The Euro:- In, out, shake it...

Wishful Thinking!

Greyrocks has little interest in football, but a lot of interest in the future of Greece, and the welfare and spirit of the Greeks! Thus it was that we could not ignore two events from our first month here:- the latest election and Euro 2012, and nor was their near synchronicity missed by headline writers!

Talking to people we know in the village brought home how much loathing there is for politicians in general in this (as one is frequently told) "home of democracy". In particular mention of PASOK -the traditional Socialist party - brings forth a torrent about broken trust :- sound familiar? A couple of notables told us of how they would be supporting Syriza - even if this meant leaving the Eurozone; many others said they would have to vote  for the establishment, but would do so holding their noses :-sound familiar?

We didn't come across any open supporters of neo-fascists "Golden Dawn"; but a few days into our stay we went to the local buffet breakfast cafe (excellent value at 6 euros a head!). On the TV was a non-stop loop showing what happened on live TV on June 7th. Watch the whole caboodle here! 

How could he?

Here in the village the election made little impact on everyday life! There was even less campaigning than we saw in France, but plenty of locals came back for the weekend to vote, and this included our landlord, Spiros! He rang the indoor bell whilst we were still in a state of undress, so Ruth hid, and Bob conducted a very strange dialogue with the elderly man wearing only a torn Goan sarong. (That's Bob - not Spiros!) At issue was an over-the-counter contract he wanted Bob to sign. To say there was little shared language is to completely understate the problem, but numerals and dates were passed backwards and forwards on paper, and we took away his offering mumbling things about spiti, avrio (tomorrow) and Kyria Maria's taverna. In fact he returned before that with anglophone professional reinforcements and we were ready with translated and transliterated  personal details. We are still not sure what we have signed:- perhaps liability for the entire national debt!

How could she?

Anyway Greece got a government, and Paleochora got 12 large screens in the High Street on which to watch Euro 2012, and on 22nd June Greece played Germany. Three of us who play cards together felt such  longing for the elation that would follow a Greek win that we placed a bet on it, and Ruth ventured for the first time into the betting shop, where the lady assumed it would be on Germany, and on hearing the contrary beamed and said "Poly Kala!" Politics and football came together too in the form of supporter shirts. New Prime Minister: Samaras! National hero (and Celtic player): Samaras!. We didn't know this and were surprised to see so many youngsters enthusiastic for an unpopular PM! For a very special 5 minutes or so (at 1-1) it looked like something wonderful might happen, and the entirely partisan crowd of which we were part at the Chicken House went wild, but then it all fell apart, and only the German supporters down there at Yannis' Place could be heard, so passion was redirected towards Angela Merkel and her tasteless, undiplomatic and unnecessary behaviour. All we wanted was an overall winner from amongst the PIGS nations.
Pity, though, for the Austrian and Swiss tourists:- innocent parties loathed on account of their language!


Joke of the month:
A Merkel goes on holiday to Greece. A official asks name etc. "Occupation?", "No this time just a holiday!"


Seriously... some of our best friends are Germans! By the time Germany was due to play Italy Gunter had arrived in town and asked where we would be watching the match. We match-made him with Jorgen and Sabine from Berlin. They had brand new shirts and banners etc for the occasion! The rest is history! We watched at Monika's, giving a good view later of despondent German supporters after the match. 

Schadenfreude!

.. and of course as Spanish residents we wore yellow and red with pride on July 1st and were not disappointed!