RHODES UNIVERSITY
2004 CENTENARY TOUR TO GREECE

Tuesday 30 March JOHANNESBURG - ATHENS

Depart Johannesburg International Airport.
Overnight on plane

Wednesday 31 March ATHENS

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On arrival in Athens you will be transferred to a ferry for the island of Aegina where a private coach takes you up into the mountains to see the Temple of Aphaea, a beautifully preserved example of a pure Doric temple.

Early afternoon return to Athens and proceed to your hotel to unpack. Rest of the day at leisure.

FIVE NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION

Thursday 01 APRIL ATHENS

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Today you travel by coach to the sanctuary of Pallas Athene on the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, Propyleia, Erechtheion and the Acropolis museum, then on to the Theatre of Dionysos. After a midday break to find something nice to eat in the Plaka, the charming “old quarter” of Athens, you will proceed to the Agora for a visit.

Friday 02 APRIL ATHENS

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Today at leisure to explore this fascinating city. You can wander off on your own or, if enough tourgoers wish it, an optional tour might be arranged to, say, the Kerameikos, the battlefield of Marathon or Cape Sounion. This will not be included in the overall price.

Saturday 03 APRIL ATHENS

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Today a full day tour by coach to the Peloponnese. First we visit Mycenae, home of king Agamemnon, who led the Greek army to Troy. While here we will visit the newly opened museum of Mycenean antiquities. Then on to Tiryns, the starting place for Heracles when he embarked on his 12 Labours. Lastly Epidaurus, which boasts the best preserved classical theatre in Greece.

Sunday 04 APRIL ATHENS

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Full day trip by coach to Delphi, site of the oracle of Phoebus Apollo, lying high on the slopes of Mount Parnassos.

Monday 05 APRIL ATHENS – MYKONOS

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This morning you will be transferred to Piraeus harbour to board your cruise liner .

11h00 Departure Piraeus harbour.

18h00 Arrive at Mykonos in the late afternoon and spend the evening there. Mykonos is the quintessential Greek island, with its picturesque village of blue and white houses, its winding streets, its tiny chapels and its windmills, although now there are also chic boutiques and sophisticated nightclubs everywhere.

Depart Mykonos.

Tuesday 06 APRIL KUSADASI - EPHESSOS - PATMOS

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07h00 – 12h00 Dock at Kusadasi on the coast of Turkey. Visit Ephesos, one of the most important Ionic cities of ancient Greece, where you walk down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, past architectural masterpieces like the Library of Celsus before arriving at the Great Theatre where St. Paul was tried and cast out of the city. Drive on to a small valley where you will find a humble chapel built over the little house where the Virgin Mary is said to have resided after the crucifixion.

Sail to the Greek island of Patmos.

15h30 – 20h00 This Island is known as the site where the apocalyptic Revelation of St. John the Divine was written. The cave where he lived is near the Monastery of the Apocalypse. Built on one of the island's highest points, the Monastery houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury.

Wednesday 07 APRIL PATMOS – RHODES

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07h00 – 18h00 A full day on Rhodes, visiting in the morning the crusader city and its Classical museum containing an exquisite statuette of Aphrodite. Drive along the medieval walls to the summit of Mount Smith, the Acropolis of Ancient Rhodes. From the tumbled, massive pillars of a Temple of Athena, the view encompasses the nearby Temple of Apollo, the Stadium of Diagoras and the port, which was once protected by the Colossus of Rhodes – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the afternoon, drive to the town of Lindos with its Greek acropolis standing within medieval walls constructed by the Knights of St John in the 13 th Century. Climb the staircase leading from the Hellenistic portico to The Temple of Athena, and look out over the bay of St Paul.

Thursday 08 APRIL CRETE – SANTORINI - ATHENS

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07h00 – 11h30 Drive from the Venetian lion-guarded port of Heraklion to Knossos (approximately 30 minutes), once the capital city of the prehistoric Minoan civilization and thought to be the basis for the myth of the Labyrinth housing the Minotaur. Visit a portion of the excavated and partially reconstructed Palace of King Minos, as well as the surrounding area. The Palace contains, amid beautiful courtyards and shrines, the Hall of the Royal Guard, the Hall of the Double Axes, the King's Chamber containing an alabaster throne amongst paintings of griffins and lilies, and the Queen's Apartment adorned with murals of dolphins. Return to your motorcoach and drive to the city of Heraklion for a guided tour through the extraordinary Archaeological Museum, viewing unique original items from Minoan culture.

