Help me plan Greece portion of anniversary trip
Sep 1st, 2014, 07:50 AM
#23
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annw, I hope this post is not too late! I have a STRONG recommendation, particularly if you are fond of mosaics, as I think you are?
If you plan to spend a night in the vicinity of Delphi, then also take a little time to drive the short distance to the Byzantine monastery of Hosias Loukas. The monastery's katholikon, with its gold-backed mosaics, is fascinating beyond my ability to describe!
It seems to me that, from Delphi, you drive through the nearby, picturesque town of Arachova and from there to the monastery. When we visited, some years back, we hired a driver in Athens and went to both the monastery and Delphi in a day trip, and I sorely regretted not taking just one more day.
If you go to Hosias Loukas, you will not regret it! Have a great trip!
If you plan to spend a night in the vicinity of Delphi, then also take a little time to drive the short distance to the Byzantine monastery of Hosias Loukas. The monastery's katholikon, with its gold-backed mosaics, is fascinating beyond my ability to describe!
It seems to me that, from Delphi, you drive through the nearby, picturesque town of Arachova and from there to the monastery. When we visited, some years back, we hired a driver in Athens and went to both the monastery and Delphi in a day trip, and I sorely regretted not taking just one more day.
If you go to Hosias Loukas, you will not regret it! Have a great trip!
Sep 1st, 2014, 08:03 AM
#24
Original Poster
Many thanks, Smalti! The trip is in 2015, so your post is perfect timing. Just getting back to working on the itinerary -- as mentioned we have never been to Greece so I will have to do a lot of research.
As a mosaic aside, did you know that American mosaicist Sonia King runs "working in white" mosaic workshops in Greece? I'll be skipping it on this trip since am with DH but another time, might be nice!
As a mosaic aside, did you know that American mosaicist Sonia King runs "working in white" mosaic workshops in Greece? I'll be skipping it on this trip since am with DH but another time, might be nice!
Sep 3rd, 2014, 03:55 PM
#26
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We spent 3 days in Athens. On the spur of the moment, from Plaka station we took the train to Piraeus (port city). From there we booked, again spur of the moment, a ferry to AEGINA.
Wow. The best pistachios we have ever eaten in our whole lives. Labelled " new season" they are roasted right there. You can even buy them raw and eat them that way.
Pistachio ice cream, etc . we ate fresh fish supper then caught the last ferry back to Athens. Regret? Not bringing home more freshly roasted pistachios!
Wow. The best pistachios we have ever eaten in our whole lives. Labelled " new season" they are roasted right there. You can even buy them raw and eat them that way.
Pistachio ice cream, etc . we ate fresh fish supper then caught the last ferry back to Athens. Regret? Not bringing home more freshly roasted pistachios!
Sep 4th, 2014, 07:05 AM
#27
Original Poster
Thanks again, smalti!
Egghead, thanks for sharing that experience -- sounds wonderful!
Someone I know brought back pistachios from Iran and though I had never been a fan, they were fabulous! These sound even better.
Egghead, thanks for sharing that experience -- sounds wonderful!
Someone I know brought back pistachios from Iran and though I had never been a fan, they were fabulous! These sound even better.
Sep 4th, 2014, 07:52 AM
#28
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Hi Ann.
If you are willing to rent a car you can drive to Delphi and stay in the village which is about a kilometer to the site and museum. This gives you the opportunity to get to the site before the tour buses arrive. You will have the site virtually all to yourselves.
There are daily buses that go from Athens to Delphi just google KTEL bus Athens to Delphi. The buses are modern and comfortable.
Last alternative is to take one of the day bus excursions. Dolphin Hellas and fantasy travel have these available. My issue with the excursion though is it is a long day and you will be at the site with all the other tour crowds.
Here are images of Delphi numbers 28 to 67
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7645469717811/
As for Santorini this is the place to stretch your budget and get a hotel with a caldera view. Since this is an anniversary trip you will want that view. Santorini is expensive which is one of the reasons people suggest staying only three nights.
