DESTINATION: GREECE

 

Fast Guide
Full Name: Hellenic Republic
Capital City: Athens
Area: 131,940 sq km / 50,942 sq miles
Population: 10,666,000
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2 (Eastern European Time)
Languages: Greek (official)
Religion: 98% Orthodox, 1.3% Muslim, 0.7% other
Currency: Euro (€)
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Country Dialing Code: 30

Athens at a glance
Full Name: Athens
Area: 428 sq km / 165 sq miles
Population: 3,271,100
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2 (Eastern European Time)
Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins

Transportation
In Athens the road network has been developed, especially with the building of the peripheral motorways, like Attiki Odos, which helps to facilitate the fast transportation throughout the entire Attiki Basin. Simultaneously, the country has progressed to large investments in the sector of public transport. The Athens Metro already covers many areas and continues to be developed and extended, the tram, the buses and the trolleys cover the land transportation. Finally with the investment incentives which were given to the owner of tourist and long distance coaches, the overwhelming majority of fleets are vehicles of the latest technology.

Weather conditions
Due to its position, Athens has the ideal weather conditions for the organization of professional meetings, as most of the months of the year summer is evident. The winter is much milder than in other European destinations, whereas the summer is pleasant particularly in the coastal region of Athens. These weather conditions enable the participants to move easily, and to also appreciate and enjoy the monuments and the sights of the region without any problems. Maximum temperatures hover around 30°C (87°F) in September.

Nature
Athens and its region offer a large natural variety the give the opportunity to the delegates to also participate in recreational trips parallel to their professional obligations. One can go swimming in the blue waters that surround Athens, skiing on the snow capped mountains, or even to follow more alternative activities, like rafting, trekking, mountain biking, scuba diving, bird watching and many other activities according the taste...

Culture
The Greeks are a deeply cultural population. Every second of their lives is accompanied by music, theater, painting, poetry and literature. They do not miss an opportunity to sing their joy or sadness, taking with them whomever happens to be around them. Each summer in all parts of the country, the well known feasts take place with music, dance and local dishes.
The works of art which are housed in the museums are famous throughout the world. Even in small temples, one can see hagiographies and stained glass of unique beauty. Unique in the world are the performances at ancient theatres in Athens, as they continue to be materialized at the exact place now for many thousands of years, there, where both ancient tragedy and ancient
comedy was born.

Archaelogical Sites - History
If someone was to say one thing that Greece is famous
for, surely that would be its history. The Acropolis is the
country's most characteristic symbol well known throughout the world. Also in every corner of the city, ancient buildings and monuments reveal a culture that determined all of Europe's History. The country's history is not only evident in the ancient times. Greece being on the border of the European Continent has to offer important monuments from the medieval times, the Byzantine times, the Ottoman Domination and the Venetian domination. It is a place, where history has walked upon it and has left its mark.

Gastronomy
The Greek cuisine is now famous worldwide for its taste and high alimentary value. The term "Greek Cuisine" is translated into healthy diet and has been adopted by many dietary faculties. The dishes are many and vary from region to region. Also, the Greek wines are of the most awarded world wide. Even if one does not have the chance or the time to see anything else of Greece, the experience of a meal with Greek dishes and wine remains unforgettable. Cooking lessons are available while cooperatives sell traditional products which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Eating out is a serious part of Athenian culture, as emphasised by the fresh local produce, the creative takes on traditional dishes like horiatiki salata (country salad) and mousaka (eggplant with minced meat and béchamel sauce), and the proliferation of new restaurants.
The Mediterranean land and sea of Greece have always been generously blessed with an ideal climate which has favoured the variety and delicious tastes of Greek foods. In combination with the gastronomical ingenuity of Greeks, this has nourished generations even in hard times of poverty and foreign occupation.
Traditional recipes entice locals and tourists alike by providing another dimension to a journey to the magical regions of Greece.

Night Time Venues
Athens has enough venues to satisfy most entertainment needs although most clubs don't crank up until after midnight. On offer are Greek disco, tsifteteli (dance tunes), bouzouki (B-grade crooner joints), laika (popular music), rebetika (blues) and eclectic entekna ('artistic' music).
Do you fancy Greek delicacies or exotic dishes? Would you like to enjoy a drink by the sea or in the centre of Athens with a view of the hill of Lycabettus? Do you have a wild desire to sway to the beat of Greek or international music? No matter how you decide to spend
your evening, whatever your taste in entertainment, one thing is certain: Athenian nights are long and cater for everyone who sets off on a long or short night jaunt.
A firm preference of Athenians, are the bars and clubs with rock, pop, jazz, blues and Latin music. For Greek music lovers, the options are limitless. Numerous night clubs on Syngrou Avenue, Poseidonos Avenue and the really 'in' area of Gazi host the stars of Greek music and Athenian night life along with the up-and-coming entertainers.

Places to Shop
There are plenty of temptations for shopaholics, from wonderful handicrafts and exquisite shoes and jewellery, to cheap ancient motif souvenirs and tacky Acropolis lamps. Fashion worshippers, shopaholics, tireless 'walkers' who walk for miles in order to find a pair of shoes that is just right, regular customers at department stores or designer's boutiques, and window shoppers, everyone has a place in the shopping centre of Athens, no matter how deep their pockets.
Shopping is an enjoyable activity, so apart from a walk round the shops or raids on the shop shelves gather your strength with a coffee or a cooling fruit juice at one
of the many small cafes on the streets of the capital.

Billing policy
The integration of Greece in the Euro Zone renders it as easy in the monetary exchanges within Europe. Moreover, the relationship quality - good pricing, makes the country quite competitive in relation to other developing neighboring countries.