Greek Financial Crisis Leaves Newlyweds Broke and Stranded in New York City

The dream honeymoon of two Greek newlyweds ended in a nightmare as the two were stranded, penniless in New York City.

Valasia Limnioti and Konstantinos Patronis were in the city on the third week of their honeymoon, when their Greek-bank issued debit and credit cards were declined. Back home, Greek banks are closed as the country faces a financial crisis.

In Greece, people usually pay with cash because it’s generally preferred by businesses. But, the couple was told they should carry cards in the United States. So, two Greek banks issued them a Visa debit card and a credit card.

Honeymoon is over for Greek couple who went penniless in NYC: Newlyweds Valasia Limnioti and Konstantinos Patr… http://t.co/YpEUTVhcBN

— Supra1BqTeam (@supra1Bqteam) July 2, 2015

In the midst of the Greek economic crisis, the newlyweds found themselves in New York City after spending time in Los Angeles and even taking a Caribbean cruise – all part of an adventure they had saved a whole year for.

"Everything was all right — then 'boom!' in New York," Limnioti said.

They were staying at a midtown hotel when their cards bounced and they were required to pay a surcharge, which they paid with dwindling cash funds.

"We couldn't withdraw any money — zero," Limnioti said. "We were hungry, and I cried for two days. I felt homeless in New York."

The couple spent their last dollars at a McDonalds.

On Tuesday, they reached out to the New York-based Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which contacted two churches in Queens' Astoria neighborhood.

The St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox church and the St. Irene Chrysovalantou church provided them with $350 taken from the church bank accounts. An undisclosed amount also came from a 

New York-based Greek journalist who is native to Valos, Greece.

The couple used the funds to fly back home and they plan to pay back their supporters for the money even though Rev. Vasilios Louros of St. Demetrios insists it was a gift.   

This Sunday, Greeks are expected to vote on a referendum on whether to tackle the economic crisis by restricting spending, increasing taxes, or further negotiating with European creditors.

Before flying back home, Limnioti said to NBC she was told by relatives that other Greeks were left broke in the U.S. including some in hospitals where they can’t pay medical bills.

She said she was speaking out "because we Greeks are a proud people, and I want the world to know that we are not in this situation because we're lazy or did something wrong."