Gas and strikes

This morning I was catching a couple minutes of TV while eating breakfast and before heading out to take care of some business.  I saw a Greek news piece showing lots of traffic on a particular street, with a gas station near the shot.  Trying to read the news line at the bottom of the screen, I couldn't make out what the subject was.  

I left the house, with plans to gas up at the cheaper of the two gas stations on the way to my destination.  As I was turning onto the main thoroughfare where those stations are located, I saw the traffic backed up to the lights I was waiting at!  Mind you, I am not often out of the house at 7:30am these days, but I didn't think this was morning rush hour traffic.  Turns out, cars were in line at the station 1.5 blocks down the road.  Of course, this was a BP and they always have higher prices, and the station I wanted to stop at, further down the road, wasn't open.  I had assumed as much, seeing the line for this one.

Not having clarity on the gas situation, other than some kind of strike was going on, I decided that I'd need to go wait in that line before I went home.  (I felt it was too early to call anyone who might have more detailed information and hubby was unavailable.)  We were pretty much on "E" and there were some places we need to go in the next few days.  Not knowing if this was a 24 hour strike (as many strikes are here), or if it could go on indefinitely like the last time this happened, I figured I best get some fuel.

I probably managed to piss off some people already in line, since it extended way beyond the intersection I entered it at.  I realized that a bit late and was low enough on gas that I wasn't going to try to correct my mistake.  No honking or yelling in my general directions, so hopefully no harm no foul.

While in line, I was trying to decide whether to fill up, or get 20 Euros of gas, just to get by for a little while.  That decision was taken out of my hands, I learned as I approached the pumps.  We were limited to a 20 Euro purchase.  Probably best, since this station is more expensive anyway.  So after about a 20 minute wait, I got ~4.5 gallons of gas for a little under $30.  Wow, that's the first time I've really made that conversion (gas in liters to gallons and dollars).  That's ~$6.50 gallon.  No complaining from you guys on gas prices!!!  Sure, we always have someone doing the filling up for us (no self serve here), and if he's in a good mood he cleans your windows, but that's just not worth the price difference!

My biggest weakness in having a hard time understanding the news is knowing when strikes are coming.  I'm usually lucky and stumble upon the information in a timely manner, except for the one time I walked the whole 25 minutes to the Metro, only to find the strike hours started about 5-10 minutes before I got there.  Nice.

We have all sorts of strikes here, and I had kind of forgotten about them as they don't really happen during the summer.  But I guess we have returned to strike season.  Time to pay more attention to the news.

UPDATE - just spoke with hubby and it turns out this is a Customs strike (I believe at the Port of Pireaus).  They aren't allowing in fuel and possibly other things.  I still don't know what determines which gas stations would be open for business today, but am doubly happy that I stopped to get my share!

Parking Ticket - Take 2

I am more than a little upset right now.  Like parking doesn't suck in Athens as it is, but these assholes have to make things worse.

Let's see if I can give a bit of background, and then try to start at the beginning...

It's my understanding that when (in the 60's?) they started building apartments buildings all over the place, they were supposed to leave the first floor for parking.  That just didn't happen.  Instead, the first floor is usually leased out for businesses, or in less business-y areas the first floor is just empty space - used simply for the entrance to a building.  The only time we drive downtown (where it can be the worst) is to visit my mother-in-law.

Because of the lack of parking for the ~5 million people in the area, parking rules tend to be kind of lax.  This benefits those parking, but pedestrians are a second thought at best.  Double parking and parking on the sidewalks is common practice.  Although excited to have a reason to push a stroller around town, I know it will be a pain in the ass to navigate the streets.  Sidewalks are not stroller friendly, hell - they aren't even people friendly many times.  As noted in a previous post, there are some areas you don't mess with - such as the entrance/exit to parking areas for homes/apartments/etc.  Ok, understood.

What happened, you ask?  Obviously this story ends with us getting a ticket, but let me take you through it.  All the levels of insanity of it.

We went to The Mall to see Wall-E (it just opened here).   Yes, The Mall.  As it is the only mall in Athens, it can rightfully hold that name.  With the exception of one time, we only really go there to see movies, and only if they aren't playing at the other cinema we frequent.  The other visit will an ill-fated, last minute idea of mine to try to buy a new dress to get married in at City Hall the next day.  The only thing I came away with was further proof that my then husband-to-be is awesome.  Everyone, he patiently followed me into every store in that 3 level mall that I thought might remotely have something I could try on.  Never once complaining or seeming bored or put out.  Boy do I love that guy!

