BEST OF GREECE AND 4 DAY CRUISE OPTION

Day 1 – Friday, September 25 – OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO LONDON

We got to the airport three hours in advance of our flight, and got our luggage tags. We then got into the longest line I’ve ever seen for the baggage drop. It moved fairly quickly, and we only waited about 15 minutes, but I’ve never seen a line up this long before. After dropping off our luggage, we proceeded through security and to our gate. We then went to the priority lounge, as I get free access with my World Elite MasterCard, however, they were full, so we went to Lee’s Kitchen for dinner. The service was really slow, but the food was excellent, so it was worth the wait. After dinner, we had just enough time to use the restrooms before they began boarding the plane.

We had paid for priority seating, which meant we had two seats beside each other instead of three, and there was no one in front of us. The only downside to this was that the movie screen in front of us was on the wall, and it was a long reach to select a movie or change the volume. Also, the man sitting in the aisle behind us refused to get up to allow the two passengers beside him to get out, so they kept grabbing the back of our chairs in order to crawl over him to get out, which was really annoying. I finally said something to the attendant who spoke to the people behind us. Other than that, the flight was uneventful.

Day 3 – Sunday, September 27 – LONDON AND OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO ATHENS

We were up at 6:30 a.m., got ready, packed up, and checked-out, leaving our luggage behind. We then went to McDonalds for breakfast, and then to the station to catch our train. We had bought tickets to “Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter” through Viator, and the instructions on our tickets were to meet our guide at Golden Tours Visitor Centre around 8:45 a.m. It also stated on our tickets that we could get off the subway at either Victoria Station or Sloane Square Station, and since Sloane Square was closer to our hotel, that’s where we got off. Well, that was a mistake. We weren’t sure in what direction to walk, so we picked the main street. After walking for about 20 minutes, we were starting to get worried that we were lost. We finally asked two people for directions, and they told us we weren’t far, so we waved down a taxi to get to the meeting point. We got there about two minutes before 9:00 a.m. and just made the bus. I showed the women my ticket, and she was surprised that Viator advised that people could get off the subway at Sloane Square, as Golden Tours Visitor Centre was not close to Sloane Square. No kidding!

The bus was a double decker, but as we were the last to get on the bus, we had to take seats on the first floor, as the second floor was full. We drove for about 10 minutes, picked up another group of people, and then the driver put on the first Harry Potter movie for us to watch on the way there. It was about an hour drive, and we arrived at the studio just after 10:00 a.m. We were meet by an employee, who told us to be back on the bus by 2:15 p.m. as we were leaving at 2:30 p.m., and then we went through the front doors and got in line. We waited about 30 minutes to get into the first room, where a man met us and told us about what we would see inside, and then we went into another room where we were shown a five minute clip featuring the three main characters, and then we were taken into the Great Hall from the set of Harry Potter. We then went into the next room, where would could view the sets from the eight Harry Potter movies on our own. We spent around 45 minutes viewing the various sets, and then we went to the cafeteria for lunch, where I got to try Butter Beer. I was surprised that I liked it because it was on the sweet side, and I’m not usually a big fan of sweets. It reminded me of an ice cream float.


Great Hall - Harry Potter


Set from last Harry Potter Movie


The castel from Harry Potter

After lunch we went outside to view the house from Privet Drive, the Night Bus, and a couple more items from the movie before moving into the costume and special affects area. All in all, it took us about two and a half hours to view everything, and we still had time to check out the shop and have a drink in the cafeteria before leaving. As a Harry Potter fan, it was an enjoyable visit, but I don’t think I would pay to do it again.

We were on the bus at 2:15 p.m. and left at 2:30 p.m. It was an hour ride back to Golden Tours Visitor Centre, and this time we walked to Victoria Station, which was a 5 minute walk, and took the train back to our hotel. The taxi driver who dropped us off the previous morning told us he’d take us back to the airport for 40 pounds, we just had to call him with our pick-up time a few hours before leaving. We asked the guy working at the reception desk to call him for us, but the taxi driver told him he already had a fare booked. The guy at reception told us that he could arrange a taxi for us for the same price, so he booked it, and we went to a pub he recommended for dinner. At the pub we went to the bar to order our food, and I asked the women behind the bar if the fried chicken was white meat or dark meat, and she told me it was white meat. My friend then asked the guy severing her the same question, and his answer was the same. She then asked him what part of the chicken they would be serving, and he said the thigh and the leg. I told the women serving me that I wanted to change my order, as I don’t like dark meat, and she looked at me confused, and told me that all chicken was white meat. It seems that they don’t distinguish between the white and dark meat of the bird, and we had to explain to them that the breast was white meat, and that the leg/thigh was dark meat. I ended up ordering it anyway, and in the end, there was a breast, thigh and leg, and it was all very good.

After dinner, we went back to the hotel to get our luggage and our taxi to the airport. Our flight for Greece was leaving at 9:40 p.m., and it was recommended that we get there two hours before our flight. We had plenty of time to check-in and drop off our luggage, and then we did some duty free shopping at Harrods. After shopping we took the train to our gate, and found a restaurant where we could sit down and have a drink. At this point, my friend looked through her purse, and realized she left her ticket and passport on the counter at Harrods. I stayed there with our carry-on luggage, while she went to find someone to call Harrods. She was gone for a long time, and when she got back, she told me that security wouldn’t call Harrods, so she had to walk back to the main terminal because the train was only one way. When she got to Harrods, the sales lady told her that they had given her ticket and passport to security, and security told her that they had just given them an attendant working on our flight. She then took the train back to our gate, found me, and we went together to get her documents. Let’s just say it was a little nerve raking, but it all worked out in the end.

