WHAT TO BRING: THE ESSENTIALS
MONEY: The Greek currency is the drachma (), currently worth approximately 325
drachmas to the dollar. Your dollar will go far in Greece, and shops and restaurants vary widely
as to whether they will take credit cards (shops, virtually always; restaurants, less predictable).
There are two or three banks with foreign exchange in the baggage area in the airport that usually
have a good exchange rate. In addition, we will be staying near many major banks in Athens, and
they all have fairly competitive rates. There are ATM's in Athens that accept credit cards
(perhaps even NYCE ATM cards now) and all banks take travellers' checks. Included in the cost
of the trip are all transportation, hotels, breakfasts and four group dinners. You will need
sufficient funds for lunches (approximately $6/day), six dinners (approx. $15-20/day) and any
personal items.
LUGGAGE: We will be staying in four cities and as we move from place to place you will be
responsible for carrying your luggage to and from the bus. We recommend you bring no more
luggage than you can carry by yourself: we will change planes in London, and in Athens the
airport is notorious for leaving each passenger to his or her own devices - no porters in sight.
You might consider bringing in your luggage a small backpack to carry essentials for the day on
sites - camera, water, notebook, etc. - or at the beach - sandals, towel, etc.
CLOTHING: Greece can be hot in late May and early June and most of the sites we will visit
are uphill and paved with limestone or marble. Bring very comfortable and sturdy walking shoes
that are already broken in, a protective hat, sunblock and sunglasses. You might want to bring
your own small water bottle; the tap water in Greece is safe and blue plastic liter bottles of water
are ubiquitous but cumbersome to carry. Dress during the day is for hot weather: light shirts and
shorts (not bathing trunks); women should bring a skirt they can put on to visit a church (we'll
stop at one near Delphi). Evenings are very casual. Try to bring sufficient clothing for the 10
days; there are few laundries, and they tend to be expensive and slow. You might bring some
drip-dry clothing if you plan to handwash anything. We will visit the beach on at least three
occasions. You might want to bring beach shoes like Tevas® (some of the beaches are beautiful
white sand, but others can be very rocky) and a towel. The Greeks sell beach shoes ("jellies" and
fake Tevas®) and bamboo beach mats as alternatives.
FILM: Film (especially Kodak® but even Fuji®) tends to be expensive in Greece, so you might
want to bring a good quantity with you. You can also pick up a lead-lined bag for your film at
any camera shop, to protect the film through the xray machines (although they claim your film is
safe). Batteries can be purchased easily at kiosks all over Greece, but the better brands are
pricey, so you might want to bring your own supply.
MEDICATION: Although we will be on a ferry boat for only part of one day, if you are
susceptible to seasickness you will want to come prepared. There are a number of remedies
available, both by prescription and over-the-counter. For seasickness, we can recommend
Bonine®; if you think you might encounter problems on the ferry, check with your physician
before you depart. We will be moving through seven time zones, and have found that
Melatonin® works well for jet lag. The recommended dosage is 1/2 milligram the morning of the
day before you travel, and 1/2 each day for the next three days at the same real time you took the
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first pill. Again, check with your physician before taking it. In general, if you require any type of
medication, bring a sufficient supply with you. Greek pharmacies do carry everything that you
can find in the US, but if you are dependent upon any medication especially in an emergency,
you do not want to discover that the one pharmacy open in Delphi on a Sunday does not
understand your prescription.
RESTAURANTS AND SHOPPING
Athens: Restaurants
Plaka: Moderate
Eden Vegetarian, 12 Lissíou. No credit cards. From Adrianoú take Mnissikléos up 2 blocks
towards Acropolis. Vegetarian. Non-smoking section.
Platanos Taverna, 4 Dioyénous. No credit cards. Closed Sundays. From Adrianoú take
Mnissikléous up 1 block towards Acropolis. Greek.
Taverna Xinos, Angélou Yéronda 4. 322-1065. Reservations recommended. No credit cards.
Closed Sat.-Sun. Classic Greek taverna.
