Not the usual trip to Greece for Windsor restaurateur Nick Pontikis
It's not what Nick Pontikis had in mind when he planned a trip to Greece this summer.
That is, arriving in Athens hours after the Greek people cast ballots in a crucial referendum on a financial bailout that could put them closer to a potential exit — or so-called Grexit — from the European Union.
"It's a very critical time in the history of Greece, more so than people realize," Pontikis, the owner of Thanasi's restaurant on Tecumseh Road, told CBC Radio's Afternoon Drive on Friday.
The Windsor restaurateur was born in Athens, but is a Canadian citizen. He has taken many trips to Greece where his extended family lives.
Pontikis is due to land in Athens on Monday morning, the day after the referendum. As a result, he won't be sticking to his usually itinerary.
"We usually stay in Athens on arrival, for four, five days, see family, visit some of the sites, the Acropolis, the museums and then catch the ferry to the islands where our home is, on the Greek Islands," he said.
"We're not this year — we're flying into Athens on Monday, we're going right to the Port of Piraeus, which is a suburb of Athens, we're staying overnight and at 6 a.m., we're catching the Blue Star ferries to the islands. We want to get the heck out of Athens as soon as possible."
The situation in Greece is chaotic.
Banks have been closed for days and Greek residents are unable to withdraw more than 60 euros a day, or barely $80 in Canadian currency.
In some cases, they are not even able to withdraw that much because bank machines have run out of 20-euro notes.
"My dad said: 'Bring euros, bring lots of euros,'" Pontikis said, noting that he won't be using traveller's cheques as he usually does when in Greece because of the situation.
Pontikis won't be voting in Sunday's referendum. But if he was, he'd be voting yes.
"I would vote yes. I want to stay [in the EU]," he said.
