Sir, – Richard Pine’s Greece letter (“Old-fashioned Greece has no chance of becoming truly developed”, News, August 1st) reminds me that just a year ago, I checked into a hotel in Greece. Next morning, as I set off to vist a famous archaeological site, the kind man at reception wrote a note in Greek. He told me to give it to the person on duty at the ticket office. I duly did and was waved through without paying a cent.
Several hours later, I emerged in the heat to be greeted at the exit by a member of the site staff who, it transpired, was the mother of my friend from the hotel! She insisted we have a cool drink and, despite my best efforts, no money was accepted.
Back in Athens, while buying some souvenirs, a tired shopkeeper (dropping his voice) asked, cash or card? Cash, I replied without blinking. The price dropped. Just another example of Greek hospitality, wasn’t it? – Yours, etc,
CAIMIN JONES,
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