Eastern US - Canada, 12 days

Meet at the airport and fly to Toronto. Built on the northern shore of Lake Ontario (the smallest of the Great Lakes) and in the southernmost part of the state of the same name, Toronto is the most dynamic and "living" urban center in the country. Particularly friendly to residents and visitors, it is the financial, commercial and industrial center of Canada and combines the charm and glamor of the modern metropolis with an excellent quality of life and very low crime rates. Arrival, transfer and check-in at our hotel. Walking in the center of Toronto (downtown), your attention will immediately be drawn to the harmonious coexistence of different architectural structures. Cement and glass skyscrapers and modern department stores alongside old Victorian buildings and small well-maintained homes make up the urban map of the centre, reflecting Canadians' vision of more humane and welcoming cities.

Morning tour of Toronto during which we will see the 553.33 meter CN Tower (1973-1976, which for 31 years held the record of the tallest building in the world, but in 2007 Burj Khalifa "stole" its first place ), the famous stadium-hotel complex Rogers Center formerly SkyDome), the City Hall (old and new), the Eaton shopping center with more than 300 stores, the modern buildings in the city center, the Harbourfront Center that "sees" the islands in lake ontario et al. You will discover the multicultural character of Toronto away from the city center, in its districts, each of which is "dominated" by a specific ethnicity. The heart of Greektown beats on Danforth Street, the Indians have established their own district (Little India), the Chinese element is found in five suburbs of the city, the Italians have created Little Italy, the Portuguese, the Koreans , the Poles... Each neighborhood of Toronto is a miniature of the homeland of its inhabitants. After the end of the tour, a wonderful riverside drive awaits us, through beautiful landscapes, vineyards and historic forts to the picturesque British city of "Niagara-on-the-Lake", where we will literally be transported to another time, sometime in the 1800s, when Newark was the capital of Upper Canada. We continue to the Falls of the Niagara River. We will see the "Horseshoe" and admire from the Canadian side the American one. The sight of the power and momentum of the water, the trickle of the precipitation and the play of the rainbow and the fog, take the breath away of the tourists, who bow before this majesty of nature. Next we see the Minolta, Skylon and Clifton Hill towers. Weather permitting, we will board the Hornblower/Maid of the Mist boat to get as close as possible to the spectacular waterfall. return to Toronto

Morning tour of Toronto during which we will see the 553.33 meter CN Tower (1973-1976, for 31 years it held the record for the tallest building in the world, but in 2007 it was stolen by the Burj Khalifa), the famous stadium-hotel complex Rogers Center (formerly SkyDome), City Hall (old and new), Eaton shopping center with more than 300 stores, modern buildings in the center of the city, Harbourfront Center that "sees" the islands in Lake Ontario etc. You will discover the multicultural character of Toronto away from the city center, in its districts, each of which is "dominated" by a specific ethnicity. The heart of Greektown beats on Danforth Street, the Indians have established their own district (Little India), the Chinese element is found in five suburbs of the city, the Italians have created Little Italy, the Portuguese, the Koreans , the Poles... Each neighborhood of Toronto is a miniature of the homeland of its inhabitants.

Flight to New York. Welcome to the "Big Apple"! Our first acquaintance with the city begins with the route from the airport to Manhattan. New York consists of five boroughs: Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. The islands are connected by bridges, tunnels and ferries. We will cross some of them to reach our destination - the city where each skyscraper is also a unique piece of architecture. Most avenues are numbered from east to west (so First Avenue is east of Second Avenue). Building numbering on boulevards begins at the south end of the avenue and increases northward, while street numbering begins at Fifth Avenue and increases both eastward and westward. This fact means that you can very easily find your way. Streets are numbered - except in midtown Manhattan - and the numbering increases as you go north. Check in at our hotel, located in the "heart" of Manhattan. Those who wish (depending on the time) can go for a first walk in the city, accompanied by our guide.

