- One's external appearance is of crucial importance. It is what we are initially judged by, and it has become even more significant as we seem to have less and less time for an in-depth character assessment of the person underneath.

- What we wear is a reflection of our personality. But it is not acceptable to wear anything anywhere. For example, we cannot wear jeans at a formal reception, or an haute couture dress in the countryside.

- Holding on to the child within may be a fine quality, but childishness and dressing as the eternal teenager makes us nothing less than ridiculous.

Shorts and hot pants are for the beach. We shouldn't wear them in public areas (and especially not in church).
- In many monasteries, ladies are not allowed to wear trousers or backless tops.

- No matter how nice our underwear may be, it should not be obvious to all and sundry. It should be light-colored if our clothes are, and, similarly, dark to match dark-hued clothes.

- Swimming costumes should correspond to our body's shape and not intensify our imperfect lumps and bumps.

- When wearing dark sunglasses, we should always remove them before greeting somebody. The other person should be able to see our eyes.

- Since Greece is prone to earthquakes, it is advisable never to be totally nude - even at home - so that if an earthquake occurs we can leave the building without any delay.

- It goes without saying that cleanness should be a daily habit, second nature to us. Every morning we should automatically go to the bathroom and wash our body, face, teeth and hands. If we have long hair we should comb or brush it. We should look clean and tidy with cared-for hair and fresh clothes.

- Some people have a plain shower just with water. This is not enough. Use of soap is necessary, and for more lasting freshness we should use deodorant.

- Perfume or after shave does not substitute deodorant.

- "The best suit is our body." There is no more pleasurable sight that that of a person who keeps a straight body posture, his/her head held high (hut not the nose!), shoulders straight and stomach tucked in. If it is hard to picture this image just think of the unattractive opposite: a bent body, lolling head, hunched shoulders and protruding, swollen stomach.

- A common question concerns where and how we should place our hands. At formal occasions we should cross our hands low in our laps or we should keep them parallel to our body. At receptions we may also keep them behind us. In general it is rude to keep our hands in our pockets or on our hips when having conversation.

- When seated we should not keep our legs open. Both gentlemen and ladies should avoid sitting cross-legged at formal gatherings, in court and in church. Sitting with our legs neatly together to one side, or crossed over at the knee, is acceptable.

- We should walk with our head and shoulders held high and proud. Looking fixedly and timidly at the ground, while fashionable almost two centuries ago, is neither attractive nor commanding. Our pace shouldn't be too long nor too short. Our hands shouldn't hang next to us ungracefully, and we should never drag our feet while walking.

- We shouldn't wear perfume at the beach. The chemical reaction with the sunlight may leave spots on our skin.

to be continued...

Excerpt from "Watch Your Manners In Greece" by Christos K. Zampounis