Here I am outside a clothing shop on Myconos, one of the more touristy islands.
People are People
Since I’ve been home from Greece and a few times by email while on my trip, friends have expressed concern over the “riots”. We certainly gained a clearer understanding of media hype. We were only in Athens twice, once to port and tour the Acropolis and the other for our last night before boarding the plane home. On the second trip, our tour guide drove us past the square near Parliament where the demonstrations were being held. It resembled a festival ground in Louisiana with its handmade signs and tents. When we passed, it was midday and everyone around was going about their normal everyday activities. We passed a TV reporter standing in front of a burned kiosk. Our guide told us about malicious plants, possibly police, who were inciting more fear and violence than the protestors. Usually, these demonstrations consist of chanting and obscene gestures. We did not witness any unrest. Actually, quite the opposite.
We did learn a few obscene Greek gestures: the hand raised as in a wide high five is equivalent to the middle finger in our society, and the pointer finger beckoning someone to “come see” is a rude gesture in Greece.
On the islands, I especially enjoyed visiting with shop keepers. (Yes, I did my share of shopping!) Most of them were very friendly and grateful for our presence. They loved to tell stories. From Thomas, I learned about the mythology of Athena. Her symbol of the blue eye is very popular. It symbolizes her wisdom, also symbolized by the owl, and her instruction to keep your eyes open. In Turkey, the blue eye was called the evil eye, and it is usually hung near the entrance of the home (or in the front of the bus) to keep evil out.
From Louise, I learned about the Greek key. This design is on purses and scarves. It is also seen on ancient ruins. The open design symbolizes a handshake that says “my home is your home.”
When we would purchase things from a shop, often the owner would add in lagniappe, a little gift. Our guide, Katia, explained that they were all very desperate and grateful for your patronage. Greece’s economy is in trouble, but the people still practice kindness and gentleness.
One of the perks of an Overseas Adventure Travel trip is the home visit. We had two of them, one on the island of Naxos, and the other in the mountains of Meteora. Both visits included ouzo toasts and ethnic food. On Naxos, the soil is good for potatoes, so we had delicious smothered potatoes. In Meteora, the couple spoke English and shared stories of their family’s survival in WWII and the present crisis.
People are people, wherever you are. People care for each other and share their stories in order to make a connection, even in Greece.
Waiting my turn to taste pistachios, grown and sold on Aegina, our last island visit.
Reflections on the Teche 