Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Island VAT generates confusion - ekathimerini.com

Island VAT generates confusion | Business | ekathimerini.com



"If you wish to travel from Piraeus to the island of Folegandros, the value-added tax on your ferry ticket will be 23 percent. However, if you take the ferry from Andros to Folegandros, the VAT charge will only be 16 percent, as you will be traveling between islands with a VAT discount. A dairy company from Naxos delivering goods to enterprises on Lesvos or Chios will charge a 9 percent VAT rate on its prices, but if the goods are delivered to private consumers on the same islands, they will pay a 13 percent tax."



What's confusing about that ;-)

Monday, 21 September 2015

Taking stock of the capital's 1830-1940 buildings | Life | ekathimerini.com

Taking stock of the capital's 1830-1940 buildings | Life | ekathimerini.com



"It is estimated that more than 10,500 buildings constructed between 1830 and the Second World War currently survive in Athens. These structures, comprising a great variety of styles, make up the Greek capital's architectural legacy. The diversity is such that Monumenta, an urban activist group that has over the past three years documented the vast majority of these structures, claims that “in Athens you can see the most beautiful buildings.”"



There are some beautiful old buildings in Plaka - but some of them are in urgent need of repair.

Monday, 14 September 2015

Vangelis Meimarakis: the next Prime Minister of Greece?

Vangelis Meimarakis: New Democracy leader takes Greece back - BBC News



"Part of Greece's political establishment for decades, Vangelis Meimarakis is everything voters rejected when they backed Alexis Tsipras and his left-wing Syriza party in January's election."



"According to latest opinion polls, Mr Meimarakis is now challenging Alexis Tsipras, Greece's youngest prime minister in modern times, for first place in this month's elections.

Commentators say he is a voice of economic stability, who has successfully unified his party to make a comeback."

Friday, 21 August 2015

Greece is about to be completely dismantled and fed to profit-hungry corporations - Comment - Voices - The Independent

Greece is about to be completely dismantled and fed to profit-hungry corporations - Comment - Voices - The Independent



"The intensity of the restructuring programme currently being agreed for Greece should dispel any lingering notion that this is a well intentioned but misguided attempt to deal with a debt crisis. It is a cynical attempt to set up a corporate paradise in the Mediterranean, and must be resisted at all costs."

Hotels in Athens, Greece

Hotels in Athens, Greece



A link to Matt Barrett's guide.  When I'm travelling by ferry to Piraeus I always spend a night or two in Athens.  I started doing this in case there were travel disruptions.  Now I like to have a day or two in Athens, seeing some museums, strolling in the National Gardens.......................

Sunday, 12 July 2015

Greek tourist hotspots face big bailout tax hikes

Some of the proposals under discussion.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/199373/article/ekathimerini/business/greek-tourist-hotspots-face-big-bailout-tax-hikes

"The Greek meal sales tax in the bailout proposal being considered Sunday by European leaders would boost it from the current 13 percent to 23 percent, while hotels would see room sales taxes rise from 6.5 percent to 13 percent.
Cromba and many other merchants said they would be forced to offset the higher taxes with lower prices to keep their cash-strapped customers."

When Greece Wrote Off German Debt in 1953 and How Germany Wants to Forget It

A view from the Greek perspective

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/07/09/germany-can-write-off-greek-debt-like-greece-did-for-germany-in-1953/


"It is time then for Germany, Greece’s biggest lender and Europe’s strongest economy, to show the same generosity poor Greece had shown in 1953 and write off part of its debt. That’s solidarity. "

And a view from a German perspective, summarised by the BBC from the Bild newspaper

"20:29
It takes a brave person to try and predict what might happen next in Greece. But, over at Bild newspaper in Germany, they've been trying to do just that.
In brief, here are the possibilities they outline:
  1. A deal is signed - and possibly a new coalition is formed in Greece
  2. Eurogroup says it is unhappy with Greek plans – so Tsipras prepares for Grexit
  3. Eurogroup says it is unhappy with Greek plans – Tsipras refuses Grexit
  4. Prime Minister resigns ahead of Grexit - so elections are called
  5. You can read the whole piece here (in German) " .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-33497309

Thursday, 15 January 2015

Greece - The rubber glove rebellion

BBC News - The rubber glove rebellion



"A group of middle-aged cleaners have become heroes to Greeks hit hard by
austerity for refusing to go quietly when their jobs were cut. They have clashed
with police and camped for months in central Athens - their defiance springing
from decades of low-paid work and hard lives as mothers, wives, widows or
divorcees."

 And an interesting BBC radio programme "Greece: The Rubber Glove Rebellion"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04xrv9x