Living in Greece
Greece - land of the Gods and the ancient cradle of modern civilisation - is a country rich in culture, history and tradition. The country evokes images of glorious summer sunshine and cobalt blue skies, endless white sandy beaches, picturesque whitewashed villages and deserted islands, sleepy harbours and colourful fishing boats, friendly people (the Greek word for ‘foreigner' is the same as ‘guest'), and a simple, relaxed way of life.
Greece is largely unspoiled with little industry and few high - rise buildings outside the major cities - the islands in particular have escaped the scourge of indiscriminate development common in many other Mediterranean countries. The country also enjoys one of the healthiest diets in Europe, consisting largely of fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil and wine.
Greece is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and a holiday paradise with more than 1,400 islands (relatively few of which are inhabited), over 15,000km (9,320mi) of coastline and some of the finest beaches in the world.
It's also one of Europe's last ‘undiscovered' paradises for holiday homeowners and retirees.
In general Greece enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and wet winters. However you can be sure of sunshine from spring to autumn and Greece boasts over 3000 hours of sunshine a year. Winters are generally mild (particularly by northern European standards) with daytime temperatures averaging around 14o C (58o F).
Greece can be divided into several main climatic regions. The Ionian islands escape the meltemi winds during the summer which are hot, and thanks to abundant rainfall during the winter are the greenest and most verdant of all Greek islands.
Greece has enjoyed a stable and strong economy in recent years, reflected in the strong drachma and the entry of the country into the single European currency the euro. Salaries are generally high and Greeks enjoy a high standard of living, although social security costs are high, particularly for the self-employed.
Nevertheless, Greece is still a relatively inexpensive country by American and northern European standards, particularly if your income is earned in a strong currency that has appreciated against the drachma, in recent years. With the exception of Athens, the cost of living in Greece is around 30% below the average of other European countries.
Food costs less than in many European countries although you may have to modify your diet. In fact, it's possible to live frugally in Greece if you are willing to forego luxuries and live largely ‘off the land'. Shopping for ‘luxury; items such as: photographic equipment, computers, electrical & electronic goods abroad e.g. via the Internet can also result in significant savings, as well as offering a wider choice.
Agriculture plays an important role in the Greek economy. Small industrial concerns established in the period after World War I were, to a large extent, destroyed during World War II and the subsequent civil war. Development of the manufacturing sector of the economy since then has been hampered by the lack of fuel and difficulties in utilising the hydro-electric potential of the country. By 1970. however, the contribution of manufacturing to the annual national output surpassed that of the agriculture for the first time.
Two main sources of income for Greece are shipping and tourism. The production of petroleum from fields in the northern Aegean Sea began to aid the economy in the early 1980s. Greece also receives considerable funding in the form of EU grants and subsidies.
Presently, Greece is listed the 17th most popular tourist destination in the world, and as a consequence, tourism is the most important invisible earning, contributing 7 per cent to GDP.
The fastest growing industry in Greece is information technology, accounting for over 4% of GDP and estimated to be growing at a rate of 15% per annum. This represents the highest growth rate in the EU (almost twice the average of the other EU countries), largely explained by the fact that several prominent multinational IT communications organisations have based their south east Europe operations in Greece.
