CHORAL ODYSSEY TO GREECE

THESSALONIKI, GREECE :: JUNE 28 - JULY 9, 2018 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

EMILY ELLSWORTH Artistic Director Anima - Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus

PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR: Anima - Glen Ellyn Children’s Choir

5445 Tennessee Pass Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80917 719.481.0107 fax 719.531.5374 www.perform-international.com [email protected] Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change) Thursday, June 28 - Monday, July 9, 2018

DAY 1 - Thursday, June 28, 2018 – DEPARTURE USA The journey to Greece begins by boarding Swiss Airlines #7 departing Chicago at 2:45 p.m. bound for Thessaloniki via a stop in Zurich en route.

DAY 2 - Friday, June 29, 2018 – ARRIVE THESSALONIKI Arrive in Zurich at 6:20 a.m. and connect with Swiss Airlines #2580 at 11:55 a.m., bound for Thessaloniki. After arrival in Thessaloniki at 3:05 p.m. you’ll meet your driver and tour manager and transfer to your hotel. Time permitting, you will have a panoramic tour en route to the hotel. Thessaloniki is a port city on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. You can see evidence of the remains of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history, especially around the upper town. Thessaloniki is also known for giving Greece some of its greatest musicians, artists and poets along with some of the most beautiful beaches. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.

DAY 3 - Saturday, June 30, 2018 – THESSALONIKI Following breakfast, you will have a morning rehearsal with Ms. Ellsworth. In the afternoon, take a tour of Thessaloniki that will include a visit to the Byzantine Museum. This museum has hundreds of unique exhibits and artifacts from throughout the entire Byzantine period. Your tour of the city may take you by the ruins of Roman Emperor Galerius’ 4th- century palace that includes a Rotunda that has been both a church and a mosque. After dinner this evening there will be a second rehearsal with the combined chorus. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

DAY 4 - Sunday, July 1, 2018 – THESSALONIKI This morning you’ll take part in a community service project in the area. Dinner will be followed by an evening rehearsal. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

DAY 5 - Monday, July 2, 2018 – FESTIVAL CONCERT Enjoy a morning at leisure to rest or explore the city on your own. As you see more of this city, keep in mind that much of the city center was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1917 with the rebuilt 20th-century city having a modern European layout. In the afternoon there will be a dress rehearsal and sound check at the concert venue. Dinner followed by a festival Gala Concert performance with our choral friends from the US and Greece. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

DAY 6 - Tuesday, July 3, 2018 – THESSALONIKI / KALAMBAKA Following breakfast at your hotel, you’ll drive to Kalambaka via a stop in Vergina on the way. Vergina, a village in Imathia, has enjoyed worldwide recognition in the past few decades due to the discovery of the ancient

2 Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change) city of Aigai (the ancient capital of the Macedonian kings). Of particular interest are the tombs of the royal dynasty, most notably King Philip II and a young prince who is identified as Alexander IV. The site of the Royal Tombs under a modern roof hosts the main excavation, as well as an exhibition of the major finds from the burials. It is protected by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. Your visit includes the archaeological site and the museum. Continue to the city of Veria for lunch on your own and a visit to the Apostle Paul “bema.” This is a modern memorial to honor Saint Paul the Apostle. It is believed that from this tribune (The Bema) he preached Christianity. Continue to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 - Wednesday, July 4, 2018 – KALAMBAKA This morning we embark on a tour of the UNESCO world heritage site of Meteora. Characterized as the “monument of humanity that has to be maintained,” the monasteries and monuments have a unique blend of byzantine architecture and natural beauty. In the evening you will perform a concert (possibly collaborative) at the Cultural Center of Trikala. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.

DAY 8 - Thursday, July 5, 2018 – KALAMBAKA / ITEA Today we’ll continue exploring Greece and transfer to Itea stopping to visit “Thermopylae” and the Leonidas Statue on the way. Created in 1955 by the sculptor Vasos Falireas, the figure of King Leonides was based on an ancient warrior that was found in the excavation conducted by the British Archaeological School in 1920 and identified as King Leonides. Lunch on own followed by free time for swimming at the beach of Kammena Vourla. Dinner and overnight in Itea.

DAY 9 - Friday, July 6, 2018 – ITEA We’ll explore the nearby archaeological site of Delphi today. See some of the most prominent places on the sacred slopes during your tour of this archaeological site including the temple of Apollo, the ancient theater, the stadium, the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia with the Tholos and the Kastalia spring. You will also visit the Archaeological Museum of Delphi. After sightseeing, you will end by the seaside of Corinth Gulf to enjoy free time at the beach. Evening concert at the Cultural Center of Itea. Dinner and overnight in Itea.

DAY 10 - Saturday, July 7, 2018 – ITEA / ATHENS Following breakfast, you’ll depart for Athens today. Enjoy a guided tour including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the temple of Athena Niki and the ancient theatre of Herodus Atticus with its remarkable acoustics. Performances are still held here each summer being the highlights of

3 Preliminary Itinerary (subject to change)

cultural events in the Eastern Mediterranean. Leaving the Acropolis the tour takes you by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the “evzones” dressed in their traditional costume, the Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Panathinaikon Stadium where the first Olympics of modern times were held in 1896. The entire stadium is built of pure white marble. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

DAY 11 - Sunday, July 8, 2018 – ATHENS / ISLAND CRUISE Today you will have the opportunity to enjoy a full day island cruise… visiting three islands of the Saronic Gulf, Poros-Hydra-Aegina. There will be an opportunity to perform on board the cruise ship. Poros, the smallest of the three Islands, is separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strait. Your time at leisure in Poros will be about 50 minutes. Immediately upon the ship’s departure from Poros, lunch will be served as your ship enters the port of Hydra. There will be time to enjoy the unique charms of Hydra with its stone narrow-paved streets, seaside promenades and traditional houses. Continue to Aegina, the largest of the three islands. Upon disembarkation a “traditional Greek Folk Show” with singers and dancers in original costumes will entertain you up to the final moment the ship docks at Piraeus. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

DAY 12 - Monday, July 9, 2018 – DEPART ATHENS Begin your journey back to the US taking with you lifelong memories of performing in Greece. Depart on Swiss Airlines # 1843 at 6:30 a.m. Arrive in Zurich at 8:20 a.m. Depart Zurich on Swiss Airlines # 8 at 12:55 p.m., arriving back in Chicago at 3:30 p.m.

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