clean swiss it has been 30 years since i did the same circuit of greece, italy and then switzerland and i too was taken with how clean everything was then, and how, my personal space was respected at the perimeter i expect. the swiss, then, anyway, didn't like being crowded anymore than i did. those trains in italy were so tightly packed! interesting that is still the impression.
Yes, I have definitely noticed that. I'm not sure what the conversations have been about, but it's all men, no women. We have been told that most women just run the household, and that is all they do for work. So they are at home, working, when the men are out in the afternoon, drinking the day away... Lots of raki... I don't know if there is an equivalent in the US. Normally a group of men do not go out together unless it is to a bar at night; hardly ever do they in the middle of the way like the men do here. Also, when people go out in the US, it is usually mixed gender...And to answer your question, after observing the way that Europeans treat alcohol, I think it would be better if the drinking was not as controlled in the US. There would probably be a problem for the few years after, but then once it was accustomed to society to start drinking responsibly at a younger age, there probably would not be as many problems once people got to high school and above.
Tavernas Your comments on the cultural differences between americans and greeks made me remember, when we were in greece, noticing the men sitting around in groups of 7-12 or so, talking and drinking away the afternoon. We were told the conversations were mostly political, and that almost no one stayed the whole time, but men would come and join for a while and then go on. Just wondered if you've seen this, and if you can verify that is what the conversations concern, or add to my understanding in any way. (Eg, why are there no women?)
What is the equivalent in the US?
After observing the greeks and alcohol, do you think the US would be better off not controlling alcohol?
Pam Laird
non-member comment
The last entry?
I've loved following your trip. I guess this is the last entry. Sad. But all journeys must come to an end.