Today we start our tour from the United Nations (UN). The main objectives of the Organization are the maintenance of international peace and security, development, as well as cooperation between Nations to resolve international crises and promote the protection of human rights. The Great Court is decorated with exhibits donated by various countries. We continue to the circular square with the statue of Christopher Columbus and Lincoln Center, a complex of buildings that house artistic organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera and the famous Julliard School of the Arts, where countless world-renowned artists have appeared, among including the Greek Maria Kallas. Right next door is Fordham University Law School, where the biggest names in modern history have studied. We continue to Central Park, the most important green lung of the American metropolis, which will give you the opportunity to escape to a small natural paradise with artificial lakes, manicured picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields and a zoo. On the west side of the park we see the imposing Renaissance Victorian-style Dakota building, in whose expensive apartments live artists, shipowners, etc. - the late "Beetle", John Lennon, also lived here. Next we see Columbia University - in short, the world's grandest "temple" of humanities. What has been produced by human thought over the centuries about how a society should live, behave, be educated, rule and be governed, exists in this historic institution as science and research. All undergraduate departments, especially those of history, political science, psychology and sociology, are particularly valuable. In the history of art especially, nowhere in the world can a more complete education be given. We continue with the monument of the Northern general Ulysses Grant, who in 1868 was elected President of the USA. with a percentage of 52.7%, the Hudson River and Harlem with the famous Apollo Theater. The physiognomy of the area, which for decades was the largest black ghetto in New York, has undoubtedly begun to change. The dilapidated buildings in which large families were crammed have in recent years begun to be replaced by modern constructions, while the burning garbage bins around which the needy gathered for warmth have long since disappeared. Harlem is now a destination for many gourmet foodies in the American metropolis, as restaurants and cafes have started to spring up everywhere. We continue towards the famous 5th Avenue with the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Trump Tower, the multi-millionaire and former US President Donald Trump, all the European fashion houses and many shiny jewelry stores, such as Cartier, Bulgari, etc. We proceed to Rockefeller Center, a complex of 19 buildings. It is one of the largest private complexes of its kind in the world, with shops, restaurants and in the center, in one of the skyscrapers, the Observatory with an amazing view, called Top of the Rock. We conclude our tour of Broadway, the "heart" of theaters. Broadway is a major boulevard that runs all the way through Manhattan and has lent its name to many spectacular musical productions. For the evening follow the suggestions of your guide.

Today's tour begins with a Cruise, where from the boat we will admire and photograph the restored piers, the historic Ellis Island - a place of reception for immigrants in the past - the Statue of Liberty, as well as Staten Island and New Jersey. From every point of the cruise we will enjoy a unique view of Manhattan. We will then pass by Governor's Island and Brooklyn. Next we will visit the wonderful Chelsea Market. Red bricks dominate and embrace the entire huge space of the covered market, industrial details such as pipes, chimneys etc. make their presence evident - in general prepare for a labyrinthine space with dozens of different options, entrances, exits etc. quite simply, it is the "mecca" of New York gourmands. Chelsea Market has established itself as the "Food Mall", but there are also several additional options for shopping and artistic activities. we will see the High Line (The High Line), a long and narrow park installed on abandoned elevated train tracks. Continuing towards the southern end of Manhattan (Lower Manhattan), we will see the famous Wall Street, which acts as the heart of big business and is home to the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall. Even further south is Battery Park. The "One World Trade Center" skyscraper, the tallest building in New York, stands today at "Ground Zero". The "National September 11th Memorial and Museum" complex has also been erected on the site, which includes an underground museum and two memorial pools. The underground museum houses exhibits of the victims of September 11, while at the site where the Twin Towers were located, two pools-reservoirs have been built, with the names of the 2,983 victims who were killed that day. The famous Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas of New York, which was destroyed by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, and rebuilt with marble from Penteli and designs by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and with a truly impressive iconography by the equally famous saint hagiographer Fr Loukas and then again after 21 years opens its doors. We continue with the new neighborhood, Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards is the largest private real estate development in US history and the largest real estate development in New York after Rockefeller Center. In the center the "Vessel" dominates. Spread across 14 acres, Hudson Yards includes gardens, groves, dozens of commercial and ultra-luxury stores, celebrity chef restaurants, etc.

