Greece <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:gr-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Athens</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974<br/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>euro (EUR)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 131,940 sq km <br>''water:'' 1,140 sq km <br>''land:'' 130,800 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>10,645,343 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>Greek 99% (official), English, French</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Time Zone'''</td><td>UTC +2</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Country Calling Code'''</td><td>+30</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Internet TLD'''</td><td>.gr</td></tr> </table> </div>  '''Greece''' is a country in Mediterranean Europe with Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, Lybian Sea, and Mediterranean Sea coasts. Its surrounding countries are Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia|The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east. 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. Image:gr-map.png|frame|Map of Greece ==Regions== *Attica *Central Greece *Epirus *Ionian Islands **Corfu **Kefallinia **Levkas **Zakynthos *Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia **Central Macedonia (Greece)|Central Macedonia ***Chalkidiki ****Agion Oros ****Kassandra ****Major Chalkidiki ****Sithonia ***Imathia ***Kilkis ***Pella ***Pieria ***Thessaloniki **East Macedonia (Greece)|East Macedonia **West Macedonia (Greece)|West Macedonia *North Aegean Islands **Lesvos *Peloponese *Saronic Gulf Islands **Aegina **Angistri **Hydra **Moni **Poros **Spetses *South Aegean Islands **Crete **Cyclades (incl. Santorini) **Dodecanese (incl. Rhodes) *Thrace *Thessaly *West Greece ==Cities== Major cities include: * Athens - the capital of Greece * Patra * Sparta * Thessaloniki ==Other destinations== On Peloponese you'll find ancient Olympia, Epidarus, Mykene, Corinth, Mystra. North of the gulf of Korinth ancient Delphi can be found. In Central Greece you can visit the monasteries of Meteora. ==Understand== ===History=== Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. 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 in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992). ===Climate=== Greece enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. The latest weather and climatic information for Greece can be accessed via the [http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/index_html Hellenic National Meteorological Service website]. ==Get in== As Greece is a member of the European Union, most European and North American nationals do not need a visa. Citizens of the European Union may also enter with a valid identity card. Entering via ferryboat from Italy or by air from countries that are members of the European_Union#Get_around|Schengen Agreement, too, you won't need to show any document of identity under normal circumstances. Prior to Cyprus's accession to the European Union persons carrying a passport with a stamp from the internationally not recognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were denied entry. After Cyprus formally in full became part of the European Union such a denial of entry is according to European Union officials not to be expected any more. ===By plane=== In summer charter flights to most islands arrive weekly from many European cities. Scheduled flights all the year round fly to Athens, Thessaloniki and Crete, with Athens being the main destination. The national airline is Olympic Airlines. ===By train=== The typical train journey from Western Europe involves a train to Venice or Brindisi in Italy, followed by a ferry to Patra. Trains from Sofia and Istanbul arrive in Thessaloniki daily. ===By car=== Driving to Greece from Western Europe usually involves driving to Venice or Brindisi and catching a ferry. Routes via the former Yugoslavia aren't dangerous any more if you keep away from Kosovo, but condition of roads can be worse than you're used to. On the other hand, driving through the Balkans is still a kind of adventure as you have to show your passport quite often which has become unusual in Western and Central Europe. You will also face another culture and another kind of living as for example Serbia and Montenegro's standard of living is still not as high as Western European countries'. ===By bus=== ???? -- ????? ?aµe?? ??sp?a??? ?e?f??e???: Confederation of Motorbus Operators -- is the principal inter-urban bus service of Greece. Tickets may be purchased at their [http://www.ktel.org website], or at bus stations in Greece. If you can't find the bus station, just ask ??? e??a? ? sta?