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Health & Fitness

Greek Time!

Having lived in Spain and visited countless cities and countries, I always knew I could default to Spanish if needed. This time, though, I have no idea how to read or speak Greek.

So, it's official! I leave for Greece! Best part??

I'M GOING TO GREECE!!!!

.....okay, yes, there's more, but really, when you're going to Greece, do you need any more? I mean, hello....it's GREECE!
But, my friend and I will be visiting the ruins, the famous-person-frequented island of Santorini, and then even enjoy Mykonos, Crete and Athens!

Now I LOVE traveling Europe, having lived in Spain twice and visited countless cities and countries, but I always had a helping hand: my Spanish.

I always knew I could default to Spanish if I needed, or I could pass as Spanish if I needed to not pass as English for the time being. Most of the languages I encountered—French, Italian, and even a little German—I could make out enough to know where I was supposed to go or what I was supposed to do, for the most part.

This time, though, I have no idea how to read or speak any Greek. It's a Hellenic language, not a Romance one, so its basis, lettering and understandability is completely different.

Ergo, I made myself a cheat sheet! I have a few key phrases written down and learned just in case I need them!

(spelled phonetically, not in Greek) Bolded and italic parts are the syllables that are stressed.
Hello:  ya-sas, yia-sas
Yes:  neh
No:  Oh-ke
Please: pa-rah-kah-low
Thank You:  ef-kah-ree-stow
Toilet:  toy-let-ah
Water: neh-row
Food: fah-gee-tow
Do you speak English? - mee-las ahn-glee-kah

Oh boy! We'll see how I do! Maybe I'll just go around saying "¿Español?"  

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