13. Drinks All Round
The legal age limit for drinking is 18—16 if supervised—but this is more a suggestion than enforced. Watch your teens when vacationing as though some cafes and nightclubs have entrance signs against underage drinking, there are no ID checks at the door or when one orders a cocktail. Otherwise follow the locals’ lead as they consume popular beers like Alpha and Mythos, or retsina, a traditional wine. Raki, ouzo, and tsipouro are also popular traditional alcoholic beverages that Greeks love.
14. Question?
You might think that flailing your hands about, scrunching your face up, and even shouting “Where am I?” at the top of your lungs is an acceptable cry for help. In Greece you might as well be a wallflower. If you’ve got a question for a local just go up to them and ask. In their culture it’s more socially acceptable to leave tourists alone, letting you to make first contact, so don’t be shy and end up more lost than you already are. Just ask.
15. When Shopping…
While large malls in the big cities open until the evening on weekdays, smaller Greek shop owners observe their siesta in the afternoon. Siesta hours can vary, and things can be closed for a few hours anywhere between 2 and 5. Malls are usually open until the afternoon on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Don’t worry about last minute shopping for souvenirs to take back home though, as the islands’ gift shops a generally open seven days a week, with some opening their doors twenty-four hours a day.
