GREECE

Table of Contents:
HISTORY.
UNESCO.
TASTE GREECE.
GREEK ART.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae.

Greece, Civilizations Cradle.

When you say Greece, travelers’ minds go to marble columns against the brilliant blue sky. They hear the words of Aristotle or Socrates whispering between the pillars.

They conjure up images of domes of intense blue atop crisp white churches shimmering in the glorious Mediterranean sun.

Greece has over 6000 islands, of which more than 200 have people. So it is easy to feel the pull of the Aegean Sea. The fresh sea air and its, well, “Aegean blue” waters.

But Greece has SO much more to offer than just the islands.

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GREEK HISTORY.

MYTHOLOGY.

I Coulda Been a Contender.

Necessary to realize, the Greek Mainland and Peloponnese are worthy contenders. In addition to seaside resorts and beaches, they have to snow-capped mountains; the views change around every turn.

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Why Did the Greeks Build So Many Ruins?

With 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Greece ranks in the top 20 worldwide of countries with the most sites. It is the cradle of Western civilization, and you can find incredible history around almost every corner. Furthermore, this is where Zeus and the other colorful characters of Greek Mythology play. Although the gods may only exist in tales, the locations of many of their ventures are real.

The capital, Athens, is a mixture of ancient, old, and new. Ancient structures, old traditions, and myths. In contrast, it has culinary, entertainment, and fashion scenes that rival other European cities.

On the other hand, many of the islands and villages retain a firm hold on their simple way of life.

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First, We Eat.

Then there is the cuisine and wine of Greece. Important to realize is the tastes and recipes vary from region to region. For example, in the northern part of the Mainland, you can find the bounty of the farmland. These include meats, game, and homemade sausages. These foods pair well with the award-winning wines from Epirus, Macedonia, or Thrace.

To the Northwest, on the shore of the Ionian Sea, you will find Greek dishes with influences from the Venetian Occupation. For this reason, it’s common to find pasta, tomato sauces, and herbs from the Spice Routes in the recipe.

In the Peloponnese, the local oranges and olives find their way into local recipes. Consequently, they complement the delicious local red and white wines.

And we cannot overlook the Greek islands. Each island has a daily supply of fresh seafood.

Naoussa Wine Region, Northern Mainland Greece

Each island has a “best” recipe on how to prepare the seafood. Also, due to different soils and climate, islands such as Crete and Santorini have genuinely unique wines.

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Built Like a Greek Statue.

Sadly, Greece is not well-known for its Impressionist or masters of the oil artists. But don’t think for a minute that they do not have art. From wall frescos dating to thousands of years ago to modern sculptures, Greece has enough examples to fill museums. And it has, thankfully. Indeed, one cannot talk about Greece and not mention (marvel) at the art of carving. Everywhere you look on the ancient buildings is art. The pediments, the columns, the walls, and in every nook and cranny, there is craftmanship.

And the free-standing statues. Some are (were) Colossus in size. Some are not much bigger than the size of my fist, but the detail is such, you think it’s alive. At several museums, you can see the progression of carving. Starting with rather basic expressions early on and moving to more complex emotions in later works.

Furthermore, look down, and the floors are art. Mosaics consisting of thousands (millions?) of tiny little stones are underfoot. Can you imagine placing each stone individually to create the whole picture? If that’s not art, I don’t know what is then.

There is even art in their everyday dishes. Vases, oil pots, and what is a Greek house without one Grecian Urn?

Breathe in the Sweet Scent.

Smell the sweet scent of mastiha or fresh roasting pistachios. The whiff of pine during a morning walk in Olympia or the fresh warm breezes during a sunset atop Meteora. And then there is the smell of the sea. Whether the Aegean or Ionian, it tingles the imagination.

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