According to the World Bank, Greece is the world’s 37th richest country on the basis of GDP per capita (2014 data). It puts things into perspective for people whose information on Greece comes mainly from the media.
The Greek flag includes five blue and four white horizontal stripes, which stand for the nine syllables of the Greek motto Eleftheria i Thanatos (“Freedom or Death”). Blue represents Greece’s sea and sky, while white stands for the purity of the struggle for freedom. In the upper left-hand corner is the traditional Greek Orthodox cross. [The motto] arose during the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s, as a war cry for the Greeks who rebelled successfully against Ottoman rule.
— Gregory Canonis ’00
Greece is not only a tourist destination for summer months. It has 20 ski resorts located all around the mainland. Go online and check out the Warren Miller Entertainment crew playing around with the Olympic gods at Mount Olympus.
— Onic Palandjian ’93
According to recent research by Stanford University: “Greeks may be only 0.2 percent of the world population, but 3 percent of top international scientists are of Greek nationality.” However, due to the current financial problems, the majority of scientists live abroad. Fortunately there is a strong remaining pool of talented and educated Greeks, including the members of Bentley’s Greece alumni chapter.
— Marina Vasilara, MBA ’01
Nearly 80 percent of the olive oil produced in Greece is “extra” virgin, meaning it contains no more than 0.8 percent acidity. This is the largest percentage of extra virgin olive oil production per country in the world.
— Nestor Papakonstantinou ’87
You can powder ski at the mountain, then on the same day go for a swim in the sea.
— Nondas Virvidakis, MBA ’13
Greece is diverse! Stay right at the heart [of Athens] and enjoy a Turkish bath. Go south for a refreshing dip at California-looking Vouliagmeni in less than a 35-minute drive. Travel north and chances are you will snap one of your most “liked” Instagram photos of a charming deer at Mount Parnitha. Head east and taste ancient wine varieties at The Wine Museum. In case you head west, call me and I will pick you up!
— Natalia Abravanel ’09
Kristin Livingston is a senior assisant director of advancement communications at Bentley.