First week in Los Angeles and Las Vegas

Los Angeles is located in California on the Western coast of the United States. It is the second largest city in the U.S. The first Europeans arrived in 1542 and Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese-born explorer, claimed the area for the Spanish empire. The town was officially founded on September 4, 1781 by a group of 44 people called “Los Pobladores.” The town was later ruled by Mexico, until it became a part of the United States.
Los Angeles is often called the “Creative Capital of the World,” because one of every six residents work in a creative industry, including artists, writers, filmmakers, actors, cancers and musicians. Los Angeles is most famous because it is the location of Hollywood, which most people say is the epicenter of the film industry. Many of Los Angeles important landmarks are related to the film industry, including Grauman´s Chinese Theater, the Hollywood sign, and Hollywood Boulevard.


MONDAY 5TH JULY: Madrid-Los Angeles
The ticket of the plane to go to Los Angeles from Madrid costs € 946 per person.
The company is called Avianca Plane Aerovias. It will be an indirect flight. The first flight, No. 11 - Madrid (Barajas) takes off at 16:25 and arrives in Colombia at 20:00. The second flight (No. 48) which goes from Bogatell, Colombia (Eldorado), and will take off at 1:35. It arrives in Los Angeles (LAX) at 7:16. Respecting the time change we would arrive at LAX on Tuesday 6th of July.

Hotel: 40$ (per night)
HUNTINGTON BEACH - 1 BLOCK
Location of the hotel
16196 Pacific Coast Hwy 92649 Huntington Beach CA United States
Description of the hotel
Location: The Oceanview Motel-Huntington Beach is situated in Huntington, California in one block, 11 miles from Huntington Beach Pear. 15 km from Knott’s Berry Farm. Hotel Features. It has TV by cable and refrigerator on request.
Area Attractions
Huntington Beach - 1 block Huntington Beach Pier - 11 km (7 miles) Knott's Berry Farm - 15 km (9,5 miles) Medieval Times - 16 km (10 miles) Disneyland - 18 km (11,2 miles) Disney's California Adventure - 18 km (11,2 miles) Downtown Disney - 18,5 km (11,5 miles) Long Beach Convention Centre - 19 km (12 miles)
Direction
From the Airport John Wayne: The distance to the hotel is 21,5 km (13,4 miles). We have to take the I-405 North, exit to Seal Beach Boulevard. Turn to the left to the Pacific Coast Highway. Then go to the Pacific Coast Highway South until the motel.
Property information
Arrival 3:00 PM
Exit 11:00 AM
No. rooms: 29
No. flats: 3
Policies and responsibilities
You must present a photo ID when checking in. Your credit card is charged at the time you book. Bed type and smoking preferences are not guaranteed. Your reservation is prepaid and is guaranteed for late arrival. The total charge includes all room charges and taxes, as well as fees for access and booking. Any incidental charges such as parking, phone calls, and room service will be handled directly between you and the property.


TUESDAY 6TH OF JULY:
In the morning we will go to Disneyland: 86E. You can spend there all day. There are over 60 attractions. It's the most high-tech, adrenaline-pumping thrill on wheels! “Plunge into the ocean on the all-new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Join Dory and Marlin in a search through ancient underwater ruins and volcanos on a search for little Nemo”.

You can embark on a journey through the Happiest Place on Earth, with family-friendly rides like the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion and the Jungle Cruise. And don't forget to meet those lovable Disney characters - Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and more.


WEDNESDAY 7TH OF JULY:
In the morning we will go to Hollywood. There we will visit the Chinese theatre (free) where you can see the handprints and shoeprints of the famous actors and actress. And then, in the Hollywood boulevard street, we will see the stars on the floor of the famous actors and actress of Hollywood. There we will catch a taxi, and during the journey we will see the sunset boulevard and some of the famous actors houses, and the taxi will leave us in the rodeo drive street (+o-20$). The rodeo drive street is the pushiest street in all LA where you can find the best clothing brands. We will finish the morning tour, eating in the famous Beverly Wilshire hotel, known by the pretty woman film (actor: Richard Gere and actress: Julia Robberts). The menu costs: 50$ .
In the afternoon we will visit the famous beach of Malibu. It is plenty of skaters, bodybuilders and all kind of different people. There we will go walking and if it’s very hot we will have a swim in the sea. We will go there and return to the hotel by bus: 8$.

