Living, Working, Musing & Misadventures in Greece
by An American in AthensGreece to enter U.S. waiver program in Obama changeover
The countries of South Korea, Estonia and five others entered the U.S. visa waiver program (VWP) yesterday, and Greece is one of four countries slated to enter by year’s end or January 2009 when Obama takes the White House.
There are still three documents in debate, which Greece must sign before entering the program. Negotiation is ongoing and active.
Athens, Greece: Quality of living ranking 2008
Mercer announced the Top 50 cities for best quality of living in 2008. Greece did not make the top 50, and Athens at #77 was again the lowest ranked city in western Europe, as has been the case for several years.
Top 50
1. Zurich, Switzerland
2. Vienna, Austria – tie
2. Geneva, Switzerland – tie
4. Vancouver, Canada
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Dusseldorf, Germany
7. Munich, Germany – tie
7. Frankfurt, Germany – tie
9. Bern, Switzerland
10. Sydney, Australia
11. Copenhagen, Denmark
12. Wellington, New Zealand
13. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
14. Brussels, Belgium
15. Toronto, Canada
16. Berlin, Germany
17. Melbourne, Australia – tie
17. Luxembourg, Luxembourg – tie
19. Ottawa, Canada
20. Stockholm, Sweden
21. Perth, Australia
22. Montreal, Canada
23. Nurnberg, Germany
24. Oslo, Norway
25. Dublin, Ireland – tie
25. Calgary, Canada – tie
27. Hamburg, Germany
28. Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
29. San Francisco, CA (USA) – tie
29. Helsinki, Finland – tie
29. Adelaide, Australia – tie
32. Singapore, Singapore
32. Paris, France
34. Brisbane, Australia
35. Tokyo, Japan
36. Lyon, France
37. Boston, MA (USA)
38. Yokohama, Japan – tie
38. London, UK – tie
40. Kobe, Japan
41. Milan, Italy
42. Barcelona, Spain
43. Madrid, Spain
44. Washington DC, USA – tie
44. Osaka, Japan – tie
44. Lisbon, Portugal – tie
44. Chicago, IL (USA) – tie
48. Portland, OR
49. New York City, NY (USA)
50. Seattle, WA (USA)
The analysis is based on an evaluation of 39 quality of living criteria that include political, socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport and public services, recreation, housing and availability/affordability of consumer goods. Mercer Human Resource Consulting performs this assessment on an annual basis to determine living conditions for expatriate employees.
While some dispute that this does not apply to the everyday person, it is important to point out that expats use the same public services, institutions and spaces as local residents. Therefore, it is essentially a quality of living analysis for everyone.
Of course “quality” is subjective, not necessarily definitive. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, circumstances and options. One man’s castle is another man’s ghetto.
To see the Top 50 cities on the survey compared to last year’s ranking, click Top 50.
Ranking for all cities surveyed
Mercer has 350 cities in its database, but narrows the survey to only 215 cities and selection changes annually. To see if your city in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe or America made the list and how it fared, click 2008 Quality of Living Ranking.
I also found an interesting interactive table by International Living that, although it lists no protocol or explanation, allows you to select by country or by element. Click, “Quality of Life Index.”
Related posts
The cost of living survey is typically released before quality of living stats, but the 2008 edition has not yet been published. It will be linked here when that changes. In the meantime:
“Athens, Greece: Quality of living vs. cost of living 2007“
“Minimum salary vs. cost and quality of living in the EU“
“Benefits of living in the EU vs. USA“
Birthplace of what?
Do you know who Nino is? I actually like some of his music, so this is not a criticism of him, but two thoughts come to mind when I see things like this:
a) “Get some new material” — a popular saying from one of my American friends in Athens, who is victimized by the same tired jokes or insults. There’s nothing creative or classy about ripping off other people’s ideas or repeating the same limp stuff.
b) Please, my brutha — How can a Fame Story contestant compare to international starlet Nicole Kidman?
Inspiration is one thing, as I understand originality is in short supply. But at least change something like the T-shirt color, and make it yours in some small way!
Thaumata – Nino
Nicole Kidman for Chanel No. 5
* This post was inspired by De Masame Re’s “O δρόμος της εύκολης λύσης – και της μικροαπάτης” and “G is for Gentlemen – δηλαδή μόνο για κυρίους.” These posts are just two examples of the unoriginal copycat behavior that is rife in Greece.
* Hat tip to my one-man PR team in Athens.
Bugs and beaches (or at home in Athens)
Our home in the southern suburbs of Athens is close to the mountains and minutes from the beach, which many believe is envious. I’m not convinced of that.
Sure, I like the sight of trees from my window, the walking trail and the open fields next door where I can hear “the nightbird” (gionis) birp all night. But as it looks more like summer, our area is choked with more traffic, more pulsing music at all hours and more bugs.
Today was a very buggy and birdy type day. After getting only disturbed sleep from another noisy night, I opened sliding doors to both the front and back balconies to get a cross draft. Within hours, a bird had flown into the house because (of course) there are no screen doors. As it flapped furiously, I cursed the fact I couldn’t pass this task to my fiancé and chased it around the house with hopes I could return it safely outside again. Done.
