More of the World for Less!
Signature Collection’s Deluxe Central Europe includes a walking tour of Prague’s Jewish Quarter. We’ll visit the museum, home to Central Europe’s largest collection of Judaica, the 13th century Alt Neu Synagogue, and the Town Hall with its distinctive tower and Hebrew-lettered clock.
In this clip, Rick Steves takes us inside the famous museum, a testament to the Jewish community’s long history in Prague.
Experience Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Poland like never before on our luxury tour of Central Europe. Read on to discover why these cosmopolitan capitals are not to be missed, and subscribe to the Signature newsletter on our homepage for the latest deals from Signature Collection.
Central Europe sees fewer tourists than typical destinations like Paris, London and Rome, and that’s part of its charm – just take a peek at Time Out‘s cheat sheet for six things you can do in Budapest but not in London (check out #5 – our Signature package includes a private tour of Hungarian Parliament!).
On your Signature tour, you’ll spend 13 nights at 5-star hotels in Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna & Prague. Our travels will showcase the best of Central Europe, with private tours of key sites like the Hungarian State Opera House and the Strahov Monastery Library.
You’ll be treated to exclusive events, including private concerts in Warsaw, Vienna and Prague, and a Hungarian dinner cruise with spectacular night views of Budapest. We’ll witness the splendor of Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, and cap it all off with an elegant dinner at Lobkowicz Palace, where you’ll be introduced to the Lobkowicz family’s private art collection.
Amidst the history of Krakow, the ambiance of Prague and the artistic wonders of Vienna, you’ll get a glimpse of a medieval Europe that has all but disappeared from other regions. These amazing photos of the Czech Republic speak for themselves!
Click here for your complete guide to the 15 Day Deluxe Central Europe from Gate 1 Travel’s Signature Collection.
When I first began to travel, I received some advice that has always stayed with me—don’t go as a tourist; tourists complain and expect things to be like back home. Instead, go as a traveler, embracing whatever may come, celebrating new places and people.
Even as this philosophy was reinforced during a recent trip to Peru, another one—that guided tours with their bossy by-the-clock schedules should be avoided at all costs—was replaced with the comfort of not having to sweat the details, while at the same time proving that adventure is still possible even with group head counts.
Peru was admittedly not on my list of places I wanted to see. But my friend and frequent travel buddy Becky Chaney had a photo of Machu Picchu on the wall above her computer as inspiration for the past couple of years. A year ago she found a bargain package we couldn’t pass up, so we joined with our other friend, Kelly Johnson, to start saving our dimes. This brings up yet another tenant to my travel outlook: If an opportunity pops up to go anywhere, even if it’s not necessarily your dream, take it.
We booked with Gate 1 Travel, based in Fort Washington, Pa. They’ve been around more than 30 years with a mission to provide unique travel experiences without breaking the bank. The itinerary they sent out months in advance gave me the feeling we would have a well-planned taste of Peru. When they sent a later email saying we would have an opportunity to visit a rural school and suggested we pack along classroom donations, I sensed this was a company with heart as well.
Gate 1 also gave us Leo and Ruben, capable, fun-loving tour guides who ministered to those with altitude sickness, steered us to try a taste of “Crispy George” (more about that later) and spoke so often and sincerely of a love for their country it brought tears to my eyes, even without the influence of a few pisco sours, South America’s signature cocktail.
We began our 10 days in the capital, Lima. Situated along the coast, the weather can be counted on to be overcast, but the lack of sunshine didn’t detract from the grand 17th century architecture and plazas, or beautifully landscaped parks, including the “cat park” in a corner of an upscale district. Reportedly a few cats were introduced in the 1990s to combat a rat infestation and the feline population exploded and now rubs against tourists’ ankles. Volunteers care for the cats, feeding and getting them neutered, although some locals want them gone, complaining about the park’s sometimes litter box smell.
Lima is a city that caters to pedestrians and bicyclists; on Sundays 52 blocks are closed to cars. Leo nonetheless warned us to be alert in our travels, and joked: “Every driver has his own rules. Those traffic signals are just suggestions.”
The city gave us a first taste of the friendliness of the Peruvian people. At a shopping plaza overlooking the Pacific Ocean, I asked a security officer for directions to the restrooms and he immediately began asking about my home and telling me about Lima as he escorted me to my destination. Waiters and shopkeepers also did their part, including one shopkeeper who dragged out a stack of clothing for us to try on and posed us for photos. Even though we didn’t buy anything, she still hugged us, kissed our cheeks and wished us a good trip. In a plaza, a group of school kids had signs declaring it “free hugs day” and liberally followed through.
From Lima we flew to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, a city 11,200 feet above sea level with the promise of altitude sickness. The best way to combat the dizziness and headaches is to drink plenty of water and coca tea. Hotel lobbies stocked tanks of oxygen for those needing an extra jolt. Days later when we climbed Machu Picchu, even higher, we stuffed our cheeks with coca leaves just to be on the safe side.
