Athens – double festivities

from £3,000

21 – 29 March 2019

An alternative city break in the old part of Athens

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Holiday Style Holiday Type
- Europe
Photography workshops
Activity Level Moderate
3/8
Group Size Medium Group
10

Athens – double festivities

21 – 28 March 2019 (8 day workshop)

25th March is National Day in Greece.

Greeks celebrate with a double holiday: a historical celebration to mark the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in Athens, and a religious celebration to mark exactly 9 months until Christmas which is known as Annunciation in Orthodox Christianity; the time Archangel Gabriel is said to have come down to visit Mary and tell her she would give birth to Jesus, son of God. We will witness the impressive and photogenic military parade to celebrate the War of Independence which marks this special occasion.

Although part of Lent when no animals or animal products are supposed to be eaten, the Orthodox church makes an exception for the traditional fried cod called Bakaliaros which is eaten at this time and which we will be sampling.

One of my favourite cities on Earth, Athens is as ancient, exciting and complicated as it is addictive. We will be getting under the skin of the place, drinking in the local culture and going to the best locations for photography in the city.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

Accommodation
Breakfast
Daily workshops – post-production and photo critique sessions in the evenings.

Whats not included in this tour.Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

Flights
Travel insurance
Lunch
Dinner
Camera and all other camera related gear.

Day 1 National Day in Greece

Arrive in Athens to unwind and settle in. A chance to get to know each other and then a stroll around the picturesque centre taking in famous and photogenic areas such as Plaka, Monastiraki and the Acropolis.

Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 Scenic Tour of the City

Street photography workshop winding our way along the alleys to the Acropolis Museum.

A light lunch at the museum’s fabulous coffee room followed by a free afternoon and then a walk up Philopappos Hill to enjoy sunset photography above Athens.

Dinner and photo critique.
Day 3 Tour of the Acroplis

We visit the Acropolis – fascinating, imperious and always surprising – even for those who have visited before.

We then stroll through the back alleys around Plaka, Monastraki and Anafioitika for a different photographic perspective on the city.
Day 4 Independence Day parade

Visit to Syntagma Square to photograph the Independence Day parade. A chance to see the Tsoliades armed guard in their traditional uniforms.

Lunch of fish with the traditional Skordalia dip.

Following lunch we will visit Psiri – an arty and bohemian part of Athens with bars, coffee houses and street life.

We finish the day with sunset photography from one of the famous roof gardens within the city.
Day 5 Visit to the National Museum

A visit to the National Museum and then on to Exarchia a vibrant youthful area with photogenic graffiti and plenty of inspiration for a portrait photography class.

The day will finish with sunset photography from Strefi Hill.
Day 6 Iconography

Explore the Byzantine art, colours and religious paintings in the beautiful churches of the city, an iconography artist joins us to explain the traditions and techniques used in this time-honoured craft.

Post-production workshop back at the hotel and dinner.
Day 7 A day of culture

A trip to Kolonaki to visit the Byzantine Museum and the Cycladic Art Museum and a stroll around the open air coffee shops and high end boutiques to make sure you’re up to date with the latest fashions.

Then a climb up Lycabetus to photograph the city from the top of the most majestic hilltop of the city.
Day 8 A farewell and amazing memories

Final goodbyes and flights home.

Athens Gate Hotel

We stay at a wonderful 4 star hotel located in the historic district of the capital, with easy access from all arrival points and within walking distance of all locations on our itinerary. Award winning for its environmental credentials, it also claims the BEST views in town as well as being equipped with all modern amenities.

Rooms are offered with two twin-beds or a queen-size bed, and feature a balcony with a view to the Temple of Olympic Zeus or the Acropolis.

Accommodation at a glance.

Athens Gate HotelA room with a view

Athens accommodation

There will be a fair amount of easy hiking and you will need to be able to get up hills, flights of stairs, and be OK with a certain level of heat. If you are carrying a camera bag full of equipment you will need to be OK with having this on your back for several hours at a time.

A camera is the obvious one, but also a tripod is a must. Having spare batteries and memory cards is also strongly advised.

No, you have to make your own way to the destination, but wherever possible we will meet you at the airport in Greece.

Yes. We always ensure you will be staying at the best accommodation possible in the area. This means it will be clean and well presented, although in the more remote locations may not be as fancy as in the cities.

All levels are welcome, from the novice to the seasoned professional.

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