Overview of Greece for Travelers

by Richard Monk, April 20, 2006

From the Olympics to My Fat Greek Wedding, Greece has always been a cultural centerpiece in the history of man. Summing up its contribution requires a small library, but here is an overview.

Overview of Greece for Travelers

Greece was home to some of the earliest advanced civilizations. From the Minoans of the second BC millennium to Mycenaeans who established the basis of the current language, the country has produced cultural, philosophical, political and sport advancements unrivaled by others.

The modern Greek state obtained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. It has carried on what seems like a constant conflict with Turkey and was also involved in both World Wars. In 1981, Greece joined the European Community that eventually evolved into the European Union.

The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic. Greece covers an area of roughly 51,000 square miles. Athens is both the capital and largest population center with roughly 3.5 million inhabitants. Thessaloniki is the second largest population area with just over one million people. The terrain of Greece ranges from mountains in the north to flat plains in the south and beautiful islands off the coast. Winters are mild while summers are hot and dry making Greece a huge tourist destination.

The people of Greece are known as Greeks. They total more than 10.96 million. Population growth exists, but it is just above .2 percent annually. Greek is the official language. From a religious perspective, 99 percent of Greeks claim Greek Orthodox as their religion. Literacy rate is 95 percent and all levels of education are absolutely free. Life expectancy is 76 for males and 81 for women.

Greece is a relatively small country, but has accounted for a remarkable number of developments in the trek of mankind through history. Whether you are going to see the culture or loaf on the islands, Greece is a top travel destination for a good reason.

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author

Richard Monk is with http://www.factsmonk.com - a site that has nothing to do with politics.

Know the Geography of Spain

Author: Peter Wilson

A detailed map of Spain will come in handy when it's time to plan your vacation. You can get a quick overview of the geography and topography, and help you orient yourself to the important cities and landmarks within the country. You can also get a feel for where Spain lies in relation to the rest of Europe and the world.

Where in the World?

Spain is at the southwest part of Europe. In comparison, Spain is just over two times the size of the state of Oregon in the US. Besides the mainland, Spain also includes several islands off the coast of Morocco. The islands are the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Penon de Alhucemas, Islas Chafarinas and Penon de Velez de la Gomera. Understanding the physical layout and area of Spain goes a long way toward understanding the Spanish culture.

Though Spain borders several countries (France, Gibraltar, Portugal and Morocco), it still has a considerable amount of coastline (nearly 5000 km). Beaches are a significant draw for vacationers. Another reason it's so popular is because of the mild climate. Spain enjoys good weather nearly year-round. The most temperate area is along the coastline, with the more extreme temperature changes occurring inland.

At its lowest point, Spain is at sea level. The country's highest point is a peak in the Canary Islands. The Pico de Teide reaches 3718 m.

Important Cities in Spain

The Strait of Gibraltar lies at the southern tip of Spain. This is the route from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Atlantic Ocean. This is a popular passing area for merchants and trade.

The Alicante region, located in the southeast region of Spain, is a popular tourist attraction for visitors from Europe. It offers a wide variety of activities, from historical ruins to modern conveniences.

Madrid, Spain's capital, is near the center of Spain, near the Tagus River, which flows to the North Atlantic Ocean via Portugal. Seville is in the southwestern part of Spain. It's famous for it's tributes to Spanish culture through art and culture. It's also an important financial center in Spain. Barcelona and Cartagena are also popular tourist spots.

The cities of Gijon and Santander are located near the Bay of Biscay, on the northern coast of Spain. Other northern coastal cities include A Coruna and Vigo. As Spain is nearly completely surrounded by water, it's no surprise that fishing and salt harvesting are big business here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/know-the-geography-of-spain-85284.html

About the Author:

Focusing on the area of Spain, Peter J. Wilson writes articles especially for http://www.alicante-spain.com . His abstracts on detailed map of Spain are found on http://www.alicante-spain.com/spain.html .

London, England

While I'm on a role about world cities, I though I would go ahead and write about one more. So here is the third of a series of posts about famous world cities. In this case, London, England, capital of the United Kingdom. London is another city I have been fortunate to travel to many times over the years, and one in which I always look forward to returning. London is probably one of the most famous cities in the world. It has a very long history, from being a Roman backwater to the nerve center of one of the largest empires in history (British Empire), and today remains one of the control centers of the global economy. Geographers of all types, like most places we visit, will become very excited upon a visit to London. There is just so much to see and do here. Geographers who look at the world through one or more of the five themes of geography (see a previous post) will undoubtedly find much to examine and observe in London.

