Academic Journal Entry- Athens and the Acropolis The Birthplace of a Systematically Flawed Government Ancient Athens has been praised for over two millennia on its creation of the democratic way. The democratic system of government that was developed became the model and set precedent for nearly all of western society and what many consider to be the teleological governmental system for all nations. Yet, as I visited Athens and other parts of Greece, I began ...

Academic Journal Turkey Turkey was a place that, admittedly, I was not ready for. I stepped out of the port authority building, greeted by a security guard casually resting his arm on a semi-automatic gun as if it were as normal as the vendors on the street. I couldn't help but to think "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore." Istanbul was filled with fish having their guts removed, men coughing and then touching the corn they sold, and street vendors thro...

Istanbul, Turkey July 18th through 22nd "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay at home." -- James Michener On this journey through the Mediterranean, Turkey has definitely been a turning point in the way I view societies and peoples. I quickly realized when I first set foot in Istanbul, that I was far from a lifestyle I was warm to. For the first time in my life, I had to be a ...

Naples and Capri, Italy July 4tht through 5th "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain I woke up bright and early to do the city orientation of Naples with my friend Courtney. Not going to lie, Naples had a hard act to follow after Rome. Al...

Rome, Italy July 1st through 3rd "My most of my treasured memories of travel are recollections of sitting." -- Robert Thomas Allen Let me start off by first saying that these past five days have opened my eyes and my heart in ways I never have anticipated. Rome is absolutely unbelievable. I felt as though I was walking through history rather than simply looking at it. I fell in love with the city here, and I know I will be back soon. O...