Greece/Rome

I’m working on a trip to Greece and Rome for my students. Our trip will be in November 2005. There are two significant limitations, the first is cost and the second is time. We will be following the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and the westward movement of the development of the New Testament. Our group will be composed of graduate and undergraduate evangelical seminary students and a number of faculty and senior adults.

My first thought was to fly to Thessaloniki, travel to Philippi and Neapolis, then to Athens via Veria, Vergina, Delphi and Corinth. Two days in Athens then fly to Rome. Unfortunately I’ve not been able to find any inexpensive fares from Thess. to Athens and then Athens to Rome. The cost would have been over my limit of $2,000 per person.

What I think I am moving towards is to fly into Athens and upon arrival tour the Acropolis and overnight at the Jason Inn Hotel. Tour day 2 we would travel to Corinth, Delphi and overnight in Thessaloniki at the Minerva on Ignatia. Tour day 3 would be to Philippi and Neapolis and overnight in Thess. at the Minerva on Ignatia. Tour day 4 Veria, Vergina, Athens early in the day and overnight at the Jason Inn Hotel.

The Minerva is a bit above my budget but their accomodations, food and location is very good for our students. It is located on the Ignatian Way so there is a connection for Paul’s journey on to Athens. The Jason Inn Hotel is wonderfully located, within a block of the Plaka and metro. The hotel is clean, good food, nice staff and very comfortable for students and senior adults. I’ve stayed there several times and have enjoyed each stay. Back to the trip.

Tour day 5 we will have a half day in Athens and then depart for Patra and take the overnight ferry to Bari. Tour day 6 we will transfer to Rome, stopping at the Catacombs, then discover Imperial Rome and overnight at the Lancelot Hotel near the Colosseum. This is a popular hotel with excellent meals and a very friendly, caring staff. Tour day 7 we will visit the Vatican Museum, the Vatican, Trestevere and overnight at the Lancelot Hotel. Tour day 8 half-day tour of a couple of major churches, and important piazzas. The afternoon we will give directions and let everyone revel in the beauty of Rome. Return to the USA the next day. Total trip is 10 days and my target is to get the total cost per person under $2,000. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

So much for the business side of the trip. We will have a faculty member do a daily Bible study through one of the New Testament books written in Greece or Rome. We will spend time on the bus in Greece discussing the development of the early Christian mission movement. In Rome we will look at the culture and the political climate during Paul’s time in Rome. This period of history is an amazing time. It is hard to imagine the pressure that Christians in that era went through.

Blessings
Clay