I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
heightened anti-American feelings. Also, any suggestions of places not
to be missed or comfortable moderately prices hotels would be greatly
appreciated. Also, the other idea is Portugal. Same questions.
thanks,
faye

f. augustine wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
    > opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
    > heightened anti-American feelings.

In Greece, you will be fine. It's one of the friendliest countries around!
---
DFM

"Deep Floyd Mars" wrote in message news:...
    > f. augustine wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
    > > opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
    > > heightened anti-American feelings.
    > >
    >
    > In Greece, you will be fine. It's one of the friendliest countries around!
    > ---
    > DFM

From http://epod.usra.edu/:
"Much of Europe has been hampered by very adverse weather during
January and February. In Greece, near constant daily rains have
produced serious floods and landslides...
A national emergency has been declared for eight of the Cycladic
Islands south of Athens, where complete road systems have been washed
away and all aspects of infrastructure have vanished. Rainfall during
the past 48 hours, in some cases, reached amounts normally observed
over the course of a year, especially on the islands of Mykonos,
Paros, Serifos and Tinos, which lost their road, water and sewer
systems! The near-continuous flow of water from incessant rains has
also resulted in earth and rocks sliding onto roadways - the first
impression is that an earthquake ravaged the area.
Sections of the National Highway between Athens and Southern Greece
have also collapsed leaving many cities, towns and villages now
isolated and local officials scrambling to make arrangements for
detours. Some estimates indicate that over ten years will be required
to clean-up some of the damaged road sections. Other parts of Greece
have been hit with extremely heavy snows. The recent weather-related
damages are believed to exceed 1 billion euro (1 euro = 1.08 US
dollars)."

I'd check it out a little more thouroughly before I buy tickets.

Good luck,
.ted

"f. augustine" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
    > opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
    > heightened anti-American feelings. Also, any suggestions of places not
    > to be missed or comfortable moderately prices hotels would be greatly
    > appreciated.

TRAVEL WARNING - GREECE

Still Current at: 25 January 2003
Updated: 7 November 2002

SAFETY AND SECURITY

There have been incidents of sexual assault and rape on some Greek Islands. Visitors
are therefore advised to maintain at least the same level of personal security
awareness as in the UK. We strongly advise lone visitors, especially, never to accept
lifts from strangers or passing acquaintances at any time.


TERRORISM

A member of the staff of the British Embassy in Athens was shot and killed by the
November 17 terrorist organisation on 8 June 2000. The Greek authorities have made a
major breakthrough against the N17 organisation recently. Anarchist groups remain
active although their actions are primarily directed against the Greek State and
against international, diplomatic and commercial interests. They have rarely operated
outside Athens and never on the Greek islands. Nevertheless visitors should be aware
and take sensible precautions regarding safety and security.


ROAD TRAVEL

British motorists visiting Greece and those hiring vehicles locally should be extra
cautious in view of the very high incidence of road traffic accidents.

Visitors are strongly advised not to hire motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, as
accidents involving these forms of transport are common and can often result in very
serious or even fatal injury.

Travellers to Greece intending to hire a moped should be aware that they will require
a valid driving licence with at least category A1 - 'light motorcycle` for this
purpose. Category P, which is valid in the UK for driving mopeds up to 50cc is a
National category only and not sufficient for use abroad.


HEALTH

The standards of nursing and after care, particularly in the public health sector lag
behind what is normally acceptable in Britain. The Public Ambulance Service, which
will normally respond to any accident, is rudimentary. There are severe shortages of
ambulances on some islands.


NATURAL DISASTERS

Mainland Greece and most of the Greek islands popular with British tourists are in
seismically active zones, and earth tremors are common. Serious earthquakes are less
frequent but can and do occur. The last major earthquake was in September 1999 and
caused considerable damage and a number of casualties in Athens and surrounding areas.

http://tinyurl.com/4vfo

f. augustine wrote:

    > I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
    > opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
    > heightened anti-American feelings. [...]

There is close to zero "anti-American feeling" in Europe. Unless one of
happens to bear a striking resemblance to Donald Rumsfeld, you should
have nothing to worry about.


--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?

greg byshenk wrote:
    > f. augustine wrote:
    >
    >
    >> I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
    >> opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
    >> heightened anti-American feelings. [...]
    >
    >
    > There is close to zero "anti-American feeling" in Europe. Unless one of
    > happens to bear a striking resemblance to Donald Rumsfeld, you should
    > have nothing to worry about.

If you are coming from the US it is also a good idea not to wear any
"provocative" T-shirts, I still remember the looks an american guy
wearing a USMC T-shirt received in an Athens bar the night the US
started bombing Belgrade. Mind you, nobody told him anything or harmed
him in any way... it was just "unwise" of him.
The most you might get is friendly conversation of "why are you doing
this" etc...
Also remember the fact that when people are talking to you loudly and in
an animated way, has nothing to do with you... it is the local custom!
(as in southern Italy and Spain) and you need not worry!

As for terrorism, the previous posters forgot to mention that in the
past year both lethal terrorist Greek groups ( November 17, ELA) have
been arrested and their trial starts on 3rd March. Greece has sorted its
terrorist problem.
Most indecent assaults and rapes in Greek islands were caused by drunken
British males going after their own women. Most of these incidents
happen in British holiday ghettos in Corfu and Rhodes. Locals mostly do
not bother.
The weather, like for the rest of Europe, has been very bad this year,
but May and June is the best time to get good weather, quiet holidays,
without too many tourists.

So Greece is a very safe place to be, even if you do not speak the
language.

Enjoy
Theoharis

Dans l'article , greg
byshenk a écrit :


    > f. augustine wrote:
    >> I'm thinking about Greece in late May or early June. Does anyone have an
    >> opinion about safety for 2 women travelling alone, esp. during this
    >> heightened anti-American feelings. [...]
    > There is close to zero "anti-American feeling" in Europe. Unless one of
    > happens to bear a striking resemblance to Donald Rumsfeld, you should
    > have nothing to worry about.

We normally spend three weeks in Greece on the island of Aegina in
September. This year we are planning to extend it to four weeks. We
really like it, and we have never had any experiences with "anti-American
feeling." Not ever. We have been going there for 10 years.

Donna Evleth
    > --
    > greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
    > hate spam?
    >