Greece in July

Thinking of Greece in July. Idea is to spend a week or so on

Mykonos or Santerini just relaxing by the pool, hanging out in town,

and taking pics. Any recommendations?

In Santorini, stay on the lip of the caldera side, get pictures of the fog climbing up the steep sides to the top every morning. The most spectacular view I've ever seen in traveling to several European countries. Make sure your color film does a good job with the color blue, because it's a knockout there.

Yes, 2 suggestions.

 

1. Don't linger in Athens, it's _hot_ and _humid_.

 

2. Take me with you.

Humid? Athens? He said Athens, Greece, not Athens, GA. ;-)

You may be able to do a day trip to Meteora on the mainland - well worth it if you get the chance, it is spectacular.

 

Oh yes, Mythos beer, tzatziki, dolmades and souvlaki - also highly recommended!

Santorini is magical. Mykonos is okay if you get out of town and climb some of the hills above. However, I got some great street shots there. Athens is over-crowded, but go to Delphi if you get the opportunity.

The best time for photography would be between April-May. August is best if you want to enjoy a warm sea, but the landscapes are going to be very yellow. July is in between, with lots of tourists.

FWIW, Joe,

Sandorini: stay in the village of Oia (Ia). Fabulous sunsets, great for people watching, and photo taking. Keep an eye out for the various architectural forms that you'll see on any of these Cycladic islands of which Sandorini and Mykonos are two.

 

Take lenses from wideangle to (at least) short tele; lots of film-color slides and B&W.

 

Also note that usually by July the "Meltemia" -- tradewinds-- begin, especially on Mykonos. Once tried to photograph the well known white-washed church in the main town, but with great difficulty because of those winds.

 

BTW, on Mykonos, rent a car or motorbike and head north for the areas/villages of Panormos or Aghios Sosti: great beaches, usually not too congested, a couple of nice tavernas there....

 

Earlier suggestion about Meteora is quite true; unusual rock/mountain formations, with monastic communities located on top of a view of them.... Also, another very nice part of Greece usually ignored by many tourists, is in the NW part of the country, known as Epiros, specifically in the area of 46 villages, nestled in the mountains as one approaches the Albanian border.

These villages are referred to as "Zagarohoria." And you'll find an interesting gorge there (Vikos Gorge). Most of the villages are non descript, but two are worth a visit: Monothendri, which is near the gorge, and especially Papiko, at the foot of relatively small mountain area, which I think is called "Camilia."

 

Whereever you go, take lots of photos, and ENJOY!!!

 

BILL

Joseph

 

The problem with going to Greece is that there is so much to see and visit, and deciding what not to see is the real task!

 

Meteora is a fantastic place, although the monks do not like[allow]much photography inside the rooms which are covered with Icons, especially if you are using flash. I go past there, from Igoumenitsa to Volos, 4 times a year and every time see something different,also from there to Volos takes about 2 hours and then its another 5/6 hours to Athens, so when you add in the trip from Mykonos it really isn't a day trip, and from that island you would need 3 days to do it some kind of justice. It would be better to visit some of the other ,nearer islands. Delos should be a definite.

 

You know thinking about it, most of the Greek islands have there own web site so it would be very worth while to have a look at these.

 

Regards

 

Bruno

<a href="http://www.keithlaban.co.uk">Keith Laban Photography</a><p>Hi Joseph. My recommendation would be to avoid the well known "International Holiday Islands" and head for the real Greece. Santorini and Mykonos are about as Greek as a tourist's Greek salad, are overcrowded and have been photographed from every conceivable angle many times over.<p>Get yourself a good book, select one or more of the many virtually unknown and truly Greek Islands; you won't be sorry.<p>If you are interested take a peek at my gallery of images taken on the island of <a href="http://www.keithlaban.co.uk/symi.html">Symi</a><p>Have a good trip.

Don't take Ben Z., take me.

"Kevin Mendenhall Photo.net Patron, jan 13, 2005; 09:01 p.m.

Humid? Athens? He said Athens, Greece, not Athens, GA. ;-)"

 

From a humidity standpoint I'd rather spend July in Athens, GA., and I'm a Floridian a good part of the year. Athens is July was swelteringly hot and there was no breeze, it was quite stagnant and humid and very few places including our hotel, had A/C. This was about 10 years ago. We know people who own a Greek restaurant and close down every July and head for "the old country". They have to land in Athens and stay there overnight to and fro, and they always complain of the heat and humidity. The rest of the year the weather is delightful.

It's a combination of the humidity and heat that makes it so uncomfortable, not just absolute humidity: </p>

 

 

<a href="http://www.explore.co.uk/tables/TT003830.htm">Athens table of heat/humidity discomfort</a>

July is a dreadful month in Greece: the heat will kill you if the

hordes of tourists don't get to you beforehand. IF.... it has to be

July, your best bets are the islands but please include Delos,

Crete and Rhodes. Beautiful and you will learn alot. Avoid

Mykonos... it is not Greek!

Agree with the comment above that Epirus (northwest Greece) is a good destination for

July. Most tourists are Greeks or Europeans who tend to take their vacations in August

(when the beaches there are really crowded). And the prices are likely to be more

reasonable than the hot tourist spots. The western islands of Corfu, Paxoi, Kefallania,

Zakinthos, Lefkas are all nice in the summer and greener than the Cyclades (Mykonos,

Santorini, etc.). Many beautiful coves and beaches between Igoumenitsa and Lefkas (an

island but with a bridge to the mainland hardly 150m long). Parga has a small island in

the city bay that you can swim or wade out to and explore. Zagoria gorge is breathtaking.

The ancient city of Nikopolis just 7km from Preveza has interesting Roman and Byzantine

ruins. Other ancient sites are in the area. The cuisine in Epirus is a bit different and

excellent, especially if you like fish and seafood (remember prawns Preveza in the Roger

Moore Bond movies?)

If you still prefer the Aegean islands, the Dodecanese are larger, greener and more

interesting than the Cyclades. Rhodes, Kos, Samos, Chios are historic and a lot of fun to

explore. On the other hand, if you're into nude beaches and 24 hour a day partying with

other tourists, Mykonos is the spot.