Las Vegas was named by Spaniards who used the water in the area while heading north and west along the Old Spanish Trail from Texas. It was made into a railroad town on May 15, 1905, and people began to live there. In 1931, gambling was legalized and many casino-hotels were created.
Today, Las Vegas is famous as a gambling town. Most people who visit Las Vegas stay at one of the famous hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. In this area, there is lots of shopping, entertainment shows like Cirque du Soleil, restaurants, casinos and special attractions like amusement parks and a replica of the Eiffel Tower. It is a very fun place for both adults and families.

THURSDAY 8TH OF JULY: Los Angeles-Las Vegas.
The plane ticket costs 105 € per person. The company of this aircraft is Alaska Airlines. The flight is the number 1146, which runs from Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (McCarran). It takes off at 16:55 and arrives at 18:00.
We will visit the hotels of the new zone like Caesar palace, the mirage, circus, axon, luxury, Riviera and flamingo (where we sleep).
The hotel where we sleep and have breakfast is called Flamingo Hotel**** and costs 60$ per night.
We will have lunch in the Treasure Island: 20$. And we will have dinner at the Excalibur restuarant: 30$.
At night we will see a performance of David Copperfield at the MGM hotel.
David Copperfield is one of the most famous magicians of all time, began its magic life with 12 years old and throughout his career has offered innovative tricks that left no one indifferent. On the show you can see cars appear, members off the public teleported, and, of course, himself flying rising up.

FRIDAY 9TH OF JULY:
Today we will visit the hotels of the old town(downtown) like horse shoes, Fremont hotel, four Queens and golden nugget( where we eat: 20$)
In the afternoon we will relax in the amazing pool of our hotel.
We will go to bed early so the next day we can start the trip soon.












SATURDAY 10TH OF JULY:
In the morning a taxi will take us to the airport of Las Vegas; there we take a plane to visit the Grand and Bryce canyon. This plane passes over the Colorado River, and lands in the Grand Canyon. There we visit the different viewpoints of the park and get into the great horseshoe. Later we eat in the park: 10$, and we continue with the tour since the Bryce Canyon (UTAH) and we finish the tour in the origin and the in the airport of departure.
The total price of the excursion is about 187$, it includes the route from the hotel to the airport and to the airport to the hotel.
At night we will have dinner in the hardrock:20$.

Second week in Australia

The original people of Australia were hunter-gatherers.
In 1606 Willem Janszoon was the first European who saw Australia.
The British colonies were created between the XIX and XX century.
On the 1st January 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was created. This meant that Australia became a dominion of the British Empire, meaning they were allowed to control their own government. After World War II, Australia encouraged immigration from Europe and Asia, which changed the culture a lot. The Australia Act of 1986 ended the British role in the government forever.

The culture of Australia is influenced by all of the people who have moved there from other countries. The food was influenced a lot at first by the British settlers and is very similar to the food in the UK. After more people moved from the Mediterranean and Asian countries, a lot of this type of food was introduced into the culture too. Sports are very important to Australian culture. Some of the most popular sports are cricket, rugby, and football and Australia has many strong international teams.

SUNDAY 11TH OF JULY: Las Vegas- Australia (Sydney)
The ticket costs 809 € per person. It will be an indirect flight. The company is Asiana Airlines aircraft. The first flight is No. 6241, which will take off from Las Vegas (McCarran)at 10:50 and arrive to Los Angeles (LAX) at 12:10. The second flight No. 201 goes from Los Angeles (LAX) at 13:40, to South Korea (Incheon Intl Airport) where we will arrive at 18:10. The third flight No. 601 flights from South Korea (Incheo Intl Airport) at 20:30 to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) which will land at 7:40. Following the time change will arrive in Australia on Tuesday, 13th of July.



