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Xclay

Athens – Pandemic Update

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Thanks!  An excellent post (even if it's less than what Santiogodc experienced).  Glad to hear that you were 'stimulating the local economy' in Athens.

Can you say anything about the age & general type (or types) of guys that you encountered?

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Thanks for your post Xclay. I was intrigued by Santiagodc's Athens post as well, and I still hope to get to Athens at some point this year or next.

I wonder if the police presence on Omnia was only temporary.

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5 hours ago, tm_nyc said:

Thanks!  An excellent post (even if it's less than what Santiogodc experienced). ...

Can you say anything about the age & general type (or types) of guys that you encountered?

Thanks!

Ages?  Nearly all in their early to later 20s, with one attractive, masculine Iranian guy I was with who was 30.

Types? Straight acting, G-for-P guys. Given the gene pool, dark hair and mostly brown eyes, but not at all dark or even olive skin. All were fairly trim, with some more toned and some more skinny.  (Plus a few who looked sadly emaciated.) 

Edited by Xclay
Edit the prior quote to focus on the question I answered.
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3 hours ago, JackR said:

I wonder if the police presence on Omnia was only temporary.

Interesting question.

Recently Kostas Bakoyannis, handsome young new mayor of Athens, was quoted here stating:

"We are reclaiming public space, like Omonia Square, a city landmark — I think that’s going to be a symbol."

If so, that suggests more than a temporary crackdown.

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The Covid pandemic has adversely affected everyone and almost every place (especially the cities and countries that "WE" visit); thus this is really NOT the time for anyone to be traveling and exploring and experiencing what one perhaps pre-covid.

I love to travel internationally to the countries that are posted about here, but I plan not to resume doing this until late 2022 and during 2023.  I hope a huge semblance of normalcy has occurred by then.

Thanks to the two men who posted about Greece (Athens in particular).  I yearn to return there, for I liked the city when I was there many, many, many ago.  ...went to Mykonos but have yet to go to other places when I venture there again.

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United has a brand new, 1st-ever, nonstop from DC to Athens and there are specials of $600 RT in peak. Also there's plenty of rewards seats for 30K or 33K miles and even some 66K miles Polaris Business seats (usually 160K). 

The Europe red-eye over is the one Business class indulgence I use sometmes. Better to sleep in a flat bed on the plane than lose the 1st day there sleeping. 

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Just a “heads up” for any traveller to Greece…

A friend of mine flew into Corfu yesterday. He’s fully vaccinated and had the required documentation but also took with him a negative COVID test from the day before. The Border officer laughed and said the negative test wasn’t required as of the previous night; the officer added that it was a good thing to have though, as “the (Greek) Govt. changes the regulations every 3 days”.
 

What was unexpected by my friend is that everyone on the flight (no exceptions) was given a rapid-flow test on leaving the aircraft and before they could proceed to the line for Border Control. 

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On ‎7‎/‎2‎/‎2021 at 4:37 PM, msclelovr said:

What was unexpected by my friend is that everyone on the flight (no exceptions) was given a rapid-flow test on leaving the aircraft and before they could proceed to the line for Border Control. 

This has been reported for several Greek destinations, including the islands, for UK flights. Some places the testing is organised in a reasonable fashion and not too time consuming; other places it is not.

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I read yesterday that COVID cases have been increasing all across Greece...including on many of the Greek Islands.  it's possible some areas of Greece could go back into code red shutdown again....or at least severe restrictions.  If you're planning on going there soon, be sure to check up on the latest pubic health information.  

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I'm bumping this as I'm planning an Albanian trip in Mid-October and found there are RT fares from the US West Coast (both LAX and SFO) to Athens for $300. 

You read that right.  Round Trip.    

So if you've been itching for the Greek experience, even somewhat restricted by Covid, for that price a Mediterranean get away may be just what the doctor ordered.  

Since I'll spend a couple days there after Albania, does anyone have any Autumn updates to Xclays experiences above?  Faleminderit!

 

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One aspect many posters may be unaware of…Greek policemen often work in ‘plain clothes’.
 

They do this to catch visitors and locals who think to break the law, particularly nowadays the pandemic regulations. On-the-spot fines are levied. One example is that it’s lawful to NOT wear a mask when eating outdoors at a taverna, but you MUST wear a mask when stepping inside to use the bathroom. It didn’t happen to our party of friends, but one dinner time 3 people from 2 nearby tables entered, forgetting to put on masks first. All were grabbed by plain clothes police officers as they tried to rejoin their friends - the fine was €300 each (if paid instantly) but it escalates sharply if you argue about being fined, go to court etc

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16 hours ago, forrestreid said:

but was too chickenshit to do anything in the end.

I’m with you - street and bar hustlers not my thing.  Appreciate the information 

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The Kosmopolit hotel appears to be mostly a working-class family hotel. Lots of East European and Middle Eastern groups with kids. And they happen to be, at least formerly, next door to a porno theater of the same name. Lots of hookers around the theater and lots of guys in track suits (you know that look) in front of the hotel who, frustratingly, aren't hookers. 

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On 10/24/2022 at 1:43 AM, Heba as-sa3udeya said:

Thanks Forrestreid for those fresh but not happy news.

 

I don't think you should really call it unhappy news, either.

Shows there is some action around , and just because I was a bit nervous to do anything, does not mean that somebody else might not have a more adventurous experience...

I would look forward to reading the experience of other guys who visit.

 

 

 

 

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I’m working from Piraeus at the moment, been here a month. Bars and cinemas are super quiet. Seems to be lots more Turkish, Kurdish and Egyptians here. I find it fascinating that the Egyptians in the bars are almost always the most impolite and demanding. I don’t mean to generalise. I know lots of lovely Egyptians. But here they are demanding, asking for money even when you’ve given a polite no. There are apparently 2 new hustler bars around Samis but I can’t find where they are or the names, maybe a local can help. 

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