Pilgrimage to Crete w/ Atum Engaging the Greek Archetypes

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1 Pilgrimage to Crete w/ Atum Engaging the Greek Archetypes Our intention is to make conscious their presence & influence on our being, life & the world around us. Creative imagination exercises, storytelling, small group sharings & insights from Jungian psychology will be integrated in the program. Contents Pilgrimage Dates... 1 Point Person... 2 Day Trip Transportation... 2 Price, Payment Schedule and Confirmation... 2 Table 1 Payment Schedule... 3 Methods of payment (all payments made in US Dollars please)... 3 Liability Release Form... 3 Travel Information... 3 Getting to the Hotel... 3 Map Of Crete... 4 Itinerary Please use the live links to learn more... 4 Contact Information... 6 Payment Details (Terms and Conditions)... 6 Cancellation Policy... 6 General Information about Crete... 6 Pilgrimage Dates August 8-16, 2015 Itinerary and Location detailed itinerary below note everything blue underlined is a live link We will meet at small Crete escape Souda Bay in Southern Crete. This quiet apartment hotel is separated from from the sea by a little used coastal road; 700 meters from the beach. The slightly raised elevation affords a wonderful sea view from all the units and the pool. We have reserved the entire hotel at Souda Bay and have reserved some extra rooms at the apartment hotel next door as well. Our base will be at Souda Bay and the neighbouring apartment hotel is only a 4 minute walk. (all rooms are similar with a small kitchen and a wonderful sea view). The hotel is 1.5 km from a seaside village called Plakias that has taverns, kiosks and shops and a 50- minute bus ride from what many call Crete s most beautiful town - Chania Atum will teach for approximately 4-6 hours each day (poolside and under a pergola) and give an hour or two of homework in the form of contemplation or activity. We will have 2 group outings: 1 half day to the 1

2 cave that Zeus is said to be born and raised in and one full day with a nice drive along the north coast to the city of Chainia and Atum s favorite local monastery. The rest of the time is yours to explore, to contemplate and to relax Point Person Lesley Kovitz will be your point person. Please forward your travel plans and any questions that arise to her at address: Lesley@balancedmindfulness.com She will be pleased to provide you with any assistance you need. Day Trip Transportation We will travel in private air-conditioned buses. Price, Payment Schedule and Confirmation Single Studio Apartment : Seaview $ USD * Double Apartment: Seaview: $USD * Triple Apartment: Seaview: $USD $ * and $ * (Third person in the triple apartment: note that one bed is a pull out couch in the main living space and the price for that bed is $ , the other two beds are in the bed room) Please note that the local currency is in Euro and if the exchange rate fluctuates more than a 3% either way, we will adjust the price. Included Rooms: Single studio apartments have a sea view with a big room with a small kitchen, balcony and air conditioning. The double and triple apartments have a sea view, a separate bedroom, kitchen and a pull out bed in the main room for the third person, balcony and air conditioning. Breakfast: 7 breakfasts buffet style. 2 Excursions: includes entrance fees and private air conditioned bus. Atum s Fee *International airfare, travel to and from the hotel, lunch and dinner are not included in tour cost. 2

3 Table 1 Payment Schedule DATE Upon Reservation May 1, 2015 $700 US Balance TOTAL Methods of payment (all payments made in US Dollars please) 1. Cheque made out to Lesley Kovitz Send Cheque: Lesley Kovitz 4025 Triumph Street Burnaby, BC V5C 1Z1 Canada 2. Swift Transfer (please ask me for detailed instructions) Liability Release Form Confirmation is not final unlit Liability Release form has been signed and sent to Lesley. (the liability form will be sent to you) Travel Information Crete has 2 airports & 1 seaport Chania airport serves the west side of Crete. (1.5 hour taxi drive to hotel, approximately 115 Euro) Heraklion is the largest airport on Crete. (1.75 hour taxi drive to hotel approximately 125 Euro) or take the six-hour boat trip from the port of Piraeus to Heraklion with Minoan Lines. Aegean Airlines Athens to Chania Departure 15:50 Arrival 21:45 Chania Athens Departure 15:50 Arrival 21:45 $USD (price taken on October 24, 2013) Easy Jet Gatwick - Chania July 5 Departure 15:50 Arrival 21:45 Chania Gatwick July 13 Departure 21:55 Arrival 23:50 $USD (price taken on October 26, 2013) Getting to the Hotel Taxi Hotel Souda Bay is about 1.5 hours from the airport in Chainia (approx. 115 Euro) and 1.75 hours from Heraklion Airport (approx. 125 Euro) Bus Public bus to the hotel is easily accessed at the bus terminal in Rethymnon. 3

