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