I go into the kitchen, and a green bean on the counter starts moving — it’s a hoppity green grasshopper. How it got in, I don’t know since the window wasn’t open. I put a Tupperware bowl over him and left a note for the man of the house to take him outside. He didn’t, as he thought it would be amusing if I dealt with that too. Fine. I slip a piece of paper under the bowl and release him outside, and (strangely) a man in NY who calls me ‘grasshoppa’ sends me an e-mail after that.
My fiancé had the idea of taking a drive along the beach and stopping at a no-name taverna to get something to eat for a change of pace, but within minutes we encountered roads choked with traffic and turned back. Apparently everyone had the same idea.
Arriving home, we both smack at a yellow jacket before I’m told my swatting duties are not needed, the door is closed and the incident is over…or so it seems. After it was flattened and squashed into a napkin, I found he’d crawled out of the garbage can and was struggling for life on the kitchen floor. Admirable. That’s what my friend Niko calls, “duro, duro.”
I happily took a phone call from friends G and C visiting from Sweden. I was supposed to meet them on Rhodes sometime during their two weeks, but honestly couldn’t see spending more than a month’s wages on a few days within Greece when I can get better value by visiting them in SE instead. Anyway, I need a break from Greece after being here continuously for two years. It turned out fine since they were busy doing the ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ tour with three young children, entertaining relatives who joined them for a portion of their vacation, and visiting several villages to see dozens here. They depart exhausted, needing a vacation to recover from their vacation.
I love talking to them because they spent a year on sabbatical in Greece during my first year here, so we share a common history of learning Greek, dealing with dysfunctional landlords, scaring away kamaki and delighting in old yellow trolleys that jerked and stalled. They also helped me move out of my cockroach house in Plaka at 6:00 one morning. We had a good laugh about that tonight.
Hours later, I went into the bathroom we just cleaned yesterday and what was on the shower wall? A cockroach the size of a yam. Blah! No Tupperware, no releasing into the wild, just a good old-fashioned smack with a flip flop and off to the eternal nap!
Apparently, my critter karma is fully zen. Kala ohm! 
Related posts
KTEL Buses of Greece
KTEL, the long-distance bus network of Greece, is a vital part of traveling within the country since the terrain limits destinations reachable by train. With the rising price of fuel, even car travel can be cost prohibitive.
As the official KTEL Web site no longer provides free schedules and now charges money to use their phone service in Greek (no English), below are some links to local KTEL Web sites containing schedules and ticket fares (subject to change). In addition, English speakers can get printed schedules at EOT offices (Tourist Information Offices) or inquire at hotel reception, and Greek speakers can call local KTEL phone numbers (in Greek) to avoid paying a fee.
* Bus tickets to islands include a ferry ticket (i.e. Zakynthos, Kefallonia).
* Be aware that many cities have two or more bus terminals.
* Summer schedules typically run from April-October and winter from November-March, although the Ministry can announce differently at any time.
* Most people show up early to get a seat and do not reserve one (in Greek), although it is free.
KTEL Athens
Terminal ‘A’ (Kifissou Street)
Departs to Alexandroupoulis, Argos, Arta, Astakos, Corfu (Kerkyra), Corinthos, Epidavros, Florina, Githio, Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, Ithaki, Kalamata, Kalavryta, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallonia, Lefkada, Loutraki, Messolongi, Monemvassia, Nafpaktos, Nafplio/Mycenae, Neapolis, Olympia, Parga, Patra, Pylos, Pyrgos, Preveza, Sparti, Thessalonki, Tripoli, Veria, Xanthi, Xilokastro, Zakynthos
Terminal ‘B’ (Liosson Street)
Departs to Agios Konstantinos, Aidipsos (Evia), Amfissa, Delphi, Distomo, Galaxidi, Halkida, Kamena Vourla, Karditsa, Karpenissi, Katerini/Litochoro, Kimi (Paralia)/Skyros, Lamia, Larissa, Livadia, Thiva, Trikala/Meteora (Kalambaka), Volos/Pylio
