Implications of Financial Situations

[Anonymous]

Traveling from the US for my honeymoon in August. Our US embassy released the below recommendation:

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Greece of the possibility of disruptions to banking services – including credit-card processing and servicing of ATMs – throughout Greece in light of developments within the local economy. International and local media are reporting that banks will remain closed starting on Monday, June 29, 2015, and that capital controls may be imposed before they re-open. U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry more than one means of payment (cash, debit cards, credit cards), and make sure to have enough cash on hand to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays.

Should I be concerned that we will not be able to get from Athens to Kaly? I appreciate any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Hi Sean,

Besides the banks being closed all week, so far other limitations (like in ATM withdrawals) apply to those using Greek-issued cards, not foreign. That said, it’s a good idea to have enough cash on Kalymnos anyway, because a lot of (probably most) businesses on Kalymnos still do not accept credit cards, and there is only one ATM machine (and no bank) near the climbing areas. Travel has not been disrupted at all so far, and I think people here will do everything they can to avoid disruptions in the height of the tourist season. If things do change that will affect climbers on Kalymnos we will try to keep updating here.

Please don’t hesitate to write if you have any other concerns or questions. This is quite a new situation here for all of us.

Katie

[Anonymous]

As climbers and as anarchists we are deeply touched by the situation in Greece.

We do not feel like normal tourists every time we come back to Kalymnos, but almost as a little part of it.

So we would like to express solidarity and hope for the better for all Kalymnians.

Climbers of Europe, do not just climb but rise up!

LS & M

[Anonymous]

Kalimera, Lore Sera,

I agree 100% with what you wrote about Kalymnos and the Kalymnians. But my action recommendation is different: Come to the island, bring your friends and spend some money there. Enjoy your time together with the locals. At home, buy greek products, whenever possible. Tell the people (especially those that are scared from the tendentious press and media) about the cool and friendly people in Greece and the beauty of this country.

And then, have a beautiful summer….

Take care

Ludger

[Anonymous]

Dear Ludger,

thank you for your comment.

I assure you about your action recommendation: spend some money on Kalymnos is what we already do and we will continue to do when on holiday. But this is just the easier and temporary solution that rich tourists can think of; it is not a political action. I do not think that we are just talking about a problem of money: it is first of all a problem of social organization. If we don’t think this way, we can just help each other but without understanding what unites and what separates our peoples and our economies (this also because of the “tendentious press and media”, as you wrote).

Let’s try with a simple provocation about the violence of the dominated vs. the one of the dominating: when somebody attacks/destroys ATM machines you call him black bloc, now that banks are forcedly closed and ATM machines do not let you take more than a few euros, how can we call it: bank bloc?

I’m not inviting anybody to do strange things if not meditating.

Of course, as climbers we have to help Kalimnians supporting the alternative climbing tourism there. But Greece is not just Kalymnos island, and Europe is not just Greece. Somebody else will be tomorrow in a similar situation…and we just cannot run around the world spending our money!

I hope I don’t sound too much pessimist or destructive. I’m just expanding the problem.

Ciao

[Anonymous]

All,

Thanks for the comments. I too express much sympathy for the situation in Greece. My fiance and I have been so excited for Kalymnos for our honeymoon, we can’t hardly wait. This is why I wanted to post, just to see how things were going on the island.

[Author]

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