In 1980, Roy Hounsell and his wife try to establish themselves in Corfu. In 1991 they buy a tumble-down property in mountainous Zagoria in Northern mainland Greece. They struggle with the rebuilding, helped by the village priest, Papa Kostas, create a garden out of the jungle and join in with the villagers to become regarded as locals.

"Travel writing at its best." - Greece.com UPDATED EDITION WITH A NEW CHAPTER Intoxicated with dreams of a Greek paradise, John Mole inflicts upon his family a tumbledown ruin on a hillside with no water, no electricity, no roof, no floor, no doors, no windows and twenty years of goat dung ... far away from the tourist resorts and posh hotels. Through hard work and comic misadventures a bond is formed with a vivid cast of village characters - from Elpida who cures back pain with raw eggs to beautiful Eleni yearning for Dusseldorf - over bottles of ouzo, whisky and wine. If only Hector the dog would calm down.

Travel, Tourism and Identity addresses the psychological and social adjustments that occur when people make contact with others outside their social, cultural, or linguistic groups. Whether such contact is the result of tourism, seeking exile, or relocating abroad, the volume's contributors demonstrate how one's identity, cultural assumptions, and worldview can be brought into question. In some cases, the traveller finds that bridging the social and cultural gap between himself and the new society is fairly easy. In other cases, the traveller discovers that reorienting himself requires absorbing a new cultural history and traditions. The contributors argue that making these adjustments will surely enhance the traveller's or tourist's experience; otherwise the traveller or tourist will be at risk of becoming a marginalized figure, one disconnected from the society that surrounds him. This latest volume in the Culture & Civilization series features a collection of essays on travel and tourism. The essays cover a range of topics from historical travels to modern social identities. They discuss ancient travels, contemporary travels in Europe, Africa and sustainable eco-tourism, and the politics of tourism. Essays also address experiences of Grenada's "Spice Island" identity, and the effects of globalization and migrations on personal identity.

During the last century, writers as diverse as William Golding, Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell, Evelyn Waugh, Virginia Woolf, and Laurie Lee, were captivated by Greece. They were joined in their production of travel accounts by hundreds of lesser-known authors. This book exposes how the responses of travellers were conditioned by much more than their own opinions and personalities. The British education system, classical scholarship, and the heroism demonstrated by the Greeks during the Nazi invasion of their country, all contributed to shaping travel narratives. The author analyses the way in which all of the major archaeological sites were described—including the Athenian Acropolis, Delphi, Olympia, Heinrich Schliemann’s Mycenae, and Sir Arthur Evans’ Knossos in Crete. The representation of the modern Greek people, particularly in the period after the Second World War, is also explored at length. Viewed as relics of the past, the Greeks in literature were given the qualities and appearance of their ancestors. David Wills shows how in the hands of twentieth century travel writers, Greece became less a modern country, and more a mirror of antiquity. This book is essential reading for all who are interested in the history of travel and tourism, reception of the classical past, and recent Greek history.

Drawing a portrait of the islands off the coast of Greece, Corfu resident Jim Potts narrates the cultural legacies of this unique place from Homer to modern times.

The Rough Guide to Greece has been the definitive guidebook to the country for 30 years. This new full-colour edition has been completely revamped and updated - keeping all our best features - detailed background, a journalistic eye for detail - with new user-friendly accommodation and eating reviews and crystal-clear maps. Get the lowdown on Greece's world class attractions from the Acropolis to Crete's Minoan Palaces. Rediscover Athens and find the perfect bars to kick off a night out. Read insider tips on the best beaches to escape the crowds, the choicest accommodation from boutique to backpacker. Get active - hike the Samarian Gorge, windsurf off Corfu or hire a yacht in the Cyclades. As our readers put it "a superb bit of kit - and as essential as a pair of shorts", "what really shines through is the writers love of the subject", "entertaining and a wealth of information".

Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Greece, the ultimate handbook to the Greek mainland and islands - right down to the tiniest one-village outcrops, including an overview of all of Greece's highlights, from Mount Pilio's lush countryside and Prespa's beautiful lakes to the fish market in Thessaloniki and the famous oracle site in Delphi. There are sections on Greek cuisine, Wild Greece and Orthodox Festivals, hundreds of reviews of all the best places to eat, drink and sleep, for all budgets, plus practical tips on a wide range of activities, from bird-watching and windsurfing to hiking and cycling. The guide also takes a detailed look at the country's history, culture, mythology and wildlife and comes complete with maps and plans for every region.