As of 2:45pm (Central) Turkish Airlines flight TK0033 from Istanbul to Houston Bush was 16 minutes late.
The current estimated arrival time is 6:36pm.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Friday: Homeward Bound!
After a whirlwind week, seeing many of the highlights of Athens & the Peloponnese, the BCS Seniors are homeward bound!
This was the scene this morning at Athens International Airport - lots of smiles after a very early start - as the group said "efcharisto" (thank you) & "antio" (goodbye) to their Global Explorers tour leader Apostolos.
In just 7 days/6 nights the students & their chaperones have toured archaeological sites, visited museums, viewed Athens from atop the Acropolis, walked in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, eaten all kinds go Greek foods, ridden donkeys/horses, taken a boat to a Greek island, learned a few words in a new language, & caught the sun!
Welcome home & congratulations on graduating BCS Seniors.
This was the scene this morning at Athens International Airport - lots of smiles after a very early start - as the group said "efcharisto" (thank you) & "antio" (goodbye) to their Global Explorers tour leader Apostolos.
In just 7 days/6 nights the students & their chaperones have toured archaeological sites, visited museums, viewed Athens from atop the Acropolis, walked in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, eaten all kinds go Greek foods, ridden donkeys/horses, taken a boat to a Greek island, learned a few words in a new language, & caught the sun!
Welcome home & congratulations on graduating BCS Seniors.
Thursday: Return to Athens
Today was largely a free day, a chance for the students & chaperones to do some independent exploring & no doubt some shopping too.
This morning the group gathered (above) ready to meet their bus & say goodbye to Nafplion before driving back to Athens.
After checking-in to their overnight hotel, the fantastically-central Hotel Attalos, the group were able to enjoy the Plaka district & the rest of the city for the afternoon - whether shopping, sightseeing, relaxing, or just enjoying the superb view of the Acropolis from their hotel's rooftop terrace!
This evening their farewell dinner was a Kalokerinos Taverna - a fun way to end their tour with Greek music, singing, dancing, & yes - even plate smashing! Ops!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Wednesday: The Island of Hydra
After a few days of fun but educational touring, with visits to the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum, & multiple archaeological sites, today was dedicated to a more fun & relaxing excursion.
With just 6 days in Greece it's impossible to do the country justice. But no trip to this seafaring nation would be complete with out a trip to one of islands famous islands.
Lying just two miles of the coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula, less than a two-jour drive from Nafplion, the island of Hydra is close is distance but miles away in feel. Cars are banned on the island, so the only way to get around is on foot, by boat, or by donkey, mule or horse - a chance for these Texans to show what they're made of!
After an early start for the bus ride through the countryside, the boat ride from the tiny 'port' of Metochi takes just 20 minutes to cross to Hydra. The rest of the day was spent there - after a short introduction from Apostolos the group were free to enjoy the island at leisure, relaxing in a waterfront taverna, taking a walk along the coastline, finding a good swimming spot, or yes, riding the donkeys/horses.
Later in the afternoon the group gathered together for the return journey & dinner in Nafplion at the lively Slalom restaurant -a fun way to end a fun day.
With just 6 days in Greece it's impossible to do the country justice. But no trip to this seafaring nation would be complete with out a trip to one of islands famous islands.
Lying just two miles of the coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula, less than a two-jour drive from Nafplion, the island of Hydra is close is distance but miles away in feel. Cars are banned on the island, so the only way to get around is on foot, by boat, or by donkey, mule or horse - a chance for these Texans to show what they're made of!
After an early start for the bus ride through the countryside, the boat ride from the tiny 'port' of Metochi takes just 20 minutes to cross to Hydra. The rest of the day was spent there - after a short introduction from Apostolos the group were free to enjoy the island at leisure, relaxing in a waterfront taverna, taking a walk along the coastline, finding a good swimming spot, or yes, riding the donkeys/horses.
Later in the afternoon the group gathered together for the return journey & dinner in Nafplion at the lively Slalom restaurant -a fun way to end a fun day.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Tuesday: Exploring the Peloponnese
Waking up in the beautiful city of Nafplion today, the group spent the morning visiting two of the important archaeological sites in this part of the Peloponnese Peninsula - Epidaurus & Mycenae.
