Business contacts
Mobile phone hire Greece Travel-Phones (38 Voulis Street, Tel: 693 916 2014, email: greecetravelphones@hotmail.com). Alternatively, it might work out cheaper to buy a pre-paid local SIM card, such as the B-free pack, from electronic goods stores like the Germanos chain and either use it with your own phone, or buy a phone locally for use on a GSM network.
Car hire Avis at 210 3530 5789 and 210 353 1432 or book through www.avis.gr.
Office rental Regus at 210 727 9000 or book via www.regus.com
Secretarial services EMDS at 001 973 273 2124 (This is a US number), 43 Iasonidou Street, Elliniko or contact info@executivem aildropservices.com.
Weather and climate
Though generally sunny and warm, the weather in Athens shouldn’t be taken for granted, especially in these days of global warming. It is not uncommon to find yourself pelted with rain out of a blue sky. Temperatures can also drop quite sharply in winter and it can even snow. In fact, Athens has twice become snow-bound with persistent below-freezing temperatures in recent winters. Temperatures start climbing after mid-March and by the middle of May it is definitely hot, staying that way right until the end of September and early October.
Local press
The local English-language paper, published on a weekly basis, is The Athens News. This contains local news and also local entertainment listings and is available at most newspaper stands.
The Greek edition of the International Herald Tribune comes out daily and includes a section devoted to Greek news in English, written in collaboration with the respected Greek daily H Kathimerini. This also has listings and information on recreation targeted at visitors in Athens.
Tourist traps
Restaurants and tavernas in the Plaka district, though very atmospheric and great fun to visit, tend to display a poor price-to-quality ratio, banking on their location and the steady stream of tourists in order to sell themselves. That said, there are some hidden gems among them, and the location is very nice, provided you’re not expecting a gastronomic epiphany. Similar reservations apply to the ‘fresh’ fish sold in tavernas in Kastella on the coast of Piraeus, where you often find yourself paying over the odds for substandard product.
Tipping etiquette
Tips range from 5% to 10% and are accepted in most establishments where a waiter comes to your table, including tavernas, restaurants, cafés and bars. It is not necessary to tip in taxis (though they often tip themselves by rounding up your change to the nearest euro) but it’s standard practice in hairdressing salons and with hotel porters and bellboys.
Internet cafés
There are now internet cafés dotted all around Athens, as well as other establishments offering internet access, such as hotels. For 24-hour cyber-surfing near the center of Athens for just €2.50 before midnight or €1.5 afterward try the underground Cyberzone (Satovriandou 7, Omonoia, Tel: 210 5203939) or C@fe4U (Ippokratous 44, Tel: 210 3611981).
Gifts to buy
Greek jewellery and silverware, especially original designs by exclusive jewellers like Ilias Lalaounis (Panepistimiou 6) or Zolotas (Stadiou 9), is guaranteed to please. Art aficionados may appreciate original work by promising local artists, which still sells for relatively modest prices in art galleries around Athens. Alternatively, a trip to a delicatessen may yield a wealth of potential gift ideas, from bottles of rich, extra-virgin olive oil (of which Greece has some of the best varieties in the world) to Greek cheeses or the new fine wines produced by Greek vineyards. Also highly prized is the rich, dark and aromatic thyme honey produced on the slopes of Greek mountains, or selections of oriental-style sweets like baklava or Turkish delight.