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Subscribe to RSSRiot police faced off against an angry mob on the steps of Parliament, dodging rocks and firebombs. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports.
Rioting involving up to 80,000 demonstrators in Athens over the weekend undoubtedly is raising concerns among tourists headed to the popular destination, but travel experts say trips to Greece are safe at present.
The most important thing to realize is that the riots, which led to dozens of looted shops and buildings lit afire, have been located in the downtown core, specifically Syntagma Square, said Rich Sorensen, travel news editor for Europe Through the Back Door in Edmonds, Wash. The riots were touched off by the Greek government’s consideration of tough austerity measures to deal with its ongoing debt crisis. The government approved those measures Monday.
Syntagma Square is bordered by important government buildings, including Parliament, and so it’s a natural magnet for legitimate demonstrators and troublemakers alike, Sorensen said. And that also means it’s a compact area easily avoided by tourists.
“From what I can gather, it’s a fairly typical government unrest situation,” he said. “Almost anywhere in the world, demonstrations focused at governmental policies are going to be focused at government buildings or a main square. You want to be smart and avoid being enmeshed in that type of situation, but 99 percent of the city is safe and nothing is happening.”
Nikos Papaconstantinou, Greece’s press counselor to the mission to the United Nations in New York City, echoed Sorensen. Reasonable common sense, such as staying away from the main square and the places where buildings have been burned or damaged, is the best precaution, he told msnbc.com.
“They should try to avoid these sad sites,” Papaconstantinou said of tourists. “There are other things that can be seen, such as the Acropolis. (Visitors) can even go shopping, which is a great welcome to the local merchants. But basically, for people in big hotels, it doesn’t affect their stay, it doesn’t affect their eating in restaurants or going out. It’s all going back to normal very quickly, aside from the buildings damaged because of the fire. The (rest of) the city is intact and quite spectacular.”
All major archeological sites and museums remain unaffected, he said: “(Visitors) will have a good time,” Papconstantinou said.
The United States embassy in Athens did issue an emergency warning over the weekend, warning “the situation is unpredictable, and we want to remind U.S. citizens that there exists the continued potential for violence during the demonstrations outside Parliament.” Things were much quieter on Monday, however, and no further warning was issued.
But given the ongoing nature of the economic crisis in Greece, it pays to remain cautious, the U.S. embassy said in the warning: “Remember, even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence without warning. Avoid areas of demonstrations and, if you are within the vicinity of any demonstrations, remain vigilant and exercise caution.”
Beside Syntagma Square, demonstrators frequently congregate around the Polytechnic University area; the Exarchia and Omonia Squares in Athens; and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, the U.S. State Department warned. University campuses in particular are exploited as refuges by anarchists and those involved in crime, as Greek police are generally prohibited from entering their premises, the state department added.
Sorensen said that the staff at hotels as well as travel guides are invaluable in helping visitors navigate such situations. “Talk to your hotel people and find out what’s going on, what parts of the city to avoid,” he said. “Just be smart and talk to people and ask questions. Things like this don’t have to cause your trip to end early or cause you go on a detour. Don’t overreact. The fact is, you can have a wonderful time in Greece right now.”
Julian Finney / Getty Images
See all that the country has to offer, from ancient sites steeped in history and religion to modern-day attractions that awe and relax.
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- Greeks wake up to an austere future
- Riots spread as Greek lawmakers OK austerity bill
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When you are done in Greece, maybe you could go hike along the Iran Iraq border.
Why would I take the chance. You've got a bunch of violent demonstrators intent on overthrowing the government. Nothing like taking a vacation to a civil war.
The IMF is very brazen in its fear mongering that we have lost a decade economically. Especially since the IMF has been one of the biggest contributors to perpetuating the instability of the European crisis. The dominoes are beginning to fall in what is an orchestrated attempt by the banksters to consolidate Europe and eventually the rest of the world’s economies under one umbrella that is to be controlled by those that have always controlled currency and money. The most egregious aspect of this contrived extortion is that they are blaming the people who are the backbone of any economy instead of their greedy corrupt political and business leaders.
George Papandreou was pressured to quit because he lapsed into a morally and ethical responsible position by trying to give the people of Greece a say in their economic future through a referendum. This vote would have given the Greek people the choice to stay in the Euro zone and allow their country to be foreclosed upon by the banksters or leave the Euro regain their sovereignty and coin their own currency once again. The IMF bullied the smallest country as a litmus test for what is going to be a much more challenging foreclosure process when it comes to the larger economies. This dilemma you are watching unfold goes to the core of the rotten apple that is the world’s financial system.
