INSIDER S GREECE. May 6 to 20, a program of the stanford alumni association

Transcription

1 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y INSIDER S GREECE Echoes of Ancient Gods May 6 to 20, 2013 a program of the stanford alumni association

2 Whispers of the dawning of Western civilization lurk everywhere amid the ruins of Greece. As we visit these sites in the company of our popular faculty leader, Marsh McCall, you ll listen to the words of both legendary and real heroes of ancient Greece as Professor McCall reads from age-old classics that tell the stories of King Leonidas at Thermopylae, the Theban general Epaminondas at Messini and King Agamemnon at Mycenae. After exploring Athens, we head to many of Greece s most iconic sites, from Delphi and the monasteries of Meteora to Olympia and Marathon. Join us and be transported back to Greece s thrilling, glorious past! OLIVE FIELD, KALAMATA Brett S. Thompson, 83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study Highlights imagine sitting amid thousands of ancient Greeks in the theater at Epidaurus as we listen to an excerpt from a classic Greek play. Cover: FORTRESS, NAFPLIO MARVEL at the artifacts retrieved from the Acropolis and on display at Athens stunning contemporary Acropolis Museum. SAVOR the flavors of fresh Greek cuisine at colorful sidewalk cafes and local tavernas and restaurants. THE ACROPOLIS, ATHENS

3 Ionian Sea Ioannina Dodoni ZAGORI Meteora G R E E C E Kalambaka Thermopylae Delphi Arachova Corinth Mycenae Epidaurus Olympia Nafplion A Maratho Athens Vouliagm Sounion M e d i t e r r a n e a n Pylos Messini Methoni S e a Itinerary Monday & Tuesday, May 6 & 7 DEPART U.S. / ATHENS, GREECE Board overnight flights to Athens and upon arrival on Tuesday, transfer to our deluxe hotel. On Tuesday evening, gather for a welcome reception in our hotel. HOTEL GRAND BRETAGNE Wednesday, May 8 ATHENS Enjoy an in-depth introduction to the ancient sites of Athens. Begin at the Acropolis, the rocky promontory whose monuments represent the ultimate expression of classical Greek civilization, including the magnificent and architecturally unique Parthenon. Continue to the modern Acropolis Museum that houses the artifacts discovered on the slopes of its namesake site and was designed in the shape and dimensions of the Parthenon. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the National Archaeological Museum, home to the world s greatest collection of ancient Greek masterpieces. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner in our hotel. HOTEL GRAND BRETAGNE (B,L,D) Thursday, May 9 ARACHOVA / DELPHI Depart Athens and travel northwest to Arachova. After checking in to our hotel and having lunch, take a guided excursion to the sanctuary of Delphi on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus. Regarded as a spiritual, cultural and religious center, Delphi is home to the renowned Oracle, which, according to legend, predicted the heroic fall of King Leonidas of Sparta at Thermopylae. Partake in a traditional Greek dinner at a local restaurant in Arachova. SANTA MARINA RESORT (B,L,D) Friday, May 10 THERMOPYLAE / KALAMBAKA Depart for Kalambaka, stopping en route to visit the site of Thermopylae. Relive the story of King Leonidas and his Spartan retinue of 300 men, who held back the vast army of Persia s King Xerxes in this narrow pass around 480 B.C.E. Continue driving to the town of Kalambaka and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. DIVANI METEORA (B,L,D) Saturday, May 11 METEORA / IOANNINA Explore the impressive and dramatic landscape of Meteora. Meaning suspended in air in Greek, this World Heritage site is home to 14th-century monasteries perched atop naturally formed rock formations. Continue to the town of Ioannina on the shores of Ioannina Lake. In the afternoon transfer by local boat to the lake s island and enjoy a guided tour. HOTEL DU LAC (B,L,D) Sunday, May 12 ZAGORI / IOANNINA Travel north of Ioannina to the region of Epirus and visit the Zagori area (also known as Zagorohoria), home to dozens of authentic villages. Impressive mountain landscapes covered in lush forests offer a tranquil respite from the bustle of Greek life. Enjoy lunch in one of the area s villages before returning to our hotel in Ioannina. Dinner this evening is on our own. HOTEL DU LAC (B,L) Monday, May 13 DODONI / OLYMPIA Depart Ioannina and travel to the nearby site of Dodoni, whose theater represents one

