Michael S. LibermanItaly and Greece Day 1: DC to Boston to London
July 2, 2024
From Terminal E at Logan Airport in Boston …
It’s been a couple of years since my last international travel to Israel, so it’s good to be starting another trip. And I’m really looking forward to this one!
After what seems like weeks of pre- departure prep and packing, the day starts early on United Flight 641 from Washington Dulles to Boston Logan. That leaves me with a fairly good layover, but after a very busy few days getting ready, I’m happy to take it easy for a few hours before we board British Airways Flight 212 to London Heathrow. And that leaves time for an extended post with some background, the itinerary, and a review of the photo gear I’m traveling with …
As a graduate student at Ohio University working towards a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production, I decided to minor in Art History as a way to study composition, light, and shadow. My art history coursework focussed on Florence, Venice, and the Renaissance. Between that and watching Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy I knew I needed to get to Italy. And although I’ve been traveling for a number of years, all these years later I still haven’t made it to Italy while everyone I know has! So now it’s time for me to see Italy in-person.
The itinerary for this trip includes a return to Greece and Turkey. I’ve avoided returning to a place I’ve already been, mostly because there are other places on my bucket list that I’d like to see first. But this trip features places in Greece I haven’t been before … and the Aegean islands really are worth visiting again … also, the food in Greece was incredible! I’m looking forward to a few weeks of Mediterranean cuisine!
So here is the itinerary for this trip to Italy, Greece and Türkiye!
| July 2, Day 1 DC to Boston to London | Fly to London |
| July 3, Day 2 London to Milan to Venice | Travel from Milan to Venice with dinner enroute |
| July 4, Day 3 Venice | Venice walking tour, St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace |
| July 5, Day 4 Venice to Florence | Verona tour, Romeo and Juliet balcony, Verona Arena, travel to Florence |
| July 6, Day 5 Florence | Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante’s House |
| July 7, Day 6 Florence to Rome | Travel to Rome, Ancient Rome, Colosseum, Forum Romanum, Piazza Venezia |
| July 8, Day 7 Rome | Vatican City, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona |
| July 9, Day 8 Rome to Sorrento | Travel to Sorrento, Capri and Blue Grotto |
| July 10, Day 9 Sorrento to Pompeii to Bari to Patras | Pompeii, travel to Bari, overnight ferry to Patras |
| July 11, Day 10 Patras to Olympia to Tolo | Olympia, Ancient Olympia, travel to Tolo |
| July 12, Day 11 Tolo to Athens | Mycenae, Epidaurus, Corinth Canal, travel to Athens |
| July 13, Day 12 Athens | Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Athena Nike, Omonoia Square, Syntagma Square, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch |
| July 14, Day 13 Cape Sounion | Cape Sounion, Temple of Poseidon |
| July 16, Day 15 Celestyal Discovery | Cruise to Kusadasi, Turkey Cruise to Patmos |
| July 17, Day 16 Celestyal Discovery | Cruise to Rhodes |
| July 18, Day 17 Celestyal Discovery | Cruise to Crete Cruise to Santorini |
| July 19, Day 18 Return to Athens | Free day |
| July 20, Day 19 Athen to London to Boston | Fly to Boston |
| July 21, Day 20 Boston to DC | Fly to DC |
What I’m packing … This is a lengthy trip and requires careful consideration of what to bring, balancing what I want to carry (or can) with capturing the best photos and video of a bucket list trip! I’m bringing the Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera with the recently released Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR zoom lens. For a faster ultra-wide option I’m bringing the Nikkor Z 20mm f1.8 S prime lens. For timelapse video and places where a smaller camera might be more manageable, I’ve got the DJI OSMO Pocket 3. Getting clean ambient audio of locations is key to making post trip edits faster, so I’m bringing a DJI Mic (just the mic transmitter and not the receiver). Although I’ve traveled with the Vanguard Kinray Lite for many years I’m bringing a different camera bag on this trip. I recently got a hold of the Gura Gear Kiboko City Commuter 18L+ for use on this trip. With its rear panel camera compartment and roll top access, this will take some getting used to, but I think will be a good addition to my travel kit.
