Been hearing lots of irritating tales again lately about what the UK media and so-called "expert" travel writers, newsfolk and journalists are saying about conditions here in Greece.
Folks, please, ignore it all. They've been bandying round this same tripe now for over five years, since the days of the Papandreou administration. Stuff like "Oh dear, you'd better take a shedload of ready cash if you're taking the 'risk' of going to Greece. The ATM's are empty, the hotels don't have any food, you won't be able to use €50 notes." ...and so on.
It's all total trash. The ATM's are only ever empty after there's been a run on them due to the extra tourist demand and I've never yet known one on Rhodes to stay out of service more than a few hours, a day or two at most. It's not a shortage of printed Euro bills that's the problem, it's manpower to get around to re-stock the machines.
Look at these photos that I took yesterday on my first Rhodes excursion of the season...
Does it look like society is crumbling around our ears as we watch in horror? Or does it look like somewhere you'd like to be right now - having a great holiday?
Finally, I'm not usually inclined to go down this route humour-wise, but this did make me smile. This is a photo of the side window of the coach above the driver's head that I took as we were trundling along. See the yellow and black sign? It says: "I'm awesome in bed - I can sleep all day!!" It made me chuckle anyway.
The Greek islands are open for business. I've said this before too, but it bears repeating: Whatever currency is legal tender, or becomes legal tender here, it won't make a scrap of difference to holidaymakers because all the restaurants, bars and shops will still take Euros, just as they do in Turkey, where I've been many times and never changed my currency into Turkish Lira!!
Don't panic - buy your flights!!
Folks, please, ignore it all. They've been bandying round this same tripe now for over five years, since the days of the Papandreou administration. Stuff like "Oh dear, you'd better take a shedload of ready cash if you're taking the 'risk' of going to Greece. The ATM's are empty, the hotels don't have any food, you won't be able to use €50 notes." ...and so on.
It's all total trash. The ATM's are only ever empty after there's been a run on them due to the extra tourist demand and I've never yet known one on Rhodes to stay out of service more than a few hours, a day or two at most. It's not a shortage of printed Euro bills that's the problem, it's manpower to get around to re-stock the machines.
Look at these photos that I took yesterday on my first Rhodes excursion of the season...
Does it look like society is crumbling around our ears as we watch in horror? Or does it look like somewhere you'd like to be right now - having a great holiday?
Finally, I'm not usually inclined to go down this route humour-wise, but this did make me smile. This is a photo of the side window of the coach above the driver's head that I took as we were trundling along. See the yellow and black sign? It says: "I'm awesome in bed - I can sleep all day!!" It made me chuckle anyway.
The Greek islands are open for business. I've said this before too, but it bears repeating: Whatever currency is legal tender, or becomes legal tender here, it won't make a scrap of difference to holidaymakers because all the restaurants, bars and shops will still take Euros, just as they do in Turkey, where I've been many times and never changed my currency into Turkish Lira!!
Don't panic - buy your flights!!
Today on Crete it is the commemoration of the WW2 Battle of Crete. The indomitable Cretan and Greek spirit didn't break then, and it won't now. It dosn't matter where in Greece you choose, just come on over, and do your bit for the Greek economy. X
ReplyDeleteMy education was based in the sciences, yet I also consider myself to be a Fortean. I love spotting the weird, the paradox, and I love asking the question “Why is the Emperor not wearing any clothes?”
ReplyDeleteGreece is full of paradox. Consider the motorcyclist I saw descending the series of hairpin bends that are on the road from the Hospital on the back road to Pastida. He had the bike loaded with shopping, no helmet, and only one hand on the handlebars. Why? Every corner he came to he was frantically crossing himself!
The Northern European journalists you criticise for spreading panic just do not understand the Greek people. Greece is different from the rest of Europe and while this difference attracts some, it terrifies others. Yanis Varoufakis may seem to be like the chap on the motorbike, but he does not want Grexit! The rest of the EU do not want to force Grexit. Exactly what is going to happen is a mystery, but I do not expect Grexit.
You are quite right to sat “DON’T PANIC!” but, for the non Grecophile, it does look like madness. You are like the “Voice crying in the wilderness” I hope you are heard. I love the little island of Halki but I listen to the locals blaming all the ills of Greece on the EU, yet there cannot be another little piece of rock in the Aegean on which more EU money has been spent. Holidaymakers listen to this, as do I. They hear ingratitude and Grexit. I hear another paradox and see that biker in my mind’s eye!
Greece is wonderfully weird!
Simon
Put very eruditely Simon. How we "enjoy" seeing those moped/motorcycle riders, eh?
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