Greece & Turkey Tours
10 Day Adventures in Greece
including a 3 Night Mediterranean Greek
Island Cruise
Departure dates and rates.
Enjoy 10 Days in Greece with a Wonderful Mediterranean Cruise
DAY 01 U.S.A.
We begin an exciting journey as we board our overseas flights to
Athens. After take-off dinner and light drinks will be served aloft
as we speed across the Atlantic. There will be time for a movie
and hopefully a nap during the night.
DAY 02 ARRIVE IN ATHENS NEW AIRPORT
Breakfast is served aloft before we land in Europe, where we connect
with our Athens flight. On arrival in Athens, we go to the baggage
carousel and pick up our luggage, then exit the secured area where
we're met by our guide and escorted to an awaiting motorcoach for
the transfer to our hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner
in the early evening.
DAY 03 ATHENS / MARS HILL / ACROPOLIS
This morning we travel to the Acropolis and visit Mars Hill where
the Apostle Paul preached (Acts 17, 16-34) to the City Council.
God blessed the preaching of Paul; Dionysius, a member of the council,
Damaris and others believed. Next we enter the Propylea and visit
the temple of the Wingless Victory and the incredible Parthenon,
considered the world's most perfectly proportioned edifice. To the
left of the Parthenon is the beautiful Erechtheum. Our Athens tour
continues as we see the House of Parliament, Tomb of the "Unknown
Soldier", Theatre of Dionysos, Odeon of Herodes, Atticus and the
ancient Agora (market). The Agora was Athens meeting place in ancient
times. In 49 AD St. Paul disputed daily there, intent upon winning
converts to Christianity. We will visit the charming little Church
of the Holy Apostles, built in the early 11th Century to commemorate
St. Paul's teaching in the Agora. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
DAY 04 ATHENS / PIRAEUS / SAIL ON THREE-DAY CRUISE
This morning we transfer to Piraeus to board our cruise ship, which
departs at noon. Lunch will be served en route. Weather and time
permitting there will be a short stop at Mykonos with its dazzling
white houses, narrow paved streets, shops and windmills. Dinner
is served on board the ship.
DAY 05 RHODES
Optional city tour and Lindos is available along with Temple of
Athena $49.00 per person. Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodecanese
with a population of 98,181. On the Apostle Paul's third missionary
journey, after meeting with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus and
saying goodbye to them, he sails to Cos and then to Rhodes (Acts
21, 1). As his ship sailed into the harbor of Rhodes, Paul saw the
remains of the Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient
world. The Rhodians maintain that the Apostle Paul stayed in their
city and preached, bringing many people into the new faith. We are
told that before Paul left, he appointed Prochorus, one of the seven
deacons (Acts 6,5), Bishop of the Island. Another local tradition
has the Apostle's ship landing in the small harbor near Lindos,
referred to even today as "St. Paul's Harbor." St. Silas, a prophet
and leader among the brethren (Acts 15, 22-23) is revered by the
Rhodians. St. Silas proved the power of Jesus Christ by healing
a paralytic, whereupon the villagers accepted the Christian faith
and built a church in honor of their patron.
DAY 06 KUSADASI / EPHESUS / PATMOS
We have an early breakfast this morning as we arrive in Kusadasi
at 7:00 am. Optional excursion to Ephesus $44.00 per person. We
will visit the ancient city of Ephesus where Paul spent three years
of his ministry (Acts 19-20; 1). Ephesus was a rich commercial center
like Corinth. The great marble temple of Artemis was the pride of
Ephesus and one of the world's Seven Wonders. The city annually
played host to hordes of people from all over during the festival
of Artemis. In this setting, Paul preached the Gospel. We'll visit
St. John's Church built by Justinian in 527-565. Some believe the
Apostle John wrote his Gospel from Ephesus and, having returned
after two years of exile on Patmos, that he is also buried here.
Walking along one of the main streets we will see ruins of the Library
of Celsius, the Agora, and the Great Theater that seated 24,000
(Acts 19, 23-41). Some early Christian traditions believe that Jesus'
mother, Mary lived and died here in Ephesus; we'll visit the Church
of the Virgin Mary. We next sail for Patmos, arriving after lunch
at 4:00 pm. On Patmos we will visit the cave where St. John wrote
the Book of Revelation. Optional excursion to St. John Monastery
and the Grotto of the Apocalypse $36.00 per person. We'll also see
the Monastery of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St. John, which
have fine frescoes, priceless icons, ecclesiastical ornaments, pendants
and beautiful embroideries. We sail about 7:00 pm. Dinner is served
on board. An unforgettable day!!
DAY 07 ATHENS / CORINTH / MYCENAE / NAUPLIA
We disembark from our cruise in Piraeus, where we are met by our
agent who assists us through general customs and formalities before
transferring to our motorcoach for sightseeing of Corinth. We will
have an hour drive along the Saronic Gulf across the Corinth Canal
through rolling vineyards to ancient Corinth, which was the most
beautiful and frivolous city of Roman Greece. Corinth was the capital
of the Roman province of Greece known as Achaia. Because Corinth
had direct communications with Rome and the west it was a strategic
location for the spread of the Gospel. Another reason for Paul coming
to Corinth could be the large Jewish community living there, estimated
to be around 20,000. From Athens, the Apostle Paul comes to Corinth
(Acts 18-1-18) in about 50 AD. As he often did when he came to towns,
he went to the synagogue and preached the Gospel. God blessed his
preaching. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, became a believer
in the Lord, together with all his household. Also many Gentiles
came to believe and were receptive to his preaching. When Paul first
came to Corinth, he met Aquila and Priscilla who were forced to
leave Rome. They were tentmakers and he stayed with them. Paul also
was a tentmaker. Some of the Jews were hostile to him. They brought
a united attack upon him before Gallio, the Roman proconsul of Achaia
at the Bema-'tribunal' (Acts 18, 12-17) saying "this man is persuading
men to worship God contrary to the law". Gallio refused to hear
them and set Paul free. This act truly legitimized Paul's work and
the preaching of the Gospel. He stayed in Corinth 1-1/2 years. We
will visit the Bema and remember the trial and the ministry of the
Apostle Paul in Corinth. Next we will visit the Doric style temple
of Apollo, the market place, museum, the Fountain of Pirene, and
the Agora. We will have time for shopping and have lunch in Corinth.
Time permitting we will visit the Cathedral of St. Paul in the modern
city of Corinth. Depart for Epidaurus to visit the amphi-theatre
with its astonishing acoustics. Continue to the ruins of Agamemnon's
capital, Mycenae, with its fascinating Cyclopean Walls, Tomb of
Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Return to Athens for the night.
DAY 08 ATHENS / DELPHI
This morning your motorcoach will be waiting to take you on your
tour of Delphi. Drive on the national highway through Thebes, Levadia
and the picturesque village of Arachova to Delphi. Visit the Museum
to see the famous Bronze Charioteer along with other statues. In
the afternoon visit the Temple of Apollo, the Theatre, the Athenian
Treasury, and the Castalian Spring. Overnight in Athens.
DAY 09 ATHENS
Today is at leisure to explore Athens or finish your last minute
shopping.
DAY 10 ATHENS / U.S.A.
Say goodbye to Athens as you board your flight home, arriving the
same day.
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