Day 3: Athens, Greece

After a lot of talk aboard the ship about whether or not we would dock in Athens we finally arrived. Because of the current economic crisis that has now ravaged the country of Greece, the citizens have been in outrage because of the way the government has been handling the current recession. According to the locals we talked to, government officials have been siphoning of millions of dollars to their personal accounts. On top of this problem they say, some of the wealthiest citizens in the country, such as doctors and lawyers, get such high tax benefits they are hardly taxed at all.
Other sources outside the country claim even more reasons for their current economic situation. Amid many other reasons, government benefits such as healthcare and retirement has been poorly managed, leaving the country bankrupt and unable to pay for its debt (a similar fear that is gripping Americans).
As we drove through the city, signs of current protesting were everywhere. I could see windows that had be broken in, every single building had been covered in graffiti, and the police force was everywhere. It was a sad sight to see when you think of the great influence Greece has had on the entire world. Producing some of the most influential people the world has known, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Although the current state of the country is in shambles, there was a day when they when they were the most respected country in the world.
Our first stop was the Panathinion Stadium. It was originally built in solid marble, meaning every seat, staircase, and wall was all marble. After centuries of not being used, it was reconstructed in 1896 for the first modern Olympiad and can hold up to 70,000 spectators.
We then visited the symbol of Athens, the Acropolis. On the Acropolis is famous Parthenon, built at the height of the Greeks Golden Age in the 5th century BC, was at one time a religious center, a palace, and in the end a military fortress. On September 26, 1687 , during a Venetian bombardment, a cannon ball struck the Parthenon and ignited the firearms stored inside. What we see today is what is left of the Parthenon after years of restoration.
Although the people were angered at the treatment of the government they were still extremely welcoming and friendly. I think the saddest part about being in Athens was that the people had all been through so much during the current recession and unlike many countries throughout the world, they still had so far to go. Several of the locals expressed little hope in the countries circumstance and new times would be tough for a long long time to come.