Top Ten Travel Delays in Greece

I've recently posted a handy Distance Calculator between various cities in Greece. But while this tells you the mileage, it doesn't tell you how long it will take to get there. And there are some very good reasons for this. Here's my list of what may delay your travel in Greece. 1. Avoiding Greek Donkeys.

No, I'm not suggesting you should not be traveling by donkey. But the truth is, donkeys are still used for transport in rural areas. While they usually can be easily gotten around on the roads (though, if fully laden with rider and full panniers on either side, they can be a pretty big obstacle), resisting the urge to stop and take a photograph is another matter.

2. Avoiding Greek Goats

If you travel extensively in rural, or even not-so-rural Greece, sooner or later you'll find the road in front of you filled with a teeming sea of goats accompanied by a goatherd, who may be on foot or on a moped or motorcycle. Honk your horn and proceed slowly. The animals may appear to ignore you, then suddenly become alarmed and scatter, so drive carefully.

3. Strikes and Work Slowdowns

Unfortunately, these do happen and they can impact travel times. There are many reasons for strikes in Greece, and with the ongoing Greece financial crisis, there are even more than there used to be.

4. Greek Yia-Yia Gathering Horta

A yia-yia is a Greek grandmother, almost invariably dressed in black. She will be found walking along the side of the road or bending over the foliage, sticking some of it into a large bag. You may consume some of this later as part of spanokopita or "spinach" pie. While horta gathering goes on year round, it's especially popular in spring. Slow down for granny!

5. Greek Road Destruction - Oops, Construction

Greece is in the middle of a frenzy of road building and reconstruction. While this is great for the long term, in the short term it can be traumatic for drivers. While in many places the "old" road would be kept intact until the "new" one is ready, often drivers will find themselves on a newly-cut but still unsurfaced road while the old road is shut down to traffic. This is a slow, dusty experience.

6. Dazzling Natural Beauty

This is not the younger version of the yia-yia gathering horta. It's simply the truth of the backroads of Greece, with its incredible mountains, beautiful rare plants and wildflowers, fantastic birds. Resisting a photograph is futile - but park carefully, in a straight area of road where your car will be visible to oncoming traffic.

7. Really Cute Greek Village

After traveling in Greece for a while, your resistance to the Really Cute Village rises and you won't feel as obliged to stop and explore each one. But trust me, on a journey of two hours or more, you won't be able to resist stopping at some point.

8. Really Charming Greek Church

As with the Really Cute Village, you will gradually grow more picky about how charming a rural church has to be to warrant a photograph. But at least one a day will get you, I guarantee it. By the way, to get into the small churches, go to the nearest house or business and ask who has the key. Usually, the guardian will be an older woman. When in the church, leave a Euro coin or two and give her the same.

9. Frappe Lust

Cold frothy iced coffee. Regular stops for these can add hours to your travel time.

10. Misread Maps and Roadsigns

This is the most avoidable problem. Read my article Crucial Tips for the Independent Traveler and follow my easy tips to Learn the Greek Alphabet.

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