The World and Everything in it - A Pilgrimage to Greece with Lore Wilbert

We depart on an overnight flight from Newark to Athens. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Add-on rates are available from most major airports based on request.

This morning we arrive in Athens, where we meet our English-speaking Greek guide, who will accompany us during the trip.  We have a panoramic tour of the city and time to enjoy lunch on our own before we settle into the hotel.  In the evening, we gather at our hotel for a "Welcome to Greece" group meeting. Then walk to a nearby restaurant where we can get to know each other over dinner.  A well-deserved night of rest awaits us.  Overnight in Athens. (Special dinner)

Following breakfast, we drive to Delphi, the center of the ancient world and the “navel” of the earth, whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the pagan Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. We continue to visit the Orthodox Monastery of Osios Loukas, dedicated to the local hermit and healer, Holy Luke. The monastery is considered one of the most beautiful in Greece, with a treasury of priceless icons.  Dinner is at leisure to explore the food scene in Athens. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Following breakfast,  we embark on a city tour. Athens is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of Western civilization as we know it. On our tour, we visit the rock that has dominated the panorama of Athens for twenty-five centuries, the Acropolis. At the Acropolis, we see the ruins of the Parthenon, the Erechtheum, and the Propylaea. Ascend Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22). See the ancient Agora, the former public center of Athenian life.  In the afternoon, you may want to visit the ancient Plaka section of the city.  Enjoy dinner at leisure and take some time to explore on your own. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Following breakfast, we check out of our hotel and take a short ride to the Byzantine Art Museum to see its rich collection of icons and Christian art. Proceed to the port to board our 4-day cruise aboard the Celestyal Olympia. Settle into our cabins and explore the ship. Beverages are included, so be sure to grab a cool drink and meet on the deck as we depart the mainland to enjoy the beautiful views of the city. Our first stop is the island of Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands, which attracts visitors from all over the world. After docking, we transfer to Hora, the island’s capital, where we have time at leisure to explore the narrow, cobbled streets of the city. Pass by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs, and whitewashed houses to arrive in Alefkandra. This section of Mykonos is known as the “Venice of Mykonos,” as the homes with wooden balconies are built on the sea. Historically, these homes were of wealthy merchants and captains. Return to the cruise ship for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D)

After breakfast on board, we arrive at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. Transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos, where we visit the small stone chapel on the site where the Virgin Mary spent her last days following Christ’s crucifixion. We continue to ancient Ephesus and begin our walking tour, which takes us through the most magnificent excavations in the world. The last stop on the walking tour is the Great Theater, with a capacity of 25,000 people, where Saint Paul preached. On the return of our walking tour, follow the exact route that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession via the Arcadian Way. This main street runs from the Great Theater to the main city’s harbor. Upon arrival in Kusadasi, a stop will be made at a traditional carpet showroom as dictated by the cruise line, or you may choose to skip the carpet sales presentation and explore the bazaars on your own.  The next stop is Patmos, where we visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. This marvelous structure was built nine hundred years ago and continues to be supported by the walls of a strong fortification. In addition to the stunning main church with outstanding frescoes, we view the beautiful courtyard, dining room, and bakery. Our tour continues to the small museum, where we see priceless ecclesiastical treasures such as books, manuscripts, mosaics, icons, textiles, vestments, and jewelry. Board the bus, which takes us to the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse. In this grotto, experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the site of where the Book of Revelation was written. Then return to the ship for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D)

The island of Rhodes is a mix of Roman and Byzantine architectural styles. Rhodes was one of the most important seafaring and trading centers in the Eastern Mediterranean, during ancient times in 1309 by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem.  It is now under the protection of UNESCO. A tour of Rhodes is included in the morning, along with time at leisure to explore on your own. We may return to the ship for our included lunch or enjoy lunch on our own in town. An optional excursion to Lindos may be purchased on the ship. Dinner and overnight on the ship.  (B.L.D)

This morning, we transfer to the largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion, where we see the ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos. These ruins were discovered in 1899, and the palace is currently partially reconstructed. This ancient palace is believed to have housed the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. Additionally, it is the site where Saint Paul met the owner and captain of the ship who warned him of continuing his journey to spread Christianity in Rome.  Return to the ship to sail to the idyllic island of Santorini, definitively the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. We disembark via tender upon arrival in Santorini. We take the cable car to visit Thira, with its iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques that cling to steep cliffs. We return to the ship for our last dinner and overnight on our cruise. (B.L.D)

After disembarkation, we drive to ancient Corinth, where under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived for two years. While here, he felt great grief over the way that the Gentile Church in Corinth had become. As a result, he was prompted to write four letters, all with the overarching theme of love. In Corinth, we have the opportunity to view the remains of the first-century shops, the site of Saint Paul’s trial by Gallio, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Temple of Apollo. In the late afternoon, we enjoy a lunch stop.  Dinner is at leisure.  Overnight in Athens. (B.L) 

Enjoy a day at leisure in Athens to explore the city, visit a museum or just soak up the local atmosphere.  We recommend visiting the National Archaeological Museum or the Benaki Museum of Greek Arts and Crafts. Tonight we are together again for our farewell dinner with Greek folklore dancing. Overnight in Athens. (B. Special dinner) 

Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say our heartfelt farewells to a journey that will last in our memory forever as we are transferred to the airport for our return flights.