IMAGES
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Date/
(DAY)
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THE PLAN FOR THIS DAY
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IMAGES
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Thurs
27 October
(Day 1)
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Depart USA from Gulfport (GPT); connections in
Atlanta and New York (JFK);
overnight
flight from JFK to Athens.
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Fri
28 October
(Day 2)
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After our morning arrival in Athens; drive to Sounion Bay for a
look at the dramatically sited Temple to Poseidon; then north
to the Mycenaean
remains and Hellenistic acropolis of Orchomenos--a tough climb with a
great reward; then it off to Delphi, where there is excellent
pizza and good sleep.
See the 2009 trip path in Google
Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT: Paige at the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion in 2009
RIGHT: Andrew, Josh, and Luke atop ruins on the citadel of Orchomenos in
2009, you can almost make
out our vans way down below (you don't
get this on the bus tour!) |
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Sat
29 October
(Day 3)
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In the morning, visit Delphi,
oracle of the god Apollo with dramatic mountainside ruins, the museum,
and Temple of Athena Pronaos below;
drive north, with a stop at the spring of Thermopylae and the site of
the last stand of "The 300;" continue to Meteora, for spectacular
vistas, dinner, and overnight in Kalambaka
See the 2009 trip path in Google
Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT:
the 2009 group with the Athenian Treasury at Delphi
AT RIGHT: view of Varlaam at Meteora, where granite
columns have supported monasteries for centuries
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Sun
30 October
(Day 4) |
Morning visits to monasteries and more
excellent landscapes at Meteora; drive through mountain tunnels to Thesprotia
in northwestern Greece for an
exploration of the Nekyomanteion of
Acheron, an ancient oracle for consultation of the Dead at the
confluence of two of the mythical rivers of Hades;
return east
along the modern motorway "Egnatia Odos" (built on the route of the
Roman highway by the same name) stopping at Dodona (the oldest oracle
in Greece) and Beroea (of Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey; Acts 16); overnight
in the mountains above Thessalonica
See the 2009 trip path in Google
Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT: in the Nekyomanteion of the Acheron, an Oracle of the Dead in
2009
AT RIGHT: Sarah and Shannon at Meteora on 31 October 2006 |
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Mon
31 October
(Day 5)
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A morning drive
east to Kavalla (ancient Neapolis, where Paul first made land in
Europe) where we can walk a well-preserved Roman road;
a short distance away explore the extensive ruins of Philippi (of Paul's 2nd journey)
and optionally make the tough climb to the acropolis for excellent views;
just outside of the city, visit the traditional site of Lydia's baptism;
heading back towards Thessalonica, stop at the Hellenistic lion statue at Amphipolis,
and continue to Jim Grill Place for a unique Greek dinner; for those
with remaining energy: night pictures of Thessalonica before overnight
See the 2009 trip path in Google
Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT, above:
the 2006 group with the lion of Amphipolis
AT LEFT, below: photographing Bo in 2009 on the Via Egnatia, the Roman road
taken by Paul to Philippi
AT RIGHT, above: Amber in the theater at Philippi in 2009
AT RIGHT, below: Nate in a tower on the acropolis at Philippi in 2009
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Tues
1 Nov
(Day 6)
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Pre-breakfast dawn look at ancient Thessalonica among the modern
buildings of the city; after breakfast, set out for the Macedonian
capital of Pella (home of Alexander the Great) and Aigai/Vergina with
its spectacular necropolis, including the tomb of Philip II, father of
Alexander; a drive to the south, broken by stops at the Platamon Castle and the Mycenaean remains of Gla,
will bring us to Piraeus, the port of
Athens, for an overnight ferry to Crete in deluxe
private cabins (very much like a cruise ship)
See the 2009 trip path in Google Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT,
above:
Bo inspects the Arch of Galerius--one of the last Emperors to persecute
Christians--in Thessalonica in 2009
AT LEFT, below: at the tomb of Philip II of Macedon, now part of an
underground museum, in 2009
AT RIGHT, above: Brandon on the ruins of the gate at Gla in 2006
AT RIGHT, below: Paige, Amber, Lee, and Danielle on the citadel at Gla in 2009 |
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Wed
2 Nov
(Day 7)
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Off the ferry in Crete at 6:00 am, head across the island to the south shore to visit the site of Fair
Havens (Acts 27:8); then to the Minoan palace sites of Phaistos (and
perhaps Agios Triada), then the classical and early Christian site of Gortys;
then visit the major Minoan site of Knossos, the "palace of Minos;"
if time and daylight permit, visit smaller but impressive Minoan sites before
