Athens Day Two

We decided not to leave the house today until 8:30 AM because the parking lot opened at 9 AM an the kids didn't want to risk not finding parking along the street. In the end, I ended up agreeing with them. We arrived shortly after 9:15 AM and the Acropolis was already crowded with people (I'm sure not nearly as crowded as it is later in the day and in the summer months, but crowded enough). Goodness, it was absolutely spectacular. Seeing the Acropolis is probably one of my favorite things we have done during our European travels. I can't even begin to describe the magnificence of it all. Then it was off to the Acropolis Museum, which was also fantastic. It's just all so mind-blowing that these things are THOUSANDS of years old. After the museum, we went to the Plaka area for lunch and then to see the change of the guard at the Parliament. Having been through Army boot camp, I'm always in awe of the ability of the guards to stand perfectly still for so long. Being happy with all that we saw and did, and having walked around for six hours, so we decided to call it a day.

I dropped the kids off at home and wanted to explore what I thought was the 2004 (abandoned) Olympic Stadium. When I got there, the sign said '2001 Olympic' and I realized that it was a terminal area. I'm assuming this was a terminal area for the 2004 Olympics but I'm still puzzled why it said 2001. I also think that the Olympic area was in a building next to the terminal building but when I tried to explore, I saw that there was a police car sitting at the open entryway. Sadly, these buildings are now being used by refugees as a home. I didn't go in because I wanted to respect their privacy but I did take a few random photos from the outside. And goodness, I couldn't stop thinking about these people. Women and men sitting around. Children playing on abandoned Olympic items and throwing dirt at one another. Fragile clothing hanging on the metal fence. I so wish I could have talked to them and I did consider it for a brief moment, but then thought that they probably didn't speak English. And so many questions flooded my mind. Thinking they are Syrian refugees, are they happy to be in this complex, as bad as things are right now, because they are out of Syria and alive. Are they sad to have not made it to their hoped destination? Maybe both? Was the man on the street, who was trying to wash windows, while cars are parked at the stoplight, one of these refugees, trying to earn any money in any way that he can? What about the old woman selling kleenex? And the girl sitting near the Acropolis with her child in her lap? Is it enough to be safe and out of Syria? Fuck, I just can't even begin to imagine. And whose cars were parked in front of this building (there was about 15 nice cars there)? What were the owners of those cars doing there? What are the refugees eating? What do they have inside the building? What was the police doing at the other entranceway? Just so much sadness for these people. I wish there was something I could do to help. I even thought that I hope someone is able to teach these children. I hope they all make it...