Surviving Greece

You will find that Greece is a friendly place, very hospitable to guests, but it is still important to learn about their traditions and customs in order to blend in and respect Greece's heritage. As in any country, there are certain do's and don'ts in Greece. Many times, a foreigner might think some of these customs strange or may disagree with them, but we should all respect a country's ways when we visit it. If you go out to dinner with locals, there is no way you will be allowed to pay your share of the bill and if they ask you to stay over at their house, they will in all likelihood offer you their own bed, in order to make you feel as comfortable as possible. This is known as ‘filotimo’, a Greek word without an exact equivalent in English, meaning something between a sense of honour, dignity and pride and is a highly-praised virtue in Greek society. Below are some more etiquette tips for your trip to Greece.

Athens, a Shopper's Mecca

Athens is one of those cities that has everything. A crossroads between Europe and the Middle East. Athens has long been a centre for craftsmanship; craftsmen jewellers, furriers, leatherworkers and ceramicists. Modern boutiques sit side by side with huge department stores and some of Europe's top establishments now have at least one store in the capital. Most visitors buy honey, olive oil, sponges, ceramics, gold and silver jewellery, shoes (a lesser-known craft, some of the best shoemakers and designers work in Greece), pottery, embroidery and even worry beads. The choice is there, it's up to you to discover the variety on offer. For leather items such as bags, jackets and sandals, you will find good value for money and good quality anywhere in the centre of Athens. Kilims and hand woven fabrics in traditional patterns are also a very authentic choice. However, a classic buy would be miniature copies of statues in plaster or marble that are available in many museums in Greece and you must not leave Greece without taking some great Greek music with you. Downtown Athens is a shoppers paradise. Besides the areas of the Plaka and Monastiraki which are well known to travellers for their large variety of tourist shops, all of central Athens is a shopper's Mecca.

Food in Athens

Greek cuisine is a typical Mediterranean Cuisine. In Athens, as well as throughout Greece, eating out is a way of life. Restaurants are more than places to have a bite before the evening entertainment, very often they are the entertainment. Whether in a local tavern or one of the most elegant restaurants, Greeks take their time over food. Breakfast is light, lunch is eaten in the mid afternoon, and dinner usually doesn't start until 10 p.m. Greek cuisine has developed along with the customs and traditions of the Greek people. It is characteristic of the Greeks to celebrate their joys, to sweeten their sorrows, and to assuage their struggles by eating and drinking in the company of family and friends. Customs also are tied closely to the distribution of special edibles, such as Koufeta (Candy Coated Almonds) at baptisms and weddings, or Koliva (Boiled Wheat) at funerals. Each important feast during the year, such as Christmas, the Annunciation, Easter, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, has its own specialty. Orthodox Greeks, as devout people, eat specific foods on fasting days.

Art in Athens

Athens perhaps has the most long-standing and impressive cultural heritage of any town in Europe. However, Athens is not only recognized through the world for its ancient culture but definitely also for its present day culture. Greek life was dominated by religion and so it is not surprising that the temples of ancient Greece were the biggest and most beautiful. They also had a political purpose as they were often built to celebrate civic power and pride, or offer thanksgiving to the patron deity of a city for success in war. Athens has given the world some of the most popular play writers, poets, philosophers and orators and its long standing cultural tradition is continuing to the present day. Museums keep the old history alive while a vast number of theatres, concert halls, big and small exhibition galleries etc. make new cultural history. In Athens these two often go hand in hand. Greek art is mainly five forms: architecture, sculpture, painting, pottery and jewellery making.

Greece - Culture and Society

The culture of Greece is characterized by great diversity and richness. There are a number of factors that influenced the culture and society of Greece. One of them is that Greece is located at a meeting point of the eastern countries of the world and the western countries, thus the lifestyle of the people is influenced by diverse traditions and practices, which further affects the culture of the land. Greece is known to have a great history. The country had been under the occupation of a number of countries and has also passed through several historical phases. All these have had an impact upon the Culture and Society of Greece. Greek is the native language of the land. Greeks are religious people and there are a number of important traditions that forms an important part of the culture and lifestyle of the Greeks. Greeks are proud of their cultural heritage and their contribution to world civilization. A study found that Greeks' pride in being Greek surpassed the ethnic satisfaction of every other European nation. Plays continue to be staged in the theatres where they were originally performed. Greek literature includes poetry, drama, philosophy, history, as well as travelogues.

Attractions in Athens

Life in Athens takes place on the street. The best way to experience the city is to join in this intoxicating mix that’s somewhere between bedlam and joie de vivre. Get yourself in the mood with an afternoon volta (stroll) along the Ancient Promenade. Circling the heart of the ancient city, the pedestrianized route takes in The Temple of Olympian Zeus, the mighty Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. You’ll also find plenty of modernity here, with open-air art exhibitions, book fairs, buskers and street traders, lending the promenade a festival air. It is the oldest city in Europe, yet still in a state of transition. It’s one of Europe’s safest and liveliest cities – a heady mix of grunge and grace with an undeniable urban soul. Most visitors will leave impressed with its vibrant street life and relaxed lifestyle, where people take time out for endless coffees and evening strolls, dine out until late and enjoy the city’s nightlife, long after the rest of Europe has gone to bed. Athens has improved in its social amenities and infrastructure so much, that it has become one of the most popular tourist spots. Omonoia, Psirri and Gazi, Syntagma are few remarkable Sightseeing in Athens. Still there are many hills, old museums and universities to be visited. After Marathon and Olympics fame, Athens has become the most wanted place to visit.