Ancient Greece is the birthplace of ancient Greece. Greece, Crete – an island of sights, mountains and sea VII

Surprisingly, there is no other country in the world that would be so understandable and close to us literally from childhood, like Greece. Let's remember how our Houses of Culture look even in the most provincial cities - these are, at a minimum, copies of ancient Greek temples with Greek porticos on columns! ..

What about the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks? Didn’t they read them to you at night? .. Plaster heads in circles? .. Greek salad for the holiday? .. “Thais of Athens” by Ivan Efremov, finally, after which the boys quit smoking and ran to the rocking chair, and the girls to the hairdresser’s to get along look like ancient Greek heroes and mistresses.

By the way, about love - about the very one! In the late USSR, we also learned about it exclusively from the “Greek Fig Tree” - remember this cassette tape?

And what about this beautiful country? After all, they heard that something is still missing in it, contrary to the statement of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov: “Greece has everything! ..” (“Wedding”). And there are not enough Russian tourists, well, right - very much! You need a lot of them at once. Not less than a million! That is how many Greeks are ready to receive this year the "boys from Tagil" or oil workers from Salekhard, with their children and wives, friends and colleagues. Because it is tourism, and nothing else, that is the locomotive of the Greek economy.

And now, in mid-April, almost everything is ready for the big season here: the beaches have been swept, tables have been set up in street cafes and restaurants, bronze has been polished on pleasure boats, and in some places even musicians have appeared, carefully trying their vocal cords on the first tourists. Not Demis Roussos, of course, but feta and ouzo (aniseed vodka) go much easier under their strumming...

In the central part of Rhodes (city), an ancient fortress and partly temple buildings have been preserved. The local children, without any reverence, immediately play football, ride bikes.

Literally, huge cruise ships moor to the ancient walls of the fortress. And right there, a tiny by today's standards entrance to the bay, in the alignments of which once stood the famous Colossus of Rhodes. The same Colossus that was one of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. What else is curious: four of those seven miracles were created by the Greeks! ..

And now, after centuries and millennia, it is good to sit on this embankment, along which no one just walked or rode in chariots, and reflect on how the world once was. And even if you are the most inveterate cynic, you will not take away merit from the Greeks. And even now, when the Greeks - like the Soviet people once, do not lose historical optimism. They live and work quite to themselves in Greek - with dignity and without whining. Therefore, the next time you are locked up, try to throw everything to hell and be born again, but already - Greeks! ..

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Greece is a magnificent combination of cultures of East and West. This is the place where many myths, legends and adventures of antiquity originated. This country is associated with art, the Olympic Games and much of history.

The history of the country is not just a period of existence, but fundamental to the entire culture of modernity. So the Greeks are always friendly to guests and travelers, because legends have long said that the gods loved to travel in the guise of ordinary mortals. Every inhabitant of Greece is very kind, hospitable and polite.

Famous places in Greece give a feeling of magic and mysticism, as if staying in Athens or on the island of Rhodes, you can penetrate the very legends that unfold their events here. And it is quite understandable to want to acquire a part of this magical world, these stories that we have heard since childhood. Since excavations are still being carried out throughout Greece, there is a great chance to get an ancient fragment of ancient ceramics and a bronze candlestick.

But Greece does not end there. It also has sandy coasts recognized as the best in the world, which are washed by three seas - the Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian, what could be more than lying in a hammock on the seashore? Greece is also famous for its mineral springs and healing mud. So after the rest, not only a magnificent bronze tan will remain, but also excellent health. Almost all hotels in Greece provide medical procedures, which makes them more of a high-class resort. They can offer you a wide range of wellness and healing procedures. After all, Greece is the birthplace of the god of healing Asclepius, and for many millennia the Greeks formed their own view of medicine.

The birthplace of democracy, theater and the Olympic Games, the cradle of science and the successor to a great civilization… modern Greece is a country with a unique tourism potential.

Picturesque nature and European quality service, impeccable ecology, monuments of ancient architecture allow you to harmoniously combine the cultural program and beach holidays.

The favorable geographical location between the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian Seas determines the rich natural diversity of the region and in many ways the way of life of the local population. In the shade of olive groves and orchards, the great minds of mankind grew up: Euclid, Aristotle, Plato.

