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Shopping
As a seafaring nation Greeks are keen to trade but there is a peculiarity about the Greek trade. If you decide to come to Greece in summer you will soon realize that the heat makes you inefficient and that it is not in vain that there exists the institution of the afternoon siesta when most of shops are closed. The siesta is in force though in winter, too, but there are slight differences in opening hours of shops. They depend not only on the season, but also on the day of the week and the kind of goods the shop offers. Generally shops are open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 9-15 (8.30-15 in summer) Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9-15 (8.30-15 in summer) and 17.30-20.30 (17.30-21 in summer). Supermarkets are open Monday through Friday 8-20, with reduced hours on Saturday. However, shop hours are liable to change at any moment, according to government directives. In tourist areas shops may stay open until late into the night.
If its late in the evening and you need an aspirin, soft drink, cigarettes, newspaper, or a pen, look for the nearest open kiosk, called a periptero, which stand on street corners everywhere brimming with all kinds of necessities.
Greece has inexpensive shoes, furs, and leather goods. Good gift ideas are the natural Kalymnos sponges; flokati rugs made from longhaired goat wool; handicrafts such as embroidery, ceramics, and kilims; fishermen’s caps and hand knit sweaters; koboloi (worry beads) in plastic, wood, and onyx; and blue-and-white amulets that protect against mati (evil eye). What is cheaper in Greece is silver and gold jewelry, often original and unusual pieces.
When shopping, always get and keep receipts for all of your purchases to be shown in case of tax police check just on the street or while you are passing through the customs. Mind that works of art, icons and antiquities may only be exported when covered by a permit issued by the Greek Archeological Service.
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