µ?? ????; : Poo EE-nay o stat-MOS KTEL? ===By boat=== Ferries to Igominitsa and Patra leave throughout the year from the Italian ports of Venice, Trieste, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. There are also ferries from Egypt and Cyprus. From Turkey there are ferries from Marmaris to Rhodes and from Kusadasi to Samos. ==Get around== See also Continental Greece in ten days ==Talk== The official language is Greek phrasebook|Greek; English and French are widely spoken. ==Buy== Since 2001, Greece's official currency has been the euro (€). Euro notes and coins were introduced in 2002. ==Eat== Try gyros (?????), tzatziki (t?at????) which is a combination of a kind of yoghurt and then various things mixed in, such as meat or finely chopped vegetables (like cucumbers), and skordaya (s???da???), which is a garlic mashed potato sauce that's usually served cold (but very good, particularly if you like garlic). ==Drink== Greeks principally drink wine (krasi: ??as?), sometimes in the special form of retsina (?ets??a), and water (nero: ?e??). Greece manufactures a rich variety of local wines, including table and fortified varieties. Beer (bira: µp??a) is less popular, but the excellent local varieties like Mythos and Alpha, as well as Western European imports like Heineken and Amstel are readily available; however, North American beers generally are not. Liquor generically is known as ????p?e?µa, from the ancient Greek words for "wine" and "spirit." A speciality is ouzo (????) an anise-based liqueur; another is Metaxa (?eta??), a type of brandy. The quality of Metaxa is rated with stars, and as with hotels and restaurants, "you get what you pay for." Metaxa Ephta (seven stars) is considered superb. Quality scotches, bourbons, gins etc. are usually available in bars and kapheneia, especially in urban areas or places frequented by tourists. The Greek name for your favorite spirit is often close to its native name: ???s?? is whiskey, t??? is gin etc. Coffee (kafes: ?af??) is an important part of Greek culture. Kafeneia (coffee houses) are ubiquitous, found even in the smallest village (where they traditionally served a function similar to that of the village pub in Ireland). Coffee is prepared in the traditional manner with the grounds left in -- but don't dare call this cafe Turk unless you want to start a heated political discussion! It is also made espresso-style, French press (mainly at hotels), and with modern filter technology (the latter is sometimes known as Ga??????: Gallikos -- French -- which can lead to some confusion with the press method. It is best to ask for f??t???: filtrou, which refers unambiguously to filter coffee). ==Sleep== ==Learn== Students from countries constituting the European Union may enter many sites for free. Students from other countries have their entrance fees reduced. So take your International Student Identity Card with you. ==Work== ==Stay safe== *It is strictly forbidden to take photos of military installations or other strategic locations. The Greek military will take violations quite seriously, and the unwary tourist can get into a lot of trouble. ==Stay healthy== ==Respect== ==Contact== ==External links== *[http://www.gnto.gr Greek National Tourism Organization] - the official government tourism site for Greece WikiPedia:Greece fr:Grèce ro:Grecia {{stub}} ---- ''The rest of this article is an Wikitravel:CIA World Factbook 2002 import|import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a '''real''' Wikitravel country article according to our Wikitravel:country article template|country article template. Please Wikitravel:plunge forward|plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.'' ---- ==Geography== ; '''Climate''' : temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers ; '''Terrain''' : mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands ; '''Environment - international agreements''' : ''party to:'' Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands <br>''signed, but not ratified:'' Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol ; '''Geography - note''' : strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands ==Economy== ; '''Economy - overview''' : Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about half of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the Big Four European economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP. The economy has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government tightened policy in the run-up to Greece's entry into the EU's Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 2001. Major challenges remaining include the reduction of unemployment and further restructuring of the economy, including privatizing several state enterprises, undertaking social security reforms, overhauling the tax system, and minimizing bureaucratic inefficiencies. Economic growth is forecast at roughly 4% in 2003. ==Communications== ; '''Telephone system''' : ''general assessment:'' adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service <br>''domestic:'' microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands <br>''international:'' tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) ==Transnational Issues== ; '''Disputes - international''' : Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over its name ; '''Illicit drugs''' : a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime ==External Links== *[http://www.holiday.gr Greece travel guide]A trip to a myth! de:Griechenland First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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