So the monsters won.

Eurovision was an opportunity to see some splendid visual stimulation, in the form of Greece. Scenes of markets, villages, hotels ( some we identified ! ), people, beaches, monuments, archaeological sites, houses, ancient pathways, fantastic food and well….overall, a visual feast. These provided the interval, the pause that refreshes, between vastly contrasting music styles (well style might not always be the word) but well, ballads to bawdy, gaudy monster rock to the funny “vote for us song” – the latter probably should have won for its total lack of disguise, all marketing and no song!

So many areas of Greece are still unexplored – areas where tourism is a novelty, visitors a strange a wonderful event taking place. For example Kavala, with so much to see nearby from Thasos island to the massive bird and wetland sanctuary, the magnificent bends and twists of the Nestos river and so many ( yes many ) more delights in store.

Also consider the cosmopolitan, lively, interesting and friendly northern anchor of the country, Thessaloniki.

And the beat goes on !

They are models, depictions, sculptures, and fun images.
The “Cow Parade” comes to Athens. A moving feast of an “art” event, first created by Walter Knapp in Zurich. Now after several cities have been exposed to sponsored sculptures, figures and representations of….cows, Athens is not be left out.

From May 8 major squares, the airport and some metro stations will cow-down to cows and this whimsical festival will have everyone in a very dairy mood….

On the Shipping News Front: Shipping owners have finally had enough. Understandably so. Even though we hate strikes. This time shipping companies are to keep their ships tied at port on May 16 in protest at the slow liberalization, to allow free competition on ferry routes within and to/from Greece.

The criticism of slowness and a lack of liberalization (encouragement of free enterprise) can be levelled fairly and squarely at all areas of Greek government, yes – even the current supposedly/allegedly enterprise-friendly government.

We can only hope that this government is slowly (but clearly too slowly) extricating itself from the outdated practices of its discredited predecessors.

Meanwhile laugh at the cows while the ships are in port.