Reflections on the Boulevard by LJ Ambrosio

Author:LJ Ambrosio
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LJ Ambrosio

Chapter Twenty

The sun was setting. In the distance one could see Michael gesturing to the empty chair, deep in the orange bloom that gave way to a brilliant purple glowing evening sky. Concerned, the staff at the hotel brought him more food and more wine, hoping to cure his strange episode. Finally, they helped him into the room. Michael felt cleansed; his soul was elevated. He found great peace. He was thinking about today, right now, and where Ron was at this moment.

Michael got up the next morning with a terrific hangover. He planned to spend the day just walking around with no direction. This was the trip, being here. He found a nice clearing with grass. He sat down and meditated for three hours. He was afraid of dying, that was the notable conclusion in his meditation. He wanted to go somewhere where life was constantly growing. That was not possible, death was something but not growth. He knew also, that through death we came to know and see the face of God.

As the evening approached, Michael went to the same table and established the empty chair. He ordered Retsina, some lemon soup, and pastichio. He smiled to himself as the waiters watched him. At the end of the evening, they came over to him with reverence and a smile. They took his arm and walked him into the hotel. Michael turned at the door to the hotel, for one more look at the magic of Mt. Olympus.

Michael left early in the morning for Athens. He drove fast, but he was in control of his car. As he came into Athens, he remembered the many squares. There were three squares here with rotaries going around each one. He was staying at the Hotel Stanley on the Karaiskaki square.

He parked his car in their lot, no valet, then checked in and went up to his room. The beds were on the ground with no air conditioning, which made him smile.

The provolone, which had tasted great, aged a little more sitting in the bag for five days. He disposed of it to allow the distinct aroma of the hotel, a sweet smell of citrus and linen, to overwhelm his senses.

The next day, he walked around in old Athens which is as charming as it is historic. The Pláka, on the slopes leading up the Acropolis was filled with old-fashioned vendors - people selling wares, food, clothes, Jewelry. Athens was clean, friendly, and happy. Michael was very proudly aware of the fact that Athens was the true birthplace of democracy. Athena herself was the perfect symbol of wisdom and strength. Unlike Sparta, Athens was a place about both having a voice and healthy debate, not just war and conquest.

On his last night in Athens, he walked up to all the three squares. Syntagma, the presidential palace, was here and Omonia, which was filled will all the people of Athens. Everyone was just walking, talking but mostly looking. Michael loved being on this square.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.