Mention the word Greece to anyone and they immediately conjur up thoughts of relaxation
and historical mythology.
It's true Greece is a very relaxed place to visit and live and also has more historical
artifacts than any other European country with its civilisation dating back some
3,400 years - maybe that's why to them every thing is "tomorrow tomorrow".
The capital city, Athens, became cultural capital of the Mediterranean during 5th
Century BC and some of the finest works related to the fields of sculpture, art,
literature, and architecture came out of the city and established their supremacy
in the entire region.
The modern Greece is no different than modern Europe, except for its splendid historical
glory that reflects in the carefully preserved places of significance. The entire
country is dotted by Greece’s rich historical remnants. Some of the best-known
ones include Delphi’s Temple of Apollo, Athens’ Parthenon, and the ruins
on Crete of the Minóan city of Knossós.
The placid blue waters of Aegean play host to over 1,400 Greek islands having a
unique story of their own. The largest island in this cluster in Crete. Where the
clam and picturesque island of Skópelos displays its unmatched beauty, at the same
time, there’re Mykonos and Páros, infamous for their hedonistic parties where
the worship of Dionysus (God of Revelry) is still observed with all the fanfare
including house music and beats of garage.
Better know as the country to host the first modern Olympic Games (Athens) in 1896,
the city of Athens was also awarded and successfully hosted the Games in 2004.
Till 1830, Greece was under the rule of Turkish Ottoman Empire. However, the baggage
of past still haunts the relationship between the two neighbours. The major dispute
between the two relates to the settlement of Northern Cyprus dispute. However, the
volatile situation is now under control with Greece-controlled Cyprus region getting
EU membership in 2004, and Greece lending support to Turkish application for EU
membership.
Area
131,957 sq. km. (50,949 sq. miles)
Location
Southeast Europe
Population
11.1 million (as per estimates of 2005) and Population Density of 84.1 per sq. km
Capital City
Athens with a total population of 750,000 (as per estimates of 2004); Greater Athens
with a population of 3.3 million (as per estimates of 2004).
Language
Greek (Ellenika) is the official and most popular language of Greece. People in
the tourist regions and younger generation also understand and can speak some English,
Italian, German, and French.
Electricity
AC 220 volts, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are commonly used.
Currency
Euro (EUR, symbol €). 1€ = 100 cents.
Notes prevalent = €20, 50, 100, 200, and 500
Coins prevalent = €1 and 2; Cents 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50.
Currency Exchange
Currency Exchange facility is available at banks, savings banks, and bureaux de
change. For more details and exchange rates, travellers are advised to consult their
banks.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Credit/Debit/ATM Cards prevalent = MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club,
and other major cards. Not all petrol stations in Greece accept credit cards. ATMs
are also conveniently situated.
Traveller's Cheques
Travellers Cheques can be easily exchanged from banks and also accepted widely in
Greece. The usual commission charged by Greek banks is 2% with a minimum of €0.15
and a maximum of €13.21. The travellers are advised to carry travellers’
cheques in major currencies, like US Dollars, or Pounds Sterling, in order to avoid
additional exchange rate charges.
Banking Hours
Banks in Greece function from Monday to Thursday from 0800-1430, and Friday from
0800-1400. Banks in the larger islands have different working hours. Full details
are available with The Greek National Tourism Organisation Bureau in Athens.