Country names: Greece and the Republic of China.
Greek Republic, Greek Republic
Independence Day: March 25th (182 1 year)
National Day: March 25th (182 1 year)
National flag: rectangular, with an aspect ratio of 3: 2. It consists of blue and white stripes, four white stripes and five blue stripes. There is a blue square with a white cross above the flagpole. Nine broad stripes represent a Greek proverb, "Give me liberty or give me death", which has nine syllables in Greek. Blue stands for blue sky and white stands for religious belief. Most Greeks believe in the Orthodox Church, which is the state religion.
National emblem: a shield emblem surrounded by olive branches. The almost square blue shield is inlaid with a white cross, which symbolizes religious belief.
National anthem: ode to freedom
National flower: olive
National stone: sapphire
State dignitaries: President Karlos Papoulias who took office in March 2005; Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis was sworn in in March 2004.
Physical geography: area 13 1957 square kilometers, of which 15% is an island. Located at the southernmost tip of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania in the north, the European part of Turkey in the northeast, the Ionian Sea in the southwest, the Aegean Sea in the east and the African continent across the Mediterranean Sea in the south. The coastline is about 15000 km long and the territorial sea is 6 nautical miles wide. The territory is mountainous and has plains along the coast. Pindus Mountain runs through the west, and Thessaly Basin is located in the middle. This river is short and has many ports. The largest peninsula is the Peloponnesian Peninsula, and the largest island is Crete. It belongs to subtropical Mediterranean climate, with warm and humid winter and dry heat in summer. The average temperature in winter is 6 ~ 65438 03℃, and that in summer is 23 ~ 33℃. The average annual precipitation is 400 ~1000 mm.
Population:109,000 (5438+0 in 2006). More than 98% are Greeks and the rest are Muslims. The official languages are Greek and Orthodox Church.
Capital: Athens; Population: 3.073 million (1993). The highest temperature is 33℃ and the lowest temperature is 6℃.
The famous ruins of the Temple of the Sun in Delphi, Greece.
Brief history: Greece is the birthplace of western civilization, which has created splendid ancient culture and made great achievements in music, mathematics, philosophy, literature, architecture and sculpture. From 2800 BC to 1400 BC, Minoan culture appeared in Crete and Mycenae culture appeared in Peloponnesus. In 800 BC, the slave city-state was formed, and the first five centuries were its heyday. Since 338 AD, it has been occupied by Macedonia, Rome and Byzantium. 1460 was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. 1821On March 25th, Greece broke out the war of independence against the Turkish invaders and declared its independence at the same time. 1829 On September 24th, all Turkish troops withdrew from Greece. During World War II, Greece was occupied by German and Italian troops. 1944 national liberation and restoration of independence. 1946 king reset. 1In April 1967, the military launched a coup and established a military dictatorship. 1June, 973, the king was abolished and the * * * system was established. The military government collapsed in July1974; 1 1 Parliamentary elections were held in June, and the New Democracy Party won the election. In February, 65438, a referendum was held, and the system of state government was established.
Aldo Island, Hilari, Lindos Bay, Puerto Rico.
Administrative divisions: The whole country is divided into 13 regions, 52 states (including the sacred mountain "assus divine right" and 359 towns), and the north enjoys great autonomy. The regional names are as follows: Thrace and East Macedonia, Central Macedonia, West Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly, ionian islands, West Greece, Central Greece, Attica, Peloponnesus, North Aegean Sea, South Aegean Sea and Crete.
Politics: The current Constitution came into effect on June 1975+0 1. The constitution stipulates that the "presidential parliament * * * and system" shall be implemented, and the president shall be the head of state, with a term of five years, and may be re-elected once; Legislative power belongs to parliament and president, executive power belongs to president and prime minister, and judicial power is exercised by courts. 1986 The constitutional amendment greatly reduced the power of the president. Parliament is a unicameral system, its main function is to legislate and supervise government work, and it is elected by universal suffrage. In April 2005, the Greek Parliament passed the EU Constitution, making Greece the sixth country among the 25 EU member states to formally ratify it.