grabbing dinner and
returning to the ferry for the overnight trip back to Pireus and the
mainland
See the 2009 trip path in Google
Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT, above: Danielle at Fair Havens on the south coast of Crete
AT LEFT, below: the 2006 group in the palace at Knossos
AT RIGHT, above: Nate impresses the girls on the ceremonial steps at
Phaistos
AT RIGHT, below: a geocache at a Minoan temple site with evidence for human
sacrifice (the site, not the geocache!) |
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Thurs
3 Nov
(Day 8)
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Early
arrival at Piraeus permits a stop at Cenchrea, eastern port of Corinth, and
drive to Epidaurus, site of the best preserved of all pure Greek
theaters and important center of Asklepius, by opening time; continue to ascend the mountain overshadowing Nauplion
to visit the Palamidi Fortress and its spectacular views, visit Tiryns,
a Mycenaean palace center, and Mycenae, cultural center of Bronze Age
Greece and capital of Agamemnon (legendary king of Achaeans in the
Trojan War); an evening drive brings us to Olympia for overnight
See the 2009 trip path (ending at
Corinth) in Google
Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT, above: Amber and Andrew at Cenchrea in 2009
AT LEFT, center: Luke, Josh, and Caldwell take in the scene at the
Epidaurus theater in 2009
AT LEFT, below: Joah and Charlie overlook Nauplion from the Palamidi
Fortress in 2009
AT RIGHT, above: at the Lion Gate of Mycenae in 2009
AT RIGHT, center: fleeing some unknown danger at the "Treasury of
Atreus," actually a tholos tomb, at Mycenae in 2009
AT RIGHT, below: cool guys (you can tell by the vests) Brandon and Michael on
the tower of the medieval Larissa castle at Argos in 2006
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Fri
4 Nov
(Day 9)
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AM: visit Olympia, site of the original
Olympic games and home of one of the original "Seven Wonders of the
World;" then move along the Messinian coast to Pylos, where "Nestor's
Palace" has been excavated, perhaps belonging to the king involved in
the Trojan War; then, on to Sparta and the spectacular medieval castle
and ruins of Mystras are found; overnight in Sparta
AT LEFT, above:
ruins of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia
AT LEFT, below: Megaron/throne room of Mycenaean "Palace of Nestor
(Greek king in the Trojan War)" at Pylos
AT RIGHT, above: the original Olympic stadium at Olympia
AT RIGHT, below: Mystras, with the medieval castle above the churches and
monasteries below
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Sat
5 Nov
(Day 10)
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Morning visit to Mystras (if not visited
the previous afternoon) and then to
Corinth, important classical center and focus of Paul's 2nd missionary
journey (Acts 18); possible side trips if time permits (options include
Isthmia, Perachora, the diolkos road along the Corinth canal); overnight in Isthmia, near Corinth
AT LEFT, above: the Menelaion, and ancient monument to the Homeric king
of Sparta and jilted husband of Helen of Troy
AT LEFT, below: reading an inscription by Erastus, mentioned in Paul's
letters, at Corinth in 2003
AT RIGHT, above: Nate and Andrew on Corinth's Lechaion Road, with the
Acrocorinth in the background in 2009
AT RIGHT, below: Benji at Perachora in 2003 |
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Sun
6 Nov
(Day 11)
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AM: climb the Acrocorinth to see the foundations of the Temple of Aphrodite and
stunning views of the area of Corinth and the Isthmus; after descent,
drive towards Athens via Eleusis, home to the
cult of Demeter and the Eleusinian Mysteries; in Athens, check into
hotel and set out for the Archaeological Museum and then for views
of the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, and excellent gyros before bed
See the 2009 trip path in Google Maps by clicking here!:
AT LEFT, above: Paige on the Acrocorinth
in 2009
AT LEFT, below: trying for that good picture of the Acropolis in 2009
AT RIGHT, above: happiness is a good gyro, and we know a great place!
AT RIGHT, below Shannon at the Acropolis in sunset light in 2006
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Mon
7 Nov
(Day 12)
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Morning visit
to the famous Acropolis with the
Parthenon and other temples, the Areopagus ("Mars Hill," Acts 17:19,
22), and the Athenian Agora (the "marketplace" of Acts 17:17); lunch
and free time for shopping in the Monastriaki and Plaka districts; overnight in Athens
See the 2009 trip path in Google Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT, above: Matt and Michael with the Parthenon in 2006
AT LEFT, below: the girls at the Hephaisteon in the Athenian Agora in
2009
AT RIGHT, above: the whole group at the Hephaisteon in 2009
AT RIGHT, below: nighttime exploration with the
Acropolis in the background in 2009 |
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Tues
8 Nov
(Day 13)
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Transfer to airport for extremely early return flight to
the US
See the 2009 trip path in Google Maps by clicking here!
AT LEFT: Andrew saying goodbye to Athens in 2009 . . . |
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