1. Tell us a little bit about your most recent Untour.
We spent a little over 3 weeks in Greece – – in THE PERFECT LITTLE TOWN of Nafplion. We had both been to Greece before several times, mostly separately and many, many years ago – but we wanted to really spend time in one area and get to know it the UnTours way. Oded is a Biblical archeologist – – so he really wanted to see the many terrific sites in the area, and I was ready for that a food, sun, water, art and ambiance. Our first two weeks were spent in Fos, the apartment in the orange grove outside of town – and we loved it. Very country, perfect for star gazing, eating on the patio while the sheep and chickens ran about – and fresh orange juice every morning – yet just minutes from Nafplion, restaurants, bakeries and stores.
We drove to the many nearby archeological sites and were frequently the only tourists there (the economic situation has been very hard on Greece and tourism). Often, however, there were digs or repairs in progress, and Oded had a marvelous time talking with his fellow archeologists and getting private tours of the sites. We used the guide of places to visit supplied by Christos and loved getting to know this area of Greece well. We also swam regularly at our favorite beach – very early in the morning as it was too hot to be there after 10 or so. Our final week we spent in town in the “Poppy” apartment (without a car), took a cruise, ate at restaurants (so many excellent choices!), gelatarias (so many good ones!) loved the museums, the fortresses, the shop-keepers, the folks who ran the restaurants (we were regular customers at several – and they always brought us something special or extra). Everyone was so kind and generous – -we felt very at home.
2. What is your favorite UnTours memory?
My favorite concerns Nafplion’s summer music festival. We attended several performances, but the most wonderful one was the Opera La Boheme, performed by the Greek National Opera on the square in front of our apartment.
We sat on our balcony, sipping wine and eating Greek cheeses and olives under a full moon, with the fortress above us lit up, listening to one of our favorite operas magnificently performed. What a super treat this was! Since we began watching while they rehearsed, and as they were cleaning up – – we became “friends” – saluting each other and enjoying our good fortune.
Oded’s favorite memories were his associations with his fellow archeologists – he learning from them about the Greek methods, problems, and issues and they learning about the same from him about Biblical archeology. Many of them were graduate students who were eager to travel to Israel and dig – a mutually beneficial time for all.
3. How is taking an Untour different from other ways of traveling?
An UnTours trip is an experience. You get to do what you want, when you want and for how long you want to do it. It’s the freedom to see what really interests you using the advice and recommendations of the local resource person; and opportunity to meet and mingle with local people and get close to the culture of the place. No schedules to keep other than those of our own making. Always able to change plans at the last minute if we discovered something else we would rather do. Eating when and where we wanted, and able to stay and linger when we really enjoyed something, or leave early if we found we were disappointed. But unlike touring on our own, we had a place to call home, shopkeepers, restaurant help and others we got to know, and places we could easily revisit. And above all – security and assistance from the ever unflappable, always positive and energetic and oh so helpful Christos – – our UnTours “person on the ground.”
4. If you could describe an Untour in just 3 words, what would they be?
Freedom with security (Oded). The BEST way (Marcia)
Bonus Photo: Marcia and Oded went to Budapest with us a few years ago…and here they are looking like the nice people they are:
