Greeks and the law

[rivonia]

From the start this is purely My Opinion!

To the Greek he thinks I do not agree with that law-so therefore it does not apply to me EG a greek is driving down a one way street,going the wrong way. When approached and the error is pointed out to him; the greek shrug of the shoulder and replies "I am only going one way"

A notice says "No Dogs Allowed" he takes his dog in there for a walk, when the dog dumps his business on the grass, he walks away and leaves it.

Double yellow lines means to a greek- I can park and leave my car here as long as I like.

The greek says why should I pay any tax? I have barely enough to live on and to feed my family-so he pays no tax.

Many other instances.

After all that we still love GREECE

Peter

 

[nimbusgb]

Helmet? I don't need no sissy helmet.

Rubbish, just tip it on the roadside.



The law is for foreigners not locals you fool!

 

[1bobt]

Smoking when they fill up your petrol tank

 

[rivonia]

Yeh smoking in the Non Smoking Restaurants.

 

[Bertramdriver]

Be honest we love them for it.
Ages ago I had a conversation with a Greek traffic cop who would not wear a helmet when riding his own motorbike.
His view was "We make laws Brussels because tells us to. The law is against our culture so we ignore it. Only if we get caught (ie after a fatal RTA) then the law is fully applied"
This folks is true democracy.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Bicycles are unimportant and men who ride them are queer.

Run down or turn in front of them as often as you can; it will make you feel macho.

Always spit on a German's food before you take it to the table.

 

[Bertramdriver]

Is this what you do?

 

[Tony Cross]

Isn't the purpose of law to ensure a fair and properly organised society? The laws which the Greeks break are generally minor ones such as you've suggested Peter. What you didn't mention is that most other Greeks here (Crete) mostly don't object. So if a Greek encounters another Greek driving the wrong way down a one-way street he'll likely as not back up to let him through. Parking on double-yellow lines usually results in a calm and polite wait by obstructed cars, at least for a few minutes and then a polite toot of the horn usually brings the offender running to move the car. The Greeks seem to feel that "tomorrow it might be me" so they don't make a fuss. In general this system works, it's mostly us northern Europeans who get all excited about the law-breaking, the Greeks don't see the point or the need to get excited about minor transgressions.

Smoking is a problem for many of us who don't like it. The Greek's attitude to that is that if we don't like them smoking in a taverna or bar then go somewhere else. When most people in a taverna or bar are smoking the Greek will think it rather strange that they should all stop because one person (often a foreigner) points out that they're breaking the law and he doesn't like it.

You don't see Greeks getting upset about this kind of minor law-breaking, so why should we? We are visitors after all.

 

[Sandyman]

Smoking when they fill up your petrol tank

Nothing wrong with that as long as no naked lights.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Isn't the purpose of law to ensure a fair and properly organised society? The laws which the Greeks break are generally minor ones such as you've suggested Peter. What you didn't mention is that most other Greeks here (Crete) mostly don't object. So if a Greek encounters another Greek driving the wrong way down a one-way street he'll likely as not back up to let him through. Parking on double-yellow lines usually results in a calm and polite wait by obstructed cars, at least for a few minutes and then a polite toot of the horn usually brings the offender running to move the car. The Greeks seem to feel that "tomorrow it might be me" so they don't make a fuss. In general this system works, it's mostly us northern Europeans who get all excited about the law-breaking, the Greeks don't see the point or the need to get excited about minor transgressions.

Smoking is a problem for many of us who don't like it. The Greek's attitude to that is that if we don't like them smoking in a taverna or bar then go somewhere else. When most people in a taverna or bar are smoking the Greek will think it rather strange that they should all stop because one person (often a foreigner) points out that they're breaking the law and he doesn't like it.

You don't see Greeks getting upset about this kind of minor law-breaking, so why should we? We are visitors after all.

So YOU are happy to have smoke blown all over you in a restaurant are you? You will also notice that when they're not actually dragging on the thing, they hold it out as far away from their own clothes as possible.

Harry's Taverna back room, November 2011, in comes a cop, in uniform, sits on a stool by the bar, orders a large beer and lights up! And we are supposed to welcome them into the EU and pay all their bills?

 

[Mistroma]

I remember being driven through Athens many years ago by a German lady married to an Athenian. She had one hand on the wheel, and a cigarette in the other with her elbow out the window. We were fairly flying around, weaving through a lot of traffic and I started to put on my seat belt but this met with disapproval. I was told that other drivers would cut her up if she was seen wearing a seat belt, as it would show that she was a poor driver.

