Greece

Why Greece?

Beautiful scenic Greece has an abundance of fine beaches, rugged mountains, bustling towns and cultural attractions. Southern Greece and the islands enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and short winters.

The famous Greek hospitality and the community spirit is alive and much in evidence throughout the country. The Greeks have a love of food, wine, music and dancing, with whole towns and villages celebrating major festivals.

The rich cultural past of Greece is never far from the present: traces of the Minoan civilization, evidence of Roman and Turkish occupations remain throughout the country; the archaeological sites, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Venetian architecture, even minarets and mosques.

Athens is the gateway to Greece and boasts a new modern airport, with daily flights to and from major European destinations throughout the year. Easyjet and Aegean Airlines offer budget airfares to and from the UK and local domestic airlines serve all the major islands. In the summer months charter flights fly directly between the UK and many Greek Islands.

Greece is a popular retirement destination and many Brits and others have chosen to retire here. After exploring mainland Greece I first arrived in Crete in

1984 and fell under the island’s spell immediately. It’s such a beautiful and diverse place.

Crete and the other tourist resorts in Greece are swamped by visitors in the summer months but October sees the last charter flights going back to the UK and Europe and from November to March Greece returns to its old rhythms of life. While hotels in the towns stay open during the winter months, hotels, tavernas, cafes and bars all close down in the resorts.

Nightlife changes from the summer scene of beach bars and outdoor tavernas to trendy indoor town cafés and restaurants, and cosy village cafeneons and tavernas with wood-burning stoves or open fireplaces.

Greeks turn to their fields and collect their orange harvests. Weekends are often spent away from the towns as people head for their ‘horio’ (village) to gather their olives, or to visit relatives.

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