Top 10 Facts About Greece
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1. Greece was home to the first ever Olympic games in 776BC, and the first champion was a Greek cook named ‘Coroebus’ who won the sprinting
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| 2. In Greece voting is a legal requirement for everyone aged 18 or over |
3. Cremation is forbidden by the Greek Orthodox Church so everyone receives a burial
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4. Around 16.5 million tourists visit Greece every year – which amazingly is more than the countries whole population
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| 5. So it should come as no surprise that tourism makes up around 16% of the national GDP |
| 6. One reason for Greece’s popularity may be the fact that the country enjoys 250 days of sunshine (that’s 3,000 hours) every year |
7. The Pantheon is also a popular attraction, located on the Acropolis hill above Athens and nearly 2,500 years old
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| 8. Another draw is the archaeological museums – Greece has more than any other country |
| 9. Greek is one of the oldest European languages, and has been spoken for over 3,000 years |
| 10. Waving with an open hand is considered insulting in Greece, so to say goodbye you should wave with a closed hand |
