What To Do During A Strike

Here are the boys in the World's Smallest Elevator.

Despite the fact that we are only on the next floor up, they try to ride this tiny mirrored box every chance they can get. 

Today is May 1, and there was a strike and march in Syntagma Square right near our hotel. As you can see in the sign above, it was a 24 hour strike, and seemed to have no real reason- they aren't negotiating for better wages, etc., but rather are using the strike to celebrate what is essentially Labor Day. Instead of a holiday, they have a traditional strike every May 1st, lasting 24 hours.

Many shops were closed, all of the attractions were shut down, and the police were out in droves to keep things calm. Things were so calm that we passed several police officers eating Gelato and Gyros.

The tourists wandered aimlessly in groups, trying to figure out what was going on.

This is the very edge of the massive rally. We watched the procession from a McDonalds, I am ashamed to admit, because we were looking for a public bathroom and the Golden Arches was right on the square.

Hadrian's Arch was available for viewing, as were a couple of churches and a small park.

This mosaic is from a small church that we couldn't go into because of the strike but tantalized me with its gorgeous entrance.

This is a huge Greek Orthodox church in the center of Athens.

This is the carved and gilded thing they use to store the candles for those who want to burn them. I am always amazed at things that have a simple function, like holding candles, which are transformed into such elaborate works of art. Peacocks must have some symbolism, or maybe the carver just liked them?

Same church, bright blue marble around the doorway.

This tiny church is next to the big one above. Its name, which is completely unpronounceable to me, is longer than the church is big. You can see the scaffolding from the big one over on the left of the picture. The big church had icons galore, a big dome, and gilded and carved everything. But this little church was much older and seemed to be built with whatever little pieces were laying around, Byzantine, Roman, Greek, whatever. Somehow this little church was far more intriguing. I liked that they weren't trying to make something completely new and perfect, but were able to put together what they had and come out with a still powerful building. Up close it was not symmetrical or grand, but beautiful anyway.

This is a close up of a few of the pieces they used. Some very different art. It seemed like they had stone workers add crosses to some of the pieces to make them "church worthy."

Then we returned to the little white streets by the Acropolis. Chase said yesterday that he thinks it is like Heaven, and I agree. 

Keeping our tourists happy with a giant donut.

Keeping me happy with a giant cheese filled bagel. Yum!

We head to Santorini early in the morning, and will be on the ferry for 10 hours. I am not sure if we are subject to sea sickness but we'll find out tomorrow!