Did the Olympic coverage induce you to add Greece to your "Must See" list?
 

Greece really did get the job done. And I noticed that watching the coverage, and seeing all those friendly, passionate, partying Greeks made me want to return soon.

How about other Fodorites? Do you think that seeing all of this will bring you to Greece in the future? Do you know anyone else who plans to make the trip now?

I asked myself a similar question in a different way.
Since the Olympics in Barcelona, Barcelona has become a mayor tourist destination for a 3-4 day visit in Europe. Will the same be happening with Athens?

Unfortunately the olympic coverage showed precious little about Greece or the greeks, at least during the prime time stuff in the evenings. But hearing of all the improvements made in Athens certainly increased my interest in visiting greece.

I had never really been all that motivated to visit Greece before the Olympics, but I think Athens and Greece came off looking great. They did a great job, especially in the face of all the media reports that they wouldn't be ready.
I look forward to visiting that beautiful country now. The little features on the athletes soaking up the culture and food, though cheesy at times, made me really want to go.

I had already decided to plan a visit to Greece for 2006 (yeah, so I plan way in advance) and looked forward to the Olympics to see coverage of the country.

Didn't see much except the same montage of shots every evening at commercial break - but I didn't really expect a travel show.

I wasn't aware of all the planned improvements to Athens for the Olympics until just a few months ago - they are all just a bonus for my trip.

I am w/Chepar...ATHENS 2006!!:-D Yes, the Olympic Games and how well they turned out has definitely put me in the mood for Greece.

HEY, LET'S MEET IN GREECE IN 2006!!!!

P.S. I even try to talk my husband into switching Scandinavia 2005 for Greece, but no luck.

I have always wanted to go back, but the media coverage- (notably newspaper articles, as well as the television shots), have bumped it up on the priority list.

baldrick- I hope not.

I have had zero interest in the Olympics for the past 20 years or more. I was an avid fan when it was somewhat less commercial and pro athletes didn't dominate as much as they do now. So this Olmpic event didn't inspire me to visit Greece.

For some reason, I've never been interested in visiting Greece, Spain or South America. I'm especially puzzled as to why I don't want to visit Greece as I'm very much interested in history and deeply involved in archaeology.

Yea, but Rufus T. Firefly, have you ever shot an elehpant in your pajama's? Always wanted to ask that. But seriously, I majored in archeology in school & therefore really interested in it, but I don't have alot of desire to go to Rome (Italy). I would rather see Greece first. But as I was watching the credits of the Olympics & when the acropolis was shown, I was thinking I would like to visit there but maybe not in the near future because it will now most likely become a common destination for many tourists now that the Olympics are over. By the way Rufus, I have no desire at all to visit New York city, don't know why, but everybody has their preferences.

Hi,

Not really. I have already been to Greece, about 10 years ago.

I generally don't plan to return somewhere I've been, at least not yet. I want to see so much of the world, that if I repeat countries and/or states, I'll never get to everwhere I want to go!

Karen

"They won't be ready" has made me laugh for a year because the young woman who was our guide to the ancient sites last year said we would be hearing that but they would be ready. She said they might be working until midnight the evening before the opening but that was how the Greeks did things. I'm glad to see that she was correct.

I've been to Greece, but only the Islands (passed through Athens). So I'd like to go back, partly due to the Olympics. I miss the food and music more than the sights, actually.

But then, I think of all of the other places I want to go, and Greece falls back down on the list. Oh well!

No, but it did induce me to date a rhythmic gymnist from Russia in my next life.
((H))

Had no time to watch much of the olympics, but when I was in Athens in June, I thought it was wonderful. (I had not been in about 10 years.) I find the Greeks to be warm and wonderful and Athens was all cleaned up and looked great! I want to go back now and spend more time there again.

It definitly peaked my interest. I thought they did a great job, and the place looked beautiful. I'd skip August and the 100 degree temps. October or April would be the months I go.

We will be in Athens October 1st and watching the Olympic coverage (plus occasional related TV programs these last few weeks about Greece) made us so pleased we chose to return again this year.

Maybe not do a trip report this time around as visiting same places as 2003.

I hope everyone who does decide to visit has a wonderful time.

milley

RufusT and Bill - if you love archaeology you must go to Greece! I teach ancient civilizations and visited Greece for the first time last spring. It was so interesting and not all the sites were even open! (Olympic renovations...) Reconsider...or should I say research it a bit. I cannot wait to return!(And the food is sooooooooo good!)

