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CRETE, Greece (NNS) -- Sailors of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) got to experience wonders while on a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tour of Athens and a few of the surrounding areas.
From a historical standpoint, Athens is considered to be the birthplace of democracy. The Western world as we know it looks at the ancient civilization as the foundation of everything that came afterward. It's no surprise then that the city is a popular tourist attraction, for the history, the scenery, culture and the overall experience.
Sailors of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) got to experience these wonders while on a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tour of Athens and a few of the surrounding areas. The tour included a walkthrough of historical sites that most people only learned about in school. It was an opportunity to connect with the past and those who set a precedent for the rest of western civilization.
"I just love the whole Greek experience, whether it's the rich culture, the passionate people or their long history, it's all incredible to me," said Lt. Nicolette Hall, the naval liaison officer from USS Hue City (CG 66). "For us Americans these are the places that many of us read about or watch on TV, so it fills me with joy that I've been here in person."
Once Sailors arrived in mainland Greece, they began the tour by visiting the Olympic Stadium, the Parthenon and other temples around the Acropolis. Then they learned about the history behind those sites at the nearby Acropolis Museum.
"Walking on the grounds where one of the most famous civilizations stood thousands of years ago gives me such an awe-inspiring feeling, especially the view from atop the Acropolis," said Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Isabelle Pollack. "Before the Navy, I thought I was never going to go anywhere outside of California, and I never thought I would see Athens in my entire life. Yet, here I am. "
In addition to seeing many of the historical sites around Athens, Sailors had the opportunity to walk around town, shop at the local stores and eat at the local restaurants.
"In our line of work, I feel it's incredibly important to stop and appreciate the small bits of joy," said Hall. "I love shopping for souvenirs, and the food is absolutely delicious. It's small moments like that which brightens my mood."
The last part of the tour took Sailors to Cape Sounion, which is home to the Temple of Poseidon. There, they learned about the history of the temple and why the area is considered to be the gateway to the Aegean Sea.
"Standing here and looking out to the Aegean, I notice how quiet it is except for the sound of the waves, and it is such a wonderful moment," said Pollack. "I will always treasure all of this for the rest of my life. It's something I can check off my bucket list."
As the sun sets over the Aegean Sea, Sailors made their way back to the ferry, leaving Athens with joy in their hearts and an experience that not many get to have. Whether it was the food, the people, the local culture or the historical sites, they walked away with memories and a story to tell their loved ones back home.
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests.
For more news from USS George H.W. Bush visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn77 or www.facebook.com/ussgeorgehwbush/.
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Story was originally posted to Navy.mil on March 23, 2017, and may be found at http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=99491.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2018 09:03 |
| Story ID: | 263357 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A Tour of a Lifetime, by PO2 Mario Coto, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