4 Map Of Crete Hotel Souda Bay (location pinned) Itinerary Please use the live links to learn more DAY Day 1 ACTIVITY Arrival at Souda Bay August 8, 2015 Day 2 August 9 Welcome Morning Teachings Afternoon and Evening Free Options (see information section) Day 3 August 10 Morning walking tour 4

5 Day 4 August 11 Half Day Trip to the Ideon Cave The Ideon Cave is one of the greatest cave sanctuaries in Crete, as important as the major Greek temples. It flourished in antiquity (4000 BC to the 1st century AD). The Ideon Cave was famous for being the place where Zeus, the Father of the Gods, was born and grew up. Day 5 August 12 Day Trip to Agia Triada of Tzagarolon and Chainia The monastery of Agia Triada of Tzagarolon (Holy Trinity) is one of the richest and most beautiful monasteries in Crete. The monastery was built by the Venetian nobles Jeremiah and Lawrence Tzagarolo. Chania is one of the oldest cities in Crete, with a rich and tumultuous history. The Venetian harbour with its lighthouse and the old town in the centre have bestowed on Chania the reputation of the most picturesque city in Crete, welcoming thousands of visitors each year hour hour Drive Day 6 August 13 Day 7 August 14 Day 8 August 15 Morning Free Afternoon Teachings Evening Free Morning Teachings Afternoon and Evening Free Options (see information section Morning Teachings Afternoon and Evening Free Option: Preveli Palm Gorge. The Preveli express boat goes several times a day from the small harbour of Plakias to the Preveli Palm Gorge. 5

6 Day 9 August 16 Departure Contact Information Lesley@balancedmindfulness.com Payment Details (Terms and Conditions) $USD 700 at the time of reservation Balance due May 1, 2015 (I will send you a reminder in mid April) Cancellation Policy Cancellations on or before April 1 st, 2015 receive a full refund, minus a $70 cancellation fee. Cancellations made between April 1 st, 2015 and June 1 st, 2015 receive a 50 percent refund. Cancellations made after June 1st will not be refunded. Final Payment is due May 1, General Information about Crete Banks Churches Credit cards Currency Drinking Water Electricity English Open Monday to Friday to If cashing travellers cheques you will need to show your passport. It is forbidden to enter churches if inappropriately dressed. Generally accepted by larger shops and hotels but it is always best to check first. The unit of currency is the Euro. There are ATM (cash) machines at both airports and in most of the larger places. Safe to drink. 220 voltage. Plugs are two pin and round so you will need an adapter for three pin British or US plugs. Available in most tourist areas during the summer season. 6

7 newspapers y Requirements Local Time Medical Treatment Post Offices Roads Shopping Taxis Telephone Tipping Weather You are advised to check entry requirements with yourseaside Embassy or Consulate. Eastern European Time (EET) which is two hours ahead. Standard Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +2 and Summer GMT + 3. All visitors are advised to take out private medical insurance. There are chemists in all larger areas. Generally open to Monday to Friday with major ones also open some afternoons and Saturday mornings. You can also buy stamps at kiosks and shops selling post cards but you may have to pay 10% extra. Thanks to European aid the road system is fairly extensive. Along the North coast an east-west highway connects all the big towns of Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion, Rethimnon, Chania and Kastelli. Special souvenirs include: olive oil, embroidery, hand-carved wooden objects, pottery, jewellery, copies of Minoan and Byzantine ornaments. Equipment for the beach, sun cream etc. is sold in all the tourist areas. Taxis are available and good value but not cheap. In the towns they are usually equipped with meters. Both airports have lists of prices for the most common destinations displayed so take a look before getting in. Luggage can be charged extra and there is also a small airport levy. Public phone boxes are in all the larger localities and the requisite phone cards can be bought in kiosks and many shops. You can also phone from the Greek telephone company (OTE) and some kiosks also have metered telephone facilities. It is usual to tip waiters, taxi drivers and chamber maids if the service was satisfactory. Keep in mind that most people working in the service industry are paid low wages for very hard work and tips are not a luxury but a welcome addition to their wages. Crete has a temperate Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and mild uite rainy winters. July and August are the hottest and driest months with an average daytime temperature of 26 C (79 F). Looking forward to seeing you in Crete! 7