Acropolis of Athens
Economy: Greece is one of the economically underdeveloped countries in the EU, with a relatively weak economic foundation. The main mineral resources are bauxite (about 654.38 billion tons), lignite (about 5.6 billion tons), nickel, chromium, magnesium, asbestos, uranium and marble. The forest area accounts for 20% of the country. Compared with other EU countries, the industrial base is weak, the technology is backward and the scale is small. The main industries are mining, metallurgy, textile, shipbuilding and construction. Greece is a traditional agricultural country, with arable land accounting for 26. It accounts for 4% of the national area. Service industry is an important part of economy, and tourism is one of the main sources to obtain foreign exchange and maintain the balance of international payments. Since the 1960s, tourism has developed rapidly, and since the 1970s, the number of inbound tourists has continued to increase. In recent years, the number of inbound tourists has exceeded the total population of Greece. The main tourist attractions are the Acropolis, the Delphi Sun Temple, the ruins of the ancient Olympia Stadium, the labyrinth of Crete, the Epidavros amphitheater, the tomb of the Macedonian king in Virginia, the Holy Mountain, Rhode Island and Corfu Island.
Military: The President is the nominal supreme commander of the armed forces. The Prime Minister is responsible for national defense policy and army building and is the chairman of the Supreme National Defense Council. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Minister of National Defense implements national defense policies and manages the armed forces. The chief of staff is responsible for the operational command organization. The army is under the dual command of the state and NATO. Implement compulsory military service. Service period: Army 18 months, Navy 2 1 month, Air Force 20 months.
Press and publication: There are many kinds of newspapers and magazines, but their circulation is limited. Daily newspapers with large circulation include news, free news and daily newspapers. Athens News Agency, founded in 1896, is an official news agency, which has contacts with all major news agencies in the world. Macedonian news agency was established in 199 1 10, which is a semi-official news agency. The Greek Radio and Television Organization was established in 1938. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Information, it manages three state-owned radio and television stations in a unified way, and approves the issuance of licenses for local and private radio and television stations according to law. State-run radio stations broadcast 24 hours a day, and besides Greek, there are news programs in English, French and Arabic. Private commercial radio and television stations also broadcast satellite TV programs in the United States and Europe. The more influential private TV stations are MEGA, STAR, ANTENNA, NEW and SKY.
Diplomacy: Greece emphasizes that safeguarding national interests and national security is one of the basic principles of foreign policy. Maintaining close relations with the United States and the European Union and improving and developing relations with Balkan neighbors are the focus of Greek diplomacy.
Relations with China:1On June 5th, 972, Greece established diplomatic relations with China at the ambassadorial level.
General situation of Greece
Greece is located in the southern Balkans, surrounded by the sea on three sides. Area 13 1990 km2. Coastline length 15000 km. The population is 654.38+003.5 thousand, and the Greeks account for 98%. Believe in the orthodox church. Speak Greek.
Greece is an ancient civilization in Europe, with a written history of more than 3000 years. The 5th century BC was the heyday of Greece. 1832 declared independence and established the kingdom of Greece. It was occupied by Germany during World War II. 1944 65438+ 10/0/5 National liberation. For Greece 1974 read * * * and Republic. 1972 established diplomatic relations with China on June 5th.
Greece, the cradle of western civilization. Crete civilization existed from 3000 BC to 1400 BC. The slave city-state appeared in 800 BC and reached its peak in the 5th century BC. 1821March 25th, a war against Ottoman rule broke out and independence was declared. The kingdom was founded in 1832. At the end of 1974, the state system was changed to * * * and state.
The myths, sculptures, philosophies and natural sciences created by the Greeks are still full of vitality; Also known as the country of seafarers, the navigation industry is developed and there are many seafarers. Greeks are hospitable and like to drink coffee and wine. A little drunk and slightly smoked is considered a social manner. In summer, 2-5 pm is the lunch break, and dinner is usually after 10. The coastline of Greece is as long as 15000 kilometers, and there are many peninsulas and islands. The most famous islands are the Peloponnesus and Crete. 75% of the territory is mountainous. It has a Mediterranean climate. More than 98% of Greece are Greeks, who speak Greek and believe in the Orthodox Church. The main ethnic minorities are Turks and believe in Islam.
Archaeology is an important part of traveling to Greece. You can choose to go to the Aegean culture in Crete and Peloponnesus, or to the ancient city-state culture in Attica, Athens and Sparta to recall the prosperity of the past. In Athens, the capital, there are pure gold statues of the Parthenon and the patron saint Athena that you have admired for a long time. To understand Byzantine culture, it is best to go to Macedonia and Thessaloniki. You can also see the pure modern monastic life-visit the holy mountain Asos and Comet Rock Monastery.
