Last days in Athens

We are enjoying our last days in Athens with the family, yesterday we had Sunday dinner with family

They prepared Rooster from Dmitras village farm with pasta and grated cheese from the village, we thought the Rooster was more tender than the chicken or maybe it was  because it just so fresh.  We took the electric train back to our friends Dmitras apt where  we we spent our last night in Athens.

To sum up our impression of Athens compared to 10 years ago, we expected to come to Greece and see it in a state of disrepair, with all the news about its economy, what we found surprised us, the city was the cleanest we have ever seen it, the squares are filled with people Shopping, drinking coffee, eating souvlaki and talking on their Iphones, the places we  did see homeless and poverty was around Monastiraki, about the same as we saw some10 years ago ,we did notice less immigrants from Albania I am not sure why. There is a lot of talk about what might happen if the deal with Europe Falls through, and there have been cuts to people's pension, and many have to wait to receive their retirement, but there seems to be equalizing as well, landlords cut their rents, for example the apartment we are staying in is $250.00 per month located in a upscale neighborhood, her  electric is $50.00 per month, stores have lowered there prices and tourism is booming here. The elders say they have work on their farms and vineyards, but they can't find any young people  who are willing to do this type of work. In turn the young say there is no opportunities in Greece and want to leave  to seek  a better life. 

There are those critics who say the economy is the Greeks own fault, and thats what's wrong with Greece. But I have found the Greeks have it right about many other things that matter more than money , there are the family dinners that last for hours, there is hardly any nursing homes as the Greeks take care of there own, you can see people running up and down the streets with plates of food for family or friends who can't cook their own food, then there is the (platias) or the squares  where every night a ritual occurs, every man, women, child, & teenagers and babies  gather to play, eat, drink coffee, socialize, laugh or just stroll along the platia, there is a real sense of community and family here, this happens every night and goes on till around midnight, it reminded me of my childhood days when after dinner the parents would sit on the steps, and the kids would play tag or catch fire flies till the street lights came on.  I hope this blog gives you a glimpse into the Greeks life and not just what the media chooses to show us.