GREECE FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL With Women of the Midwest! W! ! & M)%& September 14-23, 2022 Travel Solo Together CO | IA | KS | MN | MO | NE Dear Women of the Midwest, Hi, I’m Lora Black, the Ambassador for our journey to Greece and our tour of the beginnings of Christianity. We will start on the path, in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, when we land in Thessaloniki- Greece’s second largest city. Our small group of 20 is joined upon arrival, with our private guide for this marvelous 10-day adventure. We will wander amongst the ruins of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, as we travel the roads where Paul, Silas, Lydia and countless other names we know from the Bible, had traversed. Our footsteps lead us to many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites; Delphi, the Oracle, and Apollo’s Sanctuary, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient Greek World. We travel ‘up’ to the rock monastery at Meteora, where you’ll have spectacular views. We eventually arrive in Athens, where the first thing you will see is the Acropolis and the marble Parthenon-sparkling under the Greek sun. We will get to see the daily changing of the guards in front of the Presidential Palace and Tomb of the unknown soldier, the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympics of the modern era were held and more, in Greece’s capital city. Our final destination from Paul’s travels is the Ancient city of Corinth, once a bustling Roman trading city between the Ionian and Aegean Seas. We will stroll through the ruins on marble-paved streets, see where Paul was put on trial, and be held spellbound by the recounting of history by our guide, Vicki. Journal Star Destinations Shopping, dining and just getting to experience Greek culture awaits our group. Whether it is the famous Corinthian currants, wine from local vineyards, olive oil, goat cheeses, sesame seed and honey energy bars and foods from the Mediterranean diet, you will go back home with your stomach and heart filled with the generosity and spirit of the Greek people. And, you can choose to add a 3-night cruise extension to this fabulous adventure, where we’ll visit the islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini and also included are Ephesus and Crete. Add on this trip extension and see just how blue the waters around Greece really are! You won’t want to come home! Make plans for September 2022 for a trip of a lifetime. I hope to see you on this fabulous Women of the Midwest tour. Sincerely, Lora Black, Women of the Midwest Ambassador Call Executive Travel’s Group Department today at 402-435-8888. Space is limited. September 14, 2022 - magnificent stone-carved Lion of Amphipolis Jason’s house once stood and where Paul Wednesday - Traveling to Thessaloniki, which stood alongside the old Via Egnatia, was accommodated during his visit to Greece at the foot of the plateau where Apostle Paul Thessaloniki. Lunch, served at one of the Our wonderful adventure begins as we take visited. Kavala, the place where Paul first local taverns, is nothing but a meal for a an overnight flight to Thessaloniki, Greece. landed and stepped onto European ground, Queen! The evening is at leisure. B | L is easily spotted from far away. At the peak Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal “Paul came to Thessaloniki with Silas and service as you start your dream vacation. of old-town, proudly stands the fortress. The fortress is a landmark of Kavala and one of following his usual custom, he went to the its most stunning sights as well as the peak of Synagogue where he used the Jewish September 15, 2022 - the peninsula of Panagia (mother of Jesus), scriptures as the source for his preaching.” Thursday - Thessaloniki dominated by the Acropolis of Kavala. We (Acts 17:2) Welcome to Thessaloniki! Upon arrival, continue on to Philippi, a Roman garrison we meet our private tour guide and take a town and the chief city in the province of short drive to the center of town. We will Macedonia. It was here that Paul won his September 18, 2022 - enjoy a panoramic city-and- orientation tour first European convert, established the first Sunday - Veria & Aigai/Vergina prior to checking in to our centrally located church in Europe, and baptized a woman Breakfast is served before we head out to hotel. Thessaloniki is the second-largest named Lydia. We will visit the market place experience yet two more stunning sites. Our city of Greece and the most important (where Paul and Silas were brought before first stop is Veria. During the night, Paul and center of the area; a port-city of the Aegean the rulers) and the cistern which tradition Silas left Thessaloniki