How is it these days in Athens?

I don't blame you from trying to be optimistic in a very bad situation, but I don't feel that your posts reflects the seriousness of the situation and its impact on daily life. This article has been published this evening by the British Telegraph newspaper.

You don't have to convince me that the issue is serious. The economy is destroyed, but this is happening already for half a year. The process now speeds up to a complete economic collapse. Nevertheless everything will be done in order to supply primary needs. With primary needs covered only transport is important for tourists, this may become an issue due to fuel issues and strikes. Those on package beach holidays this is of limited consequence, the large travel groups will do everything to have this covered (fly in with extra fuel and arrange a transfer to the hotels). Independent travelers traveling around may have a harder time arranging transport.

The real issue is security, when people have a hard time there may be an increased crime level, most likely a gradual process. In an absolute black scenario big clashes between the yes and no camps will occur escalating to a civil war. Things may get ugly quick, but for now I consider the risk of an immediate civil war very small. Just avoid demonstrations and other crowds that should suffice for now.

I believe traveling Greece now is not that different from traveling a developing country

About an hour ago, a Greek Australian who owns a backpackers at the foot of the Acropolis, and a cafe on Skyros, was interviewed on radio here ... he said the situation was dire, with mass cancellations in the tourism industry and the banks are effectively not operating, and it's cash only.

He said you could fire a cannon down streets in or near the Plaka that would normally be packed. He was not happy with the government, and will vote "Yes".

You don't have to convince me that the issue is serious. The economy is destroyed, but this is happening already for half a year. The process now speeds up to a complete economic collapse. Nevertheless everything will be done in order to supply primary needs.

How will this be done, when there's no fuel to put in the tanks of the vehicles to get primary needs to people? And when there's no way of paying for some of those primary needs to be imported?

I think your averrage traveler should read as many reports from as many resources as possible and make up his/her own mind. Every person might interpret the same situation differently anyway. Personaly for the time been I do not see shortages or empty streets or anything like that, but it is jest an other post on a forum as some articles are just some articles and you can take it or leave it....

The problem for the tourism industry of course, is that it's all about magic; tourists have paid quite a lot for their week or two ... and they want it to be as perfect as possible (including a relaxed ambiance) - not queuing for cash, or having a credit card refused, or finding a demonstration downtown, or seeing a ferry service cancelled. Or even thinking about the possibility of such things.

Can't blame those people pulling the pin on their Greek holidays, if they can afford to, and can get their outlays back.

Me I don't blame them, different people have different comfort zones and different traveling styles. But I am not sure where this thread is leading, that's all. Original question is how Athens is nowadays, some people replied, some people replied with guesswork what will happen in the future, some people started analysing economics.

I start to find it a bit boring to be honest.

And by the way, I did not see the original poster ever coming back on the thread.

It's certainly not the most boring thread on here by any means ... but I take your point. Perhaps it will spark up again after the referendum result is known - possibly the worst result is 50-50 or something close to that.

Mariah, you seem to be in denial about what has transpired. The banks will run out of cash by the weekend. Imports of food, medicine and fuel into Greece are being reduced. And you yourself posted that one of the Ferry Unions which had scheduled a strike for June 30 only postponed their strike action for a time yet to be announced.

Travelers have a choice about where they will choose to spend their time and money- and they usually will choose a place that offers stability and a hosting people who don't themselves have to worry about whether they have enough cash to get through the day. Not to mention the atmosphere created in a destination where the travelers themselves will be worrying about whether the boat they need to catch will actually show up as they wait for it at the dock; or whether the flight they booked from Athens to Santorini will have fuel.
It's really hard to imagine what dinner conversations among hotel guests are like in Greece these days- far from being the relaxing ones they were only weeks ago, the conversations travelers would prefer.

I do think we are starting to see the long term effect happening now with an interview with a stall holder in the fish markets, in downtown Athens.

She said in recent times the locals are buying less and cheaper kinds of fish, and while tourists and expats are buying the same kind of fish they always have.

It does seem we are seeing the start of a two tiered society here, the local poorer Greeks, and the others?

She also pointed the finger at other stall holders, saying that some of them spend their lives not paying taxes like they should, by paying the trawlers under the table in cash to get cheaper fish, but then when they reach a certain age they claim a pension, and continue to work and not pay the right amount of taxes.

I would say the the finance minister should fix this problem before getting on TV and saying he would rather 'Cut his arm off', than sign to pay the debt to the IMF.