Greece Travel

Panagiotis Pikramenos has been sworn in as the leader of the interim government of Greece. His cabinet has been selected, and the resulting government will be in power until the elections, expected to be on Sunday, June 17th, 2012 .

While the failure of the May 6th election to result in a new durable government for Greece was a jolt, this outcome was not entirely unexpected. It is anticipated that the upcoming new elections will be successful in creating a new government, as many Greeks who cast "protest" votes in the first voting may now change their minds and lean toward the larger parties which are more likely to claim a clear victory.

More news sources and Headines from Greece

How Will the Greece Financial Crisis Affect Your Travel?

What is the Troika?

Want to upgrade your Greek experience? This season could be the year to do it, as many upscale Greek hotels have lowered prices substantially. Trivago, a Greek hotel site, tracks hotel price trends all over Greece. With rare exceptions, they are down throughout Greece, putting Greece in the Top Three Cheapest European Destinations as far as hotel prices go. Best news for travelers - some of the deepest discounts are at the most luxurious properties, so if you think that caldera-view room on Santorini or that suite in a classic hotel in Athens was out of reach, it's worth checking to see just how good a deal you can find or negotiate.

While this won't cheer the hearts of Greeks looking to tourism for increased revenues, it does add up to be a great deal for travelers.

More on Hotels in Greece.

Looking for a trip to Greece that's, well, cheap compared to others? Check out my regularly updated list of the best bargains and specials on Greece travel - from luxury cruises to adventures to special-interest cooking trips and other delights. Snag an especially good deal? Choose another with the money you've saved and double your time in Greece.

Most of these offers are limited - the newest or fastest-expiring ones are toward the top of the page, while more extended deals and offers are toward the bottom. And the top of the list has one that could make a mother-daughter pair very happy, if you're still scrambling for a verymemorable Mother's Day gift.

Cheap Greece

Photo: Eurynome Journeys. Used by permission

The annual European "Open Doors" wine event occurs this weekend, May 12-13, throughout Greece at participating wineries.

The Greek island of Santorini, long famous for its wines and its unusual "basket weave" way of training the vines to withstand the arid climate, has at least nine wineries participating, including Gaia, Hatzidakis and Boutari, which have an import presence abroad, plus Argyros,Gavalas, A. Karamolegou, Koutsogiannopoulos, Roussos, and Sigala.

Wineries will be offering free tastings and a 20% discount on wine purchases. While the tastings are free, many of them have limited capacity and some require registration.

Many wineries are offering enhanced parallel events, including special food, music, and other delights - contact any winery that interests you for details. Here is a list for Domaine Gerovassiliou which gives a good idea of what you may find at a winery near you in Greece.

A video report from the BBC captured an unfortunate symbolic moment during the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony attended by hundreds of tourists and others today. Though the ceremonial lighting took place, a few minutes later the flame was blown out and had to be relit with an "understudy" flame. But the video of prancing priestesses is still fun to watch.

The Olympic Torch will now travel around Greece, carried by a number of local runners, before being handed over later this month to representatives of the London Olympics who will carry the flame to the United Kingdom.

BBC:Olympic torch flame goes out during Greek ceremony
Olympic Torch Relay to Begin in Greece
Torches of the Olympic Games

Early results from Greece reported by Kathimerini show an array of participants, but no clear winners on the Greek political landscape. While this means more potential diversity in Greek politics than ever before, some fear that it will prove unwieldy and could result in instability and additional elections to come, since no party appears to be claiming a clear majority.

And diversity it is - those taking seats in the new Parliament come from all across the political spectrum, with far-left and far-right parties making stronger than expected showings and at least seven different parties taking seats.

Centuries of dividing fields generation after generation has resulted in some parts of rural Greece resembling a patchwork quilt, each irregular field growing a different crop than its neighbor - and now the poltical landscape seems to be matching the terrain itself.

Kathimerini: Election swing leaves Greece teetering

More on political parties in Greece, including SYRIZA and Chryssi Avgi (Golden Dawn).

May 6th is election day in Greece - and while the exact outcome is still unclear, virtually every observer expects that the result will be a coalition government empowering a number of smaller parties in an alliance that will definitely not be business as usual in Greece.

Alex Spillius at Britain's Daily Telegraph shares some insights on the parties in play: Greek Elections to Break Stranglehold of Mainstream Parties

Originally billed as the Matala "Reunion" Festival, the first event in 2011 was so popular that it's now back for a reunion of its very own.

From June 2-4th, Matala will again embrace its hippie past with three days of concerts, exhibitions, and fun in the south coast town on Crete.

The previous festival drew tens of thousands of participants, far outstripping the capacity of Matala's many small hotels and other accommodations, so book early if you're going. Other local accommodation options include Kalambaki, Kamilari, Pitsidia and Tymbaki, though total room numbers are still limited. The tourist-friendly town of Agia Galini across Mesara Bay, about a thirty-minute drive away, is also worth checking for spare rooms.

Matala Festival 2012 Poster by Arn Strohmeyer; used by permission

We're used to thinking of Greece as a land of sea and sun - but Greece's nightlife is just as memorable. Take a quick look at the "dark" side of Greece.

Athens at Night
Ios Nightlife

No matter where the modern Olympic Games are held, Greece is still intimately involved with the proceedings. This year, as usual, the Olympic Torch will be lit at Olympia, Greece before being carried throughout Greece in the Olympic Torch Relay 2012. But as for participating fully in the Games, athletes are making do with limited budgets, fewer team members, and lots of wondering about the future of Olympic sports in Greece.

Los Angeles Times: Greece, amid debt crisis, is limping toward London Olympics

More: Olympic Torch Pictures

Photo: Getty Images