Bright, blue domes distinguish Greece's many Eastern Orthodox churches, which often serve close-knit neighborhoods instead of larger communities. This church is located on the island of Santorini, in the southern Aegean Sea near Crete.

For many travelers, a trip to Greece happens once in a lifetime.

Nick and Carole Toubakaris have been traveling there since 1970. But despite that familiarity, the couple still discovers new destinations.

Charting new groundAlthough the Meridian couple revisits beloved sites like Athens and Santorini during their regular trips to Greece, a two-month trip beginning in May included exploring new ground along the northeast coast.Reuniting with a friend from the Army led Nick, a former lieutenant, to sign up for a military history excursion in that region. The four-day expedition was attended by 47 travelers, made up of retired military officers and their families.Tour sites included Philippi, named after King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, and Nevrokopi, where Greek soldiers prevailed against the odds during a German invasion in World War II.The tour also stopped in the city of Drama, close to the Bulgarian border and built atop many natural springs. Although Greece is home to thousands of caves, Carole said she was especially taken by a visit to Mara's Cave at Kokinogies, about 20 kilometers from Drama. There, thick colored stalactites hung to the water's surface."It was unreal to me, really," Carol said.

While on the tour, the group traveled by bus from their base in Kavala, the country's second-largest city and the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia.Nick said Kavala was significant in the time of the Apostle Paul, since he landed there during his first visit to Europe. In Byzantine times the city was named Christoupolis, or the Golden City, since it served as a gateway between Europe and Asia.Kavala is located in East Macedonia and Thrace, one 13 regional administrative divisions called peripheries. Bordered by Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east, the periphery reflects a heavy Muslim influence, but the Toubakarises said over the last 40 years populations in other large cities have likewise grown more diverse.Carole and Nick said in 1969 when they met, Greeks had begun migrating to cities due to modernization and work opportunities there.In recent times, infrastructure allows ease of transportation between the country's small villages and islands, where conveniences blend nicely with quaint, cultural charm. The couple said for this reason, many Greeks are returning to outlying areas, and many city dwellers hail from neighboring countries.As a native of Greece, Nick experiences no language barrier in either setting, but the couple describes the country as tourist friendly, with English widely spoken."Everybody just about speaks English," Carole said, noting most road and subway signs are translated into English. Costs for goods and services seem comparable to those at home, she added.Although most visitors to Greece make a stop in Athens, the Toubakarises said the country's main appeal is its beaches, a holiday destination for many Europeans."Greece has thousands of islands," Nick said. "Because of the geography and square miles, it has more coastline than any country in the world."

"Most tourists will visit the city of Athens, but their main objective is to see that part of the mainland and then get over to an island," Carole agreed.Jill Roth, co-owner of Travel Centre of Butler, said Butler travelers flying to Europe more often visit England, Ireland or France."From here we have more people who do cruises that include the Greek islands," she said."There are quite a few ways to enjoy Greece," Roth added. "The people are so welcoming there. ... There's the beauty of it, and there's the antiquity of it. It's just a fantastic destination."According to the Toubakarises, great food and nightlife also are prevalent throughout the country, where a predominantly Mediterranean climate offers sunshine most of the year.A multitude of crops that thrive in Greece leads to many fine wines along with delicious cuisine."Mealtimes are great in Greece," Carole said. "Food is wonderful over there, and eating is a pastime. ... When you go to someone's house for a meal, it's not just a meal — you're there for six hours."A retired Penn State Cooperative Extension family living agent, Carole said the wonderful foods are no surprise given the country's many agricultural products and sophisticated farming systems."From the east coast into the northern part of Greece, I saw quite a difference in the capacity for farming," she said."Greece is very mountainous. In those areas I noticed a lot of fruit farms with apples, peaches, pears and plums." Wheat and tobacco also were prevalent.Going into the Peloponnese, a peninsula region in southern Greece, crops included olives, citrus fruits and various vegetables."I noticed a lot of dairy farms, plus they have a lot of goats," Carole said, listing cheeses including the staple, feta, among the country's notable commodities.Commonly used herbs and spices include oregano, basil, thyme, parsley and cinnamon, with lemon another popular flavoring."They use a lot of spices and herbs in foods," Carole said. "I came from a Pennsylvania Dutch background, and we use a lot of salt and pepper. That's it."As well as high quality raw and cooked foods in homes and eateries, the couple listed street vendors among the options for finding fresh baked goods and tasty fastfoods."Even if sightseeing, if you didn't have the time, you can still get good cooked food," Nick said.One such hotbed of street vendors was the area surrounding The Acropolis Museum in Athens. But since the museum had just opened during their trip, a visit inside was more of treat.

Spanning more than 14,000 square meters, the museum houses 4,000 artifacts found near the Acropolis, a flat-topped rock monument inhabited as early as the Neolithic period.The Parthenon, a temple of the Greek goddess Athena, is found at the same location.In addition to the artifact displays, glass floors on the museum's main level reveal the remnants of an ancient city beneath."You see roadways. You see that they had a sewer system," Carole said. "This is why modernization in an ancient city is so difficult, because every time you stick a shovel in the ground you find something new."Although the museum just opened in June, it is but one of many archaeologic treasures in Greece. Such sites, plentiful throughout the country, depict mythology and legends that long precede Christianity.Examples include Santorini, a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea. According to scientists, the volcano's eruption more than 3,500 years ago was among the largest in history. The blast entombed a Minoan settlement, and some suggest the volcano or tidal wave that followed prompted legends of Atlantis, a paradise swallowed by the sea due to the wrath of the gods.For Nick, regular visits to Santorini rekindle personal history, since his 89-year-old aunt lives on one of its highest elevations. There, the couple enjoys Santorini's famous sunsets, a common attraction for tourists.The Toubakarises also spend time in Athens, where Nick spent much of his childhood and where his two brothers still live.Even at age 68, Nick said the joys of returning home include encountering childhood friends when spending time in the neighborhood despite its changes over time.According to the Toubakarises, the feeling of quaintness and nostalgia remains despite growth and modernization."The culture of Greece is there," Carole said. "It is ever-present."

Homes on the island of Santorini reflect the white and pastel colors that distinguish much of Greek architecture. Sunsets and dramatic beaches draw many tourists to the island about 20 kilometers south of the mainland.

These goats, grazing in mountainous northern Greece, are but one example of the country's many types of agriculture. Grapes, dairy products, olives and grain are among other crops produced, many recognized as trademark ingredients in Greek cuisine.

Nick and Carole Toubakaris visit the ancient temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, about 69 kilometers southeast of Athens. Such ruins are plentiful throughout the country, which predates Christianity.