A man walks through the snow in the northern Athens suburb of Pendeli yesterday. The stoicism of Athenian commuters was put to the test yesterday as the first cold snap of the season coincided with an unexpected transport strike. A last-minute work stoppage by Athens metro staff yesterday morning left thousands of unsuspecting travelers stuck in the cold and rain. The action suspended metro services from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. There were also traffic problems in the northern suburbs, where snowfall temporarily closed roads.