But if you are reading this and have never been to London before, but might like to plan a trip there in the future, you might be interested to know about the most famous sights. With this in mind, I'll post here an article I previously wrote for another website - "How to See London's Top Ten Attractions". The original article is found here:
How to See London's Top Ten Attractions


London contains a myriad of things to see and do, some world famous, others waiting to be discovered. But many would agree that there are certain sites that come to mind when one thinks of London. This article briefly describes sites that many would consider to be the top 10 attractions in London (but discussed in no particular order).

London Top Ten #1: British Museum - A museum of world history and culture housed in a monumental structure. It contains over six million artifacts from around the world spanning over a million years of history, including the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles, and other famous antiquities.


London Top Ten #2: National Gallery and Portrait Gallery - The National Gallery houses one of the greatest art collections in the world, including over 2,000 items from the early Renaissance to the Impressionists. On display are items representing all the European schools of painting and works by all the famous artists from those styles. The National Gallery is adjacent to Trafalger Square and St. Martin in the Fields Church. The Portrait Gallery opened in 1856 and allows visitors to actually see the faces of many famous and well-known names. Popular portraits include: British Royalty, Shakespeare, The Beatles, and Margaret Thatcher.


London Top Ten #3: London Eye - This is the tallest observation wheel in the world. It sits along the Thames across from the Houses of Parliament and allows spectacular views all around London from one of its 32 enclosed capsules that each hold 25 people. One complete revolution takes 30 minutes.


London Top Ten #4: Tate Modern Museum - This museum houses an extensive collection of international modern art and is affiliated with the Tate Britain Museum. It is housed within the old Bankside Power Station, along the Thames across from the City of London and St. Paul's Cathedral. Famous works on display include exhibits by Dali, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, and Warhol, as well as many current artists.


London Top Ten #5: Natural History Museum - One of London's most popular museums. The many exhibits in this large structure lead visitors through the array of subjects relating to natural history, with as many as 70 million specimens from around the world. Exhibits include dinosaurs, fossils, geology, earthquakes and volcanoes, a journey through the globe, the water cycle, biology, gemstones, origin of species, and much more. There are also many interactive and hands-on exhibits.


London Top Ten #6: Science Museum - This hi-tech museum contains many exhibits relating to many facets of science and technology, as well as the development of scientific and technological innovations throughout the centuries. Particular subjects covered in the exhibits include the industrial revolution, the space age, and the latest cutting edge technology. Many of the exhibits are hands-on and interactive.


London Top Ten #7: Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard - This is the most famous residence in London and home to Queen Elizabeth II. It was first built in 1705, and extended between 1824 and 1830. Queen Victoria took up residence here in 1837. The recognizable front of the building was completed in 1913. Although this is the Queen's primary residence, some of the State Rooms are open to visitors during the summer. Many people time their visit to the palace in the mid to late morning to coincide with the changing of the guard. The guards dressed in the familiar regalia march to the palace from nearby barracks.


London Top Ten #8: Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament - This structure was founded in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor and is an excellent example of Medieval architecture. It continues to provide a place for royal ceremony to this day. The abbey on the south side of Parliament Square, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament. Two famous events to be held here in the last half century include Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and the memorial service for Princess Diana in 1997. Of popular interest by many visitors is that many famous royals, poets, writers, statesmen, and scientists are buried within the abbey. The Houses of Parliament are within the Palace of Westminster, along the banks of the Thames. The palace was built over a thousand years ago and is currently the seat of government for the United Kingdom. The palace, including the famous "Big Ben" clock tower, are located across Parliament Square from Westminster Abbey. Nearby Parliament Street leads to Whitehall (where many government offices are located) and Number 10 Downing Street (the official residence of the Prime Minister).


London Top Ten #9: Tower of London - Originally built around 1080 as a moated fort, the Tower of London (with its famous White Tower in the middle) has had quite a varied history. It has also been a fortress, a prison (where certain people were beheaded - famous prisoners include Henry VI, Henry VIII's wives, Lady Jane Grey, and Catholic Martyrs), an arsenal, and is now home to the Crown Jewels (including the Imperial State Crown and other crowns, sceptres, rings, orbs, and jewels), the Royal Mint, and a large collection of armor related artifacts. It is located along the Thames nearby the Tower Bridge.


London Top Ten #10: St. Paul's Cathedral - Considered to be the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren (who designed many churches after London's Great Fire of 1666). St. Paul's was completed in 1708, was the first church built for Protestant purposes in England, and has many similarities to St. Peter's in Rome. There are many areas within the cathedral for visitors to explore, including stairs to various galleries and even to the very top of the dome (one of the largest in the world) for a spectacular view of London. Many events, particularly of music, continue to take place in the cathedral.


Original article by Paul McDaniel is found here: How to See London's Top Ten Attractions