Posted on 06/29/2008 10:58:52 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
...Amid unprecedented protests from tour guides, travel companies and tourists irritated by conditions at prime archaeological sites, the ruling conservatives last week rushed hundreds of additional personnel to staff museums and open-air antiquities... The move follows embarrassing revelations over the upkeep of Greece's ancient wonders and mounting public disquiet, voiced mostly by foreigners in the local press, over visitor access to them.
Yesterday, the authoritative newspaper Sunday Vima disclosed that the Cycladic isle of Delos - the site of Apollo's mythological sanctuary and one of Greece's most important ancient venues - resembled an "archaeological rubbish dump". Recently, it emerged that many sites, including Delphi, Mycenae and the spectacular Bronze Age settlement of Akrotiri on the popular island of Santorini, were only partially open or permanently closed.
In an effort to stem the criticism, the conservatives last week ordered that opening hours be extended at museums and sites nationwide. Following the timetable of civil servants, sites had opened at 8am and closed by 3pm, denying thousands of tourists, especially those on cruise ships, the chance to see them...
"What we are seeing is the indifference of a government that simply does not make culture a priority," the shadow culture minister, Maria Damanaki, told the Guardian...
Ancient theatre of Epidavros was the site of chaotic scenes following strikes by cleaners at its two toilets.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
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The article mentioned that the ruling party was "conservative" at least twice. |
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Whoever heard of inviting company over for dinner, but not cleaning the house in preparation for the visit? The Greeks, would be MY guess.
*sheesh*
Idiots
Hellenism alert!
The Guardian operates using stealth tactics. There is so much more to this hit piece.
The story is far more complex and compelling than this kind of ambush “journalism” would want us to believe.
The running battle lies here really...with the struggle to return to Greece the stolen Parthenon Marbles (now placed forlornly and being damaged at the British Museum) to where they belong - at the Parthenon.
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/EasyJet-founder-gets-Elgin-marbles.4186878.jp
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!
Talk about run-down.
That place is in ruins!
I’ll go sit in the corner now.
Thanks for that link.
This is also VERY funny!
Timeto bring in the Armenians to do the work!
SOMEbody need to!
What. Did they fire all the maids?
Put me on your GGG list, please.
But the story's ulterior motive stems from the attempt on the part of the Brits to maintain their clutches on the stolen Parthenon Marbles.
We were at some of the most important sites last summer (Delphi, Acropolis, Mycenae, etc) and we found a very clean, organized albeit crowded environment amidst the majesty of the sites.
BTW-Ursus: I will take your comment about the Armenians as a silly remark made in jest. I am sure you realize that the Greek and Armenian people have shared much devastation by barbaric Muslims and both nations are willing to do MUCH more than help clean each other's facilities.
love it!
We get over to Greece fairly regularly. I can’t say as I ever found that the ancient sites were dirty. I did notice that the British tourists were, and generally drunk too, probably from drowning the shame brought on them by that thief Elgin.
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