Exploring Cusco would come later in the trip. Instead, we boarded a bus to the Sacred Valley, first stopping in Chinchero to shop for alpaca sweaters in an open air market, watch a weaving demonstration and meet “Crispy George.”
Part of seeing the world as a traveler is fighting the urge to recoil from unfamiliar foods. In Brazil it was capybara, the world’s largest rodent. This trip it was guinea pig, or cuy, which Americans see as a pet and many Peruvians consider a delicacy served on birthdays. “George” came from the oven in one piece with a pepper stuffed in his mouth. The three of us sampled what was on our plates. Not bad, but we didn’t order it again. Maybe it was the hutch of the little critters in the courtyard, reminiscent of a lobster tank in a seafood restaurant.
Although the ancient Incas generally are known for their magnificent stone structures built at perilous heights with structures that coincided exactly with the seasonal path of the sun, they were also no slouches when it came to agriculture. Clearly this was apparent in the Sacred Valley, a fertile swath of land that includes the Urubamba River. Here you will see farmers plowing with tractors they collectively own, as well as seeing oxen hitched to a plow. Shepherds were on the hills with their flocks and we stopped to meet a mother and son who were moving sheep along the road.
“They are my cousins,” Leo said, a designation he gave to almost everyone we encountered, whether it was the man who exchanged our dollars for soles (Peru’s currency), the woman from a bakery who gave us a large loaf of bread when our bus passed through her town or the people running the nightclub where we went one night for karaoke—the songs were mostly from the ‘70s and ‘80s, but it was good to sing along with The Doors’ Morrison Hotel.
The Sacred Valley is home to Maras with its large circular layout of depressions that historians say shows how the Incas mastered growing crops at higher altitudes by experimenting with the “mini climates” of each terrace. In the nearby town of Moray are salt evaporation ponds from ancient times that are still in use today.
A visit to the ruins in Ollantaytambo gave us a foretaste of Machu Picchu. We traipsed among the Inca fortress with its perfectly chiseled blocks of stone, wide terraces and temple of the sun, as Leo and Ruben pointed out the mountain terrain that looked like the giant face of a man, as well as other stone outcroppings that the ancient people revered.
That night we had dinner with a Peruvian family. “Welcome to my simple home,” the father said in Spanish, opening his arms to take in the single room. Sleeping quarters were on the second floor and an open kitchen was in the back where his wife cooked on a wood-fired hearth. A roast chicken, the ever-present corn and potatoes (Peru produces 4,000 varieties), along with countless other dishes, made us feel special. Leo sweetened the mood by saying that the money we paid for the meal was enough to pay tuition for the daughter who walked a half hour every day to attend school.
It was an early wakeup call the next day for Machu Picchu, “the lost city of the Incas,” designated as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. There’s little doubt for its inclusion. First by train through rugged mountains and then by bus on a road with hairpin turns and no guard rails, we arrived slightly rattled to the site.
We mingled with people from around the world on that mountain—nuns in their habits, a touring choir from Spain, an old man in flip-flops and our crew, all of us happily making it to the top. This was a soak-it-all-in moment spent simply staring at the breath-taking scenery and the way sunlight slanted against the peaks. I imagined the original inhabitants. I ceased chattering and opened my mind. This was for remembering when I’m in the nursing home.
Some who traveled to Peru that week missed experiencing Machu Picchu when unions tied to tourism went on a two-day strike to protest the government’s plan to privatize the ruins along with other notable sites. No train, no buses, along with shuttered shops and restaurants. Visitors to Cusco walked an hour and a half from the airport, dragging luggage behind them. Street demonstrations with drums, chanting, firecrackers and police with riot shields gave us that unexpected experience and a story to tell back home.
The road to Lake Titicaca, a place where people live on floating islands built from reeds, was filled with tires, huge rocks and other debris by the demonstrators. We were helped on one bad stretch of road by some of Leo’s “cousins” who cleared the way in exchange for a case of beer. Our guides always watched out for us.
So it was a little sad as our group sat at dinner in Lima on our final night, the only time during the trip that it rained, even though the forecasts we scoured weeks before had predicted showers every day.
We toasted with pisco sours, exchanged email addresses and crammed together for a group photo. “And when you come back to my country,” Leo said, “your cousin will be waiting for you with open arms.”
Shangri La. The Land of Snows. The Roof of the World. Tibet has been steeped in mystery and magic for centuries. Until the 1980s, this Buddhist land seemed forbidden, if only because of its remote location on a Himalayan plateau. Like its neighbor Nepal, it was locked away by its geography. Its average elevation was 16,000 feet and it was surrounded by insurmountable peaks. Still, it tugged at the imagination of every traveler eager to experience one of the most unique and exotic cultures on earth.