Folks, you are witnessing the death throes of a corrupt financial system where the stock markets and the fractional reserve banking system are at its core. The volatility in the stock markets are a microcosm of the greed, theft and corruption that has perpetrated all aspects of our and other countries economic systems. In the United States, It doesn’t matter who’s in office. Our political system has turned into a two headed one party system with both parties serving their masters, Wall Street and the banksters/Federal Reserve. The stock market is just another ponzi scheme whose intent is to fleece the gullible at the bottom of the pyramid. The stock market is a rouge element of a financial system that is meant to funnel the wealth to the elite/banksters who soicopathically control our financial lives. It is reaching a point where there is nothing to take anymore from the 99% of the world. The banksters would separate you from your rainy day fund if they could gain access to your shoe box or secret compartment in your purse or wallet. The stock market isn’t the main problem; it’s the fractional reserve banking system that has set the foundation for outright theft. We are experiencing the biggest bank and investment robbery in history and the banks and financial institutions are doing the robbing. When you blame one political party or another they have you right where they want you, in fear, divided and distracted to the theft that is going on right in front of your eyes each and every second of the day.
When you have people on Wall Street day trading and speculating making half a million dollars a year in their twenties betting on people being foreclosed on, you need to ask yourself what is the true purpose of our banking system? At the moment it is largely a theft on the American public. MF Global and Corzine knows this and knows that nobody with his connections have served any time for stealing the investor’s money (1.6 billion as last count). The financial system’s main mission should be to allocate capital to areas of greatest growth in the real world economy. Yet they allow all kinds of broker speculation and financial gimmicks such as the derivative markets which are based on non-realistic side bets which are now in the quadrillions. The derivatives market was illegal for most of the 20th century.
The European banking crisis is a prime example of what is going to happen to all economies associated with stock market fraud and the Federal Reserve banking system. The financial strife in Greece is the model that will befall most countries. Greece is but a symptom of a cancer that has attached itself to the world’s economies. The Federal Reserve (which is neither federal nor a reserve) has been creating money (monopoly money) out of thin air and charging interest on it insuring a debtor economy for anyone who chooses or is forced to get involved with the Federal Reserve and their fractional reserve banking system. That is why this whole European or any countries current debt crisis will never be resolved and will be preyed upon by the stock market vultures. The Federal Reserve System is designed to cause economies to fail.
If someone loans you two dollars to run your economy and expects three back for the loan and interest how are you going to pay the third back? You can’t unless you borrow more dollars which puts you in perpetual debt and in a constant borrowing cycle to pay off the debt. This is designed not accidental.
Here’s the kicker, once the Federal Reserve/banksters have you struggling to pay off your interest, they send in their loan sharks the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF will loan you money to cover your ever burdening interest payments but they attach a provision that if you default, you will have to give them your assets in what they call privatization (foreclosure).
Since the interest is exponential, you will default and the banksters will come in and try to foreclose on your country, like Greece. They are being told to sell off their own country to pay back the people who caused the mess to begin with. This allows the elite to steal your intrinsic valuable assets because they gave you paper (loans/debt) and the interest on the debt that is systematically impossible to pay back. This also allows the parasitic stock speculators to profit from this designed theft. They not only know the outcome of an economy, they can gamble on the economic bubbles at the investor’s expense. This cancer goes all the way down the food chain.
In the United States case, it doesn’t have to be that way. In our constitution, in Article 1, Section 8, it stipulates that we can “coin money” as a nation and avoid the Federal Reserve’s interest (fee charged on loans) black hole.
So don’t be fooled that the Europeans have come to grips with their financial debt, it’s impossible, it’s a virus that has spread around the globe. Hopefully the Greek people will get their referendum so the Peter Principal will kick in for the Federal Reserve. The stock market vultures will continue to contrive “financial instruments” (credit default swaps/credit derivatives) to defraud the people of the world.
Banks, Central banks, IMF = Federal Reserve = Debtor economies, Debtor Nations (economic slaves) and carrion for the stock market derivative heist.
TrustVerify more than 50% of Greece gets a paycheck from the government, they have tried all kinds of tricks and ways to keep this debt of the books, just writing it off to future generations.
When the faked economy went south, the real numbers became evident, that Greece had been living off other peoples money. Now they can never pay them back and will be evicted from the EU.
The IMF is not responsible for Greece's mess the Greeks are
phusi you SUPPOSE that more that 50% of Greece gets a paycheck from the goverment ? Dont try to misslead the viewers please.. I am Greek and not only i have never had a paycheck from the Goverment. but in order to lets say receive a legal paper from a National Organization i will have to wait 6 months ,, and not only this , after those 6 months i will have to go and make a contact with one of Politicians secretary !! and PAY the POLITICIAN ! Some people dont have a clue about what is going on in Greece and yet you have the right to write and misslead people .. We do not get PAID .. we PAY and PAY ... 4 Months ago they made ANOTHER NEW LAW ! which say IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ELECTRICITY EVERYONE WHO OWNS A HOUS/STORE WILL HAVE TO PAY A BIG AMMOUNT AS A NEW TAX !
example : I live in a rented apartment in the center of athens .. 450 eyro per month = 630 $ my electricity was 40euro + 100 for NATIONAL TV AND TAX + 800 euro for this new tax ! =940euro = 1300$ ...the owner had to pay 800euro and i had to pay 140 .. for KW cost only 40 !
