Greece-Italy February 2014

FROM THE TOUR COORDINATOR
Robson Marinho, PhD

Tour Upgrade!

I am happy to announce that our tour was upgraded to improved quality and a more attractive itinerary. After negotiating with different travel agents, we will enjoy the following upgrades:

1. Three meals a day are now included in the tour, with the exception of two days on the ferry boat (only one meal a day provided) and two meals in the last day of the tour.
2. We will alternate hotels of 3-star and 4-star categories.
3. On the 4-day/3-night cruise to the Greek islands, instead of inside cabins we will now enjoy outside cabins with windows (no balcony) on board of the Louis Olympia ship (see picture below).

 We anticipate a very pleasant Study Tour!

 Welcome to the Greek Islands!

Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean and the largest and most populous of the islands forming part of modern Greece. It is relatively long and narrow, stretching for 160 miles (260 km) on its east-west axis and varying in width from 7.5 to 37 miles. The capital and the largest city of Crete is Heraklion, on the northwest coast, with 606,274 population. The pictures below give us a taste of the Greek Islands.

Hotel Information

All hotels in Greece will be 4-star hotels, while in Italy they will be of 3-star category. The rooms will be assigned on a double occupancy basis. For those who may prefer, single rooms may also be ordered at an extra fee of $850.00 (pending availability), to be charged to the participant’s account upon registration. Those interested in this option please contact me by email (single rooms are not available in the two-day ferry boat trip).

Roommate Preference

In case you have a preference, you may choose a friend as your roommate for the entire trip. As you know, hotel rooms will be assigned on a double occupancy basis so if you have a roommate preference, please email me. If not, we will assign you a friendly roommate!

Personal Finances

As you do your financial planning for the trip, beside your personal expenses, please keep in mind that the tour industry expects our courtesy of giving tips to tour guides and bus drivers on the basis of around 10 Euros (US$15.00) per passenger per day. Overall we may plan around $200 or so per person for the entire trip. The good news is that we are now saving on meals with this upgraded tour!

Volunteer Support Team

In order to make this tour an unforgettable experience, we are planning to have a volunteer support team to perform specific tasks during the whole trip. If you are willing to volunteer for helping with special activities, please email us specifying your interest as follows:

TASK	VOLUNTEER TEAM
Spiritual Coordinator	Someone who wants to lead our devotional moments
Spiritual Team	Participants willing to share worship messages in short devotionals
Tour Secretary	One volunteer to assist the tour coordinator with planning and record keeping
Photographer	One experienced photographer to take pictures for our blog and slide show
Blogger	One volunteer writer to describe the highlights of the tour on the journey, so we can post daily blogs (very informal)
Video	One skilled camera-person to video record and edit highlights of our tour.
Health Assistant	A health professional to asssist with minor sickness/emergencies
Social Coordinators	One creative person to lead occasional entertaining moments
Other roles	Feel free to suggest other roles to enrich our experience!

Visa Information

Visa is NOT required for U.S. passport holders, so you don't have to worry about visa. For those who have passport from other countries, please contact me for visa information. Make sure you have a valid passport beyond the travel date. Participants are responsible for their own passports (and visa when applicable).

List of Participants

We want to welcome our new participant who just joined the tour: Welcome Cheolmin Jo! Our group is pretty much defined now and we anticipate developing long-term friendships with our tour mates. We will have plenty of opportunity for social interaction!