Today, Tibet is within easy reach. So you’re free to mingle among Buddhist pilgrims as they turn prayer wheels and murmur mantras amidst juniper incense. If you’re not sure where to find them, look no further than the Barkhor, a pilgrim circuit—or kora—that circumambulates around Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most important Buddhist shrine. The devout come here from all over the world to walk clockwise around these contemplative city blocks—stopping along the route for spiritual souvenirs such as prayer flags and amulets (and not-so-spiritual accessories like turquoise jewelry and cowboy hats). Commercialism aside, this is where all of Tibet—from nomads to merchants—gathers to honor Buddha.
While joining locals on the Barkhor captures any traveler’s heart, stopping to visit the grand Jokhang Temple evokes the Tibet of old. When it was built in the seventh century, it was less a center of religion and more one of science. Back then, this institution was known as the Zuglagkang—meaning the “house of religious science”—and it brought together a scholarly lot that pre-dated Buddhism. They followed the shamanistic precepts of Bon, and so studied geomancy, astrology, and other forms of divination. That original air of mystery remains as yak butter lamps flicker in the dim light, incense wafts from dark corners, and pilgrims prostrate before altars. All is hushed and tranquil here; the noise of the outside world retreats.
Some three miles away, the Sera Monastery stretches across one corner of the ancient city. It too was founded as a learning center. It remains so today, one of three university temples in Tibet. Its name suggests that learning and intellect blossom here—se ra in Tibetan translates as “wild roses.” Nowhere is that more clearly on display than during the so-called “monk debates,” in which students participate in passionate discussions about Buddhist doctrine. As much pageantry as it is deliberation, the debates follow strict procedure and are enlivened with vigorous gestures, each of which carries its own meaning.
The shimmering jewel in Lhasa’s crown is the Potala Palace, the massive white and ochre fortress that dominates the skyline. Today, Potala is a museum, but it once housed the Tibetan government. Its White Palace, comprising the eastern wings, was the living quarters of the Dalai Lama while the Red Palace in the center of the building served a religious function. Until the 20th century, Potala was the world’s tallest building, even soaring almost twice the height of the Gothic spires of Europe’s cathedrals. From the bottom-most buildings at its base to the rooftop measures 1,000 feet. But its height isn’t the only impressive number. This 17th-century palace boasts more than 1,000 rooms, 10,000 chapels, 200,000 statues, and a network of dungeons.
Unravel the mysteries of Lhasa and Tibet with Gate 1 Travel today!
High on the Tibetan plateau, a glacier-fed stream trickles down the western slope of Geladandong Mountain. As it plummets in elevation, other waterways strengthen its surge, pushing it past walls of mountains and into valleys, past yak herds, rice paddies, and wide-open farms.
This is the mighty Yangtze, third longest river in the world and one of the largest waterways by volume. Its course has shaped the fate of China’s history and culture over millennia, a source of drinking water, irrigation, transit, and legendary tales. To say nothing of the breathtaking beauty of the Three Gorges. This 75-mile stretch could well provide some of the most dramatic scenery of any river in the world, thanks to the towering mountains that guide the water’s winding route.
Ming Mountain and the city of Fengdu oversee the Yangtze from its northern banks, providing the perfect riverside vantage point for the spirits that many believe inhabit this “ghost city.” Fengdu is an interesting prelude to a Yangtze cruise, fertile as it is with legends about the afterlife. In Chinese lore, the dead must pass three tests before they pass into heaven. If they fail, they are destined to spend eternity in the underworld. In Fengdu, this journey is brought to life: the city’s main attractions are the three bridges that represent the three tests.
Perhaps three—three bridges, three tests—is the magic number along the Yangtze. Surely, the Three Gorges through which we cruise cast a spell of their own. Of the trio of mountain-lined river passageways, the Qutang could be the most spectacular. Only five miles long, it zig-zags through a narrow canyon, dwarfed by mountains as tall as 4,000 feet. Near its entrance, you are greeted by the Hanging Monk Rock. Legend has it that a soldier who was trying to climb this hillside in the dark of night to recover the body of his revered general was frightened away by a monk who crowed like a rooster greeting the dawn. As revenge, the soldier hung the monk upside down, and he remains there still.
After winding through Qutang Gorge, the Yangtze flows through the Wu Mountains and into the 25-mile Wu Gorge, known as the Witches Gorge. Each of the dramatic Twelve Peaks that marks our progress symbolizes a fairy popular in local lore. Here, another rock formation at one of the summit’s peaks tells a story, this one of a penitent maiden represented by a huge rock that resembles a kneeling goddess. Long, deep canyons here leave this section of the river in shade much of the day.
Xiling is the final gorge on a downstream itinerary, the longest at 49 miles. The river quickens here through some narrow, magnificent stretches along the Three Rapids of Xiling. Passage along this section of the Yangtze was once treacherous, but some water control projects have calmed the waters, making for a smoother journey.
