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Stats on divorce and crime can be misleading. Greece is a very traditional macho culture, not an empowered culture. (Every Greek I know is in a dysfunctional relationship) For debauchery just go to the boozookia on any night, not just a weekend, or just watch prime time TV programming. As far as the city's being clean and modern, give me a break. Have you ever taken a dump in a Greek toilet?
Churches on every corner doesn't make the Greeks deeply Christian. They are the most corrupt country in the EU.

The Greeks hate, maybe that is a bit harsh, dislike America because everyone in the Balkans is a victim of something. Nowadays, it is easier to blame the problems on the US's perceived hegemony. America exploits the entire world, after all, and the feeling in Greece is that they are not in control of their own destiny. Ask any Greek teenager, or college student, I have. they have no hope, and that, my friend, is NOT America's fault.

Ever take a dump in a New York toilet? In Scotland? (Train spotting anyone). What is wrong with you that you have to use public toilets?

And unless you are married to a Greek or counsel Greek couples - restrict to comments you can prove. Machsimo culture is found in Jordan and Brazil and in Jordan y ou have honor killings and in Brazil mass rapes and murders of women. Not so in Greece. Greece villages and hamlets and cities are clean and crime free - but with the influx of Muslims that has changed but still lower then any Western nation. They live longer then most people too. People who live in abusive relationships don't live longer.

Interpol Study: Greece Has Lowest Crime Rate in Europe

By George Anagnostopoulos for Southeast European Times in Athens - 15/01/04

Studies published by Interpol indicate that Greece has the lowest crime rate in Europe, making it among the safest countries in which to live or visit. During 2002, there were only 4,145 infractions per 100,000 inhabitants. Among those, there were two murders, eight sex offences, two rapes, and 672 thefts. Interpol says 85 per cent of the cases have been solved.

By comparison, the UK has had an average of three times as many homicides, ten times more sex offences, six times more rapes and thefts. Only 23 per cent of the approximately 5,673,000 cases were solved.

The profile of crime in the two countries is different. In numbers, thefts and drug offences are relatively high in Greece, but more serious, physical crimes -- murder, rape and serious assault -- are uncommon. The reverse seems to be true for the UK and most of Western Europe.

Greece, however, ranks high in money laundering, trafficking and counterfeiting. That does not come as a surprise, since it is an international passage for criminals between Europe, Africa and Asia. (Muslim gangs from Albania-America's newest allies)

According to economist Ilias Ioakimoglou, who has more recent statistics than those published by Interpol, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and France follow in second to sixth place. The last places are held by Germany, Austria and Greece. Finland and Spain seem to hold the highest rate for murder, while the UK and Denmark are those with the highest figures in crimes of physical violence (rape, bodily harm, robbery).

However, Ioakimoglou, who conducted research for the V-Project Consultancy Research Institute, says that Greeks are the most insecure of all Europeans. They rank as having the greatest fear of crime among their peers.

One factor that has a strong influence on perception of crime is the mass media. In view of the Olympic Games that will take place in Athens this August, the media have been pointing out inefficiencies in security, leading some to worry that the country cannot deal with threats.

Greece has invested 597m euros in security for the Games, the highest amount for any single event ever. The security forces for the Olympics are comprised of 70,000 men, not including the Army.

This has not stopped 21 per cent of the Greek population from worrying about a possible terrorist strike. However, Public Order Minister Georgios Floridis, having co-ordinated with intelligence agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, France, Germany and other countries, has expressed confidence that nothing could penetrate the security net.

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Next time back up your garbage or you will be taken out with it.

Actually the cities are way cleaner than they were twenty years ago. Thessaloniki, Larisa, Pirgos, Sparta, and even Athens long ago began beautification campaigns that have succeeded. The smaller cities have even borrowed. Broken concrete has been replaced with pavers.

In athens the new metro is actually (gasp!) useful. They also have it staffed with cleaning crew.

As for condemning the "macho culture", that has nothing to do with the job market. The minimum wage in Greece is about 450 euros A MONTH. Hard to live like a European when you are paid like a Greek.

Pre-EU many Greeks were able to go to Germany for good jobs. Those are gone due to the non-recession recession. As for students it depends on their field. The language schools are all doing brisk business. Greece is still breaking out of its agrarian ecconomy. How many young people here in the states would relish the idea of being a tiny farmer? (tiny in comparison to the USA's farms) It was not until the 1990's that you could even get a proper home mortgage. Land records were downright PRIMITIVE until recently.

The EU was supposed to represent opportunity. The adopting of the Euro was supposed to knock the dollar out so al the global proseperity would magically flow to the EU. The stalling of the EU ecconomy, for various reasons, hurts.

You absolutly right in stating it is not America's fault. Not our fault their merchant fleet is rusting in port. Not our fault socialism a failure by design. Not our fault the EU is stuck in recession. Not our fault the their government will tax an individual up the wazoo in the name of "harmonization" with the rest of EU members.

I have not taken a survey of Greek Toilets, but they have indoor plumbing since you were last there. They have long ago replaced the european style porcelan hole in the floor set up. If you stay in Athens, do go to the rooftop restaurant of the Titania hotel, even for just drinks. At night is has music and super romantic view of the Acropolis.