"Euros Accepted" signs pop up in New York City —Reuters

The falling dollar has undoubtedly been good for tourism, though the rules of entry overwhelmingly favor white Europeans. But people from all over the world will want to come and marvel at What Once Was. Maybe if enough of them come, there'll be money to fix the potholes, at least in the shopping district. Not as noble perhaps as the joint EU–Greek effort to restore the Parthenon, but we must begin somewhere.

Angela Moore and Bill Berkrot quote from a shopkeeper—

Billy Leroy of Billy's Antiques & Props said the vast numbers of Europeans shopping in the neighborhood got him thinking, "My God, I should take euros in at the store."

Leroy doesn't even bother to exchange them.

"I'm happy if I take in 200 euros, because what I do is keep them," he said. "So when I go back to Paris, I don't have to go through the nightmare of going to an exchange place."

When leaving the country it's always good to have something of value to take with you.

No word yet whether a black market for euros has developed. A step in that direction might go something like this—

SHOPKEEPER (noting a potential customer inspecting a coat): Does Madame like that coat? If I may say—it suits her wonderfully. And it's of the best quality! Made in China, you know.

TOURIST: Mais oui! But it seems a little—how do you say—trop cher!

SHOPKEEPER: Pas de problème, madame. If Madame could pay in euros, I believe we might be able to offer a significant discount.

TOURIST: Ah, monsieur, que vous êtes trop gentil!

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Tags: news and politics recession currency humor