How to Retire Without Money
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE: GREECE (page 3)
THE GREEKS. The Greeks will tell you that everyone in Greece would like to immigrate to the United States, including the king. And they aren't joking. I doubt that there is a family in Greece that doesn't have more than one close relative in the United States. It is a regular tradition with them to go to America, make their fortunes, and possibly even take out citizenship and then to return to their own country in their old age to live out their lives. A fortune to a Greek can be pretty small potatoes since even a Social Security pension is a lot of money in Greece. I knew quite a few women in Rhodes whose husbands had gone to the United States figuring on staying twenty or thirty years and then returning. The wives were patiently sitting out the time. Each month a check would come from America to keep them and the children.With all this it becomes obvious that America and Americans are well known and well liked by the Greeks. A great deal of English is spoken and you have no difficulty in making your wants known. This is one country in which it seems almost impossible to learn even the few words needed for shopping and the conduct of every day life, but it's not too necessary to attempt to learn Greek since so many of the people speak your language.
MONEY. One hundred lepta make one drachma and a drachma is worth almost exactly 31/3. Coins run from 5 lepta to 5 drachma and banknotes go up to 1,000 drachma.
Only a few years ago Greece had one of the weakest currencies in Europe and finally the drachma fell to the point where it took 30,000 to make one dollar. However, Uncle Sam came to the rescue and backed the Greek currency. The Greek government, to simplify things, merely lopped off the last three zeros in 1954 and the money has remained firm ever since. There is little if any advantage in bringing free market money into Greece. You might as well change your dollars at the bank or at your hotel.
WORK PERMISSION. You are not allowed to work in Greece without government permission which is seldom granted if a Greek can do the job. In some areas, such as Rhodes, which is only a few miles from Turkey and consequently a military zone, and near the Turkish frontier you are not even allowed to buy property. However, this is usually accomplished when desired by buying it through a Greek friend and in his name. The officials almost always blink at the practice.
There is little if any difficulty in starting up a business on your own especially if it is the type that will bring dollars or other foreign currency into the country. Greece is anxious for the introduction of foreign capital into her poverty stricken country.
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