Santorini http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632154800782/
Lastly Athens
There is so much to do and see there that three days without a day trip will just get you familiarized with the Acropolis area sites.
Is there any chance you can add a couple of days?
Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632121475515/
Have a great trip
If you are willing to rent a car you can drive to Delphi and stay in the village which is about a kilometer to the site and museum. This gives you the opportunity to get to the site before the tour buses arrive. You will have the site virtually all to yourselves.
There are daily buses that go from Athens to Delphi just google KTEL bus Athens to Delphi. The buses are modern and comfortable.
Last alternative is to take one of the day bus excursions. Dolphin Hellas and fantasy travel have these available. My issue with the excursion though is it is a long day and you will be at the site with all the other tour crowds.
Here are images of Delphi numbers 28 to 67
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7645469717811/
As for Santorini this is the place to stretch your budget and get a hotel with a caldera view. Since this is an anniversary trip you will want that view. Santorini is expensive which is one of the reasons people suggest staying only three nights.
Santorini http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632154800782/
Lastly Athens
There is so much to do and see there that three days without a day trip will just get you familiarized with the Acropolis area sites.
Is there any chance you can add a couple of days?
Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632121475515/
Have a great trip
Sep 4th, 2014, 09:20 AM
#29
Original Poster
Thanks stanbr these are great suggestions!! We are ok adding to Athens and it sounds like we should. Ditto allocating funds for the view place in Santorini (love views).
i'm going to work on the air tix as soon as we are 335 days out and will move on to reservations then --
i'm going to work on the air tix as soon as we are 335 days out and will move on to reservations then --
Sep 4th, 2014, 10:28 AM
#30
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annw-
If you do Greece first, consider renting a car while at the airport and drive yourselves to Delphi. We rented a car and spent 8 nights or more touring the mainland. Our rental had no GPS, we've never been to Greece before, and we managed to get to all our destinations fine. For Delphi we drove there from Olympia. The only problem we had was trying to find the road to get us to where we would cross the Rio bridge. We could see the bridge bur couldn't find the road to take us across it. Fortunately we came across some motorcycle policemen who were able to give us directions! We spent 2 nights there and were able to wander around Arahova, do some shopping, tour the Delphi Arch. Museum and the site. We had dinners at some nice restaurants-Epikourous and Vahkos.
Then from Delphi you drop off the rental car (there are free shuttles from the airport that take you to the car rental offices) and either spend some nights in Athens or go directly to Santorini. The easiest and fastest is to fly. We took the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini and it was long but nice. We had 3 nights in Santorini at Oia at a traditional cave house with a caldera view and a small pool. www.atrinahouses.com We had a rental car and went to some wineries-Santos and Sigalas, spent time at Perissa Beach, saw the sunset with tons of people at the end of the main path in Oia (the next day we drove our rental car to where the desalination plant was and parked the car and walked to the path that leads from Oia going to Fira. There we saw a very nice sunset with just a handful of people and a view of the the white/blue buildings of Oia.) That next day we also went to Red Beach, Kamari Beach, Ammoudi where we ended up having dinner at Katina's. We also had dinners at Laokasti and Nectar & Amrosia. Akrotiri was not open when we were there in 2011 but if it is when you go you may want to visit this important site. Some other things to do: www.santorinisailing.com
www.santorini-yachts.com
www.thiratours.com/Santorini-volcano-cruises.htm
There's an Arch. Museum in Fira.
In Athens we had 3 nights at Athens Gate www.athensgate.gr (I think we couldn't get a room at AVA www.avahotel.gr) after our rental car mainland trip and then 1 night at the end of our time in Greece at the Sofitel right across the street from the airport as we had an early morning flight home the next day. I wish we would have had at least 1 more day in Athens. There is a lot to see and do. Due to what was going on in Greece (we saw lots of protests) some sites were closed early. I don't know why but one guy told us it was that there was no money to pay the staff to stay longer?? When we got to the Ancient Agora around 3 pm it was already closed. In Athens we had dinners at Manh Manh, Tzitzikas Kai Mermigas, and Orizontes.