Greece has a variety of natural landscapes, providing tourists with a large number of unique tourism projects. In northern Greece, there are many well-equipped ski resorts. In the mountains of central Greece, friends who like to climb mountains can show their talents. Greece has a winding coastline, numerous natural harbors and islands, gentle beaches and blue waters, creating many elegant beaches. This is a good place for rest and water sports.
The climate of Greece
In April in Greece, spring comes to the earth, and the chance of rain decreases. The flowers on the grassland are gradually blooming. The highest temperature in Athens is about 20 degrees Celsius, and the lowest is 12 degrees Celsius. Wan Li is dry and sunny in summer, with strong sunshine in July and August. Pay attention to sun protection. Since September, the weather has been getting colder and colder, with a large temperature difference between morning and evening and more cloudy days. In the coldest winter, the temperature may drop below 0 degrees Celsius, so you should take a thick coat, gloves and scarf.
Greek customs and habits
1. For business visits, you should wear a conservative thin summer suit.
2. Only when visiting government agencies or factories, you need to make an appointment in advance.
Greek businessmen have a good sense of humor and like to make jokes. When talking about business, the host first asks the guests to choose strong Greek coffee or Greek spirits. If you refuse rashly, it will be regarded as humiliation by the other party.
The Greeks are deeply proud of the rich and colorful history, historic sites, philosophy, art and politics in ancient times, so they have deep feelings for the people of China who also have a long history. However, the topic of conversation should avoid talking about Greece's current domestic politics and the relationship between Greece and Cyprus, so as not to get yourself into the dilemma of gaffes.
5. It is most suitable for visiting from September to May of the following year, but it is not suitable for business visits in two weeks before and after Christmas, one week before and after Easter of Greek Orthodox Church, and July and August of each year due to holiday reasons.
In some villages in Greece, every New Year's Day, they will take a big stone as a gift to visit relatives and friends, and put it on the floor to wish their host: "I wish your family had a piece of gold as big as this stone!" " "
Traffic in Greece
Ferry and hydrofoil.
The ship schedule is updated weekly. The timetable can be obtained from the ferry office and tourism bureau, and will also be posted by the port police. Will indicate the sailing time, sailing route and ferry name. Many ferry companies have many sailing routes, which provide a convenient way to travel between islands and the tickets are quite cheap. However, the sailing schedule is not fixed and the sailing speed is slow.
The departure time of the ferry may not only be advanced without notice, but also be delayed for more than 3 hours. If you want to find a comfortable seat on the ship, it is recommended to arrive at the dock 1-2 hours before sailing, and bring your own toilet paper, drinking water and food.
On a short voyage, the seats in the cabin will soon be full, so you'd better take a hat in case you have to be tested by the sun on the deck. If it's a long voyage, you'd better bring your own sleeping bag, or pay a higher price and sleep in a cabin with a partition.
High-speed boats are twice as fast as ferries, but they are also twice as expensive. High-speed boats flying dolphins have intensive classes between islands. If you have enough budget and want to save traffic time, flying dolphins is a good choice.
Need to be reminded that on a high-speed ship, it is best to sit in an air-conditioned cabin and don't walk around at will, otherwise it is easy to get seasick. It's safer to take some seasickness medicine on board.
It takes 5-6 hours from Athens to palos Island, 6-7 hours to Mykonos Island, 6-7 hours to Crete10-4 hours, 6-7 hours to Knossos Island, and 0/0-12 hours to santorini Island. It takes about 4 hours from Crete to santorini, 8 hours from Crete to Mykonos, 6 hours from Crete to Palos and 2 hours from Mykonos to Knossos.
bus
Although the speed of public buses (KTEL) in Greece is slow, the bus lines are very dense and cheap.
Buses traveling between big cities are all new means of transportation, while buses traveling in mountainous areas or northern Greece are not so satisfactory.
In smaller towns, bus stops are usually located in front of cafes or bakeries. You can ask the shops for timetables. Don't forget to check with the driver first if it is the expected car, and ask the driver to remind you before you get to the station.
KTEL buses are generally green, and occasionally orange cars can be seen. Buses between big cities are blue. For long-distance travel, you must buy tickets and draw seats at the ticket booth first, otherwise you may have to stop all the way. Short-distance local buses can be purchased from the ticket inspector after boarding.
