Field Visits in Greece

    Over the past two days, we embarked on a series of day trips from Tripoli to explore field sites and connect with local stakeholders.

    On Thursday, we traveled to Megalopolis, pausing en route to visit the Archaeological Museum of Tegea, where we deepened our understanding of Greek history and culture. In Megalopolis, we met with stakeholders, collaborating with them on the closure of lignite coal mines and the region’s transition to natural gas. During our discussions, they outlined their vision for the area and the challenges they face. They also guided us on a driving tour of the now-decommissioned lignite mines.

That afternoon, we continued south to Kalamata and enjoyed a relaxing visit to the coastal village of Kardamyli, where we spent time by the beach.

On Friday, we took a day trip to Sparta to visit a local olive farm. The owners had convened a group of farmers for a roundtable discussion focused on agricultural challenges and the needs of the local farming community. We toured the farm and later visited a refinery where the olives are processed into premium-grade extra virgin olive oil.

    Following that, we stopped in the town of Sparta to visit the Olive Oil Museum, where we participated in a tasting led by a certified olive oil sommelier. To round out the day, we drove to the coastal town of Gytheio for a group dinner.