Guide & Facts for Greece

Greece

Full Country Name: The Hellenic Republic
Area: 131,990 sq km
Population: 10.94 million (2001 census estimate)
Capital City: Athens (population approximately 3.7 million)
People: 98% Greek with Muslim minority comprising Turkic people, Pomaks and Muslim Roma. NB: The Greek government states there are no other ethnic minorities in Greece.
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Currency: euro (EUR)

History

The city states of classical Greece bequeathed to Europe concepts of political democracy and a high literary culture which remained enormously influential even after their subjugation by Rome in 146 BC. When the Roman Empire was divided, in 395 AD, the Greek lands became part of the Empire of the East whose capital, Constantinople, was the greatest and most sophisticated city of medieval Europe.

During the medieval periods, relations between the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe were soured by religious dissent between the Latin and Orthodox Churches which culminated in the Great Schism of 1054, and by the treacherous sack and occupation of Constantinople in 1204 by Franks and Venetians during the Fourth Crusade. European states did little to help the Byzantine Emperors defend their territories against ever increasing encroachment by the Turks, who finally captured Constantinople in 1453.

Modern Greece came into being after a protracted struggle against the Ottoman Empire. Greek freedom fighters first proclaimed Greek independence in 1822, but the Ottoman government resisted this vigorously until after their defeat at the Battle of Navarino in 1827. In 1829 the Great Powers established a Greek Kingdom which was finally recognised as an independent state in 1830. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, as a result of increasing Ottoman weakness, Greece succeeded in greatly extending its territory.

During the First World War, Greece was at first neutral but joined forces with the Allies against the Axis Powers in 1917. The Allied negotiation of a post war peace settlement with the defeated Ottoman Government offered Greece an opportunity to claim more territory. But this and other Allied plans for the dismemberment of Anatolia aroused fierce opposition among Turkish nationalists, and they rejected the 1920 Peace Treaty of Sevres. Greece had been given Allied permission to occupy Smyrna (modern Izmir) in May 1919.

In 1922 the Greek army was defeated, Smyrna destroyed and large numbers of Asia Minor Greeks expelled from Turkey. In Greece itself, there was an army coup. After ten years of republicanism, the monarchy was restored in 1935, but the King’s acceptance in 1936 of a fascist–type dictatorship under General Metaxas resulted in a damaging split between monarchists and supporters of parliamentary democracy.

The Italians invaded Greece in October 1940 but met valiant resistance and were thrown back into Albania. The Germans followed, overrunning Greece in April 1941 and forcing the evacuation of British defence forces in Greece. From 1942, with British support and participation, rival monarchist and communist groups maintained a guerrilla war against the Germans until the liberation of Athens in October 1944. Full-scale civil war then broke out in December 1944 lasting until October 1949 when the Communist forces were defeated

In 1947 the USA had pledged itself under the Truman doctrine to support Greek economic reconstruction, and to prevent Greece from passing under the control of the Soviet Union. Greece joined NATO in 1952. From July 1965 there was a period of unstable governments, and culminating in April 1967 in a military coup. In December 1967 King Constantine was forced to leave Greece.

Civilian government was not restored until July 1974. The former Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis returned from exile to form a Government of National Unity and, in a referendum of December 1974, the Greek people voted against a return to constitutional monarchy. A new republican constitution was promulgated in 1975. In January 1981 Greece became a full member of the European Union.

Travel Tips

Currency
The currency unit is the Euro (€). Euro may be obtained at any Greek bank. The rate of exchange fluctuates a bit from day to day. Railroad stations, airports, and mosta travel agencies and hotels also offer exchange services.

Appliances
The electicity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220 volts, 50 cycles.Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using stepdown transformers of 220/110 volts connected to each outlet, provided that these transformers have two separate windings which will eliminate any danger of electric shock. Before taking major American appliances (washing machines, dryers, etc.) to Greece, it is advisable to check whether they can be adjusted to Greek conditions. Greek television systems are PAL-SECAM-M. Therefore TV sets with the American system (NTSC) only, will not operate in Greece.

There are two different dialing systems in Greece. Tone and pulse. Therefore telephone sets must be able to change from one system to the ohter. Dual voltage (220/110 volts 50/60 hz) power adapters for wireless telephone sets are required.

Legal Holidays
January 1,January 6, Lent Monday, March 25, Holy and Great Friday, Easter Monday, May 1, Holy Trinity, August 15, October 28, December 25,26

Average Temperatures

Months Athens & Southern Greece Thessaloniki & Northern Greece

January 52ºF - 12ºC 45ºF - 8ºC

February 54ºF - 13ºC 51ºF - 11ºC

March 58ºF - 15ºC 54ºF - 13ºC

April 65ºF - 19ºC 65ºF - 19ºC

May 74ºF - 24ºC 74ºF - 24ºC

June 86ºF - 30ºC 86ºF - 30ºC

July 92ºF - 33ºC 90ºF - 32ºC

August 92ºF - 33ºC 90ºF - 32ºC

September 82ºF - 28ºC 80ºF - 27ºC

October 72ºF - 23ºC 69ºF - 21ºC

November 63ºF - 18ºC 58ºF - 15ºC

December 56ºF - 14ºC 50ºF - 10ºC

Tips on Driving
Speed limits are 100-120 km/h on highways unless otherwise posted; 50 km/h in residential areas unless otherwise posted.

Driver's License
Visiting foreign motorists should possess an international dricer's license. The AAA in the US and the CAA in Canada, will issue an international driver's licence.

Road signs
Road signs are written in Greek and repeated phonetically in English.

Traffic Rules
Traffic and signaling are the same as on the European continet, which means driving on the right hand side of the road. Passing on the right side is strictly prohibited. Drivers and passengers must wear safety belts. Special care should be taken in Greece when crossing unguarded level railway crossings.

Road Tolls
Toll gates exist on two highways in Greece, one leading to Northern Greece and the other to the Peloponnese.

Car Insurance
The Motor Insurance Bureau, which forms part of the Association of Insurance Companies operating in Greece, has its offices at 10 Xenofontos Street in Athens, Tel: 32306733 and can inform all motorists where the local agents of their insurance company abroad have their offices. Alternatively, they can help visitors obtain car insurance to cover them while in Greece.

ELPA Road Assistance Service
ELPA road assistance service can be reached by dialing 104.Free assistance is provided for light repairs and is rendered by the ELPA yellow vans bear the sign: Assistance Routiere A.T.C. ELPA. Also, the Automobile and Touring Club of Greece provides all possible information to foreign motorists regarding driving in Greece, by dialing 174(24 hours service)

ELPA Offices
Athens (head Office), 2-4 Messogion Street, Tel: 210/779-1615 Fax: 210/778-6642.

Legal Advice
ELPA has a list of lawyers in the various towns of Greece who can offer legal advice at no charge on mutters concerning automobiles.

Health regulations
No immunization vaccinations are required for U.S. or Canadian citizens travelling from the U.S. and Canada.

Currency regulations
Importation of foreign currency, gold and gold coins is free and unlimited. Banknotes more that $ 1000 (U.S.) must be declared at customs.

Tour Guides
Contact the Union of Official Guides at any of the following locations (hours: 9am-3:30pm)

9A Apollonos Str. 10557 Athens, Greece Tel. (210) 322-9705, Fax. (210) 323-9200
3 Agiou Mina, Thessaloniki Tel. (2310) 546-037
1 Karpathou Str. Rhodes
Ergatiko Kentro, Heraklion , Crete
10 Kalosgourou , Kerkira Tel. 312-40

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