Overview of recent travels through Northern Greece, Turkey, and the Greek Isles:
Sunday, March 15th: Porto Rafti - Kalambaka - Meteora
At 8:00 a.m. we depart from Athens by bus, driving us through the fertile plain of Boeotia, to Kalambaka. Check-in at the Hotel Orfeas. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon we enjoy a spectacular drive up to visit Meteora. Colossal symmetrical grey and reddish boulders, as though pushed upwards from the bowels of mother earth by an invisible hand, sustain breathtaking beautiful monasteries perched precariously high above the ground. They were first built in the 14th century by monks seeking isolation and salvation, accessible only by ropes thrown from above. We will climb through steps built since. They are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes. We visit one monastery. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at the Hotel.
Monday, March 16th: Kalambaka - Berea - Thessaloniki
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out. At 8:30 a.m. we drive to Berea where the Apostle Paul arrived, and according to his custom went to the synagogue where, to his pleasant surprise, he discovered that these Jews were "more noble" than those he had encountered in Thessalonica. We see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching. According to the local tradition, it was at this place where he stood and delivererd his sermons (Acts 17:10-11). We also see the Jewish quarter and the synagogue. Depart for Thessaloniki; upon arrival enjoy a panoramic bus tour of Thessaloniki. Drive to the Hotel Golden Sun for check in. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Tuesday, March 17yh: Thessaloniki - Amphipolis - Philippi - Kavala
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. At 8:00 a.m. we have a bus panoramic tour of Thessaloniki before leaving. We begin our trip to Philippi passing by the lion statue of Amphipolis (short stop for photos); we also visit the archaelogical site. Afterwards we continue to Philippi, the site wehre the apostle Paul came and worked, establishing a strong church. To this congregation, later he sent his Philippian letter. Of all the churches Paul founded, probably none was a s near and dear to him as the church at Philippi (Acts 16:9-33). We see the river where Lydia is thought to have been baptized, the ruins of a prison where Paul and Sylas had been kept, the Agora, 5th and 6th century Basilica and teh Threater. Philippi was built by Philip 11 of Macedonia on the Via Engatia, the Roman road which ran from Tome to Byzantium. We enjoy a lunch in the park area of Philippi, just outside the theatre. We then continue to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16:11). Check-in at the Hotel Oceanis. Dinner and overnight.
Wednesday, March 18th: Kavala - Greek/Turkish Border - Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Drive to the Greek/Turkish boders (Kipi/Ipsala). Leave our Greek bus and guide at Kipi. Our Turkish bus will ocllect us around nooon and bring us over to Ipsala where we meet our Turkish guide. Lunch on your own en route. Proceed toward Istanbul . Istanbul (original name Constantinople and Byzantium), a most fascinating city, actually rests astride two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one's taste, museum, customs and twelve million people. Check-in at the Hotel Ipek. Dinner and overnight.
Thursday, March 19th: Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour including Aghia Sophia, Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Grand Covered Bazaar or Egyptian Spice Bazaar. If tiem permits drive to Pierre Loti's Cafe to see the Golden Horn. Lunch on your own. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Ipek.
Friday, March 20th: Istanbul - nYalova - Iznik -Bursa - Canakkale
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Take the scheduled ferry-boat across the Sea of Marmara to Yalova, drive to visit Iznik (Nicaea) is known primarliy as the site fo th First and Second Councils of Nicaea, the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Christian church, the Nicene Creed, and as the capital city of th Empire of Nicaea. It served as the interim capital city of th Byzantine Empire between 1204 and 1261, following the Fourth Crusade in 1204, until the recapture of Constantinople by the Byzantiens in 1261. After a stop at a tile factory, continue to Bursa Turkeys 4th city as well as one ofthe most industrialized and culturally charged metropolitan centers in the country. The mausoleums of early Ottoman sultans are located in Bursa and the numerous edifices bvuilt thorughout the Ottoman period constitue the city's main landmarks. Lunc on your own, drive to Canakkale for check-in at a hotel. Canakkale lends its name to the narrow Straits of the Dardanelles (in antiquity it was called Hellespont). This narrow passage cocnnects the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Sea of marmara, and further on norht it opens into the Black Sea, southern shores of former USSR. Check-in at the Hotel Anafartalar. Dinner and overnight.
