Do's and Don'ts in Greece?

ToddB · Jun 8, 2015

Hey guys,

Well I'm just short two weeks in side of my big trip to Athens, Santorini and Hydra. And words of advice from members that live there or members that travel frequently?

Todd

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jun 8, 2015

My wife and I have been to Greece twice, the people are lovely, very friendly. Athens can be a bit of a stressor, graffiti everywhere, people riding motorbikes on the narrow sidewalks. I'd schedule a day to see the Acropolis and the archeological museum and then get out of town.

The islands are like no other place, just magical.

On the watching your budget side, if you can eat at the little stands and shops that sell a quick gyro or souvlaki, you will save a ton of money over sitting down at a taverna. Maybe eat a gyro for lunch and save the $$ for a sit down dinner. Most of the hotels have a European style breakfast with amazing Greek yogurt and local Thyme honey that is divine.

Be aware, especially in Athens, that some places will advertise a 5 euro gyro TO GO, not telling you that the sit down price is triple, or more. We got snagged like this near the Acropolis and ended up paying something like 80 euros for a few gyros. I had to get up in the owner's face, very loudly; once I had scared away a few tourists he gave back the difference to get rid of me. (I'm an extremely nice guy but I don't take well to being treated like a chump!) Minor bump on a wonderful trip.

Bon voyage!

Sirius Glass · Jun 8, 2015

I have been to Greece twice and love it.

Drink ouzo!:munch::munch::munch::munch::munch:

cliveh · Jun 8, 2015

The Greek islands have a magical liquid gold light, that can only be experienced if there. You will have a wonderful time.

ToddB · Jun 8, 2015

Thanks for the advice..

BrianShaw · Jun 8, 2015

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
... I had to get up in the owner's face, very loudly; once I had scared away a few tourists he gave back the difference to get rid of me. (I'm an extremely nice guy but I don't take well to being treated like a chump!) Minor bump on a wonderful trip.

Bon voyage!

Oh, so you're the other "ugly American". I did that in London about 10 years ago and they still won't let me return. At least you got your money back; I didn't.

Sirius Glass · Jun 8, 2015

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
Be aware, especially in Athens, that some places will advertise a 5 euro gyro TO GO, not telling you that the sit down price is triple, or more. We got snagged like this near the Acropolis and ended up paying something like 80 euros for a few gyros. I had to get up in the owner's face, very loudly; once I had scared away a few tourists he gave back the difference to get rid of me. (I'm an extremely nice guy but I don't take well to being treated like a chump!) Minor bump on a wonderful trip.

In Europe, also in the US in many places, the TO GO price is less than the sit down price. That is the norm and last month we saw that in Paris and northern France. You were wrong in that case.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jun 9, 2015

BrianShaw said:
Oh, so you're the other "ugly American".

Guilty as charged.

NJH · Jun 9, 2015

Posting only slightly in jest but don't photograph any planes or anything related to the military:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1697862.stm

This was an infamous case back then, seems the concept of plane spotting was a bit alien to the Greeks.

ToddB · Jun 10, 2015

No worries there with plane spotting. I work on a AF base. I have my fill of aircraft.

Todd

benjiboy · Jun 11, 2015

"beware of Greeks bearing gifts"

Europan · Jun 11, 2015

Never mention in Greece that coffee was invented in Turkey. The Greeks are so proud of their kafe elliniko but it’s nothing else than a turkish küçük kahve.

Also never mention that joghurt was invented by the Kurds. The Greeks are so proud of their jogurt elliniko but it’s not far from the kurdish.

Never mention that women outside Greece are nice. Only the Greeks have (!) nice women. And never think loudly about the fact that half the country is owned by the church although they don’t deserve better than being told that again and again. I observe the drama that’s going on now with Greece and the E. U. Who is right? Not one side but Greece has social structures so outdated that it needs to clean up the church crap now. Where has all the money gone from the E. U. To the rich and to the popes, also rich. Katastrofi afto!

benjiboy · Jun 11, 2015

Europan said:
Never mention in Greece that coffee was invented in Turkey. The Greeks are so proud of their kafe elliniko but it’s nothing else than a turkish küçük kahve.

Also never mention that joghurt was invented by the Kurds. The Greeks are so proud of their jogurt elliniko but it’s not far from the kurdish.

Never mention that women outside Greece are nice. Only the Greeks have (!) nice women. And never think loudly about the fact that half the country is owned by the church although they don’t deserve better than being told that again and again. I observe the drama that’s going on now with Greece and the E. U. Who is right? Not one side but Greece has social structures so outdated that it needs to clean up the church crap now. Where has all the money gone from the E. U. To the rich and to the popes, also rich. Katastrofi afto!