Name	Program
1.   Alisa Lashley	Higher Education
2.   Carolynn M. E. Irby	Curriculum & Instruction
3.   Catherine Mahrt-Washington	Higher Education
4.   Cheri Gregory	Leadership
5.   Daniel Gregory	Educ. Leadership
6.   Ebony Tyler	Educ. Leadership
7.   Eileen Ruth Kooreman	Leadership
8.   Jack Kooreman	Guest Leadership
9.   Heather Day	Higher Education
10.  Heather Ferguson	Higher Education
11.  Michael D. Ballantine	Higher Education
12.  Monica Wringer	Higher Education
13.  R. Deborah Weithers	Leadership
14.  Renaude Saint-Phard	Higher Education
15.  Rose Monroe	Higher Education
16.  Seth Bardu	Leadership
17.  Sharese Swafford	Higher Education
18.  Yvonna Applewhite	Leadership
19.  Cheolmin Jo	Leadership
20.  Robson Marinho	Coordinator

Upgraded Itinerary

We now have an upgraded itinerary with additional attractions and more optional tours. Please check the details of the new itinerary below.

Day 1, Sunday June 15 - DEPART USA

Depart from Chicago O'Hare to Rome at 3:45 pm, Flight Number: AC 7416

Day 2, Monday, June 16: ROME ARRIVAL
Upon arrival at Rome airport, meet the local representative and transfer to hotel in Rome. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Daniela.

 

Day 3, Tuesday, June 17: ROME (Full day tour)

We enjoy a morning panoramic guided tour of Rome and St. Peter's square. Then we will visit the Roman Forum, walking along the ancient pavement and see ruins of the Curia and the Reggia. We will then admire the Temple of Vesta, the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Costantine. The tour will continue with the visit of the massive structure of the Colosseum (inside visit). Originally named Flavian Amphitheatre it is a giant amphitheatre used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. The amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Return to hotel in late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Wednesday, June 18: ROME–PISA–FLORENCE
Breakfast at hotel.

8:30 to 11:00 am: Educational Session and campus tour at University of Rome La Sapienza

Depart to Pisa to see the incredible Leaning Tower and the Cathedral in the "Square of Miracles". Continue on to Florence where we arrive in the afternoon. Lunch en route restaurant. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Touring in Montecatini.

Day 5: Thursday, June 19: FLORENCE
Morning: Educational Sessions and campus tour at University of Florence.

Lunch in local restaurant.

Afternoon: Sightseeing tour with our guide, to see Piazza Santa Croce; Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; Loggia dei Lanzi; Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.”

4:00 to 6:00 pm: Educational Session and campus tour at Italian Adventist College Villa Aurora

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Florence

Day 6, Friday, June 20: FLORENCE - BOLOGNA-VENICE
Breakfast and check out of rooms. Drive to Bologna for about 1h30min. Upon arrival, Educational Session and campus tour at University of Bologna.

Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon depart to Venice for check-in at Hotel Mondial in Mestre. Dinner and overnight

Day 7, Saturday, June 21: VENICE
Breakfast and worship meeting at hotel. Today we will have a full day in the romantic city. We will enjoy a panoramic tour to see St. Mark's Square, the outside of Dodge's Palace and the bridge of sighs. We will than have free time for optional gondola trip and gliding along the picturesque canals. Lunch at local restaurant. Return to hotel in Mestre. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8, Sunday, June 22: VENICE–ANCONA (4hours) & EMBARKATION TO PATRAS, GREECE
Bus ride to Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic. On our way we will pass by Ravenna.

At 1:30 p.m., embark on the ferry to cross to Patras port of Greece. - Meals on board on your own expenses

Day 9, Monday, June 23: PATRAS (DISEMBARKATION)–OLYMPIA
At 2:30 p.m., disembark at Patras and meet the local guide. Board the bus and drive to the south into the Peloponnese peninsula to reach Olympia.  

Check-in at Hotel Olympion Asty in Olympia for dinner and overnight.

Day 10, Tuesday, June 24: OLYMPIA–NAUPLIA
In the morning breakfast at hotel and check-out. We will visit the ancient city of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games where we see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, the gymnasium and the stadium. After the visit to the archaeological museum we will have lunch in local restaurant. In the early afternoon we will depart from Olympia and drive via the central Peloponnese area to Nauplia. Upon arrival check-in at Hotel Tolon Holidays in Tolo for dinner and overnight.

