GREECE - SIREN OF THE SEAS: CHORAL & BAND

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Greece - Siren of the Seas

GREECE ? Athens, Poros & Greek Island Cruise to Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Heraklion, Crete, Santorini, & Piraeus Choral & Band Performance Tour 7-days / 6-nights (UK schools)

GREECE - SIREN OF THE SEAS: CHORAL & BAND

Day

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

1

Arrive Athens Greece; transfer to hotel

Welcome

Dinner

2 Breakfast

Athens Excursion Day

Dinner

Performance

3 Breakfast

Cruise - Mykonos

Dinner

4 Breakfast

Cruise - Patmos & Kusadasi; Performance

Dinner

5 Breakfast

Cruise - Heraklion Crete & Santorini; Performance

Dinner

6 Breakfast Cruise - Piraeus Mycenae, Epidaurus, Corinth Canal & Poros

Dinner

Performance

7 Breakfast

Transfer to Athens; Fly Home

Welcome to world of VISIONS ACADEMY! Outstanding Performing & Expressive Arts school tours for Drama, Dance, Art, Band and Choral groups. USA destinations include The Broadway Academy in New York, The

Heartland Academy in Branson, Missouri, The Hollywood Academy in Los Angeles, California and Festival Disney in Orlando! European destinations include Italy, Spain, Greece & The Czech Republic! Come perform with us on a trip you'll never forget!

As with all sample itineraries, please be aware that this is an "example" of a schedule and that the activities included may be variable dependent upon dates, weather, special requests and other factors. Itineraries will be confirmed prior to travel.

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When you think of Greece, the picture in your mind turns from the fabulous ancient city of Athens to the stunning Greek Islands. If this is the picture you see, then our "Siren of the Seas" Visions Academy tour is the one for you! Offered only to Choral and Band groups, this specialized performance tour will let Greece come alive with its history and beauty in a way you will never forget! Come sail and perform on a Greek Island Cruise with Visions Academy! Greece has attracted visitors for thousands of years. The country's charm is evident immediately upon arrival as you fly into Athens over the blue Aegean Sea. A peninsular country of incredible beauty, the mainland is mostly mountainous with sweeping vistas and views. Surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian and the Mediterranean Seas, Greece gently flows into thousands of islands with unique personalities, gentle breezes, clear waters, and wonderful sandy beaches. Here, our groups are offered a wealth of culture matched only by the spectacular landscape, lapped by sparkling blue seas and covered in lemon groves. Greece produced some of the greatest philosophers, artists and poets of the ancient world and this unique trip enables students to take a step back in time and appreciate this mystical country. Your cruise to the Cyclades Islands will take you to incredible sites! The Cyclades Islands duster is a group of Greek Islands situated in the deep blue Aegean Sea. It is considered one of the finest vacation destinations worldwide, providing visitors of all types with a wide range of diverse characteristics. All Cycladic Islands share some distinctive features, such as the renowned architecture, narrow cobblestone alleyways, fascinating archaeological, historic, religious and natural sights, quaint seaside and mountain villages and endless beaches. The Cycladic Islands will envelope you in warmth and beauty making this tour one of most ideal international destinations for our traveling choirs and bands! Our `Sirens of the Seas' Tour includes four performance showcases for our schools ? one in Athens, two onboard the island cruise and an additional one on the island of Poros. Additionally, Master Classes may be added to your tour featuring our European team of tutors and focusing on a combination of Dance, Drama and Choral options for your students. Master Class contents are developed between you, the Party Leader, and our professional tutors to provide the specific training and instruction in the areas you are seeking and creating a personalized program to suit your individual needs. Classes are 1.5 to 2-hours in length. All of our "Sirens of the Seas" tours include a full-day excursion to stunning Athens! The most famous ancient city in the world houses the Acropolis, one of the ancient Wonders of the World. The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, portrayed through a number of ancient monuments and artworks. Also included is an excursion to Epidaurus - the magnificently preserved 14,000-seat theatre and the home of Drama; a stop at the Corinth Canal; and a farewell night on the beautiful island of Poros!

