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Depart USA
to Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (leave Thursday ? arrive Friday)
Make sure your flights arrive in Istanbul by 2PM Saturday. We will
arrange the tickets from Istanbul to Izmir. We'll
let you know the details of the inland flight, but the cost will be
about $200 per person - we will let you know exactly. You can include
this amount in your final payment.
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Day 1 |
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Arrive in Istanbul. Fly Directly to Izmir.
Your Turkish visa can
be purchased at the window to the left of Passport Control at Istanbul
International airport. The visa fee
for US Passport holders will be $20 USD for
a multiple entry. It MUST be
paid in cash.
At Istanbul
Airport - Get your Turkish Visa from the window at the left of Passport
Control. Go through Passport Control. Get your luggage (if you have any)
from Baggage Claim. (It?s always best to just take hand carry luggage
and not check anything). If you have time, there is a money exchange
booth in the baggage claim area and it would be good to change $100 for
cab fare, etc. Then go out baggage claim. Follow signs to Domestic Air
Terminal.
Following a short flight from Istanbul, we will take a one hour private
coach ride to the Kusadasi Marina where we will board the Gundogan.
We'll spend the afternoon settling in and getting our sea legs.
Overnight at Kusadasi Turkey.
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Day 2 |
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KUSADASI
Tour of Ephesus. Today we visit
a major player in the birth and evolution of Christianity. Ephesus
hosted one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation,
and was home to St. Paul and St. John. We will also visit the 6th
century Basilica of St. John built on the site of the Apostle's
tomb; the House of the Virgin Mary where Mary finished out her
days in this house after migrating to Asia Minor with John; and the
Temple of Artemis
dedicated to the goddess Artemis, once considered one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.
Inhabited from the Bronze Age onwards, Ephesus changed its location
several times in the course of its long history. According to legend,
Ephesus was founded by the female warriors known as the Amazons. During
the period known as Classical Greece it belonged to the Ionian League.
In 34 B.C., Alexander the Great arrived and it entered into a fifty-year
period of peace and tranquility. According to documentary sources, the
city suffered severe damage in an earthquake in 17 A.D. but then became
a very important center of trade and commerce. The city was famed for
the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 B.C.), which was destroyed
by the Goths in 263. The emperor Constantine rebuilt much of the city
and erected a new public bath. The town was again partially destroyed by
an earthquake in 614.
From the 1st century onwards, Ephesus was visited by Christian disciples
seeking refuge from Roman persecution because of their attempts to
spread the Christian belief in a single God. For the Christians, the
city, with its highly advanced way of life, its high standard of living,
and the variety of its demographic composition, must have presented
itself as an ideal region. St. Paul remained in the city for three years
from 65 to 68, and it was here that he preached his famous sermons
calling upon the hearers to embrace the faith in one God. He taught that
God had no need of a house made with human hands and that he was present
in all places at all times.
Legend has it that St John the Evangelist came to Ephesus with the
Virgin Mary in his care. Some say that it was here that he wrote his
Gospel and was finally buried. It is also the site of a large gladiator
graveyard. The importance of the city as a commercial center declined as
the harbor slowly filled with silt from the river.
Located on the top of the "Bulbul" mountain 9 km ahead of Ephesus, the
shrine of Virgin Mary is reputed to be the place where Mary may have
spent her last days. The house of the Virgin Mary is a typical Roman
architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century A.D.,
a church combining her house and grave was built. The original
two-storied house today looks more like a church than a house. Exiting
the church, one can find the "Water of Mary", a rather salty water with
curative properties that can be drunk by all, and also the wishing wall,
where visitors write and deposit their supplications to the Virgin Mary.
Paul VI was the first pope to visit this place in the 1960's. Later, in
the 1980's, during his visit, Pope John-Paul II declared the Shrine of
Virgin Mary as a pilgrimage place for Christians. It is also visited by
Muslims, who recognize Mary as the mother of one of their prophets.
Every year, on August 15, a ceremony is organized to commemorate Mary's
Assumption.
Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi.