We boarded our flight on time, and as it wasn’t packed, we each had three seats to our self. I prefer an aisle seat and my friend prefers a window, however, she has anxiety issues and wanted to sit beside me, so we had booked two aisle seats across from each other. It worked out as we were able to sprawl out and sleep. I was surprised, however, when they served us a meal, as it was only as three hour flight. The meal was good though, and overall the flight was uneventful. Our two days in London were over, and I was looking forward to arriving in Athens and starting our tour of Greece.

Day 5 – Tuesday, September 29 - ATHENS SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

We were up at 6:00 a.m., went down to breakfast at 7:00 a.m., and were seated on the coach ready to go at 8:00 a.m. Francis introduced us all to Smaro, who was our local guide in Athens, and who would also be our tour director during the land portion of the tour. We drove a short distance to the Acropolis, and walked up to the top together. Smaro wanted to get there early to beat the crowds, however, it was still pretty crowded at 8:30 a.m. Smaro was very knowledgeable and very detailed, and she spent a lot of time explaining everything she showed us. She pointed out the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, The Philopappos Monument, The Agora and the Hephaisteion (also known as Theseion), the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and its Porch of the Caryaids, the Parthenon, Mount Lycabettos, the Temple of Zeus and the Theatre of Dionysus. After showing us around, she gave us 30 minutes to see the sites on our own, however, after using the restrooms and taking a few pictures we had to make our way back to the meeting point, as it was very crowded and we knew the walk down would take longer than the walk to the top.


The Erechtheion and its Porch of the Caryaids, with Mount Lycabettos in the background.

Once we were all at the meeting point, we got back on the coach and drove to the Kallimarmaro Stadium (also known as the Panathenaic Stadium). This Stadium hosted the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896, and is reconstructed from the remains of an ancient Greek stadium. It is also the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and is one of the oldest in the world. We got off the coach, and were given 10 minutes to take pictures before getting back on the coach and driving to the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Construction of the Temple started in the 6th century BC but it was not completed until the 2nd century AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. At this time, it was the largest temple in Greece. Smaro spent a good 20 mintues explaining the history of the site to us, and then gave us 10 minutes to walk around on our own and take pictures.

Kallimarmaro Stadium

From here we drove to the Acropolis Museum which contains the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis. It also lies on a archaeological site which we could see through the glass floors. Once inside, Smaro pointed out the restrooms, and everyone made a mad-dash to get in line. Unfortunately there were only two stalls in the women’s restroom, and there was already a line-up when we got there, so it was a while before everyone was ready to move on. We were already behind schedule, so Smaro had to pick up the pace in order for us to still have time for lunch before leaving for the Cape Sounion optional. Even though she condensed the tour, we were there for a little over an hour, which meant that we only had about 45 minutes to get some lunch and make our way back to the hotel to meet the group.

Once the tour was over, we all met Francis at the entrance, who pointed out places we could go for a quick lunch. She then gave me directions to the camera shop, where I could get a new memory card. My friend and I went to a Gyro place with a few other members from our tour, and then I went to find the camera shop while they made their way back to the hotel. I was able to find it with no problems, got my memory card, and went back to the hotel to meet the group.

The optional tours we were offered that day are below:

• Cape Sounion Day Trip
Adult Price: €37.00We’ll journey to the southernmost tip of mainland Greece to see the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Marvel at the rugged coastline and the ancient temple and visit the site of the world’s first lighthouse. The Aegean Sea is named after King Aegeas who threw himself from the rocky precipice into the sea below.

• Dinner "Meze" Style In Psiri With Acropolis Illuminations
Adult Price: €52.00You’ll enjoy an evening stroll around the Acropolis on the finest pedestrian street in Athens centre and a memorable dinner in a restaurant in lively Psiri, which is within walking distance of the historic Plaka area. Dining is meze style, giving you the opportunity to taste many delicious modern Greek dishes.

• Cape Sounion And Dinner "Meze" Style In Psiri
Adult Price: €75.00We’ll journey to the southernmost tip of mainland Greece to see the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion. Marvel at the rugged coastline and ancient temple and visit the site of the world’s first lighthouse, before sharing a traditional Meze style dinner in Psiri.

If people decided to sign up for both optionals, they were given a discount, however, if you only wanted to do one or the other, you had to pay full price. Most people from our group signed up for both optionals, and we left for Cape Sounion just after 2:00 p.m. for the hour long drive, picking up a few people from another Trafalgar tour staying at another hotel. The drive along the coast was beautiful, and Smaro decided to use this time to tell us about what we were going to see, however, I was so tired I couldn’t stay awake, so I missed most of it.

We arrived shortly after 3:00 p.m., and were given time to take pictures while Smaro went to get our tickets. She then walked us to the Temple of Poseidon, which is perched on the hilltop overlooking the sea. She advised us that the temple was built in 444 BC by Pericles, at the same time as the Parthenon, and is said to be on top of the ruins of an earlier sea temple which may date back to Mycenean or even Minoan times. The statute of Poseidon is now located at the National Archeological Museum in Athens. Smaro pointed out Lord Byron’s signature on one of the temple’s remaining columns, who visited the temple in the early 19th century. She then told us about the Legend of Aegeus. Legend has it that the Aegean Sea was named after King Aegeus after he jumped to his tragic death due to a mistaken belief that his son Theseus had died. She then gave us some free time to take pictures, use the restrooms, and get a coffee before heading back to Athens.


Temple of Poseidon

We arrived back at our hotel just after 6:00 p.m., and were given an hour to change and freshen up before leaving for our optional dinner. The ride to the restaurant was not long, but we had to pick up some people from the other group, and there was a 10 minute walk to the restaurant from where the coach dropped us off, so it was 8:00 p.m. when we arrived at the restaurant. One thing I should point out is that dinners were always late in Greece. Smaro advised us during the tour that Greek people usually eat their largest meal of the day at lunch, around 1:00 or 2:00 p.m., and that dinner was eaten very late and was usually more of a snack.

