Modern Vespa

Mrs Av and I were in Naousa, about 17 km from home, this morning. We headed back separately, due to different stops we each had to make, to meet up in Marpissa, 7 km from home, and then ride to a taverna for lunch.

We meet up and set out, cruising along at about 55 kph (50 zone). Two black crossover SUVs with Athens plates come tearing up behind us and pass on a blind S curve, crowding us. 4 km later, coming around a blind curve just before the left hand turn off to the taverna, there are the two cars, stopped in the road, candidates for being rear ended by drivers like themselves.

Get to the taverna, and Mrs Av says, "Those two black cars passed me twice on blind S curves before they passed the two of us, and both those times, also stopped a short distance later in the middle of the road as they just did. Maybe there is truth to the story that the ferry line removes the brains of drivers boarding the ferry and holds them until the driver is on the trip home."

SHEEESSSHHH.

I'm a big believer in Darwinian natural selection.

Unfortunately, Pavlov is more applicable here. They keep doing it because of the lack of negative reinforcement. Why someone would drive twice the speed limit, pass with impunity on blind curves, and appear to not know where they are going is a mystery. Or to do this 500 meters before pulling off the road into a petrol station, store, or side street? They are on holiday here. What's the rush?

However, it is not very different from Lake Mahopac, NY area way back when I was in school. We had a vacation cottage there, and the drivers from "the city" also drove like they owned the road and were late for an emergency.

Glad you weren't hurt. Now i'm jonesin for some taverna food. Nice Greek salad would do. Well at least they didn't run you off the road. I had an idiot speed around a garbage truck as i was coming out of a blind curve. He was doing over the 25mph speed limit as well. He couldn't see me and the only thing that saved me was the fact i'm little and could get way over. Had i been in a car we would of had a head on. Unfortunately the Darwin gang takes out other people sometimes

The other day we were at a T intersection in the main port, stopped for traffic before turning left. A rental jeep decided to pull past us on the right to cut in front of us, totally unseen to Mrs Av, who was the lead scoot. I pulled forward, abreast of her and turned a bit in front of the jeep and gave him "The Look". Held him until Mrs Av made the turn and then waited a moment more so that an oncoming car from the right would make him have to wait two or three cars to turn. The surprised look on his face was priceless.

Damn off islanders. And they are returning. Of course, the island needs the tourist/vacationer revenues. Why don't they just send their money and stay home. We'd all gladly give them a 10% discount if they did.

Speaking of off islanders and the revenues they bring. We regularly compare tourist behavior and who's cheap and who's not, based on nationality. Won't give away any nationalities, lest I offend a friend or two here, but the Greek Tourism Office released the tourist stats for Jan and Feb. Compared to 2013, overall tourism was up 19% in numbers of tourists, and 16 % in total tourist spending. Up in some nationalities and down in others. The increase/decrease in numbers by nationality pretty much paralleled the increase in spending for that nationality, except one. One that is notorious for being cheap. Their numbers were up 37%, but their total spending was up by just 8.8%. As a friend remarked, "How wonderful. More of them and even cheaper ones to boot!"

To quote a beloved Mv'er "if it's tourist season why can't we shoot them?" They are the bane of my existence. Because people rent out their houses (illegally) i now have to see them at our local beach park. I have a cute riding in the Troodoos mountain in Cyprus. My friend and i were in a car going up thru them. I saw a boulder and i'm thinking "surely she sees it". It took up part of our lane. Now we were riding on the "wrong" side of the road but still. She sees it but her depth perception was off. Clipped it and over we go. Since i was also siting where the driver would be here i clipped the rear view mirror on my fall (no seat belts back then). Some guys stop and we ask them where we can get a tow truck. So the guys stand there and flag another car down. 4 guys and they picked it up a righted it.

La taverna! Love the way that sounds. Those big SUV's especially the ones with the tinted windows have rear cameras and stuff. So they think the car drives itself! Traffic around here has been crazy too lately. I am thinking I should have a 6 meter pole with a huge flag saying "I am here and I am fierce."attached to the rear of my scooter.

We have two significant T intersections on the island. One at the entry to the main port town (know as "Ginkas Corner"), and one on the arterial on our side of the island. Both are "regulated" by a stop sign for traffic entering from the base of the T.

All our "main roads" here are one lane in each direction. Several years ago, when some extra road funds came available, the then deputy mayor responsible for roads, Stefano (The Greek Islands Ralliers know him), had the base of the T road widened at the two intersections to allow three consecutive cars to have a "right turn lane" to improve the flow of traffic, especially for those making right turns. The locals loved him for it. Really sped things up a bit.