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Day 3 |
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KUSADASI TO SAMOS (~18 nm)
Samos is a beautiful island with some of the most spectacular scenery in
Greece, including mountain villages, sandy beaches, and rocky coves. A
green island with forests, Samos is just 1 km from Turkey. It is a
fairly large island, and its people live off tourism and agriculture:
mainly olives and fruit. The local wine is well known and worth a try,
and the ouzo is one of the best in Greece. Samos is famous as well for
its building of Greek fishing boats.
Samos is historically an interesting place. According to mythology, the
goddess Hera was born here, and there are still ruins of her temple, the
Heraion, to be seen. It was also an intellectual center, with various
famous people living and working there. One of ancient Greece's best
known scientists, Pythagoras, was from this island, but Aristarcos,
Epicurus, Herodotos, and Aesop also lived here. The island flourished
economically and culturally during the 6th and 5th century but had a
drawback when it tried to revolt against Athens in 440 BC, to which it
was forced to pay yearly tributes.
Later on, Samos was to become a Roman province, and during Byzantine
years the island kept its prosperity. When the Turks invaded in the 15th
century, Samos lost its freedom and was uninhabited for a century. The
island was not to be Greek again until 1931, even though the Greek
revolution had started in 1821.
Dinner and overnight at
Samos.
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Day 4 |
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SAMOS TO FOURNI (~25 nm)
A cheerful port area, a number of beaches, very little accommodation,
and some excellent tavernas sum up what you can expect on Fourni. There
is very little else on this most unspoiled of unspoiled, lesser-known
Greek Islands. The village, clustered round its busy harbor filled with
working fishing boats, is quintessentially Greek, with a line of
tavernas and restaurants (especially fish restaurants) on the front,
many with tree-shaded tables outside. This is Greece as it has been for
centuries. Mulberry trees line the main street from the harbor to a
charming square shaded with leafy planes protecting the taverna the
locals frequent.
The village of Fourni is wonderfully vibrant in the traditional Greek
way. Away from the village the island is almost deserted. Secluded coves
and bays are within walking distance, one of the best being lovely Kampi
complete with a taverna that overhangs the sandy beach. The 20 minutes
it takes to reach Kampi is nothing to what the more intrepid walkers
will undertake in reaching some other gloriously remote areas of the
island.
Dinner and overnight at
Fourni.
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Day 5 |
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FOURNI TO PATMOS (~13 nm)
Patmos is not a big island, but it is one of the most beautiful and
distinctive of the Dodeanese Islands, with a population of 3,000. It was
here St. John had his vision and wrote the Book of Revelation or
Apocalypse, and this is why Patmos is sometimes called "The Jerusalem of
the Aegean". The Monastery of St. Johns towers above the capital, Chora,
and the whole island breathes of faith and devotion. Nevertheless, there
is more to the island than its Christian reputation. There are many nice
beaches along the jagged coastline, and the people grow fruits and
olives on the green hills.
According to mythology, Patmos was a present from Zeus to his daughter
Artemis, goddess of hunting and young women. She was worshipped here in
antiquity, and the monastery of St. John was built on her temple. The
island has probably been inhabited since prehistoric times, and it went
through the same changes as the rest of the Dodecannese. It paid tribute
to Athens in the 5th century BC, belonged to the Macedonians in the 4th
century BC, and was taken by the Romans in the 2nd century BC.
The Romans used Patmos as a place for exiles, and that's how St. John
ended up here. He was ostracized from Miletus by the Roman governor for
preaching the Christian faith in AD95, and stayed here for two years.
The island was practically deserted during Byzantine years and was given
to a monk named Christodoulos in 1088, and he started planning the
monastery. In the 11th century the work on the monastery started, and
its power was to extend over the island's borders, to such a degree that
the island was never occupied by either Turks or Venetians.
Dinner and overnight at
Patmos.
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Day 6 |
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PATMOS TO LEROS (~15 nm)
A mountainous, green island with high cliffs and many small bays and
villages, Leros is a popular holiday resort which still has kept most of
its genuine atmosphere. One of the reasons is that it is not too
dependent on tourism. Many of the buildings on the island are built in
an Italian style, but you'll also find those typically Greek little
white houses with blue doors and windows.
