Cradle of Western Civilization

Yesterday , after spending nearly 48 hours on trains going through parts of Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria (with several unscheduled stops that lasted nearly an hour each time), we arrived in Athens. After locating the Pythagorian Hotel and getting refreshed we headed out. We went to Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus and then walked into the Plaka and had a bite to eat. After that it was up to Filopapou Hill for us while we watched the sunset on the Acropolis which lit up with the darkness.

Acropolis behind William and Jason at sunset.

This morning after a cup of strong greek coffee we walked up to the Acropolis. It was a hot day but being from Florida it was like home. We began at Thissio, Ancient Angora, the Stoa of Attalus and then the Acopolis itself where we walked around the Parthenon and the Porch of the Carvatids. The whole area was a mass of people and the ruins themselves were in various states of restoration and strengthening...it will be a pleasure to return someday and see it when all the work is completed.

Parthenon 2007.

After this we hiked down to the Dionyssos Theatre and then over to Diogenes Cafe for a bit of Ouzo, Alpha Beer, bread and incredible edible olives. We contemplated Athens, the seat of western philosophical thought and how we can get to the bottom of things using deconstruction methods as outlined by Jacques Derrida; and how it stands for the core principles of Democracy and Justice, at least revisionally so; and how we have strayed so far from these principles when we see how the law does not actually apply to all humans equally; like how it doesn't apply to those who are only rich, or those in the Bush administration. But the endurance of these ruins are a testament to the persistance of these actual values...that, and the fact that Paris Hilton did spend a few more days in jail for breaking her parole for being a drunk driver...now, if we could only get the shrub on that count; or the fact that he never showed up for his Air National Guard duty...all another story.