“As an interior design instructor at the college level, interiors and architecture are the general criteria when I choose a tour. That of course along with a well-planned itinerary, accommodations, and a company I trust. Having had great success with NETC in the past, I didn’t have to find a tour company; I already had one.

“As Athens, Greece is the birthplace of architecture, it is an area of study covered by all designers and architects.  As an instructor and traveler, this destination was at the top of my list, so the decision to go to Athens was easy.

“The planning was easy, the itinerary was set, and we had twenty-six very anxious students ready to embark on this historic playground of ancient ruins.  Our journey took us right into the center of Athens to a fabulous hotel with amazing food. The Greek salad and whipped yogurt were almost as memorable as some of the sights we took in!

“Our few days in Athens were packed with tours, events and learning. One of our LEAP! activities was Mousaka and Sousta, an evening of authentic Greek line dancing, taught to us by a lively young dancer.  I can’t remember laughing so much as I witnessed my diversely aged group partake in the festivities. This lesson was followed by a short trip across town to an authentic Greek restaurant, which featured great local food and Greek dancers in full regalia.  To say it was knee-slapping funny to see our newfound dance talents put to the test, is an understatement. The pictures that surfaced from that night truly tell a tale of camaraderie and appreciation for an inspiring and fun workout, along with great food.

“After a great, well-deserved, night of sleep post-line dancing, we arose to visit the site of the 2004 Olympics, the Agora, the quaint shopping area of Plaka, and of course, the Acropolis, home to the best example of Doric architecture in the world – the Parthenon.
To see up close this ‘unaccounted for’ wonder of the world was amazing. The angle of the sun hitting the hundreds of marble columns was a sight I will remember forever. The neighboring Erechtheum with its majestic Caryatids was also a highlight.

“Having taught the architectural history of Athens, I thought I knew a great deal. Our exceptional private (NETC-arranged) guide Dimetrius offered so much more pertinent information, I felt a novice on what was there to learn. He delivered the information in such a casual, yet mesmerizing, way. He truly had the knowledge and ability to draw in his audience. I gathered so much more information; I can’t wait to share it this fall with my new students. Not only will I be armed with new information, but a plethora of pictures to present. I know I will soon have another group aspiring to tour Greece and all its wonders.

“These great tours are to introduce students to the wonders of travel; I don’t know one fellow instructor or traveler that didn’t walk away feeling blessed with newfound appreciation for this great city and all it holds.

“Our tour continued on to other phenomenal locations in Athens, such as Delphi and Olympia, and ultimately ended in Italy, all of which I would highly recommend. But there is something about Athens that will nicely haunt me forever with its history, architecture and welcoming people.

“From the fantastic Tour Director assigned to us for our ten-day sojourn to the locations, accommodations, LEAP activities and guides, every one of my group returned with such admiration and awe of what they took in and experienced.  I might add that the ages of my tour ranged from 19 to 55. That is definitely an age span that could be complicated to satisfy everyone. They were, and then some. NETC did it right.”

- Brooks Eberlein, Interior Design Teacher, WI