Sail to Santorini.

16h30 Arrive on Santorini, perhaps the most breath-taking of all Greek islands. The town of Thera's whitewashed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques cling to the steep cliffs, accessible by cable-car or mule. To the south is Akrotiri where recent Minoan excavations support the theory that Santorini might be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis.

If the site has reopened, there will be time for a brief visit.

20h30 Sail back to Athens

Friday 09 APRIL ATHENS

On arrival at Piraeus, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The day is yours to explore the city.

Saturday 10 APRIL ATHENS
Another day at leisure in Athens. This evening a farewell dinner en route to the airport.

Sunday 11 APRIL ATHENS - JOHANNESBURG

00H45 Depart Athens Airport for Johannesburg on Olympic airlines.

Note that if circumstances demand it, the order of events may be changed. Any additional options arranged upon request, will have to be paid for over and above the quoted price.

COST EX JOHANNESBURG:

BASED ON 25 FULL FARE PAYING PASSENGERS - COSTED NOV 2003

INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS

Flights:
All air transportation in economy class services of IATA carriers. Excluding airport taxes.

Accommodation:
In specially chosen hotels with private facilities.

Meals:
Breakfast daily. Other meals as specified in the itinerary.
Cruise: All meals on board. Port taxes and gratuity on board included.

Baggage:
One piece of luggage per person not exceeding 20 kilograms.

Gratuities:
Tips for personal services are not included. Tips for the guides and drivers are not obligatory, but are customary and are left to the discretion of the travellers.

Itinerary:
The itinerary is subject to alteration where necessary according to conditions en route.

Titch Tours:
Bag and wallet.

Surface Transport:
Air-conditioned coaches.

Tour Leader:
The tour will be accompanied throughout by Warren Snowball, Lecturer in charge of Classical Studies Rhodes University.

Cancellation:
All cancellations must be made in writing. The company reserves the right to claim all or a portion of the fares lodged by passengers who cancel reservations. In accordance with standard procedures adopted by all tour operators worldwide, we reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure, in which event refunds will be made at the company's discretion, without any further liability on the part of the company.

Fares:
The tour is based on current airfares (November 2003) hotel rates and rates of exchange. Consequently the company reserves the right at any time to amend its inclusive tour price in accordance with price increases. Similarly, fares are subject to alteration according to the variations in the rates of exchange of foreign currencies.

Tours:
This tour is based on a group airfare and will operate with a minimum of 25 passengers.

Liabilities:
The tour operators and/or their agents, in making arrangements for land services, act as agents only and on condition that they shall not be liable for injury, damage or any other irregularity that may be occasioned by any defect in any company or person engaged in conveying the passengers, carrying out the arrangements of the tour or otherwise in connection therewith, in accordance with tour operators' standards throughout the world.

Airlines Clause:
The carriers concerned will not be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not aboard the aircraft or conveyance. The passenger ticket in use by the airline concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines concerned and the purchaser of this tour and / or the passengers.

Passport and Visas:
Visas are required by South African passport holders for Greece. These will be arranged by Titch Tours. British passport holders who are non-residents of Britain can enter Greece for a period of 3 months without requiring visas. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from date of departure.

Insurance:
Comprehensive cover is strongly recommended and is obtainable through Titch Tours.

Not included in tour price:
All entertainment not shown in the itinerary. Meals or food purchased over and above menus, morning and afternoon teas, beverages, wines, spirits, laundry, optional tours, personal tips and telephone calls.

Payment:
A deposit of R3 000.00 is required at the time of booking.
Based on 25 full paying passengers ex Johannesburg.

CONTACT:

Yvette Johnson (021) 686-5501 at Titch Tours

or Warren Snowball at w.snowball@ru.ac.za
Tel: Work: (046) 603-8274 Home: (046) 622-4157

Updated details of Centenary events will be displayed on this website so watch this space!

If you have any ideas regarding Rhodes Centenary events, or if you are willing to arrange Old Rhodian events in your area, please contact Rob Midgley at centenarycampaign@ru.ac.za.
or Tel: +27 (0)46 603-8432