Happy Birthday to me!!!
And what a birthday it was! Greek Parliament is voting on new austerity measures today (Oct. 20), so protesters were out in full force yesterday. Of course, this means the country is virtually shut down as the people either a) take to the streets to march or b)stay home. The metro was closed until 9 am - so I rode to school with Steve. School was fairly uneventful - but I was allowed to take a long lunch! :) Ashton and I walked to a small square near the school and ate lunch at Haagen Dazs. I had a chocolate banana crepe that was amazing!
After school, we had teacher meetings, so I didn't leave school until about 4:30. and that's when the day started to get really interesting! Since the government buildings are in Syntagma Square, that metro stop was shut down. Unfortunetly, that's where all the trains switch, so I couldn't get to my stop. Instead, I rode the blue line down to Monastiraki and got off there. I had a map, but I wasn't sure exactly how to get home, so I just started walking. There were tons, I mean TONS! of people in the area and I soon realized why. I was headed directly toward Syntagma. Not exactly where a young American should be - petrol bombs and tear gas are not my idea of great birthday presents! I took a side street and headed through the Plaka unil I ended up at the Acropolis metro stop and headed home.
Once home, I skyped with Bri and got very excited for her trip here! Then, not content with sitting alone at home on my birthday, I took myself out to dinner. I grabbed a sandwich from a corner cafe and started walking toward the Acropolis. It's so beautiful at night! I also explored the grounds of a small church right at the end of my street, near the Temple of Zeus. It was fantastic.
I'm at school now, (the kids are at specials) so I'll have to post pictures later. The metro situation is much the same as it was yesterday, but I promise I'll be safe and avoid getting arrested! :) Until next time, keep taking it one step at time (away from riots, moltov cocktails, and police!)
And what a birthday it was! Greek Parliament is voting on new austerity measures today (Oct. 20), so protesters were out in full force yesterday. Of course, this means the country is virtually shut down as the people either a) take to the streets to march or b)stay home. The metro was closed until 9 am - so I rode to school with Steve. School was fairly uneventful - but I was allowed to take a long lunch! :) Ashton and I walked to a small square near the school and ate lunch at Haagen Dazs. I had a chocolate banana crepe that was amazing!
After school, we had teacher meetings, so I didn't leave school until about 4:30. and that's when the day started to get really interesting! Since the government buildings are in Syntagma Square, that metro stop was shut down. Unfortunetly, that's where all the trains switch, so I couldn't get to my stop. Instead, I rode the blue line down to Monastiraki and got off there. I had a map, but I wasn't sure exactly how to get home, so I just started walking. There were tons, I mean TONS! of people in the area and I soon realized why. I was headed directly toward Syntagma. Not exactly where a young American should be - petrol bombs and tear gas are not my idea of great birthday presents! I took a side street and headed through the Plaka unil I ended up at the Acropolis metro stop and headed home.
Once home, I skyped with Bri and got very excited for her trip here! Then, not content with sitting alone at home on my birthday, I took myself out to dinner. I grabbed a sandwich from a corner cafe and started walking toward the Acropolis. It's so beautiful at night! I also explored the grounds of a small church right at the end of my street, near the Temple of Zeus. It was fantastic.
I'm at school now, (the kids are at specials) so I'll have to post pictures later. The metro situation is much the same as it was yesterday, but I promise I'll be safe and avoid getting arrested! :) Until next time, keep taking it one step at time (away from riots, moltov cocktails, and police!)
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