Classic Europe Grad Trip
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CANNES

Boulevard de la Croisette
Cannes is world-famous for its glamorous international film festival. Its Boulevard de la Croisette, curving along the coast, is lined with sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques and palatial hotels. This area teems with movie stars during festival time. Cimetière du Grand JasTruly a garden city, over half of the public areas in Cannes are green spaces including the Cimetière du Grand Jas (Grand Jas Cemetery). Steeped in history, the terraced cemetery is ornately landscaped and offers stunning views of the city.

Le Suquet
Old town Suquet is a pleasant change from the rest of Cannes. Cannes was built on a hill to be protected against the major threats of the time. The Suquet, which means “mound” in Provençal, is located to the west of the bay. The more courageous will climb the one hundred steps of the old Saracen tower to admire the most beautiful panorama of the bay of Cannes.

MONTE CARLO

Steeped in 700 years of Grimaldi royal history, Monte Carlo’s seaside location is stunning, tucked between French medieval villages and the Alps. A playground for the rich and famous both celebrity and royalty, the harbor hosts the most magnificent yachts in the world. Designer boutiques, elegant restaurants and luxury cars abound in this sun-kissed resort city

Casino de Monte-Carlo
The opulent Casino de Monte-Carlo attracts an international clientèle thanks to history, legendary décor and full range of table games and slot machines. Noted as a backdrop for many films, the casino has a reputation for attracting the high-rollers. Since opening in the 1850’s, the Casino has been a major source of income for the House of Grimaldi and the Monaco economy.

Opéra de Monte-Carlo
With the lack of cultural diversions available in Monaco in the 1870s, Prince Charles III decided to include a concert hall as part of the casino. The main public entrance to the hall was from the casino, while Charles III's private entrance was on the western side. It opened in 1879 and became known as the Salle Garnier, after the architect Charles Garnier who designed it.

Palais Princier de Monaco
The official residence of the Prince of Monaco, the palace has a long and often dramatic history since it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. A blend of architectural styles; from its ancient fort origins to the Renaissance era façade, the Palace reflects the history not only of Monaco, but of the family which has celebrated over 700 years of rule from the same palace.

NICE

Palais Lascaris
This 17th century aristocratic building is now home to a musical instrument museum. Stroll through the historical building’s ornately decorated rooms while viewing the museum’s collection of over 500 instruments that date back to the 1500s.

Castle Hill
Climb the stairs or take the elevator to the top of Castle Hill to enjoy a 360 degree view of Nice and the Mediterranean Sea.

Musée National Marc Chagall
This museum features the works of French-Belarussian-Russian artist Marc Chagall. His large, colorful paintings pioneered the modernism movement and are sure to linger in your memory. Chagall designed the layout of the museum himself, which enhances the experience of visiting this museum.

The Nice Observatory
The observatory, located on Mont Gros and built in 1881, offers great views of the city of Nice. Learn about the history of astronomy and walk along a forest trail to see a fantastic view of the Mediterranean.

PARIS

Musée du Louvre
This enormous building, constructed around 1200 as a fortress and rebuilt in the mid-16th century for use as a royal palace, began its career as a public museum in 1793. See the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. (Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre)

Eiffel Tower
Climb this towering edifice that was built for the World Fair of 1889, held to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. Named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel, it stands 1050ft high and held the record as the world’s tallest structure until 1930.
At the Eiffel Tower, the first level has a new glass floor, theater, eateries, and exhibits describing the tower's construction. A champagne bar has opened on the very top floor. Online ticketing has gotten more convenient, with an option to download a ticket to your mobile phone -- no paper ticket needed.

Avenue des Champs-Elysées
Explore some of Paris's most famous Cafés: Café de la Paix, designed by Garnier ( the décor recalls a past era,) or Café de Flore claiming to have been the heart of the Existentialist Movement during the early part of the last century with Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Camus and others regularly meeting here.

Musée Picasso
Housing works by Picasso received by the State after his death, the museum also holds the artist’s personal collection. (Saint-Paul)

Musée d'Orsay
To avoid the long ticket line at the Orsay Museum, purchase tickets (or a Paris Museum Pass) at the newspaper kiosk outside the museum, on the steps below the passholder entry (Entrance C). From the Orsay, you can now stroll or bike the new Left Bank riverside promenade that stretches to Pont de l'Alma.

Shopping
Shopping in Paris is magical. No other city can match the experience. Discover to-die-for creations from world famous designers. Wonder in the food markets and antique stores. Paris offers the finest jewelry with the most outré fashion concepts. Time Out Paris, summed it all up in 100 essential boutiques that capture the sparkle of shopping in the French capital.

Domaine de Chantilly
A day trip to Chantilly,may take you to the recently renovated horse museum has a beautiful display of equine-related history and art. Museum entry includes a walk through the stables and a dressage demonstration daily in peak season. Horse lovers can pay extra for an equestrian show with riders in frilly outfits and horses prancing to music.

