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The Real Greece of the Peloponnese Peninsula:
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Accommodations are subject to change due to availability. We will be booking with these hotels if possible.
Athens - Heritage Hill Hotel, 36 rooms Kalamata - Elektra Hotel, 32 rooms Gytheio - Las Hotel - full service hotel Monemvasia - Malvasia Traditional Hotel, 14 rooms Nafplio - Hotel Marianna |
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The itinerary is subject to change but will always be planned for the best photographic opportunities.
Day 1, Thu, May 18
The workshop adventure will begin in Athens Thursday evening, May 18th, when we will meet for our first Mediterranean dinner. Our stylish hotel in the center of town is perfect for last minute Wi-fi downloads and for getting some good rest before we hit the road. Day 2, Fri, May 19 The next morning we begin our travel by visiting the Acropolis and the Parthenon, our first glimpse of Greek history and a must-see for every visitor. Our air-conditioned, private minibus (16-19 people capacity for our group of 10 participants) then continues across the Corinth Canal to the Peloponnese peninsula and the countryside. Two nights will be in Kalamata while we fill our days visiting olive groves and learning about the growing and preparation of these famous olives and olive oil. Greeks agree that some of the best olive oil comes from the region of Messinia, the area surrounding the town of Kalamata. There are olives for eating and olives for making olive oil and there are different kinds of olive oils. Drive Time: 3h30m Day 3, Sat, May 20 The Saturday morning farmers' market will give us a chance to mingle with the locals as they gather to buy fresh vegetables, meat and fish for the weekend. In the afternoon, we travel to Olympia, the place where the Olympic games took place over 2000 years ago. This day in the countryside offers bucolic landscapes and rolling hillsides of olive groves. Drive Time: 3h30m Day 4, Sun, May 21 Traveling along the rugged coastline of Mani, we will see traditional fishing towns and dazzling seascapes. On one stop, we visit the Agios Spyridon church and the Troupakis-Mourtzinos Fortress. Moving on to our next guesthouse, we come to Gytheio, a beautiful town by the water where the fishermen dry their catch in the sun. This town was the port for ancient Sparta, the legendary militaristic city-state. Drive Time: 2h30m Day 5, Mon, May 22 Two nights in Gytheio will give us plenty of moments to watch the fishermen come and go in their small boats bringing in the day's catch. Each fisherman uses a traditional motorboat to catch 10-50 pounds of fish. The imposing lighthouse, the seaside tavernas and the colorful dwellings up the hill represent Greece at its best. Our excursions include an abandoned stone village, a 5th generation potter's workshop and a cave accessed by boat. Drive Time: 3h Day 6, Tue, May 23 Continuing along the coastline, the next day will bring a stop at an abandoned shipwreck on a sandy beach on our way to the fascinating town on an island, Monemvasia. This fortified town features houses of stone and a labyrinth of alleys and passageways. A local guide will present the town's tangled history during a walking tour of its streets. Drive Time: 1h30m Day 7, Wed, May 24 Early light in Monemvasia will bring a beautiful sunrise glow to the rooftops. After breakfast, we travel toward Nafplio, a charming town surrounded by farms growing some of the best oranges and lemons of the region. Our trip will take us to an organic farm where we can enjoy a cooking class and try different dishes and deserts from oranges. We will enjoy two nights here before we turn our travel northward. Drive Time: 3h30m Day 8, Thu, May 25 We enjoy a day of exploration throughout this area photographing orange groves and rows of olive trees. The mix of olive groves and citrus trees offers a uniquely Mediterranean landscape. Drive Time: 2 h Day 9, Fri, May 26 On our way back to Athens, we visit the ancient Epidaurus amphitheater, a well-preserved structure which can seat 15,000 people and still boasts perfect acoustics. Our travels take us through wine country with a landscape dotted with vineyards and olive groves before we end our journey in Athens. As is our tradition, our final dinner together will be a time to share our creative photos and our snapshots of this memorable trip. Drive Time: 4h Day 10, Sat, May 27 Time to get to the airport to return home carrying fresh memories of our Greek adventures. |
Important Cancellation InformationHold your spot with a $1000 deposit with the balance due Mar. 15. If you need to cancel before Mar 15, $500 will be refunded. Because of advanced planning, if the cancellation is after that date, we will not be able to refund the workshop fee. In our post-Covid world, the hotels are applying strict cancellation penalties to try to stay in business. Watch this date as it approaches! On the unlikely chance that we need to cancel the workshop for any reason, you will be refunded the entire workshop price. Rooms are based on double occupancy and all have private baths. If you prefer a single room, the supplement is $600. We will make every effort to connect you with a roommate should you like to share a room. However, if we’re unable to make a match, the single supplement fee will apply. Let us know early if you have difficulty with stairs or have other special needs. 
Image from Pixabay and edited
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Greece, May 18 - May 27, 2023 WAITING LISTWAITING LIST. The trip is full but we would love to have you on the waiting list. Things change quickly these days and an open spot might happen after all! Discovering the hidden adventures along the southern coast of Greece. Olive oil, oranges, fishermen, magical blue seas and craggy landscapes. Any camera is welcome — from DSLR to Mirrorless to iPhone — as long as you have a way to get your images onto an iPhone or iPad for viewing and editing. A lightweight, modern approach to our image making with photo critiques and classes all based on iPhones and iPads. Total cost is $4600. TRIP IS FULL but please sign up on the waiting list. [email protected] |
Covid-related Policies
Your fellow travelers plus Jill, Dan and Daniel have all received Covid vaccinations. The transportation company that we use also has this requirement for their drivers. We will follow all suggested guidelines depending on what safety rules Greece has in place at that time. Each hotel or guesthouse lists policies for your protection. Check out their websites for more details.
Included:
• Nine nights lodging and 10 days of photographic instruction
• Various entrance fees, visits and shooting opportunities
• Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned bus
• Breakfasts included
• 2 Dinners on the first and last night in Athens
• 1 Dinner and Cooking Class at an organic farm
• 1 Olive grove and olive press visit with light dinner, olive oil tasting with Greek Meze cold platter and olives
• Fluent, English-speaking local guides at historic sites
• Tour Organizer and Photographer, Daniel Roșca
• Transfers to and from the airport
Not included:
• Passport
• Covid Vaccinations, Boosters and Any Testing Required
• Airfares and related taxes or fees to and from Athens
• Meals not listed above, expect to pay $17-22/per meal on average
• Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses, services, or purchases
• Transportation after the workshop ends
• Travel/cancellation Insurance which includes Overseas Medical Care and Evacuation
• Nine nights lodging and 10 days of photographic instruction
• Various entrance fees, visits and shooting opportunities
• Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned bus
• Breakfasts included
• 2 Dinners on the first and last night in Athens
• 1 Dinner and Cooking Class at an organic farm
• 1 Olive grove and olive press visit with light dinner, olive oil tasting with Greek Meze cold platter and olives
• Fluent, English-speaking local guides at historic sites
• Tour Organizer and Photographer, Daniel Roșca
• Transfers to and from the airport
Not included:
• Passport
• Covid Vaccinations, Boosters and Any Testing Required
• Airfares and related taxes or fees to and from Athens
• Meals not listed above, expect to pay $17-22/per meal on average
• Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses, services, or purchases
• Transportation after the workshop ends
• Travel/cancellation Insurance which includes Overseas Medical Care and Evacuation