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OPINION
FREEZE FRAME
bright-red cars shine in the corner of – testosterone levels already high – re- hi boys, remember me? – walked
the lot – the expensive antiques have taliated by throwing objects our way. ahead and to the side of the group, es-
been restored by the owner of the gas Within seconds, dozens of riot police sentially surrounding them in case
station and are parked there on per- officers ran out of the train. How it all things got out of hand. Still in front of
manent display. Inside the shop, there ended, I am not sure: As a woman fled the demonstration, and feeling as if the
is a room filled with hundreds of oth- to the street with eyes burning from protesters were glaring at me, I picked
er refurbished antiques: a jukebox, mo- jects back to life will recreate the past? some sort of chemical, I hailed a cab. up the pace. Reaching the shopping ar-
torcycles, statues, pictures, hats, even Getting into it Whatever his motivation, he succeeds cade I was going to, I was greeted by
a feather boa. Patrons are free to admire The beat put a fresh rhythm in giving passers-by tangible reminders Welcome to the jungle II metal shutters coming down. The
the objects, and perhaps wonder about in my step and I had a difficult of a time when life was more innocent. Two days later, I headed to the city cen- stores – and the storekeepers – were
the stories behind them, but only ter again. The walk to the station was being locked in for safety – and I was
time controlling the urge to Welcome to the jungle I
from outside – the collection is strict- quiet, the ride was uneventful and the locked out. As the demonstrators
ly private. Is the skilled antiques en-
headbang While heading to the electric railway shops were still open. In a carefree, ur- passed by the dark passageway, I
thusiast resisting the colorlessness of station after work one evening – cars banophile mood, I turned on the radio was surprised to realize not just that
his surroundings? Or does he perhaps parked in every conceivable space on my cell; as the escalator carried me I was scared but that I wasn’t sure who
hope that bringing these everyday ob- around the neighboring soccer stadi- up into Omonia Square, Guns N’ Ros- I was scared of.
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