for Veria with the help Sea. It is a modern metropolis bearing the identifies as the place where Paul was of Christians. They walked for a while on Via marks of its stormy (and glorious) history imprisoned. Return to Thessaloniki in time Egnatia Road, through the lush green fruitful with a cosmopolitan character which gives for dinner. B | D and beautiful area. Veria was a very busy it a special beauty and charm. Evidence city with a flourishing synagogue. As soon of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman “Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made as they got there, Paul and Silas visited the history remains, especially around Ano a direct voyage to Samothrace and the synagogue. It is said that the Jews of Veria Poli (the upper town). During Roman following day to Neapolis” (Acts 16:11) were more polite than those in Thessaloniki times, Thessaloniki became an important “After meeting with the believers at and heard with great interest Paul preaching crossroads on the Via Egnatia, where the Lydia’s house, Paul and Silas leave Luke the Holy Gospel. Today, at the spot where road running east from Rome to the provinces behind in Philippi” and travel along the Via Paul, the Apostle, preached the Christian of Pontus and Asia met the road running Egnatia through Amphipolis and Apollonia.” faith, there is a religious monument, the north from Athens to the River Danube. (Acts 17:1) so-called “St Paul’s Tribune”. In this spot, The ruins of Roman Emperor Galerius’ 4th- there are Roman plates dating back to the century palace include the Rotunda that has September 17, 2022 - 1st century and according to tradition, Paul been both a church and a mosque. Much of Saturday - Thessaloniki was standing on them while preaching. The Thessaloniki was destroyed in the Great Fire After a hearty breakfast, we become monument is decorated with impressive of 1917 and the rebuilt 20th-century city has acquainted with this great city where mosaic murals. We continue to Aigai, a a modern European layout. A late lunch/early Paul wrote two epistles to the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of dinner is served before we take a good rest Thessalonians. Built by King Cassander Aigai, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom and get rid of our jet-lag. An exciting journey and named after the sister of Alexander the of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th is ahead of us! Great, the city flourished under the Byzantine century. The most important remains are the B (during flight) | L or D (depending on final Empire and its most important buildings monumental palace, lavishly decorated with arrival time) dated from those days. Today it is considered mosaics and painted stuccoes, and the burial the Greek “Queen of the North”. Our city tour ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of September 16, 2022 - takes us along the waterfront to the massive which date from the 11th century B.C. One Friday - Amphipolis, Kavala & Phillipi White Tower and nearby Triumphal Arch of of the royal tombs in the Great Tumulus is After a rich breakfast, we head out to Galerius, built in 303 AD. We also see St. identified as that of Philip II, who conquered visit the beautiful city of Kavala (ancient Demetrios Church with its valuable mosaics all the Greek cities, paving the way for his Neapolis). We travel along the Via Egnatia and frescoes and then drive to the upper town son Alexander and the expansion of the road (constructed by the Romans in the 2nd which offers a marvelous view of the city. The Hellenistic world. Lunch is served in a local century BC) and drive through Apollonia. We site where the monastery of Vlatadon was tavern before we head back to Thessaloniki make a stop at Amphipolis to admire the built is believed to be the location where for an evening of relaxation. B | L September 19, 2022 - Bouletarion (council chamber) and open Gulf of Corinth to the west and Cenchraea, Monday - Meteora - Kalambaka discussion was encouraged in the Agora on the Aegean Sea, to the east. It made After a filling breakfast, we board our (market place). Paul - who was trained as a huge profits by taxing cargoes that were motorcoach and travel to Kalambaka and young man in the art of debating in Greek - transported overland between the two ports Meteora. Meteora is the second-biggest would have been delighted at an opportunity to avoid the dangerous waters around the and most important group of monasteries in to spread the Good News of Jesus in the Peloponnese. The first attempt to build a Greece after those in Mount Athos (which can cultural heart of the ancient world, among canal across the isthmus at Corinth was be visited by men only).