Before you decide to travel by bus, you'd better determine the departure time. The timetable posted on the bulletin board of the bus station is often overdue, so it is more appropriate to ask. In addition, on weekends, the number of buses is often small, and buses are usually closed on national holidays.
As buses in Greece usually leave early, it is recommended to wait at the station ten minutes before the expected departure. In a big city, KTEL will have more than two departure stations, so before getting on the bus, make sure which departure station the bus to the destination leaves from.
The timetable for long-distance buses can be obtained at tourist service centers and stations. Athens News, an English newspaper published every week, published the timetable of buses in Athens. It is absolutely helpful to buy one with you.
aviation
Olympic Airlines operates many domestic flights in Greece and can get flight schedules at various offices.
In recent years, the service quality of Olympic Airlines has gradually improved, and it can reach any Greek island for 60-90 yuan dollars. Even in the off-season, there are several flights to more remote islands every week, and even several flights a day in places with prosperous population, such as Crete.
If you don't want to take a 20-hour ferry to the island far away from Athens, the plane is a good choice. Be sure to book one week in advance.
train
Although the train is much cheaper than the bus, it is much less frequent and slower than the bus. The train fare between big cities is slightly more expensive, with fewer trains, but the carriages are new and air-conditioned, which is definitely worth the fare in terms of saving time and service quality.
In addition, the Eurail Pass can be used in Greece.
If you want to check the train schedule and fare, you can dial 145 or 147 locally in Greece.
Because the food on the train is more expensive, remember to prepare drinking water and food before getting on the train. Please be careful of your personal belongings when you take the train.
Suggested itinerary for transnational travel to Europe by train
Itinerary planning is very important for travelers who choose to travel by train, because it is related to which countries to apply for visas and which train tickets to choose, and itinerary design depends entirely on the length of your holiday and the theme of your trip.
If you plan to stay for two weeks, it is the most leisurely to buy a popular joint train ticket to visit two or three countries; If you have a holiday of more than 1 month and don't care about browsing, take a multi-country air ticket and travel all over France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal. No matter what you decide, remember to choose neighboring countries to avoid wasting time crossing the border.
When considering tourist countries, we should pay attention to both the first stop and the terminal, which is related to the purchase of air tickets. Every airline has a different place to enter and leave Europe, and airlines with more destinations are of course the best choice.
If your itinerary includes Britain, I suggest you take London as your first stop. Because Britain is an island country, if you don't take it as the first stop or the last stop, you need to cross the Strait at least twice, and Britain is not a country where European train tickets pass, which will increase your transportation budget for no reason.
It is best to travel in a straight line or in a circle, try to avoid repeated trips and reduce the waste of time and money. Finally, I would like to remind you not to arrange your itinerary too tightly, because it is inevitable that you will encounter some unpredictable emergencies during your journey, and it is inevitable to change your itinerary according to local conditions. Therefore, the itinerary needs to be flexible and not restricted by strict itinerary.
Rent a car
Cheaper car rental chain stores include: Just, InterRent and Retca. Apart from Athens, the branches of these chain stores can be found in major cities, Crete and important islands. Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget and other well-known car rental service centers provide better service quality and higher relative prices. Hertz and InterRent rent cars to people over 2 1, while other rental agencies only rent cars to people over 23. Foreign tourists need to show their international driver's license when renting a car.
Greek diet price
Generally speaking, food in Greece is not expensive, but it should be noted that the price of eating in a restaurant is different from that of buying it outside. The service charge is included in the list price, so you can't tip unless the service is very satisfactory. If you want to eat a big Greek meal, I suggest you go to the dining street near the flea market. In addition, we recommend a snack with Greek flavor-Soulaki, which is made of mutton, tomatoes and onions wrapped in bread. Generally, a snack costs only 130 Drs, which is economical.
Greece and wine
When Odyssey strayed into the cyclops cave and faced death threats, he mobilized his men to collect wild grapes everywhere, step out grape juice with his feet, make wine, get the cyclops drunk, and take the opportunity to escape ... This is the earliest wine-making record in Homer's epic.
As early as 6000 years ago, there was a wine-making process in Greece, and wine was closely linked with ancient Greek civilization. If we say, "Without wine, there would be no European history and culture, then Greece, as the cradle of western civilization, is also the pioneer of European winemaking.
Greek wine is mainly wine, which was regarded as the source of human wisdom in ancient Greece. Grapes, vineyards and various earthenware wine containers can be seen everywhere in various decorations. The origin of ancient Greek tragedy is related to the commemoration of Dionysus.
