Athens

Never arrive at Athens after midnight, whatever the guide books may say, for a taxi is probably the most expensive part of any trip to Athens and at double the rate after midnight ( around £60) , that cheap flight from Stansted Airport does not appear to be the bargain it  seemed. Taxi rates here are per person.

Athens gets a rough press. The appalling tragedy  of the refugee and migrant crisis has hit Greece’s tourist sector with tourism down by 80% on the beautiful Islands. Athens itself, still suffering from austerity as part of its EU salvage deal,  is hit by a double whammy.  Yet, this city is nothing like I was expecting and so much better for it. The roads are clean and the doorways  of its high streets , unlike London, are not populated  with the homeless that shame London and many other cities in Europe . Greece offers exceptional value; a coffee is £1.50 , a meal less than £5 . Hotel family rooms can be secured from £20 with breakfast. Whilst many may come for its history, Athens street art is what takes your breath away ; the scale , the quality,  the simplicity.They may not have our Banksy, but they have something very different and a real asset to those who come to see this wonderful city. Athens is neither run- down nor are there soup kitchens or tent cities on every street corner. It’s a proud place. Victoria Square is what is described  as the ‘run -down’ part of town in which the refugees remain , sometimes for years, awaiting the paperwork that will set them off on their dream of a better life .

 As I sit in the beautiful Victoria Park, smartly dressed men and women sit waiting , day after day . They wait for news , friends or family so they can themselves can move to the next stage, be it on foot , with or without papers,  or in the back of a people traffickers’ lorry to Italy and onto the Uk , Germany etc. These people have skills we can use and yet we put walls up to cut off an economic resource our NHS, our farmers ,our public sector desperately needs. Until we as voters demand a different mind- set, the only people who benefit  from this misery are the people traffickers . These people will find a way, however long it takes. Is it therefore not better to welcome people with skills? Does it not make our lives better and the world safer? 

 At the entrance to Victoria Park is a small van, clearly marked in English. Whatever country people travel  from, the international language is English; something that should make us proud. The van is connected to the park’s water and power system and tours different parts of the city, offering a free launderette service.

 In another part of the city, I sit and talk with those who run a needle- exchange van that has done wonders to transform the HIV rates and the discarded needle problems. It’s controversial, as it is in the UK, but the Mayor funds this project and slowly it has transformed  troubled areas. Yes, in an ideal world  drugs would not be something we tolerate, but we do not live in an ideal world. Greece may be the Cinderella of the EU, but it still has its heart and its values . Its politics may seem extreme to those looking in, but as one political commentator told me , echoing a view held widely on the street , Greek politics is like football: they all play the same game, they just wear a different colour shirt.  Brexit is as divisive here as in  the UK , but somehow Greece has ,against the odds, pulled through. The wages are low ; it’s not uncommon to find people earning just 1 euro an hour here.  However, the city feels like it’s a place to come ; it’s vibrant ,it’s cool ,its city areas offer diversity that attracts people from across the world to return . Nevertheless, its refugee crisis has , as in many other places, led to wide-spread scams. 

As part of my visit, I tracked down social media groups who had been showing films as a way to raise cash. I should not be surprised that all the organisations who were running Paypal accounts in their own name either vanished the day I arrived , spent days  delaying my visit to them or cancelled  by  just not showing up. For the record, the state pays rent for ALL refugees. They don't need to live on the street , so don't give cash to people claiming to house rape victims, beaten women etc. Also, every child can go to School once on the Greek mainland, there is NO need to donate to schools in Athens; it’s just another scam .

Greece is a ‘must visit’ between the months of November to March. All the main Greek temples and museums are just 4 euros . Food prices are low, which  reflects the low wages paid here, and your pound , whatever the exchange rate, probably  goes further here today than in any other EU city. With the apps available these days, it’s a great idea to walk. The streets are alive with cafe culture, vibrant street art  and flea markets outstripping any other EU city . Gazi student area offers nightlife that allows you to capture the essence of Greece . It may be poor but it’s proud . It’s beautiful on every level . Please don't allow the scary headlines to put you off coming . Everyone is welcome in Greece, it’s just the rest of the world that needs to give Greece a helping hand.

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