Greece

You are about to arrive in the land that invented the table fork, the drama and the comedy of the stage as we know it, dance and the Western musical scale, as well as the art of discourse and the standard Western method of teaching. This is the land that defined Western aesthetics 2,500 years ago. And of course the sun and sand are great. But for memories more lasting, remember that Greece invented European cuisine, she is mother kitchen to the Western world. It was here that feeding was first elevated to the art of cuisine. The basis of this cuisine is the "Holy Trinity" of Grain, Olive and Vine. These will be served at every meal. You will ...

You are about to arrive in the land that invented the table fork, the drama and the comedy of the stage as we know it, dance and the Western musical scale, as well as the art of discourse and the standard Western method of teaching. This is the land that defined Western aesthetics 2,500 years ago. And of course the sun and sand are great. But for memories more lasting, remember that Greece invented European cuisine, she is mother kitchen to the Western world. It was here that feeding was first elevated to the art of cuisine. The basis of this cuisine is the "Holy Trinity" of Grain, Olive and Vine. These will be served at every meal. You will find the bread superior, the wine undemanding and the oil in abundance. While Greece seems to be all about sun and sand and food, don't think that it's all beach resorts and tavernas. The mountains of the northeast are great getaways, especially in winter when tavernas are warmed by cozy fires. The Ionian islands are windows on Europe, and the Dodecanese are windows on Asia. Crete is a land of its own, harkening back 3,000 years. You can still run around the quarter mile track at ancient Olympia, near the long gone city of Sparta in the Peloponnese, only a few hours drive south of Athens.

About the Expert

Richard Sterling is the author of Lonely Planet's World Food: Greece, Eyewitness Travel Guide Vietnam, and many other books.