Today is Sunday. I decide to sleep in as the English worship services aren’t until evening. When I do get going, I state and write my intention, “I will share a meal with someone every day.”

I decide to go to the Acropolis today. After maneuvering the subway system, I get off at the Acropolis subway stop. When I arrive at the entrance, about 2:45 pm, the Acropolis is closed (at 2:30 pm) due to the elections today. In fact, all state run tourist attractions are closed due to the elections.

To get around the base of the Acropolis, a very large hill, I follow a meandering narrow path that goes by the doors and windows of people’s homes. Along the way, I meet a group of four teenagers (17 and 18 year olds) who are taking each others’ photo with a cell phone at a scenic overlook. I offer to take their picture with my camera and email it to them, and they take my picture for me.

They also explain a bit about the election. You have to be 18 to vote and they use paper ballots. You can select up to three candidates on the ballot and place your ballot in an envelope, seal it and place it in the ballot box. Then the ballots are counted by hand.

When I finally get back down to street level, I meet three men sitting on a curb waiting for the rest of their friends. They start talking with me. They are from Alabama (Huntsville, Grove Hill, and Athens). They are a group of eight friends (Wayne, Farva, Regina, Diann, Harry, Jerry, Roy, and Linda), some of whom are related. Most of the group work together in the emergency room of a hospita. They are all very good friends and travel together often.

They arrived early this morning and are joining a cruise the next day. Today, they are seeing the sites, but, unfortunately,  most of them are closed now. They invite me to join them for lunch. (Remember my intention?) We found a nice, outdoor cafe nearby and they treat me. How nice!

I leave my new friends shopping in the market to attend church. I worship with the Ambelokipi church of Christ. After services, I meet and talk with Ron and Diana Kretz. Originally from Wyoming, he is currently the Director of the Athens International Bible Institute. I ask for his business card. It never hurts to have connections in Athens, or anywhere for that matter. Afterward, they kindly drop me off at the subway and I return to my hotel. ~