Start with New York's Grand Central train station. The impressive station is 111 meters long, that is, it will be thirty meters longer than the original one, while to walk it with a normal step from one side to the other you will need about a minute and a half. The architect of the project, the famous Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, tried to build something that would remind Gaudí and the Sagrada Familia temple in Barcelona. The cost of the project would reach 3.4 billion dollars. A little further down we see the Flatiron Building or Fuller Building, as it was originally called, located between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, it is a pioneering skyscraper built in a triangular block, which after its completion in 1902, was one of the tallest buildings in the city. The Flatiron has been designated as a landmark of New York and every year it gathers thousands of visitors from all over the world. Next New York University (NYU) Founded in 1831, New York University is a private institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,444. While the university has several New York City campuses, its main hub is the Washington Square campus, near Greenwich Village. The school has attracted a diverse mix of writers, musicians, artists and intellectuals to study in New York over the years. Tour famous Manhattan neighborhoods that have their own color and culture, such as Greenwich Village - between Houston Street and Broadway - and Soho, the 19th-century neighborhood full of galleries, boutiques and restaurants. We arrive in "Little Italy", with many Italian restaurants and shops, which will remind you of scenes from the movie "The Godfather". We proceed to Chinatown, one of the largest areas of Asians living outside of Asia, famous for affordable restaurants, grocery stores and ethnic gift shops. We continue to the magical Brooklyn Bridge. It is the first suspension bridge with steel cables in the world and has been connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn since 1883 (the journey on foot takes about 20 minutes). An emblematic element of the image, but also of everyday life in New York. Walking, we gaze at the view and countless images from movies and TV series with skyscrapers in the background come to mind. For the end of the tour, Hudson Yards which we passed but will see up close today. Hudson Yards is the largest private investment of 25 billion dollars in reconstruction in the history of the USA and especially in New York, after Rockefeller Center and it intends to change life in the city, forming another city within New York. This brand new neighborhood in New York officially opened its doors welcoming citizens and visitors for the first time - over 1,000 people rushed. Hudson Yards extends over 14 acres and includes huge sidewalks, gardens, groves, dozens of shops and restaurants, ultra-luxurious apartments, while in its center is the Vessel, the impressive building-sculpture, which looks like a huge beehive and consists of 154 stairs with a total of 2,500 steps, offering a unique view. Among these… beasts is The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards building, which gathers in its well-polished corridors some of the biggest retail and catering brands in the world. The first store of Neiman Marcus in New York, a concept store of the Zara chain but also the first physical stores of several online retailers, restaurant proposals from celebrity chefs, such as the eclectic "Mercado Little Spain" by José Andrés and the brothers Albert and Ferran Adrià in the basement, or 'Wild Ink', the first restaurant of the London catering company Rhurhab. There, the new "Estiatorio Milos", which opened its doors, exclusively occupies the top communal floor of the building. Kostas Spiliadis The leading representative of Greek gastronomy in America but also one of its most important ambassadors around the world, the chef, restaurateur and founder of a restaurant empire, is at the heart of this new project.

Today we can spend the day at Woodbury Commons, a shopping paradise just 1.15 minutes from Manhattan. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets features over 220 boutiques and stores, offering the largest collection of the world's best designers and brands, with deals ranging from 20% to as much as 70% off. You will also be able to relax in a variety of restaurants and cafes.

Alternatively, a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is one of the largest and most important art museums in the world. It was founded in 1870 by a group of American businessmen and artists, who wanted to create a museum to bring Art and Education to the American people. Located on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, its collections include more than two million works of art. The Museum hosts exhibits of Greco-Roman, Medieval, Islamic, Asian and modern art, as well as photographs, clothing, weapons and musical instruments. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a permanent collection of over 1.5 million objects, spanning more than 5,000 years of history and coming from almost every corner of the globe.

Also in the afternoon stroll through Tribeca and especially Soho - many local artists, writers and intellectuals have given way (and their galleries) to the big brands and the crowd. At night East, West and Greenwich Village are among the neighborhoods listed in the guides as must-sees - especially for their nightlife.

