Ohi Day - Public Holiday in Greece on 10/28

[pixigrl375]

Hello fellow cruisers!

 

So it turns out our ship will be docking in Santorini on 10/28 which apparently is a public holiday.

 

Does anyone know what happens on a public holiday in Greece? Does everything shut down? Are there special hours? Anyone know who we can contact or has been there during that holiday? Sounds like there might be festivities which would be very cool but want to make sure it's not going to be a nightmare to get around in.

 

Thanks for the help!

[Mands&Ian]

Hello fellow cruisers!

 

So it turns out our ship will be docking in Santorini on 10/28 which apparently is a public holiday.

 

Does anyone know what happens on a public holiday in Greece? Does everything shut down? Are there special hours? Anyone know who we can contact or has been there during that holiday? Sounds like there might be festivities which would be very cool but want to make sure it's not going to be a nightmare to get around in.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Hi there,

 

Ochi Day is a public holiday so some places may be closed. Being a touristy location Santorini may be less impacted than other non-tourist destinations.

 

Our experience, living in Cyprus, is that Ochi Day is quite a somber holiday. I'm not sure how much you've read about it but it's essentially a commemoration of Greece's decision to refuse Mussolini access to the country during WWII. Ochi, "No" in Greek, was the response the government and the people gave to the Italian ultimatum. The outcome was an invasion by Italy, bringing Greece into the war. So, it's a bittersweet occasion with pride that the decision was made, but accepting that it came at a heavy cost.

 

Anyway, shops may be shut. They'll probably be parades and wreaths laid at memorials.

 

Does that help at all?

Mands