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Capital Athens. Language Greek (Ellenika). Most people connected with tourism will speak some English, German, Italian or French. Geography Greece is situated in southeast Europe on the Mediterranean. The mainland consists of the following regions: Central Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly (east/central), Epirus (west), Macedonia (north/northwest) and Thrace (northwest). Euboea, the second largest of the Greek islands, lying to the east of the central region, is also considered to be part of the mainland region. The Peloponnese peninsula is separated from the northern mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth. The northern mainland is dissected by high mountains (such as the Pindus) that extend southwards towards a landscape of fertile plains, pine-forested uplands and craggy, scrub-covered foothills. The islands account for one-fifth of the land area of the country. The majority are thickly clustered in the Aegean between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The Ionian Islands are the exception; they are scattered along the west coast in the Ionian Sea. Time GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Tourist Information Ellinikos Organismos Tourismou (Greek/Hellenic National Tourism Organisation) Odos Amerikis 2b, 105 64 Athens, Greece Head Office: tel: (1) 327 1300/2 or 327 2000. fax: (1) 325 2895 (not for tourist enquiries). Tourist Information: tel: (1) 331 0562 or 331 0565. e-mail: info@gnto.gr or eotda01@mail.otenet.gr website: www.gnto.gr Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Greece by visitors without incurring customs duty by:(a) Residents of European countries with goods bought duty-free outside the EU: 800 cigarettes or 200 cigars or 400 cigarillos or 1kg of tobacco; 10 litres of alcoholic beverage or 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer; there is no limit for perfume; gifts up to a total value of Dr25,000.(b) Residents of countries outside Europe with goods obtained duty-free outside the EU: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco; 1 litre of alcoholic beverage over 22% or 2 litres of alcohol beverages of 22% or less and 2 litres of wine and liquers; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de cologne. Restricted items: It is forbidden to bring in plants with soil. One windsurfboard per person may be imported/exported duty-free, if registered in the passport on arrival. The export of antiquities is prohibited without the express permission of the Archaeological Service in Athens. Those who ignore this will be prosecuted. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are used. Food & Drink Restaurant and taverna food tends to be very simple, rarely involving sauces but with full use of local olive oil and charcoal grills. Dishes like dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), moussaka (eggplant casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine and olive oil), kebabs and avgolemono (chicken broth with rice, eggs, salt and lemon juice) can be found everywhere. Taramosalata (a dip made from fish roe, bread, onion, olice oil and lemon juice) and a variety of seafood dishes, especially squid (kalamari) or octopus, are excellent. Greek menus typically include a selection of meze (appetisers), such as keftedes (hot spicy meatballs) or tzatziki (a dip made from yoghurt, olive oil, garlic, shredded cucumber and dill). Salads are excellent and often made with the local feta cheese, tomato, cucumber and fresh olive oil. Other vegetarian specialities include gigantes (large white beans), kolokithakia (small boiled zucchini with oil and lemon). Olives are cheap and plentiful. Deserts, such as baklavas (filo pastry filled with almonds and topped with honey, vanilla and sugar) or loukoumades (honey-drenched pastry puffs) are sweet and filling. Waiter service is usual. Drink: One of the best-known Greek drinks is retsina wine, made with pine-needle resin. Local spirits include ouzo, an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added and very similar to the French pastis. Local brandy is sharp and fiery. Greek coffee is served thick and strong, and sugared according to taste. |
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