According to mythology, Leros was first populated by the goddess
Artemis. She had sent the Calydonian Boar to Aetolia, where the king's
son Meleagros managed to kill it. Having angered the goddess, he was
killed, and his sisters were struck with grief. Artemis then turned them
into hens and put them on Leros which was so fertile they would always
have food.
Leros? history includes participation in the Trojan War, battles with
the Persians, Turks, andVenetians, and constant pirate attacks during
the Middle Ages. The men of Leros fought hard during the war of
Independence that broke out in 1821. For a few years it was free, but it
was turned it back to the Turks in 1830. The Italians ruled the island
from 1912 and Leros was not given back to Greece until 1948. It was
during this Italian occupation when many of today's buildings were
constructed on the island, giving it the Italian style many are
surprised to find here. It was during World War II when a hospital for
lepers was built on Leros, and the Greek junta kept many dissidents here
until 1974. The hospital was then turned into a mental institution and
orphanage.
Dinner and overnight at
Leros.
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Day 7 |
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LEROS TO KALYMNOS (~11 nm)
Kalymnos, one of the northern islands in the Dodecanese group of Greek
islands, is an island of barren rock, golden beaches, and tiny green
valleys. Sponge ?fishing? is the main profession for men on the island
and is the theme for many local dances and folk songs. Sponge-fishers of
Kalymnos leave with their boats every spring. Their departure is a
moving and important event, which is accompanied by glamorous religious
ceremonies. After approximately five months' hard work, sponge-fishers
return to the island. The whole island again puts on festive dress and
celebrates the return of the sea-beaten sailors.
Mythology has it that Kalymnos got its name from the Titan Kalydnos, who
was the son of Gaea ("Earth") and Uranus ("Heaven"). Supposedly, you can
see his legs from above: the two plains by the mountains. The first
inhabitants probably came in the beginning of the 2nd Millennium BC and
were probably Carians. The Achaians made a settlement here after the
Trojan War. What followed is the common history for almost all the
Aegean islands: In the 5th century it belonged to the Athenian League
against the Persians, then the Macedons, and in the 2nd century BC the
Romans came. In AD 535 the earthquake that separated Kalymnos and
Telendos happened. During Byzantine years the island suffered many
pirate attacks. In the 13th century the Venetians took over, and in 1306
it belonged to the Knights of Rhodes, who taxed the island very heavily.
The Turks ruled from the 16th century (when the sponge fishing started)
until 1912. The island then fell under Italian rule, and in 1943
Kalymnos was occupied by the Germans for two years until it finally was
given back to Greece.
Dinner and overnight at
Kalymnos.
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Day 8 |
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KALYMNOS TO LEVITHA (~22 nm)
Levitha is just a tiny rock -in the middle of nowhere with lovely,
protected coves. Only one family inhabits this charming rock, running a
rather primitive tavern. There is no electricity or water, but the fresh
fish Mrs. Maria will serve you is famous to all the professional
skippers and foreign sailors who sail the Aegean Sea. We?ll spend a lazy
day and night here, enjoying the quiet and swimming in the beautiful
waters.
Dinner and overnight at
Levitha.
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Day 9 |
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LEVITHA TO AMORGOS (~27 nm)
Amorgos is an island with white houses, crystal clear water, and a
peaceful atmosphere. Its rather harsh, mountainous surroundings are
beautiful in a clean and dramatic way, and in the valleys there are
hundreds of flowers and trees.
Before getting its current name, Amorgos was called Minoa, which
indicates that the Minoan, Cretan, civilization once had a foothold
here. There were probably people here even before then, since
archaeological findings on the island date as far back as the 4th
Millennium BC. During the Classical Age, the island traded with many
islands and city states on the mainland, and its linen was the island's
pride. The Venetians were to rule the island until the Turkish takeover
in the 15th century. During this period not many people lived on the
island, and apart from the Turkish enslavement, they had to suffer
constant pirate raids. Amorgos was one of the first islands to be freed
after the War of Independence had broken out in 1821. One of the worst
periods for Amorgos was the Second World War, when the island was
totally isolated and many locals starved to death.