Everyone was exceed the speed limit and we flew past several motorcycle police standing to chat and smoke. I asked about law in Greece regarding speeding, drink etc. and was told that it was similar to the UK. However, everyone was speeding and they couldn't fine everyone and police only picked 1-2 days each year check for alcohol. So people pretty much drove anyway they pleased.

I asked if they had a lot of accidents and was told that they did and there had been a recent study to uncover the reason. Apparently it was all due to large trucks. I didn't get any more information on that one.

Parking proved to be an interesting topic. She said that Greeks pretty much parked where they pleased. The government had handed parking enforcement to a private company who expected to make a packet. Apparently the government used to take back vehicle plates until fines were paid. Unfortunately, they refused to do that on behalf of a private company and everyone knew that was the case. So nobody paid the fines and the courts were rapidly swamped.

I don't know how much of this was true, just repeating what I was told.

The German lady did tell me that they went to visit her parents several years ago and her husband parked in normal Greek fashion. She warned him but he said Greeks don't pay parking fines and he'd be in Greece with no forwarding address. A couple of years later he had to pay a big fine when the German authorities caught up with him in Greece. He couldn't believe that anyone would bother to track him back to Greece and through an address change just for a parking fine. But Germany is slightly different in that respect and rules are rules.

 

[paulineb]

I saw a guy on a scooter over the weekend with THREE children on it with him and he was talking on his mobile phone. My gob was smacked

 

[OldBawley]

One day of the year, ( forgot witch one ) coast living Greeks eat sea urchins. Tradition.
Here anyway.

A guy who usually fishes octopus was gathering urchins. I rowed over and we had a chat.
He was a bit nervous, explained to me that gathering urchins in that spot was forbidden.
Could be he was pulling my leg, trillions of urchins.
He told me he sold them in town for one euvro/ piece.
The rest of the year nobody gives a dime, for that religious tradition they must and will eat urchin.
Anyway, that week I saw a few people collecting.
That Sunday the coastguard rib came by, first time in weeks I saw them out on the water.
They moored on the little island where I was anchoring, and guess what, went collecting sea urchins.

 

[charles_reed]

I saw a guy on a scooter over the weekend with THREE children on it with him and he was talking on his mobile phone. My gob was smacked

They do it even better in the Flegrees - the whole family, Mum, Dad, baby, teenager and two childer, Mum was smoking and Dad on the phone and the scooter was moving!!!

 

[Cheery]

They do it even better in the Flegrees - the whole family, Mum, Dad, baby, teenager and two childer, Mum was smoking and Dad on the phone and the scooter was moving!!!

You forgot the little dog. I have seen this on countless islands. The first few times you see it you laugh, after that it is the norm.

 

[rotrax]

So YOU are happy to have smoke blown all over you in a restaurant are you? You will also notice that when they're not actually dragging on the thing, they hold it out as far away from their own clothes as possible.

Harry's Taverna back room, November 2011, in comes a cop, in uniform, sits on a stool by the bar, orders a large beer and lights up! And we are supposed to welcome them into the EU and pay all their bills?

You are a bit behind-we welcomed them into the EU years ago!

Fortunatly the Eurozone is picking up most of the tab.

If Greece wants to play in the big boy's playground they may have to change their ways...............................

 

[nimbusgb]

Scooters are the best. Must admit it must take some dexterity to smoke, hold a mobile phone conversation and carry a frappe whilst doing 40 down the Levkas high street.

If you have a reasonable sized bike, preferably 850cc plus then all of this is best demonstrated while doing a powerslide as well.

 

[1bobt]

Scooters are the best. Must admit it must take some dexterity to smoke, hold a mobile phone conversation and carry a frappe whilst doing 40 down the Levkas high street.

If you have a reasonable sized bike, preferably 850cc plus then all of this is best demonstrated while doing a powerslide as well.

You forgot to mention ,Crossing themselves when going past a church

 

[paulineb]

You forgot to mention ,Crossing themselves when going past a church

Or when they pull out without looking and we brake and swerve so we don't hit them.

 

[affinite]

Anyone been in the Seven Islands taverna in Lefkas recently. We havent been there for a few years but it was my favourite Taverna in Lefkas.
When we were taken into the kitchen to look around and choose dinner from the (luke warm) pots on the stove, Chef was invariably stood over one of those pots but always with fag in mouth. Bit of fag ash adds to the authentic taste I think.
I love Greece - Hope we can stay