Dinner and a Greek Job

Last night Tony, Sam and I took our 28 year old, doctorate holding history professor out for a beer or two. English and an archeologist, Robert Pitt has been our favorite, most captivating, and most interesting teacher. We were able to talk about digging and history and all the other things archeologists have to deal with. Even leather hats, whips and battles with Nazi enthused treasure seekers... wait... Furthermore, we learnt that archeology is, at least that performed by the British, a drinking sport (not to hard to believe, bloody brits are pissed most of the time anyways). Whether it is cliché or not that a very well educated British man loves Monty Python or not, Robert likes the Pythons. Seven or eight of the guys set up a movie night at his place; pizza, drinks, and obtuse British comedy with the assistant director of the British School of Archeology, sounds pretty cool huh? Sam and I show up at the gates of a large compound, Robert standing out front with his goofy smile. The British compound has been in Athens for well over a century and at one time held a supreme view of the Attic valley. It is an oasis of vegetation in the middle of a heavily residential area of Athens. A massive hospital (yes, socialist) blocks the view from his balcony now. Regardless, because of the diplomatic arrangements between the British and the Greeks, the Archeology compound is technically British soil; like an embassy is. So, without intending, I have now stepped foot on the ground of Great Britain, alright! Robert took a year off between college and grad school in which he took an organ apprenticeship in Liverpool. He played every day on the massive pipes there. In his rather comfortable apartment, he has a Steinway grand piano. After some prompting he played a couple pieces for us. My favorite, a fugue by Bach, was amazing; his fingers moving like ten frantic, cracked out mice scurrying up and down the ivory keyboard. Sam had brought out his guitar and so we encored his professional performance with our amateur attempts. But, I learnt that gin and tonic plus standing up equals my best harmonica playing... Recently, I have spent a couple free afternoons, between class and dinner, in the saloon with Andreas. I have become his assistant and I help with highlighting and cleaning up and mostly PR by saying hello to people passing by and meeting all the customers. I have a job now in Athens. HA. I am leaving now for the Acropolis. I was unable to go with my class since our trip was the day after my ankle injury. But I can not not go. God bless the double negative. So, I am going... And tomorrow evening I board a plane for Roma and I will need to say good bye to Athens...