Old Stuff and Laundry

We begin with a picture of the Parthenon taken last night at a rooftop bar. Today was essentially dad's day to drag us to all the Athens sites that nobody really goes to. First, we went to an old cemetery to look at some old grave markers.

Then we schlepped all the way up to the archaeological museum of Athens. On the plus side, this museum housed many of the things that were taken from the various sites we have seen on the islands and elsewhere.

This fresco from Akrotiri of the two keikis fighting was inside the museum along with various other well known pieces from throughout Greece and in High School textbooks. The museum, however, was poorly organized. I felt as though we had to keep passing through the same rooms to get to a new one. Then again, maybe the organization wasn't the problem. Perhaps dad was just eager to circle the museum four times - prancing around the statues as he is oft known to do.

Also, it isn't the best picture, but I felt awkward taking it. It is a "security" guard at the entrance of a staff-only area. This rotund individual was fast asleep. So, to the Greeks who insist that the Parthenon statues in the British Museum should be returned to Athens, I refer you to this photo. The security in most of these places housing priceless and irreplaceable artifacts is about the same as that of a laundromat. In D.C., to contrast, one has to pass through a metal detector, put their bags through an x-ray, and that's just for the Air & Space Museum. It is quite difficult to steal a space shuttle . . . not the case for a 2300 year old piece of pottery.

But speaking of laundromats, we paid a visit to our €5 friend again. Yes, I will be clean-ish upon my return home. So when the Canadians go through my luggage during my layover in Toronto, they won't pass out. They will, however, take my nail clippers, apartment keys, and anything else that could somehow be misconstrued to be a weapon. Things are winding down here in Athens. I just spent an hour on the hotel balcony staring off into space while the sun beat down. Our biggest decisions at this point are where to eat. These are choices not to be taken lightly. One never knows when their next meal may be.

Location:Βεΐκου,Athens,Greece