But one project along the Yangtze was not so smooth: the controversial Three Gorges Dam. Fully completed in 2012, it is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, and its construction was highly contested. When the dam was complete, water levels rose upriver and submerged priceless artifacts of Chinese culture and history. The government stepped in to save some of the treasures, but not all. The larger impact was on the tiny villages that once lined the Yangtze’s banks. Millions of people were relocated to higher ground. Proponents of the dam point to the huge amount of energy generated by its turbines, increased shipping and more trade upriver thanks to deeper waters, and the prevention of historically deadly flooding downriver every spring.
No matter your position, the Yangtze waters still flow, and they lead Gate 1 travelers into a magical landscape.
It would be misleading to talk about Chinese cuisine as a single entity. The scope of cooking in China is as wide and diverse as China itself. Ingredients and techniques have evolved over the centuries with every dynasty and each empire. And the cuisine varies even more according to each region’s climate, imperial preferences throughout history, and of course available local ingredients.
In imperial China, meat and other animal products were hard to come by, though emperors often had more access to pork and beef. Royalty and commoners alike relied on rice in the south and dumplings or noodles in the north. Meals were augmented by vegetables, peanuts, and soy. It may sound like a simple diet, but an emperor’s first act was often to appoint a head chef, and competition could be mean-spirited between cooks.
Mao’s Communist Party vowed to steer away from this agrarian dependence with its “Great Leap Forward” campaign. This move toward industrialization and collective agriculture ended up being a great leap backward when the widespread movement failed, leading to the Great Chinese Famine. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms brought more meats and animal products to Chinese tables. This turn in history changed Chinese cuisine dramatically, enriching it with protein and fat and opening doors to new and innovative gastronomy.
Today’s Chinese Table
China’s most ubiquitous drink is tea. This comes as no surprise when you consider that the country was the first to cultivate tea leaves for steeping as early as the third century. In some circles both within and outside China, tea is discussed with the same vigor that oenophiles discuss wine, with many devotees even hosting tasting parties. Climate, soil, and species of plant all affect how a tea is categorized, for instance, as green, oolong, black, scented, white, or compressed. Just as wine aficionados serve cheese with their preferred beverage, tea connoisseurs accompany their drink with nuts, dried fruit, or melon seeds.
This is not to suggest that the Chinese are teetotalers. By some accounts, 99.5% of the alcohol sold on China’s shelves is baijiu, or white liquor, making it the most consumed spirit in the world. The clear, potent liquor is made from sorghum or other grains such as rice, wheat, or barley. More familiar to westerners is rice wine, in which grains are converted from starch to sugar with the aid of enzymes. This should not be confused with sake, which is also made from rice but converted via a mashing and brewing process similar to that used to make beer.
Chopsticks are at every Chinese table and they’ve had a profound impact on cuisine. As they became the common utensil, dishes needed to be prepared with them in mind. Therefore, most recipes call for bite-sized pieces or tender cuts of fish that can be pried apart with a poke or two. Some historians believe that the omnipresence of the chopstick ushered the arrival of dim sum into Chinese culture, which consists of small pieces served on small plates, such as dumplings, rice rolls, turnip cakes, and stir-fried vegetables.
Hot Pots are also conducive to chopstick dipping. In this style of cooking—with its common Mongolian and Szechuan variations—a brass pot of simmering broth is placed at the center of the table. The pot might be sectioned to contain two or three flavors of broth. In the most traditional serving, the pot is heated over a central, coal-fueled chimney. Diners then choose a raw food from a family-style plate and cook it in the broth.
4 Reasons to Love Chinese Cuisine
Considering the above as a base—rice in the south, dumplings and noodles in the north, vegetables and nuts, a late introduction of meats, and tea and baijiu all around—today’s Chinese cuisine is best categorized into four types, each influenced by climate, geography, lifestyle, and mass migrations over the centuries:
Cantonese (southeastern China). This is the most familiar Chinese cuisine to the western palate, thanks to the Cantonese chefs who have ridden a wave of immigration to the U.S. Steaming and stir-frying are the most common cooking methods, and all forms of meat may be used, with the exception of lamb and goat. Herbs and spices are added modestly so that the flavors of a dish’s main ingredients can shine. Sauces and condiments are common.
Shandong (northeastern China). Shandong cuisine has a long history that dates back to imperial days. In fact, some scholars believe that all other culinary styles in China derived from its simplicity. It heavily emphasizes seafood and soups enhanced by light flavors. Corn, peanuts, and vegetables such as potatoes, cabbages, mushrooms, and eggplants appear often. As for a staple at every meal, rice takes a back seat to steamed breads.
Jiangsu (central eastern China). This type of cooking favors braising and stewing and is popular in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Meat is very soft but if prepared correctly does not fall off the bone. Ingredients in Jiangsu cuisine are selected from whatever is in season, and are often chosen in order to achieve a harmony in color and shape. Soup often appears on a Jiangsu menu.