Marriott Hotel:
This hotel has 4 1/2 stars. The total price for the stay is 615 €.
It has also internet, a swimming-pool and restaurants.
Marriott Hotel is 1.1 km from the city centre.
Air-conditioned public areas, Elevator, Bar / lounge / lounge; Fee wired high-speed Internet, wireless Internet Fee; Number of rooms: 241; Number of floors: 23, Swimming pool, Restaurant / s on site ; Dance lounge.
Time to check-in: 2 pm
Time to check out: 11 a.m.
No pets allowed.
According to the policy of the hotel, there is a surcharge for every additional person.
It requires a photo ID and a credit card or cash deposit at check-in for incidentals.
Special requests can not be guaranteed, are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges.
To contact them:
36 College Street
Sydney, New South Wales 2010 Australia
Phone: 61 2 9361 8400

Located on the steps of Hyde Park and minutes from the Sydney CBD, our Central Sydney hotel offers you a world class experience at the perfect location to enjoy all of which Sydney has to offer. Just moments away from Haymarket, the hotel in Central Sydney is at the junction of downtown Sydney's business precinct (CBD), cultural delights and moments from Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Botanic Gardens. With views of Sydney Tower, our modern guest rooms blend comfort with convenience including Marriott's 'Revive' bedding. We distinguish ourselves from other Central Sydney hotels in Haymarket with friendly staff and world class facilities, all within easy reach of vibrant nightlife, Oxford Street restaurants and close to major stadiums such as Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and Sydney Football Stadium. Whether dining at our restaurant or relaxing by our rooftop swimming pool, the Marriott Central Sydney hotel near Haymarket is sure to delight.

TUESDAY 13TH
When we arrive at Sydney we will go to the hotel to leave the bags and the luggage there.
We will stay all day in the beach relaxing and sunbathing. We can also take a surf class and have fun in the waves.
We will have lunch in a stall at the same beach (15$)

WEDNESDAY 14TH
In the morning we will have breakfast in the hotel. After that, at 11.00 am we will go to the Sydney Aquarium (35$). We will stay there for one hour or so. Then we will go for a walk and we will have lunch at Edna’s Table restaurant (50$).
In the afternoon we will go to Anzac Bridge and we will take a walk around the city and we will go shopping.
We will have dinner in the restaurant of the hotel at 9.00 pm. After dinner we will visit the city at night and we will watch very beautiful sights.
















THURSDAY 15TH
Touristic bus: we will catch it at 9.00 am at Star City Coach Terminal (99$).
The hop-on hop-off open top double decker allows you to discover vibrant Sydney at your own pace.


Itinerary
City Hop-On Hop-Off
The independent and easy way to get around Sydney and the must see attractions.


Sydney Tower
Panoramic sights of the city, harbour, Botany Bay and views toward Blue Mountains.














Sydney Opera House
Take a captivating guided tour providing an overview of the performing arts centre - stunning architecture, concert theatres and beautiful glass foyers.
We will get out from the bus here and we will enter the opera and visit it. After that we will have lunch in the Guillaume Restaurant at Bennelong (130$). Then we will catch the bus again and visit the rest of the city.

















Harbour Cruise
Join the Sydney Harbour Explorer and discover spectacular Sydney Harbour.






















Sydney Monorail
Whiz through the city, Darling Harbour and Chinatown ten meters above the crowds.

Includes
- Full commentary and selected attractions fees.

