Turkey · Greece · Italy · Spain


For six weeks during the summer of 2005, Frank Griffith traveled through Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Germany with his 11-year-old grandson, Kevin. The young man discovered the amazing people and places of Europe and Asia Minor, people and places Frank knew from years of sailing the Mediterranean with his wife, Kathy, aboard Träumerei. With only 7-10 days to experience each country, destinations included the best of Frank's favorite places. I joined Frank and Kevin, camera and notebook in hand, as we traveled by train, plane, bus, car, and ferry, and explored the wonderful Old World. Relive our trip as we try to rid ourselves of the same song running over and over in our heads, "Istanbul was Constantinople, now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople...".

The Tour

Here's the abbreviated version of our schedule. If lodging is listed, I recommend it.

06 June   Arrive Istanbul, Turkey   Side Pensione
09 June   Night train to Ankara  
10 June   Drive to Göreme, Cappadocia region   Kelebek Hotel
11 June   Kaymakl1, 11-hour drive to Selçuk    
12 June   Ephesus, Mary's house, drive to Kusadasi   Club Caravanserail
13 June   Drive to Marmaris via Bodrum   Pupa Yacht Hotel
15 June   Fast ferry to Rodos   Hotel Spot
16 June   Fast ferry (5 hours) to Patmos  
17 June   Midnight ferry to Pireas (Athens)  
20 June   Morning bus to Delphi, afternoon buses to Kalambaka (Meteora)  
21 June   Meteora, afternoon buses to Igoumenitsa, ferry to Kerkyra  
22 June   Kerkyra, night ferry to Bari, Italy  
23 June   All day bus and trains to Agropoli   Hotel Carola
24 June   Paestum  
25 June Morning train to Pompeii   Hotel Diana
26 June   Morning train to Roma   B&B a Roma
26-29 June   Roma    
30 June   Firenze   Residenza Manzoni
2 July   Trains to Padova, Venezia    
3 July   Train to Bergamo   Hotel Piemontese
5 July   Early flight to Sevilla, Spain   Vincci de Rábida
6 July   Bus to Córdoba, the Mezquita    
7 July   Bus to La Línea, Gibraltar    
9 July   Fast train to Madrid, train to El Escorial   NH Nacional
10 July   Madrid: Prado    
11 July   Madrid, night train to San Sebastian    
12 July   Morning bus to Pamplona, Fiesta de San Fermín   NH El Toro
13 July   Drive to Bilbao    
         
         
         
         
         

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