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Tourists in cash-strapped Athens grab a fistful of euros just in case Tourists in cash-strapped Athens grab a fistful of euros just in case
(35 minutes later)
On Adrianou Street (“Hellas Shopping Paradise”, claims the banner stretching overhead) in the historic Plaka quarter in Athens, the gift shops and the tavernas were doing brisk trade on Monday, but the currency exchange bureau not so much.On Adrianou Street (“Hellas Shopping Paradise”, claims the banner stretching overhead) in the historic Plaka quarter in Athens, the gift shops and the tavernas were doing brisk trade on Monday, but the currency exchange bureau not so much.
“It’s been a quiet day,” said Tatiana from behind the counter. “Lots of queries, people asking about euros, but not not many actual buyers. We did put our rates up this morning, though … Clearly no one’s desperate quite yet.”“It’s been a quiet day,” said Tatiana from behind the counter. “Lots of queries, people asking about euros, but not not many actual buyers. We did put our rates up this morning, though … Clearly no one’s desperate quite yet.”
Not as long as there were still working ATMs, at any rate. Both cash dispensers on Adrianou and Lisikratous Streets were disgorging notes despite Sunday’s long queues and mass withdrawals by Greek customers (who, unlike foreign cardholders who have no withdrawal limit, are now restricted to €60 a day).Not as long as there were still working ATMs, at any rate. Both cash dispensers on Adrianou and Lisikratous Streets were disgorging notes despite Sunday’s long queues and mass withdrawals by Greek customers (who, unlike foreign cardholders who have no withdrawal limit, are now restricted to €60 a day).
Jean-Paul and Natalie Maudin, from Nantes, France, in Athens before heading off to the Aegean resort of Ermioni, on the Peleponnese, took a fistful just to be sure. “No problem at all, worked just fine,” said Jean-Paul. “We were forewarned of course, we came with plenty. But we did get worried yesterday when the restaurant we were in refused to take a credit card. They demanded cash. If they all do that, things could get tight.” Jean-Paul and Natalie Maudin, from Nantes, France, in Athens before heading off to the Aegean resort of Ermioni on the Peleponnese, took a fistful of euros just to be sure. “No problem at all, worked just fine,” said Jean-Paul. “We were forewarned of course, we came with plenty. But we did get worried yesterday when the restaurant we were in refused to take a credit card. They demanded cash. If they all do that, things could get tight.”
Amid the arrays of leather sandals, olive-oil soaps and miniature Acropoli, everyone had come prepared for the worst. “We brought our own euros with us, of course,” said Maura Ghiazza, from Genoa, Italy, travelling with her husband and two friends. “But we’re not worried. We’ve had a very cheap week on an island in the Dodecanese, just €200 for the house, and we have plenty left.”Amid the arrays of leather sandals, olive-oil soaps and miniature Acropoli, everyone had come prepared for the worst. “We brought our own euros with us, of course,” said Maura Ghiazza, from Genoa, Italy, travelling with her husband and two friends. “But we’re not worried. We’ve had a very cheap week on an island in the Dodecanese, just €200 for the house, and we have plenty left.”
Same story for Maree and Tony Hamilton-Foster, from Sydney, spending two days in the capital before travelling to Crete for 10 days. “We were in Spain before, and we saw the news,” said Tony. “The finance minister here,” – grinning at his wife – “made sure we got what we needed. It’s not too much; the villa’s already paid for.”Same story for Maree and Tony Hamilton-Foster, from Sydney, spending two days in the capital before travelling to Crete for 10 days. “We were in Spain before, and we saw the news,” said Tony. “The finance minister here,” – grinning at his wife – “made sure we got what we needed. It’s not too much; the villa’s already paid for.”
Many tourists were worried more for their hosts than about their access to cash. “We have a friend here,” said Joanna Griffin from Brussels, a regular visitor. “He was pretty relaxed 10 days ago when we first got here. ‘It will all be resolved,’ he said, ‘there’ll be deal.’ He looks a lot more anxious now.”Many tourists were worried more for their hosts than about their access to cash. “We have a friend here,” said Joanna Griffin from Brussels, a regular visitor. “He was pretty relaxed 10 days ago when we first got here. ‘It will all be resolved,’ he said, ‘there’ll be deal.’ He looks a lot more anxious now.”
Sue Letten, from south Wales, said she had not been to Athens for some time and had been “very surprised, quite shocked”, to see a well-dressed woman begging for money on the metro – and fellow Greeks giving it. Her husband, Mark, said the couple had brought both euros and pounds with them.Sue Letten, from south Wales, said she had not been to Athens for some time and had been “very surprised, quite shocked”, to see a well-dressed woman begging for money on the metro – and fellow Greeks giving it. Her husband, Mark, said the couple had brought both euros and pounds with them.
Many thought that for tourists at least, the cash crunch was being exaggerated. “Tourism is Greece’s lifeblood,” said Todd Rivermore, from Alberta, Canada. “They’d be hammered without it and they’ll bend over backwards to keep us coming. Sure, take precautions, bring a bit more cash than you usually would. But I’m certainly not panicking.”Many thought that for tourists at least, the cash crunch was being exaggerated. “Tourism is Greece’s lifeblood,” said Todd Rivermore, from Alberta, Canada. “They’d be hammered without it and they’ll bend over backwards to keep us coming. Sure, take precautions, bring a bit more cash than you usually would. But I’m certainly not panicking.”
Some, though, said they had been alarmed to find that not every Greek shop or restaurant was prepared to take cards. “I relaxed once the hotel accepted our card,” said Jakob Mocek, from Prague, Czech Republic, in Athens for a week. “That was always going to be the biggest expense.”Some, though, said they had been alarmed to find that not every Greek shop or restaurant was prepared to take cards. “I relaxed once the hotel accepted our card,” said Jakob Mocek, from Prague, Czech Republic, in Athens for a week. “That was always going to be the biggest expense.”
His friend Kristina Labska said she had wanted to use a card to buy their entrance tickets to the Acropolis, but been told she had to pay in cash. A restaurant and a souvenir shop had said the same thing.His friend Kristina Labska said she had wanted to use a card to buy their entrance tickets to the Acropolis, but been told she had to pay in cash. A restaurant and a souvenir shop had said the same thing.
“I don’t think, really, there’s a problem – at any rate, not yet,” said Mocek. “But before we left we were told, very firmly, to bring cash – enough basically to last the stay. I think that’s pretty good advice.”“I don’t think, really, there’s a problem – at any rate, not yet,” said Mocek. “But before we left we were told, very firmly, to bring cash – enough basically to last the stay. I think that’s pretty good advice.”