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I have a very serious story and warning to share with all travelers who plan on staying at the Pink Palace in Corfu, Greece. The Pink Palace is a very well-known resort-like backpackers' paradise, especially for those into partying hard.
In November 2003, I stayed there for four nights (during the off-peak
season).
On my fourth night, I was sexually harassed by the owner of the Pink Palace, known as Dr. George. At dinnertime, with thirty fellow travelers and staff as my witness, George made physical and verbal sexual advances on me. I took the comments and touching for about 15 minutes before I turned on George and started yelling at him to get away from me.
At that point, he wouldn't leave me alone for about twenty minutes where he proceeded to make two death threats and threatened to have me kicked out of the Pink Palace. Anyone who has stayed there would know that the Pink Palace is in a remote location on a small Greek island, so as one can imagine, I was scared.
Unfortunately, the truth is that George is a powerful man on the island, so he feels as if he can do as he does and get away with it. George also made sexual advances on at least three other female travelers
on that day alone, during which he claimed to have already raped one woman, as well as commenting to one girl that after he had anal intercourse with her, he would cut her open with a knife.
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"...George also harasses male travelers by grabbing their
genitals..."
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Whether or not George's comments or intentions are truthful are negligible. He made me extremely uncomfortable, scared and upset. I had to sleep in my room with two chairs blocking the door out of fear that he was serious about the death threats. George also harasses male travelers by grabbing their genitals.
Someone I met while staying there was even groped in exchange for a candy bar.
My story is absolute truth. I have thirty witnesses who will support my story. I understand that the Pink Palace is a travel destination
for many backpackers, as it was to me. I just wish to make fellow travelers (especially
female travelers) aware of the situation there.
I personally will never go back to the Pink Palace. It is a place with the face of an angel, but deep inside, it is hell. I only feel for all the women who have already had dealings with George and have not come forward out of fear or guilt.
I realized after my situation that during one day in peak season at the Pink Palace, as many as five hundred women have passed a night there, many of whom would have been intoxicated, staying in rooms that George has keys to. There is no doubt in my mind that he has made unwanted sexual advances that have gone too far on at least one female.
I felt helpless at the time, because I was in Greece, not in my home country
of Canada. I did not know my rights, so all I could do was take what George was giving me and leave the establishment as soon as possible.
I do not think yelling at George and creating the scene at dinner affected him at all, but I do know that
it affected my witnesses, many of which left the following day. What I can do, though, is hope that they will warn other travelers, as is my intention through this
article. I have also already contacted the US and Canadian Embassies in Greece to inform them of what happened to me.
Please take what I am saying without humor or doubt. The event at the Pink Palace
was very serious and almost ruined my solo two month European backpacking journey. It is unfair that these events occur, especially when good people only want to get out there and see the world. But
they sometimes do take place and so all I can say is that you should either boycott the Pink Palace or
at least be a more educated and cautious traveler when you go there.
I also implore any other travelers who have encountered sexual
harassment to come forward about it. Thank you for reading, and continue the safe (and fun!) travels.
A fellow traveler,
Juliana
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