A while back we successfully navigated the process of getting your car registered in Greece – I thought that I had better write a few words on driving in Greece - once experienced never forgotten, so ‘they’ say!
Let me hit you with the bad news first: Greece has the highest accident rate in Europe - what does that tell you? That this is going to be an experience that quite possibly you won't forget in a hurry... On second thoughts, perhaps the use of the word 'hurry'- and indeed 'hit' - aren't altogether the best words to use here - forget I said them...
Tip one from experience: remain calm, while all about you are decidedly not. Greek drivers are notoriously erratic, impulsive drivers. Changing lanes without indicating, tail-gating, hooting, ignoring red lights, travelling too fast on wet, sometimes snowy, narrow, one-lane roads are all par for the course: did I mention that you should remain calm?!
There is also something macho about the Greek male psyche that demands high-speed, reckless driving... You probably didn't know that what you thought was a yellow emergency lane is actually another road lane, just slightly narrower? I jest...but you would be forgiven for thinking so. I must confess that the many little road-side shrines, heaped with flowers, that mark accident spots, do little to calm one's fears.
So...a few tips, especially if you are used to driving on the left hand side of the road:
* Drive on the right hand side of the road!
* Remain calm
* Ignore the ill-tempered hoots from other drivers
* Know your route in advance to alleviate dithering
* Practice the left-across-the-traffic turn in your driveway first – I had difficulty with this!
* Master driving through a circle on the right hand side - this was a concept that personally I never got down pat
* Avoid rush-hour traffic, especially in Athens. Actually anywhere, come to think of it...
* And here is my most important one: test that your hooter works - do not set off on your journey until it does...you may need it. Technically, it's illegal in towns and urban areas except in case of emergencies, but trust me, no one in Greece seems to be aware of this
It reminds me that years ago I once told my partner that there was something seriously wrong with my car. When he pressed me on the subject, I told him that the hooter was not working. A pained look crossed his face: suffice it to say that I would do better driving in Greece than he would...
All this has been in a slightly joking mood but later I will follow up with some more serious stuff: a few of the rules of the road.
Take care – and drive safely!
Best wishes,
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
Thursday 24 February 2011
Thursday 17 February 2011
Coping with those VIPs – your kids!
So…you’ve decided to follow your dreams – or that great job offer – and move to Greece! And if you have children, the good news is that they generally adjust far quicker to a move than most adults.
The younger the child, the easier it is for them to adapt. It is generally acknowledged that children up to the age of seven are able to absorb what goes on around them very easily and language is usually something that they can pick up without too much effort. That is not to say that older children will not be able to cope, merely that it may require more effort on their part.
The essential thing is that you are enthusiastic about the move and that you include them in the preparations. If they think that you as a family are undertaking a huge adventure together, this will go a long way to making the move seem like something to look forward to rather than to dread.
Discuss the move with them and talk about what they can expect to find on arrival. Highlight the advantages of the move and point out that family and friends will be keen to visit them in their new home, where it will be up to them to show them around their new country …
Leaving friends behind is never easy but today, with the Internet, Facebook and emails, it is a whole lot easier. Just make very sure incidentally that when you decide to rent or to buy a property that you have access to the Internet.
A few points that are worth remembering:
- Encourage children to learn about Greece in advance. Perhaps get an atlas and have a look at a map, read them a book about the country or you could perhaps take them to a Greek restaurant
- Take photos of their new home and area if they have not yet seen it yet so that it looks familiar on arrival
- I am a digital online photo album addict. Give your child a cheap digital camera and tell them to make an album of their journey from the UK to their new home…This comes with a warning – it’s addictive!
- Greek lessons before you leave the UK will mean that they will have a good idea as to what is going on once they attend school
- Arrange to visit new schools and meet teachers before the first day of school. When my daughter was young, her new school always appointed a ‘mentor’ for each new child – someone in the class who had been at the school for a while and could show her the ropes. You may suggest this…?
- Provide children of all ages with a notebook that they can write down all their friend’s email addresses and contact details to take with them. You may find that the computer, with all these vital details, gets damaged in the move
- There is nothing as comforting as a pet for younger children. Failing that, a favourite toy at hand at all times!
For older children it may be a little bit more difficult. Apart from just the language, there are the social aspects. Teenagers need backup from their peers and have usually formed a close group of friends from whom they get this. Leaving their friends and changing schools will be challenging – I can vouch for this personally as I did it many times and can still remember the feeling of isolation. BUT – given time - it all settles down and, with your support and over time, they will adjust and be happy.