The Monastery of Hozoviotissa, the pride of Amorgos, is remarkable and
seems to have been pressed on the cliff 300 meters above the sea. You
can reach the monastery up a steep stairway and perhaps share a glass of
Greek wine with the priest there.
Dinner and overnight at
Amorgos.
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Day 10 |
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AMORGOS TO NAXOS (~29 nm)
Naxos would love to have the high-class tourism and the big bucks that
comes with it like their neighbor Mykonos, but they have their fields
and their fruit and olive trees and their fishing and are content to be
the kind of place that is attractive not only to those seeking sunlight,
bars and bikinis, but also those looking for a little Greek culture to
go along with it. Naxos is the greenest island in the Cyclades with
impressively high mountains and fertile valleys. There are beaches that
are among the most beautiful in Greece, a few minutes drive from
villages where they still wear traditional dress, weave on old looms and
live off the fruit of the land. Naxos is an island of beautiful old
churches, monasteries and Venetian castles and homes. It has been
continuously inhabited since the 4th Milennium BC, and excavations
around the island bring to light ancient artifacts and buildings almost
daily. Naxos is happy with their reputation as a big beautiful island,
rich in agriculture, tradition, some of the finest beaches in the
Cyclades, and an interior waiting to be discovered.
Dinner and overnight at
Naxos.
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Day 11 |
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NAXOS TO PAROS (~20 nm)
Paros lies just west of Naxos in the Aegean, separated by a 5-mile-wide
channel. Paros? municipality includes many smaller islands that are
uninhabited, and it is the third largest island in the Cyclades group.
Paros is today a very popular tourist destination due to the beautiful
rolling hills, vineyards, and the serenity of its beaches. Paros holds
many beautiful sights, such as the ruins of a Venetian castle, built on
a rock beside the sea, and the Church of Ekatondapiliani, which is one
of Greece?s most important Byzantine monuments. This church is also
called the church of 100 doors and according to an old legend Greece
will conquer Istanbul when the 100th door is found. Here you will find
traditional Cycladic-styled houses, whitewashed with blue doors, window
frames, and shutters. Paros is also well known for its fine white marble
used for china and fine marbles all over the world. Parian marble was
used in Delphi, Delos, and the temple of Poseidon in Sounio.
Dinner and overnight at Paros.
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Day 12 |
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PAROS TO SIFNOS (~20 nm)
A surprisingly green island for the Cyclades, Sifnos offers a good
variety of peace and quiet and things to do. The locals on Sifnos live
off agriculture, the natural source of aluminu, tourism, and the olive
trees that grow practically everywhere. A striking feature of this
island is the many churches: there is a church for each day of the year,
and most of them are only open on that day.
Mythology has it that the island got its name from its first settler,
Sifnos, who was the son of the hero Sounio. Although the island might
have been inhabited in prehistoric times by different peoples, the most
certain is that Aegeans and Minoans settled here in the 2nd Millennium
BC.
Sifnos was one of the richest islands in ancient times because of its
natural resources of gold, aluminum, and silver. According to mythology,
the locals would give a golden egg to Apollo each year, but when the
gold mines were almost depleted, they tried to fool the god by painting
a stone instead. This angered the god so much, that he sent the tyrant
Polycrates, who took all precious metals from the island. The Romans
used this island as a place for exiles, and later on, it went through
the same problems with Venetians, Turks and pirates as the the rest of
the Cyclades. It was liberated in 1830.
Dinner and overnight at Sifnos.
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Day 13 |
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SIFNOS TO SERIFOS (~14
nm)
According to mythology, the island of Serifos, ?the iron island? as they
used to call it, was inhabited by the powered giants called Cyclops. The
tremendous Cyclops lived in a cave near Psaropyrgos and the construction
of huge walls all over the island--whose remains are said to be the
walls of Liomandra and White Tower?-is attributed to them. Cyclops, the
children of Poseidon, were the first to exploit the mineral wealth of
the island and to create an early civilization, which they later
bequeathed to people.
