During this hectic time students are studying for final exams and finishing classes. Imagine traveling on numerous cruises, partaking in boisterous and fun-filled nightlife, visiting ancient ruins, and walking lazily along the coast of islands.
Quinnipiac’s Hellenic Society has made this dream possible. From July 6 through July 27, members of the Hellenic Society will be accompanying any students who want to attend a cruise to the Greek Isles.
During these three weeks, students will visit Athens, home of the Parthenon and the Acropolis. They will also take part in an overnight cruise to Rhodes, and they will have the opportunity to visit the islands of Patmos and Kalymnos.
During these day trips, the students will experience such wonders as walking inside of an inactive volcano and cruising the islands in canoes.
The days are planned via an itinerary. However, according to Maria Athanasopoulos, president of the Hellenic Society, the nights and certain days are geared towards personal time. Also, the schedules are loosely planned for the allowance of leisure time.
“If you don’t want to get up one morning to participate in events, you don’t have to,” said Athanasopoulos.
The American Institute for Dodecanesian Studies is sponsoring the trip. The Hellenic Society became aware of the trip through an association that Athanasopoulos has with the vice president of the organization, Dimos Triantasillou.
“The trip is seen as an educational journey to learn about Greece,” said Athanasopoulos. “But it’s not all historical. The nightlife is pretty crazy. The Greek Islands were voted the number two hot spot on ‘E’, the entertainment channel.”
Anyone is welcome to go on the trip. For a college student, the price is $1,950 and it is inclusive of hotels, airfare, transportation to and from airports, breakfast and dinner, all cruise boats, and admissions to the museums.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a great deal,” said Athanasopoulos. “You see such amazing places and you will never in your life have a trip like this for this amount of money again.”
Next year, the Hellenic Society plans on sponsoring the trip. They also plan to host a Greek festival and a ski trip to Montreal. In addition, they will participate in the Greek festival at Saint Barbara’s Church in Orange, Conn., and they will also raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, which supports children suffering from leukemia and cancer.
Since the Hellenic Society officially began this year, they have done little in the way of campus activity so far. However, on May 2 they will be hosting a Greek pastry sale in the Student Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Anyone interested in attending the trip to the Greek Isles should contact Maria Athanasopoulos at x 6229 or email [email protected].