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Inthistwo-partseriesSimonReevetravelstoGreeceoneofthemostbeautifultroubledandextremecountriesinEurope.TravellingfromtheIslandsoftheAegeantotheruggedandmountainousnorthSimongetsbehindthepicture-postcardimagetolearnmoreaboutGreeceandtheGreeks-andwhythecountryhasfacedaseeminglyendlesseconomiccrisis.Alongthewayheencountersanextraordinarycastofcharactersfromrebelmonksandgun-totingprieststodesperatemigrantsandaninjuredbearcub.ThefirstlegofSimonReeve’sjourneyaroundGreecetakeshimfromtheholidayislandsoftheAegeantothecapitalcityofAthens.OffthetinyislandofPserimosSimongoesunderwaterwiththediverswhostillhuntfortheseacreaturewhichmadetheseislandsrich:thenaturalsponge.Hehearshowtheisland’spopulationisstrugglinginthefaceofdecliningstocksandthewidereconomiccrisis.TravellingontoLesvosjustafewmilesfromtheTurkishcoastSimonencountersanotherofthehugechallengesfacingthecountry:themigrantcrisis.TheislandhasbecomeEurope’sfrontlinewiththousandsofrefugeesarrivingdailyfundamentallychangingthelivesoftheislanders.OnGreece’slargestislandCreteSimonheadstotheruggedmountainswhereeveryshepherdisarmedandthelocalpriestisalsoheadofthelocalgunclub.CampingoutunderthestarsSimonlearnshowforCretansmemoriesofGermany’sroleintheSecondWorldWarstillcolourtheirviewoftheGreekdebtcrisis.InAthensSimoninvestigatestheeffectsofthatcrisis.Hehearshowhardlifeisforanimpoverishedcommunitylivinginconvertedshippingcontainersandinthecityheisconfrontedbyangryprotesters-andseesjusthowquicklytheseprotestscandescendintoariot.
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