A little Rome and all around Sicily, then a cruise around Greece
We start with three days in Rome with nothing planned but wandering the neighborhoods, seeing great art and eating well. Then all day on the train to Sicily, including a ferry crossing to the island (yes, on the train).
Our tour takes us to Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Mt. Etna, Taormina and Catania. We’re looking forward to seaside villages, hill towns, Roman mosaics, Greek ruins and lots of surprises.
Then we fly to Athens and take a cruise around Greece--Thessaloniki, Ephesus (Turkey), Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, back to Athens for a couple days. We’re in search of ancient Greeks and the Minoans before them, whitewashed villages, dramatic beaches.
Saturday, May 13
This is not Greece. It’s in the middle of nowhere in Sicily. That’s one reason they’re still standing. This was all Greater Greece at the height of their power. The decoration appears plain because, rather than sculptures, these temples were decorated in paint.
Lest you think this is all an archeological tour, I should tell you we had a grappa party on the bus.