| Written by Paul Thomson | Posted in Blog Updated 04-Feb | Greece is made up of over 1000 islands and islets. However, not all of them are inhabited and only a few dozen of them are destination worthy, though this of course, is up for debate. The top islands in Greece, in our opinion are Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, Sifnos, Hydra andMykonos. Any of these would be a great destination for your next Greece holiday. Crete: Crete is one of most well known and largest of all the Greek islands. It is well known for its gorgeous beaches, mountains and rich history. Santorini: This Island is often referred to as the diamond of all the Greek islands. Individuals planning a Greece holiday should definitely visit Santorini. The Aegean Sea surrounds it on one side and it in itself is site to behold. Its crystal blue waters are unmatched in terms of aesthetic appeal. The nightlight is bustling on this island and is one of its biggest draws. Rhodes: Great beaches, terrific food and archeological remains make Rhodes one of the Greece’s best islands. Because of its close proximity to Turkey, the island has been influenced a great deal by its nearby neighbor. Corfu: Cofu is an eclectic island. It has some Italian influences, a gorgeous coastline and lots of rural area. It’s a great island for those looking to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery during their holiday in Greece. Sifnos: Platos Gialos is one of the islands biggest draws. It is a small village but definitely captures the heart and soul of Greece. All of the signs are in Greek. While on the island, individuals should be sure to visit the local, medieval castle. It is situated right by the sea. Sifnos is tourists friendly and many of the country’s visitors make their way to the island before heading back home. There is plenty open space and a lush landscape. Hydra: Hydra has one of the best harbors in Greece. It is extremely beautiful, postcard-worthy even. This is a popular Greece holiday spot for those in their golden years and has been a favorite amongst that crowd for years. It is a great island for those looking for a nice, quiet, low-key, vacation. It has lots of great pubs and restaurants to dine at. Mykonos: Mykonos has lots of great bronze structures and beautiful backdrops. It is a bit cosmopolitan and thoroughly hip. Today, it is a pretty popular tourist attraction but this wasn’t always the case. If you decide to holiday in Greece, be sure to visit at least some of these gorgeous islands. They are all tourist friendly, picturesque and capture the spirit and essence of Greece. | |
| Written by Paul Thomson | Posted in Culture Updated 03-Feb | If during your travels to Greece, you are hoping to mingle with the fairer sex, it’s a good idea to know how to behave (how to approach them, what to say, and what not to say, etc.). Failure to do so will likely result in more rejection than you'd care to receive. You might also get more then your share of dirty looks. Greek women, are in many ways, like any other woman on the planet. It will be important to be respectful and respectable. Acting in a lewd and unruly manner isn’t recommended. Below, you’ll find a number of our best tips. Be sure to apply them the next time you decide to holiday in Greece. Study, study, study: Learn as much as you can about Greek culture. You don’t have to be a scholar but being able to show that you know at least a bit about the country says that you respect it and what it stands for. A Greece native will have a different culture and perhaps beliefs than you. Knowing a bit about a Greek’s woman culture will give you an opportunity to refute any objections she might have. It will also give you some talking points so the conversation doesn’t stall. Be friendly with her family: Family is extremely important in Greece. If you rub her family the wrong way, it’s likely that you won’t even have a chance to get to know her and for her to get to know you. Greeks love their family and their family member’s opinions are very important to them. You will likely already have one strike against you because you are a foreigner, giving her family a bad impression of you will totally kill your chances. Therefore, do your best to impress he rand them but without coming across as desperate and over-the-top. Hang where the natives do: You’ll come across plenty of Greek girls while clubbing if that’s your thing. However, if its not, you may want to minimize or at least balance your time spent at tourist hotspots and those places where the natives hang out. This will give you a better chance of meeting someone while on your Greece holiday. Avoid being too forward: Showing genuine interest is great. However, avoid coming off as sleazy or perverse. It will turn people off and may even get you in trouble. Have a good time and enjoy yourself and chances are, you’ll attract Greek women to you during your holiday in Greece. | | Written by Paul Thomson | Posted in Clubs Updated 04-Feb | One of the best things about Greece is the nightlife. Though the country is pretty big on social propriety (no alcohol fueled bad behavior), they encourage their guests to have a good time. During the summer months there is lots of partying going on and tons of great clubs to visit. Though settling on the top 10 nightclubs in Greece was difficult, we’ve managed to do it. Below, you’ll find our listing in no particular order. 