Excludes
- Meals and drinks (unless specified)
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal Expense
- Optional activity costs
At 9.00pm we will go back to the hotel and at 9.30pm

Second week in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a coastal island located in Southern China. Writings have been found from thousands of years ago. It started as a small fishing village where Chinese emperors would send their punished officials. In the beginning, because there were not many other resources, the people lived mostly on fish, until the Europeans came. In 1841, Britain made Hong Kong a crown colony. The British introduced an education system similar to their own model.
During the Second World War, the Empire of Japan invaded and won Hong Kong from the British. During this time of Japanese control, the people suffered with no food and very expensive prices. Then in 1945, the United Kingdom took control again. In 1997, control of Hong Kong was transferred to the People’s Republic of China.
Hong Kong is usually described as a place where “East meets West,” because of it’s history with both China and Britain. While it is very modern, many Chinese traditions and practices are still very important. For example, feng shui, the practice of decorating and building according the spiritual principles of good, evil, and luck, is still very important. The entertainment industry is important in Hong Kong. Many martial arts films are made there.



FRIDAY 16TH JULY: Sydney-Hong Kong.
The plane ticket costs € 725 per person. The company of this aircraft is Virgin Atlantic. The flight is No. 201 which goes from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) at 14:25 to Hong Kong (Hong Kong Intl), where will arrive at 21:55.
It will be the same time zone.

FRIDAY 16TH
At 10:15 pm we arrive at the hotel, The Mira Hotel*****. It is situated in 118 Nathan Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. It cost 262 Euros 2 nights. Date of entry: 16-07-2010. Date of exit: 19-07-2010.


SATURDAY 17TH:
We will have breakfast at the hotel.
We will stay all the day in Hong Kong Disneyland. It costs 350 Euros. You can enjoy exciting and playful attractions, watch amazing shows and meet your favorite Disney Characters.
Dinner will be at the hotel (it’s not included).

SUNDAY 18TH
We will have breakfast at the hotel.
At morning we will go to The Monastery Po Lin. It is the most important Buddhist monastery of Hong Kong. It is placed in Ngong Ping, the highest part of Lantau's island. The monastery has more than one century of history, it was founded by three monks in the year 1906. The enclosure of the monastery includes the temple, the houses of the monks, a vegetarian restaurant and several shops to buy incense. We will have lunch in the vegetarian restaurant.
At 19:50 we have to be at the airport.

Third week in Beijing

The earliest evidence that people lived in Beijing is from 230,000 to 250,000 years ago. Paleolithic homo sapiens lived there. Over the years, the dynasties and royal families in power changed. In the 1300s, during the Ming Dynasty, Beijing became the capital city of China. Many of the emperors from this dynasty have elaborate tombs near Beijing. It is believed that from 1452 to 1650 Beijing was the largest city in the world. Many important things were built during the Ming Dynasty, including the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen, which is now a state symbol of the People’s Republic of China, and Tiananmen Square.
In 1911, they made China a republic and the city of Nanjing became the capital city. In 1949, however, during the Chinese Civil War, the Communist Party of China took power and created the People’s Republic of China and made Beijing the capital city again. Recently, Beijing has become a large, urban city. Because of this, there is a lot of traffic and pollution. The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in Beijing.
The native people of Beijing speak the Beijing dialect, which is part of Mandarin. The Beijing opera is very famous throughout the nation. It combines song, spoken dialogue, and action sequences, like gestures, movement, fighting, and acrobatics. Many of the old, traditional houses of Beijing, called hutongs, were destroyed so that tall buildings. Many residents say this has changed the traditional culture of community and street life.

MONDAY 19TH OF JULY: Hong Kong- Beijing.
The ticket costs 284€ per person. The aircraft carrier is Air China's flight No. 947.It goes from Hong Kong (Hong Kong Intl) at 20:50 to Beijing (capital) at 16:00. It has the same time zone.

MONDAY 19TH
At 5:00 pm we arrive at the hotel, the Beijing Grand Hotel *****. It is situated in - 35 East Chang An Avenue – Pekín. It costs 293.45 Euros 3 nights with breakfast included. Date of entry: 19-07-2010. Date of exit: 22-07-2010.
In the evening we will go to Tian’anmen Square (free). It is the largest city square in the world, at 440,000 square meters, and can hold about one million people for public celebrations. You can see the Monument of the National Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong…
Also at evening, 7:30 pm we are going to visit the Spectacular KungFu show at Red Theatre, It cost 135 Euros. The Legend of Kung Fu follows the story of a young boy found wandering outside an ancient temple. Like every boy in China, he dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master. On the road to reach, the young monk fined many difficulties and temptations.
Dinner will be at the hotel (it’s not included).

