While I’m traveling I will post updates here on the blog each day. If you want to get an email when I post an update subscribe by entering your email address in the subscription box on the right. I’m looking forward to sharing these updates with you!
That sounds like an incredible trip Michael and I can’t wait to hear all about it. My first trip to Rome, we hired a private tour operator who took us on an amazing visit to the Vatican museum- mostly focusing on Carrivagio paintings- also the sculptures (Bernini) are breathtaking. You’ll see replicas in Florence of the actual sculpture that is housed in Rome. Enjoy! We are headed to Ireland 15-30 July! Retirement rocks!
Thanks, Shannon! I know we are seeing the Vatican museum. Not sure what we will see. Ireland sounds great and so does retirement!!
Can’t wait to read more. Especially now that I understand the back story!! Good recap. Who’s flying with you?
Thanks, Mickey!! Traveling with Marguerite, Michelle, Greg and his family, Bernie and Jess, and some travelers I’m just meeting for the first time! Fun group!
You’ll have to tell me about Crete when you get back. I want to go there!
Stopped in Crete in the 2011 trip. Absolutely gorgeous countryside. Seeing the Minoan Palace of Knossos as part of this visit. Should be interesting!
Buon whatever time of day you are reading this. I didn’t know you minored in art history and I am so surprised to learn you never visited Italy. Since fb is being difficult, here a couple recommendations if you have any free time. In Florence, the Baptistry is being restored – if you can book the 65€ tour, it will allow you to go up into the scaffolding and be about 6″ from the mosaics. The Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Mosaic museum) has a super interesting video upstairs that show the mosiac process and a few excellent mosiac portraits downstairs. It’s around the corner from where you’ll see The David. And if you wander over to the nearby Cappelle Medicee, you can be in a 50′ tall chapel the Medicis built as a tomb for themselves and marvel at the mosiacs. For dinner, I highly recommend Trattoria Cammillo and Trattoria Dell’Orto. Firenze might be my favorite Italian city, and in my heart, I am a Florentine.
Thanks for reading, Mitsi!! And for the recommendations! Reading this on Friday morning on the bus traveling to Florence with a stop in Verona in the way. I believe you are a Florentine!!
In Rome, depending on where you are staying and you level of tiredness, Argot is a great little speakeasy for a night cap, and on the other side of the river, Bukowski’s Bar has great cocktails and boardgames.
Thank you!! Making notes of these suggestions!
Capri – if you have any time to explore the island, we thought the Villa Jovis (Tiberius’ summer place 27 AD) was worth the trek. Gorgeous views as well. It was better seeing it after the tour guide at Pompeii had described a typical villa to better understand all the rooms at the ruins at Villa Jovis, read up on the site or see if there’s an audio guide that can be downloaded.
Good advice!! Thank you! I know we are going to see the Blue Grotto and then take the funicular up to explore. Will see what else we have time for!
Athens. Definitely make time to at least drop into the National Archaeological Museum to see the gold items they found at Mycenae. On your free day, I think the Byzantine and Christian Museum provides fascinating context for Athens history and is worth the time; in contrast, I was underwhelmed and disappointed at the lack of historical context at the Acropolis museum. A For Athens is a hotel with a rooftop bar/restaurant that has a glorious view of the Acropolis, particularly at sunset and twilight. The Clusmies serves an excellent cocktail in a stylish setting, Drunk Sinatra is fun and good for Manhattans, and heteroclito is a wine bar where you can try and learn about many Greek wines.
I know we’ve got the Acropolis planned for Athens. Not sure what else is planned, so thanks for this!
What an amazing trip. I didn’t know you minored in art history! We loved Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. Living vicariously through this trip until we can get to Italy. We’re doing a river cruise from Switzerland to Amsterdam in a few weeks. Isn’t retirement great? 😊
Loving retirement, Lisa!! Glad you and Matt are as well. Your river cruise sounds great!