In class, one of our recurring topics of conversation is the idea of dualism. Dualism appears a multitude of times in biblical texts and other sacred writings. You know what I'm talking about: heaven or hell. Rewards or punishments. Earthly life or eternal life. However, dualism is not only found in the religious writings that shape so much of our identity. Dualism is all around us, and it becomes especially obvious in cities like Athens.Athens is indeed a city of contrasts. One minute you can be walking down a noisy boulevard filled with racing mopeds and sports cars, and the next you are strolling casually through the Plaka, where life seems to move at a slower pace. Wide, multi-lane streets are exchanged for narrow alleys and quiet corners. Occasionally a car or scooter will come barreling down the tranquil lane, and for a moment you will remember this is the modern world, not a fairy tale land where the rush of life can be forgotten. Then peace and quiet will envelop you once more, and you will slip back into that serene fantasy world we only think about in movies or dreams. Life in Athens is full of these paired opposites: the traffic heavy thoroughfares or the quiet alleys. Modern high rises or picturesque cafes. The dualisms are everywhere. It is simply a matter or searching for them.
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