongings, we learn that we have to store our luggage in a storage closet on floor -1. We begin piling suitcases into the elevator, and I get in with them to help put them away. However, instead of going down, the elevator has the audacity to go up and down like a yo-yo. It takes forever to finally get to the destination. Soon, we lock the doors and head out into the town in groups, since we still have time before the ferry.

For breakfast, my friends and I end up in a veritable Disney Land. It’s a magical place of Greek twinkle lights, fake flowers, moving animatronics, and decorative cutouts ready for your next Insta moment. We were in “Snow White in KookLand,” a perfect breakfast spot in Athens to enjoy a cheesecake, a fruit salad, or any magical dessert your tastebuds could desire. As we sat there laughing, chatting, and taking photos, we realized we had been there for a couple of hours and had to get back to catch the bus.

Windy roads led us gracefully to the port while we listened to Kahli’s music blasting on the bus—the perfect backdrop. Little did we know we were in for a surprise. Under the hot, blazing sun, we waited for hours while the port authorities frantically tried to organize a thousand people. Whistles blew here, whistles blew there, whistles kept blowing everywhere! We were herded like sweaty cattle onto the awaiting SeaJets. Ferries have a funny way of boarding people, and we truly looked like a herd of cattle.

After what felt like a lifetime, our long-awaited journey to Crete finally began.

I wish I could tell you what went on during the ferry ride on the famous “Vomit Comet,” but truthfully, I was sleeping. Luckily, I’m a good sleeper, and those who weren’t simply took gravol. The ones who didn’t felt sick from the gentle rolling of the sea. As I slept, my friend Mikayla from the Ancient Civilization class was working on her essay about Alexander the Great. She explained that not only was Alexander “great” but so was the ferry. She admitted that she “actually really enjoyed it, and got a lot of sleep!” According to my other friend Zara, from the photography course, the ferry was simply “chaotic.” How different each of our experiences were. For Zara, “it was kind of like being on an airplane,” with all the seats facing forward and turbulent at times, but it got us there nonetheless. Sadly, when I asked her how her day went, she said, “Not good, I give it a 3/10.”

After a day that felt like it would never end, we finally made it, with everyone’s two feet back on the island of Crete! But the challenges didn’t end there. We continued our journey as a herd of cows in cars and buses as everyone attempted to leave the port all at once. Luckily, it was only a 15-minute drive.

By the time we got to the hotel, ate our dinner, signed in, and did room checks, it was just past midnight. As I waited my turn to shower, I thought about everything that had happened today and on this trip. I thought about the people I’ve met, the connections I’ve made, the new places I’ve seen, and the new experiences I’ve tried. Yes, we ended up stranded on Tinos for another day before going back to Athens and then to Crete, but it’s about the journey, not just the destination. And that’s what truly makes it magical, special, and unforgettable.

Follow us tomorrow as we have our first full day of classes and whatever adventures await us. Hopefully, our mysterious luck holds up!

The second travel blog comes from Callum in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class. Enjoy!

The Vomit Comet

I could feel my skin roasting under the scorching sun as we finally walked to the ferry. It was early afternoon, around 1:45 p.m., August 10th, 2025. But let me rewind a little. 

Speaking for the group, I would say that we had just gotten the best sleep of the entire program on this quick stopover in Athens. Simon, from the photography class, even exclaimed that, “These beds felt like sleeping on a cloud!” – and he wasn’t exaggerating. We began the day with a delicious breakfast at the Achilles hotel, which Bertan had managed to book for us at the last minute. 

Now you might be wondering, why the last-minute change. It is a well-known fact that the winds on Tinos are quite unpredictable… and they did not blow in our favour on August 8th. This left Bertan and the Global Summers Academy head office to figure out how they would get us to Crete safely. In the end, the team came to a solution: we would stay an extra night in Tinos, take a ferry back to Athens, stay the night, and finally take the aptly nicknamed “Vomit Comet” on Sunday to the island of Crete. 

