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Having
exported chaos, drama, tragedy and democracy before most nations
stayed up late enough to want souvlaki, Greece boasts a legacy
that's unrivalled. From smoggy Athens to blindingly bright
islands, there are more ancient fragments than you can shake
a stick at - the belly button of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen
columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan
palaces in Crete and even, quite possibly, the remnants of
Atlantis at Santorini.
Greeks
are fierce guardians of tradition, but that doesn't mean they
don't know how to have fun - their propensity for partying
dates back to Dionysos. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas
conspire to make Greece a compelling place to relax. Whether
you're supping in a beachside taverna, sipping coffee in a
shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn, chances are the
gods already have you ensnared.
Full
country name: Hellenic Republic
Area: 131,944 sq km (51,458 sq mi)
Population: 10.3 million
Capital city: Athens (pop approx. 3.7 million)
People: 98% Greek with minorities of Albanians, Turks and
Slavic-Macedonians
Language: Greek
Religion: 98% Greek Orthodox, 1.3% Muslim, 0.7% other
Government: parliamentary republic
Prime Minister: Kostas Simitis
GDP: US$143 billion
GDP per head: US$14,000
Annual growth: 3.5%
Inflation: 2.6%
Major products/industries: tourism, shipping, food and tobacco
processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining, petroleum
products
Major trading partners: Germany, Italy, France, UK, USA
Member of EU: yes
Euro zone participant: yes
Greece
Flight from UK
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