The Greek Islands – a food & wine experience with julie biuso

“I’ve loved the Greek Islands since I first visited over forty years ago. Each time I return, I fall in love all over again. How can anyone not love the sparkling, crystal-clear seas, the welcoming locals, the traditional whitewashed buildings accented with deep blue and adorned with scarlet bougainvillea, the hustle and bustle of markets, the delicious fresh food and interesting wines, and the little stone-paved alleys that beg to be explored? A tour of the Greek Islands charms all the senses. The Greek kitchen is renowned for more than salads and dolmades, although we will taste the finest examples of these dishes, along with simply cooked seafood and superb vegetable dishes. We’ll taste olives and oils, Citron and honey, cheeses and wines, and enjoy excellent coffee and sweet treats wherever we go. In Athens, there is time to take in the historic sights, and a private wine tour to Nemea in the Peloponnese. Our first island stop is Paros, where we have set up a tasting of the island’s P.D.O. wines and local cheeses and other tasty titbits, followed by a shared cooking lesson. On Naxos, we will visit a local pottery workshop, indulge in a Citron tasting in a distillery, followed by an olive oil tasting, then enjoy a long lunch. Your taste buds will be all abuzz by then! I’m delighted to include the island of Crete in our tour – it’s one of my favourite places in all of Europe. We will make kleftiko – the famous ‘stolen’ lamb dish that is slow-cooked in a wood-fired stone oven – along with traditional flaky filo cheese pies and pastries, and stuffed vegetables and vine leaves in a hands-on cooking class with locals. In the charming village of Koronos, we will cook together in a family-run taverna using fresh produce from the family’s garden. Add in wine tastings, a basket-weaving lesson, and a visit to the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, one of Greece’s most significant archaeological sites, to round out our stay. If you continue with us on the second part of the tour, we will head to Santorini, then on to Mykonos. The wines from Santorini are considered some of the best in Greece, and we will enjoy a winery visit, wine tastings, and more delicious food as we soak up the atmosphere of these two iconic islands. The recipes won’t be left behind in Greece – I will gather them as we go, so once you are home, you’ll be able to share your fabulous Greek Islands experience with family and friends. Come join me in June. We’ll have so much fun!”

in the footsteps of st paul – turkey & Greece

Explore the origins of the church in Turkey & Greece. Visit the ancient cities of Athens, Corinth, Thessaloniki, Philippi, Ephesus, Miletus, Priene, Hierapolis and Assos. At these sites we will discuss the birth, growth, trials and development of the earliest Christian congregations as they struggle not only to understand their new faith in Christ, but also as they dealt with false teachers and hostile forces opposed to the Church.  The tour visits Turkey first, followed by Greece as an add-on tour, so you can choose whether you visit just Turkey or explore Greece as well. Details of the full itinerary are in the tour brochure, downloadable below.

The tour will be led by Lydia & Shane Read with support from local guides. Each day they will enrich our experience of the Holy Land by bringing context to the places we visit from their deep understanding of the Biblical documents and the history and culture of Turkey.

Greece Celestyal Cruise

Come and be serenaded by the romance of the Aegean on the brand new “Idyllic Aegean” 7 night cruise. Visit the most enchanting Greek Island destinations dotted around the Aegean Sea, where culture, history, pristine beaches and fishing villages suspended in time all await. There’s something to suit every taste on this extra-special cruise!