TUESDAY 20TH
We will have breakfast at the hotel.
At morning we will go to The Forbidden City (free), called Gu Gong in Chinese, was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Now known as the Palace Museum, it is to the north of Tiananmen Square. Rectangular in shape, it is the world's largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares. There are towers on each of the four corners of the curtain wall. We will have lunch in somewhere of there.
In the afternoon we will go to the Hutong Tour (free). The areas have a very special and important position in the rich history and culture of Beijing. You can see evidence of the history, experience the old way of life and experience traditional Beijing culture.
We will dinner in the hotel (it’s not included).















WEDNESDAY 21ST
We will have breakfast at the hotel.
At morning we will visit the Great wall is one of the cultural heritages of China, which is one of the most magnificent man-made projects in the world. It is also the only human work that can be seen from the moon. It has 6000km of longer. We will have lunch in somewhere of there.
At 1:30 we have to be on the airport

This hotel has all the amenities that we could imagine (whirlpool, first class food). Also the views are a great luxury, as they are splendidly beautiful.

Third week in Madagascar

Madagascar was uninhabited until about 1500 to 2000 years ago. Portuguese, British, Dutch and French sailors visited the island, but it wasn’t until European and North American buccaneers made the island their base in the Indian Ocean in the 17th century and called it Madagascar. With the money they made from trade with other countries, many Malagasy kingdoms became powerful. At the beginning the beginning, when the chief of the powerful Merina tribe was in power, the relationship with Britain was good. But when the chief died, his wife disliked them because of their violence and killed many of the British on the island.
In 1890 the British gave France Madagascar in exchange for Zanzibar. The French captured the wife of the chief and officially colonized the island in 1897. The French constructed roads, abolished slavery, and made education better, but they also prohibited a lot of Malagasy customs, including the language. The Malagasy people did not like the French. In 1958, the island finally became independent.
Malagasy culture is a mixture of Southeast Asian, Arab, African and European. The food usually includes rice, which is typical in many Asian countries, too. The Malagasy names for seasons, months, days and coins come from Arabic. The education is not very good in Madagascar. Many adults cannot read.
The zebu, similar to a cow with a hump, is very important to Malagasy tradition and culture. It is sacred and also shows how wealthy the owner is. Cattle rustling, the moving of large groups of zebus, was a tradition when boys would become men. Zebus are also popular in art and are carved onto the wooden poles that decorate the tombs of some tribes.
About 50% of the country’s population practice the traditional Malagasy religion. In this religion, the relationship between the living and the dead is very important and they believe that when you die, you join all your ancestors in a ranking system, where the family is put in order of importance. Because of the influence of the French, today about 45% of the Malagasy are Christian, both Catholic and Protestant. But the Malagasy Christians still mix some of the traditional Malagasy religious practices with Christianity. Other religions are Islam and Hinduism.

WEDNESDAY 21ST OF JULY: Beijing- Madagascar.
The ticket costs € 1,426 per person. The flight consists of two stops. The first flight (No. 947) goes to Beijing (capital) at 20:50 to India (Indira Gandhi Intl)which arrives at 1:40. The second flight (No. 6745) goes from India (India Gandhi Intl) at 5:20 to Mauritius (S. Seewoosagur) at 11:20. The third flight (No. 289) goes from Mauritius (S. Seewoosagur) at 12:50 until Madagascar (Antananarivo) at 13:30.
Following the time zone we will arrive on Thursday.


HOTEL: La Résidence Antananarivo
We will stay in a suite. It costs 158 € and we will stay there 4 nights.
City Charges and Breakfast: City Charges and Breakfast are included in the Room Price, unless it is stated otherwise in the Services Included/Excluded information.
Services Included/Not Included: Breakfast for two persons included.A tax of 0,80 Euros per night and per room will be charged apart. Free internet access in the lobby area.Additional beds are not included in the price and cost 5 Euros per night.Stay of pets are allowed and cost 4 Euros per night.


