Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DIVINE INSPIRATION
A high proportion of the ancient sites still seen in
Greece today were built as shrines and temples to
the
gods
, primarily the twelve who lived on Mount
Olympus.
Zeus
, the lord of the heavens and
supreme power;
Hera
, his wife and sister, goddess
of fertility;
Athena
, the goddess of wisdom, patron
of crafts and fearless warrior;
Apollo
, the god of
music, of prophecy and the arts; his sister
Artemis
,
the virgin huntress and goddess of childbirth;
Poseidon
, the god of the sea; beautiful
Aphrodite
,
goddess of love and desire;
Hermes
, the
messenger who leads the souls of the dead to the
underworld;
Hephaestus
, the god of craftsmen;
Ares
, the god of war;
Demeter
, the goddess of
crops and female fertility; and
Dionysus
(pictured
left), god of wine and intoxication. Worshipped,
feared and admired, they formed the basis for the
ancient Greek religion until paganism was banned
by the Romans in AD 391.
almost certainly hit a stormy spell, especially in western Greece or in the mountains,
but for most of that month the “little summer of Áyios Dhimítrios” (the Greek
equivalent of
Indian summer
) prevails, and the southerly Dodecanese and Crete are
extremely pleasant. Autumn in general is beautiful; the light is softer, the sea often
balmier than the air and the colours subtler.
December to March
are the coldest and least reliably sunny months, though even then
there are many crystal-clear, fine days. The more northerly latitudes and high altitudes
endure far colder and wetter conditions, with the mountains themselves under snow
from November to May. The
mildest winter
climate is found on Rhodes, or in the
southeastern parts of Crete. As spring slowly warms up,
April
is still uncertain, though
superb for wild flowers, green landscapes and photography; by
May
the weather is more
settled and predictable, and Crete, the Peloponnese, the Ionian islands and the Cyclades
are perhaps at their best, even if the sea is still a little cool for swimming.
Other factors that affect timing for Greek travels have to do with the level of tourism
and the amenities provided. Service standards occasionally slip under peak season
pressure and room prices on the islands can rocket. If you can only visit during
midsummer, it is wise to reserve a package well in advance, buy any ferry tickets
beforehand or plan your itinerary off the beaten track. You might choose, for instance, to
explore the less obvious parts of the Peloponnese and the northern mainland, or
island-hop with an eye for the remoter places.
Out of season on the islands
you will have to contend with reduced ferry and plane
services plus fairly skeletal facilities when you arrive. You will, however, find reasonable
service on main routes and at least one hotel and taverna open in the port or main town
of all but the tiniest isles. On the mainland, winter travel poses no special difficulties
except, of course, in mountain villages either cut of by snow or (at weekends especially)
monopolized by avid Greek skiers.
