I'm not an environmentalist wacko but this really bothered me
As we continued our stroll alongside the docks and beach we came upon a parking lot full of souvenirs aimed at the tourists coming off the cruise ships. Hopefully most of the American tourists coming off the ships would be smart enough to realize that none of this stuff harvested from the sea was going to get through customs and more importantly, I hope they know enough not to support the pillaging of the Mediteranean's dwindling natural resources. I've seen enough National Geographic and Jacques Cousteau documentaries to know that what was once a bountiful sea has become a virtual aquatic desert due to over-harvesting and pollution. These clowns were selling shells, sponges, coral and slowly dieing fish that had been plucked from the local waters. They probably have to throw away half of what they don't sell every night. Wasteful.
Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In Worl... ... read more 