Day 11, Wednesday, June 25: NAUPLIA–MYCENAE–ATHENS
After breakfast check-out of rooms and board the bus to visit the impressive ruins of Mycenae. We will see the remains of the prehistoric citadel fortified with the Cyclopean Walls, the Lionesses' Gate the remains of the Myceanaean Palace and the Tomb of King Agamemnon in which we will actually enter.

After lunch in local restaurant we will depart from Peloponnese and drive towards Athens. On our way will stop at the historic Corinth Canal, which was built between 1881 and 1893. We will see the Isthmus of Corinth and take photos before boarding the bus to return to Athens. In late afternoon check-in at Hotel Stanley in Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 12, Thursday, June 26: ATHENS
Breakfast at hotel. Morning sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital (Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Zeus, Panathenian Stadium, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Academy of Athens, The National Library, The parliament Building and the National Gardens). After the panoramic tour we will climb up to Acropolis Hill. We will see the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, the famous Parthenon Temple and the Erechtheion with its porch of maidens. After the tour lunch in local restaurant in Plaka.

Afternoon: Educational Sessions and campus tour at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Evening at leisure to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the taverns and nightclubs in the old Plaka district.

Day 13, Friday, June 27: ATHENS–PIRAEUS - CRUISE TO MYKONOS (Embarkation for a 3-night cruise)
After early breakfast at hotel at 8.30 a.m., we will board the bus and drive to Piraeus port of Athens. We will embark the cruise ship at 9.30 a.m. after the check-in procedures. Sail at 11:00 a.m. for Mykonos island. Lunch on board. In the afternoon arrive at Mykonos, the most popular Greek islands with its white washed houses, chapels and the spectacular windmills. Free time to explore the seaside town on our own and visit "Little Venice".

Re-embark the ship and sail to Kusadasi port of Turkey at 11:00 p.m.

Day 14, Saturday, June 28: KUSADASI CRUISE
At 7:00 a.m., dock at Kusadasi port, where we have an optional tour to see the ancient ruins of Ephesus. After the tour we will have some free time at the local market for shopping. Return to ship at lunch time and sail to Patmos at 1:00 pm. At 4:00 pm. we will disembark in Patmos by tender boats. An optional excursion will take us to the 11th century St. John's (Evangelist) Monastery and the Cave of Apocalypse. In the museum we will see the valuable manuscript collection. After some free time in the port we will re-embark the cruise ship to sail for Crete island of Greece at 9:00 p.m.

Day 15, Sunday, June 29: CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI CRUISE
At 7:00 a.m. our ship will dock at Heraklion port of Crete, which is the largest of the Greek Islands.  Here we are offered an optional tour to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the center of the Minoan civilization dating back to 3,000 BC.  At 11.30 am, sail for Santorini. Lunch on board.

At 4.30 pm we will arrive in Santorini, this unique volcanic island called “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” An optional bus tour will take us to the capital town of Fira or Thira and the picturesque village of Oia. Or we can ride a mule or the cable car from the OLD PORT of Fira to climb up to the cliff-top town. Free time to walk around the narrow streets with the white washed traditional houses and enjoy the spectacular view of Caldera with the volcanic islets on the Aegean Sea.

Return to the ship and set sail for Athens at 9:00 pm.

Day 16, Monday, June 30: PIRAEUS - DISEMBARKATION ATHENS
At 6:00 am our ship will dock at Piraeus port. After breakfast we will check-out of the cabins and meet the local representative at 7.45a.m. Board the bus and drive to hotel in the city centre. 

Last day of our journey will be free for individual exploration of the city.  Lunch on your own (try the Greek Souvlaki or Gyros or the Greek Salad with tomato, cucumber, onion, green pepper, feta cheese and olives).

Dinner and overnight at Hotel Stanley in Athens.

Day 17, Tuesday, July 1: ATHENS DEPARTURE
Escorted bus transfer to Athens Airport for departure flight.

Depart from Athens to Chicago O'Hare at 6:30 am.