To Tristato, 34 Dédalou. No credit cards. Near Agíou Yéronda. Snacks/desserts. Tearoom,
new age, healthful and homemade, good for late breakfast, afternoon tea, light supper, late-
night desert.
Others to consider: Tavernas - Avyssinia, Avyssinia Square; Diporto, 13 Theatrou; Kostos,
116 Adrianou or Thanassis, 69 Mitropoleos (both for souvlaki only)
Syntagma: Moderate
Diros, 10 Xenofóndos. Credit cards. One block south of Sýntagma. Greek, air-conditioned.
Neon, 3 Mitropóleos. No credit cards. Southwest corner of Sýntagma. Sandwiches, salads,
desserts.
Kentrikon, 3 Kolokotróni. No credit cards. Closed Sat.? One block up Stadíou.
Greek/international. Air-conditioned.
Kafenion, 26 Koukaniou. Best for appetizers and ouzo.
Kolonaki: Moderate
Dimokritos, 23 Dimókritou. No credit cards. Four blocks NW of Kolonaki Square on Skoufa,
turn right on Dimokritou off Skoufa. One block up, up one floor, with “Taverna” on the
doors. Overlooks Church of Áyios Diónysos. Very good game, fish (esp. swordfish
souvlaki), lamb.
Rodiá Taverna, 44 Aristíppou. No credit cards. Closed Sun. Below street level, at the foot of
Lykavitós Hill. Octopus, beef, bourékis (vegetable pastries), fresh halvá.
The city of Athens is full of inexpensive tavernas, souvlaki stands, restaurants with an
international cuisine and places that cater both to Greeks and tourists. Try to avoid restaurants
that display "tourist menus" and restauranteurs who hustle business outside the entrances of their
establishments. Any decent taverna will allow you, and even encourage you, to come in and look
at the dishes on the menu for the evening. This is traditional practice and a good way to learn
about Greek cuisine.
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Athens: Shopping
Main shopping area is in the triangle between Athinás, Ermoú, and Stadíou. Upscale shopping on
Ermoú (Sinanis, Tsandilis for women; Marks and Spencer’s towards Monasteráki). Plaka is
largely for tourists, but there are some good jewelry/antique stores and a good sweater store on
Pandróssou.
Antiques: Pandróssou St. in Monasteráki (the last block before Monasteráki Square); try
Orpheus at 28B Pandróssou for accurate museum copies.
Bookstores: Compendium, Nikis 28 near Plaka; Eleftheroudákis, 17 Panepistimíou near
Syntagma.
Clothes: On Ermoú; also in Kolonaki on Kanári, on Anagnostopoúlou, on Sólonos, on
Heródotou, etc.
Crafts: Center of Hellenic Tradition, 3 Mitropóleos and 36 Pandróssou (Plaka, arcade); Greek
Women’s Institution, 3 Kolokotróni (embroideries).
Jewelry: high quality (and prices) at Lalaounis and Zolotas, both shops near Syntagma.
Nauplion: Restaurants
Ta Phanaria, Staikopoulos 13. Credit cards. Greek. Attractive setting, excellent food.
The Pharos, Akti Miaoulis by the children’s playground. This and other places along the
waterfront, for ouzo and snacks.
Savouras Psarotaverna, Leoforos Bouboulinas 79. Fish by the kilo. Credit cards. Very good
though crowded.
Ice cream: Pink Panther (Staikopoulou), Fantasia (Staikopoulou), Napoli di Romania (Akti
Miaoulis).
Nauplion: Shopping
Aeolis, 4 Vas. Konstantinou. Jewelry.
To Enotion, Staikopoulou. Museum-quality reproductions of shadow theater.
Delphi and Arachova: Shopping
Delphi: one good antique store, up one level in the village, not far from the Zorba Taverna.
Arachova: Anemi (weavings), Katina Panagakou (crafts).
