In April, I spent ten days in Greece. The experience was so unique, much different than any of the places I had traveled before. It’s not quite Western and it’s not quite Eastern either. Greece is also a pretty cheap country, mostly due to their economic problems. Some people are afraid of Greece, perhaps due to their economy or the perceived unsafeness. However, I found Greece to be a charming country. Yet, there are some things you should probably know before going to prevent the culture shock.
1. It’s not all about beautiful, scenic pictures.
I think we all have those postcard-perfect pictures of Greece in our heads. Maybe we think about Kostas from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (although the actor isn’t even Greek). The truth is, Greece is rather dirty.
There is graffiti everywhere, for one. Even in beachside Heraklion, the ride in from the airport gives you a glimpse of run-down buildings. However, if you look past this, you’ll see the real beauty of the place. I think of my own city back in the US. It’s not always beautiful, but that’s what makes it what it is.
That being said, at least there isn’t trash all over the streets … that I have seen.
2. Be prepared the throw toilet paper in the trash can, not the toilet.
Apparently, the plumbing system in Greece is old. I read that they are half the size of the pipes in the US and UK. In almost every public bathroom, you’ll see signs reminding you to throw the toilet paper in the trash.
For us, it’s definitely weird. For Greeks, it’s perfectly normal. If you forget, it’s not too bad. But too much toilet paper and there will be some serious clogs.
3. There are stray cats and dogs everywhere.
Everywhere I went, there were stray cats and dog. It made me a little sad to see them, but they are usually pretty well taken care of. In Heraklion, there were cats everywhere. I saw some on top of a convertible, another snuggled up on a table laying in the sun. They walk around the city hoping for some food.
A stray cat soaking up the sun. 
Leon, the stray dog of Athens, wanting to be a part of the changing of the guards.
In Athens, the dogs are pretty well taken care of. The tour guides give the dogs collars, phone numbers, names, and food. While on my walking tour of Athens, Leon accompanied us. He would walk with us from place to place, taking a nap in the shade while we talked, then following us to the next stop. After the changing of the guards, he ran off into the park, but by the end of the tour, he found us again.
4. It’s not as unsafe as people want you to think.
I’m a solo, female traveler. I have never felt unsafe once in Greece. Most of the unsafe things happen at night, and on top of that, in certain areas. I can say the same about Madrid or my city back in the US, too.
The most important thing is to just be aware of your surroundings. Don’t do anything stupid. Watch out for pickpockets. I learned that they often pretend to be like tourists, taking pictures of the monuments, but really, they are scouting out who to steal from. There are also the gypsies who beg for money. I was told they take babies and feed them vodka and tablets so they will stay asleep, and that the babies are often not even theirs.
5. Greek uses a different alphabet.
This should be an obvious one. The Greek alphabet is just a little different, but some symbols may look familiar from your math and science classes. I started to get a hang of it a little. Remember, the “P” makes an “R” sound, while π make the “p” sound. If you don’t understand anything, most people in these areas speak English, too. Even on TV, a lot of the programs are in English with Greek subtitles.
Even though many people speak English, here are a few helpful phrases.
γεια σας: hello; pronounced “yeah sauce”
ευχαριστώ: thank you, pronounced “ef-har-ee-stow”
παρακαλούμε: please, pronounced “pear-uh-cal-or”
With just these three phrases, you can make the Greeks smiles a bit at your trying their language.
6. Everything is made of marble.
Apparently, Greece is made of over 6,000 islands and 85% of the land is mountains full of marble. The floors in the houses and apartments are marble, which helps keep the houses cool during the summer. Even the public bathrooms are made of marble. While marble is an expensive building material for the rest of the world, in Greece, everyone has it.
Remember, though: Marble gets slippery when hot or wet. On the day of the downpour in Heraklion, I found shelter (although I was already completely soaked) under the old Venetian building used as a town hall. When the rain looked to be letting up a bit, I stepped down the stairs and fell. Luckily, I didn’t get any bruises!
7. Don’t be fooled by the romanticism of ferries.
I thought, “Wow, taking ferries around Greece sounds so cool.” Kind of like when my dad really wanted to take the train through the Chunnel, which turned into a total disaster because all the French people wanted to go shopping in London. PSA: Taking ferries is not fun.
The ferry I took from Crete to Santorini was fine. It took about two hours and twenty minutes (a bit later than the two hours expected). The ferry was also pretty big and spacious, although there were assigned seats. It wasn’t packed, though.
However, when I took the ferry from Santorini back to the Athens, that was a disaster. The ferry was supposed to leave at 12:30. It didn’t even arrive until 1:15. Then we all had to hurry onto the ship. We left our luggage at the back of the boat, where all they did was cover it with a tarp. It had been very windy, so we were experiencing some choppy waves. Luckily, I had taken my Dramamine this time.
On top of all that, they boat was squished. It made a bunch of stops at every small island in the Cyclades. We were supposed to arrive at 5:30. We didn’t make it there until after 7:30. It was miserable. Never again. Unless you are only a short half hour or hour ride away, it is not worth the misery.
8. Despite all the craziness, Greece is such a beautiful and wonderful country.
I was sick for the most part of my vacation. It rained a lot. I had to throw toilet paper in the trash can. There were so many weird things to get used to. Despite all this weirdness, I still had such a great time in Greece. The people were super nice. I loved the culture and history. People even though I was Greek. So many people would speak to me in Greek, only to realize I was not in fact Greek when I looked at them funny.
So, if you are unsure of going to Greece because of economic instability or the perceived threat of danger, stop worrying about it. I want to go back to Greece one day. I want to take my parents there one day. Even if you think there are some strange customs, at least you will have some of the best food on the planet!
