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AEGEAN DISCOVERY

Day 1 - (Sat.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 - Arrival in Athens, Greece. (Sun.) Time to rest or to start exploring the Hellenic capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

Day 3 - Athens. (Mon.) Enjoy a tour of the classical sights with a Local Guide: the Parthenon's crowning beauty atop the ACROPOLIS, the Erechtheum with its Porch of Maidens, the beautifully preserved Theseum, Roman Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, and the Agora where Socrates taught. Vistas of the Royal Palace, government buildings, and elegant homes in the modern city provide a striking contrast to the remains of the glorious past. The rest of the day is at leisure. How about a Greek dinner tonight" Your Tour Director knows where to find local fare and entertainment reminiscent of Zorba the Greek. (BB)

Day 4 - Athens - Delphi. (Tue.) On the way to Delphi your Tour Director will tell you about Marathon, where in 490 B.C. 10,000 Athenians defeated more than twice that number of Persian invaders, and Thebes, the setting of Sophocles" Oedipus Rex. In the afternoon, a fascinating tour of Delphi's ancient sanctuary of the god Apollo in its dramatic setting on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Hear about the Oracle and tour the EXCAVATIONS. Finally, visit the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM to admire the Charioteer, an extraordinary 5th-century B.C. bronze statue. (BB,D)

Day 5 - Delphi - Olympia. (Wed.) Travel through the picturesque fishing villages along the coast to Patras on the Peloponnese. The afternoon is dedicated to OLYMPIA, where the athletes of antiquity performed in honor of the King of Deities. Learn about the history of those original Olympic Games as you walk with your Local Guide among the impressive remains of the Gymnasium and the Temples of Hera and Zeus. Also visit the MUSEUM that displays Praxiteles" magnificent statue of Hermes. (BB,D)

Day 6 - Olympia - Mycenae - Epidaurus - Nauplia. (Thu.) Spectacular scenery on the way through the Arkadian mountains. Two major features today: MYCENAE, where 19th-century excavations reveal impressions of the splendors so vividly described by Homer. Admire the Beehive Tombs, the Treasury of Atreus, Lion Gate - Europe's oldest known monument, remains of Agamemnon's Royal Palace, and the impressive fortifications of the Citadel. Then a short drive to EPIDAURUS for a tour of its amazingly well-preserved 2,300-year-old open-air theater. Overnight in nearby Nauplia. (BB,D)

Day 7 - Nauplia - Piraeus (Embarkation)"Mykonos. (Fri.) Head for Piraeus via the bridge spanning the Corinth Canal. Around 11 a.m., sail into the deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea, easily settling into the cruising routine of sunbathing, sipping cool drinks, splashing in the pool, and reveling in the delights prepared by the ship's expert chefs. Later, dock at the mountainous island of Mykonos with its characteristic windmills and dazzling white houses. Time to wander at whim through narrow paved streets lined with trendy boutiques and shady tavernas before returning on board. (BB,L,D)

Day 8 - Rhodes. (Sat.) All day is dedicated to the island of Rhodes. Explore the sights in the historic Old City with its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. Another possibility: join an optional excursion to Lindos and the fabulous Temple of Athena. And if sightseeing is not your thing, Rhodes" sun-drenched public beaches and colorful shopping districts are within easy walking distance of the port. (FB,L,D)

Day 9 - Patmos - Kusadasi, Turkey. (Sun.) Two ports of call today. First the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit. Next, discover the Turkish port of Kusadasi. An optional excursion takes you to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. (FB,L,D)

Day 10 - Piraeus, Greece (Disembarkation)"Athens. (Mon.) After breakfast on board disembark at Piraeus and return to Athens. The remainder of the day is free to catch up on last-minute shopping. (FB)

Day 11 - (Tue.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)