Szechuan (southwestern China). Bold flavors are common in Szechuan cuisine, especially from garlic, chili peppers, and the unique Sichuan pepper. The main spicy dishes are often accompanied by non-spicy options to cool the palate. In some kitchens, the gastronomy has proven so sophisticated that UNESCO declared the city of Chengdu a City of Gastronomy in 2011. Beef is more common on a Szechuan menu as the region is home to a lot of oxen.
Mountain Cuisine of Tibet
With such a high altitude, Tibet cannot grow many crops. Some elevations are low enough, however, to cultivate rice, oranges, bananas, and lemons. Barley is the most important crop, and is roasted and milled to create the nation’s staple, known as tsampa. Shapale (a meat and cabbage dish) and balep (bread) are also central to the Tibetan diet. A common dinner dish is thukpa, a mixture of noodles, vegetables, and beef in a broth. Hearty stews are also served at the Tibetan table, made with yak, goat, or mutton meat and potatoes.
Fans (including Princess Kate herself!) love Downton Abbey for the twisting plotlines and Crawley family intrigue – not to mention the fabulous shots of Highclere Castle, where the show is filmed.
Now, you can get one last glimpse of the Abbey – in person! Gate 1 Travel has designed an exclusive package especially for Downton Abbey fans: four nights in London, with a private tour of the set – at just $1599 with airfare for Gate 1 Travel followers.
You’ll spend a day touring Highclere Castle, strolling through rooms featured in the Downton Abbey series while your guides share the history of the castle – and maybe a few behind-the-scenes anecdotes! Explore the magnificent gardens, or channel your inner Lady Grantham and take tea in one of the castle’s tearooms, before taking a drive through the English countryside to Oxford. Stay in a 4-star hotel near the center of London, and explore the city on a half-day tour and a full day of leisure.
Use promo code BLHCDA100 and book by February 8, 2016 to join this unique British excursion!
It is no secret that Greece has long danced to its own rhythm. One would expect nothing less from the place where western civilization itself was born. From poetry to philosophy, from democracy to drama, all the major disciplines that formed the building blocks of how we live today were created here during an ancient renaissance of arts, science and critical thinking.
For many – certainly, for today’s Greeks – the nation is so alluring because of the independence that it still exhibits today. And for all the attention it is getting regarding its place in the European Union, Greece remains one of the most beautiful and sought-after places on earth. How could it not? Its intense mountain and coastal beauty, dotted with colonnaded temples and awash in Aegean sun, are the stuff of every traveler’s dreams. Its lively culture, punctuated with dance and fabulous Mediterranean cuisine, engages the most stoic visitor. And its ancient monuments, proudly perched amidst cities, mountains and island vistas, have endured millennia of change. Dare we say, they will continue to do so. As for the Greeks themselves, they take hospitality to be god-given, just like their ancient ancestors. To them, warmth and kindness are divine rights that everyone deserves. They remain as welcoming as ever, their spirit soaring and their doors and arms wide open.
And there’s another reason to travel to Greece now: The nation’s euro-zone challenges are keeping many visitors away, though we can’t imagine why. For you, that means fewer crowds at ancient sites that are typically (and notoriously) overcrowded. It also means that you’ll find much lower prices as you dine out on your own and shop for souvenirs. And speaking of Greek dining…
Fresh, Mediterranean Cuisine at Every Table
Greece is world famous for its simple food. The Mediterranean diet has certainly won praise for its proven health benefits. Local dishes exude the steadfast character of their origins – fava in Santorini, amygdalota in Mykonos, cheese pie with honey in Crete. But no matter where you visit, you’ll encounter the pleasures of freshly baked breads and a bounty of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchinis. To Greeks, food is a celebration best served as saganaki, a fried cheese; souvlaki, grilled meat on a skewer; moussaka, a meat and eggplant casserole; and fried octopus – all enhanced with that crisp Greek olive oil. To wash it all down, uncork a bottle of an up and coming wine grown in the country’s diverse terroir. The flavors and notes of Greek wines is so unique that 72% of its vintages that were entered into the Decanter World Wine Awards received a prize, 3 of them gold and 50 of them silver.
Civilization’s Cradle
Just as Athens is the Cradle of Civilization, it is also the central focus of many trips to Greece. Its Acropolis stands gloriously atop its hill like a beacon in the Grecian sun, as if shining down upon the modern-day city that it shaped. So many elements of civilization were born here—democracy, philosophy, arts—that it’s impossible to not be moved by a simple stroll among its temples and past its masterfully preserved Parthenon. Much of the site and its relics (as well as artifacts from Greek antiquity worldwide) are beautifully illuminated by a visit to the National Archaeological Museum. Indeed, it is considered one of the great museums of the world.
