Being active on vacation can be hard. Instead of working out, you decide to sleep in and lay out at the pool, or explore the nearby town. Exercising can become a nuisance, and you will quickly decide to give up on your plans to stay fit. One easy way to stay in shape while you are on vacation, or studying abroad, is to involve yourself with active activities during the day. Try to force yourself to walk to town instead of taking a cab, or take the stairs up to your room instead of an elevator. A really great idea to workout while sightseeing is to go on a hike!
Beautiful views taken during the hike and from the Armenistis Lighthouse.
We were lucky enough to have one of our professors from our trip, Tom Mueller, organize two amazing hikes. Our first hike as a group was on the Greek Island of Mykonos! Our designated hike planner, Professor Tom Mueller, decided to organize this hike in Mykonos because he had completed it in the past. Professor Mueller "knew students would love the experience and the photo ops. Also to get the group photos, that builds camaraderie and promotes friendships." This hike was about 1 mile long, and consisted of a mostly uphill trek. Thankfully, this uphill road meant the walk back was all downhill! The end point of our hike was at the Armenistis Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1891, and has a gorgeous view of the water, and the neighboring islands. Professor Mueller believes these hikes and activities "[add] value for the students. Extra events that become memories."
Starting at top left: Gaby, Brittany, Annie, Ashley, Katy, Hope, Alexa, Hana, Alena
Hana Dawood chose to hike up to Armenistis Lighthouse, because she wanted to see the amazing views. However, this was not the only reason, she also wanted to "challenge [herself] to endure the hike for the experience."
Brittany Lewis at the Armenistis Lighthouse.
Brittany admitted that the reason she decided to be a part of the hike was because she "wanted to see where we were from a different perspective". You can see the island, and its beauty in a certain way from eye level, but when you see it from above you get a completely different view. This gives you a "heightened sense of location, and it finally hits you where you are."
From top left: Marissa Sunshine, Maria Marren, Julia Frohlich, Gabby Seiler, Laurel Biddy, Julianna Musumeci
Laurel Biddy decided to join the hike because she wanted to visit the Armenistis Lighthouse while in Mykonos, Greece. She also knew she wanted to hike at some point during her stay in Mykonos. Therefore, this hike was perfect because it was able to "combine two experiences into one."
A group picture of everyone who hiked up to the Armenistis Lighthouse in Mykonos!
Views during the hike from Fira to Oia in Santorini. In the first two pictures, you can see the mountains we hiked over. The last picture was taken in the town of Oia.
The second hike we took as a group was in Santorini, Greece. This hike was slightly over 7 miles, and consisted of both uphill and downhill trails. We began the hike in the town of Fira, where our hotel was located, and made our way to Oia. This beautiful town is on the north side of the island, and is known for its blue topped churches and white buildings. During this long hike, we passed through multiple towns, and crossed over mountains. Professor Mueller organized this hike once again; however, this time he had not fully completed the hike in the past. He had only completed parts of the hike, but he “knew it was epic”. This hike was so beautiful and it felt like every corner you turned, the views were even more gorgeous.
Shelby Cohron, Marissa Sunshine, Taylor Torok, Gabby Seiler, Stephanie Cabral, Li Stalder
Gabby Seiler wanted to take on the 7 mile hike because she wanted to push herself. She is an athlete and a runner, so she knew she was capable of making the distance, but she was nervous for the terrain. "Going up and down mountains is not easy, especially when we live in Florida with its flat landscape. I wanted to see what I was capable of doing, and push myself to go farther." She was so happy she took part in this hike, because she loved the views and the people.
Taylor Torok admiring the view during the hike to Oia.
Taylor Torok decided to join the hike to challenge herself. She said, "I knew the views would be pretty, so I felt like I had to do it. I absolutely loved the hike and would do it again in a heartbeat. It was even better because I got to do it with a bunch of my friends!"
The first group picture was taken before we started the hike, and the second two were taken after we had hiked about 4 miles.
Next time you are on vacation, or in a new country, try to challenge yourself. You may see some great views, and you may realize you are capable of doing more than you thought!