Graft, that you are suggesting is not okay and may be part of the problems as well
you want light you will have to pay an arm and leg there are candles
how much are you paying on to the pension system and planning to get back
retire at 50 forget about it
Brother you have been robbed and are still getting robbed by your fellow Greeks not Germany they are just showing you how to do it right
can we officially call this a Greek tragedy
Consume ! Spend ! Obey !!!
.....uh, yeah, ok, we will do our best to avoid yesterday's 45 burnt down buildings in Athens and remember to bring our tear gas masks....thanks for the tip to all you travel agents without conscience or sense.......
Had planned on going to Greece last summer. Got on the internet and found a woman living in Athens who said she was afraid to leave her house after dark. That was last summer when things were calm compared to today.
Sorry, not going to Greece anytime soon.
You all that live in fear need to stay home. I'll go in a heartbeat and tell my grandkids about it and all the other places I have been fortunate enough to go to.
Maybe there ARE safe places in Greece, but Athens doesn't appear to be one of them. Enjoy.
Papa Smurf........there are great rates and bargains to be had at the Damascus Hilton right now.....call your travel agent......
And Mexico is a
nice safe.....Well never mind.There were more people Killed in the Washington DC area over the weekend then the riots in Greece. Yes buildings were burned, but know one was killed....More people are killed every day in the USA then the worest day in Iraq or Afghanistan.....
In 1988 I played in a softball tournament at Hellenikon AB and got to hang out there a week. Beautiful country, rich in history, and great memories....mmm slavaki!
These things just don't happen over night, they have been brewing over several decades and usually erupt while entering into "Crisis mode"...heck that's how the US operates most of time. It's always tough when you have to face harsh realities, just as we have, but in the end one can only hope that cooler heads will prevail and in the long run, the best decisions were made. The worst this Greced can do is slap band-aids on it like a festering wound, like we often do, instead of getting to the core of the issue and rebuilding or repairing it so it won't happen again. For instance, ours would be dismantling the FED, but that's a whole other subject.
I went to greece last summer with two small children, our hotel was two blocks from symtagma square, police was everywhere and we had the best time. will be back many, many times. stay home if you're afraid
Don't buy it. I was there last summer during the riots and we were acidentally caught up in the tear gas. It is hard to go around the 80,000 demonstrators to get to the shops, Acropolis, etc. No cabs would take us and the public transportation was overrun with people trying to flee. Tear gas sucks - believe me. Luckily our hotel was not right in the middle of it but we had a riot in front of ours, watched buildings in the distance burn, and saw people evacuated. I was disappointed I couldn't see more but I am glad I braved it and at least got to see the Acropolis.
I'll pass, thank you.
If you just stay on your boat, nobody will harm you. The ports and coastlines of Greece are beautiful. We usually hire a Greek captain and crew to work our boat during vacations. They know where to buy the freshest produce, what ports to visit, and they work CHEAP! I don't know why people venture into the cities, the ocean and coast are nicer, safer and keep you away from those less desirable people.
Yes! You could check out the Old and New ruins in Greece. While your there make sure you get the latest in Gas Masks, Bullet Proof Vests and other such items. If you survive you can fly to Egypt and take in a Local Soccer Game, but make sure you leave at half time. Then its on to Syria to see the latest in Tank Warfare vs Civilians as you dodge snipers from above every building. Last but not least you fly on to Iran and have a prayer session with the Ayatollah and a side trip to the latest Nuke Sites. Check out the Missiles and the small print "Made In China" wow they sure do get around. Fly back via S. Korea near the N. Korean border and watch MIG'S scramble as you dodge possible incoming missiles and if your lucky you will be back in the Good Ol USA in one piece. Now that was one Hell(ish) of a trip. Life is Great!
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It will be interesting to see if the Greeks decide to throw away another chance at fiscal responsibility - if they do, then let them serve as an example to the other EU nations and let them default...when nobody has a job and there aren't any government services because of their stubbornness, maybe others will make the hard decisions...
Is this 'article' sponsored by anyone in particular or just the travel industry as a whole?
When did America turn into land of the wimps?
Greece is one of the countries that calibrated with the Nazis during WW11 and help kill thousnads of Jews. Who cares how many Greeks don't get their touristy dollars. To bad it has been so white washed and pushed under the politically correct rug. They still have it better than millions of Americans who have no jobs, no medical, no home, and no prospect of one. These people live on the "I am entitled" theory. Can find one shred of sympathy for them.
Apparently they desperately need those tourism dollars to fix the buildings that they're burning.
Visit Greece...leave lots of money...leave.
aaaaaaah you americans!! you never understand... Search !!! Explore !!! Find the Truth !!!
Greece has 1000 Islands and is surrounded by the Best Mediterrenean Sea, The Beautifull beaches and spectacular food.. Athens is ONE CITY !
Its like if there were riots in Chicago noone should visit the STATES ... WAKE UP MY FELLOW AMERICANS .. its PROPAGANDA.. BUT WE WILL FIGHT ..WE ARE THE FIRST .. dont think that we will be the only ones...
OK, but what do we do when our flight is scheduled in and out of Athans end of March? WE have a tour planned but it will be mostly land. Not going to the Islands this time of the year.