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Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

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By Keith and Pete
October 8th 2008

Changing of the dog, er, I meant guard

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

shoes have pompoms

This dog laying on the steps didn't move, much less get replaced by a fresh dog. The Royal Guards are replaced each hour, during a little ceremony. But she slept through the all the marching, and picture taking. On our last day in Greece we hurried over to the House of Parliament, just in time to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards wear a type of kilt, woolen stockings with garters, and leather clogs with big pompoms on the toes. Their hats kind of remind me of daddy's "fez", with a very [View Full Entry]

By Keith and Pete
October 7th 2008

a beach day on a Greek Island

Europe » Greece » Attica » Hydra

beach umbrellas

With our time in Greece quickly coming to an end, we are looking forward to spending a couple of days on the island of Hydra. The hydrofoil ride over from Pelopennese, was a first for us. It's a boat on skis, you "vibrate" across the water. Before we knew it we were docking at Hydra Town. If we had needed help with our luggage or getting to the Hotel Leto, we could have hired one of the many donkeys waiting at the landing! No need, we formed the luggage parade, and off we went up the narrow streets. You do not [View Full Entry]

By Teplyn
October 5th 2008

Sept 30 - Oct 2

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Tuesday Sept 30 Had my very first cancelled class since being in college! My Ethnography teacher was sick, so I had a break from 10:40-1:30pm. Other than that, not a lot of news for the day… Wednesday Oct 1 My first experience at a Greek hospital! - No I did not injure myself…yet. In order to get our student visas extended for the full time that we are studying here, we were required to visit the hospital for TB screening. So, along with the 15 other CYA-ers in my group, I received the TB test shot and also had to have [View Full Entry]

By Teplyn
October 5th 2008

Oct 3 - 4: Teplyn Gets Mugged

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Friday Oct 3 Had to get up in the morning for my return visit to the hospital to check my TB shot and get the paperwork signed by the doctor, which took all of 5 minutes thankfully. Later in the day, met up with Shoshana again and briefly went to her apartment in Kolonaki - a MUCH nicer neighborhood than my own, and a much larger kitchen…lucky! After getting ready, we walked to the Hard Rock Café in Syntagma Square to watch their broadcast of the American Vice Presidential Debates. Unfortunately, it cost 10 euro to get in. Neither of us [View Full Entry]

By molloy87
October 4th 2008

Athens, Greece. June 2008.

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Hey Everyone, Well after 35hours on three planes, via Hong Kong and Frankfurt, we finally arrived in Athens at 4am in the morning. We found out when checking our emails in Hong Kong airport (we had a 5 hour stopover there) that the place we had booked to stay in Athens, we couldn’t check in at that time in the morning (how helpful!) So we arrived, and were hoping that there might be a free room in the hotel just outside the Athens airport, but they were full, so we went back into the airport and there was a travel agent [View Full Entry]

By Teplyn
October 3rd 2008

Crete! (...finally)

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

New 186

**Sorry this has taken so long to get up, I feel like I've been playing catch up ever since we got back from the trip and just haven't had the time! Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008 After a day made long by anticipation, we finally boarded the CYA busses at 6:30pm to head to the port of Piraeus. Although I had expected a ferry resembling that which we took to Santorini, I was pleasantly surprised by Minoan Line’s “Knossos Palace.” Not only was it much larger and nicer than the Santorini ferry, it had a bunch of cafes, shops and movie theater [View Full Entry]

By Gord and Brenda Greek Islands
October 1st 2008

Here we are

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Arrived safe and sound in Athens yesterday afternoon...pretty smooth trip all in all, just very very long. Loved Greece as soon as we stepped out of the airport...people are very helpful and friendly, so much English spoken. In the Diva hotel which is well...interesting! Didn't know til this morning that they had wireless internet! Anyway...my battery is low and we want to do some sight seeing today (our only day in Athens...) Had a great dinner last night...souvlaki, gyro and a deli Greek salad! Bye for now B&G [View Full Entry]

By Gord and Brenda Greek Islands
October 1st 2008

Day 2 Athens

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

coming in for landing
Thought we'd give Alitalia a plug since they actually stayed in business long enough for us to get here! That's Greece down there...

Hey! Hardly know where to start, what a day it's been. We are endelessly fascinated by the way people drive here...motorbikes squeeze between any vehicle they can, cars and buses go like the wind, weaving in and out where you can't imagine there is room but apparently it works because we have not seen one accident. Pedestrians are fearless. We have found people to be very friendly and so helpful. We get lost everytime we turn around it seems so we have needed a lot of help! We really have no idea just exactly where we are staying in the the [View Full Entry]

By Gord and Brenda Greek Islands
September 29th 2008

And they're off....

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Leaving home
The large suitcase is only half full...lots of room for goodies!

Good Morning! Wills updated check Voted check Hair cut check Alitalia still in business check e-tickets check Passports check Luggage check Flea and Tick treatment check? Hahahah! Applied Fletchers flea and tick stuff just before leaving home...a few miles down the road I was overcome by an urge to give him a few smoochy nuzzles on his neck. I felt something wet with my lips and thought oops! My lips immediately went numb. I am now truly prepared for this trip. Found some smarty-pants tips for things [View Full Entry]

By S and M
September 29th 2008

Athens - Early one morning

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

The Parthenon

Guided by second hand accounts we'd never intended staying in Athens. We still weren't, but arriving at Athens airport at 8.00am for our 3.00pm departure to Dubai left us a yawning gap to fill. Our hosts in Dubai, Dan & Anthia have a 3 year old son. Kids always need more toys and we would go shopping in downtown Athens. Not wanting to be complete consumerist slaves we decided to see the Acropolis on our way to the mall. Leaving our bags in storage we left the terminal and stepped onto the railway. The railway is Lego set brand-new. It looks [View Full Entry]

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