Francis accompanied us to the optional dinner, which was in the Psiri area, and we were seated on a patio. There was bread and tapenade on the table when we arrived, and the tapenade was excellent. Wine, beer and pop were included with the dinner, and red and white wine were already on the table when we arrived. The waiters then brought out three large Greek salads for the table to share. I already knew that traditional Greek salad doesn’t contain lettuce, as I have a lot of Greek friends, but some people didn’t know that and were surprised to see that the salads only contained tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onions, and, of course, feta. After that, the waiters brought out different dishes for us to share, like fried zucchini and fried cheese, olives, homemade Tzatziki with pita bread, and a large plate with different types of meats and fries. Another thing I will point out, fries were served with almost everything in Greece. They were good fries, but I was still surprised to see fries instead of the Greek lemon potatoes my Greek friends at home make. I don’t remember what was served for dessert, as I was so full by this time, I didn’t try it. Besides, I’m not much of a sweet person.

We left the restaurant around 9:45 p.m., and took a mini-train ride through the pedestrian walk-way around the Acropolis, stopping to get a picture of it lit up at night. The train ride lasted about 20 minutes, and then we got back on the coach, and, fortunately, were dropped off before the other group. It was after 10:00 p.m., and I was tired from our busy day and wanted to go to bed.

Day 7 - Thursday, October 1 - NAFPLION – OLYMPIA

We got to sleep in until 7:00 a.m., which was our only sleep in day during the tour, and we left for Mycenae at 9:00 a.m. It was a short ride to the site, and we were the first to arrive. We went straight to the Treasury of Atreus, originally thought to the Tomb of Agamemnon, constructed during the bronze age around 1250 BC. The stone above the doorway weighs 120 tons, and is the largest in the world. It is still unknown as to how they got it up there.


Treasury of Atreus

They are not sure when the tomb was used, however, they do not believe that Agamemnon was buried there, as the tomb was built before his time. It contains a small side chamber, and it’s believed it was used as the burial site of a previous king, while the main chamber was probably for ritual use. Another surprising element is that the interior of this tomb was decorated with red porphyry and green alabaster, very rare painting colours for that time.

Smaro then brought us to the museum, which was smaller than the other museums we went to, so we didn’t spent much time there. After the museum, we walked to the Lion Gate, the main entrance to Mycenae. It was built during the 13th century BC, and is named after the sculpture of two lionesses that stands above the entrance. The Lion Gate is the only surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture, as well as the largest sculpture in the prehistoric Aegean.


Lion Gate

We passed through the Lion Gate, and saw Grave Circle A on the right. This burial site was initially outside the city walls, but were enclosed when the fortifications were extended during the 13th century BC. Most of us then continued to the remains of the throne room, or megaron, while some people stayed behind as they didn’t want to continue climbing up-hill. There really was not much to see of the throne room, as most of it was destroyed and part of the cliff was gone.


Grave Circle A

Smaro then gave us free time, and we decided to walk the wall all the way around before leaving. We left Mycenae just after 11:15 a.m., drove for about an hour, and then stopped for lunch at a Greek restaurant in a small town. It was a nice day so we all sat on the patio, and I tried the artichokes, which were excellent.

After lunch, we had a three hour drive to Olympia. We arrived at hour hotel just after 4:15 p.m., checked in, and were given until 6:00 p.m. to get organized and ready for our Best My Guest Dinner. My friend and I were ready to go early, so we met a few other members from our group on the patio overlooking the pool for a pre-dinner drink.

The be my guest dinner took place at a local olive farm, and was the best dinner of the trip. We arrived around 6:30 p.m. and were greeted by the family, who handed out glasses of white wine or ouzo. We were then taken behind the house where we were given a demonstration of how the farm is run and how olive oil is made, and then one of the workers walked us around the farm, ending outside a jewelry store. I noticed the necklace the lady behind the counter was wearing from outside, and commented on it. We were then taken inside, and all of the women started asking to see items. The jewelry was handmade by the owner of the farm, and it was beautiful. I bought a rose-gold set consisting of earrings, a necklace, a ring and a bracelet, and another set consisting of sliver and blue earrings and a bracelet. My friend also got a couple of nice items for herself and her family as gifts. I love jewelry, and that’s what I tend to buy when travelling as a reminder of my trip. Unfortunately, I lost one of the rose-gold earrings on the subway shortly after I got back to Toronto.

After shopping, we were taken into the restaurant for a delicious meal. The first course was a plate with olives, breads, dips, artichokes, and chick peas. For our second course, we were given the option of chicken or lamb, and I got the chicken, which was served with Greek rice and vegetables. It was excellent. The local red wine was also served, however, as I don’t drink red wine, they brought over a bottle of white for our table. Dessert consisted of baklava and a shot of some sort of alcohol (not ouzo).

After dinner the staff started Greek dancing, and then got us up for some more dancing. After the dancing was over, most people went outside to buy their olive oil and other products, which they would ship home for you if you didn’t want to carry it in your luggage, while I went back to the jewelry store to buy the silver and blue set mentioned above.

We left shortly after that, which was good for my wallet, as I could have bought a lot more, and we got back to our hotel shortly after 9:30 p.m. A few of us went to the bar for a night cap, and then we were off to bed, as we had another early morning the next day.

Day 9 – Saturday, October 3 - DELPHI – THERMOPYLAE – KALAMBAKA

We were up early again this morning, and went down to breakfast at 7:00 a.m. The buffet at this restaurant was continental, however, if you wanted hot food you could order it from the waiter. I ordered an omelet and was glad I went to breakfast early as it took a while to get it. A few people who went to breakfast at the last minute didn’t have time to order anything, and had to eat what was on the buffet.

Smaro had told us the day before that it would be cooler at Delphi, given that we were arriving so early in the morning, and how high up we were, and suggested that we wear pants and to bring a sweater and/or coat. We arrived at the ancient site around 8:15 a.m., on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, and it was a little chilly.

