Greece

Greece - Capital - Athens. Greece - the nation state in the Southeast Europe, is located in a southern part of Balkan peninsula and on adjoining islands Ionian, Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. About 2/3 territories comprise high-altitude mountains and plateaus. Coastlines are strongly dismembered. Most part of the borders of Greece pass on the sea. The length of overland borders (Albania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey) comprises 1166 km, sea (Ionian and the Aegean Seas) - 4000 km. The most western point of the country is the island Corfu, and the most southern - island is Crete. Approximately one fifth part of the territory are composed of islands. The largest islands - Crete, Rhodes (Rodos, Rhodos), Lesvos (Lesbos). The territory includes about 132 thousand sq. km.

Climate - Subtropical, Mediterranean. Only a short winter but there are rains, and snow sometimes drops out, but quickly thaws. Average temperature of January is about 9 C, and summer in July it gets up to 27 C. The most comfortable season is established between September - October.

Nature and animals - On the one hand, high mountains and mountain ridges, such as Pindus (it names "a ridge of Greece"), the Olympus (with the highest in Greece top the Pantheon, 2.917), and also mountains of Macedonia and Thrace, are interrupted here and there with not numerous plains and the feeding of rather small rivers. On the other hand, uncountable surprises are in this land, framing the sea. This deep cut up coast gives to Greece that unusual beauty which makes its unique and even unique in the region of the Mediterranean. The small group of Ionian islands ("Seven islands") forms a chain limiting Greece from the West. Islands of Aegean sea, on the contrary, are numerous; some of them are incorporated in archipelagoes; for example groups of islands in northeast of Aegean sea - Sporades, Cyclades and Dodecanese; others settle down separately, the island Crete in the south is one of those, for example. The archipelago Cyclades consists of 39 islands of which only 24 are populated. The point is that there is lots of diversity for the eye to feast on here.

Government - The head of the state - the president. The maximum legislature - unicameral parliament.

Transport - Numerous bus lines serve Northern Greece and Peloponnese.The State Management of Railway of Greece also gives buses for feeder service linkages. On the N. Greece and Peloponnesethere are major stations of departure on Peloponnese and Larissa stations.
Rent car - To take car for rent it is possible in any city and on any resort. The following services are traditionally included in cost of rent: - Insurance from theft, ignition and (CDW), and material damage liability more than $200 deductable. - Service in delivery car; Fuel and any traffic violations and fines must be paid by the user. Some companies which give services of rent car, show the following additional requirements to the drivers: - For the drivers older than 25 years they must still have the experience of driving not less than 1 year and presentation of a valid driving licence. - For drivers younger than 25 years they must have necessarily the presentation of the valid driving licence and experience of driving not less than 3 years.

Language - the state language - Greek. For dialogue with the foreign tourists in Greece the English language is widely accepted.

Tourism - Trips to Greece are best remembered for the sun, sea, mountains and rest, and also totally immersing in a history and culture of the country. This is a heritage of over five millenia of the West-European civilization. The currency - Euro - Exchange for the current day is possible to learn in bank.

Customs rules
- a Customs declaration can be required of you in the following cases:
- At departure from the country, when you will take out the sum exceeding $1000;
- If you are going to place imported currency in a local bank or to use it for payment of any business contracts;
It is authorized to import, duty-free, 1 block of cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits drinks, gifts for the sum about $220 (Cost of this or that subject is defined by customs). The import of plants taken from the soil of the ground is forbidden. The export representing, historical and cultural value of subjects is forbidden.

Souvenirs - In Athens even the most requiring buyer will find all - clothes, jeweller products, fur, product from a leather(skin), various souvenirs. The goods of local manufacture are much cheaper than many imports. Alongside with supermarkets of the West-European type there is a set of fine shops, where, as a rule, with the sellers it is possible to negotiate the final price paid. The prices for the everyday goods here follw local prices that often are very much below typical European prices. Souvenirs - for houses the ceramics (common or collector figures of art), Pistachioes, and other good Greek wines make pleasant memories.

Tips - Tipping here remains a rule of a good form, in spite of the fact that each account, given to you, includes the VAT and payment of service (10 %). You should reward superior service maybe up to 5% higher than the 10% official service charge.

Rules of behaviour - it is recommended that tourists not enter into monasteries in shorts or short skirts; Greeks are very hospitable and it may be an insult to refuse an entertainment in rural houses. In spite of the fact that the Greeks love to criticize the country, they are proud people and will not suffer even irony on this theme from the foreigner.

Sanitary norms - The travelor should be healthy and be able to proove that there were no problems with health services, before a trip; this is necessary to issue the international insurance. Health services in Greece are paid by the government but the health facilities will access the travelor's health insurance for some reimbursements. Exceptions are only for accidents (first aid medical services appear to be free of charge in most cases.). Emergency telephone numbers: First aid in Athens -116, in Saloniki - 150.