Top 7 reasons why you should travel to Greece

Wondering where your next travel destination will be? Search no more!  Take a look below and I’m sure you’ll be convinced that Greece is the place to go!

 

Someone once said ….. “you should visit Greece at least twice in your life. 

• The first time when you are in your 20’s and love to sun worship on the endless beaches during the day, and dance until all hours of the night.  (After all, that’s what I, and I’m sure we all did at that age!)
• The second time after 40, so you can appreciate the culture, history and amazing landscape that this beautiful country has to offer”.

 

Here are my top 7 reasons why Greece is the place to go:

Sun, Sea and Sand

Greece boasts 320 days of sun per year! Mix that with unending coastlines, a plethora of beaches and crystal blue waters and you have a recipe made in heaven. Any place you happen to be, you are sure to find an isolated beach or a superb sandy cove to your liking. Don’t forget in Greece you can swim as early as May all the way through October.

 

 

Islands and more islands

There are so many islands to choose from you literally won’t know which one to pick. I suggest trying some place unique! Aside from the popular and frequently traveled Mykonos, Santorini, Crete or Rhodes why not focus your interest on more remote places but just as beautiful? The Ionian or Sporades islands for example. By the way, flights throughout Greece are less than an hour to almost any destination.

Even in Athens we have the Anafiotika neighborhood, just below the Acropolis, that makes you feel like you are on an island.

 

 

For the breathtaking views

Do you find your pleasure in rugged mountains and enormous sandstone peaks like the ones above in Meteora? Or do you prefer spectacular sunsets like you find on the islands?  Are you looking for deep green forests or olive groves matched with a backdrop of bright blue sky? How about endless ancient ruins or monuments to fill your imagination. You’ll find it all in Greece and …even more.

This country is the photographer’s delight.

 

 

 

Fresh, healthy and authentic cuisine

Whatever your palate desires will be satisfied here. When you start with the freshest and ripest ingredients, everything tastes better.  Fish purchased directly from the fisherman, accompanied with a Greek Horiatiki salad made with deliciously red tomatoes and healthy olive oil. The sweetest fruit, ripest vegetables and legumes are used to create the most delectable meals.

I can still remember till this day the tastiest watermelon I have ever eaten was picked directly from the patch in the Epirus region. It was probably even tastier because we didn’t have to pay for it!

 

 

 

Over 3000 years of history and culture

Everywhere you walk you might be stepping on a piece of history and not even know it. There are so many ancient sites with ruins and artifacts all over the country.  There is not enough money or manpower to exploit them all. So they just cover them up and wait for the next generation to do their part.

A good example is the new Acropolis museum where you can see the ruins literally under your feet through a Plexiglas floor.

At the new Athens metro Syntagma station, you will see an entire wall depicting the different layers of civilizations.  Some call it “a museum in which a train pass through”. Now how cool is that?

 

 

It’s Grand Masterpieces

Greece brags a total of 18 UNESCO heritage sites.

• From the Acropolis of Athens which forms one of the greatest architectural and artistic monuments bequeathed to the world.
• To the Monasteries of Meteora which are nestled high up on sandstone peaks almost inaccessible, with their 16^th century Byzantine frescoes.
• Or the Historic town Center of the Island of Patmos with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave where he wrote the Apocalypse…. To name a few.

 

 

They know how to enjoy the good life

Greeks really know how to have a good time! You’ll find restaurants, bars, nightclubs jam-packed with folks having a good time until all hours of the morning.  They will find any excuse to get together to enjoy each other’s company around a meal.

Above are my first cousins from my dad’s side of the family. We got together and shared a wonderful dinner around Greek meze (appetizers) and great times during my last trip.

 

In short… whatever you want out of a vacation you will surely find it in Greece…. And get even more than you bargained for!