I Say Goodbye To Greece

"Herself a warrior, Athena protects the brave and valorous.
When Hercules, a victim of Hera's hostility, undertook his arduous labors Athena stood at his side to help and comfort him. It was she who gave him the brazen cymbals whose sound frightened the birds of Lake Stymphalus. It was she who escorted him when he brought Cerberus from the underworld. Finally it was she who, after his death, welcomed him on the
threshold of Olympus."
Athena, Goddess of the City, the protectress of civilized life, of artisan activities, and of agriculture has been by my side on this adventure, but also stands by the side of the Greek people to this day. The nation of Greece is in a terrible state economically. You can feel it on the streets of Athens, protesters, riot police, homelessness, begging old women, soup kitchen lines, drugs, pick-pockets. You can see it in the eyes of shop keepers and hoteliers and nearly everyone you meet, there is a sadness, an almost desperate plea for any kind of answer to why people are loosing their homes, jobs and chance at a good life for their families. The moment that anyone hears I'm American, the questions start flying, " What does America think of Greece, What should we do, the crisis came over from America what will you do". Questions I don't really have an answer for. I met a man on the street that over heard my accent, he came up and instantly wanted to tell me his story. "I'm an old man, I have lost my job, I'm hungry, I don't have anyone to help me, what I'm I to do? What do Americans think of this?" I didn't know how to explain that Americans don't really know of the heart ache of Greece, or how to give this man any hope that America has an "answer" to this situation. I met a woman later that day, she told me that she was working in a public office making 3,000 euro a week, a very nice living, able to provide for her family. With the budget cuts, her office was closed along with most like it, she lost her job as did many others. She is now on the most unemployment the government allows, 359 euro a week. She has lost her house, and has moved her family to her mothers home. These are just two of the thousands of stories of the people of Greece. With every boarded up shop and public office closed, there is a Greek family that is left to fend on their own. The riots in Athens were not just the young but the family man, the old women and everyone in between, everyone here is affected. 48% of people 16 to 25 are unemployed, making the youth, the future of Greece, desparate for hope, looking to move out of Greece to find work. There is a need in the people for a hero, a Goddess, a protector of civilized life. People are looking to for anything to give them hope. Athena, the warrior Goddess, is who they are turning to. The Greek people are pulling out their inner Athena, turning to their ingenuity and warrior mentalities to find a way out. People are in the streets, bringing attention to and education about the economic collapse via protests and sometimes riots. The news around Europe is covering the elections and votes in Greece, making the corruption known and hopefully bringing a solution to many of these problems. Athena is present in the people, coming through in every word spoken to reporters, every stone thrown at police, every vote cast, the people are showing that they are warriors, they will fight to protect civilized life, their freedom and their families. Over the last two months I have had a glimpse into the lives of the Greek people, I can see the heart ache this situation has brought to such a beautiful country but I can also see a country full of Athenas standing up and fighting. Greece is in an economic crisis, but the people are coming together, they are organizing protests, filling voting halls and not letting the corruption of the government take away their inner Athena. I have a new understanding and sympathy for the people of Greece. The trickle down from the mess in America has poured into Greece. The corruption of the American banking system has left Greece with huge hole to pull themselves out of but people are putting on their war regalia and siding with their warrior Goddess Athena in battle a for their country and their livelihood. With the power of 11 million Athenas fighting back, no amount of corruption can stand a chance.
I say goodbye to Greece with a sadness for the people, a heart ache that I can relate to , but also with the hope that with the help of the a Goddess by your side any struggle can be overcome.

I will be posting pictures when I have access to a computer so check back for the last sights of Greece. I am now in Dublin relaxing with a few pints and reflecting on my wonderful time spent in Greece. I have made life long friends, gained some great stories and filled my belly with the most delicious food in the world. I LOVE YOU GREECE!