Greece’s Top 20 - Greece - page 30

» Bellhops Bellhops in hotels or stewards on ferries expect a small gratuity of €1 to €3.
Etiquette
» Eating & Dining Meals are commonly laid in the middle of the table and shared. Al-
ways accept an offer of a drink as it's a show of goodwill. Don't insist on paying if in-
vited out; it insults your hosts. In restaurants, the pace of service might feel slow; dining
is a drawn-out experience in Greece and it's impolite to rush waitstaff.
» Photography In churches, avoid using a flash or photographing the main altar, which
is considered taboo. At archaeological sites, you'll be stopped from using a tripod which
marks you as a professional and thereby requires special permissions.
» Places of Worship If you plan to visit churches, carry a shawl or long sleeves and a
long skirt or trousers to cover up in a show of respect.
» Body Language If you feel you're not getting a straight answer, you might need liter-
acy in Greek body language. 'Yes' is a swing of the head and 'no' is a curt raising of the
head or eyebrows, often accompanied by a 'ts' click-of-the-tongue sound.
Eating
Like much of Europe, the Greeks dine late and many restaurants don't open their doors
for dinner until after 7pm. You will only need reservations in the most popular restaur-
ants and these can usually be made a day in advance.
» Taverna Informal and often specialising in seafood, chargrilled meat or traditional
home-style baked dishes.
» Estiatorio More formal restaurant serving similar fare to tavernas or international
cuisine.
» Mezedhopoleio Serves mezedhes (appetisers); an ouzerie is similar but serves a round
of ouzo with a round of mezedhes.
» Kafeneio One of Greece's oldest traditions, serving coffee, spirits and little else.