That’s Greece but if you want a closer look…

Greece is located by the Mediterranean sea and the Black sea… The Mediterranean sea is bordered on the north by Europe, the east by Asia, and in the south by Africa. This 969,100 square mile body of water is approximately 2,300 miles in length, and has a maximum depth of 16,896 feet. Major subdivisions include the Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Balearic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and Ligurian Sea.

The Greek food throughout its history and continuing today is for the Greeks a philosophy, they know that what makes a perfect feast is not just the food but also the good company. Food is nearly always prepared with the tastes of the guests in mind, should the dishes be roasted or fried, light or heavy? and the wine carefully chosen. Much of the conversation at the dinner table centres amicably around the food. The freshness of the fish, having just leapt from the sea; the vegetables newly dug from the ground or picked from the vines of the local farmers. Greek olive oil enriches and flavours and the traditional cooking methods of grilling, long slow baking all enhance and mellow the food. Eating and drinking out in Greece is still wonderfully enjoyable and very democratic, young and old, wealthy and not so wealthy, the ordinary citizen and the celebrity, all enjoy the same favourite neighbourhood tavern, restaurant or cafe.

Independence Day: 25 th March Language: Greek Population: 10,688,058 Religions: Greek Orthodox Name: Greece - Hellenic Republic Capital City: Athens population. 3,216,200 approx Cities: Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Iraklio, Volos Currency: Euro

Most Greeks are Christian Orthodox (Right Glory or Dogma). A few specific characteristics of the Greek Orthodox religion is that the Virgin Mary, or Panagia (All Saint) as the Greeks call her, is given great importance, the clergy is only male, priests can have wives as long as they get married before they are ordained, there are monasteries and icons are given great significance. There are many, many churches in Greece, and they are very varied in size. Their walls are covered in icons, and the iconostasis separate the holiest space where the altar is from the rest of the church. Only clergymen are allowed behind the iconostasis. The churches are always named after its patron saint. There are, of course, also other religious groups in the Greek society like Catholics, Moslems, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindus and Buddhists, but they consist of minority groups.

The climate in Greece is typical of the central Mediterranean area; summers are warm and dry with plenty of sunshine, while the winter months remain mild, with some rain. In summer months, the dry hot days are frequently cooled by seasonal winds called the "Meltemi." These dry winds blowing in from the north (though beneficial) can sweep quickly across Greek waters, and at times cause problems for small boats and even hydrofoils.

This is fantasy art of the Greek islands… This is medusa, she can turn any creature to stone with one look… This is a painting of a school in ancient Athens Most art from Greece is cultural or religious but always beautiful.

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