Overwhelming The Greeks Creates A Different Greece Experience
In July, the Greek Islands are one of the best places to be on the planet and the Greeks are friendly and fantastic hosts.
But as the last few days of the month approach, a change takes place. The pace of things hurries – you can just feel the difference – and the Greeks become nervous and agitated. Their normally calm “yes, whatever” demeanor becomes short and snappy.
This is because, come Aug. 1, the Great Italian Invasion sweeps through the Greek Islands. They come like locust, by the thousands, swarming and literally overwhelming the islands. And, being neighbors, the Greeks don’t necessarily like the Italians (this is common among neighbors in most European countries because they’ve been invading each other for centuries and unlike now, with armies and not just people).
The Italians also renamed beautiful Thira to Santorini, and the Greeks don’t like that one bit. In fact, you’ll never see the word Santorini while in Greece or hear a Greek say the word. To them, it’s Thira. If you take a plane or ferry there, you ask for a ticket to Thira.
I had been warned about the Italian invasion and how the islands change, and witnessed it first-hand one year. The only time I was ever snapped at by a Greek was on July 31 when I asked a local a question. I was taken aback, and she quickly apologized, but she was clearly on edge.
“We raise the prices and they still come,” she said in that long-toned sad way the Greeks have of talking when it suits them. “We double the prices and they still come. They always come. Every year.”
And the next day, as if on cue, they arrived (and you thought the Italians couldn’t get anywhere on time!). Instantly, there was a fast-paced frenzy to the islands. I was on Mykonos and the central part of the town had mopeds buzzing around in every direction, people were talking fast and waving their arms and the narrow and crooked streets were so full of people you had to stop and let them pass or even turn sideways to get past them.
Getting a drink at a bar became a bit more time consuming because people were three, four and even five deep in front of the bartender.
And the men were everywhere! Where were the girls!? I’m telling you the ratio was about 25-to-1. And Italian men can be somewhat pushy. IF you let them be that way, of course.
I was waiting in a long 20-person line at an ATM when an Italian barged right to the front. I turned to the people in front and back of me – all Europeans – and they just shrugged.
Well by golly I’m an American and I stand up against such behavior, so I went to the front and told the guy to get to the back of the line. He mumbled something really fast in Italian (knowing I don’t speak it) and said “I don’t speak English.” I got in front of him and said “yes you do and understand this – there’s a line and go get in the back of it.”
He did because, for all their bravado, Italians are quick to back down; after all they enjoy life and would rather be drinking than fighting. I like that trait in them, by the way.
I eventually did meet a few Italian girls and even hung out with a group of four of them for a couple of days. But I never got anywhere close to hooking up with them. They don’t like to be touched, for starters, even recoil if you even lightly put a hand on their shoulder when you laugh and tell a joke.
What!?
This is why, I surmised, that the men are so touchy-feely and aggressive with women from other countries. They are so frustrated not being able to touch their own ladies, they have all this built-up energy and passion and are ready to release it like a howitzer whenever they encounter a girl from another place.
American women are particularly vulnerable but then again they foolishly swoon at hearing that Italian accent.
Overall, once I adapted to the frenzy of the Italians, I settled in and had a good time with them. It was just a bit of a different Greek Islands experience.
Oh, and later I learned the key to snuggling with an Italian woman. You need a friend of the girl to introduce you and ease you into her, so to speak.
Cheers!
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