Category Archives: Practical information for Greece

description de la catégorie : practical information for greece

Health information in Greece, Ashtanga Yoga workshop in Greece (island of Andros and Athens)

In Greece, an informed Yogini being worth (at least) two, you can safely leave with a light heart and joyful soul and enjoy your stay, full of fragrance, colour and sonority…

The Greeks are very warm and welcoming, but the public health system could be much better… In case of necessity, it is better to go to private hospitals (better monitored hygiene). It is a good idea to take out a travel insurance, as “Europe Assistance”).

The European card of health insurance (public service).

For the French :

You get your European insurance card from your social security centre or via it’s website. You will receive it within 15 days. It is valid 1 year, free and personal.

For the Belgians :

Ask the equivalent from your « Mutuelle ».

The card is valid for all countries, members of the European Union

No vaccine is mandatory for Greece (that does not mean that the traveller should not update his vaccinations).

If you have a current treatment, don’t forget your medications. You can take a basic emergency pharmacy with you. Beware of the sun and heat, which can cause sunstroke and dehydration. In Greece, there are many pharmacies where you will find all you need.

Turista (diarrhea)

It is caught, in general, by water or food containing of relatively common bacteria. Some tips and a trip pharmacy containing good medicines are often useful. Prevention remains the best method.

  • The first reaction is to drink clean water, slightly salty, bought in sealed bottles to avoid dehydration.
  • Charcoal capsules.
  • If insufficient, take the Immodium. If there is no effect, then take antibiotics such as “Fluroquinolone.
Toilet paper ?

Toilet paper ?

The toilets

In Greece, one does not throw toilet paper into the toilet bowl; the risk of clogging the pipes is serious. One throws it in the bin prepared to this effect. The other reason is that toilet paper acidifies seawater and our Greek friends are very attached to the quality of the blue of the sea…

On this subject, you can visit the sites :

  • ‘Question-health’
  • “Health trips”, health info by country.
  • S. Adventure, several shops in Belgium and Brussels.
  • Website: traveling-doctors.com 

Other additional information :

  • Travel information, ” flights ” and ” transfer “
  • Find a ” hotel ” in Athens
  • ” Greek Cuisine “

“Greek Cuisine” Travel information, Ashtanga Yoga workshops in Greece (Athens & island of Andros)

Greek cuisine is famous thanks to its “Mediterranean diet” or “Cretan diet”. The countries of the Mediterranean basin have a food tradition based on fruit, vegetables, cereals, walnut and olive oil, dairy products (yoghurt, cheese), aromatic herbs and a low consumption of animal products (meat).

Unesco has recognized Mediterranean cuisine as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2010[1].

This cuisine is not only tasty but also very good for your health, protecting against cardiovascular diseases; degeneration of cognitive functions (memory lapses, etc.)…

Contemporary Greek cuisine uses a lot of olive and walnut oil (omega 3), spices, vegetables, and cereals. Olives, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes, yoghurt, as well as the cheeses, are world famous. The wine is delicious !

cuisine_greek

Greek desserts

Sugar lovers will be in paradise with Greek desserts that are often made with honey and nuts.

Served with wine, ouzo or raki, mezes (something between appetizers and hors d’oeuvres) offer a variety of typical Greek dishes. In a Greek restaurant, if you do not speak Greek, no stress, you go directly to the kitchen, you lift the lids and order what you like.

Most Greeks do not go to a restaurant for gastronomic reasons but to feel well and have a good time with friends. The standing of a restaurant is therefore not a concept which really applies to Greek restaurants: expect paper tablecloths most of the time and no concern for the way the food looks and the muddled order in which it comes to table…   What counts is that you eat well, cheaply and rather copiously in most of the “taverna” found everywhere. You will be charged for the bread and cutlery!

In theory, there is a difference between a taverna and a restaurant (estiatorio). The first is more relaxed and friendly than the second. In practice, the label “restaurant” gives a ‘smarter’ impression for some people, but the label does not always describe what you find inside.

Finally, you will also find Greeks eating in the ouzeria (plural of ouzeri), sometimes also called mezedopolia or even ouzadika. Mezes (or even pikilies when they are larger) that accompany ouzo (local pastis) may be enough for a small meal.

On Andros Island, for your seminar of Ashtanga Yoga, you will eat in the Karanasos Hotel. Our host Sophia is not only a very good yoga teacher; she is also a wonderful cook. At each meal, you will be surprised by the taste and the quality of the food, by the lushness and inventiveness of the Greek culinary tradition. Most of the ingredients are grown organically.

