Watching the changing of the guard was one of my most surprising moments in Athens. Across from the Syntagma Metro station, the Parliament building stands at the north end of the National Garden. Every Sunday morning, the guard is ceremoniously changed before an audience of hundreds of onlookers. I really didn’t know what to expect so I just took my place in the crowd and waited for something to happen. Very softly at first, the sound of drums playing a military cadence caught my ears ... then I could hear the horns of the band as traditionally uniformed soldiers rounded the corner and marched into the square ... I have to admit, the somber march and the colorful precision of the soldiers stirred my soul ... I was truly humbled by the low-key spectacle. The subtlety and simplicity of the entire ceremony was an experience I will never forget.