Greeks defy crisis for Ash Thursday.
- 12 years ago
Eat, drink and be merry.
Five years into recession and Greeks are suffering the effects of fiscal tightening as the government tries to resolve the financial crisis.
Unemployment is at 20 percent and living standards are collapsing.
But this is 'Ash Thursday' and in contrast to a recent decline in custom all the tables at this taverna are booked.
(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, GEORGE KSISTRIS, SAYING:
"The lamb chops help of course. They make us remember that we can enjoy things in life. As we Greeks in general do. It's just that now we are everyone's target. We are the people who have been chosen to be punished. There will be others but right now it's our turn."
Greece faces bankruptcy unless it gets a second bailout of 130 billion euros from the IMF and EU.
But at least for tonight austerity is not on the menu.
Lily Grimes, Reuters
Five years into recession and Greeks are suffering the effects of fiscal tightening as the government tries to resolve the financial crisis.
Unemployment is at 20 percent and living standards are collapsing.
But this is 'Ash Thursday' and in contrast to a recent decline in custom all the tables at this taverna are booked.
(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT, GEORGE KSISTRIS, SAYING:
"The lamb chops help of course. They make us remember that we can enjoy things in life. As we Greeks in general do. It's just that now we are everyone's target. We are the people who have been chosen to be punished. There will be others but right now it's our turn."
Greece faces bankruptcy unless it gets a second bailout of 130 billion euros from the IMF and EU.
But at least for tonight austerity is not on the menu.
Lily Grimes, Reuters