A great way to celebrate your anniversary!
If you do Greece first, consider renting a car while at the airport and drive yourselves to Delphi. We rented a car and spent 8 nights or more touring the mainland. Our rental had no GPS, we've never been to Greece before, and we managed to get to all our destinations fine. For Delphi we drove there from Olympia. The only problem we had was trying to find the road to get us to where we would cross the Rio bridge. We could see the bridge bur couldn't find the road to take us across it. Fortunately we came across some motorcycle policemen who were able to give us directions! We spent 2 nights there and were able to wander around Arahova, do some shopping, tour the Delphi Arch. Museum and the site. We had dinners at some nice restaurants-Epikourous and Vahkos.
Then from Delphi you drop off the rental car (there are free shuttles from the airport that take you to the car rental offices) and either spend some nights in Athens or go directly to Santorini. The easiest and fastest is to fly. We took the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini and it was long but nice. We had 3 nights in Santorini at Oia at a traditional cave house with a caldera view and a small pool. www.atrinahouses.com We had a rental car and went to some wineries-Santos and Sigalas, spent time at Perissa Beach, saw the sunset with tons of people at the end of the main path in Oia (the next day we drove our rental car to where the desalination plant was and parked the car and walked to the path that leads from Oia going to Fira. There we saw a very nice sunset with just a handful of people and a view of the the white/blue buildings of Oia.) That next day we also went to Red Beach, Kamari Beach, Ammoudi where we ended up having dinner at Katina's. We also had dinners at Laokasti and Nectar & Amrosia. Akrotiri was not open when we were there in 2011 but if it is when you go you may want to visit this important site. Some other things to do: www.santorinisailing.com
www.santorini-yachts.com
www.thiratours.com/Santorini-volcano-cruises.htm
There's an Arch. Museum in Fira.
In Athens we had 3 nights at Athens Gate www.athensgate.gr (I think we couldn't get a room at AVA www.avahotel.gr) after our rental car mainland trip and then 1 night at the end of our time in Greece at the Sofitel right across the street from the airport as we had an early morning flight home the next day. I wish we would have had at least 1 more day in Athens. There is a lot to see and do. Due to what was going on in Greece (we saw lots of protests) some sites were closed early. I don't know why but one guy told us it was that there was no money to pay the staff to stay longer?? When we got to the Ancient Agora around 3 pm it was already closed. In Athens we had dinners at Manh Manh, Tzitzikas Kai Mermigas, and Orizontes.
A great way to celebrate your anniversary!
Nov 11th, 2014, 02:15 AM
#32
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Ann - forgot to add: We did take a "cruise" - or rather the overnight ferry from Brindisi to Corfu. Loved it - as we drank heartily (this was a trip with my two law school roomies after we took the Bar) - and slept overnight out on the deck - or rather - passed out on a deck lounge? 
Actually - before took the overnight train from Rome to Brindisi - and at Foggia - at 2 AM - the conductor must have thought we were crazy as we popped out to take pics of the sign at the train station - as my roomie's dad had been a bomber pilot stationed at a base by Foggia in WWII.
When we got to Brindisi - it was mid day - and we met two guys and their good looking lady/sailing partner - who had a Catamaran moored in the harbor - so we drank wine and had cheese all afternoon. The Italians along the main street were laughing at us - as we trekked from the dock back to the wine store three times - re-filling the four bottles - and the bottles cost 10 cents - which was more than the wine we kept replenishing.
Oh - those were da days.....................
Once there - on the greenest of Greek Isles - I took the ferry/train/bus from Corfu into Athens and when I got off the bus in Athens - the guy hawking tours spoke pretty good English and I asked him - how did you learn English?
