Final Thoughts on Greece

Today is the second Greek election in two months. We were in Greece for the first election. The way their system works nothing was really decided and it left everyone in limbo. When we got to Athens we could feel the anxiety. We could see the misery. There were more homeless people, beggars and just unhappy looking people here than anywhere else we have been this year. And many countries are not in good economic situations. But some how Greece was the saddest. Half the population of Greece lives in Athens. Their only real resource is their tourist industry. It will be interesting to see what happens. Today was also an election in France, the left won.  This is good for Greece. We have learned a lot about how the EU works and doesn't work. It is definitely a work in progress and Greece is one place the work is painfully happening.

Greece is not a country for dogs. They are kept in yards tied up. Cats are another story. There are cats everywhere. Many are very happy and content. On the island of Hydra there were many that were sickly and malnourished. I don't know why its a cat country instead of dog but there were a lot of cats.

Where as Japan had the best toilets, Greece had some of the worst. No seats, no toilet paper. There was one worse in Bali, but over all Greece did not have this together. And smoking, they banned it in public places but people still do it. Restaurants have no smoking signs with people right next to them smoking. I would not call the Greeks rule followers.

Many people would say the color of Greece are blue and white for the sea, sky and whitewashed houses. I would agree, but for me the major color was the silvery green of olive leaves. I would not say olive green because to me that is usually drab and dull and I associate it with army green. The silver green of olive tree leaves is shimmery and alive, glinting in the sun and light. Greece is more than a color, it is light. The light there is somehow different than any where else I have been. It is clearer and brighter but not so bright it hurts. It is clean. I remember that from my first trip and it is still true.

I was some what hesitant to go back to Greece. My first trip was many years ago. I expected it had changed, become more developed, maybe not in good ways. I also knew my impressions from that trip were particularly strong because I was so young and it was my first trip outside the country without my family. But Greece was as astounding this time as the first time. The light, colors, food, history and beauty were all the same. The people were open and friendly, sometimes gruff, but always real and down to earth. The freeways where nicer (paid for with EU money), parts of Athens were much nicer (there was no metro when I was there before and more pollution). the country side did not seem much different. When I was there before I went to a beach on Corfu I thought was the most beautiful beach ever. I have been to many great beaches since in many places but there is something special about Greece. I hope I can go back again.