Greece - Korina Miller [592]
Return to beginning of chapter
LEGAL MATTERS
Arrests
It is a good idea to have your passport with you at all times in case you are stopped by the police and questioned. Greek citizens are presumed to always have identification on them; foreign visitors are similarly presumed to by the police. If you are arrested by police insist on an interpreter (the-lo dhi-ermi-nea) and/or a lawyer (the-lo dhi-ki-go-ro). Travellers should also note that they can be prosecuted under the law of their home country regarding age of consent, even when abroad.
Drugs
Greek drug laws are the strictest in Europe. Greek courts make no distinction between possession and pushing. Possession of even a small amount of marijuana is likely to land you in jail.
Return to beginning of chapter
MAPS
Unless you are going to hike or drive, the free maps given out by the EOT will probably suffice, although they are not 100% accurate. On islands where there is no EOT office, there are usually tourist maps for sale for around €1.50 but, again, these are not very accurate, particularly maps of towns and villages.
The best overall maps for coverage are published by the Greek company Road Editions ( 210 345 5575; www.road.gr; Kozanis 21, cnr Amfipoleos, Votanikos, Athens), whose maps are produced with the assistance of the Hellenic Army Geographical Service. There is a wide range of maps to suit various needs, starting with a 1:500,000 map of Greece. Motorists should check out the company’s 1:250,000 series covering Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly and Epiros, Central Greece, the Peloponnese and Crete. Even the smallest roads and villages are clearly marked, and the distance indicators are spot-on – important when negotiating your way around the backblocks. The company also produces a Greek island series and a Greek mountain series, which is essential for any serious hiking.
Hikers should also consider the Topo series published by Anavasi ( 210 321 8104; www.mountains.gr; Stoa Arsakiou 6a, Athens), with durable plasticised paper and detailed walking trails for many of the Aegean islands. Emvelia ( 210 771 7616; www.emvelia.gr; Navarinou 12, Athens) publishes detailed maps, including some excellent plans of the region’s main towns, each with a handy index booklet. All maps can be bought online or at major bookstores in Greece.
Return to beginning of chapter
MONEY
Greece has been using the euro currency since the beginning of 2002. There are eight euro coins, in denominations of two and one euros, then 50, 20, 10, five, two and one cents, and six notes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200.
See inside the front cover for currency exchange rates and Click here for information on costs in Greece.
ATMs
ATMs are found in every town large enough to support a bank and in almost all the tourist areas. If you’ve got MasterCard or Visa, there are plenty of places to withdraw money. Cirrus and Maestro users can make withdrawals in all major towns and tourist areas. Be warned that many card companies can put an automatic block on your card after your first withdrawal abroad as an antifraud mechanism. To avoid this happening, inform your bank of your travel plans. Also be aware that many ATMs on the islands can lose their connection for a day or two at a time, making it impossible for anyone (locals included) to withdraw money. It’s useful to have a backup source of money.
Automated foreign-exchange machines are common in major tourist areas. They take all the major European currencies, Australian and US dollars and Japanese yen, and are useful in an emergency, although they charge a hefty commission.
Cash
Nothing beats cash for convenience – or for risk. If you lose cash, it’s gone for good and very few travel insurers will come to your rescue. Those that will, normally limit the amount to approximately US$300. It’s best to carry no more cash than you need for the next few days. It’s also a good idea to set aside a small amount of cash, say US$100, as an emergency stash.
Note that