4 GUARD CHANGE CEREMONY, ATHENS egean Sea n eni caption of the largest and most wellpreserved in the ancient Greek world. After lunch in the town of Preveza, continue driving south to the Peloponnese, arriving at our hotel in Olympia in the evening. OLYMPIAN RIVIERA (B,L,D) Tuesday, May 14 OLYMPIA / PYLOS Explore the site of Olympia dating back to 776 B.C.E. and located in the lush valley of the Alpheios River. At this birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, visit the site of the ancient Olympic stadium and the current-day facilities. Travel to Pylos and check in to our hotel, where we enjoy dinner. WESTIN COSTA NAVARINO (B,L,D) Wednesday, May 15 CHORA / METHONI / PYLOS Discover the palace of King Nestor with its complex of apartments. Then drive through the countryside dotted with olive trees to the village of Chora, home to an excellent archaeological museum containing artifacts from the Palace of Nestor and the area of Messinia. Continue to the port town of Methoni with its impressive seaside castle ruins. Return to Pylos for dinner on our own. WESTIN COSTA NAVARINO (B,L) Thursday, May 16 MESSINI / NAFPLION Depart Pylos and drive to the ancient site of Messini, established in the 4th century B.C.E. when Theban general Epaminondas claimed victory over the Spartans after 350 years of rule. After lunch in the town of Kalamata, famed for its dark olives, continue to Nafplion and check in to our hotel. AMPHITRYON HOTEL (B,L,D) Friday, May 17 NAFPLION Named as the first capital of Greece in 1829, the seaside town of Nafplion boasts an impressive combination of medieval and neoclassic architecture. Visit the Venetian castles of Akronafplia and Palamidi, and discover the Church of St. Spyridon. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the ancient site of Mycenae, which dates back to the second millennium B.C.E., and whose ancient King Agamemnon spearheaded the epic war on Troy. Return to Nafplion for dinner on our own. AMPHITRYON HOTEL (B,L) Saturday, May 18 EPIDAURUS / CORINTH / VOULIAGMENI Depart Nafplion and travel to Epidaurus where we view the magnificent theater that at one time held nearly 14,000 spectators. Imagine the works of famous playwrights such as Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus come to life on the stage s remains. Continue to the site of Corinth, where the Apostle Paul is said to have lived for 18 months following the death of Jesus and where he wrote his famed letter to the Corinthians. Continue to Vouliagmeni on the Athenian Riviera and check in to our deluxe resort. ASTIR PALACE (B,L,D) Sunday, May 19 MARATHON / SOUNION / VOULIAGMENI This morning travel to the site of Marathon where in 490 B.C.E. the Athenians defeated the Persians, after which the messenger Pheidippides ran to Athens with news of the miraculous victory, engendering the marathon we know today. Continue to the striking cliffs of Cape Sounion, from which King Aegeus threw himself upon hearing the false news of the death of his son Theseus, and visit the glorious temple of Poseidon. This evening gather for a festive farewell reception and dinner. ASTIR PALACE (B,L,D) Monday, May 20 ATHENS / U.S. Transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S. (B)

