GREECE

  • Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
  • Travel Tips
  • Gems, Highlights & Attractions
  • Scams and Warnings

    Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings

    Heading towards Greece from Istanbul we were stopped at the the border. Firstly Turkish passport control and then Greek passport control customs over the other side taking a total of two hours.
    Kenneth B. Austin, Australia (March 99)

    Travel Tips

    On arrival to Rodes City we searched everywhere, bus stations etc. and found nowhere to leave luggage in the town (we where there only one day). We ended up catching the bus back out to the airport and leaving our bags at the Olympic Airways office and then bussing back in to look around the town.
    Carol and Brian Little, Bathurst (March 99)

    As of 1st March, 1999, Air Greece is introducing direct flights from Athens to Bari, Italy, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 am (Athens times). Furthermore, you can get a 10% discount on return flights. It currently flies to Heraklion, Rhodes, Chania and Thessaloniki, but is probably going to add new destinations when it receives new jet equipment. It has an office at Fillelinon 25, Athens.

    Another Greek airline offering flights to Heraklion, Rhodes and Thessaloniki is Cronus airlines. It has an office in Athens on Syntagma Square.
    Diamantopoulos Kostas, Greece (Feb 99)

    Part of the new tube system is scheduled to open at the beginning of December 1999, running from Sepolia to Syntagma square and from Syntagma to the Ministry of Defense (Pentagono), with useful stops at Omonia Sqare, Syntagma Square, Akadimia, The Athens concert hall (Megaro).

    Some new bus routes have been introduced. The most useful ones are E2, B2 from central Athens to Glytada and E1 from Piraeus (Dimotiko Theatro) to Glytada and Voula. All of them pass from the west terminal at Hellinikon airport and the E prefix denotes they are express buses with fewer stops than the usual routes. The price of the ticket has risen to 190 dr.
    Diamantopoulos Kostus, Greece (Dec 98)

    Nisyros: Paleokastro must be one of the most under- rated ancient sites in Greece. The gateway is intact (more so than the Lion Gate at Mycenae) and the walls are extensive and high (also unlike Mycenae). They can also be climbed by original stairways. I feel that other travellers should know about this place for two reasons. Firstly, to attract people to a very unvisited site (I was on my own) and, secondly, to warn virgin visitors to ancient sites (like I was) who will go onto more famous sites and expect the fabulous - thus often being disappointed. The view over the sea to Kos is wonderful.

    On Peleponese I got stranded for six hours between buses in Tripolis and passed some time at the Archaeological Museum. I was amazed at how extensive and comprehensive the collection is. Any British Museum would die for the artefacts left strewn in the yard. I was the only visitor when I was there and a curator follwed me around, switching the lights on and off in each gallery as I entered and left.
    Andrew McIlwraith, UK (Dec 98)

    Far from being the "idyllic little island" Lipsi is now in the grip of rampant development - it seems there is a large EU funded project to build several new roads right across and along the island, to improve the quay, and build new accommodation. The signs said the project will end in 1999 but it looked very far from complete - whatever complete will mean. Whatever the long-term results may be, I'm afraid it spoils the island dreadfully at the moment. There was a ship at the quay unloading sand and gravel, making a constant huge noise into the evening and several other trawlers waiting to unload. The town seemed to be dispirited which isn't surprising as it survives the throes of development.

    Discovering Kimissi was the most extraordinary experience. A brand new road is being built down to the little beach from the Platys Gialos road - the road is only half finished but is a huge construction, zigzagging down over the hillside, terribly destroying the peace of this beautiful wild coast. The hermit now lives in house next to a small chapel on the edge of the small beach - he is very old and has trouble with his legs. He used to live next to the church upon the mountainside, some 1/2 mile to the west of the beach. The same precocious development is building a peculiarly inappropriate footpath from the beach to this further church along the mountainside - it's a cement and stone footpath such as you might find along the water front of a busy resort. I assume the plan is to build a taverna at the beach, and the footpath will enable tourists to visit the church. But it all takes the magic away from this beautiful wild, previously deserted coast.
    Sam Goodhouse, UK (Nov 98)

    The "Cat Man" of Rhodes City, Joachim can be found in the evening close to the windmills at the Mandraki feeding scores of homeless cats. He accepts contributions towards the food he buys and arranges adoptions by interested visitors. The evening we met him a German couple gave him 15,000 dr and arranged to take one of the strays home with them at the end of their vacation. He has a connection with a Rhodes vet and says he completes all the necessary paperwork. He feeds cats at other points of the city too.
    Isobel Cunningham, Canada (Oct 98)

    Travellers heading overland from Thessaloniki to Turkey might want to consider spending a night in Alexandroupoli. The city makes a pleasant stopover and it lacks the sense of chaos that pervades most other Greek cities. The food is good, the sights are centrally located and connection to the border at Kipi and Kastanies are fairly frequent.
    Ryan Fennell (Sept 98)