I hope that has given you a few ideas. Remember, kids really do adjust very quickly – I know that the only problem my Swedish friend now residing in the States has is to make sure his five year old kids remember their mother tongue!
Happy week to you and we’ll chat soon,
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
The younger the child, the easier it is for them to adapt. It is generally acknowledged that children up to the age of seven are able to absorb what goes on around them very easily and language is usually something that they can pick up without too much effort. That is not to say that older children will not be able to cope, merely that it may require more effort on their part.
The essential thing is that you are enthusiastic about the move and that you include them in the preparations. If they think that you as a family are undertaking a huge adventure together, this will go a long way to making the move seem like something to look forward to rather than to dread.
Discuss the move with them and talk about what they can expect to find on arrival. Highlight the advantages of the move and point out that family and friends will be keen to visit them in their new home, where it will be up to them to show them around their new country …
Leaving friends behind is never easy but today, with the Internet, Facebook and emails, it is a whole lot easier. Just make very sure incidentally that when you decide to rent or to buy a property that you have access to the Internet.
A few points that are worth remembering:
- Encourage children to learn about Greece in advance. Perhaps get an atlas and have a look at a map, read them a book about the country or you could perhaps take them to a Greek restaurant
- Take photos of their new home and area if they have not yet seen it yet so that it looks familiar on arrival
- I am a digital online photo album addict. Give your child a cheap digital camera and tell them to make an album of their journey from the UK to their new home…This comes with a warning – it’s addictive!
- Greek lessons before you leave the UK will mean that they will have a good idea as to what is going on once they attend school
- Arrange to visit new schools and meet teachers before the first day of school. When my daughter was young, her new school always appointed a ‘mentor’ for each new child – someone in the class who had been at the school for a while and could show her the ropes. You may suggest this…?
- Provide children of all ages with a notebook that they can write down all their friend’s email addresses and contact details to take with them. You may find that the computer, with all these vital details, gets damaged in the move
- There is nothing as comforting as a pet for younger children. Failing that, a favourite toy at hand at all times!
For older children it may be a little bit more difficult. Apart from just the language, there are the social aspects. Teenagers need backup from their peers and have usually formed a close group of friends from whom they get this. Leaving their friends and changing schools will be challenging – I can vouch for this personally as I did it many times and can still remember the feeling of isolation. BUT – given time - it all settles down and, with your support and over time, they will adjust and be happy.
I hope that has given you a few ideas. Remember, kids really do adjust very quickly – I know that the only problem my Swedish friend now residing in the States has is to make sure his five year old kids remember their mother tongue!
Happy week to you and we’ll chat soon,
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
Wednesday 9 February 2011
Greece and the financial crisis
I don’t think it’s any secret that Greece is at a financial crossroad at the moment, with an urgent need to make dramatic changes all round. And they are doing that. Greece's three creditors, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund - known collectively as ‘The Troika’ – have been tasked with keeping a very close watch on Greece’s finances as they determine the state of the economy prior to releasing each section of the huge loan that was granted to bail Greece out.
The IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Khan said in an interview with Kathimerini, the Greek daily newspaper, that if Greece can maintain the momentum of reform, investors' confidence will grow, and through the gradual return of competitiveness will follow growth. He added that he thought that strengthening tax administration and coming down hard on tax evasion was crucial, both because it will help increase needed revenues but, more than this, it will help enhance a sense of fairness.
There has long been a feeling by the man in the street in Greece that the rich get away with murder in terms of tax evasion and that they are being asked to pay for this. Well, that’s all about to change.
According to Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, the unrecorded or ‘black market’ economy in Greece could be worth an eye-watering 40 per cent of the country's GDP! According to Transparency International this would mean that the projected tax revenues of €54bn (£46bn) for the fiscal year 2010 should be €21bn higher – and that’s a lot of money!
How does all this affect you?
Well, doctors, lawyers and other professional people plus restaurant and hotel owners are coming under fire from the government, but also owners of ‘undeclared’ swimming pools are being investigated, and this may well apply to you.
We really do live in an Internet age don’t we? They have traced these ‘swimming pool offenders’ with the help of Google Earth! For instance a wealthy suburb in Northern Athens revealed 425 villas with pools but only 170 had been legally declare. Do bear this in mind if you have/are buying a property with a pool or you are thinking of building a pool won’t you?
