Had a great first time visit to the beautiful island of Symi site seeing and visiting the Holy Monastery of the Taxiarch Michael Panormitis, only to end the day on an ultimate low when wanting to get some ice cream after spending the day in the sun.
As first time visitors, when asked by the server if we would like our slushies take away, we responded with a "yes" as back home it is standard that we are served slushies in plastic take away cups for convenience.
Other members of our group then went on to look at the ice cream, and again as a first time visitor, simply pointed to the size of ice cream cup they wanted as displayed directly in front of them on top of the the ice cream fridge - this time there was no mention of whether they wanted take away. This again, was completely normal to us, as back home, when purchasing I've cream, you are offered a display of cup sizes as well as cones, and you simply select the flavours and sizes you wish.
We then went to take a seat in the seating area of the shop and were, in a very rude tone, told by who we assume to be the owner that we had told the server we wanted take away and did not plan on "dining in", and that we were required to pay a different price for the same ice cream we were to get take away, if we wanted to sit at a table and eat it.
Likewise, that we didn't inform them that we wanted our slushies "dine in", and that we would also have to pay more if we wished to enjoy our icy drinks at a table.
Upon mentioning to the owner that the server did not ask us if we wanted dine in or take away when ordering our ice cream and simply served us the ice cream flavours and sizes that we asked for, as it is done back home, we were rudely told that we had been untruthful and had allegedly told the server that we wanted our ice cream take away - when really, there was no mention on the servers part or our part, of whether we were dining in or getting take away.
We were then told that we had stated we wanted our slushies take away, which frankly we did, however were not asked if we wanted to dine in instead, and again were told that we had to pay a different price if we were to dine in, as stated on the non-existent sign on the slushy machines.
When mentioning to who we assume to be the owner that we were not asked whether we wanted our ice cream and drinks take away, he responsed with complete rudeness and arrogance, and became extremely defensive.
As non locals, we were very much unaware of the difference in pricing for dining in or getting take away, as we have never experienced it in any other country, or on any other island in Greece.
With what could have been viewed as a simple misunderstanding that could have been resolved with simply and kindly informing us of the difference in pricing if we wished to enjoy our ice cream and slushies that we purchased from THE SAME SHOP, at one of their many tables, and, allowing us to pay the extra amount that we owed, turned into an event of complete utter rudeness and arrogance.
Not to mention the embarrassment felt when being watched by on lookers near and sitting in the shop, as the event was occurring before their very eyes.
Nevertheless, as human beings, we of course paid the additional amount owed (an additional 12 euros which included us purchasing a "dine in" frappe), for us sitting at a table to enjoy the ice cream purchased from the same shop.
Despite being a popular ice cream shop on the island, my family and I will not be back, and definitely will not be recommending this place to others.
It's a shame that such a magnificent day can be ruined in a split second over something like this - we were definitely not in the mood to enjoy some ice cream after...
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