[size=75:1n3qm9b2]Sofia echo 19 March 2010

Hard-up Greeks go shopping in southern Bulgaria

While the economic crisis still retains a tight grip over many parts of Europe, and Greece is no exception, recent austerity measures implemented by the Pasok-led government mean that Greeks are now worse hit than most Europeans.

Greeks in the northern part of the country are now opting for cheaper prices where they can find them. And those places happen to be the towns of Sandanski and Petrich in southwestern Bulgaria, according to a Bulgarian National Television (BNT) report on March 19.

With petrol cheaper in Bulgaria, Greeks can stock up by filling their tanks as well as jerrycans. Shoes in Bulgaria go for 30 leva, while similar quality footwear in Greece costs 100 euro.

Bulgarian merchants, who suffered during the blockade imposed by Greek farmers, are content with the recent increase of economic activity in the region, though it is not certain how long this will continue.

BNT's report showed that business transactions were made easier by Greek tourists having picked up on Bulgarian words, while Bulgarians spoke only broken Greek.

"
Everything is cheaper here. Clothes, cotton, spinach, petrol - everything. A coffee in Bulgaria is one euro, in Greece – three euro,"
said a man who introduced himself as Giorgos.

"
Petrol in Greece is more expensive. Down south it's 1.5 euro, here - one. People are coming here;
there is a big crisis in Greece, people have no money and no jobs,"
Kostas said. "
Its very difficult for us"
.

Merchants said that Bulgarian fruit and vegetables were very popular among the Greeks, and also cheaper this side of the border. Petrich is expecting a boom in lamb sales come Easter, BNT said.