Lord Byron is not the only Brit to have fallen in love with Greece and the Greek people – far from it. The climate, the wonderful beaches, the sight of white Cycladic houses tumbling down the hillside…these are factors that have enticed many Brits to spend their holidays in Greece. The Greeks are very warm and welcoming people – indeed the Greek language doesn’t have a word for ‘foreigner’ – the word they use means ‘guest’.  Add to that the slower pace of life, where everyone takes the time to enjoy themselves, and the fact that the country has the lowest crime rate in Europe and it becomes clear why Greece is so special.

To borrow Mary Poppins’ famous phrase, here are a few of my favourite things about the country:

The sense of community. This is particularly apparent in the smaller towns and on the islands where families live and work together and care for one another. Religion is still the bedrock of Greek society and there are many times throughout the year when families traditionally get together to celebrate.  Incidentally, it bears remembering that transport at these times can be hellish as Greeks move from all over the country – and sometimes all over the world – to gather for special occasions such as Easter and Name Days.   

A sense of identity. I don’t know about you but I am finding that here in the UK more and more chain shops and cafes are creeping in, with the good old local shops and ‘tea rooms’ we used to see on the high street disappearing. In Greece there are still very many independent, privately owned cafes, bars and small shops. Most towns and villages will have local butchers, bakers and green-grocers, usually run by more than one family member - not to mention the lovely markets with fresh produce. This individuality makes for far greater character and one finds a certain loyalty to these shops by the locals – not the least as some are owned by their own family members! Of course there are the big superstores and chains but these tend to be on the outskirts of the bigger towns and cities only.

Friendliness. The charming thing about the Greeks is that you are always welcome to join in if there is something going on. A wedding, Easter…When I visited the island of Sifnos a while back I ate at the same restaurant every evening. When Easter came around, I was whisked off to church with the family that owned the restaurant and fed lamb and red dyed eggs along with the family that evening.

I don’t know one person that has returned from Greece that has not formed some sort of friendship with a local person. Somehow the Greeks have got it right and, although they have to work hard throughout summer, it is never at the expense of a friendly word, a smile, a greeting. Many are the tales I could tell of kindness and hospitality offered to me as a lone traveller.

Food and drink. I love Greek food. It is always healthy and fresh and - providing you don’t want to eat the most expensive fish – quite reasonably priced. I love too the Greeks sense of occasion – how there is always a special dish for a special occasion. Easter, Christmas, birthdays all have their own celebratory dishes, cooked with loving care.

Care for the environment. Obviously there are exceptions, but generally the Greeks have not fallen into the same temptation of over-development that has blighted much of Spain for instance. For example architecture on the Cycladic Islands has been kept in character – luckily the Greeks cottoned on to the fact that the older style of villages is what people want to see and not a whole slew of unattractive modern houses that they could see anywhere else in the world. Rules are very strict as to how and where you can build and this has preserved the Greek character and the natural beauty too.

Ever wondered why there are comparatively few golf courses in Greece? Quick answer: there is a water shortage and preservation of this precious commodity wins over a desire to just please the tourist…makes sense to me.

What are your thoughts on this? What is it you particularly love about Greece? Do tell…!