Streets of Athens

Far and away, Athens was the easiest large city I have ever been in to find my way around. That includes Europe, Asia and the United States. There is a lot to see there, the food is good and the music is not only great to hear, but it is different from most other places I have been. We stayed at the Hotel Electra (37°58.539N 23°43.987E). The man who received us and checked us into the hotel and took care of our every need wore a name tag that read: Aggelos. He's good. http://www.ehi.com/travel/ehi/greece/athens-hotels-hotel-electra.htm


They change the Guard a couple of times a day, but the two soldiers who fulfill that duty are active almost all the time. Seems like they stand rigid for about 5 minutes, then begin their impressive march around to the far corners of their space, then join together to touch their festooned toes and return to their original location.



The great Archeological Museum is filled with familiar sights I have seen all my life - in books - and film - but suddenly they

stand in front of you only a foot or two away. They seem very different now, and always will be from now on because they seem to convey a strange sense of personality when seen from that close range.


















The Agora is the old commercial district - a farmer’s market of 3,000 years ago. Here socrates and Plato often strolled, discussing the most simple thoughts anyone ever thought. No matter how complicated they eventually turned out to be.




Politics is not always just local - or maybe "local" has a greater reach than it used to have. Great Britain has never been popular here, but the United States used to be trusted. No more. The American War in Iraq seems to have turned most of Europe against us. But I did find a lot of Greeks to be kind and sympathetic when it came to the New American Problem.

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© John Womack, 2006. All rights reserved.
Photos by Canon Elura 70 with SD card