Here and today, great importance is given to education - the country is a major educational center, which attracts students from all over the world.

However, what Hellas is really famous for is its beach holiday. More than four hundred beaches in Greece have been awarded the blue flag: Halkidiki is the best place for family leisure, volcanic Santorini is the most romantic place, and on the famous island of Crete, in addition to beach life, you will also find a rich excursion program, for example, visiting the Knossos Palace, Botanical garden and stalagmite cave.

On the mainland of the country, surrounded by fertile valleys and lush greenery, the capital of Greece, Athens, is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Piraeus, one of the largest seaports, is located here, but the most impressive sight of the capital, without exaggeration, can be called the Acropolis. This is a grandiose building of the 5th century BC. e. has long been a symbol of ancient civilization. The medieval city of Rhodes, the ruins of the ancient city of Epidaurus, the archaeological sites of Olympia - the rich cultural heritage of Greek resorts cannot be counted.

Dedicate a separate trip to the Christian monuments and shrines of Greece: the monastery of Athos, heavenly Meteora, temple complexes and cathedrals.

Be sure to try the Greek cuisine. The combination of the traditions of neighboring countries, the proximity of the sea and fertile lands gave the Greeks an amazing culinary experience: healthy aromatic food with lots of greens, lamb and pork dishes, fresh vegetables and fruits, the famous feta and halloumi cheeses, which go well with tart young wine.

Cultural Features

The Greeks are a southern people, therefore, they are characterized by such features as sluggishness, openness, impulsiveness and friendliness. In addition, family and religion are of great importance in their lives: they are zealous in preserving Christian values, and their house is always full of numerous relatives.

Of course, the Greeks are very proud of their history and culture, and there really is something to be proud of, because their nation is one of the oldest in the world, gave us democracy, philosophy, the Olympic Games, literature, classical architecture and much more.

It is worth noting the high level of tolerance in Greek society, especially for sexual minorities and nudists.

Local fines and bans

driving while intoxicated (more than 0.5 ‰) - a fine from 200 to 1200 € with possible deprivation of a license and even imprisonment (depending on the level of alcohol in the blood). With a driving experience of less than 2 years, the maximum amount of alcohol in the blood is 0.2 ‰, otherwise the fine is 250 €;
violation of the rules for transporting children - a fine of 80 €;
all seat belts must be fastened, otherwise a fine of 80 € and possible deprivation of rights for 20 days;
talking on a mobile phone without hands free - a fine of 100 € and possible deprivation of rights for 30 days;
speeding - a fine from 40 to 350 €;
running a red light - a fine of 700 € and deprivation of rights for 60 days;
violation of the rules of overtaking - a fine of 700 € and deprivation of rights for 20 days;
the use of radar detectors is prohibited - a fine of 2000 € and deprivation of rights for 30 days;
smoking in public places - a fine of 500 €.

National holidays

January 1 - New Year; - January 6 - Epiphany;
January 8 - Women's Festival (Ginaikratiya);
February 1 - Maslenitsa;
March 25 - Independence Day;
April 12 - Easter;
May 1 - Labor Day;
May 21 - Firewalking (Pirovassia);
June 23 - Midsummer night;
June 26 - Hellenic festival in Epidaurus;
August 15 - Day of the Assumption of the Virgin / Summer Easter;
October 28 - "Oh" Day;
December 25 - Christmas;
December 26 - Boxing Day.

Kitchen

Greece has had a huge influence on the cuisine of many peoples, and the dishes of France, Italy and the Balkans are considered closest to it. Among the most characteristic ingredients, olive oil occupies an honorable first place - it is added to almost every product, and only the Greeks know a lot about it.

Cereals - barley and wheat are often prepared as a side dish, and potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, onions and peppers have gained particular popularity among vegetables. Not the last place in Greek cuisine is occupied by herbs and spices: mint, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, oregano, bay leaves, dill and others.