Watching Kojak - was his reply.
Actually - before took the overnight train from Rome to Brindisi - and at Foggia - at 2 AM - the conductor must have thought we were crazy as we popped out to take pics of the sign at the train station - as my roomie's dad had been a bomber pilot stationed at a base by Foggia in WWII.
When we got to Brindisi - it was mid day - and we met two guys and their good looking lady/sailing partner - who had a Catamaran moored in the harbor - so we drank wine and had cheese all afternoon. The Italians along the main street were laughing at us - as we trekked from the dock back to the wine store three times - re-filling the four bottles - and the bottles cost 10 cents - which was more than the wine we kept replenishing.
Oh - those were da days.....................
Once there - on the greenest of Greek Isles - I took the ferry/train/bus from Corfu into Athens and when I got off the bus in Athens - the guy hawking tours spoke pretty good English and I asked him - how did you learn English?
Watching Kojak - was his reply.
Nov 14th, 2014, 07:57 PM
#33
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Start working on your flight using miles NOW. It took me a month to use my American miles & I got them today to Athens. Need to get return ones as I didn't have enough on American for return & what they quoted me on return part was WAY too high We are leaving San Francisco September 16th. Good luck
for everyone involved, most especially colleague.
Apr 24th, 2015, 08:47 PM
#36
Original Poster
Hi everyone, and thanks again for all of these great ideas and all the info!
For our 40th this August due to work situation we are going to take one week and do an Alaska cruise on HAL -- first cruise; hope it works! (We are on west coast.)
Then, I am working on a postponed trip to Greece and Amalfi for March 2016. I secured mileage-only business tix from SFO to Frankfurt March 8. Waiting to book the return trip on Delta miles, probably from Athens.
So,since we got tix into FRA, we think we will side trip to Berlin for 2 days (arrival and next day) since DH is WWII buff, and then fly to Naples if possible, and get to AC. After 3-4 days there we will head over to Greece and fly back to SFO from ATH assuming I can get the tix.
Looking to spend time in Athens, Delphi, stop at Santorini if that works; wondered about Mycenae, Mykonos, Paros, and the like -- really like the recs above though! I'll know more when I memorize the map!
For our 40th this August due to work situation we are going to take one week and do an Alaska cruise on HAL -- first cruise; hope it works! (We are on west coast.)
Then, I am working on a postponed trip to Greece and Amalfi for March 2016. I secured mileage-only business tix from SFO to Frankfurt March 8. Waiting to book the return trip on Delta miles, probably from Athens.
So,since we got tix into FRA, we think we will side trip to Berlin for 2 days (arrival and next day) since DH is WWII buff, and then fly to Naples if possible, and get to AC. After 3-4 days there we will head over to Greece and fly back to SFO from ATH assuming I can get the tix.
Looking to spend time in Athens, Delphi, stop at Santorini if that works; wondered about Mycenae, Mykonos, Paros, and the like -- really like the recs above though! I'll know more when I memorize the map!
Apr 24th, 2015, 11:07 PM
#37
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Hello again! Glad to see you back and in good health!
If this Europe trip is meant for March, do note that many of the seasonal ferry connections and flights might not run. For example Mykonos-Santorini is a summer route, on March you may have to travel through Athens to make it work!
I do not know about Amalfi coast but do note that Greek islands off season have a completely different ambiance than on summer months. Something to seriously consider.
All that said,this thread has gone really long and as far as your trip takes a different direction now, maybe you could open a new thread if you need further advice.
Regards,
If this Europe trip is meant for March, do note that many of the seasonal ferry connections and flights might not run. For example Mykonos-Santorini is a summer route, on March you may have to travel through Athens to make it work!
I do not know about Amalfi coast but do note that Greek islands off season have a completely different ambiance than on summer months. Something to seriously consider.
All that said,this thread has gone really long and as far as your trip takes a different direction now, maybe you could open a new thread if you need further advice.
Regards,
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