Travels in Europe with Rick Steves (1991)

Experience Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television's Rick Steves' Europe and public radio's Travel with Rick Steves. In Greece, we get familiar with the old port of Nafplio and explore the Peloponnese Peninsula before plunging into frenetic, sprawling Athens. We check out the ruins of Olympia, the best preserved ancient theater at Epidauros and the ancient capital of Mycenae. Then, seeing beyond the crowded streets of Athens, we return to the city's incredible historic core. Our journey to ancient Greece means climbing to the majestic Acropolis, visiting the National Archeological Museum and exploring a centuries-old market. Next, we go island hopping on the Aegean ferries, we visit touristy, exotic Santorini, ride a motorbike around Samos, and hang out on the barely-known island of Lipsi where we sample the local cuisine and stroll on an out-of-the-way black sand beach. Other quiet moments include visiting peaceful Spiliani Monastery, the ancient ruins of Akroteri and the Temple of Hera. In Turkey, Europe's gateway to Asia, we explore the historic, crowded city of Istanbul. We get lost in the Grand Bazaar, feast like kings with locals at a fisherman's wharf, and follow stories of the Byzantine Empire at the ancient wall, St. Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. To escape the high-pitched city bustle, we board a boat on the churning Bosphorus, gaining a view of the Bridge of Galata and the elegant Dolmabahce Palace. F...