Greece-Italy October 2013

FROM THE TOUR COORDINATOR
Robson Marinho, PhD  






IMPORTANT: CHANGE OF TOUR DESTINATION

Hello Everybody!

Due to rising concerns with security issues in India and with new prospective immigration laws in the Gulf countries, and in order to prevent unnecessary risks to the participants, we decided to select a different destination for the Study Tour 2014. Therefore, after much consideration and negotiation, I was able to successfully arrange a brand new tour destination and itinerary that is safer, entertaining and culturally attractive! So, welcome to the GREECE-ITALY STUDY TOUR! The good news is that for the same cost we will have an upgraded tour with the following new features:

• A five-day cruise to the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea
• Two extra days of tour at no extra cost
• Visiting universities in Rome, Florence and Athens 
• Two-day stop at the glamorous city of Venice, among others

This is an exciting opportunity to explore the culture of two vibrant Mediterranean countries and their higher education systems. We need all participants to confirm their application for this tour by replying to the email I sent to everyone as we move on our planning. Please check the itinerary below and enjoy the pictures of several places we will visit in our tour!

  Athens

Athens

Rome

Rome

Venice

Venice

Florence

Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece

Greece

List of Participants

This is the updated list of participants. If you don’t see your name on the list, that means that we don’t have your application form, so you need to provide it immediately in order to be included in the tour. Please see the application form attached and if you have any questions, please let me know.

Name	Program	Comments
1.   Michael D. Ballantine	Higher Education
2.   Rose Monroe	Higher Education
3.   Larry Chu	Higher Education
4.   Heather Ferguson	Higher Education
5.   Alisa Lashley	Higher Education
6.   Seth Bardu	Leadership
7.   Nestor Osorio	Leadership
8.   Robert Overstreet	Leadership
9.   Hyveth Williams	Leadership
10.  Leslie Samuel	Leadership
11.  Heather Day	Higher Education
12.  Seth Day	Guest
13.  Ana dos Santos	Educ. Leadership
14.  Hans Figueroa	Educ. Leadership
15.  Carolynn M. E. Irby	Curriculum & Instruction
16.  Monica Wringer	Higher Education
17.  Catherine Mahrt-Washington	Higher Education
18.  Robson Marinho	Coordinator

 Tentative Itinerary

This is our new tentative itinerary, plenty of attractions and including educational sessions at selected universities. you can begin anticipating the fun and learning experience!

 

Tentative Tour Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday June 15 - DEPART USA

Fly from Chicago O’Hare to Rome

Day 2, Monday, June 16: ARRIVE IN ROME
Morning: Hotel check-in and welcome to Italy’s ancient capital!

3:00 pm: Educational Sessions at University of Rome La Sapienza.

6:30 pm: Meet the Tour Guide for instructions.

Day 3, Tuesday, June 17: ROME
Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum.

Day 4, Wednesday, June 18: ROME–PISA–FLORENCE
Vistas of undulating hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Take a break in Pisa to see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to the Florence area. End the day by joining the optional Tuscan dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 5, Thursday, June 19: FLORENCE
This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled the entire day.

Morning: Educational Sessions at University of Florence

Afternoon: Walking tour with a Local Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.”

Day 6, Friday, June 20: FLORENCE AREA–VERONA–VENICE AREA
An interesting journey today northwards for a first stop in enchanting Verona to see the legendary balcony from Romeo and Juliet. Just a few more miles eastwards to Venice.

Day 7, Saturday, June 21: VENICE
Morning: Intercultural worship meeting followed by a tour with a boat ride.

Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas.

Afternoon and evening: Time at leisure and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.

Day 8, Sunday, June 22: VENICE–RAVENNA–ANCONA & EMBARKATION TO PATRAS, GREECE
Start the day by journeying across the flatlands of the Po Delta to medieval Ravenna. Next, reach Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic. This afternoon, embark on the ferry for overnight crossing to Patras, Greece.

Day 9, Monday, June 23: PATRAS (DISEMBARKATION)–OLYMPIA
Plenty of time to enjoy all the ship’s facilities. Disembark this afternoon in Patras. Drive south into the Peloponnese for an overnight in Olympia.

Day 10, Tuesday, June 24: OLYMPIA–NAUPLIA
In the morning, optional tour of the sights of ancient Olympia, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. In the afternoon, enjoy the rugged scenery of the Peloponnese on the way via Tripolis to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Athens.

Day 11, Wednesday, June 25: NAUPLIA–MYCENAE–ATHENS
Morning visit with a Local Guide to the impressive ruins of Mycenae. Later, stop to view the Corinth Canal, which was built between 1881 and 1893.

Day 12, Thursday, June 26: ATHENS
Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis.

Afternoon: Educational Sessions at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music, or join an optional Greek dinner. (B)

Day 13, Friday, June 27: ATHENS–PIRAEUS/LAVRION (EMBARKATION)–MYKONOS
Board your cruise ship. Afternoon cruising in the Aegean on your way to Mykonos with its white houses, chapels, and thatched windmills. Late-evening departure for Kusadasi.

Day 14, Saturday, June 28: KUSADASI CRUISE
Morning: Intercultural worship meeting on the ship.

Two ports of call today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An optional excursion is available to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation. The 11th-centruy monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit.

Day 15, Sunday, June 29: HERAKLION–SANTORINI CRUISE
First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. A few miles away is Knossos, the center of the 3000 BC Minoan civilization, and an optional excursion can be booked. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” The optional shore excursion here takes you up to the cliff-top village of Thera for one of the world’s most breathtaking panoramas.

Day 16, Monday, June 30: PIRAEUS/LAVRION, GREECE (DISEMBARKATION)–ATHENS
Early morning arrival at the famous port of Piraeus. After disembarkation, continue to Athens for an overnight.

Day 17, Tuesday, July 1: ATHENS
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly back to Chicago.