The government is hoping to raise about €500m by offering an amnesty on unpaid taxes going back 10 years and it has decided to put tax declarations online for public scrutiny.
The SDOE, Greece's financial crimes squad, maintains that MPs were among the worst tax –dodgers – this is something that the Greek people have long thought and has caused enormous resentment.
Then too, in a move that bears out what I have long been saying, holiday properties that have been let out without declaring the rental income are also going to be followed up. This means of course that they do not have the EOT license that is essential if you want to rent your property out legally in Greece. Today more than ever this really is imperative, unless you want to be caught with an enormous tax bill plus a huge fine! The SDOE has promised to chase up these people, and that includes ex-pats who live abroad.
All this can only make Greece a better and a fairer place in which to live, and certainly a happier place for the man in the street…You do not want to be inadvertently caught up in this so do check with a good lawyer what your tax obligations are.
On a lighter note, a victim of the credit crunch would seem to be my favourite Greek drink, ouzo. It has seen its market share shrink in recent years, mainly due to cost. VAT hikes and additional alcohol taxes have upped the price and people have less money than they had – I certainly know the feeling! I know it’s an acquired taste, but do give it a try - it’s up to you when you are over in Greece next to save our beloved ouzo!
Have a happy week ahead – I am busy preparing my much-anticipated trip in May – are you planning to visit Greece this summer?
Warm wishes,
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
The IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Khan said in an interview with Kathimerini, the Greek daily newspaper, that if Greece can maintain the momentum of reform, investors' confidence will grow, and through the gradual return of competitiveness will follow growth. He added that he thought that strengthening tax administration and coming down hard on tax evasion was crucial, both because it will help increase needed revenues but, more than this, it will help enhance a sense of fairness.
There has long been a feeling by the man in the street in Greece that the rich get away with murder in terms of tax evasion and that they are being asked to pay for this. Well, that’s all about to change.
According to Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, the unrecorded or ‘black market’ economy in Greece could be worth an eye-watering 40 per cent of the country's GDP! According to Transparency International this would mean that the projected tax revenues of €54bn (£46bn) for the fiscal year 2010 should be €21bn higher – and that’s a lot of money!
How does all this affect you?
Well, doctors, lawyers and other professional people plus restaurant and hotel owners are coming under fire from the government, but also owners of ‘undeclared’ swimming pools are being investigated, and this may well apply to you.
We really do live in an Internet age don’t we? They have traced these ‘swimming pool offenders’ with the help of Google Earth! For instance a wealthy suburb in Northern Athens revealed 425 villas with pools but only 170 had been legally declare. Do bear this in mind if you have/are buying a property with a pool or you are thinking of building a pool won’t you?
The government is hoping to raise about €500m by offering an amnesty on unpaid taxes going back 10 years and it has decided to put tax declarations online for public scrutiny.
The SDOE, Greece's financial crimes squad, maintains that MPs were among the worst tax –dodgers – this is something that the Greek people have long thought and has caused enormous resentment.
Then too, in a move that bears out what I have long been saying, holiday properties that have been let out without declaring the rental income are also going to be followed up. This means of course that they do not have the EOT license that is essential if you want to rent your property out legally in Greece. Today more than ever this really is imperative, unless you want to be caught with an enormous tax bill plus a huge fine! The SDOE has promised to chase up these people, and that includes ex-pats who live abroad.
All this can only make Greece a better and a fairer place in which to live, and certainly a happier place for the man in the street…You do not want to be inadvertently caught up in this so do check with a good lawyer what your tax obligations are.
On a lighter note, a victim of the credit crunch would seem to be my favourite Greek drink, ouzo. It has seen its market share shrink in recent years, mainly due to cost. VAT hikes and additional alcohol taxes have upped the price and people have less money than they had – I certainly know the feeling! I know it’s an acquired taste, but do give it a try - it’s up to you when you are over in Greece next to save our beloved ouzo!
Have a happy week ahead – I am busy preparing my much-anticipated trip in May – are you planning to visit Greece this summer?
Warm wishes,
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
Thursday 3 February 2011
Altered Homes Solution – or not?
After months of discussions, the Greek government finally revealed its plans to introduce a scheme that will allow homeowners to pay a penalty to protect illegally converted parts of their homes from demolition and channel the proceeds toward the creation of more green spaces. You have no doubt heard the horror stories coming out of Spain…?
