Getting Ready for Your Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to
Greece / Greece & Turkey

Pivotal in shaping the thought of Western civilization, Greece has had a tremendous influence on art, politics, philosophy, language, architecture, and more.  Greece is a fascinating place to visit, from white sandy beaches, historical ruins or one of its many islands.

Getting ready for physical activity:
Pilgrimages are oriented toward the spiritual and, by nature, engage the physical.  Increase the amount of time you spend walking and moving around on foot, if you’re mostly sedentary.  Take walks, get out in the sun and fresh air to accustom yourself to potentially longer days, and time on your feet during your pilgrimage.   During your tour, have bottled water and snacks along to ensure you have energy when you need it.

Many sidewalks and walkways in Greece are paved with brick, cobblestone or flagstone.  Uneven surfaces are common, so plan to wear appropriate footwear.  Rubber, not leather soles will have better traction, especially during the winter, when rains make surfaces slick.

Climate – Greece:
The climate of Greece is Mediterranean on the coasts and islands, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.

Northern, inland cities of have a more continental climate.  Winter can get quite cold, due to air masses descending from the north.  Northern regions sometimes experience snow and frost.  Northern mountainous areas are mild, with possible afternoon thunderstorms during the summer.

Spring and Autumn are mild throughout most of the country.

Since most pilgrimages to Greece navigate through multiple regions, packing for heat or cool is a good idea.  In the winter be prepared for rain.  In the summer plan for strong sunlight.  Besides light colored clothing, don’t forget to bring a hat.

With the wide variety of climate zones, it’s worthwhile to see comprehensive information for details.
See: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/greece

Climate – Turkey:
Turkey has a variety of climates, with considerable differences between the regions.

Coastal areas have generally a mild climate, while the coast of the Black Sea is colder than that of the Mediterranean.  The interior has a continental climate, with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers, though nights remain usually cool even in warmer times of the year.   For complete weather information see: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/turkey

Money exchange:
Using a debit card at ATM’s is the easiest way to get Euro’s in Greece, but you are likely to get better exchange rates by simply buying with a credit card.

ATM’s in Greece are not stocked with cash as reliably as in other EU nations.  Many travelers come with some Euros in hand from the USA or Canada.  Getting Euros at most banks in cities is routine, in the USA and worldwide.  It’s worthwhile to check with your credit card company to learn what their exchange rate is on purchases converted to Euro’s is prior to your tour.  Let them know when you’ll be traveling so your card isn’t flagged for potential fraudulent use when charges from overseas start appearing.

An ATM at a bank will give a better exchange rate than independently operated machines.  Some, but not all  ATMs have English language instructions in Greece.  If in doubt about where to go for Euro’s, check with your pilgrimage tour director.

The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira, not the Euro.  It is possible to purchase with Euros or dollars at places in major cities like Istanbul, but you won’t get great rates, just convenience.  For actual exchanging for the Lira in cash, the best bets are with ATM’s at a bank or the Post Office bank, known as the Ptt, an abbreviation for Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı.

As with Greece,  check with your credit card company to learn what their exchange rate is on purchases converted to the Lira is prior to your tour to see if you’re better off charging on a credit card.  Let them know when you’ll be traveling so your card isn’t flagged for potential fraudulent use when charges from overseas start appearing.

Cell phones:
Even though cell phones make it possible to communicate everywhere in the world, you are likely to incur big charges if you don’t let your carrier know you are heading out of the country.   Set up a text and call package for while you’re overseas.  If you don’t set up a plan including internet access, turn off cellular data in “settings”.  The difference between turning off cellular data and turning on airplane mode is that airplane mode doesn’t allow calls or texts to come through while turning off cellular data does. When you’re hooked up to Wi-Fi is the only time you should access the internet or email.  Be informed of what you can and can’t do with your phone so you don’t incur expensive roaming charges.

Telephones:
Approximately two weeks prior to your departure to Greece / Turkey, we’ll send you a list of your hotels including their addresses and phone numbers where you may be reached.

To call Greece from the USA:
First dial 011, the international access / U.S. exit code.
Next dial 30, the country code for Greece.
Finally, dial the 2 to 4-digit area code followed by the 6 to 8-digit phone number.

To call Turkey from the USA:
First dial 011, the U.S. exit code.
Next dial 90, the country code for Turkey.
Then dial the 3-digit area code, followed by the 7-digit phone number.

Electrical considerations:
Greece runs on 220V current.  Most cell phones / smart phones, computers and handheld devices now accept and immediately adapt to whatever voltage comes through wall current anywhere in the world.  You do not need to purchase a voltage converter for them.  You will, however, need an adapter compatible with Greek electrical outlets.

Other electrical equipment such as hair dryers, mini steam irons, etc. require an electrical converter.  It is possible to conveniently purchase adapters as well as converters online at Amazon.com.  Simply search for a “Universal Travel Adapter”, or “Universal Travel converter”,  for full voltage conversion.

Most hotels in Greece and Turkey have blow dryers in each room.

Cabins on cruise ships have blow dryers.

Public restrooms:  Not all public restrooms are supplied with toilet paper.  Prepare in case you find yourself at a paperless restroom.

USA embassy / consular services in Greece:
U.S. Embassy Greece
91 Vasilisis Sophias Ave
10160 Athens, Greece
Phone: +30-210-721-2951

U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki
43 Tsimiski, 7th Floor
546 23 Thessaloniki Greece
Phone: +30 2310 242 905, +30 2310 376 300
Fax: +30 2310 242 927

USA embassy / consular services in Turkey:
U.S. Embassy Ankara
110 Atatürk Blvd.
Kavaklıdere, 06100 Ankara – Turkey
Phone: (90-312) 455-5555
Fax: (90-312) 467-0019

Emergency:
Greece:
The national emergency number (toll free from any phone) is 112.  This is the equivalent to calling 911 in the USA.
Turkey:
112 Medical emergency/ Ambulance
155 Police