Tinos Island Warnings and Dangers

For those who intend to drive on their own around Tinos, be it in a car or with a bike, be warned of some habits people have here:
for example: a car driving on an open road with no visible obstructions is apt to brake apruptly without any blinkers or such set. Why? because he (or she) has seen a neighbour or friend next to the road who he just "has to" have a word with. This is not an uncommon incident. It happened about 4 times in the 2 weeks we were on Tinos. And: these people don't look back if there is another car behind them: so you better keep some distance and be prepared to brake at all times.

Parking is another item. We were told very intensly by Maria (where we rented our car) that parking your car in the harbor area of Tinos is strictly forbidden. No parking at all at all times except on the parking space on the dock. Imagine our surprise when we arrived there and practically every space along the harbor had a car on it - no one inside, but with the emergenca lights blinking. That is the "greek way" of parking: If you just go out for your shoppings - or in a restaurant you can (as long as you are greek) park your car wherever you want - just keep the emergency lights flashing. It is not advised to do so as a tourist. We had one person not only braking apruptly but also putting on the emergency lights to park and waving us on - in front of a really, really dangerous curve. No way he could see if something was coming from the other side, but still he waved us on.

Stop signals / pedestrian walkways: are mostly ignores (see video on website).

Lines on the roads - be it one straight line, a double line or whatever. It does not seem to make a difference. Greeks overtake wherever they want (also have a look at the picture for that).

Walkways for pedestrians: what is that? I haven't seen any on Tinos, with the exception of one side of the harbor road of Tinos town. Also don't expect to have t he way of right as a pedestrian anywhere (that includes crosswalks)

This is not a warning about toilets in general, since I found them very well maintained and clean - even the public ones at the beaches.

It is just to mention (again) that -as everywhere in Greece- the toilet paper is NOT to be flushed down, but you put them in the waste bin next to the toilet. Don't worry about that it may stink - it is cleaned often enough.

There are enough ATMs on Tinos so you won't have problems getting some money from your cards. BUT there is one ATM that has the reputation of "eating" cards - meaning: he won't give them back. It is the one you can see in the picture, it stands on the parking space in Pyrgos.
The inhabitants of Pyrgos know that at will warn you, if you mention it.