by John Keyin Travel / Travel Tips (submitted 2011-03-13)
The weather around the world is getting pretty wild with all sorts of freak weather conditions in Asia, Australia and America, not to mention the arctic conditions in the UK of late. So if your looking to escape these nasty weather conditions then try visiting the islands of Greece.
In Greece they have around 200 days of sun a year and the temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees centigrade and at the height of the summer you can expect temperatures to soar into the late 30s. The amount of sunshine in Greece is one very good reason to visit and of course returning home with a golden tan to make your friends green with envy is always another.
The history of every island in Greece is unique and you can expect to see something different depending on where you go. For example on the island of rete you have Knossos Palace the seat of King Minos and the Minoan civilization. You have the island of Spinalonga with its haunting past as a leper colony and before that a stronghold that kept pirates at bay for years.
In Rhodes you have Rodini park which is believed to be the first ever nature reserve in the world. Not only that but you have the remains of the Lindos Acropolis which sits proudly overlooking Lindos bay. You have the archaeological sites in Rhodes town which include yet another Acropolis and of course the castle from the crusades.
In Athens itself you have the Acropolis and Parthenon which dominate the skyline and are some of the most visited and photographed sights in the world. There is the temple of Poseidon which is a favourite spot to watch the sunset for locals and tourists alike.A must for most tourists from all over the world is Delphi in Greece and its oracle which was one of the most sacred place in Ancient Greece.
For beaches in Greece you are spoilt for choice with the stunning Smugglers cove in Zante or Zakynthos which is one of the most photographed beaches in the entire world and appears on calendars and postcards all over the island. Crete has some amazing beaches from the pink sands of Elafonisi to the palm covered beaches of Vai on the eastern side of the island.
Visit Rhodes and you will want to visit the remote but beautiful bay of Tsambika where many a cruise ship will stop to lets its guests enjoy the warm seas and lush sandy beach of Tsambika.
The scenery of the Greek islands is something unique to Greece, with rolling rugged hills with patchworks of vineyards, olive groves and citrus groves. The mountainous regions of Greece and the Greek islands are some of the best places to hike and cycle in Europe.
If swimming is more your sort of thing then the underwater life of Greece is amazing especially off the island of Crete with many a shipwreck and downed fighter plane from the WWII Battle of Crete to swim around with some colourful fish species. You also have the Carretta Carretta turtles of Zante to swim with if your lucky as they live and nest around the island during the summer months.
The food of the Greek islands and Greece as a whole is again something you must experience and the dishes remain unique from island to island. Some of our favourites are Lamb Kleftiko, Moussaka, Gyros pita and Cheese Saganaki. Most foods are fresh from the field or the sea and always cooked in healthy fresh olive oils with vegetables grown locally and sourced fresh that day.
There are many other reasons to visit Greece and its wonderful islands but I hope this serves as a small inspiration to get you booking those holidays for the summer.
About the Author
John Key is a travel writer for the Greek islands, articles tend to be from his most popular islands of Crete, Rhodes and Zante.
John Key
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