Day 1; Wednesday

Day 1 ? Dinner

Travel overnight to Greece via air, arriving at The Athens International Airport in the late morning or early afternoon hours. After boarding your private motorcoach, your school will be swiftly transported to your hotel located directly in Athens. Upon arrival, your Visions Ambassador team will conduct an in-depth welcome, safety and orientation meeting, followed by dinner in the hotel. Additionally, a rehearsal room will be arranged and available for your use for your two night stay in Athens.

School groups will choose from the following three accommodation options:

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Alassia Hotel ? The Alassia Hotel, located in the centre of Athens, is a 4-star property that will surprise and impress! Situated beside the Omonia Square and within 5 minutes walking distance of the Old Town, The Alassia Hotel is a perfect base for our school groups from around the world. Completely renovated and reopened in 2004, this deluxe boutique hotel with its prominent location and sheer luxury, is an excitingly designed minimalist affair, with discrete luxury oozing from the lobby the moment you arrive. The owners have pulled out the stops in furnishing a chic environment with marble, dark brown carpeting and various statuettes dotted around the building. The multi-lingual staff will gladly advise you on any aspect of your stay, they will also provide you with any local information. The easy-on-the-eye nature of the deliciously designed guestrooms will ensure that your night's rest really is as peaceful and complete as possible. The hotel room amenities include high-speed Internet access, cable/satellite television, air conditioning, direct-dial phone, minibar, full housekeeping services, private bathrooms, complimentary toiletries, hair dryers, bathroom telephones, makeup mirrors and electronic/magnetic keys. The resort amenities include a full restaurant and bar, 24-Hour front desk, non-smoking rooms, business center, laundry and dry cleaning, currency exchange plus car rental facilities.

Hotel Carolina ? Hotel Carolina is a 2-star property which was renovated in December 2004. It is termed a "classical building," being in operation since 1934. The hotel is located in a very safe area, on the border of Plaka and Monastiraki, an ideal location for shopping and sightseeing. Guests will find the Acropolis, the National Gardens, the Parliament House, and other important sites less than a 15-minute walk away. The hotel is located in the centre of Athens so it also gives you the best opportunity to use public transportation. Rooms feature air conditioning, televisions, safety boxes, hairdryers, bathrooms and direct call telephones. The hotel also has an internet cafe.

Dorian Inn - The guests of Dorian Inn Athens enjoy the roof-top pool, great service, relaxing rooms and the privilege to approach every point in Athens and at the same time is within walking distance from the historical center (Old Town) of the capital, Acropolis and the surrounding archaeological sites. Offering an utmost comfort, convenience and quality service, this property makes you to feel at home. A gastronomic experience is waiting for you in the restaurant with a marvelous view over the sea and Acropolis, which dominates the city. Dining is presented at two locations, one restaurant is on the ground floor and another grill is on the roof. For the visitor of Athens, Omonia square is the necessary stopping-off for every touring destination. Within a small radius of the hotel, you could find lots of shops, as Dorian Inn lies just in the country's political and economic center.

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Tonight, we'll have a wonderful dinner at the hotel to kick off the start of our tour!

Day 2 ? Thursday

Breakfast ? Lunch ? Dinner

Good morning Greece! After breakfast, we'll embark upon our tour of incredible Athens!

This specialized Athens City Tour will give your students the opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take you to see the center of the city, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniforms and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian Arch, visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and also make a stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. At the Acropolis, groups will see the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the harmony between material and spirit, the monument that puts order in the mind, the Parthenon. The day of sightseeing is completed at the Museum of Acropolis.

Athens - The city with the most glorious history in the world, a city worshipped by gods and people, a magical city! The enchanting capital of Greece has always been a birthplace for civilization. It is the city where democracy and most of the wise men of ancient times were born. The most important civilization of the ancient world flourished in Athens and relives through some of the world's most formidable edifices.