There is also another legend for which Serifos is known. Arkisios, the
king of Argos, having received an oracle that said that his grandson
would kill him, decided to imprison his daughter Danae so as not to give
birth to any child. Unfortunately, Zeus fell in love with Danae, changed
himself into rain, seduced her, and she gave birth to Perseus. When
Arkisios found out, he locked Danae and her son in a box and threw them
into the sea. The box arrived in Serifos and mother and son were given
shelter by the king?s brother, Diktis. When the king, Polydefkis, met
Danae, he fell in love with her. For fear that Perseus might prevent him
from seducing her, he sent him to kill Medusa, the mortal sister of the
immortal mermaids, who was able to petrify whoever dared to look her in
the eyes.
Perseus succeeded in killing Medusa with the help of the gods? weapons
and mainly with Athena?s shield which he used as a mirror to avoid
looking directly into the monster?s eyes. He returned to Serifos
demonstrating Medusa?s head that petrified Polydefkis and his peers.
According to the legend, this is why the island is so rocky.
Dinner and overnight at Serifos.
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Day 14 |
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SERIFOS TO KYTHNOS (~13 nm)
Kythnos offers a taste of the "real Greece ", untouched by mass tourism
and uncrowded even at the height of the season. It doesn't offer the
frantic tourist activity of Mykonos or Santorini, but it does offer
traditional Cycladic villages where the locals are warm and hospitable,
as well as some lovely beaches (some only accessible by boat). Kythnos
is a volcanic island and there are many natural hot springs that have
been providing alternative therapy for a variety of ailments for
centuries. These hot spas date from the ancient years when the island
was actually known as the island of Therma (meaning warm in Greek ).
You'll discover here a magical island of whitewashed houses, windmills,
blue-domed churches, ancient sites and a way of life which seems hardly
to have changed for centuries. There's a stark beauty in the harsh
mountainous terrain peppered with the figs, vines, and goats which are
important elements of the islanders' livelihood.
Dinner and overnight at Kythnos.
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Day 15 |
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KYTHNOS TO AEGINA (~49 nm)
Aegina is one of the islands in the Saronic Gulf, just outside of
Athens. Many Athenians have summer houses on this pretty island. The
people of this island have always been involved with the sea either as
fishermen, sailors, or shipbuilders. Some are also farmers, and they
grow olives, pistachio nuts, and fruit. On the dock you can visit the
small white church of Agios Nikolaos and nearby the church of Agios
Dionysios, the cathedral of Aegina. On the north peak of the town
following the road from the port are the ruins of the ancient temple of
Apollo.
According to mythology, Aegina was a beautiful princess with whom Zeus
fell in love. In order to be alone with her, he took her to this
uninhabited island, and they had a son, Aeacus, who became the first
king. The island was inhabited during the Stone Age, and was to become
an important place in antiquity. During the middle ages, the island was
constantly raided by pirates, and the Venetian and Turkish invasions
took their toll. The island was liberated in 1830, and Aegina's town was
the first capital of free Greece. An interesting fact about the island
is that the first coins of the western world were made here in the 7th
century BC, picturing a Phoenix rising from the ashes, and the island
also had the first newspaper and prison.
Dinner and overnight at Aegina.
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Day 16 |
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AEGINA TO ATHENS (PIRAEUS)
(~15 nm)
Dinner and overnight at Athens.
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Day 17 |
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DISEMBARK IN ATHENS (PIRAEUS)
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Some Useful Links...
Click here
for five days of free Do-It-Yourself tours
of Istanbul.
http://www.worldclimate.com
has useful monthly temperature and rainfall averages for thousands of
destinations worldwide. You can plan your vacations avoiding rainy
seasons or droughts. It can also assist you in deciding what to pack.
Just knowing
how to say ?Thank You? in Turkish willl bring smiles and open doors.
Learn some Turkish! Rosetta Stone offers an excellent Free
Demo -
http://www.rosettastone.com (Click on "Individuals" then "Free
Demo.")
Recommended Reading
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