1. Akrotiri: This nightclub is located in Athens, Greece. It is open all year around (indoors) and outdoors during the months of June through September, everyday from 11 pm to late into the night. It has Miami style décor and caters to glamorous and sophisticated patrons. 2. Balux: This club is also located in Athens, Greece. It has a seaside location and is situated on Asteria’s Beach. It has both a pool and a dance floor. This hotspot is popular amongst tourists. 3. Baraonda: Baraonda is a very opulent club. The atmosphere is super sophisticated. Patrons come dressed to impress. Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, the club is open from 10:30 pm to 2 am. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it stays open from 10:30 am to 4 am. Visitors should grab a bite to eat before heading to Baronda. The club doesn’t serve food. 4. Island: Island is an upscale club located in the East Attica, Greece. It opens at 10 pm and closes at 4 am. This club is great for those that want a real Greek experience. The club’s DJs play plenty of ethnic music. Come hungry but call ahead. It is necessary to RSVP for supper. Along with great food, there are more than 150 Greek wines to choose from. 5. Letom: Letom is located in Athens, Greece. Its doors open at 11 pm and close at 5 am. This converted motel is home to underground club goers. DJs spin post punk, electro and Glitterati records. 6. Venue: Venue is another Athens, Greece nightclub. It is only open on the weekends. They club is open from 11 pm until. This Athenian hotspot was founded by Vassili Tsilchristos, a legendary club owner. Patrons really looking to do it up should arrange for spots in VIP. 7. Villa Mercedes: Villa Mercedes is open everyday of the week. Doors open at 9:30 pm and close at 5am. It is another Vassili Tsilchristos masterpiece. Aside from great music, the club offers open air dining. 9. Candy: Candy is located in Malia right on Beach Road. The music is great. The club has 2 dancing stages and 2 bars. Candy puts on a really terrific lighting show. 10. Apollo: Apollo is also located on the Malia Beach Road. They have a great dance floor and multiple bars. Individuals looking to party far into the night will find Apollo to be ideal. They stay open later than any other club in Malia. | | Written by Paul Thomson | Posted in General Updated 04-Feb | Greece is a beautiful country with lots of charming and picturesque islands. If you are making plans for a Greece holiday would be wise to learn as much as possible about the country as not to upset or offend the locals and to ensure that your stay is as safe and enjoyable as possible. Currently, Greece is experiencing a bit of turmoil and upheaval. There are demonstrations and strikes. This doesn’t mean that the country is off-limits to visitors because it isn’t. Visitors are still welcome. However, it’s a good idea that if you do decide to visit the country that you be aware of their surroundings and steer clear of public protests and demonstrations. Most take place in the larger cities such as Athens. Syntagma Square has been a particular hotspot. If you plan on visiting the outer lying cities and islands during your holiday in Greece, you are less likely to come into contact with the aforementioned. Misbehavior is not tolerated in Greece. Public intoxication and rowdy behavior is not accepted. In fact, it is published pretty harshly. The police will arrest people engaging in it and the courts will impose heavy fines and even hand out prison sentences. Having a good time is encouraged. However, acting in a manner that is offensive and inappropriate is frowned upon. Therefore, you should make every effort to avoid behaving indecently and should distance yourself from people who are, during your Greece holiday. It is a good idea to purchase both medical insurance and a comprehensive travel policy. In the event that you get hurt or your belongings stolen, travel insurance acts as a bit of a safeguard. Though most people associate good times with vacations, bad things, unfortunately, sometimes do occur. When they do, it is always best to be covered. Travel and medical insurance provides such coverage. Tourism is a large industry in Greece. Therefore, the country and its officials are used to handling tourists. The natives, in general, are very hospitable and friendly towards guests. When you travel there, expect to be treated well. However, no country or area is without its underbelly or dangerous places and people. Therefore, it is important to practice good safety habits. Travel in pairs; avoid becoming so intoxicated that you don’t know what you are doing, saying or going. Always stay in well-lit, populated areas. This should go without saying but, I’ll mention it anyway, stay away from drugs and don’t bring any into the country. Even small amounts of drugs can land you in jail. Excessive drinking, though tempting should be avoided. Some travel insurance companies will not cover injuries or damages related to excessive drinking. It’s a good idea to take a close look at your policy to make sure that your behavior doesn’t, in any way, cancel out your benefits and coverage. One more thing, you may want to avoid visiting