Itinerary
Day 1 : Athens/GREECE
Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. In a single day, you can climb the hill of the Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and then find a welcoming taverna for some spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and with luck, energetic Greek dancing.
Day 2 : Argostoli/GREECE
Day 3 : Cefalonia/GREECE
Cefalonia/Kephallonia
Day 4 : Dubrovnik/CROATIA
Jewel of the Dalmatian coast, girded in ninth-century walls that rise sheerly from the water's edge, Dubrovnik is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Within the ancient fortifications is a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and a striking Renaissance boulevard called the "Stradun."
Day 5 : Split/CROATIA
Day 6 : Beveridge Reef
Berlin is a result of a union between two founding towns, Colln and Berlin. They affiliated themselves in 1307 for a union. After riots, elector Friedrich II declared Colln/Berlin his residence in 1451.
The city was devastated in 1945 after the Nazi terror and the end of World War II. Berlin was then divided into four parts: the East was administered by the Soviet Union, the Southwest by the USA, the West by Great Britain and the Northwest by France. As a result of the Berlin Blockade in 1948, Berlin became an object of the Soviet-American conflict as the Americans and British supplied the three West Sectors via "Air Lift" with aircrafts they nick-named "Candy Bombers". Reconstruction began in both East and West Berlin but not without a price. August 13, 1961 is remembered as the day of division, when the Berlin Wall separated this cities people.
Twenty-eight years later, celebration broke out in the city as the Berlin Wall was torn down on November 9, 1989. Months later in 1990, Berlin was reunified and became the residence of the Federal Government, which held its first plenary session on April 19, 1999 in the redesigned Reichstag. Because the Reichstag has a new glass dome, it has become an attraction for both Berliners and tourists from all over the world. Berlin celebrated the new millennium with a magnificent party at the Brandenburger Tor. Berlin has changed a lot since then and will continue to change.
Day 7 : Zadar/CROATIA
Day 8 : Korcula/CROATIA
Day 9 : Sarande/ALBANIA
Sarande, Albania is a beautiful port city and resort town on the southernmost point of Albania, on the coast opposite Corfu. The landscape includes green mountains and hills. Near to Sarande is the ancient Greek city of Butrinti. Here you will find the remains of five subsequent civilizations, including a 2,500-year-old amphitheatre and Roman palace where the floor is covered by beautiful mosaics.
Day 10 : Katakolon/GREECE
Katakolon is your gateway to Olympia, where the ancient Greeks flocked every four years for more than a millennium to celebrate the sacred games dedicated to Zeus. Visit the ruins of the Sanctuary, with its athletic quadrangles, stadium-temples and treasuries; then browse in the modern Archaeological Museum, a treasure house of Archaic, Classical and Roman sculptures, including the famous Niki "Winged Victory."
Day 11 : Athens/GREECE
Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. In a single day, you can climb the hill of the Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and then find a welcoming taverna for some spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and with luck, energetic Greek dancing.
Day 12 : Athens/GREECE
Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. In a single day, you can climb the hill of the Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and then find a welcoming taverna for some spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and with luck, energetic Greek dancing.
Day 13 : At Sea
Day 14 : Alexandria/EGYPT
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C., Alexandria is Egypt's center of culture, learning and science. Its lighthouse, the world's first, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Alexandria is also the departure point for excursions to Cairo and the Pyramids.
Day 15 : Limassol/CYPRUS
The birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is nearby on this island - the third largest in Europe. Explore what is now called the Medieval Museum, a restored castle where Richard the Lionheart married in 1191. Visit a mosque, browse the local artisan shops and take in the natural and architectural delights of Cyprus.
Day 16 : Antalya
This fortified seaport was already centuries old when St. Paul and St. Barnabas left its harbor on their journey to Antioch. Explore the superb museum in a converted Byzantine church, visit the ancient Roman Theatre, or simply relax amid the pleasant scents of orange groves and pine forests. Those hungry for more history can venture to the ancient towns of Side and Perge.
Day 17 : Rhodes/GREECE
Legend has it that Apollo blessed this isle with sunshine and beauty. True to the myths, the "Island of Roses" is rich in magnificent scenery and umbrella-lined beaches. Take an excursion to Lindos, where high on a hill rises an ancient acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. You will also want to see the medieval Old Town, once home to the Crusading Knights of St. John, and tour the Grand Master's Palace, an Italian restoration famed for its superb mosaic floors.
Day 18 : Kusadasi/TURKEY
This charming, picturesque resort where Antony and Cleopatra used to vacation is best known as the port for the ancients ruins of Ephesus - one of the world's most wondrous archaeological sites. Explorations should include such masterpieces as the Great Amphitheatre, where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians, the Library of Celsus, and the temples of Athena and Apollo - all connected by marble streets rutted by the wheels of countless chariots.
Day 19 : At Sea
Day 19 : Istanbul/TURKEY
Once called Constantinople, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire is the only city in the world to straddle two continents: Europe and Asia. This is the Golden Horn, the door between East and West, and your first vision of its domes and minarets is unforgetable. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Sultan treasures in Topkapi Palace await - as does the Grand Bazaar, laden with carpets, beaten brass and spices from afar.
Day 20 : Istanbul/TURKEY
Once called Constantinople, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire is the only city in the world to straddle two continents: Europe and Asia. This is the Golden Horn, the door between East and West, and your first vision of its domes and minarets is unforgetable. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Sultan treasures in Topkapi Palace await - as does the Grand Bazaar, laden with carpets, beaten brass and spices from afar.
Day 20 : At Sea
Day 21 : Mykonos/GREECE
The narrow passageways of Mykonos are a twisted maze of whitewashed houses, miniature churches, lazy windmills, and tiny cafes serving up Greek specialties. Sample the freshest squid or lobster just snatched from the blue Aegean Sea, or shop for typical flokati rugs.
Day 22 : Athens/GREECE
Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. In a single day, you can climb the hill of the Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and then find a welcoming taverna for some spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and with luck, energetic Greek dancing.