I have to begin with a correction to 25/005 LinNG. The harbour lights shine on the harbour wall rather than in the direction of moored boats. Still, the lighting does not illuminate the side of the wall where all the damage is. And the damage is still there. No warning tape or barrier to protect people.
Further evidence of state indifference to the common people is the appalling state of public transport.
On Wednesday 12th March, I arrived at the IKEA bus terminus only to find my bus was already stuffed with passengers. I decided to wait for the next one. As it turned out, the middle door of the first bus wouldn’t close. This led to one passenger shouting, “Fucking buses, second hand crap from Holland, Germany, Poland, even Turkey.” It is true. The city has imported hundreds of used buses from northern Europe. I would think national pride and φιλότιμο would make any bus imports from Turkey highly unlikely. Most of the imports have better coachwork than the local handiwork of Saracakis, who specialized in hardboard seats so unforgiving that I think passengers preferred standing. Upholstery was for wimps.
Anyway, the next bus arrived and thus began the combined mad rush of passengers from the first bus and those waiting at the bus stop. Despite my best efforts I failed to get a seat, but I am becoming more adept at the dog-eat-dog behaviour necessary for survival on Greek public transport. A woman “stole” “my” seat. That’s the level I have stooped to. When she got up, I moved in like greased lightning. But she wasn’t getting off; she just wanted to let her friend take a turn at sitting, only to be thwarted by me. Did I do the chivalrous thing? You bet I didn’t.
Yesterday (Friday, 14th March), my bus trip to the city went smoothly. I later took the metro and got off at Agias Sophias. In any case, I couldn’t go any further as THEMA (the Metro management company) was closing Venizelos and the Railway metro stations because of demonstrations. Anyway, my first port of call was Bravos music shop for new violin strings and rosin for my bow. The last time I bought rosin, it cost me around £6. It’s a well-known brand, but I’m not happy with the grip it gives so I wanted something of, hopefully, better quality. €17. And if I had opted for the one called ‘Gold’, €28 – I wonder how much real gold costs a gram. The owner did not have the strings in stock, but he offered to order them. He was also helpful in offering advice about monitor speakers. That was pleasing because the last time I went there he made me feel as welcome as a boil on the nose.
Back to public transport. After a swift Guinness, I walked to the bus stop in Mitropolios to wait for the 3K. The 2K came at 8:25. It normally runs along Egnatia but the demonstrations caused it to divert. It took 50 minutes to get to the IKEA bus terminal at 9:15. My connection arrived at 9:30 and remained stationary until 9:40, and I arrived home at 10:05. I wonder what the demonstration achieved other than making people’s lives a misery. There has – literally – been a cover-up at the site of the Tempe rail accident, a cover-up in concrete. If these arsehole protesters were serious in their intent to find answers, they would be going to the site with sledgehammers.
More disruption on Saturday, 15th, but check out GW25/006 for some of the natural comedians one encounters on public transport.
Finally, as if the delays and disruption in building the Metro were not enough, we now learn that it will close for substantial periods in 2025. 30 – 40 days inorder to complete the extension to Kalamaria. THEMA hasn’t decided if it will be a 40-day block or if it will be broken down into smaller time segments: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1265709/thessaloniki-metro-to-shut-down-temporarily-for-expansion/
On the plus side, it has never been cheaper. Bus and metro travel costs 30 cents for the over 65s, and 60c for the rest of the great unwashed.
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