January 1991 Athens, Greece

Paz is coping pretty well, today she shared a coke with someone, germs and all. We woke up and went through our bags, took out about half of our cloths to post home. Clothes come and go, so I am not worried if I never see them again. A man rushed into the dorm and said "It's war, its started!" - the gulf war. Well it was inevitable. At least Israel isn't involved.We took a street car to the Bank of Athens where we met Paz's friend Julie, and she took us to a fancy coffee place, and treated us to toasted cheese sandwiches and coffee. We guzzled it down. Then we parted ways and had to find boxes to post our stuff. We lugged everything across town to the post office. On the trams and buses, no one talks to anyone else, they are all pretty much stone faced. We saw a glimpse of the Acropolis through a gap at the end of an ally.Got to the post office. Phoned home, so at least everyone knows we are safely out of the Middle East. Checked the Poste Restante - no letters yet. At last when we were ready to off load our boxes we were told that the post was suspended because of the war.So we trudged back to the hostel. On the way we saw a Peace March. It was quite frightening, as although I am against war, I feel they tried everything else, and war maybe the necessary disciplinary action for Hussein. With Hitler the rest of the world waited until it was too late. Well this is my generation's war. I was surprised at the amount of old peace marches.We saw men in the funny Greek costumes changing the guard outside Parliament. While we were watching got chatting to some American lads and they told us that if we go to Copenhagen, what ever we do "Don't stay at Bobs!"We also met Julie on the way "home" and she asked what we had planned for the evening. "Nothing" we said enthusiastically, hoping she would invite us out or something."Well look in your little book, and plan something!"There are lots of South Africans here. We went out for dinner. Had Greek salad 300DR, coke 100DR and thought we were so lucky to get complementary bread, that was put on the table. It wasn't complimentary. They actually came and counted how many rolls we had eaten and charged us 200DR. Anyway it was my first Greek salad in Greece.Once back in the hostel we discovered we were now sleeping co-ed. Sharing a dorm with men. Very decent chaps from Australia. We did our washing 300DR. Fucking Freezing - no camels here. Tomorrow we tackle the Acropolis.