Because so many people have emailed, Facebooked, Skyped and called concerned about my well being, I decided a quick post was in order. I promise to post our Rhodian adventure and details about the beautiful Island of Hydra soon…

In other news, I’m sure everyone has heard about the riots here in Athens. They’ve spread from downtown out to other major cities all over Greece and rumor has it that the Greek embassies in Germany and England have even been overrun. The American Embassy has sent out warnings to registered Americans telling them to stay away from downtown and the Arcadia staff have advised the same thing.

I had some friends who wandered into Syntagma tonight and accidentally walked into tear gas on their way home… I’m about a mile and a quarter away from where this is all taking place.

It really is terrible. Shops have been looted, cars have been burned. The huge Christmas tree in the center of town was torched tonight. All of this because a 15-year old boy was murdered by a Greek police officer. I’m not saying that this is in any way right, but I really don’t see how all of this violent activity helps anything.

It’s very sad. I feel similar to how I did when the World Trade Center was bombed, though to a much less degree seeing as this isn’t really my home country.

Point being, I’m safe and fine. I do want to venture down at some point and see the damage… I know it’s not the smartest thing to do, but when else do you get a chance like this. At least I know to bring water and a scarf in case of tear gas…

Pictures are courtesy of my friend Jay-Z who was one of those who wandered downtown this evening, got gassed and promptly had a rock thrown into her foot, leaving a gnarly gash and probably a large bruise in the days to come.