Dear friends of Greece,

When travelling to our country, it is advisable to bear in mind the

following:
All visitors to Greece and anyone with a credit/debit card issued in a
foreign country will not be affected by the measures to limit bank
withdrawals. The measures announced recently, do not apply to those
wishing to make transactions and withdrawals with a credit/debit card
issued in their home country."

As a consumer, you are protected by Greek consumer protection law

for all transactions you make while travelling in the country. All
enterprises, regardless of their nature (tourist or otherwise), are obliged
to issue written receipts for the total amount they receive. Possession of a
receipt safeguards the consumer in the event of any claim or dispute with
the enterprises. Foreign visitors must ensure that they have valid medical
cover before departing.

The following is valid during your stay:

The hotelier is obliged to lisence vacant rooms to customers and provide
all advertised amenities.
Within 3 days of receiving an enquiry for a room, by any means
(telephone, letter, or email), the hotelier is obliged to inform the
customer  by print whether or not they accept the booking, and include
details on the booking (type of room, length of stay, price). A written
response protects both the customer and the hotelier.
The deposit for the booking cannot exceed the 25% of the total
accommodation cost, and on the other hand cannot be less than the
charge for one night.
In the event that the customer wishes to cancel a booking, and the
cancellation is made 21 days prior to the agreed arrival date, the hotelier
is obliged to refund the deposit in full, while for cancellations made within
21 days, the customer must pay the hotelier the 50% of the total cost of
the cancelled booking.
In the event that the hotelier is unable to provide rooms they have
confirmed with customers, they are obliged to secure customers’ stay in
alternative accommodation of at least the same category, in the same
town, which offers the same amenities and services as those advertised
by their own establishment.
The hotelier is only responsible for valuable belongings entrusted to
them by the customer, and for which they have issued the relevant
receipt.
Keeping pets of any kind in a hotel is forbidden, unless the hotel provides
a designated area for pets. In all cases, a prior arrangement on this issue
must be made between the hotelier and the tourist-consumer.
The following is valid for transactions with tourist agencies:
The tourist agency is responsible to the consumer for all the services they
have sold, including those provided by third parties (hotels, restaurants,
car rentals, etc.), except in cases of personal or third party liability, or
force majeure.
In all cases, the customers of a tourist agency or car rental agency must
be informed by print about the terms under which services or products
are provided prior to making a purchase.
Specifically, for Organized Trips (P.O. 339/96), which Greek law defines
as a fixed combination of at least two of the following elements, i.e.
transport, accommodation or other services (participation in meetings or
events of a professional, cultural or artistic nature, meals, guided tours
etc.), it is obligatory to sign a relevant contract, which includes:
The terms attached to the services included in the contract (cost and
category of accommodation).

Means of transport, meals included, itinerary, information pertaining to

passports and necessary visas, cancellation policy, guided tours, entry to
archaeological sites and museums, other recreational services, etc.).

An insurance policy which will state by print that in case of insolvency or

bankruptcy of the tourist agency, the consumer, above and beyond other
claims, will be entitled to a refund of the full amount paid, as well as
immediate payment of repatriation expenses.
In all cases, the tourist-consumer:
Should acquire, for their own convenience, detailed information regarding
the use of public transport at their destination, especially with regards to
the cost of the journey, ticket validity and cancellations, and
recommended arrival times in advance of the departure of the service.
Has to be aware, when using taxis, that drivers are obliged, upon request,
to issue official receipts for the total cost of the journey, which include
vehicle’s registration number and  owner’s name.
In the event of any omission or violations of the above, you may submit a
complaint or claim on a 24h basis to the Tourist Police at the number
1571. 

Easter at Meteora

The gigantic complex of over 800 dark rocks is not only one of the most
awe-inspiring corners of the planet, but also a very important place for
the Orthodox Church. Spirituality and the grandeur of nature converse
with each other to give the thousands of visitors flocking from all over the
world a lifetime experience.
Most of the 30 monasteries, founded in the 14th century, are now
deserted. Only six of them are still open and resonate with religious
traditions and the deep godliness of old times.
 