Of the other commonly used ingredients, it is worth noting pork, goat meat, lamb, olives, feta cheese, basil, grape leaves, etc. Greeks also often prefer seafood. The inhabitants of the country are big fans of cheeses, of which there are at least 50 varieties, and the share of cheese consumption per capita reaches 25 kg per year. In general, Greek food is very hearty, flavorful and simple at the same time. Traditional dishes: moussaka (meat and vegetables), Greek salad, meze, dolmades (stuffed cabbage in grape leaves), pastitsio (meat with pasta) and others.

Nuts and honey predominate in Greek desserts, and coffee is very popular among drinks. Among the alcohol, it is worth noting ouzo, metaxa, rakia, retsina (white wine) and mafrodavni (fortified red wine).

shopping

Shopping in Greece is one of the important aspects of an unforgettable trip. It produces a myriad variety of goods of excellent quality. Gourmets love this country for delicious olives, cheeses, butter, honey and wonderful local sweets.

Alcoholic beverages are top notch, look out for ouzo, an aniseed herbal vodka, metaxu, an herbal blend of brandy and wine, and kumquat fruit liqueurs. Greek wine is also beyond praise, a young wine with a light aroma of pine needles has an original taste.

There are a lot of inedible souvenirs here: magnificent jewelry, various antique-style vases, paintings with local landscapes, handicrafts that will bring comfort to any home (blankets, blankets, tablecloths) and much more. Greece also produces high-quality clothing and footwear.

The opening hours of stores vary depending on the time of year, but mostly outlets are open from 09:00 to 20:00, Sunday is a day off.
Sales are held twice a year - in winter and summer.

Surprisingly, there is no other country in the world that would be so understandable and close to us literally from childhood, like Greece. Let's remember what our Houses of Culture look like even in the most provincial cities - these are, at a minimum, copies of ancient Greek temples with Greek porticos on the columns!.. What about the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks? Didn’t they read them to you at night? .. Plaster heads in circles? .. Greek salad for the holiday? .. “Thais of Athens” by Ivan Efremov, finally, after which the boys quit smoking and ran to the rocking chair, and the girls to the hairdresser’s to get along look like ancient Greek heroes and mistresses.

By the way, about love - about the very one! In the late USSR, we also learned about it exclusively from the “Greek Fig Tree” - remember this cassette tape?

And what about this beautiful country? After all, they heard that something is still missing in it, contrary to the statement of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov: “Greece has everything! ..” (“Wedding”). And there are not enough Russian tourists, well, directly - very much! You need a lot of them at once. Not less than a million! That is how many Greeks are ready to receive this year the "boys from Tagil" or oil workers from Salekhard, with their children and wives, friends and colleagues. Because it is tourism, and nothing else, that is the locomotive of the Greek economy.

In the central part of Rhodes (city), an ancient fortress and partly temple buildings have been preserved. The local children, without any reverence, immediately play football, ride bikes. Literally, huge cruise ships moor to the ancient walls of the fortress. And right there, a tiny by today's standards entrance to the bay, in the alignments of which once stood the famous Colossus of Rhodes. The same Colossus that was one of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. What is more curious: four of those seven miracles were created by the Greeks! ..

And now, after centuries and millennia, it is good to sit on this embankment, along which no one just walked or rode in chariots, and reflect on how the world once was. And even if you are the most inveterate cynic, you will not take away merit from the Greeks. And even now, when there is a terrible crisis in their country, the Greeks, like the Soviet people once, do not lose historical optimism. They live and work quite to themselves in Greek - with dignity and without whining. Therefore, the next time you are locked up, try to throw everything to hell and be born again, but already - Greeks! ..

Anatoly Strunin

Greece, Rhodes

👁 Do we always book a hotel on Booking? Not only Booking exists in the world (🙈 we pay for a horse percentage from hotels!) I have been practicing for a long time

All ancient Greek gods were ardent patriots. But this did not prevent each of them from loving some particular corner of Hellas and patronizing it and taking care of its prosperity in every possible way. Therefore, for every tourist, a trip to Greece is a kind of “test”: if both your and divine tastes coincide, then, logically, your characters have some kind of similarity. Let's check this statement, shall we?

Athens is the patron city of the goddess of wisdom.

