I chose to go to Sounion because I'm always up for a good adventure. I went to meet the rest of the group at the CYA (where we have class every day) but 3 people were missing. A group of girls hadn't arrived yet and the rest of us were worried because by that time, the meetings for the demonstrations had begun and they had gone out to buy a lunch to bring on the trip with us. So we sent someone out to search for them. After an interesting mix of 'Hide and Seek' an 'Marco Polo' we finally found everyone and left for the bus-stop.
As we were walking there, we cut through the National Gardens and happened upon an entire army, doing calisthenics (in unison, I might add). I was very confused why the soldiers were 'warming up' and not out patrolling the streets.
I kept walking and eventually came to the bus-stop. We had about 20 minutes before our bright orange bus was supposed to show up so I leaned against a rail and started reading the book I had brought. A police man came up to me after I read about 4 pages and asked where I was from. I told him that I was from Seattle, Washington and he smiled and started talking about Nirvana (the band, I'm assuming). He was very funny. We introduced ourselves and talked for a little while about the demonstration going on and his feelings about it. I thought I saw the glimmer of a tear in his eye but he could have just had allergies. He let me try on his S.W.A.T. helmet and shield and gave me a short lesson on how to look scary while wearing it. Then he gave me a look inside the bus where the rest of the policemen were waiting for their time to protect and serve the great citizens of Athens. After introducing me to everyone and taking a quick picture with me, he asked where I was heading with the group. I told him and he offered me a ride all the way to the temple and and extra police escorts! How could I refuse that deal? So the group of us piled into the bus of police and drove up to the temple with a police motorcycle in front and in back of us.
We said our goodbyes at the summit of the mountain and started exploring. I took pictures of the Temple of Poseidon, sat nestled into some carved out rocks and read my book, and later dangled my feet over the edge of the cliff. It was a cold but beautiful day and the water looked absolutely amazing. The waves (or maybe Poseidon himself) started calling to me saying, "come to me! Come to me!" So I listened. I balanced my way down the steep path, scaled the rock face, and jumped down to the giant rock just above the waters. As I stood up, I noticed something unusual about the water: it was sparkling, and not just glimmering with the sun. I looked closer and saw that the sea had pockets of diamonds half buried in the sandy waters. I became ecstatic! And just as I was about to dive in and retrieve these precious stones, a stern woman grabbed my ear and pulled me back to the top of the mountain, yelling and lecturing me the whole way about trespassing and breaking rules. I was very disappointed but I figured that I can dig those diamonds up the next time she's not looking.
By then, I was starting to become hungary so I sat down to a lunch of hamburgers (which turned out to be a steak kabob), french fries, toasted and seasoned bread, rice and vegetables, and a pice of chocolate mousse cake. It was delicious! It was perfect timing because as soon as I finished eating, the sun began to set so I took some marvelous pictures.
Around 6:10, I sat, waiting for the bus to come and take me home but it was late. Seeing how cold and worried I was, Poseidon himself sprung up from the depths of the sea to ask me what was wrong. I told him my bus was late and that I was worried it wouldn't show up at all. Poseidon got very angry and wanted to take vengeance on this bus driver for making me wait out in the cold but I begged him not to, offering him sacrifices of water, gum, and Nature Valley granola bars. That seemed to work wonders because instead of taking out his anger on the bus driver, Poseidon willed the bus to me with the mighty powers of his trident. While I watched the whole process, all I could think was, "I've got to get me one of those!"
Soon enough my bus arrived and Poseidon sent me off with a miniature trident to practice my cool new trident powers with. And sure enough, I made it back to Athens. But back to Syntagma Square in Athens, where the demonstration was being held. I got off the bus, looking around at all the people around me, and decided it was best to just walk through the crowds with my head held high and my miniature trident in hand. It worked well enough because I only had to use it once to break up a fight that had broken out.
I finally reached my apartment and realized that I find myself somehow involved in a lot of demonstrations/riots/fights and I get myself into a lot of amazing adventures.
It was a beautiful and majestic day and hopefully I'll find even more adventure in the next few weeks here in Greece!
-Jess
Second Maccabees 15:38-39
"If it is will told and to the point, that is what I myself desired; if it is poorly done and mediocre, that was the best I could do. For just as it is harmful to drink wine alone, or, again, to drink water alone, while wine mixed with water is sweet and delicious and enhances one's enjoyment, so also the style of the story delights the ears of those who read the work. And here will be the end."
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