 | McLae´s guide to Greece |  |
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Greece Internet country code: International telephone prefix: +  Aristotle Greece has an ancient culture that has had a significant influence on western society. The country has a number of famous archeological sites with contemporary documented histories. It is also the birthplace of the Olympic games. Greece gets fewer tourists than other European countries. For backpackers, it is out of the way from the popular France-Spain-Italy route, and still has a lot of untouched charm. The Acropolis may never be deserted, but there will never be as many tourists as there are at the Eiffel Tower. Ever. It is easy to get off-the-beaten track as most of Greece is off-the-beaten track. It is common to be in areas where all you see is locals, a thing which is hard to come by these days in the travel scene. However, the Greek islands are always teeming with tourists. While the greek islands are definitely something to experience, with beautiful white-washed houses, relaxed lifestyles and spectacular beaches, don't lose sight of mainland Greece which has a lot to offer. Greeks take living leisurely very seriously. They work-to-live, not live-to-work. Don't take perceived laziness or rudeness harshly. They do it to everyone, locals and tourists alike. Rather than fight it, just go along with it and laugh at the situation. It can be very frustrating at times but also appreciate their "enjoy life" attitude. They do take politics and soccer very seriously. History: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC (now the EU) in 1981. Climate: Greece enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. It is hot and dry in the summer, with mostly sunny days with temperatures from 30-40 degrees celsius. There is no need for an umbrella. Becareful, because it gets scorching hot quite often, especially in Athens. Spring is pleasant with minimal rain and comfortable temperature. Winter it gets cooler and wetter, with temperatures dipping to average of 8 with rare chance of snow. Fall is also pleasant. The islands are always slightly cooler than the mainland, due to breezes and the moderating effect of the surrounding sea. Take a light jacket or pull-over for going out at night. The latest weather and climatic information for Greece can be accessed via the Hellenic National Meteorological Service website. August is high season in Greece. This is when all locals get their holiday and take time off work due to the religious holiday on August 15th, Panagias. In Greece they refer to it as their diakopes. The islands get filled with Greeks, with most ferries at over-capacity. Expect headaches. It is also scorching hot and there are higher prices. Athenians leave Athens for their hometown villages and the city "empties-out" so to speak. Traffic is noticeably lighter in the city. Best to travel in Greece in the other spring/summer months. Note also that the highways leaving Athens are congested on Fridays and highways coming into Athens are congested on Sundays. This phenomena continues throughout the summer. |
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