House of travel Spain, Portugal, Greece & Turkey 2017 | Page 28

Experience
Greece
A
Fast Facts
Country Name: Greece
Population: 11 million
Capital: Athens
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: 9 hours behind New Zealand (except
during daylight saving)
Electricity: Current is 230V
Plug is a 2 point round-pin adaptor
Festivals and Events 2017
24
Jan-Feb Carnival Season, Patra
27 Feb “Clean Monday”
late Jun Miaoulia Naval Festival, Hydra
Jun European Music Day, Athens
Jun-Aug Athens & Epidaurus Festival of
Theatre, Music & Dance
15 Aug Assumption Day
28 Oct Ohi Day
dip in azure seas, a sip of pungent ouzo and a trip back in time to oracles
and gods – Greece is the very essence of the alluring Mediterranean world. With
civilizations, heritage and history dating back thousands of years, Greece offers
visitors breath-taking ancient sites such as the magnificent Acropolis in Athens and
iconic Olympia. Also a vibrant modern nation with a dynamic population that loves
to dance and sing – just a few minutes in a Greek taverna can be ample evidence of
that! There are many mainland treasures from the spectacular Meteora monasteries
and mythical Delphi.
Greece is synonymous with islands – from history steeped Crete, awe-inspiring
Santorini and windmill-studded Mykonos and many other gems scattered across
the Mediterranean Sea. Feast on freshly caught fish, grilled lamb stuffed vine leaves
and sweet baklava. Sip coffee in a harbour-side café as the fishing boats come into
port, amble along country roads while families gather their olives and pat donkeys
on their way to village markets with baskets laden with fresh tomatoes. Temple
ruins perched on cliffs high above a sparkling sea, tiny crescents of perfect beach,
a hillside of spring flowers, white washed houses with window frames of turquoise
blue.