Why did the Greek GDP grow so fast between 2002 and 2004? Here is the history of the Greek GDP. In 2004 year it was 239.7\$ billion, but in 2002 it was 157.7\$ billion. It grew by approximately 50%. How did it grow so fast?
You are using USD exchange rate GDPs, which are very volatile. The main effect is probably the fact that the Euro began to circulate in 2002, replacing the cheap domestic currency.

Here are some more general reasons why the peripheral countries did well before the recession:


There was abundant oil supply and the developed countries were splurging on FDI and debt in the periphery
Greece had just joined the Euro and was getting tons of transfer payments
The Euro was still fairly high and hadn't fallen yet.
Greece may have fudged its numbers a bit to get into the Euro.


Eur/usd since 2000: