Greece getting around
Geography:Almost four-fifths of Greece is mountainous; Olympus,
Pindus, Parnassus, and Taygetus have peaks higher than 6,500 ft; Olympus
(g,55o ft) is the highest. They rise impressively from tiny plains or
directly from the sea, their steep sides covered with rock, loose
stones, trees, shrubs, wild flowers, and aromatic herbs. The only large
plains are in northern Thessaly and Macedonia.
No point in Greece is more than 55 m. from the sea. The River Achelous
flows for 100 miles. Other important rivers are the Arakhthos, Alpheus
(, Kephisus, and Peneus (Pinios). The climate can broadly be called
Mediterranean. Rainfall is slight, confined mainly to the brief winter,
and most marked in the W. Though the seasons are regular and
predictable, the mild winter (temperatures below freezing are rare
except in the N.) starts officially in mid-December, but often is not
noticeable until February. This is followed by a fleeting, lovely spring
that begins in late March or early April, and by summer, which begins in
May. Summer can be hot, especially July and August, when midday
temperatures of over 95'F. (35'C.) are not exceptional. Autumn is a
pleasant extension of summer.
The soil of Greece is largely dry, though there is no shortage of
vegetation. Wild flowers abound in spring. Though there are many
river-beds, few are of any size, and most dry up entirely during the
summer. Agriculture still works mainly on the principle of the
smallholder who frequently sells his produce only at the nearest market.
Quality is high, especially among citrus and other fruits and the wide
range of vegetables, but there is little standardization. Tobacco is
traditionally the important crop, followed by grapes, olives, and their
by-products. Wheat is now grown in sufficient quantity to yield a
surplus for export. Cotton, largely a post-war development, flourishes.
Flower-cultivation is becoming a major industry, especially in Attica.
Population:The one third of Greece's population live in Athens
and Piraeus, and most of the others in the western Peloponnese, southern
Macedonia, and some of the larger islands. Except for Athens and Piraeus
other big towns in Greece are Thessaloniki, Patras, Lamia, Larissa
Kavala, Korinthos , Volos, Heraclion (Crete). Some of the
population lives in villages of some where activity centres round the
main square, the site of the principal church, hotels, eating-places,
and shops. Except during the after-luncheon siesta, the smallest town
gives an impression of activity, even if much of it consists of
strolling or gathering around the coffee-shops.
The people are proud, dignified, courteous, and hard-working.
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Cheap flights to Greece from the UK |
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Flights to Greece from the UK |
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Charter flights and Holidays to Greece from the UK |
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Flights to Greece from the USA |
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