 |
 |
 |
 |
The Glory That Was Greece
June 13–28, 2012
·Itinerary
·Printable full program description
·Note: Registration is now full. To be added to the wait list, please contact us.
PROGRAM LEADERS:
Jim May, Provost and Dean of the College and Professor of Classics
Donna May, Teacher
We invite you to explore the sites that have made Greece a favorite destination for centuries, along with a few others that are off the beaten path, not generally found on typical tours. We will begin and end our study with visits in Athens, with her famed Acropolis and the agora where Socrates walked and taught; the great National Museum, housing some of the most famous treasures from antiquity; and the marvelous new Acropolis Museum, breathtaking both for its own architecture as well as the contents that it houses. Other notable sites include Delphi, the omphalos (or “navel”) of the world, the home of the renowned oracle; Nauplion, the charming seaside town built in the shadow of a medieval fortress; Epidauros, the monumental stone theatre with its legendary acoustics; Mycenae, the home of Agamemnon and the famous Lions’ Gate; and Olympia, site of the ancient Olympics and the impressive sanctuary of Zeus.
In addition, we will have the privilege of visiting the monasteries of Meteora, perched high on stone pillars in a landscape more reminiscent of the moon than of earth. Of course, no summer trip to Greece would be complete without an excursion to the islands. On this occasion, we will add something new — a trip to the Sporades, that group of islands off the eastern coast of Greece, noted for their beautiful beaches and green vegetation; the movie “Mama Mia” was filmed in this area (mostly on Skopelos). Toward the end of our stay, we will visit two other picturesque islands in the Saronic Gulf, Hydra, the only Greek island where cars are forbidden, and Aegina, famous for its pistachios, and home to one of the best-preserved classical temples in Greece, dedicated to the minor deity, Aphaia.
Those who have not visited Greece since Athens hosted the Olympics will be delighted to discover that most sites have undergone a facelift. The previously congested, diesel fume-filled area around the Acropolis is now a beautiful pedestrian park; the National Museum and the Museums at Delphi and Olympia have been renovated; a new museum dedicated to the history and spirit of the Olympics is now also open in Olympia. As always, the goal of our Study Travel program is to capture an essence of the history, culture, and traditions of both ancient and modern Greece. Lectures on the history, literature, and politics of ancient Greece will supplement daily on-site discussions to bring to life the great civilization of which we are all heirs. Our daily routine will also, as usual, be punctuated by time for fellowship, relaxation, swimming in the Aegean, and savoring the wonderful Greek cuisine. Dimitri Cocconi, who has arranged tours for St. Olaf for more than 35 years, offers his legendary hospitality and Stella Galani, our friend and expert guide, will accompany all of our excursions. As I tell my St. Olaf students, Greece will change your lives — I guarantee it!
Discover “Quintessential” Greece
Athens is a city that attacks the senses and stirs the spirit as only the cradle of Western Civilization can. Homeland to gods, goddesses and some of the world’s greatest philosophers and athletes, Athens also boasts ancient temples like the Acropolis and its iconic Parthenon, and glorious parks and beaches. We’ll experience all the can’t miss sites: the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, the Agora, and the National Museum, as well as outlying sites such as Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon,
The rock formations of the Meteora (“in midair”) are weird, twisted shapes that now rise almost 1,000 feet above the plain. These bizarre rock formations would be attraction enough, but many are topped with substantial monasteries. Why did monks settle here, and how did they build anything larger than huts on the rocks atop these sheer, slippery, seemingly unscalable rocks that really do seem to hang in midair? Small wonder that many monks believe that St. Athanasios (founder of the first monastery here) did not scale these rocks, but was carried up by an eagle.
Skiathos or Skopelos: Both of these islands boast numerous, pristine beaches. Impressive grottoes and bays punctuate the coastline, providing irresistible photo ops. On either island you will enjoy a quintessential Greek island experience.
Delphi is the big enchilada of Greek sites. Even more than Olympia, this place has everything: a long and glorious history, spectacular ancient remains, a superb museum, and a heartbreakingly beautiful location on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Look up and you see the cliffs and crags of Parnassus; look down, and Greece’s most beautiful plain of olive trees stretches as far as your eyes can see, toward the town of Itea on the Gulf of Corinth. Whenever you visit, you’ll understand why the ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the center of the world, the spot Apollo chose as the home of his most famous oracle. The Sanctuary of Apollo is the main attraction here, although the smaller Sanctuary of Athena has Delphi’s most photographed attraction, the mysterious round Tholos, a circular building at the center of the sanctuary.
With its shady groves of pine, olive, and oak trees; the considerable remains of two temples; and the stadium where the first Olympic races were run in 776 B.C., Olympia is the most beautiful major site in the Peloponnese. Both the archaeological museum and the new museum of the ancient Games are among the finest in Greece.
Nauplion (Nafplion) is far and away the most charming town in the Peloponnese, with stepped streets overhung with balconies dripping with bougainvillea, handsome neoclassical buildings, enticing shops, restaurants, cafes, and two fine museums!
The Theater of Epidaurus is one of the most impressive sights in Greece. Probably built in the 4th century, the theater seated -- and still seats -- some 14,000 spectators. Unlike so many ancient buildings, including almost everything at the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the theater was not pillaged for building blocks in antiquity. As a result, it is astonishingly well preserved; restorations have been both minimal and tactful.