THURSDAY 22ND
We will go to the La Résidence Antananarivo and we will leave the luggage there. Then we will have lunch in the hotel’s restaurant.
At 6.00 pm we will go to Balnéoforme Colbert, a fantastic spa with a mosaic swimming pool and Turkish bath. A variety of stunningly decorated treatment rooms offer body wraps, bubble baths and every kind of massage imaginable - relaxing, slimming, water, ying-yang… It's not cheap, but it is worth it, especially if you've just arrived back in Tana after some hard trekking.


FRIDAY 23RD
THE ROVA
The Rova, or royal palace, is the imposing structure that crowns the highest hill overlooking Lac Anosy. Gutted in a fire in 1995, it has been under restoration for years. If it has reopened when you visit, remember that it is fady (taboo) to point your finger directly at the royal tombs or the palace itself.
Minibuses 103, 134 and 190 will also take us there
MUSÉE ANDAFIVARATRA
Housed in a magnificent pink baroque palace, a few hundred metres downhill from the Rova, the Musée Andafivaratra is filled with furniture, portraits and memorabilia from the age of the Merina kings and queens.
The building was the former home of Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, the power behind the throne of the three queens he married in succession.



SATURDAY 24TH
ANDOHALO CATHEDRAL
Wind your way down to the twin-towered Andohalo Cathedral, which was built on the spot where Queen Ranavalona liked to throw Christian martyrs from the cliffs. Nearby you'll find the reconstruction of Jean Laborde's house, which served as Madagascar's first French consulate.
AVARADROVA & ANDOHALO
The districts of Avaradrova and Andohalo are fine places to stroll around for an hour or two, with stunning views on all sides, plaques detailing the significance of some interesting historical buildings and a sense of real local life around you.



SUNDAY 25TH
PRESIDENT’S PALACE
Stroll at leisure through the lanes to reach Rue Ratsimilaho, the main artery of the lively Haute-Ville. After the pretty garden on Place de l'Indépendance, head down Rue Rainilaiarivony to have a look at the President's Palace, with its sentry boxes painted red and green to match the Malagasy flag.
ANALAKELY MARKET
For Shakespeare, the entire world was a stage; for Antananarivo it seems that all the world's a market, which must make at least half the population hawkers. Everywhere you look vendors tout their wares from stalls, carts and inverted cardboard boxes, or simply wander the streets looking hopeful.
The main official market is found in the 'pavilions' at Analakely. It's a packed, teeming place, selling clothes, household items, dodgy VCDs and every food product you could imagine, plus a few things you probably couldn't - look out for the shop(s) selling '100% organic' bat guano.

Fourth week in Greece

The history of Greece is very long and interesting. Each era was very interesting and in some ways very different from each other. People believe that the first Greek speaking tribes, the Mycenaeans, arrived in Greece between the 3rd and 2nd millennium B.C. The Mycenaeans invaded and took the land from non-Greek-speaking people already living there.
During this era, Greece was divided into city-states and had a very impressive system of government. Two of the most important city-states that are still famous today were Athens and Sparta. Athens was powerful because of trade and Sparta had a very good military. The Persian war is a famous war, when the Persians, now known as Iran, attacked Greece. In the end, thanks to good organization and the strong Spartan army, Greece was the winner.
Greece is known for its history of art, literature and philosophy. During the time of the Roman Empire, when Greece was ruled by the Romans, there was a time of peace when the Greeks taught the Romans a lot of things about art, literature and philosophy.
Because of this history of art and architecture, Greece today is one of the world’s main centers of archaeological research. It has a rich history that is interesting for any traveler. The capital city of Athens has hosted the Summer Olympics twice, in 1896 and 2003.

