Maritza Herrera-Diaz @maritzaherreradiaz - Tumblr Blog

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Abridged Recapitulation

“I didn’t do Westminster right.” This thought often crosses my mind when I reflect on my undergraduate years. As a commuter student from the west side, I spent my time on campus napping or eating between classes, pulling late nights in the now non-existent basement computer lab in Giovali Library, or occasionally attending on-campus events for The Forum. I devoted my free time to working multiple…

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Epilogue

Monday, July 14, 2025 My younger brother says that life is full of touchpoints. If you discuss something enough, you’ll find people with similar experiences and perspectives, and have conversations that’ll turn into valuable information and open up opportunities. I don’t deny that, but I also believe in signs, and collective energy—that we’re all connected to each other through invisible strings…

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Last Goodbyes and Final Thoughts

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Guided Walking Tour and Highlight Tour of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, a Search for Stamps, and a Greek Cheese and Wine Pairing Farewell Dinner

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#Agia Sofia #Byzantine Church of Panagia Chalkeon #Galerius Palace #Grigoris Lambrakis Monument #Marathon Runner of Peace #Roman Forum #The Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki #The Derveni Krater #The Mosaic Floor #The Papyrus of Derveni #The Small Arch of Galerius #Thessaloniki 2025 #Venizelou Metro Station

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—The Failed Plan, the Crypt, The Jewish Museum, the Bike Ride, and the Night Cap

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#Battle Ship #BikeIT #Crypt #Crypt of Agios Demitrios #Hot Dog #Pirate Ship #The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece— St. Dionysios Monastery and Mt. Olympus E4 Trail to Water Falls

Day 6: Thursday, May 28, 2025 Mt. Olympus My favorite day. Hiking! I love to hike. I grew up near mountains and have fond memories of hiking and camping along the Wasatch and Uinta mountain ranges after classes, after work, and on weekends. It was never more than a twenty-minute drive to a trail. However, since I’ve moved to the East Coast, hiking has become a challenge. The closest mountain…

#Church of Saint Paul the Apostle #E4 trail #Mt. Olympos #Mt. Olympus #Prionia Tavern #St. Dionysios Monastery #Stavros Refuge #Thessaloniki 2025 #Travel #Waterfall #writing

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Paleos Panteleimonas, Beach Afternoon, and a Family Dinner for One

Day 5: Wednesday, May 27, 2025 The Bus Ride: Adaptable. If I had one word to describe my companions, I’d say “adaptable” would come before “affable.” Both would be appropriate, especially on Paleos Panteleimonas’ day. Our adventure began at 8:45 A.M. with a one-hour drive to one of the southernmost faces of the foothills of Mt. Olympus. At the rest stop, I enjoyed my first full view of Mount…

#Agios Panteleimonas #Chani-Traditional Tavern #Katouni Ladadika #Mt. Olympos #Mt. Olympus #Paleos Panteleimonas #Panteleimon Beach #Thessaloniki 2025 #Travel #Travel log #writing

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece— An Archaeological Walk Around Thessaloniki, The Refugee Center Debrief, the Olive Oil Tasting, and the Legends and Folklore

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#Ancient Agora #Ancient archaeologiy #Byzantine #Church of Agios Dimitrio #Church of Saint George (The Rotunda)#folklore #Heptapyrgion #Klea #Legends #Olive Oil Tasting #Ottomon #Pee Boy #the Arch of Galerius (Kamara)#the Church of Panagia Deksia #the Church of Saint Panteleimon #Thessaloniki 2025 #Trigoniou Tower #Venetian #Yedi Kule

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—The Refugee Care Center

Day 4, Part 1: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 A panicked morning Burning. It was the familiar irritating warmth of a bite—a trail of them. I must be dreaming. “Switch dreams.” No, a burning, itching sensation ran up and down my upper arm. Sleepily, I ran my fingers over them and felt the risen skin of welts. “No. Not again. Wake up. Wake up.” I forced myself awake and stumbled my way to the light…

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Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—The Markets, The White Tower, Message, and A History of the Mediterranean Diet

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#Food Markets #Kapani Market #Mediterranean Diet #Thessaloniki 2025 #White Tower

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—The MOMus, Welcome Dinner, and Venizelou Metro Station

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#Alexander the Great #archaeological site #Double rainbow #Ernest Hébrard #MOMUS #Roman Ruins #Thessaloniki 2025 #Thessaloniki Street Food Festival #Travel #Venizelou Metro Station

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Gerovassiliou Winery

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#blog #europe #Gerovassiliou Winery #greece #sculpture art #Thessaloniki 2025 #Travel #Wine #writing

Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—The Never-Ending-Day

Day 1: Saturday, May 24, 2025 The First Flight: NYC to Zurich I must have had a face when I arrived in Thessaloniki. It had been a long 32 hours of no sleep. My day started on Friday morning. My father and youngest brother had flown in to catsit for me—a free place to stay in New York in return for catsitting was not a bad deal. But they’d arrived at LaGuardia around ten in the morning, and I’d…

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Thessaloniki 2025: Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Pre-Trip Meetings

First impressions The trip to Thessaloniki was the inaugural group, and I didn’t know what to expect. I’d be lying if I said I logged off the first meeting feeling comforted by my decision. The truth is, I felt a sense of panic. My travel companions varied in age, degrees held, personal interests, and life experiences—that part was interesting. What scared me was how articulate they were and how…

#Diary #group travel #Reflection #Thessaloniki 2025

Thessaloniki 2025: Legends and Libations: An Alumni Journey Through Greece—Pre-Trip

In January 2025, Westminster University announced the inaugural Return to May Term Alumni Travel Program. This is my personal story as it applies to that trip. I will post about the trip in segments. The trip was nine days long, and the experiences have given me a lot to reflect on, and thus, I will post as I finalize my thoughts about each experience. Signing up “I didn’t do Westminster…

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#Diary #Thessaloniki 2025 #Travel #Westminster Return to May Term

Poscards From Abroad-The Roommate

Ixmcane Diaz “Grandpa. Please! Do something!” Emory Jade’s desperate pleas echoed down the hall. “You know it wasn’t him!” The pitch of her voice heightened with her distress. “He didn’t do it. You know he didn’t.” Her shouting turned to muffled cries as the door closed. Two officers kept watch outside the door. Metal bracelets once again tethered him to the bed frame. A monotone voice read off…

Postcards from Abroad: The Officer

Ixmucane Diaz “Kieran? Kieran, wake up!” Hands shaking him. A gasp. His gasp for air. “Oh, thank God! We thought we’d lost you!” A memory.Blue-green eyes. Panic. A desperate scream. “I gotta get her out of here.” A hollow boom. Darkness. He was cold. A draft of air blew from above him. Goosebumps lined his exposed arms. He tried to pull the covers over himself, only to feel metal rings…

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Maritza Herrera-Diaz