Banks in Crete can be busy places…
Week beginning Monday 23rd June 2008 First day for our Life in Crete series and Monday's a good day to start.
Luckily, they have recently introduced a ticket system, and everyone knows when it's their turn. I think it's only the Brits that know how to queue, and we've been in the midst of some right old free-for-alls in our time. Having said that, I remember last year, Julie, a friend of ours, was visiting from the UK and she had to change some money. We were living in the east then so this happened in Agios Nikolaos. We went to the National Bank in town and it was packed full. Not all banks in Crete offer exchange, but this bank definitely does. After standing at the back for a minute a bank teller beckoned us over, through lines of Greeks already waiting. No one batted an eyelid. I can only assume that they let the tourists through to get their money first. After all, the majority of the Greeks in the Bank were probably tourist shop owners and restaurateurs! However, back to Monday. When we'd got our cash we went shopping, and getting to the IN.KA Supermarket from the east end of the village is tricky in summer. The village road is very narrow in places and parking sensibly is not a concept known in Greece. This day it was clear as a bell! Couldn't believe it! We heard later that the police had had a clamp down, and were out in force dishing out tickets. There are no no-parking signs, notices or indications though. Apparent, because the road was the forerunner to the National Road, the rules on parking still count - and that means no parking on the road at all! This makes sense and makes life easier for everyone. Just near the main road there is plenty of parking on the sea front. But to many Greeks (and ex-pats for that matter) a walk of a few feet is a walk too far. Could have something to do with the heat I suppose.
NEWS FROM CRETE AND GREECE This news report appeared in the Kathimerini newspaper on 18th June 2008: Errant sheep cause head-on collision
One truck had been on its way to dump trash at a local landfill, the other en route to collect trash from the streets. The collision was so violent that one of the drivers had to be cut out of the crushed front of his vehicle, firemen said. It appears that one of the drivers swerved in an attempt to avoid the animals but smashed headlong into the other truck whose driver had not reacted so quickly. One of the drivers was injured, though not seriously, and both trucks were damaged. It was unclear whether any harm had come to the sheep, whose presence on the road without a shepherd remained a mystery." On a more serious note, and a reminder of how serious you should take the Samarai Canyon hike. Again, from the Kathimerini newspaper recently: Death in Samaria
For some very useful information on this site for walking the Samaria Gorge click here Fed up commuting to work every day? Try living in Athens!: Editorial from the Kathimerini newspaper: "Transportation in Athens is one of the most important things determining the quality of life of its residents and the memories that visitors take home with them. Cars - parked or in motion - swarm over every inch of road and sidewalk. Motorcycles rumble and screech between vehicles and pedestrians, ignoring all laws and all logic. Delivery trucks, disgorging clouds of diesel fumes, block traffic lanes whenever and wherever they see fit. Taxis crawl along the curb, fishing for more customers to jam next to the trapped wretches already suffering from the heat, the sweat, the cigarette smoke, the agony of a missed appointment." On the International Day against Drugs (26th June), a baker is caught out. This from the National News Website in Greece (ERT) A Heroin Sandwich?
Finally, an example of how an argument can get out of hand. This from the National News Website in Greece (ERT) Man killed over dog's bath A dog’s bath in Pafos Island was the reason two men fought. The first man was killed while the second one was arrested. The dog was also killed. According to witnesses and the police, a 60 years old man got furious when another 50 years old man took his dog for a bath to the beach. Intense verbal fight broke out and then the two men started to hit each other. Then the 60 years old got into his car, chased the owner of the dog and injured him deadly. He also killed the dog. The victim was transferred to hospital where his death was confirmed. Police arrested the killer who said that the victim insulted him and threw him stones.
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