CBC TV nightly coverage included little tourist/historical vignettes on Athens, a couple of the islands, dancing lessons, food, etc., which moved Greece up my must-see list, especially Athens. Besides the historical perspective and sunny weather, the Athenian streets looked clean, no smog, and a lot of fun!

I can't say it was the Olympics that piqued my desire for seeing Greece because, unforunately, I got to view precious little of the games.

What did, though, was a show I watched on PBS a few months ago. Can't recall the name of it but is was one of those "Over-xxx" (aerial cinema set to music) films. It was fabulous. Meteora and Santorini look like bits of Earth touching Heaven.

Yes, I want to go.

milley, you mentioned your previous trip report and I've just had the chance to read it.

This is the Athens that I recognise and I am pleased you are returning to have more adventures. Grasshopper's comments in that report last year stand strong today.

Everyone, go and enjoy this city. You surely will.

Bill

KS452, I was thinking that I'd love to see an Over Greece. I've seen the Over Italy on my PBS station and it was amazing. I was hoping that there would be more of a Let's see Greece in the Olympic coverage. Since 1968 I've been glued to the summer Olympics, started up with the winter games in 1976. When ABC had the games there was more sightseeing in the coverage. I was hoping NBC would let me visit Greece as I doubt I'll do it in person.

We were in Athens in Oct. '00, and the papers were full of the impending Olympics Commitee visi8t that might move the Olympics to another country. However, they'd already completed some of the new Metro, and I felt sure that they'd make it. I'm delighted to see that it came off so well. Athens is a magnificent city--not all at like other European capitals. I'm looking forward to returning.

Greece has been on my wish list for quite some time but I think I will avoid it for a while in order to avoid the rush of people prompted to go there by viewing the olympics. However, I am considering going to Bejing before the next olympics as I think it would add to the viewing experience to see what is featured during the coverage of those games.

Yes, I'd love to go back (it has been over 20 years.) I hope tourism does increase (just not when I plan to go) as it sounds like the country can use a cash infusion.

I'd like to visit Greece, but I'm not sure about Athens.

While having near-zero interest in sports, I was pleased to see that the Greeks confounded the oracles who predicted doom. Australians were pretty pleased with the way the Sydney Olympics went off (in the face of the resident pessimists predicting the collapse of the public transport system and much else), but we should reflect that Greece has only half Australia's population and little more than a third of its GDP. It was quite an achievement.

I've been to Greece and 20+ other countries, and the Greek Islands are my favourite part of the world - bar none.

Mmmmmmmmm--rhythmic gymnastics! You wouldn't happen to have taped it, would you maitaitom? The one event I really miss.

What coverage? Are you speaking of the end to end adverts or the stupid remarks of the anchors? Why would that make anyone want to go to Greece?

Good question, Grasshopper. I've wanted to visit Greece eventually anyway, but even more so now.

I agree, they sure look like they are a happy, fun people, to say nothing of the fabulous countryside. We are leaving for our first trip Sept. 6, and am still having trouble picking a hotel in Santorini. I think we should stay in Fira because of easy access to night life for my daughter. There's a brand new (opened July) villa in Firorstefani (10 min. walk from Fira) but I'm a little afraid because it's so new. I wonder if anyone else has heard of it? It's called Agnadema Apartments. We'll be in Santoini Sept. 16, so I need to hustle.

It is pretty amazing that anyone interested in archaeology would not be attracted to Athens or Rome! Greece is a wonderful country. I know a lot of people go & head straight to the islands & I never quite understood that. In terms of history and archaeology, Athens (& Rome as well) are amazing. Every shot of the Acropolis or Sounion made me miss it, but the whole mainland is like that. Delphi is magical, you have places Meteora and Olympia, and as others have said, the Greeks are always up for a party. It is one of my favorite places to be.

I have been to Greece once, in 1994.

I have to admit, after watching the Olympics, I want to go back, and see more.

In the beginning of every prime-time coverage on NBC, they always showed different parts of Greece, playing with the Olympic theme music.

I can remember running across the field from the original starting line, in Olympia. I guess that is what every tourist must do. LOL

I am of Greek descent and have been to Greece 4 or 5 times with people who spoke the language. I did not enjoy my last trip because the Greeks would argue with us about being “rich” Greek Americans and tried to rip us off at every turn. Other non Greek friends have had better experiences. After the Olympic coverage (especially the Today show) it made me remember what I loved about the country. The Islands are absolutely magnificent. The food is great. Since the conversion to the Euro I have heard things are much more expensive. It is worth the trip even if you do it only once.