Hydra is one of Greece’s most beautifully preserved islands. With the exception of a handful of municipal vehicles, there are no cars on Hydra. You’ll probably encounter at least one example of a popular form of local transportation: the donkey. When you see Hydra’s splendid 18th- and 19th-century stone archontika (mansions) along the waterfront and on the steep streets above, you won’t be surprised to learn that the entire island has been declared a national treasure by both the Greek government and the Council of Europe.
(Descriptions here and in the itinerary have been adapted from frommers.com, unless otherwise noted.)
Program Leaders
Provost and Dean of the College and Professor of Classics Jim May is the author of Trials of Character: The Eloquence of Ciceronian Ethos, and an annotated translation co-authored with Jakob Wisse, of Cicero’s On the Ideal Orator. With his St. Olaf colleague Anne Groton, he wrote a textbook, 38 Latin Stories. Also the author of many articles on Cicero, classical rhetoric and Latin pedagogy, Jim recently edited a volume of essays, A Companion to Cicero: Rhetoric and Oratory. He is currently working on a Ciceronian student reader, containing Latin passages and commentary from several of the orator’s most notable works.
When not immersed in his role as provost and dean of the college, Jim competes in handball, restores antique tractors and old cars, builds harpsichords, plays baroque instruments, chants Gregorian-style and sings in a Renaissance chamber choir. Besides having visited Greece more than two dozen times, his greatest claim to fame is having been one of 170 rowers who powered the trireme Olympias, the replica of an ancient Greek warship, around the Aegean Sea in 1990 and again in 1993.
Jim and Donna, a professional singer, choir director and high school music teacher, have two sons, Joseph and Michael, both graduates of St. Olaf.
Personal Perspectives: What Previous Participants Say
- “It was, as I anticipated, a fascinating and illuminating experience.”
- “Well organized, educational as well as fun.”
- “Thank you for doing such an outstanding job! We really appreciate all of your hard work ‘behind the scenes!’ St. Olaf continues to set the standard for educational trips!”
- I was on the 2006 trip to Greece, enjoyed that immensely, and felt the same about this year’s. Jim and Donna May, Dimitri Cocconi [our tour operator] and Stella Galani [our national guide] are an unbeatable combination. And, just as in 2006, we were fortunate enough to have a great mix of friendly, interesting folks on the trip. Thanks for another unforgettable experience.”
- What was your favorite “behind the seen” experience? “Standing in the shade of a tree at Troy, listening to Jim read the story of Priam begging Achilles for the release of his son Hector. As Jim says, that was BIG!”
What to Expect
Greece is a mix of modern and rustic. Large cities have all the usual amenities, while smaller towns and rural areas may feel like a step back in time, with an unhurried air, and warm, friendly people.
Greece is not handicapped accessible. Though we will transfer between cities by air-conditioned private motor coach, you should be prepared for lots of walking. Greece is full of tiny streets, mountains, hills and dales — places a bus just can’t get to. You should be capable of walking a minimum of one mile at a time over uneven terrain and up to five miles per day, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day.
Hotels will be tourist class (typically three or four star) with private baths, air conditioning and English-speaking staff. In smaller towns, we often secure the best hotel available, which may be two star (small sleeping rooms, and fewer amenities such as in-room coffee making service).
June weather in Greece is generally delightful — 60s (Fahrenheit) in the evenings, 75-85 during the day. It will start getting warmer as July approaches. Highs could be in the 90s (even high 90s) some days; lows might be in the high 70s or even low 80s. Humidity is fairly low, which means the shade offers relief.
Most days, we will depart the hotel between 8 and 9 a.m.; we will coordinate our departure time in order to maximize our time at that day’s sites. We will stop for lunch at some point in the early afternoon (usually between 12 noon and 2 p.m.). Often we will resume our program after lunch, visiting another site or museum. We will try to avoid the hottest part of the day, but sometimes being out in the sun will be inevitable. Some days will have several hours of free time; others will have very little or none at all. We try to return to the hotel in time to relax and freshen up for dinner. Greeks eat dinner much later (particularly in the summer months) than do Americans, and dining for the Greeks is much more than eating; it is time to socialize, to sing, to dance, and generally to experience fellowship with friends. We generally arrange for our evening meals between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. This can make for long days on certain days.
You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about routine vaccinations. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.it.
Program Fee
The program fee is $4,400 through Feb. 15, 2012. Based on double occupancy, it includes seminars by Jim May, assistance by Donna May and a national guide, all accommodations, breakfast daily and several other group meals, admissions for group activities, ground transportation except airport transfers, and gratuities to guides and drivers. For single occupancy, add $950. After Feb. 15, 2012, the program fee is $4,550 per person.
Note: Please plan to DEPART THE U.S. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 12 in order to arrive in Athens on June 13. Plan to depart Athens on Thursday, June 28. For assistance with flight arrangements, may we recommend Noreen Deiss of Travel Leaders / Suntime Travel. She can be reached at 651-429-0039 or noreen@suntimetravel.com. We recommend you not purchase non-refundable airfare until we can confirm the program has enough participants to go.
Register
To register, please contact Heidi Quiram at our toll free number 888-865-6537 or 507-786-3629. A $500 per-person deposit guarantees your space.
Forms for registered travelers:
