Carree is also looking forward to spending a very Greek New Year's Eve at Pantelis' - "We eagerly anticipate the New Years Eve party at the taverna..long tables filled with mezes, loud music and dancing..and at midnight the entire island kisses each other, Not like in the states where "you kiss the one you're with..no, here you kiss EVERYONE!!"..The cake is brought out and cut..last year the coin rolled to the floor and it was decided that the entire island would have good luck."
Given that 2010 was a difficult year for Greece in many ways due to the Greek financial crisis, I asked Carree if she thought that prediction of "good luck" had manifested. She says "I think for the islanders it was not as bad a tourist year as was feared. The tavernas and gift shops reported that they felt the economic downturn..more people were skipping meals out in favor of grocery store gleanings...cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch. Antiparos attracts people who want to relax (versus the party hearty crowd) and the hotels were seeing some cancellations of regulars but were able to still make an income."
