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It doesn't seem so many years ago that the only beach salesmen were Greeks, carrying dozens of carpets and similar wares.
When researching my book, I wanted to try and interview some of the many West African and Chinese people who trudge the beaches and squares of Corfu, selling watches, CDs and DVDs, and offering services such as massages based on Chinese medical knowledge.
I wondered how they came here, where they lived, who employed and organised them, how they managed in times of sickness, what they thought of Corfu...
I talked to a number of people, but not in a structured way. It would make an interesting subject for a serious fly-on-the-wall documentary.
From what I hear, many people are happy with the watches they buy, and especially with the effectiveness of the localised massages they receive, often on a beach recliner.
Whether these merchants have visas and legal papers, I have no idea, but many of them offer a valuable service.
But who makes the profits from the selling of illegally copied CDs and DVDs? What degree of human-trafficking and exploitation is involved? Do they stay in Corfu throughout the winter months?
The informal economy which includes street and informal traders makes up 75% on non-agricultural employment in Africa and only slightly less in Latin America and I bet the numbers are increasing across Europe - people largely invisible once they've stopped trading. Where do they eat, sleep, maintain social relationships? Their presence in Corfu and a 1000 other places is a result of firstworld-thirdworld economics and the urbanisation of the remaining agricultural continents
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