Conference day. The main reason why Greece was our vacation destination. Registration was to begin at 9:00 and the introduction beginning at 9:30. We woke up at 7:00 with plans to catch a bus at 8:00 since riding the tram yesterday seemed to take too much time. Was headed to a bus stop only to realize that this wasn't the correct stop for the bus we needed to take. So we begin walking and about 1pm later there was the correct stop. The bus is going along pretty well and not too crowded and I'm thinking that we'll get to the hotel conference in no time. Then traffic strikes about 4,5km from when we first started. Traffic is like a game of organized chaos. The bus drivers are amazing as they are constantly being cut off by drivers and motorbikes that weave in between cars and infront of other vehicles. No horns are blaired and no accidents occur. Just organized chaos. We finally get off at Syntagma station at 9:05 and walk for about 1km to get to the conference hotel of Titania and was directed to the 10th floor and finally get registered. Time 9:20.
In the introduction by the director of the conference, he talk about the details of the conference and the activities of the next couple days. He tells us of 'demonstrations' that would be occurring. He describes them like a game with 2 sides- the demonstrators and the police. The older demonstrators would leave early leaving the young bucks and the true game would begin. The demonstrators start the first move by throwing hard solid objects and the police counters with tear gas. The demonstrators would then counter that with fire. The director said that we shouldn't try and ref the game and stay clear and not get caught up.
My presentation was scheduled before lunch and it and well. I entertained a few questions and gave out a couple business cards. Lunch was provided at the conference in the restaurant The Olive Garden on the roof of Titania with almost a 360deg view of the city including the acropolis.
After he conference we explored the immediate area and foun all these side streets full of shopping and restaurants.
After dinner around 8ish we decided that it was a good idea to start heading back to the hotel and headed back towards syntagma square to catch a bus back. As we got closer to the square we began seeing more and more cops with GI Joe gear and shields. We then stated seeing crowds congregating together that were wearing orange. This seemed a little different than the group of orange that we saw at a pub cheering for the Netherlands in FIFA. As dusk drew upon us and we actually approached the square, we saw buses of police and banners from protestor. This must be a pre game scrimmage of 'the game.' It probably time that we relocate from the area to our hotel. We waited at the bus station as the people waiting for the buses grew larger, the crowds at the square grew bigger, and the police sirens grew louder. The time is after 9PM and we just wanted to get home. We skipped the bus and hopped onto the tram and luckily it started departure about 5mins after we got on. We made it home safely and exhausted and got things ready for our day on the bikes.
pics: http://travel.webshots.com/album/578033310qlbFTC
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