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Greece - July |
| Deadline:
Wednesday May 26 |
OLYMPIA
EXCURSION ($125.00 CAD) FULL |
Olympia is on the western coast of the Peloponnese.
The ancient city was like many others, with
one exciting exception: the Olympics! Ancient
Olympia had two parts: the city and the Olympics
fields situated on the mountains above. The
Olympic Sanctuary consists of an unordered arrangement
of various buildings. The temples of Hera and
Zeus, the Pelopion and the altars were all sites
of sacrifice.
Olympia is also known for the gigantic ivory
and gold statue of Zeus, sculpted by Phidias.
Named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World by Antipater of Sidon, we will visit the
site on which it once stood. Nearby is the alleged
studio of Phidias which was excavated in the
1950’s. Evidence found there, such as
sculptor's tools, corroborates this opinion.
We will examine the findings for ourselves and
try to reconstruct ancient history. The ancient
ruins sit north of the Alfeios River and lie
next to Kronios Hill, the area of the city formerly
dedicated to Kronos or Saturn. The Kladeos River,
a tributary of the Alfeios, flows around the
area—creating a beautiful setting for
our afternoon.
The Olympic flame for today’s Olympic
Games travels every four years from the city.
It is lit by reflection of sunlight in a parabolic
mirror at the restored Olympia stadium, and
is then transported by a torch to the place
where the games are held. When the modern Olympics
came to Athens in 2004, the men's and women's
shot-put competition was held at the restored
stadium.
The group will depart from the hotel in Kalamata
after breakfast and travel to the city of Olympia.
We will spend the day exploring the ancient
ruins and learning what life was like during
the Greek Empire before returning to the hotel.
| Price: $125.00
CAD FULL |
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| AFTERNOON
EXCURSION TO THE DIROS CAVES ($95.00 CAD) FULL |
Last year this excursion was a favorite among
our students. Experience an incredible voyage
through the unknown worlds of the fantastic
Diros Caves. Float through the many passages
and halls of the wonderful Glyphada ave, voted
the most beautiful cave-lake in Europe. This
is nature at its grandest, for no artist or
sculptor could replicate the colours and formations
of the stalagmites and stalactites. We will
also have time to explore the nearby town and
beach.
| Price: $95.00
CAD FULL |
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| EPHESUS
SHORE EXCURSION ($150.00 CAD) |
Drive through the colourful town of Kusadasi
and along the coast to reach Ephesus, one of
the greatest outdoor museums in the world. Famous
in antiquity for its temple to Diana- one of
the seven wonders of the Ancient World, Ephesus
is breathtaking. Over centuries, Ephesus has
been ruled by the Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine
and Ottoman Empires. All have left a mark on
this vibrant city of the ancient world.
Students will have
the opportunity to discover these beautiful
ruins including the Temple of Hadrian, the stunning
Celsus Library, the Great Theatre (which seated
25,000 people) and the thermal baths of Scolastica.
Together we will walk the Arcadian Way where
Cleopatra and Mark Antony rode in procession.
Students will also be given free time and a
chance to practice their haggling skills in
the local market.
| Price:
$150.00 CAD |
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| SANTORINI
VOLCANO AND HOT SPRINGS EXCURSION ($125.00 CAD)
FULL |
Come sail with us in beautiful Santorini! Formed
by a volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, many
believe this is the same natural disaster that
destroyed the fabled city of Atlantis.
We will be driven to the port where we will
board our boat and head out to Nea Kameni, one
of the active volcanoes off Santorini. We will
continue on to the famous Hot Springs at Palia
Kameni Volcano to enjoy a relaxing soak in the
warm waters. Once our boat returns we will visit
the Prophet Elias Monastary, famous for its
panoramic view of the island and then take some
time to explore the traditional Greek village
of Pyrgos.
| Price: $125.00
CAD FULL |
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| RHODES
AND LINDOS ($145.00 CAD) |
Drive along the beautiful south-eastern
coastline to Lindos. Dotted with white-washed
villages, Lindos was one of the most important
of the three great cities of ancient times. See
how this entire city is guarded by medieval walls
which were constructed by the knights of St. John
in the 13th century. Within them stands the ancient
Acropolis of Lindos, on the brink of a precipice
400 feet above the sea. From the Acropolis, marvel
at the breathtaking views covering the great expanse
of the Aegean Sea and St. Paul’s Bay, where
the apostle cast anchor during his historic voyage
to Ephesus. Proceed on foot uphill, to the great
staircase leading from the Hellenistic Portico
to the Acropolis and Temple of Athena. Should
you wish to make your way up by mule, a fee must
be paid to the local muleteer.
After the guided tour of the
Acropolis, enjoy some free time on your own in
Lindos village before meeting up with our bus.
Return to Rhodes city and enjoy a panoramic drive
through the new part of the city before continuing
to Mount Smith to see the ruins of ancient Rhodes,
the Temple of Apollo and Diagoras Stadium. Afterwards
our bus will drop you off at Porte d’Amboise,
the start of the walking tour through the medieval
city of Rhodes. Follow your guide through the
northern part where once lived the knights and
their attendants. View the Palace of the Knights,
continue your walk down Chevaliers Road to the
Marine Gate and return back to the ship. A short
visit to a ceramic factory is included.
| Price:
$145.00 CAD |
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| KNOSSOS
PALACE ($145.00 CAD) |
Crete is the largest and the
most rugged of the Greek islands. It is also the
home of the great Minoan Civilization and the
mythological home of Zeus. After a short drive
through the town of Heraklion the tour will arrive
at the Knossos excavations. Here, Sir Arthur Evans’s
archaeological discoveries revealed a civilization
dating back to 4000 B.C., when a great empire
flourished on the island of Crete. Based on the
wealth of artifacts found, Evans theorized that
this was the site of the ancient Minoan Kingdom.
These findings will be viewed in detail, as our
guide will lead us on a journey of discovery to
learn about the sophisticated culture that flourished
thousands of years ago. The Palace, decorated
with frescoes and shields, houses the Hall of
the Royal Guard, the Hall of the Double Axes,
the King’s Chamber with the alabaster throne,
the Queen’s Apartment, beautiful courtyards
and shrines. Having visited this remarkable site
our buses will take you back to the Venetian lion-guarded
port of Heraklion to rejoin the ship.
| Price:
$145.00 CAD |
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Service is an important aspect to every Blyth
International Summer Program. We try to instill
a sense of global responsibility in all of our
students as they explore the world with us. While
we are staying in Paros, we will have the unique
opportunity to join forces with a team from Indiana
University; under the direction of Prof. Susan
B. Sutton, our students will participate in a
municipal project to clear and restore a historic
footpath, and help to clean up the environment.
The hours earned on this trip can be applied
to the ministry required minimum for graduation.
– Earn one to two volunteer hours
before your trip! –
Donations (new and used) will
be of benefit to many organizations, schools and
orphanages in the areas that we visit. Items such
as school supplies, table games and puzzles (of
various difficulty), paint by numbers, books (easy
English or Greek) and art materials are needed.
Clothing donations will also be accepted. Collect
these from your friends and family and bring them
to donate during your trip. You may earn up to
a maximum of two hours.
You are responsible for carrying
your donation items in your own suitcase. When
you donate the items, be sure to let your supervisor
know so they can track you extra hours!
| Price:
$95.00 CAD |
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2010 Blyth Education