Greek Odysseys

Day two of the conference. I realized the ubiquitous military presence around Brussels was likely related to the Euro summit to debate the fate of Greece, but hadn't expected to find myself at breakfast with Prime Minister Tsipras and his personal security detail. I told you the hotel was posh (so maybe he should have started the budget talks from an AirBnB ?).

Anyway, the story gets fun during the first conference break, when at least six of us participants decided to use the intermission to check out of our rooms. We all entered the elevator on the 27th floor where our meeting rooms were situated. Suited and booted, we were a well-dressed entourage crammed in a tiny lift.

It stopped first at floor 26 to admit another hotel guest going down. He appeared to be a member of the Greek delegation.

And he was naked.

Well, except for a pair of hotel slippers and a tiny white towel tucked around his navel. Actually, it knotted some inches below his navel.

A collective gasp inhale by the standing crowd ensued - who all crowded closer to make space for the newcomer. We then held our breath and traded bewildered glances as the elevator halted every few floors to let a random conference attendee disembark - carefully navigating around Zeus at the front of the box. Finally, the living Michelangelo reproduction exited at floor 12, and the remaining webmaster and I could finally emit our suppressed giggles. Did that really just happen? The most awkward ride of my life - all in under 3 minutes, I'm sure.

Yes, we really must work harder to keep Greece in Europe :)