Delphi is an archaeological site dating from around 510-323 BC, and is most famous for its oracle, or Pythia. It is believed, however, that this was the site of an oracle since as early as 1400 BC. According to legend, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the world and their paths crossed in the sky above Delphi where the navel of Gaia was found, establishing the site as the centre of the earth. Delphi is also known for the worship of the god Apollo, who is said to have slain a dragon (Python) who lived there and protected the navel of the earth. It was here that every four years, starting in 586 BC, athletes competed in the Pythian Games, a precursor of the modern Olympics. The victors at Delphi were presented with a laurel crown which was ceremonially cut from a tree by a boy who re-enacted the slaying of the Python.


The Navel of Gaia

We started our tour at the entrance, and were shown the ruins of all of the shops. From here we walked to the navel stone, the Athenian Treasury and the Temple of Apollo. This is where the Pythia, or oracle, gave her prophesies inspired by Apollo. The oracle was a priestess who served for life, and after she died, a new priestess was selected. Questioners would pay a levy and sacrifice an animal on the altar, and then their questions would be put to the Pythia by a male priest. When giving prophesies, the oracle would go into a trance like state, said to be associated with vapors from the spring waters that flowed under the temple. It is suggested that these vapors may have been hallucinogenic gases.


Temple of Apollo

From here we walked to the theater, and then Smaro gave us free time to either walk to the stadium or to go to the cafe outside the museum for a coffee. I decided to walk to the stadium, however, my friend went for a coffee as she didn’t want to continue to walk up hill. By this time, it was hot outside, and I was wishing I hadn’t brought so many layers of clothing.

We met the group by the cafe at 10:30 a.m. and made our way to the museum. The women who gave Smaro our tickets told us that we could leave our coats behind the desk, so we wouldn’t have to lug them around, which I thought was nice of her. The museum in Delphi is quite large, and we spent over an hour here before going for lunch.

We left Delphi around 11:45 a.m. and started our decent down the hill. Smaro told us that she was going to take us to a restaurant overlooking the water in Itea for lunch. We arrived around noon, and all ate lunch together, and then Smaro pointed out a bakery were we could get some wonderful pastries.

We left Itea at 1:30 p.m. and started the long drive to Kalambaka, stopping at Thermopylae to see the memorial dedicated to Leonidas and the Spartans against the invading Persians. It was here, in 480 BC, that an army of 7000 soldiers, under Leonidas I, met an overwhelming force from Persia. Though the Spartans held the pass for a number of days, the Persians forced a path through and attacked them from the rear. Only two Greek soldiers survived, and Smaro told us that one of the survivors killed himself out of shame, as the Spartans thought they were deserters. The other regained his honor by fighting in the next war against the Persians.


Memorial Dedicated to Leonidas and the Spartans

The ride to Kalambaka was about 4 hours, and on our way there Smaro told us what to expect during our visit to Meteora the next day. She told the men that they had to wear long pants, and the women that they had to wear a skirt or dress. A few women were annoyed by this, as they hadn’t brought a dress or skirt with them, but Smaro advised them not to worry, as the monasteries would provide the women with a wrap to tie around their waist if they weren’t wearing a dress or skirt. I had brought a few summer dresses with me, so this wasn’t an issue for me.

We arrived at our hotel around 6:00 p.m., and this was one of the nicest hotels we stayed at during the tour. We settled into our room, and then met a few people in the hotel bar for a pre-dinner drink. Dinner was a buffet, and it didn’t open until 8:00 p.m. After dinner we went back to the hotel bar for a little while before heading to bed.

Day 11 – Monday, October 5 - EMBARK MYKONOS

We were asked to be in the lobby by 8:30 a.m. this morning in order to meet Justin, our tour director for the cruise. Francis introduced him, and he gave us a package with information regarding the cruise, and tags for our luggage.

There were 21 people from our tour going on the four day cruise. We boarded our coach at 9:00 a.m. and went to another hotel to pick up 10 people from the Best of Italy and Greece tour. We got to the cruise port around 10:00 a.m., and Justin asked us all to grab our luggage and take it to the luggage drop together. We waited there until everyone’s luggage was put on the conveyer belt, and then went to check in and get our room key. We then went through security and boarded the ship. It was a very quick and easy process.

We went to our room and started unpacking. We had booked the moderate room, which meant we didn’t have a window. At first my friend wanted to upgrade, as she was worried about feeling claustrophobic, but then decided against it when she was told the price, an extra $400 Cdn each. I was fine without the window, as we didn’t spend a lot of time in the room. We then heard the call for the emergency drill, grabbed our life jackets and went to our designated spot. We were the first to arrive, and it took a long time for everyone to get there, and it was humid! I couldn’t wait to get back inside. Once everyone arrived, we were lined up based on height, with the taller people in the back, and the shorter in the front, and after standing there for a few minutes, we were told we could leave.

After the drill, we went to meet Justin. He asked us to go straight there and not drop off our life-jackets first, has he only had the area he had booked for our meeting for a short time. This is when he told us what to expect while on the cruise, and gave us our list of optionals. The list had five optionals highlighted in yellow, and two in pink. The yellow optionals were the ones recommended by Trafalgar, and the pink optionals were the ones recommended by Justin. If we booked all of the optionals recommended by Trafalgar, we got a 10% discount, however, if we booked just one optional not recommended by Trafalgar, we didn’t get the discount. Justin advised that we had to book the optionals that afternoon, by 3:00 p.m., because he needed to book the tour guides. The optionals offered are noted below:

Optionals for Mykonos:

No optionals were offered for Mykonos. Justin didn’t think they were worth the money, and advised that he would take us for a short walk around the island, and then give us free time to wander on our own.

Optionals for Kusadasi:

• Ancient Ephesus Through The Ages
Adult Price: €60.00Take a coastal drive to Ephesus – home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Your Local Specialist will show you the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the Great Theatre. You'll walk along the Arcadian Way where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode and enjoy free time to explore.

