Day 6

We all struggled with the early start this morning which resulted in a late breakfast.

Our morning task was to paint the outside kerb edges in white around the Old Prison. There was a lot to do but between us we got the work done in a few hours - 'many hands make light work'~ Jodie Sabin

We also swept the paths and did some general cleaning. 

We also had to clean our messy room and do some work cleaning at the centre ready for this evening as someone from the ministry of justice was coming to visit the festival. 

A few people went to the beach for a swim whilst the rest had a challenge to complete. We had to take photos of Hermes with something beginning with each letter of the alphabet. For example for 'h' he had a picture taken with one of our hats. We managed all 26 letters

At the end of the afternoon we helped set up for the festival, we put up the posters we had made along with bin bags for people to put their rubbish in, cleaned the exhibition room and put all the chairs out in front of the stage.

Tonight's food was 'traditional' Greek pizza (exactly the same as in Wales but with more cheese) which was very big and very delicious 

After that it was the start of the festival. Things are very relaxed in Greece, the concert was supposed to start at 8.30pm but didn't get going until 9.15pm. We chatted to a couple of local teenagers who spoke very good English, their Dad had helped organise the festival with citizens in action. 

The festival involved some people talking about democracy (in Greek of course, but we clapped anyway) and they thanked us for helping with the preparation. There was also a band from Athens who played a lot of songs which we enjoyed sitting and listening to. It was different to what we expected the festival to be like but we enjoyed it.

Day 5

An early start again today but some people have started to adapt to the early starts and late nights. We started off this morning by going to work to paint the fountain with the base coat ready for tomorrow's work. While a few went and sanded the paint on the equipment in the local park near the prison, finishing that at 11:30 most decided to have a shower seen as most of the paint was left on them rather than the fountain. 

We then had lunch which was similar to lentil soup but called 'fakés' which is a typical traditional Greek meal. After lunch we had a wide discussion about the fountain and what was going to be our theme and what we would centre in the arch. Then we started to draw and write Greek posters for the festival asking people to put rubbish in the bin. The posters were all in Greek and then after we practised jac-y-dôr ready to show the Greek dancers. 

After that we all had a walk down to get ice cream. The ice cream was yummy and fresh so everyone enjoyed it. When we came back from the ice cream parlour we got changed and met the Greek dancer that had came to teach us and started off at the basics steps in the dances. It took some time after going it over and over again but we got there. So we all enjoyed it and some people had a Greek side that came out but some were shocking to the eye but had the best effort by far. Then we started to teach them jac-y-dor and they caught on better than we did at learning their dances. 

We then had a quick change and off for a meal in the restaurant where we ate mousáke with feta cheese and salad. 

Then we sat outside and performed some poems, songs and tales about Wales and the history behind them. We explained the story behind the Welsh flags and many more but we also did some traditional guides songs.  

Furthermore as for our game LILI won and showed that she was the most devious person in our group. 

Thank you to Yorgos, who will unfortunately be leaving tomorrow, for helping with preparing the expedition. 

Day 4

This morning we started work at 8. We began by brushing the walls of the old prison which have been vandalised with graffiti. Then we painted them white, it dried instantly in the heat. Finally we painted a cream colour coat to make the prison look clean for the exhibition. 

After this, we cleaned the fountain ready for painting tomorrow. 

After work, we had free time - some of us had a nap, whilst some of us helped to prepare lunch and then played cards. 

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Today began the first day playing the game "Assasin" 

It's sort of like cluedo; we all randomly selected a name, weapon and place from a hat and our mission is to 'get' that person. For example: Ruth, with a flip flop in the Kitchen. The aim is to be the last one standing...

Next, we had our second day of Greek lessons from Yorgos and Giovanna. Megan and Rachael are proving to be pretty good at learning Greek and began a competition between themselves - 'who can say 'Kalimera' (good morning) to the most Greek locals" They like it a lot when we speak their language. 

Yorgos then did some activities with us about Democracy. We went to the cell we cleared yesterday and set up the exhibition ready for Friday. Furthermore, we learnt about the period in the 70's when Greece was in a dictatorship and found out that people had no freedom of speech. They were locked in prisons such as the one we are staying in for having a different political opinion. 

Finally this evening we went to the local market and bought some traditional Greek worry beads called Koboloi. For dinner we had calamari, everybody tried it (some of us for the first time.) Libby ate two massive portions she loved it so much. 

Hope you're all well at home... 

Day 3 - Oropos

7:30 wake up didn't go down well with everyone...