MONDAY 26TH OF JULY: Madagacar- Athens.
The ticket costs 1097 per person. The aircraft carrier is Air France. It consists of two stops. The first one (No. 3575) is from Madagascar (Antananarivo) at 1:05 to Paris (Ch. De Gaulle) at 10:55. The second one (No. 1832) is from Paris (Ch. De Gaulle) at 12:35 to Athens (Eleftherios V) will arrive at 16:50.


ROYAL OLYMPIC HOTEL
The whole stay costs 476€, 119 € per night.
Air-conditioned public areas, Elevator, Bar beside the swimming pool or lounge Bar / lounge, coffee shop, business center 24 hours, space for smokers, Fax, free wireless Internet, pool table, dining establishments Number 2, Number Room: 264; Number of floors: 6; Umbrella, Swimming pool, Restaurant / s at the hotel, lounge / dance is, shop or newsstand, shops on site
Check-in time: 15:00 h
Check-out Time: 11:00 h
No pets allowed
According to the policy of the hotel, there is a surcharge for every additional person.
It requires a photo ID and a credit card or cash deposit at check-in for incidentals.
Special requests can not be guaranteed, are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges.

















27TH TUESDAY OF JULY:
MORNING (08:00-17:00): AKROPOLI
Address: the entry is from Dionysiou Areopagitou or Theorias, Anafiotika. Phone: +30 210 321 0219. Website: www.culture.gr. Transport: underground rail Akropoli. Adult/concession €12/€6
The Acropolis is the most important ancient site in the Western world. Crowned by the Parthenon and it is visible from almost everywhere within the city. Its monuments are from the Penetelic marble gleam, and at night it illuminates the entire city.
Pericles set about transforming the Acropolis into a city of temples after being informed by the Delphic oracle in 510 BC that it should become a province of the gods.
The Parthenon is the largest Doric temple ever completed in Greece, the only one built completely (apart from its wooden roof) of Pentelic marble. It had dual purpose: to house the giant statue of Athena commissioned by Pericles and to serve as the treasury for the tribute money that had been moved from Delos.


TO EAT (08:00-18:00): DIPORTO AGORAS RESTAURANT
Address: corner Sokratous, Theatrou 1, Omonia. Phone: +30 210 321 1463. Transport: underground rail: Omonia
This quirky old tavern is one of the dining gems of Athens. There's no signage, only two doors leading to a rustic cellar where there's no menu, just a few dishes that haven't changed in years. The house speciality is revithi(chickpeas), usually followed by grilled fish and washed down with wine from one of the giant barrels lining the wall. The often erratic service is part of the appeal.









LATER at 09:00-21:00: Shopping in Eleftheroudakis
Address: Panepistimiou 17, Syntagma. Phone: +30 210 331 4180. Website: www.books.gr. Transport: underground rail: Syntagma, Panepistimiou
This amazing place is a seven-storey bibliophile's paradise, with a wide selection of books from and about Greece. It also includes maps and guidebooks, and an excellent cafe on the top floor.
After this time reading we will return to the hotel.


















28TH WEDNESDAY OF JULY:

MORNING (8:00-19:30): Temple of Olympian Zeus

Because of the long stance at this Temple we might make some sandwich for lunch and for the dinner we will go to Kouti.

Address: Vas Olgas, Syntagma. Phone: +30 210 922 6330. Transports: underground rail: Akropoli. Adult/concession €2/€1.

This mythological Temple is the largest in Greece.
It took more than 700 years to build.
The peisistrato Hadrian put a colossal gold and ivory statue of Zeus in the cellar and, in typically immodest fashion, placed an equally large one of himself next to it. Hadrian's Arch once linked a thoroughfare past the Lysikrates Monument along the Street of Tripods, where tripod trophies were dedicated to Dionysos by winners of ancient drama contests. Made of Pentelic marble, it was erected in honour of Hadrian in AD132, after the consecration of the temple. The foundations of a small Doric temple dedicated to the ancient cult of Olympian Zeus (590-560BC) also lie on the site.

