• Ephesus And The House Of The Virgin Mary
Adult Price: €65.00Visit the valley-side chapel said to be where the Virgin Mary spent her last days – officially sanctioned for pilgrimage by the Vatican. After, you’ll see the excavation site of Ancient Ephesus, including where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode. Then enjoy free time in Kusadasi or shop for local goods.

Both Justin and Trafalgar recommended the Ancient Ephesus Through The Ages optional, however, he added the optional with The House Of The Virgin Mary as a lot of religious people like to go on that tour. I have been to Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary before, during my Turkey tour, however, as there was nothing else to do while in Kusadasi, I booked the Ancient Ephesus Through the Ages tour. Most people from our group booked that tour, however, a few religious people booked The House Of The Virgin Mary tour.

Optionals for Patmos:

• Patmos, Hora And The Grotto Of The Apocalypse
Adult Price: €47.00We discover Patmos, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. At Chora, you’ll visit the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist. We’ll admire the dramatic landscapes and finish at Scala, where you’ll enjoy included coffee, tea and refreshments at the oldest and most picturesque cafe on the island.

This was the only optional offered, and everyone from our group booked it. This was also our first tender port, and Justin advised that people who booked an optional tour got priority when it came to disembarking.

Optionals for Rhodes:

• Rhodes And Lindos Medieval Tour
Adult Price: €57.00See the medieval walls of the ancient Acropolis of Lindos. You’ll enjoy a walking tour through Rhodes, view the Palace of the Knights, Chevaliers Road and the Marine Gate, and visit a ceramic factory. The journey from Rhodes to Lindos is approx. 50 mins. Not suitable for guests with walking difficulties.

• Medieval Philerimos And The Palace Of Knights
Adult Price: €57.00We’ll drive to the summit of Mount Smith, the Acropolis of ancient Rhodes. In Philerimos, you’ll see the restored Byzantine Church of Our Lady of Philerimos, with its 15th century frescoes, and the ruined Castle of the Knights. And admire the mosaics of the Grand Master's Palace, during a guided walk of Porte d'Amboise.

Trafalgar recommended the Rhodes And Lindos Medieval Tour and Justin recommended the Medieval Philerimos And The Palace Of Knights tour, mainly because there were a lot of stairs to climb on the Lindos tour. I booked the Lindos tour, however, my friend, who was tired of climbing stairs, booked The Palace Of Knights tour, as did most people from our group. I will note that we had a full day in Rhodes, and after the Lindos tour, we were able to stay in Rhodes and tour the old town and Palace on our own, or walk back to the old town after having lunch on the ship. If stairs are not an issue, I would recommend to anyone doing this tour to book the Lindos tour, as you can’t get there on your own, and to go to the old town on their own after lunch. This is something that Justin didn’t tell us, and a few people said they would have booked the Lindos tour if they had known they would have had time to see the old town on their own.

Optionals for Heraklion, Crete:

• Palace Of Knossos Excavations
Adult Price: €53.00We’ll drive through Heraklion to the Knossos excavations. Your Local Specialist will describe the ancient culture and you’ll see the palace’s Hall of the Royal Guard and the King's Chamber, with its alabaster throne and courtyards. Note: Walking may be on uneven gravel surfaces. We may not be allowed to enter with big bags.

• Cretan Lifestyle Experience
Adult Price: €53.00Visit the famous wine producing area of Peza and see its stunning countryside and vineyards. You’ll sample Cretan wines at a modern winery and visit the Archanes market town with its restored sandstone houses. Then enjoy an assortment of Cretan snacks and mingle with the locals while listening to traditional Greek music.

Trafalgar recommended the Palace Of Knossos Excavations tour and Justin recommended the Cretan Lifestyle Experience tour. He told us that he finds people are usually all “ruined out” by the time they start the cruise, which is why he recommended the Cretan Lifestyle Experience tour. I booked the Knossos tour, along with two others from our group, but everyone else booked the Cretan Lifestyle Experience tour. I guess they were all “ruined out”.

Optionals for Santorini:

• Magical Oia Village
Adult Price: €57.00Admire the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and neighbouring islands and view the layers of lava on the rock face. Your Local Specialist will guide you along the cobblestone streets and white-washed houses of stunning Oia village. Afterwards, we’ll stop at Fira, where you'll make your way back to the ship.

Both Trafalgar and Justin recommended this tour, and everyone from our group booked it.

After our meeting, we went to get our drink packages, which could be obtained at any bar on the ship. I originally wasn’t going to purchase a drink package, however, my friend really wanted to purchase the non-alcoholic package, as she drinks a lot of pop, but she couldn’t purchase it if I didn’t purchase a package. As I don’t drink pop, that package didn’t interest me, however, the full package, which included alcohol, was 22 Euros, and after doing the math I realized if I ordered three bottles of water and three drinks a day, it would pay for itself, so I purchased it. We then went for lunch in the dining room with some people from our group. One thing to note, shorts are not allowed in the dining room (except for at breakfast), so people who did not want to change for lunch/dinner had to go to the buffet. After lunch we went back to our room to finish unpacking, and then went to book our optional tours with Justin. After booking our optional tours, we still had a few hours before docking, so we meet up with a few people and toured the ship. As we were walking by the spa, my friend noticed their 20 minute massage special, which she booked. I wasn’t interested, so I joined another women for a drink on the front deck and enjoyed the weather and the view.

We were supposed to arrive in Mykonos at 4:00 p.m., but we were late, so it was 4:30 p.m. by the time we docked, and 5:00 p.m. by the time we got off the ship. We then had to take a shuttle to the town, so by the time we arrived, it was 5:30 p.m.


