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I certainly can understand your concerns. Big
demonstrations and strikes can, indeed, be
something to consider before getting on a plane
that will take you right into the middle of it.
But, unlike many other countries, Greece is not a
country where such events will affect you or your
family as in countries like Korea or some of the
Central American countries. The Greeks are a very
mild mannered and peaceful type of people who have
developed their own "democratic" style of
demonstrating and striking.
Some of the typical characteristics of the "Greek
style" are the following:
a. Demonstrations are almost always non-violent
where people often bring their small children
along on nice warm and sunny days.
b. Strikes are never sudden or surprise last
resort union tactics. When any union decides to go
on strike, the public is given at least 10 days or
more advance notice of their intent to strike.
c. Strikes are not real strikes in that they
aren't continuous as they are done in other
countries. Rather, Greek Unions will simply
announce that they are going to be on a "24 hour
strike" on a specific day. Typically they choose a
Tuesday or a Thursday. The next day everybody goes
back to work as usual. ( I never could understand
how they expect to get their employers to come to
the negotiating table when they only use this
"Greek Style" of striking, but I guess it must
somehow work because they usually come to a
compromise on the issues within a relatively short
period of time.)
As I hope you can see, there really isn't any
reason to cancel your trip to Greece. You would
only be depriving yourself of a pleasant and
relaxing vacation in a place with so much to
offer. It would surely be a regretful
decision.
Yesterday we had a wonderful 24 hour nation wide
strike. It was great!!! I secretly wish they would
do it more often. My reasons are somewhat
selfish:
1. There was absolutely NO traffic in the morning
when I drove into Athens (No buses or taxis) and
there was absolutely NO traffic going home after
work.
2. Besides the Cell Phone business I also have a
Carpet Store in the Plaka area of Athens and
business was never better. (This was due to the
fact that all the tourists couldn't go to the
Acropolis or the Museums and so they all devoted
the day to "shopping" which was a very profitable
decision for me.)
Of course, many tourists were disappointed that
they couldn't visit the Acropolis and some of the
other sites and because their itineraries weren't
flexible they won't be able to do their Athens
site seeing at all. This was certainly unfortunate
for them, but most people did allow themselves
some flexibility and are up on the Acropolis
today.
Hopefully you will agree with me and come on over
to Greece as scheduled.
Regards from sunny, calm, and "not to worry"
Athens,
Tom
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