An Exciting Bus Ride

On top of the "Hop-On Hop-Off"

Wyona, Greg and I rode the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus from the port to the city of Athens, perhaps a half hour drive.

I was busy taking pictures of the garbage in the streets before we had even left the pier.

The garbagemen have not been paid for 4 months

When the bus would drive by the piles of garbage, the stench was high and wafted to our nostrils, beating out the smell at any dump I have ever gone to.

Greek soldiers resting arms on their shields

Here are the riot police, standing by while a demonstration was going on in one of the squares.  Seeing the troops and the buses ready to take people away added to the surprise of trip.

The people who took the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus after us, got caught in the demonstration traffic, couldn't move, and a second bus had to be sent from the pier to rescue them from the gnarled traffic and get them back on board, as we sailed at 5:30 pm. 

Two crew and 4 passengers still didn't make it to the ship.

And who could resist buying bread from this little cart below.

I can tell you who.

All of the people who were at the rally across the street, singing songs of solidarity and complaining to the government about the Greek economy.  This merchant was not making much money.

The Greek economy is not looking that stable right now for him  ... and for others.

Arta