Inthistwo-partseriesSimonReevetravelstoGreeceoneofthemostbeautifultroubledandextremecountriesinEurope.TravellingfromtheIslandsoftheAegeantotheruggedandmountainousnorthSimongetsbehindthepicture-postcardimagetolearnmoreaboutGreeceandtheGreeks-andwhythecountryhasfacedaseeminglyendlesseconomiccrisis.Alongthewayheencountersanextraordinarycastofcharactersfromrebelmonksandgun-totingprieststodesperatemigrantsandaninjuredbearcub.ThefirstlegofSimonReeve’sjourneyaroundGreecetakeshimfromtheholidayislandsoftheAegeantothecapitalcityofAthens.OffthetinyislandofPserimosSimongoesunderwaterwiththediverswhostillhuntfortheseacreaturewhichmadetheseislandsrich:thenaturalsponge.Hehearshowtheisland’spopulationisstrugglinginthefaceofdecliningstocksandthewidereconomiccrisis.TravellingontoLesvosjustafewmilesfromtheTurkishcoastSimonencountersanotherofthehugechallengesfacingthecountry:themigrantcrisis.TheislandhasbecomeEurope’sfrontlinewiththousandsofrefugeesarrivingdailyfundamentallychangingthelivesoftheislanders.OnGreece’slargestislandCreteSimonheadstotheruggedmountainswhereeveryshepherdisarmedandthelocalpriestisalsoheadofthelocalgunclub.CampingoutunderthestarsSimonlearnshowforCretansmemoriesofGermany’sroleintheSecondWorldWarstillcolourtheirviewoftheGreekdebtcrisis.InAthensSimoninvestigatestheeffectsofthatcrisis.Hehearshowhardlifeisforanimpoverishedcommunitylivinginconvertedshippingcontainersandinthecityheisconfrontedbyangryprotesters-andseesjusthowquicklytheseprotestscandescendintoariot.