Summer in Greece

If you like hot (or, occasionally, extremely hot!), dry weather then the Greek summer might be your dream time. If at the same time you like swimming in clear, cool waters it may be time to dust off the credit card and make a reservation on one of the Greek islands or selected mainland spots/resorts. The world seems to be flocking to Greece, discovering Athens and the ancient sites, savouring the culture or bathing in the sea but, especially, savouring the summer.

It is entirely understandable, in my humble opinion,  as the summer in Greece can be nothing short of magical at prices that can be reasonable, even occasionally cheap, though the higher end hotels and resorts can also manage to be eye-wateringly expensive; your aspirations and needs will determine the destination selected and the capacity of your pocket whether it is at all possible. There's something for almost everyone, all interesting, all worth it in their own way.

Sun, sea, culture and relaxation form an enticing package. In Greece this is not a slick, over-produced experience with the exception of a few fashionable destinations. There are places that still feel as if they are just being discovered, where the local colour is, in fact, where the facilities are sometimes less worldly but more authentic than what half a century of intense tourist development can lead to. Plenty of untrodden, or certainly less trodden, paths still await the adventurous and respectful visitor, away from the crowds, the groups, the inebriated.

There is great fun to be had in island hopping, especially off the busiest routes, with ships little and large plying their trade all year round, though with decreasing frequency and less reliability in the quieter times. Spring and autumn, with temperatures at more moderate levels and the sea relatively calm, can be a wonderful time to prance around. Granted, not everywhere is awaiting visitors with open arms and some of the hostelries may either not be open or have limited capacity, but that makes it even more of an adventure. And locals will generally take the right kind of visitor to their hearts, going out of their way to welcome those arriving in peace and with respect.

For the brave driving around Greece can be a fantastic experience also, and I will dedicate another post to that. While traditionally the average Greek driver is high on enthusiasm and low on skill, with observance of the rules of the road a relatively low priority, recent years have brought significant improvements. The road network too is being constantly upgraded, modernised and expanded, often with impressive results, making it easy to explore this enchanting, mountainous oddity of a country.

I adore the Greek summer and all that goes with it - yes, even the intense heat - but it is well worth remembering that it can also be dangerous: from the perils of injudicious sunbathing, which can turn one's body a vivid lobster red colour in a couple of hours, to the very real life threatening dehydration that can come about if wandering around without certain precautions. So approach it respectfully, enjoy it fully but sensibly, immerse yourself in it intelligently and the Greek summer will provide you with more than you can imagine. From mountaintops to secluded beaches and places in between it can be the experience of a lifetime.