The legacy of the ancients lives far and wide, of course. But it’s especially poignant to witness the houses of democracy in the city of its birth, from the President’s residence to Constitution Square. And when it’s time for a relaxing stroll, the intimate streets of the shop-lined Plaka district at the base of Acropolis Hill invite you to explore.
The Pleasures of the Peloponnese
A 19th-century engineering marvel separates the mainland from the Peloponnese Peninsula. The Corinth Canal, which opened in 1893, was literally carved out of solid rock. It had long been a dream of the ancients to connect the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf; construction efforts date as far back as the 1st century AD. Today, the sculpted gorge is sheer-faced and dramatic.
The rustic Peloponnese Peninsula—to the west of metropolitan Athens—boasts a rich past of its own. Perhaps most famously, the first Olympic Games were held here, in Olympia. They were first staged in honor of the god Zeus, whose temple is still impressive despite that it lies in ruins. Nearby, the hillside city of Nauplion, with its stunning setting on the azure waters of the Argolic Gulf, was the capital of the First Hellenic Republic and a coveted city of many royal houses. Its cobbled streets, stone buildings, and multi-hued shutters date back centuries. Two castles add to its scenic splendor: The Venetian Bourtzi sits in the middle of the harbor and the hilltop Palamidi offers dramatic views of the town. In the second millennium BC, however, it was Mycenae that held sway over southern Greece. This major center of ancient civilization was defended by a solid stone fortress whose ruins whisper of sieges past.
Stunning Places of Worship and Wonder
North of the Peloponnese, Delphi attracted countless devout worshipers in ancient times. Legend recalls that a high priestess delivered prophecies here in a highly agitated state. It was believed that the gods were speaking through her, but today scientists suspect it was the vapors rising from a chasm below the temple that put her in an altered state. Today, Delphi still inspires awe, albeit more from its natural setting than from its incantations. This vast complex includes the Temple of Apollo, the Delphi and Tholos temples and a huge amphitheater—all of it surrounded by soaring mountain slopes.
More sources of inspiration are perched high on sandstone pillars in the town of Kalambaka in Greece’s central plains. Here, the six Eastern Orthodox monasteries of Meteora (translated as “in the heavens above”) are perched atop naturally formed rock towers averaging 1,000 feet above sea level. When they were originally built starting in the 14th century, they could only be reached by a harrowing climb up a rope ladder. These incredible structures must be seen to be believed.
The Aegean of Your Dreams
The Greek Islands find their way into every traveler’s dreams. Blue church domes and rustic windmills rise from a cluster of whitewashed villages that cling to hillsides. Sleepy cobbled streets lead to inviting squares and cafés where you can while away an afternoon over grape leaves and ouzo. Time slows down in the Aegean, and Gate 1’s island itineraries help you do the same in a magnificent setting, from the glittering Cyclades to the historic Dodecanese archipelagos.
The small island of Mykonos could be the most famed of the Greek Islands, thanks to its iconic windmills and blue-domed churches. Along the coast and amidst its hilly interior, white villages with blue doorways and rounded, thatched-roof windmills dot the landscape. Its labyrinthine tiny streets are a delight to explore and its sandy white beaches were surely made for basking.
Santorini is one of the most romantic islands. Its volcanic origins have given it beaches of white, red, or black sand. It is truly an otherworldly landscape of dramatic rock formations and lunar-like terrain. Its fascinating Bronze Age archeological site of Akrotiri opened recently, giving fascinating insight into primitive life here. Surprisingly, Santorini is one of Greece’s most prolific wine producers, as you’ll learn if you visit a local winery.
Vineyards also dot the landscape of Paros. All varieties of beaches line this pretty island’s shores, from tiny hidden bays to long swathes of golden sand. Gentle, terraced vine-laden hills and olive groves undulate over the island. The vibrant blue of Naoussa Bay plays host to fishing boats in cheery colors, a lovely sight against the waterside whitewash of the village.
Crete stands as the largest and most diverse of the Greek Islands. In addition to endless beauty and stunning beaches, tiny villages and agrarian settlements hold fast to tradition here. Medieval fortresses lord over the coast. Snow-covered peaks spill toward dramatic gorges that pour mountain-fed water into the sea. Crete is also home to large cities brimming with rich culture. But its historic touch-point is Knossos, an ancient palace complex dating to 1900 BC. This remarkable site is considered the oldest city in all of Europe. According to legend, King Minos kept his mythical son Minotaur in a labyrinth here.
These four islands offer just a taste of the Aegean’s magnificence. Select Gate 1 itineraries also call on the Cyclades Islands of Milos, Syros and Ios and the Dodecanese Islands of Patmos, Kos and Rhodes, where a beautifully preserved medieval city and the sprawling Grand Masters Palace overlook the glimmering sea. You can also explore the islands of Samos and Chios, semi-autonomous islands off the Turkish coast with their own brand of Aegean beauty and rich history.