Back to the story.  Mall parking is available, but expensive and one (with determination and willingness to walk a bit) can usually find street parking in the area.  When we can, we take the motorcycle as that makes parking much easier.  Having driven the car this time, we were doing some searching.  Finally, we find a spot and joined the other cars parked on the short bridge over the freeway.  No surprise to you, dear readers, there was a ticket upon our return (same with the other cars).  Evidently, you aren't supposed to park on a bridge.  

There are a few irksome details to this.

#1  With the crazy parking that happens everywhere else in this city, this is the last place I would have figured it to be enforced.  I so often see sidewalks blocked and cars sometimes trapped behind others.  No ticketing there.  We weren't blocking anything or anyone.  It wasn't even residential.  Here on the bridge, there was more than ample sidewalk space on both sides of the road, plenty of room for two way traffic (which is also uncommon), and no visible No Parking signs.

#2 The one No Parking sign we could find (from the direction we approached the bridge) did not make it evident it was for the bridge, but seemed more to indicate the road the bridge intersects with.

As I brought up all of these items with Vasilis, he said it's simple.  The owners of the mall parking area complain to the local police that not enough people are using their parking and utilizing city streets instead.  The police being a different animal here, they respond to such heavy handed complaints (I'm sure there's some power connection involved) and start ticketing where it makes the least sense in all of Athens.

So not only do they not bother elsewhere, where pedestrian and vehicle traffic flow could be positively affected, but they spend their time based on the indignant calls of someone who isn't making as much money as he'd like.  As my husband puts it, "assholes".  I tend to agree.

Irksome detail #3.  To make matters worse, I went to pay said ticket today.  80 Euros, but we can pay 1/2  if paid within 10 days of ticketing.  Sadly, the employee at the Post Office noticed something that kept me from closing this issue today.  Lucky us, the sh*thead who issued the ticket dated it Aug 19 and not Sept 19.  So tomorrow I have to go to the police station for that area and wrangle with them a bit.  What fun.  

UPDATE   - I went to the police station this morning to straighten this out and hopefully pay only the 40 Euros.  After filling in a bit of paperwork, and waiting a while, they told me "it's on us, it was our mistake".  We don't have to pay at all now!  Maybe I like the sh*thead after all...

At the movies

We've been to the movies quite a number of times in the year I've been here, but other than a couple major things I hadn't really taken notice of the differences from the U.S. cinema experience.

Prices - a bit more expensive.  It was 8.50 Euro which is ~$12.50 at the current exchange rate.  Take into account typical Greek salaries and it's quite a bit more expensive.

Seating - you are actually assigned seats, which I consider a bonus.  If you catch a flick at the Mall, you can buy your tickets early getting good seats, go Mall browse, and then come back at the last minute.  No worrying about long lines for new showings.

Concessions - Similar, but different.  About the same price.  We bought the largest popcorn and a soda (one size only - equates to about a medium) and it was only 4.90 Euro (~$7).  What they offer:  nachos (believe it or not), aforementioned popcorn and sodas, a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, candy from a self serve dispenser (like nuts, M&M's and other small piece candies), and alcohol.  I noticed one or two beer brands and Bacardi Breezers on offer the other night.  (Now we know where Breezers go to die).

Restrooms - At the cinema we went to the other evening, as best I could tell they had only one woman's bathroom for 10 theaters.  And it could hold only 1 person.  There weren't multiple stalls.

Getting into the theater - there is a fairly large lobby with more seating than you'd find in a typical lobby in the U.S.  Movies are announced (maybe 10 minutes prior to start) and at that point you can go in.  If you try to enter prior to that, the ticket taker will turn you back.  I don't like that as much, because it's hard for me to understand the announcements.  And 9 times out of 10, I don't remember what the movie is called in Greek.  (Rarely are the titles a direct translation).

Ushers - there are even kindly employees ready to help you find your seats if you need it.  They might also serve to detract from those who think they'll see a 2nd movie after their is over. ;)

Exiting - Sometimes, depending upon the theater, you actually have to exit down at the bottom of the theater, by the screen.  Flow management, I guess.  You then find yourself in a series of depressing hallways before you make it back out to the world.

Animated movies - I have to be careful which I buy tickets for when seeing one of these.  They will usually offer two viewings, one with Greek dubbing and the other with just subtitles. Even if I could understand the dubbed version, I don't think I'd want to see Kung Fu Panda without Jack Black's voice.

