Up in Flames

A building burst into flames halfway between me and the Parthenon.

It was sunset and I was sitting up on our hotel roof with 12 of my classmates here in Athens. We are in Greece for a 10 day course studying the life and death of Socrates, the forefather of civil disobedience and non-violent resistance. From our hotel roof, we have a phenomenal view of the Parthenon and the Acropolis it sits upon. Mid-lecture last night, a building halfway between our hotel and the Parthenon erupted into a plume of smoke, spewing sparks like a 4th of July sparkler. Just a few days ago I had struck up a conversation with several of Athens' firefighters. They were camped out in their firetruck by the plaza next to our hotel and joking that fires in Athens are so rare, they only happen about once a year. How ironic that we witnessed the "one" fire for 2010! :)

Running out the door right now for our last class dinner at an Ancient Greek restaurant, followed by dancing. The restaurant serves food from the time that Socrates was alive (5th century B.C.) They didn't have forks back then, only spoons. So that's what we'll be eating with!

Peace and love from Athens,
Hana T.