DAY 1: USA - ATHENS Departure on your overnight flight to Athens.
Marvelous Mykonos (& Athens) For Seven Nights
Reflecting the slight dip in travel to the Eastern Mediterranean area caused by the Kosovo War, the travel industry there has been lowering prices.
Get out of Athens after a day and experience the hedonistic ambience of the Greek island, Mykonos.
Long famous for its romantic atmosphere, Mykonos is,
indeed, beautiful.
The contrast of blindingly whitewashed buildings, tumbled waves of bougainvillea and the flawless blue sky makes for unforgettable memories, especially when combined with the scent of geraniums and the sea.
There are more than enough restaurants in all price ranges... Not to mention the glorious beaches.
On this tour, the price includes round-trip air fare from New York to Athens, one night in that capital, then six nights in Mykonos, and all breakfasts.
Your hotel in Athens is the famed Grande Bretagne. In Mykonos, you stay at the San Marco. Transport between Athens and Mykonos in both directions is either by air (small
aircraft) when available, or by high-speed ferry (similar to a
hydrofoil). You fly between New York and Athens on World Airways, a reputable charter.
ALTERNATIVE PLAN B TOUR FEATURES:
Round-trip economy class airfare to Athens from New York
3 nights First class hotel in Athens
4-day/4-night cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey
Half-day tour of Athens and the Acropolis
4 transfers in Athens
Meal plan as per itinerary:
Breakfast (7), Lunch (4), Dinner (4)
Sightseeing on air conditioned motorcoaches with English speaking professional tour guides
Host service in Athens
Entrance fees to all places visited on included sightseeing
Hotel service charges and taxes
MAY & SEPTEMBER 2004
DAY 1: USA - ATHENS Departure on your overnight flight to Athens.
DAY 2: ATHENS Arrival at the Athens International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Begin Section 1.
DAY 3: ATHENS (B) Leave the hotel in the morning for the Athens city tour, which will introduce you to the most important sites of the city. You will visit the famed Acropolis with its dominating view, and the site of the renowned Parthenon, one of the most impressive structures in the world.
Then there will be a visit to the Acropolis Museum. Begin Section 2. Overnight in Athens.
DAY 4: ATHENS (B) Continue Section 2.
DAY 5: ATHENS - 4 DAY CRUISE (B) After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Piraeus to embark on your 4-day Greek Island cruise. MYKONOS (D) The first port of call today will be the jet set island of Mykonos. Stroll at leisure through the white-washed, flower-decked alleyways to the sculpture like
church of Paraportiani, or along the waterfront to the famous windmills. Continue Section 2.
DAY 6: KUSADASI - PATMOS (B,L,D) Early morning arrival into Kusadasi, a most popular Turkish port and gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. In the afternoon, your ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John, where the Book of Revel-ations was written. Continue Section 2.
DAY 7: RHODES (B,L,D) Early morning arrival into Rhodes, the island of Roses. Begin Section 3 nearby beaches in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean.
DAY 8: HERAKLION - SANTORINI (B,L,D) In the morning the ship will call at Heraklion, Crete and the island of Santorini, the land of the fabled Atlantis. Complete Section 3.
DAY 9: ATHENS (B) Early morning arrival in Piraeus. After disembarkation you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
THETA COURSE TUITION is $375.00 USD
Facts for the Traveller
Visas: Nationals of Australia, Canada, EU countries, Israel, NZ, South Africa and the USA are allowed to stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa.
Health risks: Sunburn. Codeine, which is commonly found in headache preparations, is banned in Greece and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.
Time: two hours ahead of GMT/UTC; three hours ahead during daylight-saving time.
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Much of Greece's culinary heritage can be sourced to the 400 years of Turkish rule, particularly appetisers such as tzatziki (cucumber and yoghurt dip) and octopus pickled in lemon juice and olive oil. Cheap snacks such as souvlaki (skewered, grilled meat in pita bread) and spanikopita (spinach and cheese pie)
are easy to find. Popular main dishes include pastitsio (macaroni baked with minced meat and béchamel sauce), stuffed tomatoes and freshly grilled seafood.
The mainstay of the Greek diet is the ubiquitous horiatiki salata (country salad),consisting of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese and olives. Greek yoghurt, more like sour cream than the thin sharp-tasting version available in most countries,is delicious and sold everywhere. Greek food is invariably served lukewarm.
Currency: Drachma (dr)
Exchange rate: US$1 = 275dr
Relative costs:
Budget meal: US$4-8
Restaurant meal: US$10-20
Banks will exchange all major currencies in either cash or travellers' cheques; the commission is lower for cash. All post offices have exchange facilities and they're often quicker and charge less commission than banks.
Credit cards are only accepted in larger, more expensive establishments. Visa, MasterCard (Access) and Eurocard are the most widely accepted. Most banks have ATMs where you can access your debit account through Maestro and Cirrus networks, and there are also a number of 24-hour banknote exchange machines.
In restaurants the service charge is included in the bill but it is the custom to leave a small amount; rounding up the bill is usually sufficient. Likewise for taxis - a small gratuity is appreciated. Bargaining is not as widespread in Greece as it is further east. Prices in most shops are clearly marked and non-negotiable but your haggling skills can be useful at markets.
Homer (9th century BC), author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, was the greatest ancient Greek writer.
The world's first travel writer was Pausanias, who, in the 2nd century BC, wrote The Guide to Greece.It is now available in English in paperback.
Sappho (who lived on the island of Lesvos in the 5th century BC) is famous for her love poetry dedicated to women.
The Greek Myths by Robert Graves is one of the best collections of the ancient myths.
Greek Art by John Boardman is a concise yet comprehensive introduction to ancient and Byzantine art.
A Traveller's History of Greece by Timothy Boatswain and Colin
Nicholson is a good general historical reference.