Impressions about Thessaloniki

Again - not enough time to see all of it, so not enough to really tell how the local inhabitants are doing in this time.
But still I have some observations.

The city centre is full of meddlesome people who try to sell you "high fashion" bags, belts and other stuff. That kind of people I met also in Athens. For Thessaloniki then more characteristic is the guys who try to trap you with offering "for free" some simple, knotted bracelets. Unfourynately, not the best feeling when you are surrounded by them. As I was told later by the local inhabitant, a big problem of Greece is that when some imigrants from their poorer neighbour countries, form example, Turkey or Libya (just an examples, I have nothing against these countries), seeking for better life, arrive to Europe, of course, on of the first countries, where they get in is Greece. And Greece has to registrate that these people have arrived. In some cases they leave Greece and go more to North, but if something bad happens, if they do something illegal, they are sent back, back to Greece. So because of bad situation in other countries, Greece has to keep more people than it maybe should.

Even if I have characterized Greeks mostly with not the best words, then  one good thing that they have is being not affarid to express their mind, emoitions and thoughts, not only as a person, but also as a nation. This photo was taken is Thessaloniki, almost in the city centre - very close to White Tower. Greeks have said their word and they will continue.

Visiting Thessaloniki

Tomorrow I am going to a short one day visit to Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece. I was enough lucky to find a guide - a local inhabitant who will show me around. I hope also to hear some opinion about the current situation in his country.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teacherdudebbq2/6468110517/
A photo that describes the life of part of the society.

Story of Samos

Surfing in the Internet for something new in blogs connected with Greece, I found this story - it describes the daily life and how it has changed during crisis of an Greek island in the Aegan sea - Samos. This island also, like all the others, was living because of tourism, but now, because of the crisis, their future is not so bright. It includes also several examples of local people daily life changes because of the economical situation here. Here is the link: http://www.redpepper.org.uk/greek-crisis-samos-chronicles/

There is a part of the story about that local inhabitants now are much more using and taking care of land - a natural source of food, of course, if you put in your work there as well. Such kind of tendency during crisis was also in Latvia -  people turned from only consuming to growing vegetables and fruits by themselves, not only because of green fashion, but mostly for surviving.

The striking news

Reading the news of Greece can make you not only pessimistic but also afraid to go out in the streets. Actually, I am glad that I live in the calm and quite peacefull Serres.

People protest and riot against something that seems to be unchangeable. "Fresh clashes broke out between demonstrators and police outside parliament on Tuesday evening, hours after police fired teargas to disperse youths hurling petrol bombs at them. (...) Inside, lawmakers were in the final stages of a debate on the 2012 budget packed with unpopular austerity measures.", wrotes "Athens News" (http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/1/51156)

The government adopted the new budget of 2012. It includes increasing taxes and spending cuts - all just to lower the debt. There was no other choice for the government as well, or it only seems so? Unfortunately my knowledge in economy is not enough to say something with a 100% proof, but still I have a feeling that increasing tax burden will only create expanding of black economy as people will try to avoid paying taxes as much as they can. And already now it is said that crisis has killed 60 000 businesses, not the best data for country that really needs working enterprises.

Actually, reading news about Greece, it gives the same feeling as reading news about Latvia, lets say, a year ago. Except all those dramatic and violent protests - we did not do anything like that -, we mostly suffered in silence. Now Latvia is compared with Germany just after World War II - with all our problems with banks...

Let's hope for the best for Greece as well.

Darker colours

Today I came across a blog that shows the current situation as very bad and without any faith of improving. Quite depressing, especially the photos, but maybe that's what it takes to get the attention? Look by yourselves: http://teacherdudebbq.blogspot.com/

Still going on

This time I want to show you a great post of a blogger - Greek by nationality, now living in USA - who has written a great post about the origins of Greek debt crisis in her opinion. It is quite long, but worth reading - honest, critical and sarcastic at the same time. It was interesting for me how the author described the possible ways of dealing with the situation. And also the way how  she describes tourism industry of Greece. Sο, enjoy: http://eugenia.queru.com/2011/06/20/regarding-the-greek-situation/

Just like in school

The fact that Greece is in debt crisis, knows everyone. That is mainly taken care of by Greeks themselves who do not stop complaining and protesting against the government introduced austerity measures. Here reaffirms the fact that the one, who yells the most, also receives the most – as it is for example, in a large class. In this case, the largest yeller is Greece, but my home country Latvia could be cited as an example of clumsy, shy kid, who does not know how to earn attention.

Although I do not belong to the Latvians, who supposedly took offence that the European Union made a deal about lowering the Greece debt by 50%, but for our country in a similar situation only put some more restrictions – I know that Greece as a member of the euro zone is a much more serious player. However, I have to say that such attention to Greece did not seem fully deserved. During these two months, apart from repeated protests, I have not felt that the country would be such rough economic situation. Cafes and shops are full of customers; it means that people have money, if they are spending it. Of course, Greek feelings and expressions have already been completely different. And why should not - if I would be forced to leave my golden lounge chair to sit on a regular kitchen stool, I would be shocked as well and would demand to get me back to my throne. The people were accustomed to live many years wastefully and abundantly, but now, when have to tighten their belts - the problems with adjusting begin. The reason for this is that all this prosperity, which, at least for the workers of public sector, was provided by the government,  it was built on a completely insecure debt money and collapse of this construction was only a matter of time.

Change yourself is already difficult, it is even harder to try to change others. So, good luck, the Greek government, in trying to train your people to live more economically and to pay taxes in good faith. But if you will no succeed, maybe the good teacher European Union can help you again...