Some tasty standards :

  • Feta: famous Greek cheese, not only eaten in a salad. It can also be fried, coated with sesame seeds, served with honey or coated in batter.
  • Greek Salad (khoriatiki): essential first course and cheap.
  • Tzatziki: yoghurt, cucumber, crushed garlic, olive oil and herbs.
  • Melitzanosalata: eggplant salad.
  • Moussaka: there are also vegetarian moussakas… yummy
  • Kolokithia tiganita: zucchini cut into slices and fried.
  • Dolmades: well known stuffed vine leaves.
  • Briam: a kind of ratatouille (potatoes, zucchini, peppers and tomatoes).
  • Imam baïldi: a dish of Turkish origin, like so many others (eggplant stuffed with onion, tomatoes and herbs).
  • Stuffed TomatoesYemista (orphana): when the tomatoes and peppers are stuffed but with rice (no meat), they are known amusingly as “orphana’ (orphans), my son Surya’s favourite dish.

Snack time.

cuisine_greek03

Greek cafe

 

Greek coffee, avoid asking for a “Turkish coffee”: you won’t be well thought of. Ask instead for “ena helliniko, parakalo!”(One Greek coffee, please). It is normally served with a glass of water.

Retsina, the French are often surprised by its taste. It is a slightly sparkling table wine that is typically Greek.

Additional information:

  • Travel, ‘flight’ and ‘transfer’ information
  • Finding a ‘hotel’ in Athens
  • Taking photos in Greece
  • Information on ‘Health’ in Greece

[1] Wikipedia: the Mediterranean diet  (In 2010, Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco were the first to be recognised, but on December 4, 2013, Portugal, Cyprus and Croatia were also recognised by UNESCO.)

« Travel » Information to Greece

How to get to Greece ?

By plane :

There are many flights to Athens from the main European airports. Book your flight early to get a better price.

Airlines : 

Aegean Airlines (Olympic Air) est membre de la Star Alliance. Aegean has been honored with the Skytrax World Airline Award for the sixth time, as the Best Regional Airline in Europe.

Skytrax World Airline

The Security (or safety) air

Be carefull : All batteries in devices must be charged (TSA). If your mobile phone, your tablet… are discharged, the boarding security service may think you are a terrorist carrying a bomb… 

Control of airport security : 

Security checks are unfortunately necessary to travel by air, some passengers find them more annoying than anything else.

Here are some tips to make sure that everything goes as well as possible :

  • Remove all metal objects such as keys, mobile phones (charged battery), coins, wallet, belt if the loop is metal, etc. and place them in one of the available plastic bins.
  • Remove your coat, jacket, Sleeveless Jacket and place them, as well as your hand baggage, in one of the plastic bins.
  • Remove all liquids and gels from your hand luggage and place them in a separate bin. Don’t forget that you are allowed to carry, only liquid containers and gels up to 100 ml maximum, in your hand baggage, sprays are prohibited.
  • Remove your laptop and tablet from your bag so that they can be analysed separately (battery charged).
  • Follow closely the instructions given by security personnel

And everything should go smoothly, with a smile…

By boat :

It is possible to go to Greece, by ferry (with or without a car) leaving from Italy.

Departure : Ancona (Venice or Trieste) custom and police formalities are quick, arrival at Patras.

Remember to book your crossing : www.greekferries.gr 

To get to the island of Andros

Take the boat from the port of Rafina (20 to 30 minutes from Athens airport (metro).

There is 2 hours of journey – price per person: 19, -€. Dimitri, Sophie’s friend is responsible for all the boat bookings.

You will arrive at GAVRIO. The port of arrival of the ferries is surrounded by sandy beaches but the village itself is far from being the « liveliest » place to reside, the village « goes to sleep » as soon as the ferry leaves. There are many terraces to have a drink or a meal.

You will be greeted at the arrival of the ferry by Sophie or Dimitri, a car will take you to the hotel KARANASOS, Batsi (at 7km from Gavrio), where we stay.

Karanasos hotel

Karanasos hotel

Karanasos Hotel

https://www.google.be/maps/place/Karanasos+Hotel/@37.855194,24.7838088,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xcb074a09df78a1cb

Batsi – Andros
Batsion 845 03
Greece +30 2282 041480

For more information about the island of Andros see

http://www.grecehotels.com/cyclades/andros/index.htm 

To get to Athens

  • Taxi 
  • Beware of swindling on the on prices, which tend to increase for tourists!
  • Normal price: € 35 during the day and € 50 at nighttime. 

Metro

  • Clean, quick, no waiting, a means of transport that I recommend
  • Athens centre to airport: € 8
  • Classic unit ticket: €1.40

Express bus

  • Airport-Athens centre: € 4

Rent a car on spot

Example of price: € 240 for a week and € 500 for 15 days (book through your travel agency, the vehicle will be waiting for you at the airport). 

Formalities :

(For European nationals) valid identity card, or passport

Car: national driving licence + grey card + green card (gasoline prices can vary from a station to another and is very expensive, more than €2 per litre for diesel).  

Practical information 

  • Time difference between France or Belgium and Greece: + 1 hour
  • The currency is the Euro

Opening of banks :

  • Monday to Friday: from 8:30 to 13:00
  • 24 hours a day at Athens airport.
  • There are ATM’s only in big cities. 

Other additional information :

  • Find a ‘hotel’ in Athens
  • ‘Greek Cuisine’
  • Health information in Greece