So there I was, walking through the streets of Athens, dragging my luggage. It made a soft click, click, click sound as it rolled over the smooth, shiny stone sidewalk, worn down from hundreds of years of foot traffic. The morning had been relatively uneventful so far, and we were given a couple of hours of free time after breakfast to explore, as we had to be checked out of our rooms by 10:15 a.m. 

Most of us decided to wait in the lobby during this free time, as the scorching heat of Athens is no joke. The bus ride to the Port of Piraeus was a sweet relief; the icy-cold air conditioner helped to combat the relentless heat. However, all good things must come to an end, and the sweltering temperatures returned as we disembarked the bus. The waiting area at the port was completely outdoors and offered little to no shade, making what was only an hour wait feel like an eternity. 

Finally, we saw the catamaran-style ferry enter the harbour, with the words “SeaJets” painted on the side. Our ferry began to dock, making a heavy WRSSSHHH sound as it drew closer to land. The ramp at the rear began to unfold and crashed into the ground with a loud thud. Moments later, people and vehicles began to pour out the back like ants leaving their mound. 

When the unloading was complete, the port became a melee of people moving towards the ramp to board. I decided to hoist my hefty suitcase above my head and slip between the many cars. I swiftly wove my way to a rack and placed my luggage on the middle shelf before heading up the stairwell towards the ticket check. 

Once again, the refreshing blast of air conditioning was welcomed with open arms. Everyone from the Global Summers Academy group was seated in one large section, and as you might expect, we swapped seats around so that friends could sit together… in a rather disorganized fashion, as would be expected of teenagers. 

Just as quickly as it had docked, the SeaJet began to pull away from the port. According to Calleigh from the history class, the open sea appeared to “roll and dip more than the dunes of the Sahara desert”. I popped my earbuds in and drifted off to the land of sleep. 

When I awoke, I was starving. My instincts told me what to do: purchase a SeaJet delicacy, the sausage roll. Although the food was simple, it felt like a 5-star curated meal, perfectly satisfying my hunger. 

I returned to my seat and began to watch the show Invincible with my friends, although that was very short-lived, as we only had a couple episodes downloaded. For the final stretch of our odyssey, I decided to read some more of the novel Circe for class.

Before I knew it, we were docking in the Port of Rethimno. We grabbed our luggage, disembarked the ferry, and hastily loaded everything onto the chartered bus. When we arrived at the Olympic Palladium Hotel, it was past 11:00 p.m., and dinner should have been long finished. However, the glorious staff had kept the buffet open just for our tired crew, which was a very pleasant surprise. After dinner, we were shown to our rooms and entered what can only be described as a well-deserved deep slumber. 

That’s all for today. Check in tomorrow for a post about our first full day on the largest Greek island, Crete. There are numerous settlements and ancient civilizations to explore, plenty to share when we return to Canada, now only nine days away. 

Blog writer Callum signing off…

Wednesday, August 6^th

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I can’t believe we have already reached the midway point. I hope you have been following our Instagram account: @gsagreeceaugust2025. With the stories, posts and reels, I have tried to give you all a small window into what it’s like to be on a Global Summers Program.

 In just 13 days, we have visited so many places and done so many things. From exploring Athens and hiking to the top of the Acropolis, to taking our very first ferry ride to the beautiful island of Syros, to getting lost in the charming streets of Mykonos, making new friends from GSA’s Double Credit Program, to sunset swims and volleyball tournaments at the Dolphin Bay Resort. We have also learned how to use the metro, for many students, for the very first time.

I am amazed at how well this group of students has immersed themselves in the Greek culture. Not only are they keeping up with their schoolwork, but they are making time to explore the architecture, history, art and food that this incredible country has to offer.

We, as staff, have tried to expose them to as many of these incredible places as possible each day. Whether in-class, by taking them to so many breathtaking historical sites, gardens, cafes and galleries or outside of class by taking them to the “must see” locations in each region.

What is amazing is that we have managed to do all this on foot. After all, the best way to explore the European continent is by walking around. We have averaged over 20,000 steps a day. Despite all this, this amazing group of students has spent very little time at the hotel. Even with all the walking around, they are still taking the opportunities to go out each night and explore some more on their own. From back-to-school clothes shopping, to finding that perfect gift for family and friends back home, to chasing sunsets and new gelato places, they have been doing it all.