ATHENS

Shopping
The Monastiraki market is truly an international bazaar. Here, you'll find everything from handmade sandals to Soviet vodka – and everything in-between. Although many shops in the area claim to be "flea markets," the real action happens on Sunday mornings. Come early to find the real treasures, which include affordable handcrafted copper cookware and wine jugs.

Byzantine and Christian Museum
This is one of the few European museums dedicated to Byzantine art. Each room in the museum depicts a Greek church and represents a specific period. The displays include an early Christian basilica and a medieval domed church.There's also an extensive collection of icons, bibles, altars, and mosaics.

Plaka District
The Plaka is the area of winding streets around the Acropolis. It's renowned for its small shops, restaurants and some good examples of local architecture.

Lycabettus Hill
When you're on the Acropolis, you'll look over at Lycabettus, the other high spot in Athens.Wooded, with a funicular to take you close to the top, it offers a completely different experience than the Acropolis. Enjoy the fun ride up the hill which gives a sense of escaping the busy city below.

Change of Guards
Every Sunday at 11:00 AM, tourists gather in front of the Parliament building on Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos) to watch the ceremonial changing of the guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards (Evzones) wear their traditional white kilts, red and black caps and red clogs with pompoms. On every other day, the Evzones wear regular khaki uniforms with skirts and the changing of the guard takes place every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day. The guards are tall well-trained soldiers. They belong to the "Proedriki Froura" the guards of the President of Democracy. It is a high honor for every Greek soldier to be chosen as an Evzone.

Theater
Ancient Greeks were credited with inventing drama and comedy in the theater, and this tradition carries on into the present. The city features over 50 theaters and most of the performances are in Greek.

Festivals:
The Athens Festival runs from May to September with a full program of cultural events ranging from choral concerts to dance recitals. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, near the Acropolis, holds classical performances on summer evenings. This is a greatt opportunity to view a performance as the ancients did. The open-air amphitheater on Lycabettus Hill, offers regular summer performances.

ISLE OF POROS

Bicyling
On day two of your stay on Poros, we will provide a bicycle to you free of charge. Bikes will be parked outside your hotel. Check with your tour director if you have questions.

Watersports
The watersports center a few steps down the road offers: wakeboarding, tubing, banana boating, waterskiing. Check with the center directly for their rates.

Poros Town
Go Shopping or try one of the typical Greek restaurants in Poros town. The town also features a bank with an ATM and a post office.

Parasailing:
The coastline of Poros is peppered with picturesque coves and beaches fringed by pinewoods which almost reach down to the water line. Enjoy a birds-eye view of Poros harbor as you float high above Neorion Beach.

ROME

Trevi Fountain
Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to the eternal city. Anita Ekberg's dip in the fountain was immortalized in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita', and Italian actor Toto even sold it to an American, passing himself off as its owner. Designed by Nicola Salvi for Pope Clemente XII, it was completed in the second half of the 1700s. The statues in the center represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side and the Rococo-style Poli Palace provide the perfect backdrop.

Pantheon
The Pantheon was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, restored by Domitian, and subsequently rebuilt by Hadrian (who added the dome) before being turned into a church in the early 7th-century by Pope Boniface IV. The building's sole source of light is the opening at the dome's apex (the oculus.) According to popular legend, this formed the base for the bronze pinecone that is now in the Vatican's 'Pigna' courtyard, where it is used as a fountain. Many famous Italians are buried in the Pantheon, including Renaissance painter Raphael and King Vittorio Emanuele I.

Trastevere
This area of Rome was originally built at the time of Augustus as a port where storehouses held goods. Trastevere is a picturesque medieval neighborhood located on the west bank of the Tiber river.The heart of the district is Piazza di Santa Maria with its church, 17th-century palazzo and a fountain, designed by architects such as Bernini, Fontana and Della Porta. There are also still some well-conserved medieval houses.

LONDON

British Museum
Houses the world’s greatest collection of antiquities from ancient Greece, Rome and Asia. (Holborn)

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
From Ben Franklin to Brad Pitt, you can rub shoulders with the rich and famous at this popular museum. (Baker Street)

National Gallery
Founded in 1824 with over 2,000 works of art, this is one of the world’s foremost art museums featuring priceless works by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Boticelli, Vermeer, Goya, Manet and Renoir. (Charing Cross)

Globe Theatre
Reconstructed exactly as it would have been during the time of Shakespeare, this theater is a replica of the original Globe. (London Bridge)

Covent Garden
Filled with restaurants, bars, markets and boutiques, London’s premier tourist center offers fabulous shopping by day, and is the destination of theatergoers and patrons of the Royal Opera House by night. (Covent Garden)

British Airways London Eye
As well as being one of the most visually striking structures in the world - the British Airways London Eye offers you a new perspective on a great city. (Westminster)

Vatican City is a city-state located in the middle of Rome. As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, it is home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. Its Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as Laocoön and His Sons and Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms. The Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s painted ceiling. St. Peter's Basilica stands on the traditional site where Peter - the apostle who is considered the first Pope - was crucified and buried. The Basilica also houses Michelangelo's beautiful Pietà completed when Michelangelo was just 24 years old.