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If you want to know about
the weather and what to pack see www.athensguide.com/weather.html
My advice is to pack light. You can always buy something extra
to wear if you need it and once you have seen the sights of
Athens there is nothing more fun than shopping for clothes.
The variety is extensive and you will find designs and
styles that you may not have at home. If you are there during
the sales you can buy your whole wardrobe and save what you
spent on the airfare.
Traveler's Checks or Credit Card?
It doesn't matter. Obviously a credit card is easier to carry
and there is no shortage of ATM machines with instructions in
English.
Preparatory Reading Material for Travel in
Greece
I used to have a list here of recommended books but it got
way out of control. So I made a whole site for books which I
think you will enjoy. There is a section on Guidebooks and Travelogues,
history, cookbooks, novels, poetry and more. It's at www.greektravel.com/books.
Also of interest is my History
of Greece which was supposed to be an introduction but goes
into as much detail as many of the history books do. If you
are wondering what the food in Greece will be like visit www.greecefoods.com
. If you are interested in Greek Mythology check out Dick Caldwell's Greek Mythology
at www.greecetravel.com/greekmyths
Greek Film and Movies about Greece
From
Benji to Zorba and some you have never heard of. See my guide
at www.greecetravel.com/film/mattspicks.htm
Matt's
Greece Photo Album:
If you need inspiration to book your ticket or you
want to pretend you are there I have an entire
gallery worth of photos at
www.mattbarrett.net/photos
If you are
bringing your children and you want to let
them know about Greece from a child's
perspective see my daughter Amarandi's website
at
www.greece4kids.com.
They will love
it but once they read it you will probably have to stay at a
hotel with a pool.
Education
See my Index of
Schools and
Study Abroad Programs
at
www.greecetravel.com/schools
where I list various summer programs, language
courses, various classes and programs that are
more mind-body-spirit than academic and
anything else I could think of.
Remember the name
Theresa
Mitsopoulou. She
is an archaeologist who has devoted her life
to proving that
the ancient Greek and
ancient Chinese cultures are the same. Many
Greek archaeologists consider her a crank but
she has written several books on the subject
and numerous articles and I think she is
rather convincing. Of course some of the most
revolutionary thinkers the world has known
were dismissed by their peers so whether
Theresa is correct only time will tell. But I
have begun to publish her material and if you
are interested in Archaeology or the
implications of what Greece and China being
one and the same could mean then go to
www.greecetravel.com/archaeology/mitsopoulou
Enhance your enjoyment of
Greece:
Learn Greek!
One of the things that seems to
amaze travelers is how many people speak English. Does everyone
in Greece speak English? Not everyone but it is possible that
just about everyone you come in contact with will speak some
English. Still some people want to learn at least a few words
of Greek and these programs are helpful:
The
Read and Speak
Greek CD-Rom program
by Dr. George Balanis and his wife Toula is a fun
way to learn. With hundreds of lessons that cover all
facets of learning Greek, I bought it for my 6-year old
daughter and I use it as well. I have recommended
this to many people. If I used it more than I would probably be fluent
by now. Don't do as I do. Do as I suggest and
check out this program by visiting
www.greecetravel.com/anotek
The Modern Greek
Language Series by Matina Psyhogeos
has grown out of the
need for a comprehensive Beginning through
Intermediate-Advanced course for the student of
the Greek language. The strict criterion is that
techniques and principles of this curriculum are
presented simply and methodically. The Psyhogeos
Program has been tested and applied extensively in
high schools and colleges and was presented, by
its developer - the highly regarded educator - in
many conferences, seminars and workshops in the US
and other English-speaking countries with
excellent results. It offers a variety of books
for the study of the Greek language by the student
at home or under the supervision of an instructor
when the student is very young.
(However I
started on this program when I was 48 and I think
it is
great-Matt)
For more info see
www.greeklanguagecourses.com
 You can use this website to help you learn Greek for your trip. It can be used as a reference
guide for those of you who are already taking Greek classes, or as a simplified course for those who want to start
with the basics. Steve Aronis has put a lot of work
into his site and everytime I look it gets better and better.
Steve created this site for everyone that wants to learn the modern Greek
language on the internet. He has included complete simplified grammar and
tests. I Learn Greek.com also has a Vocabulary directory that contains more than
3000 words and phrases complete with phonetics translation and some of them
sound!
Learn
Greek In Two
Months
The Phonetic Method
is a simple,
practical, self taught course in Greek
language for children or adults. The course offers
vocabulary most frequently used in daily life and
brief dialogues for everyday situations. For $39
(including shipping and handling) you get a book
and two 90 minute cassettes, but the best part is
that Helen Dumas is available three evenings a
week to help students with any problems they may
encounter. Helen Dumas is the Director of Greek
Education and Culture for the Western United
States
For more information
contact Helen at speakgreeknow@aol.com
Music and Extra Stuff
See my
Greek Music
Index at
www.greecetravel.com/music.
The most popular page in
that section is my Introduction
to
Rembetika Music
which is my secret passion.
Originating in the cafes, refugee settlements
and prisons of Greece in the
nineteen-twenties, it became the popular music
of the country.
There is a list of clubs
in my
Athens Survival Guide Guide
and for a list of my favorite Rembetika CD's
see
www.athensguide.com/cds which
is very helpful if
you want to get into Greek Music and are not
sure where to begin.
People keep asking
me: Whatever
happened to Matt Barrett: Poet, Rock-star,
Folksinger?
I used
to be a musician and have a site dedicated to my
music which I think is pretty good. If
you love bands like the Kinks, the Move, Free,
the Beatles, the Raspberries, the Who and Del
Amitri and believe that pop music can have
meaning, melody and be able to make you dance,
then check out my music site at
www.mattbarrett.net/music.
You can listen to my theme song for the 2004 Olympics, which
obviously was not accepted despite me taking the time to remove
all the references to sex and drugs. Maybe a little too much
rock and roll.
Click to hear
All My Friends From Greece
and the flip side
Summertime
Matt
Barrett for Mayor of Athens?
It was not my idea.
If nominated I will not accept. If elected I will
not serve. But what does it pay? To read the
article which appeared in the Athens News go
to
www.greektravel.com/athensnews
My book
Spearfishing
in Skatahori
can be read in it's
entirety at
www.mattbarrett.net/spearfishing
North Carolina? Why not? I live here half the
year. See www.northcarolinatravels.com
Greek Food
and Wine
For the most comprehensive guide to Greek
food and drink see my comprehensive Guide to
Greek food and drink. Pages and pages of Greek
food photos, restaurant reviews, the best
retsina, ouzo and more at
www.greecefoods.com
Greece4kids.com
Other Links
Take a look at my
links for other
interesting websites mostly about Greece or travel
but also of general interest and some eccentric
stuff too. Mostly people who wanted to exchange links
whose pages I liked enough to agree.
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