Greece

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe, located at the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, while being surrounded by the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has one of the longest coastlines in Europe, stretching for approximately 13,700 kilometres, and includes more than 6,000 islands and islets, of which around 200 are inhabited. The largest islands include Crete, Euboea, Rhodes, Lesbos, and Corfu. Its strategic position between Europe, Asia, and Africa has made Greece an important crossroads of trade, culture, and political influence throughout history.

Geographically, Greece is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, with mountains covering about 80% of its land area. The Pindus Mountain Range extends through much of the mainland, while Mount Olympus, the country's highest peak at 2,918 metres, is famous in Greek mythology as the home of the ancient gods. Narrow coastal plains and fertile valleys are found between mountain ranges, particularly in Macedonia, Thessaly, and Thrace. Greece has a typical Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. However, mountainous regions experience colder winters with significant snowfall, while the islands enjoy a more moderate maritime climate.

Greece is widely regarded as the cradle of Western civilization and democracy. Ancient Greece flourished between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE, with powerful city-states such as Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes. Athens became the birthplace of democracy, while Greek philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laid the foundations of Western philosophy. Ancient Greece also made lasting contributions to mathematics, medicine, literature, theatre, architecture, and the Olympic Games.

After the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE, Greek culture spread across much of Europe, Asia, and North Africa during the Hellenistic period. Greece later became part of the Roman Empire and subsequently the Byzantine Empire, where Greek language and Orthodox Christianity remained dominant. In the 15th century, Greece fell under Ottoman rule, which lasted for nearly 400 years. The Greek War of Independence began in 1821, leading to the establishment of an independent Greek state in 1830. During the 20th century, Greece experienced the Balkan Wars, both World Wars, a civil war, and a period of military dictatorship before restoring democracy in 1974. Greece joined the European Community (now the European Union) in 1981 and adopted the euro in 2001.

Agriculture remains an important part of Greece's economy, particularly in rural regions, although the sector has declined in relative importance over recent decades. The Mediterranean climate is highly favourable for the cultivation of olives, grapes, citrus fruits, figs, almonds, and vegetables. Greece is one of the world's leading producers of olives and olive oil, which are major agricultural exports. Vineyards are widespread throughout the country, producing wines with traditions dating back thousands of years. Other important crops include wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco, tomatoes, and peaches. Sheep and goat farming are especially common in mountainous and island regions, supporting the production of internationally renowned cheeses such as feta.

Fishery has traditionally been an important economic activity because of Greece's extensive coastline and numerous islands. Commercial fishing takes place throughout the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas, targeting species such as sardines, anchovies, tuna, sea bream, sea bass, octopus, and squid. Aquaculture has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of Greek agriculture, particularly the farming of sea bass and sea bream, making Greece one of Europe's leading producers of farmed Mediterranean fish. Sustainable fisheries management has become increasingly important to address overfishing and protect marine biodiversity.

Forestry plays a smaller role in Greece's economy than agriculture or tourism due to the country's mountainous terrain and dry Mediterranean climate. Approximately one-third of Greece is covered by forests and woodland, consisting mainly of pine, fir, oak, chestnut, and cypress trees. Mountain forests provide timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products, while also protecting watersheds, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity. Forest ecosystems are home to wildlife such as brown bears, wolves, wild boar, deer, and numerous bird species. However, Greek forests are increasingly threatened by wildfires, drought, and climate change, making sustainable forest management and conservation essential.

Overall, Greece is a country where dramatic landscapes, an extensive coastline, and thousands of islands have shaped its economy and way of life. Its extraordinary historical legacy has profoundly influenced global civilization, while its agriculture, fisheries, and forestry continue to play important roles alongside tourism and modern industries in supporting the national economy.

The first trip to Greece Gerold made with Michael by thumb in 1982, Greece had just become a member of the EU and still very poor (27% in agriculture). Now it should be the "Florida of Europe": Tourism. In Thessaloniki we slept at the harbour, like so many other backpackers. There the Greek wine very much awarded. From Thessaloniki then to Thasos on the island, which inspired him very much, the beautiful mountains, the water and the fish. Slept on the beach and celebrated. In Alexandroupolis we enjoyed the wine tasting and then on to Turkey.
The second tour with Barbara and Sabine went to Athens 1983 in February. We wanted to go to Asia and thought Athens would be the best place. In Athens we tried to get a ticket to Thailand, they got it from Aeroflot. The only problem was that we could only get the ticket if we had a visa for Moscow. But the visa was only available with the ticket. We were back and forth between the flight office and the embassy for a week every day until we went on a sit-down strike. Then we went. In Athens it was surprisingly cold, there was even snow on the orange trees. 

The next trip of Gerold to Greece in 1988 was with Gundi in the car from Thessaloniki to Turkey. This was rather unspectacular. In the nineties Gerold was three times to a project meeting (goat project with the local university) in Thessaloniki and at the coast (Chalkidike). Once Klaudia was there, otherwise Gerold went alone. Then once again with Klaudia, Ayla and Kim at a conference on the Peloponnese in Nafplio, where we spent another week on the beach with Regine and Maja. Since it was still winter, the beaches were empty, the villages dead and still quite cool. But we went for a swim.  In Athens Gerold was then still twice alone to meetings in EU projects. The city is quite great, above all at 24.00 o'clock in the old part of town. On one tour we drove to the mountainous area in the north, where the castles are on the mountain tops (Pertuli near Trikala). The landscape there is great. To the old ruin cities like Thebes and others. 2021 Gerold and Klaudia spent their holidays with Alexander and his girl friend Jasmin on Crete for 10 days.