Riots and civil unrest have been going on in Greece since December 6 and many travelers have already started to wonder if it’s safe to travel to Greece. Reports from several European countries already suggest that there have been cancellations but mainly from families with little children, and the rest of the tourists say they prefer to wait it out and see if everything settles before Christmas. European Governments urge their citizens to treat a possible vacation with “caution” but not necessarily cancel the arrangements.
What is happening?
Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15 year old boy, was shot by a police officer last Saturday. The protests in memory of him started peacefully in Exarchia as students from the school he attended held a silent vigil during the day in Syntagma Square (Athens). Later in the day, hundred others brought candles to the site, while others gathered at the site of the shooting. Later on, about 100 youth started to throw petrol bombs and rocks at a police station in the Exarchia district, where the officer was based. In the turmoil, several cars and shops were destroyed. In the mean time, police charged those taking part in the vigil in Syntagma Square, who refused to move away from the Parliament building. Also, in Thessaloniki , protesters vandalized a gymnasium.
The policeman charged with killing the teenager has been jailed and is now waiting for the trial to begin.
But the riots are not only about the killing of the young man. The anger is widespread and the target is now the Greek government. The civil unrest has spread over in the major Greek cities and thousands vowed to overthrow the government.
A pool published by Ethnos newspaper on Sunday revealed that 83.3 percent of Greeks were unhappy with the government’s response to the violence.
How does it affect you, the traveler?
While the images are scary, civil unrest is not something new in Greece. Generally, the violence is directly aimed at property and not at people. So from this point of view, you are safe.
Tear gas, used by police to control protesters, spreads and remains in the atmosphere so try to avoid those areas. The last thing you’d want to experience is blurred vision, runny nose or intense anger.
The main problem however is linked to sightseeing and shopping. If the streets are filled with protesters, you cannot go out to see the town and you’ll be stuck in the hotel.
You should definitely avoid the Syntagma Square area in Athens, but unfortunately this is where most of the high-end hotels are located and the place itself is an important landmark.
On the other hand, it’s totally safe to do some island hopping. Whether you decide to take a cruise or check the islands on your own, you’ll be safe. Large islands, like Crete and Corfu, are good options since most of the hotels don’t close down for the winter.
And no matter where you decide to go, make sure to have valid travel insurance. Generally speaking they cover you in case of civil unrest and flight cancellation. Some will also cover you if you decide to cancel the trip.
Sources: BBC News ; News Daily
Photo credit: Skai TV via CNN