Who hasn't heard of the Acropolis of Athens? Photos and history of the most famous archaeological monument in Europe have made the world tour causing feelings of admiration by thousands of people. Athens met times of bloom and decline, but still shines under the Attic sky gazing the future!

Athens is situated in the prefecture of Attica and extends to the peninsula that reaches up to Central Greece. It is surrounded by mountains Ymmytos, Pendeli and Parnitha, northwards and eastwards, and the Saronic Gulf southwards and westwards.

Athens is constantly inhabited since Neolithic Age. The 5th century was the time of its ultimate bloom, when moral values and civilization surpassed city limits and became the mother land of western civilization. In the centuries that followed, many conquerors tried to take over Athens. In 1834 Athens was chosen to be the capital of the newly established Greek State. The city that now hosts more than 4.5 million people was constructed around the Acropolis walls. Today it is the political, social, cultural, financial and commercial center of Greece.

Athens is a city of different aspects. A walk around the famous historic triangle of the old neighborhoods reveals the coexistence of different eras. Old mansions, well-preserved ones and other worn down by time, luxurious department stores and small intimate shops, fancy restaurants and traditional taverns all have their place in this city. Athens is a divine city. Let it enchant you...

and

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Constitution Square / Syntagma ? The name Syntagma means Constitution. When Greece was liberated from the Turks the great powers decided that they needed a king and chose Otto of Bavaria. Since he was too young to actually rule he came with a military force and three regents who ruled as dictators, imposing heavy taxes, and stealing from the country. When the king finally came of age the Greeks who had fought to free the country from Turkish occupation were now fed up with the tyranny of the Bavarians. With the support of British diplomats, two Greek soldiers, Dimitrios Kallerges and Ioannes Makriyannis led their troops to the palace and demanded the king get rid of the foreigners and within thirty days produce a constitution. This was the end of foreign domination of Greece supposedly!

The House of Parliament ? The House of Parliament overlooks Syntagma Square and was originally built as a palace for King Otto, the first King of Greece, and Queen Amalia. Its construction took six years, from 1836-1842. The second King of Greece, King Georgios, also lived in this palace. But during his reign two serious fires destroyed the building to the extent that it was judged unfit for royal occupation. It was in 1924 that the government decided to house the Greek Parliament in the building. Renovation work finished in 1934. The interior of the building was redesigned by the architect A. Kriezis.

The Memorial to the Unknown Soldier & The Evzones ? The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded by Evzones, the elite soldiers who also guard the Palace and are chosen for their height and strength. They are like the guards at Buckingham Palace with the big furry hats and are treated the same way by tourists who come to take their pictures and see if they blink. Every so often they march and dance to break the monotony of standing still all day and they occasionally do a kick step with their sarouchi shoes with the pom-poms. The pleated skirt, the foustanela, was worn by the Greek fighters of the 1821 revolution and today it serves as the official uniform of the Evzones. It was established by Otto as the formal court dress in the middle of the 19th century.

The National Library ? The National Library forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy ? University - Library. It consists of three solid parts, out of which the one in the middle, which is also the biggest, houses the Reading-Room. To enter this part, one has to pass through a Doric-style row of columns (designed after the Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Thission, which served as its model), after climbing on a monumental curved double staircase of a Renascence style. The Reading-Room, surrounded by Ionian-style columns, is covered by a glass ceiling. The cast-iron constructions of the bookstands were referred to as "exceptional" back in their time. In general, the building is considered to be a characteristic sample of mature Neoclassicism.

The Presidential Palace ? The Presidential Palace was built in 1878 by Ernst Ziller. It was occupied from 1890 until 1973 by the Greek Royal Family. It has been the seat of the Greek Parliament since 1935 and following the abolition of the monarchy it became official residency of the Prime Minister of Greece. The land on which the Presidential Mansion was built was, until the final decades of the nineteenth century, outside city limits. The eastern limit of the town was the Royal Palace. Beyond that, there were fields and small farms. The only buildings appearing on the maps of the period were the manor of the Duchess Plakentias (known as "Ilissia" and today housing the Byzantine Museum) and the Petraki, both built in country areas far from the centre of town.