    The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is no longer free on Sundays.
    Gary Budd & Dana Paniagua (Aug 98)

    While in Fira, Santorini we visited the Catholic church which is located near two of the major youth hostels on the island. The nuns who live at the convent there sing each day at 6 pm (for about 30 mins) in a small church quite hidden from the main church. (The door to the church is closed so you have to go and open it yourself.) It was absolutely beautiful - definitely a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. There is a sign on the main church with the times that the nuns sing each day.
    Claire Hill & Paul White, Australia(Aug 98)

    The Athens bus no 49 no longer takes you to the ferry docks. We caught the bus at Omonia and after a fairly long ride on a new and comfortable bus, the driver pulled into what was obviously the end of his line. We pointed out on a map where we needed to go and he said: "No bus - walk". It took about 20 minutes to get to the Flying Dolphin Hydrofoil to Aegina. I suspect that bus routes have changed since the construction of the Athens Metro since there is a Metro station near the docks.
    Barbara Bagnell (July 98)

    In Santorini there are five wineries open for tastings, costing 1500 Drs for six tastings with cheeses and bread.
    Jay and Melissa

    The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS) have a branch at Glyfada (south of Athens). The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre is where injured turtles found anywhere in Greece are sent to be treated and hopefully released. The Centre has an exhibition area, very friendly and helpful volunteer staff and is open daily for visitors. The work in the centre compliments the conservation activities taking place each summer at the various loggerhead turtle rookeries around Greece.

    To reach the centre from Athens, you take the A3 bus to Glyfada and disembark at its terminus. From the bus stop head towards the sea and turn right. The centre is made up of five converted train wagons on the seas edge and is easily recognisable. It is also possible to take the A2 bus (Voula) and ask someone to stop the bus at the third Marina in Glyfada (There is a sign for the ccentre on the road so keep your eyes open.
    Alan Rees - UK (Feb 98)

    When you're going to rent an apartment ask or look first how the water is heated. Sometimes it's solar heated which sounds nice and ecological but means you'll have warm water only a few hours a day and only on sunny days.
    Anna Ptasznska - Poland (Dec 97)

    Don't change money at the port/customs office on Rhodes. Its a 5 minute walk to Old Town where the rate is better.
    Lisa Marie Gonzales - USA (Sept 97)

    Gems, Highlights & Attractions

    Lakki, Crete, is a peaceful taste of rural Greek life and an ideal base for exploring the lovely surrounding area, including a highly enjoyable day walk up Mt Gingilos (2080m) from Ksiloskala at the top of Sumaria Gorge. Ksiloskala is a short bus ride form laki and the walk is on well marked track with a little rock scrambling required towards the top. Allow six to seven hours return.

    Samaria Gorge, Crete - It would be better to walk down the gorge than up and best to leave around mid afternoon to avoid the crowds, unless you have to catch a ferry. Agia Roumeli, at the base of the gorge, is a pleasnat little town with plenty of cheap accommodation.
    Colin & Gail Priest, Australia (Mar 99)

    Agios Andreas Cathedral is magnificent as was St. Andrew's Catholic Church, which is on the south-eastern side of Menzonos, between Agiou Nikolaou and Kolokotroni.

    If you take a bus to the Diros Caves you can see the Areopoli as you pass by. The caves are spectacular and are worth the trip. The bus will wait for the duration of the visit and then returns to Gythio.
    Kenneth B. Austin, Australia (March 99)

    Particularly on the island of Rhodes, there are a whole lot of treasures that many people miss in favour of the better advertised ones. We hired an inexpensive Passat and trucked all over the place, going to Epta Piges (the seven springs) and the Valley of the Butterflies (which barely lived up to its name, apparently decades of tourists have served to drive many of the beautiful insects away) and more classical archaeological sites, medieval castles and monasteries with exquisite vistas than I can recall with any suitable accuracy. The island has an air of mystery about it and we even came away with our very own ghost story. Be sure to take a good travel guide, dress comfortably with hiking boots because there is a lot of climbing and, above all, take plenty of water. Experiencing the places at your own pace, is essential. Most island maps are pretty good and make navigating around a snap.
    Scott Stoermer (Mar 98)

    Scams & Warnings

    A common hoax in Crete is that a (male) mopedallist will start asking you some questions. Usually the query is about how you enjoy your holiday. After answering the questions you are invited to join a free lottery, and of course you end up winning the main prize. The inquirer acts surprised and you're told you have to come with him to a hotel outside town to collect your prize. If you join this person you are talked to sign some documents for time sharing of holiday apartments - this is a very stupid thing to do. And even if you don't sign the documents, you've wasted half a day's holiday.
    Kjetil Roe - Norway (Oct 97)


    For more news, views and the odd bit of gibberish, drop in on the soc.culture.greek and rec.travel.europe newsgroups.

    For detailed up-to-date travel information check out Lonely Planet's Destination Greece.


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