Destination: Greece Philosophers muse that to journey to Greece is to return home, for the legacy of ancient Greece pervades the consciousness of all Western nations. It has long been one of Europe's most popular destinations; indeed, it is almost 2000 years since Pausanias penned the first guide to Greece, providing early travellers with a wealth of information about the intricacies of Greek culture.
The ancient sites are an enduring attraction: the magnificent Parthenon, crowning glory of the Acropolis of Athens, needs no introduction as one of the wonders of the Ancient World. It is, however, a relatively recent structure compared to Knossos and the palaces of Minoan Crete, or the Mycenaean citadels of Mycenae and Tiryns in the Peloponnese.
The majority of today's visitors are drawn by golden beaches and sunshine. With over 1400 islands, Greece has more coastline than any other country in Europe. Inland, the scenery can vary dramatically, from the semitropical lushness of the Ionian and Northeastern Aegean Islands, to the bare, sunbaked rocks of the Cyclades. Northern Greece is a haven of forested mountains, icy lakes and tumbling rivers. In spring much of this breathtaking landscape is mantled with vibrant wild flowers.
There is another phenomenon in Greece that even people cynical about the supernatural comment upon. It takes the form of inexplicable coincidences, or fortuitous occurrences: meeting up with a long-lost friend, bumping into the same people again and again, or being miles from anywhere, then stumbling upon a house whose occupants offer hospitality. Perhaps there occurrences are the work of the gods of ancient Greece, who, some claim, have not relinquished their power and, to prove it, occasionally come down to earth to intervene in the lives of mortals.
