Greece, especially in touristic areas, has its fair share of beggars. Misfortuned creatures that are adressing to the kindness of others in order to survive. Of course, it is not always like that. And here are two recent examples of my days in Greece.
Dirty young man approaches people in Monastiraki metro station, asking for the change they receive after they issue their electronic ticket in the station’s ATM. Unfortunately for him, he looks quite healthy and strong to beg. People either ignore him or pissing him off with rough language and gestures. In a last attempt to move the crowds, he yells with dramatic voice : «What a man must do, in order to eat a croissant???»
Old guy supporting himself on a cane, outside the National Garden in the center of Athens. Really miserable looking, barely standing and holding a paper cup in his hand. A passerby approaches him and throws a coin in the cup with a smile of sympathy in his face. The old man calmly removes the coin out of the cup, wipes it, returns it to the passerby and says: «I just stand here. And this was my coffee».