Greece in August. There are a lot of vacationers on the mainland and islands during this time. Prices for everything from food to accommodations are often higher during this period for the same reason. | | Written by Paul Thomson | Posted in General Updated 04-Feb | Just like every other country in the world, Greece has its national holidays. Each of them hold a special meaning to its citizens and are celebrated in mass or by a segment of the country’s population. Below, you will find a listing of National Greek holidays, along with their meanings. If you schedule your Greece holiday, during a National holiday, be prepared to celebrate! Protochronia (New Year’s Day):This holiday is held in celebration of the first day of the New Year. In Greece, it is also referred to as the feast of St. Basil the Great. Trion Ierarchon (the Three Holy Hierarchs):This holiday is celebrated on January 30th: All students are allowed to stay home from school. It is the held in honor of St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom, the patron saints of education. Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday/Shrove Monday):This holiday begins on the first date of Lent. Eikosti-pempti Martiou (25th of March):This holiday is celebrated in commemoration of the anniversary of the declaration of the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. It is also held in honor of the birth announcement of Christ to the Virgin Mary, known as the Annunciation. Megali Paraskevi (Good Friday):The date of this celebration changes based on the date Good Friday falls on. It is held in celebration of Christ’s death on the cross. Kyriaki tou Pascha (Easter):This celebration is in honor of Christ accension. Aghiou Pnevmatos (Holy Spirit Monday):This celebration is held in honor of Pentecost Monday Ergatiki Protomagia (Labor Day):This celebration is held on May 1st. It is the day of workers. I Kimisis tis Theotokou (Assumption or Dormition of the Holy Virgin):This is a celebration of the Virgin Mary. It takes place on August 15th. To Ochi/Imera tou Ochi (The Ochi Day):This celebration takes place on October 28th and is in honor of the Greek’s refusal of the 1940 Italian ultimatum. It is referred to as the Day of “No.” Polytechneio (Polytechneio):On this holiday, students are allowed to stay home. It is in honor or the anniversary of student protests, held in 1973, against the junta of the colonels. It is celebrated on November 17th. Christougenna (Christmas):Christmas is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is the celebration of Christ and occurs on December 25th. Synaxix Hyperagias (Glorifying Mother of God):The holiday celebrates the Theotokos. It has significance because it occurs after Christmas, on December 26th. | | Written by Paul Thomson | Posted in Culture Updated 04-Feb | Greek culture is rich and varied. Though they aren’t often discussed, there are a variety of unusual and underground, Greek cultures, some which will surprise you. The ones which revolve around vampires and ghosts are amongst the most notable. Below, we will take a look at some of the more noteworthy ones. Be sure to look into them before your holiday to Greece. The island of Santorini is referred to by some as the ‘Island of the Vampires’ and the site where the sunken Atlantis is located. Supposedly, the island is home to the final destinations of many a vampire, at least suspected ones. The people on the island of Santorini are believed to have a special ability to deal with what is referred to as the “undead.” Residents of other Greek islands would bring the remains of those they suspected to be vampires to Santorini to be buried or disposed of. The island of Santorini has been described as eerie. Many of its cliffs were created from volcanic ancient eruptions and some say that when the wind blows just right, a person can hear the whispers of the dead. Whether or not this is true, remains a mystery, but some people swear by it. Even today, vampire events are held on the island, though unofficially. When they are, organizers will pass out flyers and post posters. Sometimes information can be found on websites targeted to tourists. Not only is the vampire culture alive and well in parts of Greece, so is that of the underworld. Persephone, the beautiful goddess captured by Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, is commemorated in several places throughout Greece. The Nekromanteion Oracle of Ephyra is one of the most notable. At one time, offerings were made by residents and visitors to each. Individuals that would like to visit the Nekiromanteion can. Admission is affordable, at only 2 Euro. Other ghosts believed by some to haunt Greece include that of a young girl locals call Anna. She sits in front of the Maroussi Cemetery, crying. Once divers or passer-byers pass her and look back, she has disappeared. Davelis Cave is supposed to be full of ghosts and the remains of the Pan temple. There are some pretty unusual Greek sub-cultures, just as there are in other countries. Cultures built around vampires and ghost hunting are alive and well. If during your Greece holiday, you are interested in either, ask the locals or check out a few related websites online. There are bound to be at least a few. | |
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