Sunset from Mykonos

Mykonos is known for its sandy beaches and its nightlife, and is one of the most popular islands in the Cyclades. The island was under Venetian rule from 1207, and in 1615 the islanders set up the community of Mykonos. Today it has a reputation as being the glitziest island in Greece, thanks in part to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, who visited the island in 1961.



Justin gathered us all together, and told us to stay close to him. He said he could not give us much information while we were walking, as he was not a local guide, but that he could walk us through the town and point out certain things. He was a fast walker though, and some people from our group had a hard time keeping up to him. He took us through Chora and its winding alleyways, which were built in a maze of narrow lanes as protection from the wind and pirate raids, to the main square by the windmills. Here he gave us free time to look around, or to go back with him through another set of alleyways. My friend decided to go back to the ship, as she was hungry, but I stayed behind with a few people from our tour. We then realized that we lost a person while walking through the maze, and we were a little bit worried as this women was known for being a bit flighty, and had gotten lost before. We all hoped she had made her way back to the ship, but kept our eyes open for her anyway.


Windmills in Mykonos

We didn’t spend much time on the island, and slowly walked back to the coach park, stopping to take pictures on the way. We got on the coach around 8:00 p.m., and were back on the ship in no time. I went to my room to change and get ready for dinner, and to see if my friend was there, but she wasn’t. I then met some people from our group for dinner, and found my friend in the dining room. I also found the women who had gotten lost on Mykonos. Dinner consisted of three courses, with options at each course. You could also select the “chef’s recommendation”, which was five or six courses of the chef’s favourite dishes. I found it to be too much food, especially so late at night, so I stuck to the three course meal.

It was 10:00 p.m. by the time we finished dinner, so we just went to our room to get ready for bed. We had to get up at 5:30 a.m. the next morning, and it had been a long day, so we were tired.

Day 13– Wednesday, October 7- RHODES

We were up at 5:30 a.m. again this morning, and in the theater by 7:00 a.m. The people doing the Lindos tour were called at 7:15 a.m., and we were put on the same coach as the Insight people. It took us about 50 minutes to drive to Lindos, and our guide told us about the place on our way there. Unfortunately, I was so tired, I couldn’t stay awake, so I didn’t hear most of it. It’s a good thing I read about Lindos before going on my trip.

Lindos was first inhabited around 3000 BC, and grew to be a naval power due to its twin harbours. It thrived in the 6th century and became rich. It’s best known for its Acropolis, which is perched 410 feet above the village, and the Temple of Lindian Athena, dating from the 4th century BC. This temple was considered to be one of the most sacred sites in the ancient world, and was visited by Alexander the Great. In the 13th century, the Knights Hospitallers of St. John arrived and fortified the city.


Temple of Lindian Athena

We were dropped off in the car park, and walked to the main square together. Our tour guide showed us where the donkeys were, and told us we could ride a donkey back to the parking lot for 5 Euros if we wanted to. We then started the slow climb to the top of the Acropolis, stopping along the way to take a break and listen to our guide tell us about the site. We stopped before the medieval entrance, and our guide pointed out a Trireme Warship carved into the rock. Once we got through the entrance, he showed us a second way to the top, which did not contain stairs, however, the stones were very slippery, so you had to be careful. He then gave us free time to wander on our own. We took pictures of the Temple of Lindian Athena, and the beautiful views from Lindos before starting the slow decent down, stopping to look at the hand-made tablecloths laid out on the side of the hill. As my friend was doing the other tour, I went on this tour with another member from our group, and she bought a beautiful tablecloth, while I bought a Christmas square. I would have bought a Christmas tablecloth, but they didn’t sell them. The lady told me they only make squares and runners for Christmas because you can only put it out for a short time each year, and the tablecloths don’t sell well. We continued down the hill, stopping at shops on the way, and I bought a homemade glass Christmas ornament (yes, Christmas again!). At this point, we were running short on time, so we made our way to the donkeys, and each rode one back to the parking lot. It wasn’t a long ride, but I thought I couldn’t go to Greece and not ride a donkey!


Views from Lindos Acropolis

Our tour guide told us more about the customs of Rhodes on our ride back to the old town. He told us that in Rhodes, it was customary to name your first born son after the father’s father, and the first born daughter after the mother’s mother. He had twin boys who were named after his father and father-in-law, and a girl who was named after his mother-in-law. He had originally not wanted to name his daughter after his mother-in-law, because she had a very old Greek name that was hard to pronounce, but he knew he would never hear the end of it if he didn’t. He also advised that Greek men usually chose their wives based on who their mother-in-laws will be, as they know that their mother-in-law will be stopping by all of the time after marriage.

He then told us that in Greece, it’s still customary for parents to give their daughters a dowry of a house upon marriage. He told us that the house is usually purchased or built close to where the parents live, and in return, the daughter helps take care of the parents when they are older. If you have more than one daughter, you have to buy more than one house, and you usually start saving as soon as the daughter is born. I guess it can get expensive to have a lot of daughters in Greece!

We arrived at the old town of Rhodes around 11:00 a.m., and walked to the d’Amboise gate, built in the 16th century. We started our walk down the medieval Street of the Knights, which is situated between the harbour and the Palace of the Knights. It is lined by the Innes of the Tongues of the Order of St. John. Begun in the 14th century, the Inns were used as meeting places for the Knights. The site of the German Inn is still unknown, but the others were restored by the Italians in the early 20th century. We viewed the Palace of the Knights from the Main Gate, but, unfortunately, an included visit was not part of our tour. The Knights of Rhodes were founded in the 11th century by merchants from Amalfi. The Order of Hospitallers of the Knights of St. John guarded the Holy Sepulchre and tended Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem. They became a military order after the first Crusade, but had to take refuge in Cypress when Jerusalem fell in 1291. They then bought Rhodes from a Genoese pirate in 1306. A Grand Master was elected for life to govern the Order, which was divided into seven Tongues, or nationalities, France, Italy, England, Germany, Provence, Spain and Auvergne. Each Tongue protected an area of city wall known as a Curtain. The knights were chosen from noble Roman Catholic families, and those who entered the Order swore vows of chastity, obedience and poverty.