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ESSENTIAL GREEK VOCABULARY
ENGLISH GREEK ENGLISH GREEK
Airport Aerodrómio Water Neró
Bank Trápeza Bread Psomí
Breakfast Próino Wine Krasí
The bill, please Tón logaryazmó, parakaló. Retsina Retsína
Cheap Ftinó Beer Bíra
Closed Klistó Coffee Kafé
Coffeehouse Kafenío Tea Tsaí
Dinner Vradinó Sugar Záchari
Do you speak English? Miláte angliká? Orange drink Portokaláda
Excuse me Signómi Marmelade Marmeláda
Glad to meet you Chéro polí Cheese Tirí
Good Kaló Eggs Avgá
Goodbye Adío Fork Piroúni
Good evening Kalispéra Spoon Koutáli
Good health to us/Cheers Yá mas Knife Macheíri
Good health to you Yássas Dish Piáto
Good morning Kaliméra Glass Potíri
Good night Kaliníchta Napkin Petséta
Hello Yássas Salt Sál
Here Edó Pepper Pipéri
Hotel Xenodochío Yogurt dip with garlic Tzatzíki
How are you? Tí kánete? Potatoes Patátes
How do you say …? Pósse léne …? Red mullet (grilled) Barboúnia
How far? Pósso makría? Shrimp Garídes
How much is it? Pósso káni? Squid (fried) Kalamarákia
I am from the US Íme apó tin Ínomenís Politeías Octopus Oktapódi
I am lost Ego chathí Swordfish Xifías
I am sorry Lipáme Lamb Arní
I don't speak Greek Dén miláo elliniká Lamb (skewer) Souvlaki
I don't understand Dén katalavéno Lamb chop Paidákia
It is hot Káni zésti Pork chop Brizóla chriní
It is cold Káni krío Beef/veal chop Brizóla moschári
I want Thélo Stuffed grape leaves Dolmádes
I want to go to the hotel Thélo ná páo stó xenodochío Meatballs Keftédes
I want a glass of beer Thélo éna potíri bíra Chicken Kotópoulo
Left Aristerá Sausage Loukaniká
Lunch Messimerianó Meat and eggplant casserole Moussaká
Map Chártis Macaroni and meat casserole Pastitsío
Market Supermárket Spaghetti with meat sauce Makarónia me kimá
More Perissóteros Phyllo, custard and honey Galaktoboúriko
Mr. Kýrios Phyllo, nut and honey Baklavá
Mrs. Kýria Ice cream Pagotó
My name is … Onomázome … Rice pudding Rizógalo
New Kenoúrios Ice Págos
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ENGLISH GREEK ENGLISH GREEK
No Óchi 0 Midén
OK En dáxi 1 Éna
Old Paleós 2 Dío
Open Anichtó 3 Tría
Patisserie Zacharoplastío 4 Téssera
Pharmacy Farmakío 5 Pénde
Please Parakaló 6 Éxi
Post office Tachidromío 7 Eftá
Restaurant Tavérna 8 Októ
Restroom Toualétta 9 Ennéa
Right Dexiá 10 Déka
Shore Paralía 11 Éndeka
Square Platía 12 Dódeka
Stop! Stamátiste 13 Dekatría
Street Odós 20 Íkosi
Telephone Tiléfono 30 Tríanda
Thank you Efcharistó 40 Saránda
Today Símera 50 Penínda
Tomorrow Ávrio 60 Exínda
Too expensive Pió akrivó 70 Evdomínda
Very much Pára polí 80 Ogdónda
Very nice Polí oréos 90 Enenínda
What? Tí? 100 Ekatón
What time is it? Tí óra íne? 200 Diakóssia
What is your name? Pós onomázete? 300 Triakóssia
Where? Poú? 400 Tetrakóssia
Where is …? Poú íne …? 500 Pendakóssia
Why? Yatí? 600 Exakóssia
Monday Deftéra 700 Eftakóssia
Tuesday Tríti 800 Oktakóssia
Wednesday Tetárti 900 Enneakóssia
Thursday Pémpti 1000 Chília
Friday Paraskeví 2000 Dío chiliádes
Saturday Sávato 5000 Pénde chiliádes
Sunday Kiriakí 10,000 Déka chiliádes
Pronunciation guide:
"a" father
"ch" German ich
"d" then
"e" egg
"i" and "y" machine
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