Athens, Corinth, Meteores, Thessaloniki, Philippi, Plus a 3 night Greek Island cruise - 13 days
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day 1
USA/ Athens
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Depart from Canada on an overnight transatlantic flight to Greece. Meals on
board.
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day 2
Athens
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Arrival in Athens, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Dinner and
overnight in Athens.
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day 3
Athens
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This tour gives us an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make
Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take us to see the center of
the city, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the memorial
to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus
street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the
Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis, you will see the Panathenaic
stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896),
the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrians Arch. On the Acropolis visit its
museum and the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The
Propylae, the Temple of Athena, Nike, the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony
between material and spirit," the monument that "puts order in the mind," the
Parthenon. It is believed that Paul paid only one visit to Athens, but St. Luke
describes it as an important one.
Dinner and overnight in Athens.
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day 4
Ancient Corinth
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Leave by the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which
connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Short stop for pictures and
continue to the site of ancient Corinth, Paul's beloved city and site of his
most extensive ministry. "After this he left Athens and went to Corinth" (Acts
18:1-3). Dominated by the Acro-Corinth rising 1700 feet above the ruins, the
marketplace is laid out exactly as it stood in the days of the great Apostle.
We see the bema (the judgment seat) where Paul stood before Galileo and
preached (Acts 18), the Doric styled temple of Apollo, the Fountain of Pirene
and the Agora. The museum contains a superb collection of artifacts portraying
life in ancient Corinth.
Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.
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day 5
Delphi
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Depart for Delphi driving north through the picturesque villages and towns of
central Greece. We arrive at Kalambaka, a quaint little town settled just below
the Meteores Monasteries. Visit Meteores, a particularly impressive scenery
where ageless monasteries containing priceless historical and religious
treasures stand suspended between earth and sky on top of huge granite rocks.
Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.
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day 6
Veria/ Thessaloniki
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Continue our tour north with a short stop in Veria to visit the monument to St.
Paul. Continue to Thessaloniki, the second capital of Greece and the 1997
European Cultural capital. Thessaloniki has a rich and varied history. Built in
316BC by Kassandros on the site of the formerly insignificant township known as
Thermi. When Macedonia became a province, Thessaloniki became its capital. The
city flourished under the Byzantine Empire and its most important buildings
date to this time. Paul came to Thessaloniki with Silas and following his usual
custom he went to the synagogue where he used the Jewish scriptures as the
source of his preaching. He founded a church here and the New Testament Books
of Thessalonians are his correspondence with the people of this church. Among
the highlights of the city are the old ramparts, the white tower built in the
15th century. We will also see the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St.
Demetrius and St. Sophia.
Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
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day 7
Philippi/ Kavala
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In the morning we will visit Philippi, which was a Roman garrison town and the
chief city in the province of Macedonia. It was here that Paul won his first
European convert, a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a seller of
purple goods. Visit the Baptistry of Lydia, the Market Place (where Paul and
Silas were brought before the rulers) and the cistern which tradition
identifies as the place where Paul was imprisoned. We continue to Kavala, on
the site of ancient Neapolis where Paul, Timothy and Silas landed on the coast
of Thrace. You will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis.
Dinner and overnight in Kavala.
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day 8
Athens
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This morning we depart for Athens, driving through the valley of Tempis,
Larissa, Larnia, and Thermoplyae.
Arrive in Athens in the evening for dinner and overnight.
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day 9
3 Day Cruise - Mykonos
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Transfer to pier to embark vessel for 3 day cruise. First port of call,
Mykonos. Cubic white houses and those world-famous windmills.
All meals served on the cruise.
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day 10
Rhodes
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A full day in Rhodes, the island of butterflies and roses. Optional tour to the
Acropolis of Lindos and to the Old Town. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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day 11
Kusadasi/ Patmos
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Kusadasi - from here an optional tour to the ancient city of Ephesus, where
Paul preached. The apostle John was one of the early leaders of the church of
Ephesus. Next port of call Patmos - a sacred island for the Christian religion.
The famous Monastery of Apostle John on the hilltop overlooks a landscape of
striking beauty. Optional visit to the Monastery and the grotto where John
wrote the book of Revelations.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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day 12
Port in Athens
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End of cruise. Early morning arrival in Athens. Transfer to your hotel and
balance of day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight in Athens.
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day 13
USA
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Transfer to airport after breakfast for your flight home to USA. or take an
excursion.
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