Paying by card is not as common in Greece as in other countries. Although quite a few places do allow card payment, some may not. Cash is the norm for many smaller Greek shops, restaurants, and hotels. When traveling in Greece, you should never solely trust your card. Always carry real money with you instead.Continue reading “Why you should not rely on paying with your credit card in Greece”
Category Archives: greeks
Why do many Greek men have a beard?
While strolling around a Greek town or village, you might be surprised by an abundance of facial hair. And abroad, you are often able to recognize the Greeks by their beards as well. Although Greek men have a variety of facial hair, from mustaches to stubbles to full-grown beards, not often do you see aContinue reading “Why do many Greek men have a beard?”
Greek time
Whoever believes that time in Greece is EEST, Eastern European Standard Time, is wrong. Although the Greek clock may tick according to EEST, real Greek time is a totally different concept. The Greeks only use EEST (clock) time for the airport, public transportation, and tourists. Even these are often late in Greece, but I stronglyContinue reading “Greek time”
Where are all the Greek women?
Image from Google’s local host Lakis Tham Traveling through Greece, you might have noticed all the old men, endlessly sipping coffee in front of a traditional kafeneío. These men seem to be a static part of the decor of every Greek village, but where are the women? The grandmothers Let’s start with old times, theContinue reading “Where are all the Greek women?”
Greek toilets. What to prepare for
Whoever believes that going to a Greek toilet is like visiting a restroom in the Netherlands, is wrong. The experience of emptying your blatter in Greece is unique and unlike doing the same thing in the rest of Europe or even the US. Prepare yourself for your next summer holiday and keep reading. Don’t flushContinue reading “Greek toilets. What to prepare for”
The many abandoned and unfinished buildings in Greece
During your stay in Greece, you might be surprised by the many empty or half-finished buildings you come across. You find them in cities, towns, villages, and even remote areas. They are everywhere, and as an architect, I wanted to understand the reason behind them. After talking with many Greek citizens and homeowners I createdContinue reading “The many abandoned and unfinished buildings in Greece”
Siga, Siga
During your stay in Greece, while sipping coffee in front of the sea, you will hear the phrase, “siga siga” all around you. But what does it mean? Is it an exotic island like Bora Bora, or the scientific name of an animal like Vulpes Vulpes? Why would all the Greeks keep talking about thisContinue reading “Siga, Siga”
Traveling with the Greeks means chaos
This story is for all the non-Greeks that are about to meet their Greek in-laws. As well as the Greeks that have a non-Greek family member. But also for everyone else. Because traveling with the Greek family through the eyes of an outsider makes a funny story. The first time I went to Greece toContinue reading “Traveling with the Greeks means chaos”
The old, the empty, and the ugly. The story behind architecture in Greek cities.
The Greeks are famous for their architecture, they even invented this type of art. Look at the Parthenon, the temple of Apollo, or the theatre in Philippi. All amazing architecture, and all on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites today. But also on the islands, the architecture resembles an art. The idyllic villages withContinue reading “The old, the empty, and the ugly. The story behind architecture in Greek cities.”
The coffees you must try in Greece
Greeks love their coffee and they are really good at making it. As a result, every gas station, supermarket, shopping street, beach, and even ferry is equipped with coffee that is even tastier than what you can get at the most famous coffee place here in the Netherlands. But how to know which coffee toContinue reading “The coffees you must try in Greece”