Athens, an oppressive city

The other night, I was noticing the crowds of foreign tourists in Athens. Areas between Monastiraki and Syntagma were packed, and I had to jostle through crowds on the sidewalk. The restaurants on Mitropoleos Street were packed.

Some of those tourists may like to visit the Acropolis or the Ancient Agora on Thursday and to do so at midday. Sure, it's a tough time of day to do that sort of thing in the summer, but maybe that's how it fits into their schedule, or maybe they're 20 years old and aren't too bothered by the heat.

As paradoxical as it may sound given Greece's history, Athens does not do well when it comes to freedom. There is more government in places where it is not needed, and less government in places where it is needed. There is a prevailing distortion of boundaries.

The Ministry of Culture has ordered archaeological sites to remain closed from 1 to 5...