A young woman training to be a kindergarten teacher said she will have to have two jobs to survive. We were told Greece has great doctors but not enough doctors, beds, nurses or hospital supplies. So if you want decent health care you have to go private and pay for it. The same applies with education. The same applies to the beaches - to go to a nice one costs 25 Euros a day.
There are five million people in Athens, also three million cars and 16,000 taxis, plus tourists - all this in a city that was originally designed for half a million people. To compensate they provide cheap public transport. Over two hundred thousand people use electric trans each day. More than a million use the train services each day. You pay one and a half Euros and can travel as far as you like in seventy minutes before you have to buy a new ticket. Tickets are transferable between transport types too. Greece has had a tough time of it. They fought off many invaders - in some cases against all odds. The Romans were a bridge too far however. After the Romans ruled for many centuries, they were overthrown and eventually Turkey invaded and ruled Greece for 400 years. It still rankles with Greeks. Turkey is still trying to claim disputed territories and islands here and there also.
When Greece broke free from Turkey in 1820 it was with European Nations support. As a result they felt they had the right to ensure Greece had a government they approved of. Therefore a 17 year old German prince was installed on the Greek throne. He was inexperienced, spoke no Greek and had no appreciation of the country, its history or culture. After all those years under foreign rule, freedom for Greeks didn’t feel much like it. Prince Otto of Germany became King Otto of Greece, and he did move the capital of Hellas (Greece as foreigners call it) to Athens.
In 1974 Greece held a referendum and the people voted to end the Monarchy and become a Republic. A dictator then installed himself - Papadopolous. He ruled with a dictator’s approach and corruption and nepotism was rife. His ‘public service’ cronies had amazing salaries, amazing holiday schemes, and the general standard of living built on debt and unreality meant the country went broke. Once Greece joined the European Union, they were expected to sort their stuff out. Austerity measures were required. Hoards of public servants lost their jobs, subsidies were removed and taxes went up. The people were in a total uproar and marched in the streets. Sadly the austerity measures have not really worked and Greece is still in deep financial strife. There are many who want the dictatorship back. Everything was “organised” is the response you hear and people had money, services, benefits and jobs.
As in many parts of Europe - and the United States - the far right party is growing steadily in popularity. It is currently ranked third in the polls in Greece. As with most Far Right parties, it is Anti immigration. Two million Syrian war refugees have arrived into a country of 11 million - that is already broke. Add to this that half million young people leave Greece each year, taking their education, their skills and their potential taxes with them to find better paying jobs elsewhere in Europe. As a result Greece is left with immigrants, the unemployed and the aged.All of which are a drain on the fragile economy. Greece has no industry. They generate electricity via Coal Powered plants. This is what we would call dirty energy in New Zealand, but they have no real choice. Solar and wind power is being developed, but slowly.
In Katakolona their are many empty buildings and businesses. Broken windows and high weeds feature prominently. Even the local Peugot dealership had swathes of long, straggly weeds out in front of the building. In spite of this there is no crime in Katakolona. People leave their house key on the front fence so their visiting friends can come inside and wait until the owners get home. Austerity after EU didn't which means angry people. There were lots of broken windows and shut down businesses. The economy here is in bad shape
But there is no crime in Katakolona
The pantheon of the gods is very important to Greeks and to their history. Nike is the goddess of victory and there were many statues erected to her in honour of their various victories over their numerous foes. None of the statues I saw had her in running shoes though, so I am a little confused… Speaking of victory. I was talking football and a local said Greece was no good. I mentioned Greece had done pretty well in the European championships a few years back. My local friend said that was just an accident.
We learned a lot about Olympic games. While they were about peace, friendship and honour, they were also all about events that were important for soldiers - running, wrestling, throwing the javelin, jumping etc. Temperatures during the set time for the early Olympics were 46 or 47 degrees Celsius with 90% humidity. This made it tough on the athletes. By the by - Gymnasium means naked. Gymnastics means exercising naked. Thus the Olympics were competed in naked form. This also avoided possible cheating, as nothing could be hidden. Women were not allowed to watch the games. There were separate games for women, and women competed clothed. Their events were set at 60% of the men’s - so a 100 metre race became a 60 metre race for women. In all events only winners only acknowledged - with an Olive wreath. No other place getters were recognised. With the only prize being an olive wreath it was truly amateur sport.
Sadly Universities, the Olympics and schools of philosophy were all shut down by the Christian Byzantine Roman emperor in the fourth century, as they were seen as practices and influences counter to Christian values and theology. On the other side of the coin, Rome brought aqueducts and water management technologies which transformed Greece.
The last day of the cruise had no excursions, so I took the opportunity to run my second ten km run in three days. At 11am in 37 degree heat made it a bit of a challenge, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. |