Our tour ended around 11:30 a.m., and Anne told us how to walk back to the ship from our location. She advised that we didn’t have to be back on the ship until 5:30 p.m., so we could stay in Rhodes, or walk back to the old town after lunch, which is what I did.

We went back to the ship, met our friends, and went for lunch with a group of people from our tour. After lunch, my friend went to take a nap, and I went back to the old town with another member of our group. We walked around and did some shopping, and then went to tour the Palace of the Grand masters. The Palace is a fortress, and was the seat of 19 Grand Masters. It was the centre of the Knights Quarter, and the last refuge for the people in times of danger. It was built in the 14th century, and survived an earthquake and siege, but was blown up by an accidental explosion in 1856. It was restored by the Italians in the 1930s for Mussolini and King Victor Emmanuel II. There was a special exhibit going on at the time, and the person selling us our tickets recommended that we see that first as it was only open for another 20 minutes. Our tour of the Palace didn’t take long, and when we finished, we sat on a patio and had a drink. I ordered a small beer, which arrived in a boot shaped glass, which I thought was cute at first, but when I found out the price, I nearly choked on my beer. Apparently Justin had warned his group not to go to any restaurant or cafe that had parrots or sold beer in a boot, as they charged an excessive amount of money or them, but Anne never bothered to tell our group that. Oh well.


Main Gate, Palace of the Grand Masters

We made our way back to the ship around 4:30 p.m., and I woke up my friend when I arrived. Tonight was the Captain’s dinner, and there were two sittings, one at 6:30 p.m. and one at 8:30 p.m. I wanted to go to the earlier sitting, so I would have time to enjoy some of the entertainment on the ship that evening, but my friend, and our usual dinner companions, wanted to go to the later sitting. Tonight was also formal night, however, as not everyone had brought formal attire with them, as long as you were not wearing shorts, jeans, or casual attire you were allowed into the dining room. I wore a maxi-dress, while my friend wore dress pants with a dressy top and nice jewelry.

We were ready for dinner early, so we met some friends in the lounge. At this point, my friend told us she was hungry and wanted to go to the early dinner, however, one girl from our group was still in her room getting ready, so we had to wait for her. We didn’t think it was fair to change the time on her at the last minute, forcing her to rush to get ready. Fortunately, the waitress kept bringing us nuts to munch on with our drinks.

We went into the dining room at 8:30 p.m., and didn’t finish dinner until after 10:00 p.m. We then went to Karaoke, but only stayed for 15 minutes, as it ended at 10:30 p.m. The room where the Karaoke took place turned into a disco after Karaoke, and the Contiki group were already there waiting to get the party started. After that I went back to my room to get ready for bed. It was a long day, and I was tired.

Day 15 – Friday, October 9 - DISEMBARK – ATHENS

We were up at 5:15 a.m. this morning, got ready quickly and went for breakfast. We had to leave the ship by 7:00 a.m., but Justin recommended leaving a little bit earlier than that in order to avoid the crowds. We started our decent around 6:50 a.m., and went to the meeting point. Justin told us he’d come and get us at 7:10 a.m. to take us to get our luggage and then to take us to our coaches, and we said our goodbyes while waiting for him. The people from Australia and New Zealand were leaving that day, while the people from North America had an extra, included day, in Athens, so we were on separate coaches. After the people going to the airport had left, Justin took us to our coach, and we drove back to our hotel, dropping off the people from the Best of Italy and Greece group at their hotel before going to the Divani Acropolis. I mentioned to my friend that our room would not be ready, but she didn’t believe me. I then asked Justin, who confirmed that our rooms would not be ready, which upset a few people from our tour. I told my friend that we could leave our luggage and go out and see the sites, but she was tired and wanted to take a nap before going out for the day.

We got to our hotel around 8:45 a.m., and Francis was there to greet us. We went to the lobby, and she told us that she was trying to get rooms for us, and to wait in the lobby until they were ready. After waiting about an hour, she started calling people to get their room key. I was glad that they called us as I was getting restless and wanted to go out and see the sites. We went to our room, unpacked, got organized, and I went to meet a member from our group in the lobby. As my friend wanted to nap, I arranged to see the sites with another member from our group.

We left our hotel around 10:30 a.m. and walked to the Acropolis to get our tickets for the archeological sites in Athens, and then walked towards the Ancient Agora, stopping at Mars Hill to get pictures of the Parthenon. We took the man-made stairs to the top, as the original stairs carved into the side of the hill were steep and slippery. It was also very slippery on the hill, and you had to be very careful while walking around. From here we made our way to the Agora, stopping at The Church of Holy Apostles. This church was constructed in the early 11th century, and is the oldest Byzantine church still whole in Athens. We then walked through the ruins to the Hephaisteion, also known as the Theseion, one of the best preserved buildings in the Agora. It was built beside the area where most of the bronze and iron working foundries were found, and since Hepestus was the god of metalsmithing, it was named after him. It is a small temple, and used to contain two bronze statues, one of the goddess Athena, and the other of the god Hephestus. The construction of the Hephaisteion began at the same time as the Parthenon, around 450 BC, and was completed around 415 BC. We then walked through the ruins to the Stoa of Attalos, which was founded by King Attalos of Pergamon and dominated the eastern quarter of the Agora until it was burnt down in 67 AD. It was reconstructed in the mid-20th century using the original foundations and ancient materials, as a museum to house the finds from the Ancient Agora site.