After breakfast we began our first day of work. We split into two groups and divided the tasks to be done between us. One group: Megan, Rachael, Ruth, Hannah and Jodie were responsible for clearing out the cell of the old prison; which we will be setting up an exhibition in over our time here in Greece. We brushed all the plaster from the ceiling and got a 'little bit' dusty. We wore masks and protective gloves to keep safe. 

Whilst they did this, the other group: Libby, Lili, Naiomi, Julie and Liz, picked litter from the large area around the prison (left behind from the concert last night) and filled 2and1/2 black bags of rubbish. 

At 10:30 we had our break, and swapped over. Jodie's group finished the litter picking and Julie's group washed the floors of the cell - Naoimi got a bit excited with the hosepipe, Libby got slightly drenched! 

For lunch we all got involved in making traditional Greek Tzatiki - it tastes very different to what it does at home. 

We smothered ourselves in sun cream and made our second trip to the beach. This time there was a lifeguard so we could swim in the sea :) Even though it was 39degrees today, (much hotter than yesterday) we've all become accustomed to the warm weather - so much better than that at home. 

Also, on our walk back we bought our first ice cream in Oropos. 

In our free time we played cards (again) - just to let you know: Rachael finally won a game! 

We also decided to give each other nicknames - as there's 7 of us we thought the 7 dwarfs seemed appropriate. 

Doc - Naiomi (for being a natural leader)

Happy - Ruth (for always having a smile on her face)

Sleepy - Megan (for being the champion of falling asleep first every night so far)

Bashful - Rachael (very giggly...) 

Dopey - Hannah (some interesting comments made) 

Sneezy - Lili (we're constantly saying "bless you") 

Grumpy suited nobody so Libby has adopted the name 'tiny' (for being the tallest of the group)

This evening, we had a Greek lesson. We wrote down the Greek Alphabet and learnt how to write our names and some basic phrases in Greek. 

For food tonight we had Suvlaki, (sort of like Kebabs.) We agree this is one of the best dishes so far. 

We've really enjoyed our first first full day in Oropos and can't wait for tomorrow!! 

Day 2 - Athens/Oropos

After a good frist night sleep in Greece, we got up at 7:25am and had breakfast at 8:00am (Greek breakfast). Then at 9:30am we left the hotel and walked for about 20 minutes to the bus stop. We got on the bus at 10:05am and were on the bus to oropos for an hour-ish. When we got there we walked for five minutes to the old prison and had a little look around and had lunch (peppers stuffed with rice and meat). The some of us went to get food will others did the washing up.

Then we had free time until 4:00pm and then we had a talk about what we are going to do over the next couple of days. Then we went to beach at 5:30pm but couldn't swim because there was no life guard so we sat in the shallows.

We came back and had showers and then went out for dinner at 7:00pm.

Then we came back and listened to the local choirs sing.

Then had a bit of free time before we went to bed! 

P.s. Rachael is rubbish at cards...

First day - Athens

After staying the night at the royal holloway, we got up this morning at 3:30 am  to leave at 4:00am with breakfast No. 1 in hand (croissant). We arrived at the airport at 4:30 am and had to wait half an hour to check in.

We got on the plane and set off on time. The flight was 3 and a half hours long, but wasn't as bad because breakfast no. 2 was awaiting (cooked breakfast). We arrived at Athens at 12:10 pm, then got in the taxis/mini buses to our hotel and met Xenia from Citizens in Action. At 3:00 pm we then had our picnic lunch on the roof of the hotel. 

We then walked through Athens and met up with the local guides at 4:00pm and they took us to a little cafe that served traditional pastries and we had lots of sweet things there.

They then took us to a local park and we played a game.

We then walked back to meet up with Xenia again and said good bye to the Greek guides (rangers in Greece). We went for tea at a cute little restaurant  but we had eaten so much that we couldn't quite eat all of the three course meal. We then got taxis back to the hotel at 8:45pm, had showers and went to bed!!!!!!!!!

Our project

After months of organising raffles, bag packs, coffee evenings, parties for Brownies, curry nights, discos, afternoon teas, craft stalls and badge selling plus much more - it is nearly time to head off on our trip - just under 5 days until we have landed in Greece! It has all been the result of lots of hard work by every one of the girls taking part in the trip to fundraise for their international experience

We shall be staying in a town just north of Athens, working on restoring a lighthouse and with a local 'festival of democracy' taking place whilst we are there. Lots of extra cultural trips and activities have been planned and it's going to be an action packed two weeks

The girls will be writing the blog as we go along and we will aim to update it when we can but our internet access will be limited. We will do our best to keep you updated on our adventures!