KTEL Attikis – Travel within Athens (ktelattikis.gr)
Ag. Andreas, Ag. Apostoli, Ag. Dimitrios, Agia Marina, Ag. Nikolaos, Ag. Theodori, Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos), Alepoxori, Anavyssos, Anatoli, Ancona, Avlaki, Dilesi, Erythres, Grammatiko, Halkoutsi, Kakia Thalassa, Kalamos, Kalenzi, Kalyvia, Kamariza, Kapandriti, Keratea, Koropi, Kouvara, Lagonissi, Lavrio, Legraina, Lykouriza, Marathona, Markati, Markopoulo, Mati, Megara, Mazi, Nea Makri, Oropos, Paiania, Pallini, Paralia Fokaias, Pikermi, Plaka, Polydendri, Porto Germeno, Porto Rafti, Psatha, Rafina, Saronida, Schinia, Sikamino, Souli, Sounio, Thymari, Varnava, Vilia, Vlastos, Vravrona, Zouberi
KTEL Argolis (ktel-argolis.gr)
Argos, Epidavros, Galatsas, N. Kios, Kranidi, Nafplio, Tolo
KTEL Chios (Summer schedule and Winter schedule)
Ag. Fotini, Ag. Galas, Ag. Georgios, Amades, Armolia, Didima, Elata, Emporios, Flatsia, Giari Beach, Kalamoti, Kalimasia, Kampia, Kardamyla, Kataraktis, Kini, Komi, Lagada, Limenas Lithi, Meston, Mesta, Mirmigki, Nagos, Nenita, Olympi, Pagida, Pantoukios, Paparia, Patrika, Pirama, Pyrgi, Pytios, Sykiada, Tholopotami, Vessa, Viki, Volissos, Vouno
KTEL Crete (bus-service-crete-ktel.com and ktel-heraklio-lassithi.gr)
Aetania, Ag. Galini, Ag. Nikolaos, Ag. Pelagia, Ag. Varvara, Anogia, Archanes, Arkalohori, Asimi, Assites, Astiraki, Dafnes, Elounda, Fodele, Gonies, Hania, Harakas, Heronissos, Ierapetra, Irakleio, Kastelli, Kroussona, Lassithi, Ledas, Malia, Matala, Megali Vrissi, Mires, Peza, Phaestos, Pr. Ilias, Prinias, Pyrgos, Rethymno, Rodia, Sikologos, Sisi, Sitia, Tibaki, Tilissos Kalessa, Venerato, Vianno
KTEL Evia (eviapress.gr)
Aidipsos, Aliveri, Amarinthos, Athens, Halkida, Istiaia, Karistos, Kymi, Limni, Mantoudi, Prokopi, Psachna, Rovies
KTEL Halkidiki (English or Greek)
Ag. Mama, Dionysiou, Flogita, Gerakini, Hanioti, Ierisos, Kalamitsi, Kalikratia, Kalyves, Kassandra, Kriopygi, Marmara, Moundania, Mt. Athos, Olynthos, Ouranoupoli, Paliouri, Pefkoxori, Plagia, Polygyros, Potidea, Sikia, Simantra, Skioni, Sozopoli, Thessaloniki, Toroni
KTEL Kefallonia (kefallonia.net.gr)
Ag. Efimia, Argostoli, Athens, Divarata, Fiskardo, Irinna, Ithaca, Katelio, Kylini, Lixouri, Myrtos, Patra, Poro, Sami, Skala, St. Gerasimo, Xi
KTEL Kozani (ktelkozanis.gr – Greek only)
Ag. Dimitrios, Aiani, Anthotopo, Athens, Chromio, Ektakto, Eratyra, Florina, Gallatini, Grevena, Ioannina, Kastoria, Larissa, Lefkara, Livera, Mathitiko, Metamorfosi, Neapoli, Pontokomi, Ptolemaida, Rymnio, Serbia, Siatista, Sidera, Sparto, Thessaloniki, Tsotyli, Velvendo, Veria, Volos, Xteni
KTEL Samos (samos-online.com)
Ag. Konstantinou, Airport, Ambelos, Arvanites, Avlakia, Drakei, Hora, Ireon, Kallithea, Karlovasi, Kastania, Kokkari, Kondeika, Koumeika, Lekka, Lemonakia Beach, Marathokampos, Mavratzei, Mytilini, Ormos, Pagondas, Platanos, Potokaki, Pyrgos, Pythagorio, Samos Town, Spatharei, Tsamadou Beach, Tsambou Beach, Votsalakia, Vourliotes, Ydrousa
KTEL Santorini (ktel-santorini.gr)
Airport, Akrotiri, Athinios Port, Baxedes, Fira, Imerovigli, Kamari, Monolithos, Oia, Perissa, Vlihada
KTEL Syros (syros.com.gr)
Ano Mana, Ano Syros, Azolimnos, Bissa, Chroussa, Danakos, Finikas, Galissas, Hermoupoli, Kini, Megas Gyalos, Pagos, Parakopi, Poseidonia, Vari
KTEL Thessaloniki (ktel-thes.gr)
Apollonia, Asprovalta, Athens, Ioannina, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kozani, Larissa, Olympiada, Ptolemaida, Stavros, Volos, Vrasna
KTEL Volos (ktelvolou.gr – Greek only)
Almyros, Athens, Ioannina, Kozani, Lamia, Larissa, Patra, Pylio, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Velestino
KTEL Zakynthos (ktel-zakynthos.gr – Greek only)
Agalas, Ag. Leon, Alykes, Argasi, Ekso Xora, Galaro, Gerakaria, Kalamaki, Kambi, Katastari, Keri, Korithi, Kypseli, Laganas, Lithakia, Maxairado, Nerotsoulithres, Tragaki, Tsivili, Vasilikos, Volima, Zakynthos Town
* More Web sites will be added if they come available. Valid additions and corrections are welcome, as always.
Related posts
“KTEL Web site“
“The first time I drove in Athens“
* Hat tip to Graf for his input on KTEL Crete.
