Greece in Spring with Alex 26 March

*Greece* in Spring with Alex 26 March-7 April 2009 From the Peloponnese in the South, to Thessaloniki in the North. *Alex Veit Tours Around The World* Revised: September 23, 2008
Day	Date		Program	Location and Hotel or similar
1	26.03	Thu	Fly from Ben Gurion to Athens. El Al LY 541 at 07:00 arrives: 09:25. Drive south for a brief stop at the Corinth Canal and continue to the Peloponnese. Visit the ancient Theatre of Epidauros. On to the charming old town of Nafplio, former capitol of Greece.	Nafplio: Amphitrion 4*
2	27.03	Fri	Drive to the ancient ruins of Mycenae and explore the sight. Continue south to visit the location of ancient town of Sparta.	Sparta: Maniatis 3*
3	28.03	Sat	Depart early morning south to Mystras; explore this Franco-Byzantine site. located on the slopes of Mount Taigetos. Continue via Gytheion to the Mani peninsula, a wild and sparsely inhabited region doted with 800 stone towers, isolated or grouped in villages. Drive to Kalamata famous for its olives.	Kalamata: Filoxenia 4-5
4	29.03	Sun	Explore ancient Messene an ongoing excavation by the European Union to uncover and restore the site. Drive north to visit the site of Olympia, located at the foot of Mount Kronion.	Olympia: Asty 4*
5	30.03	Mon	Depart north to Delphi, over the bay of Corinth via the new bridge of Rion-Antirron a marvel of modern architecture. Full tour of Delphi one of the most important religious centers of ancient times.	Arachova: Anemolia 3*
6	31.03	Tue	Drive north to visit the famous cenobitic monasteries known as Meteora, which means "in the air". The monasteries are perched on top of huge and precipitous columns of rock.	Kalambaka: Divani 3*
7	1.04	Wed	Complete the tour of Meteora. Drive to Thessaloniki for an introduction tour of the second largest town and port in Greece, Capitol of Macedonia. In recent history home to over 50,000 of Jews, less than two thousand survived the holocaust.	Thessaloniki: *Mediterranean* Palace 4-5 3 nights
8	2.04	Thu	Tour Thessaloniki: Including the Jewish Museum, The White Tower, a walking tour through the older parts of town and much more.	Thessaloniki
9	3.04	Fri	Drive to Vergina. Visit the Great Vault for Philip, father of Alexander the Great and more. Then on to the old town Veria to see the 14^th century Church with its frescoes of striking vividness and beauty, executed by the famous iconographer Georgios Kalliergis. Explore the old Jewish Quarter of Veria which is under restoration. Return to Thessaloniki.	Thessaloniki
10	4.04	Sat	Depart Thessaloniki south to spend time touring the hill villages of Pelion, located on promontory overlooking Volos Bay.	Volos: Park 3*
11-	5.04	Sun	Drive to Athens for three extensive days of touring of this amazing city: Including: A walking tour of the Acropolis. The Athenian Agora. Evening walking tour of Hadrian's Arch, Olympian Zeus Temple. Lyssicrates Monument via Hadrian's st, Winds Monument next to Roman Agora. Option: Late evening at Local Rembetiko Music Club.	Athens: *Electra Palace* 4-5 2 nights
12	6.04	Mon	Walking tour: Including the Museum of Cycladic Art, the famous Benaki Museum and more. Visit Poseidon's Temple at Sounion.	Athens
13	7.04	Tue	Walking tour: via Syndagma Sq. Panepistimiou Ave. Including: King Otto's Palace to days Parliament, Grand Bretagne to the Arsakeion, the National Archaeological Museum Afternoon free time at the Plaka. Please note: *We shall have a few rooms till departure for the group's freshening up.* Fight to Tel Aviv: El AL LY 542 departs 21:40 arrives 23:35.