Your land to sea excursion to the Greek Islands will begin with an overnight transatlantic flight from Atlantic City via Philadelphia International Airport. You will arrive on the mainland in Athens the following morning a little jet-lagged but eager to begin your recommended minimum one week stay in this picturesque country. The flight of approximately 6,000 miles will be traveled in eleven to twelve hours duration transporting you to this paradise destination.
Greece has a population of roughly 11 million and is around the same size of Alabama, which has a similar area of 51,000 square miles. Over 16 million tourists explore this popular location each year, so there are more annual visitors than actual residents. You will discover that there are more than 2,000 Greek islands, of which about 170 are populated. Greece’s largest island is Crete spanning 3,200 square miles. However, over 40% of the population is in the cosmopolitan capital Athens on the mainland.
Your first day of sightseeing should include a tour of this ancient capital and its classical monuments, such as the Parthenon, which sits on the Acropolis overlooking the city of Athens that was constructed almost 2,500 years ago and took 15 years to build. You will also want to visit the stadium in Olympia where the first Olympic Games were held around 775 BC, and the Temple of Zeus.
Plan your afternoon at leisure to go shopping in the colorful, busy markets or further venturing to the Plaka village square with its maze of narrow streets and lively tavernas and outdoor cafes. Athens is the place to enjoy a spectacular performance of Sound and Light giving a dramatized history of the Acropolis. For your nightly entertainment, later that evening you can dine at any one of these popular tavernas and be delighted with a fun-loving Greek folk dancing show featuring many of the 63 traditional folk dances.
As an optional day trip, you may want to consider a panoramic drive from Athens along the coastal highway that will deliver you past the renowned canal in biblical Old Corinth, site of the Temple of Apollo. Here you can take a tour of the excavation of the archeological site. En route to visit the astonishingly preserved ancient classical theatre of Epidaurus, you can explore the ruins at Mycenae, too.
In the morning, you will depart from the port of Piraeus to join your elegant cruise ship. You will sail the blue waters of the Aegean toward your first destination – the island of Mykonos with its steep streets and sun-bleached white houses. This is a popular haven for both honeymooners and international travelers, as well. Unwind in a harbor tavern, sip an ouzo cocktail or stroll the narrow streets. Mykonos is an ideal island stopover for tourists seeking white sandy beaches by day, and tavernas to international restaurants and the latest club scene by night.
You will note that traditional Greek cuisine served usually features meat of goat, lamb, beef or pork. You may find your favorite fast food to be Souvlaki, which is meat (usually beef), grilled in a skewer. Once cooked, it is chopped into small pieces and placed on pita bread with tomatoes, onion, lettuce and tzatziki sauce. This dish is very similar in origin to a Gyro, which is a delicacy also typically served on pita; however, the meat is sliced vertically instead of in cubes.
After your brief, yet exciting stay in Mykonos, the next day you will have an early morning arrival in Heraklion on the island of Crete. For any historians, here you will have an opportunity to visit Knossos, the foremost city of the ancient Minoans, with ruins dating from 3000 BC.
Later a short island hop will take you to Santorini, a remarkable and beautiful volcanic island that rises dramatically from the waters of the Aegean. Here you will have a grateful opportunity to take a donkey ride up the steep cliffs for a majestic view. Santorini is an island built from the thick lava of the volcano, which rose from the molten core of the earth. The most recent volcanic eruption in Greece shook Santorini in January 1950.
The contrast of the deep blue sea against the red, brown and black colors of the land with the not scalable cliffs create a wild, imposing natural beauty unseen elsewhere. Blue and white are the traditional colors of the manmade architecture making its overall dazzling presence the award winning entry of magnificence for all of the combined islands that you will visit during your trip.
You cruise ship will dock early the following morning in Rhodes harbor, the mythical home of the Sun God, Helios. This popular resort island and famous vacation center is steeped in Greek mythology. You will want to take an all day excursion to Rhodes town where you can sightsee through the medieval walled city. There are narrow cobblestone street where you can explore the old town and admire the Temple of Aphrodite near the Castle.
Rhodes is considered today to be the most developed island from the point of view of tourism. This island is famous for its predominantly Mediterranean pleasant climate all year around with very little rain. May and September are ideal months to travel to Greece, avoid fellow tourists and still enjoy wonderful weather. The clear blue sky and the constant presence of the sun inspired the ancients to dedicate this island to the god of light. While in Rhodes, you will also want to make the ascent to the acropolis to visit the ruins at the beautiful and historical resort of Lindos.
The next morning you will have an early arrival in Kusadasi, Turkey. This will allow you time, if desired, to view the ruins at ancient Ephesus, once the leading city of Asia where St. Paul once preached. This afternoon your cruise continues to Patmos, which is surrounded by seagull islands. Discover this tiny Greek Island, known as the Sacred Island, that is made of rocks and bays and explore the cave where St. John the Evangelist wrote the book of Revelation. Inside the Grotto, a monk that is stationed there will show you the cross that was carved by St. John as well as the spot where he rested his head to sleep. Visit the Byzantine Fortress, an 11th century Monastery of St. John with its valuable manuscript collection.
Then it’s an overnight cruise back to mainland Greece for your flight back home from Athens the final day. You will gaze once more at many of the beautiful attractions of this popular tourist destination with magnificent Mount Olympus forming a backdrop. Rest assured, if you are ever searching for a single word to describe your sun-soaked, relaxing, educational, adventurous, breathtaking, memorable, paradise vacation, then: Greece is the word.
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