TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY FRIENDS OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION

THE SPLENDOR OF GREECE May 17-May 28, 2011

Itinerary

Tuesday, May 17th 8:00 a.m. bus from San Marcos to Austin Airport. Continental #1572 leaves for Houston at 11:10 a.m.; British Airlines #194 leaves Houston at 4:20 p.m., arriving in London at 7:30 a.m. on May 18th. British Airlines #632 leaves London at 11:50 a.m., arriving in Athens at 5:35 p.m. Wed, May 18th Met upon arrival Athens International airport and transferred to your hotel. After Check-in the evening is free for recovery from transatlantic flight. Overnight in Athens

Athens - Classical Tour - Nafplion - Olympia Thu, May 19th After breakfast at your Hotel, begin your 4 day classical tour commencing with Argolis (short stop at Corinth Canal & visit of Mycenae and

rinth Canal & visit of Mycenae and

Epidaurus). Free time for lunch (own expenses). Short stop at Nafplion and on to Olympia. Overnight hotel Amalia or similar.

Classical Tour - Olympia -Delphi Fri, May 20th After breakfast in Hotel, join the guide for visit of Olympia. Free time for lunch (own expenses). Head to Delphi for overnight Hotel Amalia or similar. Delphi - Meteora Sat, May 21st Breakfast in Hotel. Guided full day in Delphi. Free time for lunch (own expenses). After lunch depart for Kalambaka for overnight Hotel Amalia or similar.

Meteora - Athens Sun, May 22nd Following breakfast at your Hotel, join our guide for visit of 2 monasteries in Meteora. Free time for lunch (own expenses). After lunch return to Athens for overnight, Hotel Herodion or similar.

Cruise - Athens - Mykonos Mon, May 23rd Breakfast at your Hotel. You will be transferred to the port to embark your cruise ship for a short trip to Mykonos. Cabins are all outside cabins with portholes. Upgrades are available upon request. Upon arrival to Mykonos you can enjoy on your own. (From 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm ) Louis Cruise

Cruise – Kusadasi, Turkey - Patmos Tue, May 24th Kusadasi ( Ephesus ) from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm Kusadasi ( Ephesus ) from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm

• EPHESUS TOUR* Your private guide will meet with you in Kusadasi port.

After driving 35 minutes you will be entering to Ephesus from the upper gate (which is on the top of the hill) with the leading of your private guide. Your guide will begin to inform you about the city and you will start to walk slightly down words to the lower gate where our coach is waiting for you. The first stop will be in front of the plan of Ephesus where you are going to be informed about the history and the location of this magnificent historical site. You could easily feel yourself as a Roman Aristocrat during your walk in the second biggest Roman city. You will see and informed about the Upper Roman Bath, Gymnasium complex, State Agora, Archaic Cemetery and small theatre with the capacity of 1400 people also called as Odeon but actually was Bouleterion. By walking down words going through the sacred ramp you will reach to the Domitian Square and Memmiuss Monument. Via to Hercules gateway you arrive to the Centrum, to the high life of Ephesians. The street as entitled as Curetes,Trajan’s Fountain, Terrace Houses (are not include in this tour), Verious Bath. The fabulous reconstruction of the Temple of Hadrian will be one of your best stops. You will have some fun at Latrine, public toilets where 48 Romans could seat together .The third biggest library in the antiquity called as Celsus Library, the masterpiece of Ephesus will be our

break point where you may have your best shots. After the break time you will walk to the theater on the marble street which was designed for wheeled vehicles and chariots. Magnificent Ephesus Theatre with the capacity of 24.000 people

Cruise - Rhodes Wed, May 25th Full day to explore Rhodes on your own or take an optional tour. ( From 7:00 am to 6:00 pm ) Meet your guide at the Pier to start your tour of the beautiful "Island of Roses" has a rich and varied history. On a hill above the charming town of Lindos rises an ancient Acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. Below lies the Bay of St. Paul, where the apostle landed during his voyages. The crusading Knights of St. John left the medieval city of Rhodes behind when they were defeated by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The Ottoman Turks then occupied Rhodes for almost 400 years, leaving mosques, minarets, and a Turkish bath marking their presence. presence.

Cruise - Crete ( Heraklion ) & Santorini Thu, May 26th Crete from 7:00am to 11:30am. Tour ( 3 hours tour 8:00am to 11:00am) See Heraklion, the capital of Crete. Visit the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, a seat of ancient Minoan culture. Continue on to the Archeological Museum in Heraklion, which displays many of the treasures found during the excavations.

Santorini from 4:30 pm to 9:00pm (Optional tour 5:00 pm to 8:00pm) Meet your guide at the Pier to start your tour with a drive along the road you’ll have the unique opportunity to admire the panoramic view of the Aegean sea and the neighboring islands. A unique sight is the various layers of lava that can be seen on the face of the rock, each layer being another phase of the activity of the volcano. Built on the Caldera rim, Oia Village is an excellent example of Cycladic architecture. Accompanied by your guide, explore the village walking along the cobble-stone streets and the white washed houses with blue shutters where one gets the impression that they are a beautiful travel poster. The tour will then proceed to the town of Thira, an attractive town perched on the Caldera rim. Here, you will have time to stroll along the lanes of the little town or relax over a coffee as you gaze down upon Kamenes, the two black volcanic islets in the Caldera bay. A short cable car ride will take you down to the pier to rejoin the ship. Cruise - Half day Athens Fri, May 27th Disembark from your cruise. Transfer to your Hotel for check in. At 3:00 pm depart by motorcoach for a half day tour of Athens that combines many of the city's principal modern and classical sights. On your panoramic tour you will see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament House on Constitution Square, the Panathenian Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896); vistas of the Presidential Palace, government buildings and elegant homes. As your drive ends you realize the contrast when you begin the visit of the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus and the crowning beauty and glory that was Athens, the Acropolis with its many monuments a top its rocky base,

including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens.The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Athens. Athens - Return to San Marcos Sat, May 28th After breakfast at your Hotel, meet your representative at the lobby for your transfer to Athens International Airport for your return flight home. British Airlines #631 departs for London at 8:15 a.m. and arrives at 10:10 a.m. British Airlines #197 departs London at 2:35 p.m. and arrives in Houston at 6:30 p.m. Continental Airlines #1533 departs Houston at 9:10 and arrives in Austin at 10:00 p.m. We will be back in San Marcos around 11:30 p.m. TOUR PRICE INCLUDES: *Bus transportation to and from San Marcos and the Austin Airport *Round-trip airfare between Austin and Athens *Tips for Guides and drivers; gratuities for cruise services *Entrance fees and luggage handling *Ephesus tour and Crete tour *Breakfasts during land itinerary; all meals on Louis Cruise *Hotel accommodations on itinerary*Touring in air conditioned deluxe motorcoach *Sightseeing with licensed tour guides *Travel Insurance

Price Per Person Double Single $3,286 $3,867 Cruise Cabin Upgrades: $150.00 per person DEPOSIT/PAYMENT SCHEDULE Double: $500 nonrefundable deposit by August 15, 2010; $900 – October 15, 2010; $900 – November 15,2010; $986 – February 15, 2011 Single: $500 nonrefundable deposit by August 15, 2010; $1,050 – October 15, 2010; $1,050 – November 15,2010; $1,267 – February 15, 2011 Mail your deposit check (or call 245-2308 with credit card information) to: Friends of Fine Arts and Communications Travel College of Fine Arts and Communication Texas State University – San Marcos San Marcos, Texas 78666

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