This week, we got hit with several rainstorms so I stayed in and worked on my Greek. I wish that I had practiced this hard on Spanish when I lived in Mexico because I'd be fluent by now. I think that learning languages could easily be considered a prep. We talk about communications a lot in the spirit of news and contacting our loved ones, but it's also important to be able to understand others and make ourselves understood.

I use a free app, Duolingo, for learning languages and I highly recommend it. The paid membership really doesn't get you much extra and I think you'll be just fine doing the free version. There are many different languages on the app and I'm interested in picking up another one once I've completed my time here in Greece. One thing that has accelerated my learning is doodling and writing in the new language. I like to do sort of a bullet journal type of thing when I'm chilling out in the evening.

The protests continue here in Greece over the complete mess that the government has made of the transportation system. I attempt to avoid the crowds but ended up walking right through one after visiting a museum - there was literally no way around it. (If you'd like to see my museum pics go here - you don't need an account to view.) I picked up a flyer about the protest and just walked with the other people until I could dip down a side street and get out of the situation.

Nobody paid any attention to me whatsoever and it was quite peaceful at the time I was there. Later on, things escalated, as they tend to do, and stun grenades and tear gas were used on the crowds.

I suppose my best advice for this kind of scenario is to act like you're one of the crowd. It's the easiest way not to look like a target for somebody's wrath.

Here's a photo of the headquarters of the Hellenic Train system. The office at the bottom of the building has been emptied - I'm not sure if that was before or after the accident. People spray painted angry messages all over the building - you can see some of it here. Much of the graffiti says, basically, that this was not an accident, but carelessness, and from what I gather, they're absolutely correct.

Weeks of protests have disrupted the city. Streets are frequently shut down to traffic, the buses cannot pass, pand eople with businesses in those areas have to close.

What with the protests in France over the raising of the retirement age, unrest in the financial sector all over western civilization, and the war, it feels like the rage is building everywhere. People are getting fed up, and perhaps that's what it will take to hold those in authority accountable and force them to act in our best interests, instead of just lining their own pockets. A girl can dream, right?

Stay safe this week, and do your best to be ready - things could get sketchy really soon. The simmering tension is about to boil over.