Athens in Crisis I

(Likavittos< St georges Church)

 

                                                  (Acropolis, seen from Pangrati)                                                                         Athens, forever beautiful  during its  three and a half thousand year history, has changed markedly over the last few years. Granted Likavettos is still there, as is the Acropolis, the pollution and the feeling of calm amongst chaos, but joining the Euro with its still being played out financial consequence has led to a hundred-fold increase in the number of people desperately trying to peddle their trinkets on the streets.
        In the Metro carriage, a respectable loking man gives a long and dignified speech before walking along the carriage selling cigarette lighters at 25c each. The Athenians, unlike the citizens of many other capital cities, accept him and he is allowed to keep his dignity for another day.
 Great expanses of  the under-cover shopping areas appear to have been  given over to the homeless, shopping arcades with floors cluttered with quilts and sleeping bags, perhaps with one person watching  on, attempting to guard all the unfortunates' possessions.
These are the rewards of monetarism, the rewards for those who fail to compete adequately.