I am very excited to share the second half of our program with them. We still have many places to explore, many sunrises and sunsets to chase, more gelato to taste and most importantly many more lifetime memories to make.

Please stay tuned for many more stories and reels to come your way.

On behalf of all the staff on our program, thank you for giving your child this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We will make sure they remember this for a very long time.

Yassas for now,

Bertan

Program Manager

Greece August Program

 

 

Saturday, August 9th

Today’s blog post is brought to you by Kahli in Ms. Hrvatin’s English class.

Travel Journal

The day started quietly, sitting in an outdoor classroom space. The air was warm, carrying a faint salty smell from the sea nearby. This morning, we went over the structure of an essay: how to make a hook and introduction pull someone in, how to keep body paragraphs connected, and how to end strong. Then Ms. Hrvatin sent us to work independently in the lobby. We all got comfortable and started writing while others read. The steady tapping of laptop keys and the sound of pages turning as people tried to finish the book made the lobby feel calm and focused.

While we worked, other classes had their own lessons. The photography group learned how to blur backgrounds so the subject in the foreground becomes the main focus. Dylan told me it was “a good skill to learn because now they could take photos of flowers with all the details popping while the rest fades away, making the image look really pretty.” The Ancient Civilizations class was also busy. Callie and Mykala were working on essays debating whether Alexander the Great truly deserved his title. Callie said “the extra work time was a relief” because she’d been a little behind and finally got the chance to catch up.

By lunchtime, the calm morning was over. We headed into the main town of Tinos and stepped onto busy streets full of chatter and clinking dishes. The smell of grilled meat drifted from somewhere ahead, so we followed it straight to a local restaurant. The gyros were unreal—warm pita, juicy meat, creamy tzatziki. They somehow tasted even better than the last time we were here! We sat outside, soaking up the sun and enjoying our food like we didn’t have anywhere else to be.

After lunch the reality hit. We finally had a ferry to catch. The bus ride to the port was short, but the heat made it feel longer. The water sparkled in the sun, fishing boats bobbing lazily, while the constant chatter of people waiting for ferries filled the air with a restless energy. Our ferry was about an hour late, so we sat on our bags and waited. Some of us dozed off, trying to ignore the growing impatience. The wind whipped my hair into my face, salty and sharp, and the air smelled like a strange mix of sea salt and diesel fumes. The longer we waited, the more my excitement turned into that tired, impatient “let’s just get moving already” feeling.

When the ferry finally arrived, it looked huge and steady, the kind of ship that made you think the ride would be smooth. That illusion didn’t last long. We boarded, relieved to be on our way, and settled into business class, which had cushioned seats and a small but impressive café. Not even thirty minutes into the five-hour trip, the waves started hitting us. At first, it was just a gentle rocking, but even that was enough to make my stomach turn. Soon, a lot of people were pale and quiet, focused on just getting through it. This was all a learning experience and truly taught us what it means to be travelers. 

While on the ferry, most of us wandered out of business class to grab snacks from the ferry’s restaurant. Our haul included chips, pastries, burgers, and cold drinks, we were stocking up for the rest of the ride.

By the time we docked in Athens, it was dark. Stepping onto solid ground felt strange, like my legs had to relearn how to stand still, still having that swaying sensation in my mind. We rolled our suitcases over cobblestone streets, past shuttered shops and quiet alleys, until we finally reached the hotel. The lobby’s warm lighting and soft chairs felt like the perfect ending to a long day. We went straight up to our new rooms and fell into bed.

Looking back, the morning and afternoon felt like two completely different days, one calm and planned, the other unpredictable and exhausting. I think that’s what travel is, though: the steady and the chaotic mixed together, both shaping the experience in their own way.

Tomorrow, we head back to the port. Another ferry, another ride all the way to Crete. Hopefully this one treats us a little better, but Bertan likes to call it the “Vomit Comet,” so… no promises.