March 9

This morning we packed up our bags so we could move into the room assigned to us as part of the Davidson group. Unfortunately, this new room pales in comparison to how we’ve been living the past 3 days. This is a single, square room with 2 bunk beds. Gone are the kitchenette, the balcony with the view of the acropolis, the free towels, the flat screen television (not that we watched it, but it was nice to have), my own spacious bed, and the mini fridge. Now it is four girls, packed like sardines in this tiny room. There isn’t even enough floor space for all of us to put our suitcases out. We had to transfer our stuff to the locker-style closets and put the suitcases in corners or under beds. It really is the smallest room yet.
But, this morning I did some reading, went to the grocery store, again, and tried on some very tight jeans at the H and M. I guess the matchstick look is very in here, but it is not so appropriate for the trip.
Everyone met up at 3 this afternoon to visit this museum Krentz wanted to see and then head up to this hill where we would get and excellent view of Athens. The museum was home to a private collection of Cycladic art. The pieces were interesting – incredible, actually, for having been created around the 4th or 5th millennia BCE. But, while I heartily agree with the pursuit of one’s interest in history and the arts, this type of collection can often have very negative consequences.
First of all, since the collectors are willing to pay high prices for the items, it is these kinds of private collections that lead to illegal excavations and the smuggling gout of the finds. Important artifacts go missing, and the integrity of the site is compromised. New technologies that can tell us more about the soil compositions and give us better insight into how the ancient peoples lived are not able to be used when smugglers have dug with the sole purpose of finding artifacts that will fetch a high price.
Another issue that comes when the sources of these artifacts aren’t clear is that fakes and copies can more easily come into the mainstream. When dealing with illegally obtained goods, it is very unlikely for there to be any assurance of authenticity. Only certified and legal archaeological digs which can study and document the provide the assurance that the finds are authentic.
A third issue I have with private collections is their very description: private. I seems wrong to me that there are some collections which aren’t available for public viewing because they are the personal property of someone. What about the idea of a single “cultural heritage?” Shouldn’t we all have the right view what has been determined to be art (especially if it part of ancient history)? But, then again, shouldn’t we have the right to pursue, and purchase if it is for sale, great works of art?
I like what the Goulandris Museum has done. That is a private collection, but it is now on display as a museum and available for public viewing. Still, as I have already said, such private collections can have pretty negative consequences. Though these collections come as a result of a passionate interest in art, because of these illegal excavations and fakes, I think private collections only do damage to the art they seek to acquire.
After the museum, we went to the top of the Lykavittos hill, where we got a wonderful view of the city of Athens. Krentz pointed out all the major sites we would be visiting, and we got the see the layout of the newer section of the city, verses the old. The newer streets are much more orderly, being set out on a grid. The older sections (where it is very easy to get turned around) are laid out without much order, meeting at irregular angles.
After the hike, we headed back to the hotel for the night. I made my delicious beans and rice dish (to which I add fresh vegetables when I prepare individual servings), spending several hours in the kitchen. This time I decided to try buying dried beans and soaking them myself. There is really only one type of bean that they offer canned here, kidney beans, and I am getting tired of them. There is a little more variety with dried beans. Towards the end of my kitchen time, I had a nice chat with Christian, the guy who runs the night shift at the hostel. He is from Sweden and decided on a whim last November to work at a hostel in Athens and will be spending a full year here. We wanted to know my opinions on Obama as well and how I thought America would respond to his ability (or inability) to meet his campaigns promises. It was a good discussion and really made me think. I’ve had a hard time keeping up with the news at home, so he was the one filling me in on what was going on back home.
After my chat, I headed up to the room to finish my reading and get some sleep. The day really went by quickly and next thing I knew it was time to get some shut eye.