Stuck in Athens with Pamela

I arrived this morning by ferry into Athens and could not catch the morning bus to Corfu as it had already left. The night ferry was hillarious as thei were no assigned seating and it was a free for all and they turned on the air-con so much, I had to layered by clothing. Plus, it and a shower and a DISCO !!!!! Yes, a disco on the ferry blasting Greek Pop all night for your listening pleasure with lasers and smoke straight from the 80's. Love it.

Unfortunately, I rode the transit for two hours this morning trying to find the right bus and then the right bus stop. Apparently, there is a difference between number 15 bus and number 015 bus. Crazy but true in this sprawling, sticky city.

At least I know another Canadian is staying in the city as I was walking down the street a crowd had gathered infront of a Mac store. Apparently, Pamela Anderson was making an appearance to promote something. Sure enough she came with her body guards, albeit late and there I was with pushy, Greek photographers, screaming fans yelling "we love you, Pamela!" and some Pamela look alikes.

I noticed the Greeks are really proud about being Greek. I remember this businessman was praising how innovative the Greeks were because of their black economy. He stated the black market was between gentlemen and not like the crooks in Bulgaria. He claimed the mafia in Greece only worked with big business. Here the black market makes people rich as it is undeclared income and on paper it looks like it is a poor country but in reality, alot of people are rich and own property. He declared when you have a poor government, you have a rich population and it is the Black market that is keeping Greece rich. Plus, by being poorer country in the EU, Greece can benefit from the EU. That way, everybody is happy in Greece.

Off to catch the bus now and hoping to be in Albania tomorrow.