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The Hadrian Arch ? The Arch of Hadrian was erected in honor of the Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D (and probably a little before 131/132 A.D. when we know Hadrian visited Athens). The arch was built over the line of an ancient road that led from the area of the Acropolis and the Athenian Agora to the Olympia and southeast Athens. An inscription (IG II2 5185) on the western side of the arch states: This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus." An inscription on the eastern side of the arch states: "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus". Scholars have traditionally interpreted the inscriptions as meaning that the arch stood at the boundaries of "old Athens" and "new Athens" or "Hadrianoupolis." Another interpretation sees the inscriptions as honoring Hadrian as the new founder (what the ancient Greeks called a ktistes) of all of Athens, replacing even the hero Theseus in the hearts of the Athenians.

Temple of Zeus ? The building of the Temple of Olympian Zeus actually began in the 6th Century by Peisistratos but work was stopped either because of a lack of money or because Pisistratus's son, Hippias, was overthrown in 510 BC. The temple was not finished until the Emperor Hadrian completed in 131 AD, seven hundred years later. There were other attempts to continue the building. The Classical Greeks (487-379) left it unfinished because they believed it was too big and symbolized the arrogance of people who believed they were equal to the Gods. During the Third Century when the Macedonians ruled Athens, work was begun again by Antiochus the IV of Syria who wanted to build the world's largest temple and hired the Roman architect Cossotius to complete the job, but this ended when Antiochus died. In 86 BC, during Roman rule, the general Sulla took two columns from the unfinished temple to Rome for the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill which influenced the development of the Corinthian style in Rome.

Originally there were 104 Corinthian columns of which only 15 remain standing. One of the columns actually blew down in a storm in 1852. Hadrian had erected a giant gold and ivory status of Zeus inside the temple with an equally large one of himself next to it. Nothing remains of these statues. It is not known when the Temple of Zeus was destroyed but it probably came down in an earthquake during the mediaeval period. Like other ancient buildings, much of it was taken away for building materials. In the early 1800s a stylite (a group of ascetics who spent long periods sitting or standing on top of pillars or columns. The word comes from the Greek stylos for column.) built his dwelling on top of one of the columns of the temple and it can be seen in early paintings and drawings. (Athens)

Panathenaic Stadium ? The stadium groups were originally a natural hollow part of the ground between the two hills of Agra and Ardettos, over the Ilissos River. It was transformed into a stadium by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic competitions of the Great Panathinaea Festivities. Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the Stadium, giving it the form that was found at the 1870 excavation: the horseshoe construction with a track 20,407 meters long and 3,335 meters wide. It is believed that the Stadium had a seating capacity of 50,000 people. Separating scales were built between the tiers and on the base of the sphendone there was a portico with Doric-style columns; another portico was placed in the stadium's facade. Herodes possibly also restored the Ilissos River bridge at the Stadium's entrance, making it larger and adding three archways on its base. The bridge was standing there up to 1778 and a part of it was excavated in 1958. In Roman times, the Stadium was used as an arena, with the addition of a semi-circular wall on the north that was corresponding to the sphendone of the southern side. The modern times restoration of the Stadium was conducted by G. Averof by the end of the 19th century for the first Olympic Games that were reborn again in 1896.

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The Acropolis - The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city and constitutes one of the most recognizable monuments of the world. It is the most significant reference point of ancient Greek culture, as well as the symbol of the city of Athens itself as it represents the apogee of artistic development in the 5th century BC. During Perikles' Golden Age, ancient Greek civilization was represented in an ideal way on the hill and some of the architectural masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground.

The Propylaea are the monumental entrances to the sacred area dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Built by the architect Mnesicles with Pentelic marble, their design was avant-garde. To the southwest of the Propylaea, on a rampart protecting the main entrance to the Acropolis, is the Ionian temple of Apteros Nike, which is now being restored.

