Monday 28 September 2015

The absence of Germans in Greece tests Anglo/Russian relations

One thing very obviously noticeable in Greece this September was the absence of Germans, and their replacement by Russians.
I guess the Germans may be worried about the reception they will receive. The Greek tabloids have enjoyed photoshopping Ang-Gella (that's how I pronounce it - hard second g) onto jackboots and swastikas. It's the German Government who have been most resistant to giving Greece debt relief - despite being perfectly happy to flog endless Mercedes and VW's (complete with fiddled emissions data) to a Greece which bought them on borrowed money.
Not only have the oligarchs arrived, even buying up the Onassis private island, but many more ordinary Russians are forsaking Crimea for Greece.
This has all led to some interesting cultural clashes, and tests for Anglo/Russian relations. In fairness the Russians do not get up early to put towels on the sunbeds, but tensions exist none the lest.
There seem to be English hotels and Russian hotels, English resorts and Russian resorts - and the guests only meet on trips. Then the English guide tends to be a portly middle aged Greek man with an impressive moustache who speaks English; the Russian guide is more likely to be a young Russian woman who speaks Russian (obviously) but little Greek.
The Russians (the men at least) are enjoying their new found wealth. Smoking is compulsory and the rather large bellies result in quite a splash when they flop into the sea. And the Russians certainly love their selfie sticks. It has to be carried everywhere, even swimming. Apparently selfies are now responsible for more sudden deaths than shark attacks. It can only be a matter of time before a Russian gets the double up - killed by a shark while taking a pic with his selfie stick.

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