The United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT) is pleased to announce the USITT Study Tour for the summer of 2005 – a spectacular custom tour of Greece, focused on the antiquities of this glorious country, as well as modern sites and culture. This fifteen-day tour has been organized by OPA Tours (represented by Joyce Helfand), one of the world’s finest tour companies specializing in Greece. The tour leader is Dick Durst, past president of USITT and tours coordinator of the International Committee. The tour will include visits to both ancient and modern theatres and discussions with the professional staff who operate them. In addition, we will explore some of the most beautiful cities and cultural sites of this marvelous country.

Tour General Description

This custom tour is limited to the first 30 registrants, in order to provide a personalized experience to the participants. Since much of the tour will include climbing through the antiquities and monuments, some facets will require substantial walking and participants must be able to sustain the physical exercise.

Our tour guide, Nanda Kontopoulos, is regarded by many previous tour participants as the finest guide in Greece. Her fabulous, notes-free, tour through this country will be among the highlights of our exploration.

DAILY ITINERARY

Saturday/June 25 – Depart USA (JFK/New York).

Sunday/June 26 – Arrival Athens airport and transfer to flight for THESSALONIKI. Evening cocktail party/orientation get together at Hotel Astoria.

Monday/June 27 – THESSALONIKI. Half day orientation tour of the city (lower and upper towns). We'll try to visit some of the modern outdoor theatres which abound in this city and where summer offerings are held. If any productions or concerts are available when we are here, this can be an option. We may be able to arrange a tour of the National Theatre. Next an excursion to the American Farm School where we will be taken on tour to see farming methods which are being taught to young Greeks. Then we will have lunch on campus sampling some of the produce of the school. Balance of the day is yours. The city has many wonderful museums that you can visit in the afternoon. Among them are the Music Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Cinema and Photography, and the new Byzantine Museum that is an architectural masterpiece.

Tuesday/June 28 – THESSALONIKI. This morning you'll have time to explore the colorful market, blocks of stalls selling everything from exotic spices, olives, all sorts of produce and flowers. Then, we will take an excursion to VERGINA. We visit this very new and dramatic excavation which houses some remarkable finds, the golden treasures from the period of Alexander the Great. This site is worth a visit under any circumstances, but it is the setting that will be of particular appeal to this group. These precious finds are spectacularly installed in a very theatrical manner. Then we will visit the nearby town of VERIA where Paul preached, where the old Jewish section is lovingly being restored and where the old and new towns coexist side by side. You are free to wander around all these various sections observing how Greek life goes on today: the men in the coffee shops, the women at their daily tasks and the children as they peruse their interests. We'll return to Thessaloniki in the late afternoon and your choices for the evening in this lively city are abundant.

Wednesday/June 29 – DELPHI. Inohos Hotel. We have a beautiful drive today skirting the East coast of Greece, past Mount Olympus on our way to Delphi situated at the foot of spectacular Mount Parnassos. The town is small – only two streets: one that goes and one that comes. You can’t get lost. No touring today so you can have the balance of the day at leisure. Dinner tonight at the hotel is included.

Thursday/June 30 – DELPHI. A most glorious site, Delphi is breathtakingly majestic. We'll be the first to arrive and begin this morning with a visit to the museum which houses the finds from the site. We'll see the highlights including the famous “Charioteer.” Then we'll give you some time on your own at the museum before entering the actual site. Slowly we'll climb the Sacred Way, stopping along our path to hear the story of Apollo and the Oracle. We'll see the Athenian Treasury House, the “naval of the earth”, the Temple of Apollo, the stadium, and of course, the theatre. Your afternoon is free. Dinner is at the hotel.

Friday/July 1 – NAFPLION. Rex Hotel. We drive to the Peloponnese today and arrive in the charming neoclassical town of Nafplion, located on a tranquil bay with the old Venetian Bourdzi Fortress as its landmark. The town has some precious tavernas where tables and chairs are set right in the little streets – perfect for dinner.

Saturday/July 2 – NAFPLION. Today we have an excursion to EPIDAVROS, where the best-preserved and acoustically perfect ancient theatre exists. Today we'll discuss thoroughly the topic of drama, tragedy and how the ancient Greeks combined the idea of theatre and healing. There is time to climb to the highest seats to experience the marvelous acoustics and to visit the little museum as well as the other excavations at the site. Tonight we will return for a performance at the ancient theatre.

Sunday/July 3 – NAFPLION. This morning we visit MYCENAE, the site associated with the great discovery of Schliemann and the story of Agamemnon and the Trojan War. Then a tour of the rarely visited but beautiful excavation at NEMEA which also held athletic games. This is a brand new site that has been recently and brilliantly excavated by Dr. Steven Miller of the University of California at Berkeley.

Monday/July 4 – NAFPLION. Celebrate OUR Independence Day with one of your own in this town that was the first capital of modern Greece. First we will visit the impressive folk museum which houses one of the best collection of traditional costumes in the country. The rest of the day is yours. Some options might include a boat ride in the Bay of Nafplion, or a visit to the Palimides Fortress. There are little shops and points of interest surrounding the huge, marble central square where crafts people ply their trades: musical instruments, puppets, and even a worry bead museum. You will discover why many say that Nafplion is the finest example of a truly Mediterranean town.

Tuesday/July 5 – ATHENS. Parthenon Hotel. First this morning a visit to the impressive CANAL of CORINTH. Then we continue along the Saronic Gulf as we travel to Athens, the cradle of western civilization. This afternoon we have arranged a special meeting with the director of the Dora Stratou folk dance company. We'll discuss staging, costumes and production matters. Tonight we will attend a performance of this renowned company at its outdoor theatre.

Wednesday/July 6 – ATHENS. Half-day orientation tour of the city culminating with a visit to the ACROPOLIS and its monuments with special attention to the two theatres on the slope: the Roman Herodian and the ancient Greek theatre of Dionysus. We will arrange a special visit to the MELINA MERCOURI FOUNDATION which is located in the charming Plaka district of Athens. Then we will try to schedule a “VIP” visit to the new and highly acclaimed MUSIC MEGARON. This state of the art theatre is considered one of the best in Europe (we cannot at this early date guarantee this visit as all the contemporary theatres in the country close for the summer). We will also visit the little Museum and Study Centre of the Greek Theatre.

Thursday/July 7 – ATHENS. This morning we'll take the hydrofoil to the nearby island of AEGINA. Here we will meet our bus and tour the impressive Temple of Athena. The island has much to offer, including the best pistachio nut production in the country and we'll have the opportunity of pursuing several options. Then time on your own before we sail back to Athens.

Friday/July 8 – ATHENS. Morning at leisure. This afternoon a glorious drive along the coast road to the Temple of Poseidon at CAPE SOUNION. Then a visit to a little known theatre which has a fascinating association with the ancient silver mines. On our return to Athens we stop at the seaside town of VARKIZA for our gala farewell dinner.

Saturday/July 9 – Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Daily Itinerary

Included:

Not Included

TOUR PRICE:

$2,586 per person based on double occupancy, without air, 25 people
$2,486 per person based on double occupancy, without air, 30 people
Single supplement: $568
Estimated air round trip from JFK: $800. Price to be verified 11 months prior to departure
*note: prices quoted are those in effect at this date (1/14/04) and are subject to change based on the exchange rate at time of final payment.

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