1936 On the Continent

left. If tourists prolong their stay in Greece, or in case they receive remittances from abroad during their stay in the country, it is advisable that they should report to the Bank of Greece before leaving, in order toobtain permission to re-export the sums of money in their possession.
    The Bank of Greece and the other banking establishments are alone authorised by law to buy and sell foreign exchange and foreign banknotes.
Money
    The Greek currency unit is the drachma, which is sub-divided into 100 lepta. The Bank of Greece issues bank-notes of 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 drachmas, silver coins of 10 and 20 drachmas, nickel coins of 5 drachmas, nickel-copper coins of 2 and 1 drachmas, 50 and 20 lepta and aluminium coins of 10 lepta.
    Owing to the world crisis, Greece has abandoned the gold standard, and the drachma is subject to fluctuations. In April 1936 the average rate of exchange was as follows:
Sterling £
=
520
drachmas
Egyptian £
=
540
”
American dollar
=
107
”
French franc
=
7
”
Swiss franc
=
35
”
Italian lira
=
8.40
”
German Reichsmark
=
42
”
Arrival at Piraeus
    Steamers arriving from foreign ports usually come alongside the quay of the central port; when there is no space available, the steamer may cast anchor near the Custom house. In the former case, passengers walk directly ashore, while in the second case they disembark in small boats.
    Porters of the Piraeus Port Organisation (bearing serial numbers) are at the service of passengers for the transportation of their luggage from the steamer to the Custom house. Passports are examined and the luggage quickly inspected; and as soon as these formalities are over the travellers are free to go out into the city.
    Visitors may proceed to Athens either by motor-car from the Custom house directly to the hotel by way of New Phaleron and Syngros Boulevard, or by the electric railway, whose central station is on the quay of the interior port. A tramline running along the quay leadsfrom the Custom house to the electric railway station, as well as to the stations of the Peloponnesus and the Larissa railways. There are also numerous taxis at the service of the travellers.
    Visitors to Piraeus are requested to observe the following tariff of charges:
    (1)
Boat Tariff
(per passenger with one trunk and one suitcase):
First class
45
drachmas
Second class
35
”
Second intermediary and third class
20
”
Deck
20
”
    For Additional Pieces of Luggage:
15 drachmas per trunk and 10 drachmas per suitcase for first and second class passengers; 10 drachmas per trunk and 6 drachmas per suitcase for third class passengers.
    (2)
Porter’s Tariff:
Package
First and second class
Third class
Large trunk
35
drachmas
25
drachmas
Middle-sized trunk
20
”
15
”
Small trunk
12
”
8
”
Suitcase
13
”
10
”
Travelling bag
8
”
5
”
    These rates refer to the transportation of articles from the steamer to the quay, from the quay to the Custom house, and thence to the car. Passengers are asked to pay against receipt upon leaving the Custom house.
    In case the steamer comes alongside the quay, the only charges are for the transportation of luggage.
    For luggage in the ship’s hold an additional charge of 7.50 drachmas per article is made.
    (3)
Automobile Tariff:
    From Piraeus to Athens (Omonia Square).
    Five-passenger car: 120 drachmas, plus 8 drachmas road toll; total 128 drachmas.
    Seven-passenger car: 240 drachmas, plus 10 drachmas road toll; total 250 drachmas.
The City of Athens
    Let us have a look at the capital first. The city of Athens is situated near the Saronic Gulf, in Attica.
    The city is built round the low hills of the Acropolis and Lycabettus in a plain bounded by Mounts Parnes, Pentelicon, Hymettus, and Aegaleos, and by the indented coast of the Saronic Gulf in the south-west. Through the plain flow two small rivers, Cephissus Atticus and Ilissus.
    Athens proper has a population of over 500,000, and together with Piraeus (5½ miles south-west of Athens) and the environs the figure is well over 800,000. (The history of Athens is, of course, an open book to you, so I will not detain you even with a brief repetition. But the climate of Athens (and all Attica) will undoubtedly interest you, and I will try to do justice to it.)
    The sky of Athens is of an unusual blue, and its atmosphere has a unique limpidity and transparency. Its bright and clear light, with its ever-changing nuances, makes the outlines of the mountains and of the monuments stand out