July 14, 2010

Lament for Elliniko

A Kathimerini commentary much in the mold of previous complaints about how Greece manages problems, but in that paternalistic tone Greek newspaper especially take that are markedly different from (say) media organizations in the United States which try for more disinterested distance. Elliniko was once the travel hub for Greece, with tourists pouring in through the airport nearby, and the United States, and then a Greek/US military installation there.

"[Elliniko]...is a wasteland of weeds, derelict buildings and huge disused runways.

There has never been a shortage of plans for Elliniko nor any lack of ambitions. As in many other major projects, huge amounts of time and effort go into drawing up plans that are announced with great fanfare and then abandoned, until the next one. The prevalent idea is for the creation of “the biggest metropolitan park in Europe,” with all 500 hectares of the site being covered in trees, ponds and fields. Consider that Manhattan’s Central Park is a mere 340 hectares and you get an idea of the size of Greeks’ ambitions. Once again, we see that our expectations are unrealistic, that they exceed our capabilities by far. We have neither the money nor the water to create and maintain such a park. But that has never stopped us from dreaming.

This brings us to our next point: We prefer to live with the results of neglect than to take a realistic decision that will force us to abide by its result. "

Advertisement: I am an Amazon affiliate

Fodor's Essential Greece: with the Best of the Islands (Full-color Travel Guide) – Amazon

• Illustrated experiences guide to the top things to see and do
• Multiple itineraries to help organize your days
• 40+ detailed maps for easy navigation
• Color photos throughout
• Local recommendations for sights, dining, hotels, nightlife, shopping, and activities
• “Best of” features covering beaches, food and drink, and more
• Trip-planning tips on when to go, getting around, avoiding crowds, and saving money
• Historical and cultural insights into Greek people, art, architecture, and cuisine
• Special features on the Acropolis, Greek gods and heroes, Greek history, Meteora, and more
• Local writers highlighting lesser-known places
• Greek-language primer with useful words and phrases
• Up-to-date coverage of Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, the Aegean, Sporades and Saronic islands, Delphi, Central Macedonia, Meteora, and the Peloponnese
• 800 Pages