Guide to Greece & the Greek Islands

Maps of Greece  & the Greek Islands - Facts at a Glance - Environment History Economy - Culture - Events - Facts for the Traveler - Money & Costs - When to Go - The Greek Islands & Major Attractions - Off the Beaten Track - Activities  Getting There & Away - Getting Around - Recommended Reading - Detailed information about the mainland - Detailed information about the islands 

International Ferry Schedules to & from Greece   

Greek Island Hopping : Domestic Ferry Schedules

Economic Profile

GDP: US$137.4 billion
GDP per head: US$13,000
Annual growth: 3.7%
Inflation: 6%
Major products/industries: tourism, shipping, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining, petroleum
Major trading partners: Germany, Italy, France, UK, USA

Culture

The arts have been integral to Greek life since ancient times. In summer, Greek dramas are staged in the ancient theatres where they were originally performed. Greek literature's ancient heritage spans poetry, drama, philosophical and historical treatises, and travelogues. Western civilisation's mania for logic and 'ideas' can be traced directly back to the musings of ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, and the west's sciences, arts and politics are also deeply indebted to classical Greece. These days, the novelist Nikos Kazantzakis is the most widely read Greek writer, and there is a vibrant poetic tradition in modern Greece which includes the Nobel laureates George Seferis and Odysseus Elytis. A thriving visual-arts scene exists, and traditional folk crafts such as embroidery, weaving and tapestry continue. Rembetika music, with its themes of poverty and suffering, was banned under the junta, but is becoming increasingly popular among young people. Greece's most acclaimed film director is Theodoros Angelopoulos, whose films include The Beekeeper and Travelling Players.

The Greek language is probably the oldest in Europe, with a 4000-year oral tradition and a 3000-year written tradition. Today, Greek constitutes a large part of the vocabulary of any Indo-European language, and much of the lexicon of any scientific repertoire. Modern Greek is a southern dialect adopted as a standardised version of the language and differs substantially from Katharevousa, the artificial language loosely based on Ancient Greek that was instated by various right-wing puritanical regimes this century. Katharevousa is still evident on street signs and can cause endless confusion for the tourist.

About 98% of Greeks are Greek Orthodox, and the rest of the population is split between Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Religion is integral to life in Greece and the Greek year is centred around the festivals of the church calendar.

Much of Greece's culinary heritage can be sourced to the 400 years of Turkish rule, particularly appetisers such as tzatziki (cucumber and yoghurt dip) and octopus pickled in lemon juice and olive oil. Cheap snacks such as souvlaki (skewered, grilled meat in pita bread) and spanikopita (spinach and cheese pie) are easy to find. Popular main dishes include pastitsio (macaroni baked with minced meat and béchamel sauce), stuffed tomatoes and freshly grilled seafood. The mainstay of the Greek diet is the ubiquitous horiatiki salata (country salad), consisting of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese and olives. Greek yoghurt, more like sour cream than the thin sharp-tasting version available in most countries, is delicious and sold everywhere. The old joke about the Greek woman who used to shout at her husband 'Come and eat your lunch before it gets hot' is based on truth, for Greek food is invariably served lukewarm.

Events

The Greek year is a succession of festivals and events, some of which are religious, some cultural, others an excuse for a good knees-up. Gynaikratia on 8 January is a day of role reversal in villages in northern Greece. Women spend the day in kafeneia (cafés) and other social centres where men usually congregate, while the men stay at home to do housework. The Greek carnival season runs through February-March over the three weeks before the beginning of Lent, and features fancy dress, feasting, traditional dancing and general merrymaking. Easter is the most significant festival in Greece, with candle-lit processions, feasting and fireworks displays. Emphasis is placed on the Resurrection rather than on the Crucifixion, so it is a joyous occasion. There are numerous summer festivals across the country, the most famous being the Athens Festival (June to September), which hosts drama and music performances in ancient theatres. Summer is also the time for Dionysian drunken revelries at wine festivals, where for a nominal admission charge, you can drink as much as you like. The biggest ones are held at Rethymno and Alexandroupolis.

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