Epidaurus was home to a major medical & theatrical center in ancient times (the two things went together!) & even hosted its own games festival (a rival to the similar games in Olympia that inspired the modern Olympics). Visitors to the site todays see one of the largest existing Greek theatres anywhere in the world, once capable of sitting 14,000 & still used for performances every summer.
Mycenae is a mysterious archaeological site, part history & part legend. It's known that it was home to a major Greek power at one time, & that among its kings was Agamemnon. But historians disagree over whether the historical Agamemnon ever set sail for Troy as literature & legend claim.
After returning to Nafplion around lunchtime the group enjoyed a free afternoon - to shop in the quaint backstreets, to relax, to take a boat ride to the tiny castle in the harbor or climb the hill to one of two castles overlooking the city, or just to enjoy the town's small rocky beach.
This evening the group rendezvoused for their group dinner at a waterfront taverna that specializes in seafood.
Epidaurus was home to a major medical & theatrical center in ancient times (the two things went together!) & even hosted its own games festival (a rival to the similar games in Olympia that inspired the modern Olympics). Visitors to the site todays see one of the largest existing Greek theatres anywhere in the world, once capable of sitting 14,000 & still used for performances every summer.
Mycenae is a mysterious archaeological site, part history & part legend. It's known that it was home to a major Greek power at one time, & that among its kings was Agamemnon. But historians disagree over whether the historical Agamemnon ever set sail for Troy as literature & legend claim.
After returning to Nafplion around lunchtime the group enjoyed a free afternoon - to shop in the quaint backstreets, to relax, to take a boat ride to the tiny castle in the harbor or climb the hill to one of two castles overlooking the city, or just to enjoy the town's small rocky beach.
This evening the group rendezvoused for their group dinner at a waterfront taverna that specializes in seafood.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Monday: Athens & the Peloponnese
This morning the group spent time seeing a few more of Athens 'must see' sights, including the Panathenaic Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, & Syntagma Square (home of the Greek parliament & Greece's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier).
After lunch it was time to depart Athens & board the bus for the drive to Nafplion, the first capital on modern Greece & nowadays a charming & quiet city of around 10,000.
En-route the group stopped to tour the runs of ancient Corinth, another site with links to the gospel (Letters to the Corinthians).
This evening, before dinner there was time for a stroll to get to know Nafplion, then afterwards time for gelato in a local Italian gelateria!
After lunch it was time to depart Athens & board the bus for the drive to Nafplion, the first capital on modern Greece & nowadays a charming & quiet city of around 10,000.
En-route the group stopped to tour the runs of ancient Corinth, another site with links to the gospel (Letters to the Corinthians).
This evening, before dinner there was time for a stroll to get to know Nafplion, then afterwards time for gelato in a local Italian gelateria!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Sunday PM: Athens Continued...
After their morning exertions climbing the Acropolis & Areopagus on a hot & humid day, the group enjoyed some free time for lunch in the bustling streets of the Plaka, a quaint neighborhood in central Athens full of cafes, restaurants, stores, etc.
Later in the afternoon another metro ride took them to the National Archaeological Museum, a treasure trove of ancient Greek antiquities & home to many artifacts found at the sights they visited today or will be visiting later in the week.
This evening their dinner, their first in Greece, was at a fun local taverna, O Sholarhio.
Here the waiters present a tray with a variety of different Greek dishes & each table selects what they want to eat - everybody gets to try some Greek specialities & everybody gets to choose. The perfect introduction to Greek cuisine & a great end to a great first day in Greece.
Later in the afternoon another metro ride took them to the National Archaeological Museum, a treasure trove of ancient Greek antiquities & home to many artifacts found at the sights they visited today or will be visiting later in the week.
This evening their dinner, their first in Greece, was at a fun local taverna, O Sholarhio.
Here the waiters present a tray with a variety of different Greek dishes & each table selects what they want to eat - everybody gets to try some Greek specialities & everybody gets to choose. The perfect introduction to Greek cuisine & a great end to a great first day in Greece.
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