DAY 6

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Greece is a time bomb waiting to explode.

The people are unhappy. The financial crisis is choking them.

Economics is the topic of conversation everyday. Expressed with increased vehemence each day.

Riots around the corner. Protests already. The situation a tinderbox ready to ignite.

I was on my way to the Metro Underground beneath the plaza in front of Parliament yesterday. Thousands of people walk the plaza hourly. In one corner near the entrance to the Metro, several young people were carrying signs. One was talking into a loudspeaker.

Speaking Greek, of course. I neither speak nor understand the language.

About 50 persons milling about listening. I mingled in the crowd. I was able to pick up the gist of the protest from comments made by onlookers. Economics. The euro.

Listeners aroused. The name Merkle caused several to spit on the ground.

Recently, Greece had an election. Neither the left nor right obtained enough votes to control the government. So the Greek Parliament is floating along. The country in limbo.

A new election is scheduled some time in June.

Italy’s former Prime Minster Berlusconi announced yesterday the unless Germany backed off the euro, Italy should return to the lira. Germany appears the only European nation benefitting from the euro. The Greeks and Italians dislike the Germans. They feel Germany is being hard ass about doing something corrective regarding the economy. Whatever might be done would not be to the financial benefit of Germany.

Beware. I sense bad days ahead. Keep in mind that we live in a global world. Whatever happens in Greece and elsewhere affects us in the United States.

I spent 3 hours doing yesterday’s blog. I sat in one position and typed for the three hours. When I finished, my legs from my knees to my ankles were full of fluid. I went back to my room, took a fluid pill and lay on the bed three hours till the problem was relieved. Today I am getting up and moving about on occasion as I write.

I took the Metro Underground. It is a subway. I have not been on a subway since my senior year in college in New York City. 1957.

The purpose of taking the Metro was to visit Acropolis and the Parthenon. Way up a hill. Better to ride to than walk. One stop on the Metro.

A problem. The Metro Acropolis stop was still at least a mile from the entrance. An uphill walk. At a constant 30 degree angle. In the boiling sun.

Not my cup of tea. I had to stop not several times, but many times to sit and rest. As I sat, many passed me by going to the top. Many  older than I. Some obviously infirmed. While Louis sat, they marched.

The first part of the return trip was a problem also. The initial path down was of marble. Huge irregular blocks. Slippery. Small cuts in the marble to minimize the sliding factor. I slid, did not fall. It was not easy.

The trip was worth it. I was a part of history during the time I was on top. Acropolis, the Parthenon and other smaller temples. The most stimulating factor for me was the realization that all I saw was constructed BEFORE Christ. Way before.

Acropolis was a temple to the Gods. The most exciting feature of the Parthenon the columns.

The smaller temples had columns also. However, they were copies. Some time back, there was a violent earthquake. The columns could not handle the movement. To protect them from a future abuse by nature, they were removed and replaced. The originals sit in a museum at a point down the hill.

Two generationally different fat cats responsible for much of what has been done. Pericles back in the 400s BC. The Rockefeller Foundation in recent times.

All the buildings are fragile. Thousands of years old. Modern man is constantly working to preserve that which was. There are scaffolds and cranes every where.

There had to be a topping on the cake after such a glorious walk back in history. It came in the evening. Dinner at Dionysus Restaurant.

Dionysus sits at the foot of the historical mountain. About a mile away. It is a huge outdoor restaurant. Top self. Great lamb. Greater view. Expensive. Worth it.

There in front of my eyes on top of the hill sat the Acropolis and Parthenon. All brightly lite. Awe inspiring. The viewing emotional.

Traditionally Dionysus was the God of the grape harvest. He was also known as Bacchus. Party boy! Festivals galore!

Did I sleep last night? Finally! The first full night’s sleep since starting this trip. I hope the jet lag is behind me.

Today is my last in Athens. Tomorrow I leave for Santorini. I still have not danced nor thrown dishes around. Hopefully tonight. There is a little Zorba in each of us.

Yesterday was Ally’s birthday. Seven years old. I forgot. I will Skype her later and make up for it. I selected a birthday gift for her before I left and gave it to her. So I am only half bad in forgetting.

I know not what today holds. Whatever, it will be good. I am in a place where it cannot be bad. And tonight….hopefully dancing and dish breaking.