The first habitation remains on the Acropolis date from the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, the rocky hill was continuously used either as a cult place, as a residential area, or both. The inscriptions on the numerous and precious offerings to the sanctuary of Athena (marble korai, bronze and clay statuettes and vases) indicate that the cult of the city's patron goddess was established as early as the Archaic period (650-480 B.C.).

The Parthenon ? When work began on the Parthenon in 447 BC, the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. Work on the temple continued until 432; the Parthenon, then, represents the tangible and visible efflorescence of Athenian imperial power, unencumbered by the depredations of the Peloponnesian War. Likewise, it symbolizes the power and influence of the Athenian politician, Perikles, who championed its construction. With the exception of the Great Pyramid in Egypt, the Parthenon of Athens has probably received more attention from archaeologists, historians, architects, painters and poets than any other structure on earth. It is the supreme expression of the ancient Greek architectural genius. With its incomparable setting, the visual harmony deriving from its sacred geometry, and the enduring wisdom of its resident deity, the goddess Athena, the Parthenon exercises a profound and lasting effect upon the human soul. The name Parthenon refers to the worship of Athena Parthenos, the 'Virgin Athena' who issued fully grown from the head of her father Zeus. The maiden goddess and patroness of Athens, she represents the highest order of spiritual development and the gifts of intellect and understanding. Pure in body, mind and heart, Athena is the symbol of the universal human aspiration for wisdom. It was not only the character and statue of the goddess that symbolized these qualities however, but also the precise topographical location and astronomical orientation of her shrine, and the sacred geometry that infused the entire temple.

The Acropolis Museum - The Acropolis Museum, located on the sacred rock, east of the Parthenon, houses some of the most important sculptures of ancient Greek art. It is one of the most important museums in the world and exhibits include sacred sculptures from the temple of Athena Polias on the Acropolis, architectural sculptures of Archaic buildings, parts of the pediments, metopes and frieze of the Parthenon, sculptures from the temple of Athena Nike, as well as the Caryatids from the Erechtheion. It temporarily houses masterpieces of the ancient Greek civilization, dedicated to the most important of the Athenian sanctuaries, the "temenos" of Athena Parthenos.

After our day of sightseeing in glorious Athens, will have dinner in the hotel then get prepared for our first performance!

Performance ? Your first Greek performance will be held at either the Mikis Theodorakis Amphitheatre (indoor) or the Ionia Cultural Center (outdoor). If inclined, please inquire about the possibility of co-performing with a Greek choir and/or band.

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Day 3 ? Friday

Breakfast ? Lunch - Dinner

Rise and shine Athens! It's cruise day and after breakfast, we'll get ready to set sail! We'll transfer to port and embark on our Aegean Legends Cruise where we'll cruise to cosmopolitan Mykonos, ancient Ephesus, the Island of Patmos, Heraklion, and the fascinating island of Santorini!

DAY Friday Friday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Monday

PORT OF CALL Piraeus, Greece Myconos, Greece* Kusadasi, Turkey Patmos, Greece* Heraklion, Crete, Greece Santorini, Greece* Piraeus, Greece

ARRIVAL

18:00 7:00 16:00 7:00 16:30 7:00

*Disembarkation by tender boats, weather permitting.

DEPARTURE 11:00 23:00 12:00 21:00 11:30 21:00

Louis Cruises - Onboard, students will sleep in rooms set up for three or four students per cabin; all daily meals will be taken onboard. Our ship is part of the Louis Cruise Lines whose ships have sailed the oceans of the world and pioneered innovative itineraries for over 20 years. The Greek Officers and European crew with their gracious hospitality and nautical tradition offer an unforgettable experience! Onboard your days and nights can be as active or as quiet as you please. Ship features include a swimming pool, gym, spa and a casino for the adults!

The ship sets sail at 11 AM and our first port of call is the beautiful island of Mykonos, famous for its night life and windmills! We'll have free time to explore the island or simply enjoy a beverage in one the many waterfront caf?s

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