HOWEVER, off islanders (that code for Athenians and other Greek mainlanders), use the right turn lane as a "left turn passing lane" to get in front of people in the proper left turn lane. They swing wide and then dart in front of you. It's especially daunting at the turn in the port during tourist season, as traffic can be quite heavy, and often the idiots are racing to catch the ferry. Tickets are non-refundable if you miss a boat, and a car fare to Athens is over 100 Euro.

One afternoon recently, a bunch of us we having coffee and chatting. A neighbor was bemoaning how the economic crisis had reduced the number of daily ferries to and from Athens during summer by about 50%. Stefano, the deputy mayor said, "Look at the bright side. That's 50% fewer times each day we have to face the terrors of Athenians at Ginkas Corner racing to the boat." We all laughed and appreciated this "blessing".

Well, today, someone topped the two "passing ladies".

Mrs Av & I are driving through a small village in our Vitara, and up ahead I see an oncoming Range Rover in the middle of the road about 50 metres ahead. Initially figure he's giving wide berth to the intersection he is passing through. But he continues to slip further to his left into my lane! So I slow down trying to figure out what he is doing. He speeds up, pulling completely into my lane at about 10 metres away, so I come to a stop. Puts on his left turn signal and shakes his fist at me because I am partially blocking the entrance to the parking lot he pulls into on my side of the road! Guess where his plates were from?

And they were out in force today. Took the PX into the port town to take care of some things. On the way home, decide to pick up a loaf of fresh bread at a bakery. They have nice nose in parking for about 8 cars. Unfortunately 2 SUV's with off island plates have parallel parked, taking up 6 1/2 spaces. Go into the bakery and it's pandemonium. Man and woman are shouting to the rest of their crew seated at tables outside asking them what they want, and being rude the the delightful lady who is at the counter. When they took their goodies outside, I asked the counter lady if a different driver test was given in Athens than on Paros. She gave me a quizzical look. I said, "I think to get your license in Athens, you have to be able to take three parking places with just one small car." She laughed so hard, she startled the other counter lady, who came over and asked what was going on. She quietly told her and then the two of the were in uproarious laughter. They gave me a complimentary piece of baklava with my loaf of bread.

Yes, Judy, why do they call it tourist season if we can't shoot them?

I think I see the problem. We used to have a guarantee of 20 minutes for pizza delivery here or it was free. The law was soon changed after a few people were killed.

Cheers and good luck,
Bob

Hey Al, are our rental scoots "off island" plated?

Lovely locations and good memories!

Not just the Limeys and Yanks then.

It can be arranged.

Actually, rental cars can be easily identified, as the have the company logos on them.

After I made the OP, we ran out for dinner. Lots of people come here to "hike". So we are out in between two villages and we see two hikers coming our way, walking facing traffic, as is the safe approach. Side by side, commanding the whole lane. Slowed down and passed them by crossing the centerline. He gives me "the look". Both quite sun burned. Hope they didn't encounter any Athenians on a blind curve.

Keep in mind, I'm just sharing humorous (?) incidents here. The Greek people in general, and Parians particularly are gracious hosts. And we "locals" know that not all "off islanders" are raving lunatics.

But consider that during tourist season, the tourists out number the local population by about 10 to 1. Thus, even if only 10% of the tourists are assholes, that's one asshole for every man, woman, child and infant on the island, and thus they are quite obvious and ubiquitous.

A couple of years ago, we were dining at a friend's taverna with some neighbors, and he had every small restaurant owner's nightmare. Three large groups of tourists all arriving at virtually the same time. Three dozen meal to be delivered virtually simultaneously.

A person seated near us, who was being exceptionally rude to their harried waitress, commented to his wife, loudly and in their native, non-Greek tongue, "Since these people are dependent on tourist money, you would think they would have more staff to reduce the wait time." My neighbor's wife, who just happened to be from that country, leaned over and loudly said, "We try to be gracious hosts. We may be dependent on tourist spending in general, but definitely not yours in particular. Be thankful that waitress responds to your rudeness gracefully. I'd have dumped a bowl of food in your lap by now."

Ah well rude tourists are nothing new...I remember the Santorini Ferry Incident and would happily do it again. I think Paros is a great place to visit and would recommend it.

London now has tourists all year round, though there's some uptake in the summer. Generally they are very polite, and its a pleasure to help them.

I try to remember that, except when I am at home, I am the tourist. I do try to be polite and a pleasure to be helped.

Yes, and an Incident enshrined in the Vespa Club del Mediterraneo Hall of Fame! That's generally how tourists behave. Some just don't realize that they are really guests.