Enjoy your day!

LAURIE FINE PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW

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I stayed up late last night. Ergo, slept late this morning. That is why the blog is being posted so late. Sorry.

It has been announced…..Bernie Fine’s wife Laurie is holding a press conference tomorrow morning. Part of the ongoing Syracuse University  pedophile scandal.  It has been reported she will be addressing the “…false accusations and scandalous lies” spread by certain persons.

I cannot believe her press conference will add anything of substance to the matter.

Walked Key Haven yesterday morning. Up and down the streets. A picturesque walk. Some lovely homes.

Babysat later in the afternoon. Ally is now sick with what her brother had. She seems to be recovering faster than Robert did.

I began at the Chart Room last night. Mary bartending. Chatted with Jean and Frankie.

Then across the street to the Hot Tin Roof. Very, very few people. A monday night. In addition, this is a quiet time for tourists. About three weeks from now the streets and restaurants will be jammed again. School will be out. Families will be driving to Key West for their vacations. Prices for everything are generally cheaper. Merchants recognize it is a slow time. They attract families with their cheaper than ever prices. Motels/hotels can be as much as fifty percent cheaper. Dinners in many restaurants half price. You can’t beat it!

Big day to day. Robert’s birthday! He is 8 years old. I remember when he was born. We were fearful he would not live eight days. Robert was born with cancer of the liver. He had two major surgeries the first eight days of his life. Thank God he is A-OK since.

We are eating dinner at Lisa’s tonight. Lisa baking a cake. Robert’s choice as to take out. He picked Wendy’s. I do not know why. We rarely go to Wendy’s. Robert is having a cheeseburger. I am having two.

Happy birthday my beloved grandson!

Enjoy your day!

A MISSED BIRTHDAY PARTY

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I screwed up.

I hurried over to the Chart Room at 4:30. It was Sean Kinney’s birthday. His wife to be Katherine had planned a party for him. I had been  invited.

As I walked into the Chart Room, I saw Sean and three other people. Did not make sense. Sean is a very popular Key West figure. I shook Sean’s hand and wished him a happy birthday. I asked…..Where are all the people. What people, he asked in return. For your birthday party, I said. That was last week, he responded.

Oh, well!

I stayed anyhow. Chatted with Sean and JJ. The bar got crowded. The most people I have ever seen at the Chart Room. All there for the Kentucky derby. I stayed around and watched. Even got into a pool.

I forget who won. But it was a terrific race.  A long shot horse and a first time jockey came on strong at the end to beat the favorite. An American success story!

Sean told me Ryno is back in Key West. He left for the north country several months ago. Ended up in Syracuse. Disc jockeyed a radio show for three months. Now has returned to us. Ryno is very much loved. Sean said he was disc jockeying four hours a day at one of the Key West radio stations.

Welcome back, Ryno!

This is Songwriters Festival time in Key West. Musicians from all over come to participate.

Duval to Caroline was closed off for the festival. Streets and bars had bands/groups playing. I went from the Chart room to the festival.

Enjoyed a Mexican band on the street. Stopped into Smokin’ Tuna. First time. It has been open about a year. On a small one block side street. Kurt had told me he would be hanging out there.

Smokin’ Tuna was jam packed. Bodies pressed together. Good luck finding Kurt. I wiggled my way in. Listened to the music a while. Don’t know who was playing. It was country music and sounded good to me.

Rumor has it Kenny Rogers was in town Wednesday night for the start of Songwriters Festival. I was told he showed up at the Pier House’s Wine Galley and visited with Larry Smith.

I was hungry. It was past dinner time. I headed over to Hot Tin Roof.

Another filled up place! I found a seat at the bar, however.

Angie was bartending. I like her. Pleasant. Soft spoken.

I enjoyed scallops piccata. Four huge scallops over a bed of wide pasta and cooked to absolute softness greens. The food at Hot Tin Roof is spectacular!

Joseph was there. He manages the Hot Tin Roof. John Lukas was the previous manager. John developed the restaurant over a 3-4 year period. When he left, Joseph who had been a waiter was given the responsibility of managing. Joseph has taken the Hot Tin Roof to another level.

I was home in bed around 10. Not a bad evening.

Enjoy your Sunday!