5 SANCTUARY OF ATHENA, DELPHI MONASTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY, METEORA THE PARTHENON, ATHENS Trip Information Dates May 6 to 20, 2013 (15 days) Size Limited to 32 participants cost* $8,495 per person, double occupancy $10,195 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $200 per person INCLUDED 13 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 9 dinners Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions House wine, beer and soft drinks with all group lunches and dinners Bottled water on excursions Gratuities to porters, guides and drivers for all group activities All tours and excursions as described in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling between the airport in Athens and our group hotels Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program NOT INCLUDED International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services Air Arrangements International and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the program cost. Round-trip, economy-class airfare on American Airlines from San Francisco to Athens is approximately $1,500 as of July 2012 and is subject to change without notice. What to expect We consider this to be a moderately strenuous program that is at times physically demanding and busy. Participants must be physically fit, active and in good health. Daily excursions involve one to three miles of walking with tours lasting as long as four hours. Much of the walking takes place at ancient sites covering a large area, where paths can be rocky and uneven. In some instances, such as ruins, stairs do not have handrails. Many buildings do not have elevators, and some sites and museums do not allow buses to pull up in front, thus requiring a walk of several minutes to reach the entrance. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program.

6 THE ODEON, ACROPOLIS Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment A $1,000-per-person deposit is required to hold space for this program. Complete and return the attached reservation form or place your deposit online. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. Cancellations & Refunds Deposits and any payments are fully refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-perperson cancellation fee will apply. We recommend trip-cancellation insurance; applications will be sent to you. Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. A brochure offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation about one week after we receive your deposit. The product offered in this brochure includes special benefits if you postmark your insurance payment within a specified window: 15 days of the date listed on the confirmation letter for the Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions and coverage for Financial Insolvency; 21 days for the Cancel for Any Reason benefit. Eligibility We encourage membership in the Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $200 more than the members price. Parents and their children under 21 may travel on one membership. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit alumni.stanford/ goto/membership or call (650) Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time that passengers are not onboard their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect in July 2012 and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. California Seller of Travel Program Registration # Tel (650) FAX (650) travelstudy@stanfordalumni.org COPYRIGHT 2012 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed on recycled, FSC-certified paper in the U.S.

7 Faculty Leader Marsh McCall made the trip come to life. His passion is infectious! G r e t c h e n, 6 7, A N D R i c h a r d, 6 8, G r a n t, Mediterranean College 2011 Classics professor MARSH MCCALL decided he would become a teacher when he was in the third grade and went on to fulfill that desire, introducing legions of university students to the study of classics during a decades-long professorship at Stanford. Long one of Travel/Study s most popular faculty leaders, Professor McCall has enchanted several thousands of participants on over 35 Travel/Study programs with his lectures and on-site readings of classical authors. As Professor McCall says, What makes the trips so intensely rewarding is being able to stand on-site and read in translation some of the passages from the great works of antiquity that are connected to that location. Stanford professor of classics since 1976 At Stanford: former chair, classics department; associate dean, undergraduate studies; chair, Western culture program committee; and dean, Continuing Studies Recipient of the Dinkelspiel Award for outstanding service to undergraduate education, the Lyman Award for faculty volunteer service and the Phi Beta Kappa Teacher of the Year Award PhD, classics, Harvard University S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y Reservation Form Insider s Greece SIGN UP ONLINE! MR. / MRS. / MS. MISS / DR. / PROF. NAME AGE STANFORD CLASS MR. / MRS. / MS. MISS / DR. / PROF. NAME AGE STANFORD CLASS ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP PHONE CELL / WORK / HOME Here is my deposit of $ ($1,000 per person) for space(s). Enclosed is my check (payable to Stanford Alumni Association) OR Charge my deposit to my: Visa MasterCard American Express ADDRESS I/We have read the Terms and Conditions for the program and agree to them. CARD EXPIRATION DATE SIGNATURE CARDHOLDER SIGNATURE DATE If this is a reservation for one person, please indicate: I wish to have single accommodations. OR I plan to share accommodations with: OR I d like to know about possible roommates. Mail completed form to address on mail panel or fax to (650) or place your deposit online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?greece2013. Submit your reservation only once to avoid multiple charges to your account. 8744

8 Stanford Travel/Study Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center 326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA (650) INSIDER S GREECE ECHOES OF ANCIENT GODS May 6 to 20, 2013 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Stanford Alumni Association Extremely well organized [trip]: it gave us excellent insights into who the Greek people are and the complexity of their history. Stanford traveler, Gardens of the Gods, 2012 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y METEORA