Visiting Greece

My husband, Ray, and I took a tour of Greece and the Greek Islands, June 13-27, 2007.

Greece comes alive between 9 p.m. and midnight. This is when the cities grow festive as families socialize, children play and restaurants get crowded with evening diners. If you don’t adhere to the local rhythm, you will find “ghost towns” in the afternoon and miss the essence of the country. Be sure the itinerary you pick allows you to be in port until at least 1 a.m.

We found the Greek people to be warm and friendly. Anticipate friendly smiles and interactions everywhere.

For a June visit, clothing to take should include a blend of dressy casual capris, slacks, shorts and sundresses. I found no need for dressy dress.

Monasteries require long pants for men and skirts for women; they do provide wraparound skirts. Churches request that you respect their place of worship and not wear shorts inside.

Archaeological sites, such as Delphi and the Acropolis, have very slippery marble paths. Wear shoes with good tread.

Water on mainland Greece is safe to drink. On the islands we were encouraged to drink bottled water.

The food seemed expensive, especially with the weak dollar. Budget accordingly. In lieu of formal dinners, we enjoyed pizza and lemon sorbet, not to mention Boss ice cream bars from kiosks. Also, gyros to go were far more economical than when served in cafés.

Guidebooks say that negotiating is not accepted in Greece; however, on the mainland we discovered that cash payments in euros usually were 20% less, with the amount rounded down to the next “easy” number from the listed price.

Four-wheel bikes, rented for €20 a day including insurance and helmets, provide a fun way to explore the islands, such as Paros and Naxos. Road signage was fairly well marked, and drivers did share the road.

Santorini and Mykonos are pretty but very touristy. Naxos, Paros and Tinos provide more local flavor. Delos is uninhabited but houses an incredible, 5,000-year-old ruin. Ferries run to all these islands from Athens.

Kiosks in the airport did not take dollars, so, when departing, save euros to buy water or snacks for after you clear the final security check or be prepared to do without.

Enjoy the islands with whomever you opt to travel!

WANDA BAHDE

Summerfield, FL