Grisis. Grexit. Greferendum.
If I didn’t love portmanteaus so damn much, the media coverage of the Greek debt crisis (the aforementioned Grisis) would be making my eyes bleed.
But I do love portmanteaus, and, as of my recent visit to the country in the days leading up to yesterday’s historic bailout decision (the aforementioned Greferendum–they voted a resounding ‘No,’ in case you missed it), I just so happen to love Greece, too.
In an attempt to understand what this all means for Greece and its future in the eurozone, I’ve been devouring news articles left and right. I’m searching primarily for objective information–things like just how much Greece owes its creditors and other unbiased reports, for instance–and, much to my surprise, I’m finding just that.
But Greece is no stranger to biased media coverage. Ask anyone who’s watched the news in the last, oh, I don’t know, three years, what they think of Greece.
It’s likely that they have doubts about the country’s stability, financially and otherwise.
“Is it safe to go there?”
“Aren’t people rioting in the streets?”
“Is travel to Greece even possible?”
“Are the Greeks receptive to tourism?”
As you might imagine, the media lashings throughout Greece’s depression have only damaged the economy further. In a country highly dependent on tourism dollars, the fear instilled in travelers by sensationalist media coverage has been a hefty dose of salt on an already gaping wound.
But the Athens you see in the media is not the Athens I experienced one month ago.
Far from it.
At the time of my visit, I understood far less about the debt crisis than I do now, and I experienced Athens without the preconceptions or apprehension I may have felt otherwise. I was able to speak with locals and understand their point of view, and I was able to see that life in Greece’s capital city is not as grim as some might have you believe.
And because I’m just a travel blogger and in no position to comment on the political side of things, I thought it better to give my insight on all the objectively good things there are to be found in Athens. There are many, in fact, and I’d hate for anyone reading this blog to think otherwise.
Athens is safe.
No, you will not be putting your life in danger by traveling to Athens. People are not rioting in the streets, nor are they robbing unsuspecting tourists out of desperation–in reality, crime has actually seen a major decline in the last few years. I personally never felt uneasy walking the streets of Athens, even late into the night, and locals reassured us that even using public transit in the wee hours of the morning was just fine. As with every big city, it’s important to exercise common sense, but to say Athens is ‘dangerous’ would be wholly inaccurate. 
The people are kind.
In the face of major economic struggles, Athenians haven’t lost their positivity. Everywhere I went I was greeted with big smiles and friendly salutations. With the exception of one unpleasant encounter, every single Greek I interacted with in Athens went out of their way to make sure I felt welcomed in their country, and if I ever needed help, I felt comfortable approaching just about anyone.
Tourists are welcome.
Foreigners are treated with nothing but hospitality in Athens. The people understand that we are not there to take their jobs, and they are eager to sing the praises of their country (affectionately referred to by most as ‘paradise’) to anyone who will listen. Now more than ever they will depend on tourism dollars to bounce back from this crisis, and they understand that visitors are a blessing.
The art scene is blossoming.
One of my favorite things to do in Athens was wander the streets on the lookout for crazy street art–and it wasn’t hard to find. And with the help of our local guide from our This is MY Athens tour, we even got to check out a temporary exhibition called Strange Cities where artists from all over the world were asked to depict Athens having never laid eyes on the city. Hipster pockets overflowing with cool cafes can be found throughout, as can contemporary art galleries. Athens is a wonderful place to be young and badass. Or just badass. 
Those sunsets, though.
When people wax poetic about the sunsets in Greece, it’s only natural to assume they mean the iconic Santorini sunsets, or anywhere else in the islands, for that matter. And it’s true that the island sunsets are stunners, but the ones in Athens stopped me dead in my tracks all the same. If you can find a good vantage point (like the Acropolis, or even just a tall building), to watch the sun go down over the sprawling white sea of buildings that is Athens, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. 
Athens will recover.
Though it’s hard to say exactly what will come about as a result of yesterday’s referendum, I have no doubt in my mind that this city of hard-working, life-loving people will recover from this crisis in due time. If you want to play a role in that recovery, show your support by booking the trip to Greece you’ve always wanted to take. Athenians will be waiting with open arms upon your arrival. Just be sure to stay up-to-date on the Grisis and know exactly what you’ll need to bring with you to avoid any hassles.
Have you been to Athens? Would you visit during this time of financial crisis?