TO EAT: KOUTI RESTAURANT

Address: Adrianou 23, Anafiotika. Phone: +30 210 321 3229.
Even if the outdoor tables with an Acropolis view are taken, the food is more than a consolation at this popular eatery. The cute Greek menus are handwritten in children's books and there are English versions too. Try creative takes on Greek classic dishes, international cuisine and great salads, including a delicious avocado and crab salad.
After eating in Kouti we will return to the hotel.














29TH THURSDAY OF JULY:

MORNING (10:00- 18:00): BENAKI MUSEUM & BENAKI MUSEUM PIREOS ANNEXE.

Address: corner Leof Vasilissis Sofias, Koumbari 1, Kolonaki. Phone: +30 210 367 1000. Website: www.benaki.gr. Transport: underground rail: Syntagma. Because today will be Thursday the visit is free.

It is the Greeces' finest private museum contains the vast collection of Antonis Benakis, accumulated during 35 years of avid collecting in Europe and Asia. In 1931 he turned the family house into a museum and presented it to the Greek nation. The Benaki Museum Pireos Annexe hosts regular visual arts, cultural and historical exhibitions as well as major international shows.
It's the oldest museum in Greece and ranks among its best. It has an excellent Byzantine collection and a gallery focusing on the development of Hellenism during foreign domination. It also includes Karaghiozi shadow puppets, a stunning array of costumes, jewellery, textiles, and paintings, including early works by El Greco. The variety collection regards: Bronze Age finds from Mycenae and Thessaly; two early works by El Greco; ecclesiastical furniture brought from Asia Minor; pottery, copper, silver and woodwork from Egypt, Asia Minor and Mesopotamia; and a stunning collection of Greek regional costumes. The Egyptian collection includes fayum Greco-Roman funerary portraits. Benaki's heart is immured inside the Museum's entrance, but the soul of Greece is well-enshrined in his gift to the country.















RESTAURANT AND ENTRETAINMENT: THE CAFÉ ALAVASTRON

Address: Damareos 78, Pangrati. Phone: +30 210 756 0102. Transport: tram 4
(22:00- max. open)

It can feel like there's a band in your lounge room in this cosy and casual world music bar. The Alavastro features a mix of modern jazz, ethnic and quality Greek music with regular appearances by eclectic musicians, including inspirational Armenian Haig Hazdjian. There are snacks, a lounge area and a great atmosphere.
















CRUISE: 30TH OF JULY UNTIL 2ND OF AUGUST.
The cruise goes to Greece & Turkey with Louis Cruises.
Cruise Schedule: (day / port / arrival / departure)
- Friday (30/7/2010) / Piraeus (Athens), Greece / -- / 11:00
- Friday / Mykonos, Greece * / 18:00 / 23:00
- Saturday / Kusadasi (Ephessos), Turkey / 07:00 / 12:00
- Saturday / Patmos, Greece * / 16:00 / 21:00
- Sunday / Heraklion (Crete), Greece / 07:00 / 11:30
- Sunday / Santorini, Greece * / 16:30 / 21:00
- Monday / Piraeus (Athens), Greece / 07:00 / --

With the Aegean Legends Cruise's Shore Excursions you can visit:
• Knossos Palace in Heraklion Crete and get a "Taste of Crete"
• Ephessus & the House of Virgin Mary in Kusadasi
• a walking tour through Mykonos
• Patmos' St. John's Monastery & Grotto of the Apocalypse
• Santorini's Volcano and the villages of Thira and Oia

The ticket costs 370 € per person. The boat is called Standard Stateroam.
Inside Superior Stateroom, called IC, has: 2 beds or matrimonial, 3rd/4th berth, bathroom with shower. Also it is equipped with Shower, Toilet, Wash Basin, Air condition with individual thermostat control, Safety Boxes, Telephone with Direct Dial, Radio and TV.
The deck is the ADRIA.



Back to Madrid - MONDAY, AUGUST 2ND
The aircraft carrier is Aegean Airlines. The ticket costs € 157 and the flight is No. 688. The departure is at 9:15, from Aletherios V. (ATH) and the arrival is at 12:00 to Barajas (MAD).