Saturday, March 21st: Canakkale - Troy - PErgamom - Izmir
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Drive to Troy actually Truva, is the immortal city of Homer's Iliad and ODyssey, of the legendary Helen of Troy, the Trojan horse: Heinrich Schliemann discovered it in 1871 and it had been rebuilt nine times. We see the various layers, which make up the nine cities. We continue to Pergamom actually called Bergama, is one of the sites of the Seven CHurches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Here we explore the impressive Acropolis, the steepest theater in the world, the Asklepieion, famous medical centre of classical times, see the Altar of Zeus which is mentioned as the <
Sunday, March 22nd: Izmir
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to discover the city at your own. Enjoy Izmire (Smyrna), the third largest city in Turkey and was also one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. She has had a bloody history of trade and warfare. On your own you can see the ancient Agora, ascend to Mt Pagus wehre the Citadel of Lysimachos, commander fo Alexander the Great, was erected in the 4th century BC, we see the Clock Tower and the Bazaar which displays characteristic craft objects. Lunch on your own, Dinner and overnight at the Princess Hotel.
Monday, March 23rd: Izmir - Ephesus - Kusadasi
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Drive to ancient city of Ephesus . The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived and laboured here for three years, thereafter sending his Ephesian epistle. We tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue in this once great an dimportant city, which was founded in the 10th century BC. Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the LIbrary of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theater. The enormous in size Temple to the goddess Diana of the Ephesians, one of the Seven Wonders of the then ancient world, was erected in this city. We also visit the archaelological museum, the basilica of John; see the remains of the Temple of Artemis. Lunch on yoru own. Check-in at the Hotel Atinc in downtown Kusadasi, close to the bazaar. Dinner and overnight.
Tuesday, March 24th: Kusadasi - Patmmos, Greece
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. At 9 a.m. transfer to the port of Kusadasi to embark on the cruise-ship. Check-in, settle down in yoru cabins. Sail at noon for the island of Patmos Greece. Lunch on board. At 4:30 P.M. we arrive at this beautiful mysterious rocky island where the exiled Apostle John wrote of the Book of Revelation. We have our private tour: we drive up to the Monastery of John the Evangelist , wehre we have a wonderful view of the island. We also visit the Grotto fo the Revelation where the heavenly voice of God revealed to John the future of humanity [Rev. 1:12-21]. After some free time for browsing, return to the ship for an evening sailing to Rhodes at 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 25th: Rhodes (Greek National Day)
Breakfast on board. At 7 am we call at Rhodes . This stronghold was built by a Crusading Order, which originated from Palestine, and in older days, it boasted of another achievements of the then known world - The Colossus of Rhodes. Local tradition has it that on his way to Rome; Paul's vessels spent some time here in the small harbour of Lindos (Acts 21:1). We have the whole day free on Rhodes to relaz as it is the Greek National Independence Day (1821) . Lunch on board. In the afternoon stroll around the medieval walled city; enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere from one of the elegant cafes in the marina, do some souvenir shipping. Sail for Heraklion, Crete at 6:00 p.m. Dinner and overnight on board.
Thursday, March 26th: Heraklion Crete - Santorini
Breakfast on board. At 7:00 a.m. we call at Heraklion Crete, (Acts 27:7-13) where our excursion takes us from the lively bustling city to visit the Minoan Palace of Knosses, legendary home of the Minotaur (half bull and half man). Sail for Santorini, at 11:00 a.m. Lunch on board. We drop anchor at 4:30 p.m. Disembarkationby tender-boats, weather permitting. Take a mule or a donkey or the cable-car or walk the 468 steps up to the white-washed town of Thera; perched high on the rim of the ancient volcano, the eruption of which (1600 BC) literally buried a flourishing Bronze Age town which has now been excavated at Akrotiri. Sail for Piraeus at 9:00 p.m. Dinner and overnight on board ship. This is where i disembarked and stayed on Santorini for three nights with Calle, Hailey, and Stephanie
No comments:
Post a Comment