Then there are the Summer Cinemas, soon to close for the season.  These I really like.  It's like a drive in, but no cars and far less groping.  These are the perfect outdoor theaters for the city.  They are wonderful little openings in the city - usually a garden setting that often has fragrant flowers coming out of the vines covering the walls.  No assigned seating there - but not a big concern for me.  Atypically, I sit up towards the front at these places. The sound systems are far from stellar and, unlike the rest of the audience, I can rarely rely on the subtitles to make up for what I didn't catch in the dialog.  Only drawback is that you can smoke here, and the chairs aren't terribly comfortable.  Otherwise, a great way to spend a warm summer evening!

Queuing - a flash of civility

I was witness to a moment of brightness, in the otherwise despairing world of queuing in Greece, this morning.  First, I will describe the world.

Queuing, or lining up, for many things here, is an art in not caring about who really was there first and forfeiting your personal space.  Far from what I am used to in the U.S. (and even further from what you may experience in Britain), there are very few organized lines here.  For example:

 

The Metro.  People start moving towards the edge of the platform as the train approaches.  Unlike BART (SF's version of the Metro) there is no indication of where the doors will be when the train stops.  So, you get up to the edge and hope for the best - that the doors will be right in front of you.  If they are not, you start pushing your way towards them.   Once the train stops everyone waiting to board is packed in front of the doors (during the busy times of course).  People need to exit the train, you say?  Who cares about them?!  I need to get in first so I can have the best chance at a seat or at least a decent place to stand.

Elevators.  Ok, we know where the doors will open in this circumstance, so slightly less pushing.  Still don't give a rats ass about those who have to get off, although ultimately a small area is made to let them pass.  Can't get on otherwise...  Using crutches, in a wheelchair, or otherwise obviously disabled?  Good luck anyone making sure you get on.  You could be the first person waiting in front of a back of elevators (at my university for example) and still not make it on to the next available lift.  People watch the floor indicator, adjusting position from door to door as necessary based on which will most likely arrive next.  I usually walk the 140 steps up to the 6th floor to avoid this nonsense.

Customer service windows.  When you are at a window for service that doesn't require you to take a number, get ready to disregard all that you have been taught.  I can't say whether I am proud or saddened by the fact that, given the right mood, I can work my way through a crowd (even if I am the last one there) just to get my business done.  It's particularly bad at the copy center at the University.  

Busses.  Similar to elevators, they don't really care about who was there first.  Again, typically bad at the University, which is the beginning of the line and usually many students waiting.  Don't get the wrong impression - you might think it's just students who act like this.  Nope.

Fortunately the post office and banks utilize the "take a number" machines.  Banks get quite busy here as people deal mostly in cash - at Vasilis' bank I've never seen less than 10 people waiting.  Good news is that chairs are provided.  Similarly the post offices are quite busy, that's where we pay all of our bills in addition to regular PO duties that you would recognize, and they've got chairs as well.  Of course, even requiring a number doesn't stop the random person from cutting in on one's time and asking a question - sometimes resulting in them getting taken care of immediately and foregoing the waiting.  I wish I knew what they were asking about so could better ascertain whether I would consider it a "cutable" situation.   

So this moment of brightness I was referring to at the beginning.  I arrived at the post office today and the number machine was being worked on.  There were about 5 people already in there and I had followed in a Philippina nanny and her cute little blond charge in a stroller.  Taking a moment to figure out what the replacement system, knowing who came before you, I sat down.  This thankfully allowed us to avoid lining up or crowding the two windows.

Eventually the gentleman fixed the machine and began distributing numbers to those who had initially been waiting - all done in a well mannered fashion.  Knowing that myself and the nanny were next, I approached the machine.  He then stopped giving them out, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves in deciphering the order of who's next.  Fortunately, I got to it first, took a number for the nanny (she obviously wasn't going to jump in for herself) and then one for me.  Whew - all set now.

So, not only had everyone handled themselves civilly in a situation that I've seen bring on heated exchanges, then something else happened.  A older, quite crippled man shuffled in, his back at nearly a 90 degree angle with the floor.  He didn't take a number, but slowly made his way to the windows, obviously expecting to immediately advance to the front of the order.  I wasn't sure how this was going to play out.  I was certainly prepared to let him go before me, and guessed the nanny, who was up next, would do the same.  As the next window opened, someone else pointed out to the employee that he was next (wasn't that easy to see him) and he got his turn.  I was happy to see that everyone treated him with respect.   I hadn't necessarily thought they wouldn't, but I haven't ceased being surprised by people here.

Of course, to wrap this whole post office experience up, as I was approaching the door to leave, and older gentleman was coming in.  Rather than holding the door for me, he was actually closing it behind him as I tried to walk through.  Ah, yes - here is the behavior I recognize!