Getting ready!!

Ok, this is my first try at this blog stuff. I am currently typing on my iPad in the backyard so Houston can play. Ever since the weather turned remotely nice, he's been begging to go outside. So here I sit under the Colorado sky preparing for this amazing trip. For those of you that will be following along - and I assume that's you if you're reading this, I thought I'd post the itinary. Here it is: March 17- depart USA. We are leaving Denver at 1, flying to Minnapolis on Delta. Then we board at 8 pm for Amerstadam. I was very excited about the layover. Although its only 50 minutes, I probably won't have time to buy a pair of wooden shoes. Then we depart for Athens and land the next afternoon. March 18- arrive in Athens and begin the sightseeing. We are scheduled to see quite a bit this first day. I don't know if it will all happen. Among the sites are the Panathenaic Stasium, where the first Olympics were held, the temple of Zeus and we spend the night right near the Acropolis. March 19- We begin the day in Athens, but then leave for Delphi and Kalambaka. Delphi was the center of the ancient world and is renowned as the dwelling place or Apoolo. We will visit the museum of Delphi and then go to Kalambaka, where we will see something amazing, I'm sure, but I don't know what. :-) March 20- Meteora and Thessaloniki: We will visit the Meteora Monasteries and then visit the second largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia, Thessaloniki. We are going to stay in the night in Thessaloniki. March 21 - Thessaloniki, Kavala, and Philippi. Kavala is biblical Neapolis and Paul's gateway to Euprope, a busy post with a striking castle and an impressive aqueduct build by Suleyman the Magnificiant. We will see the Greek Orthodox seaside church (Agia Sofia) that marks Pauls' landing spot. Lunch is on our own, in case you're wondering. :-) In the afternoon, we tour Philippi. We will see a gladiator arena and visit a crypt (oooohhh) that has been regarded as the place of Paul's first imprisonment where he and Silas sand hymns and an earthquake set them free. Overnight in Thessaloniki. March 22 - Veria, Vergina, and Athens. We will complete a city tour of Thessaloniki including the Byzantine churches, the Rotonda, St. Demetrius Church, the Agora. We will tehn depart for Veria (biblical Berea) to see the Hellenic tower and walls. From here we will continue to Verginia where the Royal Tombs of King Phillip were discovered, one of the greatest discoveries of Greek Antiquity in the 20th century. Return to Athens to spend the night. March 23 - We will transfer to the Port of Piraeus and embark on a three day cruise to Turkey. March 24 - Istanbul. Our tour takes us to Agia Sohpia, Blue Mosque, TopKapi and the Grand Bazaar. In the evening we said to Izmir. March 25 - Dock in Izmir, biblical Smyrna. We will tour half day in Ephesus and then view one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World the Temple of Artemis. WOW! March 26 - We disembark the cruise ship in Athens, and visit Corinth where Paul arrived in 50 AD to preach Christianity. We will stop at the archeological sites housing many statues and artifacts. We will cross the Corinth Canal, stopping briefly to learn the history of the famous man-man construction, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the mordern world. March 27 - Leave for USA. We will fly Athens to JFK and then JFK to DEN. We land in the evening. Ok, there's the itineray. It sounds even more amazing now that I typed up the highlights. I plan on posting daily. My old fashioned way of travel, included keeping a written journal of my trip. I remember when I was in Israel that it was hard to keep up and my hand hurt every night that I wrote. I figured the same thing would happen to me about, so I tought of a blog! Fortunately a friend a work, let me borrow her wireless ipad keyboard, so I can type on the go. Thanks Sue! I hope you enjoy reading along with me as Dad and I experience a part of the world, I never thought I would get to! I always enjoyed reading my friend, Katie's blogs. While I'm not the amazing writer she is, I hope that you enjoy the blog and that I can help my dad remember what we did in a few years. Hahaha! He's getting old. :-)