Free day for those who want to visit museums and various sights of the city or combine walks and shopping in its rich market. We recommend a full-day excursion to one of the oldest cities in the USA: Boston. The city was founded in 1630 by the English and was the site of many important events of the American Revolution. After independence from Great Britain, the city continued to be an important port, as well as a world center for education and culture. We will visit internationally renowned Universities, such as Harvard and MIT, we will see the Prudential Tower and various Victorian buildings, we will pass by the Symphony Hall, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, etc. This city is not unfairly called "The Walking City", since, compared to the rest of the world, commuting on foot is a frequent choice.

Morning departure through New Jersey and Pennsylvania for Philadelphia, which for the Americans is a precious city of their country. In fact, the most ardent "patriots" feel that they must visit, at least once in their lives, the first historic capital of the USA, the heart of American existence. It was in Philadelphia that the official history of the USA began to be written about 240 years ago. Here the country's Declaration of Independence was signed (1776), the first Constitution was read to the people (1776) and the design of the US flag was decided (1777). Congress also met here for ten consecutive years (1790-1800), after the city was declared in 1790 the capital of the newly formed American state. It is the second largest city on the east coast. Arrival and panoramic tour, during which we will see the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Elsert Alley (the oldest inhabited street in America) and more. Arriving in the heart of the historic center, you can visit the famous Liberty Bell and Constitution Square, symbols of freedom in America. In addition to the "intellectual pride" of Philadelphia, the Art Museum is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and idyllic spots in the city. Outside the Museum is a statue of Sylvester Stallone (as Rocky Balboa). After the end of our tour we continue to Washington. It is not the skyscrapers, but the pillars of American history that dominate Washington. The capital of the United States reflects the culture and processes the politics of the country from the buildings surrounding the National Mall. The American empire has its own Rome and it is called Washington DC - it was the first city in the world designed and built for the sole purpose of becoming a permanent national capital. The best place for your evening entertainment is the Georgetown area. There are many bars with jazz music and restaurants with excellent food. In general, the atmosphere of the buildings and shops will remind you of scenes from motion pictures showing American cities of the 19th century. The area is very crowded and the shops are usually full, as the famous Georgetown University is also nearby.

During today's city tour we will see the Union Railway Station, in front of which the statue of Christopher Columbus has been erected and next to it the replica of the liberty bell, which rang when America was freed from the British on July 4, 1783. Trains to destinations throughout America depart from this station. We will admire its decoration and unique ceiling. Next is the Capitol. The building is completely white, built in Greek style. It consists of a large dome, colonnades and majestic staircases. We continue with the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, the National Mall, the 170 meter high Obelisk, the Holocaust Museum, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, marking the end of The Mall. On the banks of the Tidal Basin are the Memorials of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson. Crossing the imposing Memorial Bridge, we arrive at Arlington Cemetery. High on the hill is the monument to General Lee, who in the Civil War was defeated by Grant at the Battle of Gettysburg. We climb towards the Kennedy Tombs. Our next stop, the White House - the strong police force that exists in the wider area, will remind you of the global political importance of this point. We conclude our tour with the Aerospace Museum, which has thousands of exhibits on the history of aircraft, rockets, spacecraft and space exploration. You will see parts of the "Apollo" and "Soyuz" spacecraft, various models of modern and old aircraft, as well as rock from the moon (entrance to the museums is free). For the evening, there might be a performance at the Kennedy Center that interests you.

Breakfast free for strolling and last minute shopping or to visit at least one world class museum. The Smithsonian Institution building is a historic landmark and houses two museums, the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Also in the National Museum of Natural History, also part of the Smithsonian Institution, it is the largest of its kind in the world and the most popular in Washington. There you will find 126 million exhibits and objects, sorted by era, covering all the time periods of the earth, its geological background, the stages of evolution of living and non-living things, etc. Among other things, the dinosaur room stands out, the collection focusing on African populations and in African culture, the hall of the ocean and the newly established hall of human origins. At noon we will depart for Baltimore, the former industrial area that played a very important role in the American revolution. Arriving we will see the famous Inner Harbor of Baltimore, the small harbor with the Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, the old Power Plant etc. and we will stop for about an hour at the port of the city, where you will have free time for a short walk, food or coffee. Transfer to the airport and boarding the return flight to Athens. Arrival the next day.