[Weekender] A guide to gorgeous Greece

Erechtheum and the Porch of the Caryatids, located in the Acropolis of Athens, is one of the most popular sites for tourists. / Korea Times photos by Han Sang-hee

By Han Sang-hee

GREECE — The country may be undergoing rough times, budget deficits and protests, but Greece remains one of the most famous destinations in the world, attracting more than 15 million tourists annually. Its beaches, sunny weather, historical sites and natural beauty have helped the nation earn a place among the top 20 favorite tourist destinations and, despite rocky patches, is one of the must-see locations to visit during one’s lifetime.

Athens, the city of gods

Upon arrival at Athens International Airport on a late October day, the warm and sunny weather is instantly noticeable from the bright windows and cool attire passersby are wearing. The ride into the city takes 30 minutes from the airport and, once there, the historical sites dot the capital.

Greece was once famous for its shipbuilding industry, but since Korea has surpassed the country in the business, it has turned toward tourism. In particular, agrotourism (or ecotourism) has taken off with vacation packages at farms and orchards. Greek farms have welcomed tourists, offering them a chance to experience the local way of life, traditional cuisine, and even cultural programs. Popular locations for tours include the island of Crete, northwestern Epirus and the coastal Peloponnese.

Other sites not to miss include famous landmarks. The Acropolis of Athens lies in the heart of the modern city, while museums housing specimens of ancient Greek sculpture and other art provide a bit of cultural education.

The Acropolis literally means “the highest city,” and was a fortress and chosen site to build a new settlement. The venue served as a stronghold in times of danger, containing military and food supplies, shrines of the gods and royal palaces. The trails leading to the Acropolis are indeed breathtaking. Numerous tourists stop for photos, taking in the words of their travel guides, and even making quick calls to loved ones — boasting that they are standing face to face with the Parthenon.

The 2,500-year-old Parthenon is currently under construction, making it difficult to fully enjoy its grandeur, but standing in front of a part of history is nonetheless a rare moment.

Another favorite is the Erechtheum, a temple on the northern side of the Acropolis. Built between 421 and 406 B.C., it was built in honor of the legendary King Erechtheus. The Porch of the Caryatids is what makes the temple so special: six draped female figures serve as supporting columns, each sculpted individually and uniquely from the other, yet still equally feminine and graceful. While the actual figures on the temple are replicas, the originals are stored safely in the Acropolis and British Museums.

Founded in 1866, the National Archaeological Museum is the largest archeological museum in the country. The building itself is a protected monument and its collection is displayed under 11 themes, including the Prehistoric Collection, Bronze Collection and Hellenistic Pottery.

Walking along the spacious halls and rooms is a treat, and it’s a sight to see young students seated in front of the sculptures; some listening to their teachers, others sketching or comparing the actual work with photos from history books. Take a good look at the map, a clerk from the museum said, as the spacious rooms and the mesmerizing sculptures are bound to leave you lost in no time. For more information on the museum, visit http://odysseus.culture.gr.

Santorini, a man-made paradise

Along with the historical part of the tour, many tourists visit the famous volcanic island of Santorini located in the southern Aegean Sea, southeast of the mainland. Locally known as the backdrop of a popular soft drink commercial, Santorini is beautiful to look at, but it is also a great place to relax and explore, as it is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. Called “Thira” in Greek, the island comprises of the Municipality of Thira and the Community of Oia, both of which include the blue and white villas that made the venue so famous.

Fira, the capital and main village of the island, is a popular stop for tourists thanks to its narrow, zigzagged streets lined with boutiques, restaurants, cafes and gift shops. While Fira is the place to purchase souvenirs, Oia is for enjoying the art of Santorini, with plenty of galleries and cultural centers.

Santorini has also become a popular place for wine. Moving along the coast, it is easy to find grapevines, and most of the restaurants proudly recommend homemade wines as their specialty. One of the most famous is Vinsanto, a dessert wine that has gained popularity for its strong and sweet taste, and the anise-flavored Ouzo.

Present and future

Few would question the historical and cultural importance of Greece, but its recent financial tumble has been a blow to its pride.
In April, the government requested the activation of a European Union-International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package, and the nation has since struggled amid strikes and international criticism. However, recent reports have shown that the country is slowly getting back to its feet through its reform program.

According to Athena Dereta, deputy minister of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the government has been working on reducing budgets, including cutting back the number of pension corporations to 13 from a whopping 150.

“The pension plan is directly related to the lives of the people, so we faced a lot of opposition from public workers, bankers and journalists, but they understood the seriousness of the situation,” she said.

She explained that if Greece had not applied for the bailout, all of the pension corporations in the country would have gone bankrupt within five years.

No country should be able to fall for one reason, on one single day — so why didn’t Greece and its government do something earlier?
“The world may have read negative things about the country for the past year, but we Greeks have great patriotic pride. It’s hard to explain, but I would like to say that we faced the crisis because of our political system,” Dereta said.

According to news reports, Greece’s rescue package program has had a great start, but still faces important challenges ahead.
“It was indeed a slap in the face, but the people, political parties and the government will do the best we can to pick ourselves back up,” Dereta said with a smile.

For more information on Greece, visit www.visitgreece.kr (Korean, Greek and English).