More than 2,000 years ago, before its sun-baked landscapes lured in travelers from around the world,

Greece was busy inventing Western civilization.

That's one of the reasons British actress Joanna Lumbly loves it so much.

The idea that everything we know about came from Greece in the old days,

the way that we do medicine, theatre, sport, politics, democracy, all these things came from Greece in the first place.

Coming up, we're taking a deep dive into the pleasures of Greece.

Guides from Athens offer tips for day trips, a scenic hour or two from the busy capital.

Walking in the streets always gives me, you know, a little bit of a smile.

And they help us choose from among hundreds of islands we can visit in the blue waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas.

The white washed houses, the beautiful sea, the golden grass, the wonderful and delicious food.

Let's go to Greece for the hour ahead. It's travel with Rick Steves.

OPA. It's a great big Greek hour ahead of us today on Travel with Rick Steve's. Tour guides

from Athens encourage us to explore beyond the big capital city into the historic sites

and towns an hour or two away.

And they'll help us choose a Greek island or two to relax in the sun of the Aegean or Ionian

seas.

We'll also share in the enthusiasm British actress Joanna Lumley has for Greece.

She shares highlights with us from when she filmed her Greek Odyssey TV series a few years back.

The days are long gone when the best thing about Athens was the road out of town.

Today, the birthplace of democracy anchors an entertaining metro area of more than 3 million.

And it also serves as a great springboard for scenic side trips and for catching a

ferry or a flight to the islands.

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