This was another Rick Steves' tour--Athens & the Best of Greece. It was our sixth Rick Steves' trip. As you have probably read on my blog from previous years' trips, we love his style of travel and have loved every trip we have been on. Even so, this one has to be close to the top of our favorites!
The tours are smaller than many--24-28 people--which allows for room to spread out on the bus and everyone can have a window seat. The places the buses go are not places we would ever want to drive on our own. Our guide even said he doesn't drive in Athens where he lives, but leaves his car at the family's country house for driving in the rest of the country. Rick Steves' tours always stay in centrally located (walking distance to many attractions), locally owned hotels, which would take hours of research to find. The tours are very active so we walk a lot! The guides are wonderful, informing us not only of the culture, economic status, history and foods, etc. but also pointing out great places to visit on our free time.
This year our guide was exceptional! His name was Apostolos Douras. Not only did he paint pictures of life in Greece but actually invited us to his "name day" celebration which was held at the home of his sister on the last night of our tour. There we met his father, sister, niece, and many of his friends. What a blessing to have a truly Greek experience!
Many of our friends and acquaintances have told us they like to travel on their own and would never go on a tour. We think they are missing so much by not trying a Rick Steves' tour. We don't feel there is any way we could ever experience the things we have experienced with the tours on our own. I invite you to try one out. I can't imagine you could ever be disappointed.
Here are a few more photos of beautiful Greece. I will add more tomorrow.
 |
| The Corinthian Canal |
No comments:
Post a Comment