Ok. We’re on the plane, we’re about to take off, now it’s time for think about and remember the whole trip. We loved this country and its people and we will go back again when we have an opportunity. Perhaps a tour on the islands will be stunningly beautiful. Maybe a summer with the kids… We’ll see.
I cannot stop recommending the travel guide we used, which has helped us a lot planning our visits and documenting us about what we were looking to. This guide is called “Rough Guides to Greece”. You can buy it here: Rough Guides to Greece
Personally, I was very surprised by the country because of its geography, I didn’t know it was such a mountainous country. And so green, lots of woods! And, in my ignorance, I thought it would be like our spanish La Mancha or something close.
We’ve spent a lot of time on the road. 1600 kilometers in 5 days. The Greeks drive in their own way, and when you realize how to do it is not as bad as you could think. If you drive using the shoulders, it can really be helpful to fecilitate the overtakes (and they will do it even if it is forbidden, both in your direction and the opposite). On the double sense roads it is a bit dangerous for this but with a little caution… They need to improve signage especially in cities (signs either are difficult to be seen or just don’t exist). Finally the tolls are a drain, we paid more than 50 euros in about 21 tolls! Crazy. But it’s also true that highways are a marvel. Ah indispensable to carry GPS not to get lost!
The food. Wonderful in practically any place you stop. We’ve spent our time eating tzatziki, the yogurt and cucumber sauce that they use as if it were almost ketchup, but you can have a little strong digestion! We also loved the gyros, which is grilled meat more or less like a kebab. The Greek salads… They’re all good! And last and not least important: very fan of feta cheese! Much tastier than the one bought in Spain. And a curious thing, the Greeks used to ask for food to share, they always have the dishes in the center of the table, I guess that’s why the portions are so big, with a main dish two people can be satisifed, although we have almost always ordered an entrée , salad, tzatziki or grilled feta cheese… And eating is, compared to Spain, very cheap, maybe the half. We have eaten for about 20-25 euros the two without going on the menu of the day.
The people. I’m angry with someone who wrote in a book of signatures in the convent of Pandanassa in Mista, he was asking Greek people to smile (it’s very cheap, he said), I can’t believe it! they are the most hospitable and pleasant people I’ve ever met! It has treated us all great and if try to say any Greek word, you will have them in your pocket. We found Greek quite difficult, I guess because of its alphabet, but we memorized hello, goodbye, thank you, good morning, good afternoon… and they’re grateful for the effort. The funny thing with that, is that until the last day we said everything wrong, sometimes I figured out some words or Mary said hello when they brought us the account Jajajajaj
And the weather… It’s been pretty good to be December, actually. The first 5 days we missed the sun, and even the first day in Athens rained a lot, but the last two days in the Peloponnese has made us a great sun. We have been around the 15 degrees at noon and the 8 at dusk, depending on the places it was somewhat cold. This morning it was really cold, the car was totally frosted in the country side!
See you soon Greece, thanks for treating us so well.