Greece by Marlene Kirton-Marlin Travel, Brandon
Visited by Marlin Travel Professionals Jodi and Marlene
Home to mythical gods and ancient civilizations, there are few destinations that rival the radiance and cultural wealth of Greece. The azure waters of the Aegean and Ionian seas are an extraordinary backdrop for enchanting islands with breathtaking scenery - from white-washed villages to picturesque harbours and beautiful beaches.
This country of contrasts has drawn me to visit it on a number of occasions. In my more adventurous (and youthful!) days I backpacked my way through Greece after traveling by
ferry from Italy. While this mode of transportation is by no means restricted to the backpacking traveler there are flights via direct charter with Transat Holidays to Athens that are ideal for the person wishing to exclusively visit Greece. Once there, you can customize an itinerary or take advantage of the packaged vacations that offer city or island stays, extended touring, Greek Island cruises or any number of combinations of these tours. As with any trip overseas, it pays to book early. Not only do you have a better chance of being able to book exactly what you want, you can take of advantage of the early booking discounts that many of the major tour companies offer.
My second visit to Greece was a seven day Greek Island cruise and I fell in love with the
country all over again! Each port is unique in its natural beauty and history that literally
transports you to another time. We strolled fabled cobblestone streets that wound through
narrow passageways, wandered ancient sites that held centuries of secrets and fairy tale
harbours with cobbled piazzas. In Rhodes, a well preserved crusader island, we choose to
wander the narrow streets of the old city of Rhodes Town, unchanged with Medieval Inns.
The walls encompassing the Old Town were originally built by the Knights of the Order of
St. John. The streets are lined with street vendors, quaint shops and century old tavernas that are worth visiting for a much needed rest.
The island of Santorini is unlike anywhere else in the world with the main town of Fira perched along a cliff edge that plunges 900 feet down to the ocean. With its breathtaking views Santorini is believed to be the lost continent of Atlantis. To get to the town we had two choices, by donkey up a narrow dirt path carved into the rock or by cable car. You arrive to small winding walkways lined with art galleries, shops and restaurants, many of which lead to cliff side patios. What better place in the world to view a spectacular sunset than perched high on the cliffs of Santorini.
Many of the Greek island cruises take in the Turkish ports of Istanbul and Kusadasi. The
experience of sailing into Istanbul as the sun rose over the towering minarets of world
famous mosques was second only to the ruins of Ephessos located outside of Kusadasi.
This ancient seaside city contained the most well preserved Roman ruins that I have
ever seen. As I followed the marble road marked by the wheels of countless chariots
and looked down at the Roman baths you could easily picture this community as it
must have been.
No matter where you travel to in Greece there will be a new experience every day. If
you are considering visiting the islands, keep in mind that many virtually close down
for the winter season in late October when the locals move into Athens for the winter months. The best times to travel to Greece is in spring or early summer and in the fall.
For information on vacations and travel packages to Greece contact one of our Marlin Travel professionals.