Environment Minister Tina Birbili presented the details of the program; it means that those parts of a home that were originally planned as balconies, garages or basements but have since been turned into living space (known as “imyipaithroi” or semi-open in Greek) can now be legalised. The homeowner, in return for paying a penalty, will be given documents that officially allow the use of this space in its current state for the next 40 years without threat of demolition or further fines. Note to self: one does wonder what happens in year 41?
It is a reality that over the years the construction industry has taken advantage of loopholes in the law to build homes with much more living space than was actually permitted. This meant that builders increased their profits while buyers paid less in taxes. Most flats took advantage of a few square meters of "semi-open" space and incorporated it into a bedroom, bathroom or living room and basements or lofts in houses have often been utilised as living rooms.
In order to check on this, inspectors and officials from town planning offices will be sent out to check on buildings and impose fines on anyone not declaring their illegally converted areas. The success of this new law will be determined by whether proper inspections are carried out and, if inspectors find illegally altered areas, owners are actually called to book and made to pay fines.
The amount to be paid will be calculated according to the size of the area in question, whether the home complies with zoning regulations, the value of property and whether the house is the owner’s main residence.
There is, however, a serious underlying problem that could cause the government’s plans to backfire. Much like in Spain, many homeowners feel a deep sense of resentment at having to pay fines for properties they bought in what was considered by all to be a totally legal fashion, after town-planning offices, land registries, lawyers and notaries had signed off on the deal. On top of this, the real culprits, namely the developers and builders, are going unpunished. The majority of the properties were illegally built or altered before being sold, and yet not a single developer or builder is facing penalties or legal action.
Who can blame the property owners for being furious?
"The crucial question concerning these regulations is whether citizens will abide by them in the face of a state that is unreliable and has been pushing illegal construction for years," Yiannis Alavanos, head of the Technical Chamber of Greece, wrote in the Kathimerini newspaper. Harsh words indeed.
The law already appears to have hit problems; it seems that Greece’s highest administrative court has already declared the law unconstitutional so it remains to be seen if anything comes of it. In the meantime, just be aware of this ongoing wrangle.
Have a happy week ahead!
Best wishes to you
Carol
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
Environment Minister Tina Birbili presented the details of the program; it means that those parts of a home that were originally planned as balconies, garages or basements but have since been turned into living space (known as “imyipaithroi” or semi-open in Greek) can now be legalised. The homeowner, in return for paying a penalty, will be given documents that officially allow the use of this space in its current state for the next 40 years without threat of demolition or further fines. Note to self: one does wonder what happens in year 41?
It is a reality that over the years the construction industry has taken advantage of loopholes in the law to build homes with much more living space than was actually permitted. This meant that builders increased their profits while buyers paid less in taxes. Most flats took advantage of a few square meters of "semi-open" space and incorporated it into a bedroom, bathroom or living room and basements or lofts in houses have often been utilised as living rooms.
In order to check on this, inspectors and officials from town planning offices will be sent out to check on buildings and impose fines on anyone not declaring their illegally converted areas. The success of this new law will be determined by whether proper inspections are carried out and, if inspectors find illegally altered areas, owners are actually called to book and made to pay fines.
The amount to be paid will be calculated according to the size of the area in question, whether the home complies with zoning regulations, the value of property and whether the house is the owner’s main residence.
There is, however, a serious underlying problem that could cause the government’s plans to backfire. Much like in Spain, many homeowners feel a deep sense of resentment at having to pay fines for properties they bought in what was considered by all to be a totally legal fashion, after town-planning offices, land registries, lawyers and notaries had signed off on the deal. On top of this, the real culprits, namely the developers and builders, are going unpunished. The majority of the properties were illegally built or altered before being sold, and yet not a single developer or builder is facing penalties or legal action.
Who can blame the property owners for being furious?
"The crucial question concerning these regulations is whether citizens will abide by them in the face of a state that is unreliable and has been pushing illegal construction for years," Yiannis Alavanos, head of the Technical Chamber of Greece, wrote in the Kathimerini newspaper. Harsh words indeed.
The law already appears to have hit problems; it seems that Greece’s highest administrative court has already declared the law unconstitutional so it remains to be seen if anything comes of it. In the meantime, just be aware of this ongoing wrangle.
Have a happy week ahead!
Best wishes to you
Carol
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Greecebuyingguide.com
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