So Many Ways to Experience Greece with Gate 1 Travel
A country as diverse as Greece opens itself up to limitless exploration. Gate 1 offers an array of travel styles so you can take in the rich and colorful Aegean culture your way. Our classic Escorted Tours showcase the best of the country for you, with a generous array of inclusions and the services of a local Greek Tour Manager. For the free-spirited, choose one of our Independent Vacations, which provide your basic necessities like flights and hotels and leave you to follow your own whims.
If the magical Greek Islands call to you, choose an itinerary that combines land touring with overnight accommodations either on a small ship or on a large Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise ship, exploring additional destinations as wide-reaching as Venice, Florence and Rome. And if you’d rather rub elbows with locals, some of our hotel-based trips let you island-hop on local ferries, for a truly authentic experience.
The Perfect Time to See Greece Is Now
The timeless antiquities, spectacular beauty and warm welcomes of Greece are to be savored. And with fewer crowds visiting its most iconic sites, you can do just that in a relaxed and hospitable atmosphere. Join us in 2016 and experience it all for yourself, at the value you’d expect, with Gate 1 Travel.
Join Gate 1 Travel in Greece! Follow these links to our exciting Greece Tours and Greek Island Cruises. Or call to reserve, 1-800-682-3333!
Greece is no stranger to cuisine. In fact, it was a Greek, Archestratos, who wrote the first cookbook in history, in 320 B.C. Today, the Mediterranean diet consistently wins praise for its proven health benefits. Local dishes exude the steadfast character of their origins – fava in Santorini, masticha in Chios, amygdalota in Mykonos, cheese pie with honey in Crete. But no matter where you visit, you’ll encounter the pleasures of freshly baked breads and a bounty of vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchinis.
To Greeks, food is a celebration best served as saganaki, grilled lamb, moussaka, fried octopus – all enhanced with that crisp Greek olive oil.
The diverse terroir of Greece has been producing wines longer than most any other place in the world, for close to 6,500 years. The flavors and notes of Greek wines is so unique that 72% of its vintages that were entered into the Decanter World Wine Awards received a prize, 3 of them gold and 50 of them silver.
Here’s what you can expect to find on the Greek table:
Mezes. Like Spanish tapas, mezes is a small-plate approach to Greek dining. Items can vary from piquant olives to a pita bread with dips to more complicated dishes such as cold eggplant salad. Mezes should not be confused with orektika that you might see on a menu, which is the formal name for appetizers that are intended to precede larger meals.
Olive oil. Like in many Mediterranean restaurants, olive oil is a central ingredient in Greek cooking, pressed from the olive trees that have graced the country’s landscape for centuries.
Cheese. With a climate and landscape conducive to goats and sheep, a wide array of cheeses are common in the Greek diet, from feta to kasseri.
Filo. Whether in large sheets or bite-sized triangles, various fillings might be wrapped in filo dough, from chicken to spinach and cheese to minced meat. One version of this, spanakopita, might be served with cubes of feta.
Tiganita. These deep-fried vegetables might be served as a side dish.
Dolmadakia. Cousins of the Turkish dolma, these grape leaves are often stuffed with rice, vegetables, or meat.
Fava. This puree of yellow split peas or beans might be flavored with olive oil, garlic or parsley and served as part of mezes with pita bread.
Greek salad. This simple salad is made with tomato salad, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese and kalamata olives.
Tzatziki. Served with warm pita bread, this is a yogurt with cucumber and garlic puree.
Fasolada. Often called the national food of Greece, this white bean soup is made with tomatoes, carrot and celery.
Fakes. This lentil soup is typically accompanied by vinegar and olive oil.
Moussaka. Eaten warm or cold, this casserole is usually made with ground meat and either eggplant or potatoes.
Agiorghitiko (red). Also known as St. George’s grape, this wine is mostly produced in the Peloponnese region. The soft, fruity red expresses itself in many styles with qualities that are similar to Beaujolais.
Xinomavro (red). This “sour black” grape ages well and has flavor notes that actually bring tomatoes and olives.
Assyrtiko (white). This grape is mostly grown on the island of Santorini, whose old vines were resistant to the phylloxera virus that wiped out other European vineyards. It has characteristics similar to Riesling.
Savatiano (white). Known as the “Saturday” grape, this is the major white grape of Attica. It has a distinct floral, fruity aroma and if fermented without cooling, its wine matches well with Mediterranean dishes.
Roditis (rose). Very popular in the Peloponnese, this elegant and light wine has lovely citrus flavors.
With shifting sands of time, four cities have vied for Morocco’s crown
“The tar of my country is better than the honey of others.” So goes the old Moroccan proverb, revealing the deep pride of its people-a pride justified by its sweeping history, abiding culture, and dramatic settings. And there’s no better way to peer behind the veil of centuries than to explore Morocco’s four Imperial Cities. Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Meknes have all held the title of capital-often swapping back and forth-but each has its own unique flavor.