The monasteries
Megalo Meteoro: It is located on the highest and longest and it was
established in 1340 by St Athanassios Meteoritis (1302-1380). Visit the
tower (1520), now operating as a Folklore Museum with old appliances
and tools, the ossuary, the church of Metamorfoseos tou Sotiros
(Transfiguration of Jesus) whose sanctum was built in 1388 and main
church and narthex in 1545, the Holy Altar (built in 1557 and at present
Museum of Church Heirloom) and the cook-room of 1557, nowadays
Folklore Museum with old copper, clay and wooden kitchen utensils.
Agios Stefanos: St Antonios (first half of the 15th century) and St
Filotheos (in the middle of 16th century) are both honoured as monastery
founders. The small St Stefanos church is a single-aisled basilica, built in
1350. Today's St Charalampos church (1798) is decorated with amazing
fretwork. Its imposing Holy Altar has been turned into a modern museum
with the most impressive church heirlooms: Scripts, post Byzantine icons,
canonicals and fabrics embroidered with gold, fretwork, fine silverware
pieces etc.
Varlaam: According to history, it was first inhabited by monk Varlaam in
the 14th century. The biggest part of the athonic-type church that was
built in 1542, is dedicated to Agious Pantes. The main body of the church
has many murals painted by the Theban painter Fragko Katelano in 1542.
At the end of the 16th and in the beginning of 17th centuries the most
organized bibliographic laboratory of Meteora monasteries and a special
gold thread embroidery workshop were functioning here.
Agia Triada: It is located on a typical imposing and steep rock of
Meteora. By the script of the potentate Simeon Ouresi-Paleologou appears
that Agia Triada has been a fuctioning monastery since 1362. The church
we see today was constructed around 1476 and it is a small cross-like
double-columned church with a dome. Also very interesting is the
Monastery Folklore Museum boasting a wide selection of old clothing,
appliances, tools and other folklore items.
Roussanou: It was built in 1529 on the ruins of older constructions. The
church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of Jesus) was built
around 1530 and is of athonic architecture. Its wall paintings covering the
main body of the church and the narthex belong to the Cretan Art
School. In spite of the church being dedicated to Metamorfosi tou
Sotiros, the believers celebrate the memory of Agia Varvara (4th of
December) with equal grandeur and devotion in a nearby chapel.
Agios Nikolaos Panausas: The multilevel, graceful and imposing Holy
Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Panausas is located near Kastraki Village,
among the ruined monasteries of Prodromou, Agias Monis and
Pantokratoros. The organized monastic way of living in this monastery
was established during the first decades of the 14th century. The frescos
are the oldest signed paintings created by Theofanis the Cretan and carry
all the characteristic features of this great angiographer of the Cretan Art
School.
 

 
The rituals
At Easter, the monasteries at Meteora guarantee you will really feel what
these days are all about. Experience the awe and the ecstasy and let
humbleness lead you through the mystic atmosphere to purification.
During the Holy Week, the mass starts at 19:00 and finishes around
21:00. At midnight on Easter Saturday when the resurrection is
announced, the doors of the monasteries open to welcome those who
want to attend the whole of the religious ritual.
Maundy Thursday is unique at the Varlaam monastery for the mass of
the Last Supper and the Passions: the 12 gospels tell the story of Jesus
Christ’s way to Calvary. In the eerie sounds of the bells ringing
mournfully, the believers take part in the divine drama to attain a spiritual
and moral elevation themselves.
On Good Friday, the Epitaphs are decorated and the scent of incense
and lilac fills the atmosphere. The icons seem to weep in the pale candle
light. The devout visitors of the monasteries lean their heads in
humbleness and breathe in serenity in the place where time seems to
stand still.
On Easter Sunday and the following days too, a traditional custom is
definitely worth a visit. It is paschalogiorta (=Easter festivities) in the
town of Kalabaka. The scent of lamb on the spit intoxicates your lungs
everywhere, while the Easter-related dishes paspaliáres (= pies made
with corn flour and baked in clay pots) and basiordí (=pork preserved in
its fat) together with endless quantities of wine double the pleasure of
singing and dancing along!