Greece is forced to close tourist destinations: 'An extreme heat'

 

Greece 

 

Kerberos seizes Greece - authorities lightning rods Acropolis 

 

Nelly Kronstrand,  

 

Nellie Håkansson  

 

Updated 21:14 | Published 20:57 

 

News 

 

The extreme heat Kerberos holds Greece in an iron grip.  

 

With temperatures reaching 40 degrees, Greeks are being urged to escape the sun in the shade, while the authorities are shutting down popular tourist attractions.  

 

- I have been in Athens all day and it has been scorching hot, says Fotini Ikonomidou, 47.  

 

The heat wave has paralyzed Greece. 

 

During Friday, the authorities chose to close several of their own offices and several of the country's archaeological museums. Including the country's main tourist attraction, the Acropolis in Athens. 

 

On location in the sweaty capital is Swedish Fotini Ikonomidou. The 47-year-old lawyer has lived in Greece since the 1990s and describes the heat of recent days as unusual. 

 

- This is extremely hot. This summer is hotter than previous years. 

 

Fotini Ikonomidou. Photo: Magnus Aronson 

 

Fan, sunscreen and water 

 

Fotini Ikonomidou lives in the southern suburbs of Athens with his family. There, they leave the air conditioning running at maximum volume around the clock. 

 

- Then I walk around with a fan everywhere. I dress in smart clothes and I drink a lot of water and apply sunscreen, she says.  

 

During Friday, Fotini Ikonomidou went into the central parts of Athens. Then she noticed that the streets were empty of people. 

 

- I understand that people stay indoors. Sometimes there was a gust of wind, but a gust of wind in 40 degree heat is not particularly cooling, she says and continues: 

 

- The absolute worst is the asphalt that is heated up. It's like it rises up and embraces you. You absolutely can't go barefoot in this weather, you'll burn your feet.  

 

Acropolis. Acropolis. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB  

 

Tips the tourists  

 

Ahead of the weekend, the authorities have also banned access to nature reserves and forests around the country in order to reduce the risk of forest fires.  

 

Special air-conditioned areas have also been opened in public buildings to help people trying to escape the heat. 

 

- I heard that some tourist fainted outside the Acropolis the other day. You really have to be careful in this weather, says Fotini Ikonomidou.  

 

- We who live here in Greece are more used to it than, for example, the Swedes who travel here. So I recommend sunscreen, plenty of water, good clothes and that you don't sit on the beach and drink beer in the scorching sun. Then it can end badly. 

 

Bathing visitors at a beach in Alimos, near Athens, during Friday. Photo: Petros Giannakou