Visit Greece and See the World

Jeff–Saturday

Greece is experiencing a harsh couple of weeks, what with hundreds of earthquake tremors threatening its most popular Cycladic islands region, and a tsunami of political outrage triggered by a just released expert's report on the tragic February 28, 2023 head-on train crash that claimed the lives of at least 57 and injured 80 more. 

The report was submitted last week on behalf of the families of the crash victims. A final report prepared by the National Organization charged with investigating railway accidents (EODASAM) is expected on February 27th .

Here are links to more in-depth details on the earthquake tremors and train crash.  But as neither situation appears likely to be resolved anytime soon, I thought it best to go upbeat and post a selection of photos comparing Greece to other treasured parts of the world.  They never cease to remind me of the unmatched beauty, variety, and magic of Greece.

The photographs are from diadoseto.blogspot.gr and e-fungus.gr.

Acropolis, Sounion, Mount Athos monastery

–Jeff

Let Greece Show You the World.

It’s Saturday.  Yesterday, absolutely for sure, Greece faced a drop-dead certain date in its media driven European Roadshow, aka The Financial Crisis.  There have been so many politicians out there jockeying for face time press attention in this extravaganza that it’s hard to find an unclaimed syllable in any of a half-dozen languages.

But, lo and behold, miracle of miracles, Armageddon’s been postponed (again).  This time to June 30^th via a four-month extension if Greece submits by Monday an “action plan” specifying the precise reforms it plans on implementing, and all necessary parliaments (including Greece’s) approve the extension deal.

Sad, isn’t it, when you realize how much attention this rather traditional drag-it-out-to-the-very-last-moment-so-your-constituents-don’t-think-you-left-anything-on-the-table style of labor/management negotiation is getting, while so much else in Greece in need of urgent honest attention goes unwatched, unheeded, uncared for. 

Let’s be real, Greece’s true tragic dramas are playing out every day in homes, schools, streets, hospitals, and shops all across the country, as eleven million people hold their collective breath praying they’ve entrusted their fate into the right hands.

It is the everyday Greek, not the politicians, who have the most to lose.  And to understand precisely what’s at risk, here are photographs sent to me by a friend in Greece (Andreas Fiorentinos) showing how within his homeland one can find virtually the entire world. 

I think it's time governments get back to basics: the land of Greece and its people are not to blame.

The photographs are from diadoseto.blogspot.gr and e-fungus.gr.

Acropolis, Sounion, Mount Athos monastery

  Jeff—Saturday