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Day 4 Mon, June 7
Bari, Italy
This morning while at sea,
we invite you to a private gathering with
our Sky & Telescope
astronomy staff for an introduction to the
history and significance of transits of Venus. This afternoon we will
visit Bari, one of southern Italy’s most important ports. Be sure to
visit the nearby UNESCO site of Alberobello, a fairy-tale village of
circular houses called Trulli, made of whitewashed stone and capped by
gray slate cone-shaped roofs. Visit the neoclassical Santi Medici
Sanctuary with its twin steeples, as well as the Monti Quarter, full of
local handicrafts and foods.
B/L/D
Day 5 Tue, June 8
Corfu, Greece, and the Transit of Venus
Rich with orange and olive
groves, this picturesque Greek isle is a favorite of the international
jet set. In ancient times, Corfu’s fleet provided Odysseus with an
escort on the final leg of his journey home to Ithaca. The Old Town is
filled with colorful shops and lovely arcades.
Under special arrangement,
our group will disembark the European Vision before dawn, well in
advance of the 8:19 a.m. beginning of the transit of Venus. We
will view the entire event from our specially selected site. Throughout
the day you may also wish to visit nearby shops and restaurants,
returning at your leisure to the watch the
progress of the transit through our telescopes or your own. This
evening aboard the ship, we invite you as our guest to an exclusive
hosted cocktail-party celebration. B/L/D
Day 6 Wed, June 9
Santorini, Greece
After breakfast, join our
expert staff for a presentation on the astronomy of ancient Greece.
Later this morning, be out on deck for one of the Aegean’s most
memorable sights: the Bay of Santorini, where white cubic houses cling
to ochre cliffs towering 1,000 feet over this flooded caldera. You can
ride a donkey to the town of Thira, or ascend by more conventional
means.
B/L/D
Day 7 Thu, June 10
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Piraeus, near Athens, is
one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean. The waterfront is alive
with activity and the aroma of grilled seafood wafting from nearby
tavernas. Just 6 miles from the port you can visit Athens, host of the
2004 Summer Olympics. Sitting on a hill looming over the city, the
Acropolis remains a testament to the glory that was Greece. You’ll have
plenty of time to explore the perfectly proportioned Parthenon, which
looks out over the graceful Temple of Athena Nike, and the Plaka,
the oldest and
most picturesque quarter of Athens, with narrow streets, low houses,
neoclassical mansions, traditional tavernas and shops.
B/L/D
Day 8 Fri, June 11
Olympia (Katakolon), Greece
Olympia was a sacred
precinct built for the quadrennial games dedicated to Zeus during which
all hostilities ceased in the name of athletic competition. Much was
destroyed when the games were outlawed as a pagan festival in 393 AD,
but visitors can still see the Temple of Zeus and the stadium. The
Archaeological Museum houses some exquisite sculptures, including the
famous Niki “Winged Victory” by Paionios, “Hermes” by Praxiteles, and
“Apollo” from the Temple of Zeus.
B/L/D
Day 9 Sat, June 12
Dubrovnik, Croatia
This Croatian city, the
Pearl of the Adriatic, is dramatically set on a peninsula jutting into
the sea. Founded in the 7th century, its stone walls contain centuries
of treasure, all beautifully restored. A walk reveals beautiful
Dominican and Franciscan monasteries and cloisters, an old castle, and
stunning views. This afternoon aboard ship, join our staff astronomers
for the last of our enrichment lectures: a presentation on the
astronomical heritage of Italy, focusing especially on Galileo, who
introduced the telescope to astronomy nearly 400 years ago.
B/L/D
Day 10 Sun, June
13
Arrivederci Venice!
After an early breakfast aboard the ship, we
will disembark and say our farewells. Morning or afternoon transfers are
included from the port to Venice Marco Polo International Airport for
your flight home, or consider adding extra nights in Venice. Contact
TravelQuest for details. B |
