DIRECTORY A-ZELECTRICITYE l e c t r i c i t y
220V/50Hz220V/50HzEmbassies &
Consulates
All foreign embassies in
Greece are in Athens and its
suburbs, with a few consu-
lates in Thessaloniki.
Albania (%210 687 6200;
[email protected]; Veki-
areli 7, Athens GR-152 37)
Australia (%210 870 4000;
http://www.greece.embassy.gov.
au; cnr Leoforos Alexandras &
Leoforos Kifisias, Ambelokipi,
Athens GR-115 23)
Bulgaria (%210 674 8105;
http://www.mfa.bg/en/79; Stratigou
Kalari 33a, Psyhiko, Athens
GR-154 52)
Canada (%210 727 3400;
http://www.greece.gc.ca; Genadiou 4,
Athens GR-115 21)
Cyprus (%210 723 7883;
[email protected]; Irodotou 16,
Athens GR-106 75)
France (%210 361 1663;
http://www.ambafrance-gr.org; Leo-
foros Vasilissis Sofias 7, Athens
GR-106 71)
Germany (%210 728 5111;
http://www.athen.diplo.de; Dimitriou
3, cnr Karaoli, Kolonaki, Athens
GR-106 75)
Ireland (%210 723 2771;
http://www.embassyofireland.gr;
Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou
5-7, Athens GR-153 34)
Italy (%210 361 7260; http://www.
ambatene.esteri.it; Sekeri 2,
Athens GR-106 74)
Netherlands (%210 723
9701; http://www.dutchembassy.gr;
Leoforos Vasileos Konstantinou
5-7, Athens GR-106 74)
New Zealand (%210 687
4701; http://www.nzembassy.com;
Kifisias 268, Halandri, Athens
152 26)
Turkey (turkbaskon@kom.
forthnet.gr); Athens (% 210
724 5915; Leoforos Vasileos
Georgiou 8, Athens GR-106
74); Thessaloniki (% 23102
48452; Agiou Dimitriou 151,
Thessaloniki)
UK (www.ukingreece.fco.gov.
uk/en); Athens (%210 723
6211; Ploutarhou 1, Athens
GR-106 75); Thessaloniki
(%23102 78006; Tsimiski 43,
Thessaloniki)
USA (http://athens.us
embassy.gov); Athens (% 210
721 2951; Leoforos Vasilissis
Sofias 91, Athens GR-115 21);
Thessaloniki (%23102 42905;
Tsimiski 43, Thessaloniki)Gay & Lesbian
Travellers
In a country where the
church still plays a prominent
role in shaping society’s
views on issues such as
sexuality, it comes as no
surprise that homosexuality
is generally frowned upon by
many locals – especially out-
side the major cities. While
there is no legislation against
homosexual activity, it pays
to be discreet.
Some areas of Greece are,
however, extremely popular
destinations for gay and les-
bian travellers. Athens has a
busy gay scene, but most gay
and lesbian travellers head
for the islands. Mykonos
has long been famous for its
bars, beaches and general
hedonism, while Skiathos
also has its share of gay
hang-outs. The island of Les-
vos (Mytilini), birthplace of
the lesbian poet Sappho, has
become something of a place
of pilgrimage for lesbians.
The Spartacus Interna-
tional Gay Guide, published
by Bruno Gmünder (Berlin),
is widely regarded as the
leading authority on the
gay travel scene. The Greek
section contains a wealth of
information on gay venues
everywhere from Alexan-
droupoli to Xanthi. Also
check out Gayscape (www.
gayscape.com/gre.html) for
information and links.Health
Availability & Cost of
Health Care
Although medical training is
of a high standard in Greece,
the public health service is
badly underfunded. Hospitals
can be overcrowded, hygiene
is not always what it should
be and relatives are expected
to bring in food for the pa-
tient – which can be a prob-
lem for a tourist. Conditions
and treatment are much bet-
ter in private hospitals, which
are expensive. All this means