A Son Shows Off: Fez
Sultan Idriss II, a great-great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, established Fez, Morocco’s first capital, early in the 9th century-directly across the river from the city his father founded. The city takes it name from the word for pickaxe, as Idriss II is said to have used one made of gold and silver to mark the glorious city’s borders. The son’s handiwork soon outpaced the father’s when the new city welcomed 800 Berber families fleeing conflict in Andalusia; they were soon followed by 2,000 displaced Arab families.
Over centuries, the two cities-Idriss II’s and his father’s-became one, blossoming into an epic metropolis whose city walls extended for nearly 10 miles. By 1170, it was home to over 200,000 and the largest city on earth. See the city from above today and its scope remains staggering, with the constantly bustling medina (the world’s largest car-free urban area), the “new” city from the 13th century, and the French-influenced ville nouvelle.
Here, one experiences a panoply of delights from the colors and textures of ancient madrasas to the artisan district where carpets are made, leather is dyed, and copper craftsmen ply their trade. The world’s oldest continuously operating university, the Islamic Al-Karaouine, is here, coexisting for centuries with the adjacent Mellah, the Jewish Quarter. But it’s more than architecture and monuments that inspire visitors: sharing a meal with a local family will offer you the best insight of all into life in this storied city.
A palm-dotted sight for sore eyes: Marrakesh
Even while Fez was still growing, an upstart nabbed the title of capital. Marrakesh was made an Imperial capital by successive Berber empires in the 12th century, the first of which laid the groundwork for a true city. The second included a building spree that yielded the Marrakesh we see today, with its royal palaces, imposing Kasbah, and city walls. An array of entirely new mosques was built as well; the second rulers tore down the old ones because it was deemed that they had been positioned incorrectly in relation to Mecca.
With the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains to one side and deserts stretching into the distance on the other, Marrakesh was a natural caravanserai for camel-riding traders. It greeted weary travelers with hundreds of acres of lush greenery and a stand of more than 100,000 palm trees-an oasis better than any mirage could be. No wonder the Berbers called it the “land of god.”
Not everyone agreed with this praise, and the capital returned to Fez, launching a rivalry that, in many ways, continues to this day. From copper-topped Koutoubia Mosque to the 360-room Bahia palace, it’s easy to see how Marrakesh stakes its claim. And there’s still something for everyone here, from the serenity of the Majorelle botanical gardens to the electricity of lively Djemaa el Fna square, the souk of all souks.
Pirate’s bounty: Rabat
It is said that when coastal Rabat was made capital, it was to shut up Fez and Marrakesh both. Rabat was an old city, settled as Chellah in 300 BC and renamed Sala Colonia by the Romans in the first century. It was the Almohads who made it a capital in the 12th century-rebuking both former capitals in the process and calling it “The Stronghold of Victory.” The ruling Sultan ordered the building of the world’s largest minaret, the Hassan Tower, with a grand mosque and madrasa, to show his kingdom’s might-but he died and the tower was capped at 140 feet (just over half the height he imagined). It still stands today.
The sultan’s death led to the decline of the city and the loss of its capital status. By the 17th century, it had a new reputation as a pirate lair. As the base for Barbary pirates who called their territory the Republic of Bou Regreg, Rabat was the launch pad for countless sailing attacks on western traders for nearly 200 years. But the days of lawlessness ended when France set up a protectorate in the early 20th century, and Rabat became a port to visit-not fear-once again.
From its ruins of Chellah and Sala Colonia to the unfinished tower and lush French-Andalusian gardens, it’s easy to see why UNESCO named Rabat a World Heritage Site.
A Bloody Showoff: Meknes
While pirates were running the show in Rabat, Moulay Ismail had moved the Moroccan capital to Meknes in 1672. Meknes was not a new city: it had been settled by the Berber people known as the Miknas (who gave the city its name) in the 9th century and had grown steadily under three successive dynasties. But Ismail had a vision for something bigger.
He built a 25-mile wall, along with massive gates, lush gardens, and dozens upon dozens of mosques, earning Meknes the title “City of a Hundred Minarets.” It was also a city of blood: the “Warrior King,” as he was known, once adorned those new city walls with 10,000 human heads. Though legend of his barbarism endured, he himself perished, and Meknes was displaced as capital in less than a century. Marrakesh reclaimed the honor – at least for a time.
For the last century, Rabat has been capital, its seaside location making it both a practical and visually appealing choice. Any visitor is quick to choose their favored Imperial Capital, regardless of the tales that history tells. But this much is clear no matter which modern capital calls to you most: the pride of Morocco endures.
Visit the Imperial Cities for yourself during our Moroccan Allure trip. Click here for trip details!
