We all have to agree that Oia is the most gorgeous, romantic city we’ve seen on our tour.

We arrived by hydrofoil from Crete to Santorini. It is the most extraordinary island in the Agean.  We all agree it is breathtaking. The crescent cliffs, the colours-black,pink, green, brown and white rising over 1000 feet above the caldera.  A cluster of white houses perched along the top.  The streets and buildings  overlook the caldera left by an ancient volcanic eruption. The sunset-Beautiful!!!! Today we have a day to explore the city or just relax by the pool.

We explored the great island of Rhodes today.  It’s considered to be the bridge between Europe and the East. We strolled along their streets which were beautifully designed with little white stones and black design. This city is one of the best preserved medieval arteries. We visited the Palace of the Grand Master, built at the end of the 7th c and at the highest point of the medieval city. It was a strong structure and played an active role in the defence of the city.

While in Turkey we visited a local rug making factory.  The hand labour and time that goes into them is incredible. The average time for a carpet to be made is up to 2 years and the patterns are beautiful. We also,were able to witness silk cocoons and learn how the silk is spun from them.

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In 1999 Patmos was proclaimed a “World Heritage Monument” by UNESCO.  Our tour lead us from the port of Scala towards the centre of the Island to Chora.  We visited the Grotto of the Apocalypse. This historic cave is situated about halfway up the mountain on the Aegean island of Patmos. This grotto is believed to mark the spot where St. John received his visions that he recorded in the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation). Photographs were forbidden so I was only able to take the picture of the entrance. After this we visited the silent windmills in Chora and in the distant observed the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist which is still a working Monastery today.

We left Athens this morning an set sail to the port of Piraeus. Our first port was put on the map by Jackie O, Mykonos. It is the most popular of the Aegean Islands. We strolled through the narrow cobbled streets past chic boutiques and white washed churches. We then walked through the picturesque littles streets of Chora and had dinner by the sea experiencing the genuine Greek spirit enjoying Ouzo, wonderful Greek cuisine, music and dancing.

So today we saw the beautiful sites of Acropolis.    The Acropolis is the most perfect poem in stone.  It’s a true testament of the golden age of Greece. It’s was awe-inspiring! We took a stroll and saw the Erqchtheion Temple and the Parthenon as well as the Acropolis Museum. We lunched at lovely restaurant in the Plaka district.  We visited the 11th century Monastery of St. Catherine. At the end of our tour we saw the changing of the guards at the Parliament Building.