Coffee wasn't "invented" it was discovered, and not in Turkey but it originated in Southern Arabia in the area of Yemen and Ethiopia.

RedG · Jun 11, 2015

Europan said:
Never mention in Greece that coffee was invented in Turkey. The Greeks are so proud of their kafe elliniko but it’s nothing else than a turkish küçük kahve.

Also never mention that joghurt was invented by the Kurds. The Greeks are so proud of their jogurt elliniko but it’s not far from the kurdish.

Never mention that women outside Greece are nice. Only the Greeks have (!) nice women. And never think loudly about the fact that half the country is owned by the church although they don’t deserve better than being told that again and again. I observe the drama that’s going on now with Greece and the E. U. Who is right? Not one side but Greece has social structures so outdated that it needs to clean up the church crap now. Where has all the money gone from the E. U. To the rich and to the popes, also rich. Katastrofi afto!

Plain nonsense with a ton of cliché.
Greeks know that the greek coffee is Turkish, they call it greek to distinguish it from others like filter, espresso etc. The word καιμακι , the thing that is created on top of the coffee, is a Turkish word after all.

And I don't understand the mentality of 'never mention in Greece ', will you be beheaded if you say that the yogurt is not Greek? Let's be serious, who cares about these things in Greece? Also, the Greek Jogurt is a product with Protected Designation Of Origin (PDO), sorry Kurds the European Union has a different opinion.

Trust me Greek men admire equally the foreign women if not more, that is why young women from West Europe come to Greece to have a good time.
Now let us stay at the photographic side of things and leave the social economic analysis for later.

MattKing · Jun 11, 2015

I have a friend who has a vague memory of an evening that started with much alcohol in a restaurant in Greece and ended up when he awoke the next morning on a small bridge with a massive hangover.

He could probably offer you a few "Don'ts".

RobC · Jun 11, 2015

don't pay any taxes and you'll fit in nicely.

And if you're wondering why most of the buildings aren't finisned but people are living in them, its because you don't pay taxes on buildings until they're finsished.

BrianShaw · Jun 11, 2015

Don't try to keep up with the Greeks in knocking back Ouzo. Know your limits and back out gracefully... or as gracefully as possible.

RobC · Jun 11, 2015

don't mess with their women.

Vaughn · Jun 11, 2015

RobC said:
don't mess with their women.

But don't be surprised if they mess with yours...at least verbally in the streets.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 11, 2015

You'll love Hydra. No cars there. The Greeks are very gracious people. Haven't been there in 8 years. My wife are leaving for Greece Sunday. We're flying into Istanbul first. One warning. Don't drink too much raki. Retsina taste better mixed with coke. Covers up that pine pitch flavor.

Sirius Glass · Jun 11, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
You'll love Hydra. No cars there. The Greeks are very gracious people. Haven't been there in 8 years. My wife are leaving for Greece Sunday. We're flying into Istanbul first. One warning. Don't drink too much raki. Retsina taste better mixed with coke. Covers up that pine pitch flavor.

No, retsina is a developed taste and it is worth developing the taste to drink it strain. For thousands of years the Greeks have been drinking retsina for good reasons. The Greek civilization and culture brought us ouzo, retsina, democracy, feta and moussaka.

cliveh · Jun 11, 2015

Retsina is the most revolting drink I have ever tasted. Don't go near it.

Sirius Glass · Jun 11, 2015

cliveh said:
Retsina is the most revolting drink I have ever tasted. Don't go near it.

Sez the man that does not use a Hasselblad!

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 11, 2015

It's definitely unique

cliveh said:
Retsina is the most revolting drink I have ever tasted. Don't go near it.

You mean you don't like notes of pine tar in your wine? But Greek food is marvelous. One more thing. If you're an American and want your regular cup of coffee. Order "Filtered" coffee. If not, they'll throw in the grinds for free. I'm too whimpy for Greek coffee.

Ian Grant · Jun 11, 2015

I go to Greece quite a frequently, some of my wife's family are Greek and she has Greek roots. Just remember they are European and it's not an American culture, we just have our differences.

Personally I love going to Greece the people are so warm open & friendly, it's a relaxed way of life, remember they do take a Siesta in the afternoon heat even in some tourist spots.

It's possible I'll be in Greece in just over a week Island hopping, I'll be next to the Aegean anyway

Ian

Do's and Don'ts in Greece?

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