According to the myth, both the lord of the seas Poseidon and the goddess of wisdom Athena valued the local hills with the same passion and adoration. The dispute between them was resolved democratically, turning to the "voice of the people." They say, whose of the divine gifts will be "higher quality", he will own the city.

Poseidon struck the rock with his trident, and a spring gushed out of the rock. Athena in turn, being a wise and practical lady, she presented people with an olive branch as a gift - according to them, the progenitor of the famous (and very profitable) olive groves. The city began to bear the name of Athena. The choice was made right. Under the patronage of the goddess of wisdom, the city of Athens flourishes to this day. Athens the capital of the country - and that says it all.

Located between the mountains in a kind of bowl, the city is large, full of life and striking in its modernity. You know speculatively about the ancient splendor of the area. The past of Athens is fragments, according to which everyone tries to recreate the image. The Acropolis helps in this. The majestic Parthenon Temple of Athena Parthenos, as if hovering over the city and visible from any point.

Temple Hill that surrounds Plaka- this is an area where, behind the tinsel of various tourist coffee houses, souvenir shops and bustling crowds, a pattern of local antique streets, untouched by 25 centuries, peeps through. Local writing does not look alien to the eye of our tourist. And unexpectedly for yourself, you can easily read “metaphor” on a truck, “Aphrodite” on a hotel, and “charter” on a trash can. The sounds of "divine speech" invigorate the imagination, and everyone involuntarily tries to imagine that it was here two and a half thousand years ago.

Agora- this is the market square of ancient Athens, it was here that the whole city life boiled up. There were wells and pools on the market square, poplars and plane trees grew, here are the ruins of a once painted colonnade - motley stand who gave its name to the school of the Stoics. Under the walls of the temple of Hephaestus, local merchants traded in bronze, and a stock exchange was located right there. Now it's quiet here.

The spirit of the bazaar "moved" to Monastiraki square. The ancient word "agora" is still alive in the name of the covered market "Kendriki Agora". Here the weight is mountains - a mountain of oranges, a mountain of lemons and a mountain of eggplants. The fish lies on the shelves in hillocks: each type of fish has its own cooking. You can try nearby. There are many taverns here. The best taverns are taverns without a sign, something was above the entrance, but has long been erased. The interior of establishments is also an indicator: the simpler the decoration, the better. Here and order a jug of retsina - these are wines with a resinous aftertaste and fried barabuni with a "chorus" of snacks. And after the third glass of retsina, you will understand for yourself - the wise spirit of Athens is still alive.

Athens is not knocked down by a large abundance of monuments. Everything is in moderation and everything is proportionate to the person. And all thanks to the fact that twenty-five centuries ago they wisely decided for themselves that luxury is the absence of the need for the necessary.

Delphi - the domain of Apollo

In Greece, there are areas that are deeply immersed in antiquity: Olympia, which strikes with its kind of bodily authenticity; Temple of Athena Aphaia, which is located in a pistachio grove on aegina and forbidden to sleep forever virgin Business with. Mysterious Delphi with its gloomy beauty occupy a special place in this list. Delphi was the spiritual center of the Hellenic world. A city that enjoyed equal authority among the Thracians, Lydians, Phoenicians and even the Romans. The Greeks themselves considered the city of Delphi the center of the earth.

According to the legend Zeus from the 2 outskirts of the world he sent swift-winged eagles, who met in Delphi. At the meeting place of the eagles, an omphalos was installed, which means the symbolic "navel of the earth." This large cone-shaped stone was interpreted in ancient times as the "circle of the sun", the seat of the inner light. Therefore, the patron of arts god was chosen as the main deity of Delphi. Apollo. However, the son of Zeus had other merits before Delphi: it was Apollo who immured the vicious, stinking serpent into the rock - Python.

However, the snake spirit was so strong that fetid fumes seeped even into a crack in the rock. And people who inhaled poisonous fumes acquired the gift of prophecy. A temple was built over a crack in the rock, and priestesses-prophetesses, who were called Pythia, appeared in Delphi itself. The ritual that accompanied the prophecies was quite lengthy and complex, the foreshadowing of the prophecy was often vague. However, the authority of the Delphic oracles themselves was undeniable.

