We had a good day visiting this port city as it is one of the most important and busy port in Greece.
Port Piraeus, with a population of around 170,000 preople, is the chief sea port of Athens, the largest port in Greece, as well as one of the largest sea port in Europe. It plays a crucial role in Greece's economy and trade, serving as a hub for international shipping and a key transportation link for the country. The port's significance is further highlighted by its capacity to handle millions of passengers and cargo annually, making it a vital asset for Greece's maritime and industrial sectors.
My husband was very interested in visiting this port as it has some ties to Asia. During the Greek debt crisis that began in 2009, Port Piraues struggled with a dire need for funds to remain operational.
International creditors pressured Greece to privatize the port as a condition for bailout funding. COSCO, a Chinese state-owned shipping giant, was the only bidder to submit an offer, as other Western companies were afraid of Greece's financial instabiliIty. Therefore, China played a pivotal role in Port Piraues' rescue and subsequent growth. It was refreshing for us to learn about something positive done by China as most of what we hear and see in the Western media about China has always been negative.
The fun part for me while visiting Port Piraeus was visiting the square right across from the opera house where a few teenagers were hanging out, listening to live music being played in the square. I tipped the band and asked the musicians to play a song which people would dance to. The band did and some teenagers started to dance; I asked one of them to teach me the Greek dance and joined in the dancing too. It was great interacting with some local teenagers and learning the Greek dance!
A very worthwhile visit for us to have visited this port city in Greece!
RT, Port Piraeus, Greece
042026
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