As wine entered the commercial field, Greece first regulated the wine-making industry. Ancient Greece was the first country in the world to stipulate the production and management of wine by law. In Greece, no matter rich or poor, wine is indispensable for every meal. They believe that good wine is not only nutritious, but also softens blood vessels, so it is the best health wine.
Greece is a mountainous and island country. Due to the differences in climate and topography in different regions, there are various types of grapes here, and their wines are also of various brands, which are suitable for all tastes.
The oldest and most popular wine in Greece is Rachel. This is a light yellow wine brewed from high-quality grapes. Adding a small amount of turpentine in the brewing process has a unique aroma when drinking, which is called "Greek national wine".
Greek wines such as dry red, dry white, rose red and crimson have different origins and tastes.
Shopping in Athens
For shoppers, Athens is a city full of surprises. Here, you can buy unique products or cheap items. Gold and silver jewelry is a specialty of Athens, with a unique Greek style. Most of the jewels in Athens are handmade by local craftsmen. Silver inlay and tortoise shell jewelry are produced by Loannina and Epiros. In the jewelry stores of Syntagma and Kolonaki, you can also see many replicas of museums.
There are many clothes in Syntagma area. There are various styles of coats, furs, sweaters and leather shoes. Here, you are sure to find something suitable for you. In Kolonaki District and Erou Street, there are various fashion shops in Athens, as well as embroidered and handmade clothes for sale. In this area, there are many antique shops selling all kinds of furniture, statues and decorations.
Don't miss the ceramics in Athens. In the northern suburb of Maruri, you can see many shops run by ceramic designers. Typical Greek style ceramics will make you fondle admiringly.
Jewelry with a unique style
Gold and silver jewelry is a specialty of Athens, with a unique Greek style. Most of the jewels in Athens are handmade by local craftsmen. Silver inlay and tortoise shell jewelry are produced by Loannina and Epiros. In the jewelry stores of Syntagma and Kolonaki, you can also see many replicas of museums. In Greece, there is even the Llias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum.
olive oil
There are olive trees everywhere in Greece, and the olive oil produced is world-famous. Its unique taste gives Greek food a unique style.
Athens market:
Bora Kela Jiushi steet
Filellinon Street has a gentle slope. After climbing to the heights, there is the Russian Orthodox Church Agios Nikodimos. From then on, it turned to Kidathineon Street in the direction of the Acropolis. This area can be said to be the most lively and crowded place in Bora Kela. There are many shops on both sides, and you can find all kinds of artistic products and small Greek restaurants you want.
Monastra Ji plaza
From Constitution Square to the west, along Ermou Road or Mitpropoleos Road, you can stroll all the way to Monastiraki, which is famous for its flea market.
Ermou is famous for leather goods stores and many clothing stores, especially fur shops. The atmosphere of Mitropoulos Road is very different and religious, because there is the largest Orthodox Church in Athens. Every Sunday, this road is crowded with devout believers who come to worship. In principle, if the door of the church is open, you can visit it freely. The front of the church square is also a good place to rest in summer.
Don't rush forward, take a different road and turn into Pandrosu Street. There will be different surprises. On the narrow roads, most of them are folk art shops and leather shops. , dazzling. The most special thing is that most self-employed artists in Athens stay here and sell their handicrafts, so it's quite interesting.
There are open-air flea markets near the Traci Square subway station in the monastery and north of Agura every Sunday morning. All kinds of second-hand goods are piled up in the narrow streets. Anything you can think of, from all kinds of mechanical parts to furniture, can be bought here. People who like second-hand goods can spend half a day looking for treasures here, but don't forget to bargain. Second-hand CDs (300 DR each) or records (100-200Dr each) are well worth buying.
The Sunday flea market in Monasterachi Square is held on Ifestou Road. Due to the large number of people, the moving speed is very slow, and the voice of bargaining is up and down.
Mr. Mogna Square
Stadiou Street, which connects Constitution Square and the south of Mogna Square, is one of the main streets in Athens. This is a new street with theatres, department stores and many shops. Another Athinas street leads to Rome Agro and Agro, the ruins of the Roman market, belonging to the old street. Along the way, you can see shops selling household Japanese goods and religious supplies. Along Acinas Street, you will pass the central market, where all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables are sold, and there are also restaurants that sell cheap and sufficient meals.
References:
China net