Rich gifts were brought to the priests and Apollo. The gifts very quickly made Delphi one of the richest and most beautiful cities of the ancient world. The center of the city was the majestic Temple of Apollo. Time did not spare the building, but several marble columns surrounded by cypresses and laurels still rush to the sky. The branches cast shadows on the gleaming white marble road.

The water flowing from the Castal spring, which gave purity of thoughts to the prophetesses, is still transparent and cold. They say that Apollo gave these jets a special power: she endowed athletes with energy and youth; and gave inexhaustible inspiration to poets. No wonder that it was here that the famous Delphic Games took place, which included competitions of harpists, poets, riders and athletes.

The heyday of Delphi is long gone, but even today the city of Apollo is still crowded. It is best to come here early in the morning and, looking around, hide from the crowds of tourists in the archaeological museum. Even those who are not fans of museum expositions will get real pleasure contemplating the magnificent sculpture of the Charioteer and the magnificent beauty of the marble Antinous.

And if you are lucky, and you can observe a phenomenon that impressed even the ancient Greeks: only under certain weather conditions, the word that was uttered at the temple of Apollo is reflected from the rocks of the Delphi Gorge, becomes clearer and louder and returns to you with an almost deafening thunder. This nymph echo frolic. Such is the place of Delphi.

Crete - the island of thunder

In one of the caves of the island of Crete, the winner of the titans, Zeus, was born. Milk divine goats of Amalthea endowed him with the power that allowed him to become the lord of Olympus. It was here that Zeus brought the beautiful princess Europe who gave birth to the wise Minos. And later a skilled architect Daedalus here he built his labyrinth, in which Theseus fought the minotaur Icarus flew up to the sun. And, it seems that since those distant times the island has not grown old and has not changed at all. Above it, the blue of the sky is still transparent, and its air is filled with the aroma of flowering orange trees and the sea.

The most “royal” and the largest of all the Greek islands, Crete is conditionally divided into the sparsely populated western Crete and comfortable eastern Crete, beloved by tourists, which has preserved its majestic pristine picturesqueness. Only here you can feel the unique aromas of honey and herbs, the intoxicating tartness of wines and the unforgettable taste of peasant food - cheese, bread and olives.

To enjoy and feel all the charm of the homeland of Zeus, you need to have the muscles of an athlete and a brave heart. Don't believe it? Then go to Samaria. At first, our journey will look very harmless. At the entrance to the gorge you will receive tickets that you need to present to the controllers at the exit of the gorge. Don't try to lose your ticket. After all, this is a sure way of counting whether all of those who entered the gorge left it.

There is only one road in the gorge. During the trip, you are expected to walk for 6 hours on a rocky path, for a start - steeply downwards, and then as if straight ahead. But this "right" is worth a lot. 47 times you have to ford the river, at least 200 times you will go around giant boulders. And no one has calculated how many times you want to stop to gasp enthusiastically or capture what you see on the camera. Pines of the most bizarre forms; rocks that are wrapped in clouds and flowers of the most bizarre colors. Perhaps in all of Greece, the Samaria Gorge is the leader in the number of endemic plants.

By the way, only here and nowhere else do the descendants of the divine Amalthea These are kri-kri goats. If you are lucky, you will be able to see with your own eyes. Just watch carefully. Somewhere in the middle of the road, this becomes a difficult task, because. legs are filled with lead, and all attention is focused only on not stumbling.

Myths say that the goddess loved to hunt here Artemis. The tastes of the goddess were very, very peculiar. But on the other hand, when 14 rocky kilometers have already been covered, how pleasant it is to wash away all fatigue in the emerald sea wave and fall on the black volcanic sand heated by the sun and feel like a hero. What else could a pampered European want?

By the way, in ancient times, many ancient gods loved to travel around Greece incognito. Therefore, the Greeks invariably rejoiced at the appearance of each guest, showing him maximum hospitality - after all, anyone who knocked on the door could turn out to be a god.

Such a serious motivation served to create a tradition of hospitality, which now, after many centuries, we use with you: numerous luxury hotels in Greece and the modern service system are equipped only according to this principle. Every tourist here is not just a guest, but at least a god for the locals - an ancient Greek…