Our traveling party just returned from the beautiful and serene (emphasized especially during the "off-season" of Greek island tourism) Mykonos and we're back in the comfy confines of the Hotel Philippos here in Athens. Our long weekend vacation was extremely refreshing and it felt great having that sand run between the gaps in my toes once again. I even don't mind nursing my hard fought sunburn that I earned braving some windy and less than ideal beach weather (the wimps from California didn't hold out nearly as long). Plus everyone we met there was extremely friendly, and that went beyond the glossy veneer usually put on for tourists... one of our cabbies even invited us over to dinner and another helped explain the intricacies of the Greek Orthodox Church. We were all relieved we took some time to visit such a beautiful place, although perhaps a little wishful we had caught the island at its peak during better weather.
After a six hour ferry ride back to Athens, though, the sight was less than welcoming. A garbage strike is in its most agonizing throes and its beginning to become obvious. Huge piles of trash scar the streets and for the first time I'm beginning to see the not so nice side to this city. Even one of our cabbies in Mykonos (the one who invited us to dinner) was criticizing the capital, explaining how while "everyone deserves their rights, the current situation is not good for the health. No good will come from this strike. It's getting crazy." The Mount Olympus sized mounds of rubbish are evidence to his prosecution: it is indeed nuts how gross this can get. Indeed, the Europeans' favorite past time of going on strike stains the image of some of their most prized jewels of cities. Perhaps that's the least appealing image I've taken from my travels here abroad, but it's just natural from near-Socialist countries that populate this continent. It's just a shame when politics gets in the way of an incredible experience... and I was just falling in love with Athens, too. Hopefully I will again. Well, as soon as they pick up the garbage.
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