Views of Athens from Mars Hill


The Hephaisteion

After walking around the Agora, we went to the Monastiraki area. This area was the site of one of the largest monasteries in Athens, however, most of the monastery was demolished during excavations in the 19th century, so there is not much left to see. Only the church remains, which is named Monastiráki or “little monastery”, which eventually gave the neighborhood its name. This area was the heart of Ottoman Athens, and is still home to a mosque, the bazaar, and market stalls selling everything from junk to jewelry. First we went to the Monastiraki Church, also known as the Pantanassa Church, which was built in the 17th century at the site of an older church. We then stopped for a coffee at a cafe, and then went to Hadrian’s Library, which was built between 125 and 132 AD by the Emperor Hadrian, who visited Athens regularly. Hadrian wanted to make Athens the cultural capital of the Roman Empire, and during his visits he initiated several building projects, including the construction of the library.

After visiting the library, we walked back to our hotel as we were meeting our friends in the lobby at 1:00 p.m. We went for lunch at a Greek restaurant recommended by the receptionist, away from the touristy area. After lunch one girl went back to the Acropolis museum, while I went to the Plaka area with my friend and a few others. I didn’t stay with them for long though, as I was tired, and went back to the hotel to pack, change, and get ready for our evening Viator tour.

My friend and I had booked the “Best Hidden Athens Walking Tour and Picnic: Plaka and the Hills of Athens” tour through Viator. My friend had decided, however, that she no longer wanted to go on this tour, so another member of our group bought her ticket. We had to meet our guide in front of the Benaki Museum at 5:00 p.m., and we just made it. It took forever to get a taxi at our hotel, and then traffic was heavy. On top of that, our taxi driver dropped us off in front of the wrong museum, and we had to run to make it in time. We finally met our guide, Kostas, and found out that the two other people doing this tour were running late as well, so we didn’t feel so bad.

Our walking tour started at the Presidents house, stopping to see the Evzones, the men who guard the square around Greek Parliament. The Evzones are very tall men, and are famous for their unique uniform. The first Evzones unit was formed in 1868 as the royal guard, and continued its role after the Greek Monarchy was abolished. Today, their duties are ceremonial, and include guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Mansion and the Gates of the Presidential Guard training camp, as well as a few other. From here we walked through the National Gardens, formally known as the Royal Gardens, which was commissioned by Queen Amalia in 1838. She had over 500 species of plants and animals, including peacocks, ducks and turtles, imported to the garden, however, many of the plants did not survive because of the Mediterranean climate. At the end of our tour of the gardens, Kostas showed us “Turtle Pond”, which is a small pond where people drop off their turtles if they don’t want them anymore. We continued our tour and walked to the Zappeion, first stopping at the café next door for a bottle of water and restroom break. The Zappeion was built between 1874 and 1888, and was donated by two cousins who made their fortunes in Romania. Today it’s used as a conference centre. We then walked towards the Temple of Zeus, stopping to get a picture of a statue of Lord Byron. The Athenians love him because he helped them during the War of Independence. We then entered the Plaka area and walked to Brettos Liquor store, which is the oldest distillery in Athens. Inside, old barrels full of spirits and colored bottles line the walls up to the ceiling. It has a tiny bar where you can get drinks by the glass. Next we walked to St. Nicolas Church, an 11th century Byzantine church, rebuilt in the 18th century. It incorporates marble columns and other remains of ancient buildings in its external walls, and Kostas pointed out an old piece of marble sticking out of the side of the church. This is one of the favourite parish churches of the Plaka area, and is frequently used for Greek weddings. It was the first church in Athens to have a bell after the War of Independence and the first to ring out after the city’s liberation from the Germans. Fortunately for us, it was still open, and we were able to go inside. We then walked to the Anafiotika area, one of the oldest settlements in Athens. Its first residents were refugees from the Peloponnesian War, and by 1841 it had been colonized by workmen from Anafi in the Cyclades, who eventually gave the area its name. The people who inhabited this area ignored a decree declaring the area an archeological zone, and completed their houses overnight, installing their families by morning, which meant the authorities were powerless to knock the new houses down. Upon entering the area, Kostas pointed out that the people like to keep the entrance to area looking a little “shady” as a way of keeping people who don’t live in the area out. They like their privacy, and don’t like strangers walking around the area. I guess they weren’t happy about Kostas giving a private walking tour of the area. Kostas then walked us through the narrow sidewalks, stopping in front of a house with a glassed patio with ruins underneath. We then left the Anafiotika area, and went to Mars Hill so we could get some pictures of the Acropolis all lit up at night, and then to Filopapou Hill, stopping at the jail where Socrates was imprisoned. There were three cells embedded in the hill, and they are believed to have been carved out by hand. After looking at the cells, we continued to walk up the hill to a landing area where we had great views of the Acropolis, and had a picnic. Kostos poured each of us a glass of white wine, and first handed out some spinach pies, and then some cheese pies and then some chicken pies. I wasn’t a fan of the chicken pie because of the onions, but the others were great. For dessert we had some mini-apple pies.


An Evzones

After we ate, we walked down the hill, and Kostos walked us to the restaurant where our friends were having dinner with Justin and his daughter. They had just finished eating dinner, and were waiting for dessert, so we joined them for a drink on the patio. My friend and another member of our group went back to the hotel around 10:00 p.m., and the rest of us went back around 11:00 p.m. and went to the hotel bar for a night cap. It was a long day, but I saw and did a lot, and it was a great ending to a great trip!

It may take me a couple of weeks to finish this tour tale, as I’m still trying to sort through my pictures but I thought I would get started with a summary at least.

Looking forward to reading how this goes, Tiffany. We almost went on this trip a year ago but changed our minds after the price went up nearly 30%. Half of this was due to the fall in the Australian dollar; the other half due to some unexplained reason that Trafalgar never clarified. It's probably the reason you didn't see many Australians on the tour when usually we would have been there by the dozen!

Day 2 is posted.

Day 4 is posted.

Thanks Solaria. Our travel director told us a lot of legends, especially about the mythological gods, so you would probably enjoy this tour. I hope to get another day posted tomorrow or Thursday.

Day 6 is posted.