When the sea is calm and the world is not
A very Greek mix of beachside joy and existential dread. Thanks for the birthday wishes, by the way.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes and the kind words.
I thoroughly enjoyed a few days of only worrying about what beach I should go to next and where I want to eat for dinner, but I have to say, it can feel a little conflicting with all the things that are happening in the world.
You wake up in the morning, and all around you there’s white houses and pink flowers and blue waters /
but then you get a notification that another part of Greece is burning /
you lay your towel in the sand /
meanwhile, a bunch of men with the emotional maturity of 5-year-olds are just shooting missiles at each other like they’re Monopoly missiles, not actual weapons that kill people /
you order a freddo /
and then they scream at each other over social media with the Caps Lock on /
you sip your freddo, put some sun lotion on, and hope that the only thing you’ll see over the horizon is a yacht.
It’s a very surreal vibe, that your brain is trying to rationalize into “nothing I can do, may as well enjoy the good days while they last,” but then there’s another part of you that feels guilty. And anxious.
I’m really curious about how you guys are navigating this cognitive dissonance, especially since summer can get more than a little dystopic in Greece.
But on to the news.
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Spotlight
This weekend took a tense turn with the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, and things got even more complicated when President Trump suddenly decided to involve the U.S. in the mix.
As if that weren’t enough, reports suggest that a U.S. military base right here in Crete may have played a role in the bombing of Iran.
But what’s at stake for Greece in this situation?
A three-month tension scenario could cost the Greek economy up to 2.5 billion euros, or about 1% of GDP, according to some analysts. This is because the US's direct entry into the war creates new scenarios (...).The first main issue is related to oil and the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
What a closure of the strait of Hormuz means for Greek shipping.
The government was considering a series of allowances to alleviate consumer pressure if electricity costs increased because of the conflict (gas costs have already increased).
***
The other sad news of the weekend came from the island of Chios, where huge wildfires broke out. It hit hard. Chios is one of the islands I care about deeply. So is Kythira, which has also been battling fires these days.
Chios went into a state of emergency. As the fires were contained, a person was arrested for arson.
So the fire started, but why did Chios burn for so long?
In fact, fires broke out in many places. Aside from the islands, Attica, Monemvasia and Evia are just three of them. It’s like a seasonal ritual of destruction that never, ever stops.
A preachy PSA
I was talking the other day about the low level of trust Greeks have in the media. One of the reasons for that is practices like this: articles that openly promote a product or service, without any clear sign that the content is paid. This is not ethical. Most serious publications around the world label sponsored content clearly. Greek newspapers often don’t.
The product doesn’t matter. What matters is the practice, which creates distance between the newsroom and the audience. It’s a breach of trust. Be mindful of it.
Ok. Sorry about the interruption. But this practice really pisses me off.
News You Can Use
As the first heatwave of the year strikes, the municipality opened up cool spaces to help vulnerable residents and visitors cope with its effects. Check here where you can find them.
A wildfire risk warning was issued for Greece today. Check here what parts of Greece are at risk (many of them are islands).
In spite of public outrage, the no-campervan law stays: Greece has banned free overnight stays for campervans, motorhomes, and trailers under the new Traffic Code, with heavy fines for those who park or sleep outside designated campsites.
So, ok, let’s book an August holiday in Greece at a hotel, shall we? Someone tried this little experiment and:
The cheapest double accommodation in Astypalaia costs €157 , while in Sifnos you will not find a double room for less than €202 per night. In Serifos the cheapest accommodation costs €209, while if you want to stay on August 15 in Koufonisia then you will need to pay €455 per night for a quadruple room.
But there’s also good news! Greece launched its first homegrown satellite on Monday. It’s called DUTHSat-2, and it’s meant to monitor the environment, help with disaster response, and support civil protection.
People in Greece are using a lot more air conditioning than they used to: energy use from A/C alone shot up by 265% between 2000 and 2022. But here are a few tips to lower your electricity bill this summer. And since we’re here, don't sleep naked - and other tips for better sleep in the heat
Rent will now have to be paid by bank transfer: no more cash or under-the-table payments.
Greeks work 175 days a year to pay taxes and social contributions. And yet, some people still wonder: why do the Greeks feel poor?
The Bank of Greece criticizes the government’s housing measures, both My Home II and the rental subsidy program:
“programs to support households through loan or rent subsidies, although socially in the right direction, further increase the already excessive demand and, unless combined with drastic initiatives to stimulate the supply of real estate, cannot provide a sustainable solution to the country’s ever-growing housing issue.”
Almost two in every three foodservice businesses with tables on the sidewalk break the law.
Your car insurance will probably go up again this year.
It turn out that in Crete, 50% of the water in the swimming pools contains a dangerous bacteria, and a tourist is in the ICU because of it.
The Greek state is really into registries these days. This time, we’re getting an elevator registry.
Two individuals were fined €6,000 for installing three security cameras, two of them rotatable, that recorded parts of their neighbor’s property. I’ve seen this issue appearing many times on expat groups, whether it’s legal for one’s neighbours to do that. It’s not.
The Long Reads
Mount Egaleo: The lung of Western Athens that became a landfill
The Sifnians who see beyond profit: a new generation of tourism entrepreneurs in Sifnos loves the island and is concerned about its future, as well as the rest of the Cyclades.
Wanderlust
This weekend: a book bazaar at Kypseli Municipal Market, an Ikaria party in Galiantra, a street party in Akadimia Platonos and Kinds of Kindness at Pool Your Cinema.
10 public places in Athens where people just hang out
The open air cinema in Kimolos, where you can watch movies by the sea.
That’s it. Have a great weekend and do write back. Even if it’s just to complain.
Ioana