This is what 2003 tour participants say:
"Before coming on the tour, we thought vaguely that we
might have 'quite a nice time.' In reality, however, we have had
complex days (and nights!) of fun, intellectual satisfaction, and
unalloyed delight."
Vicky and John Denniston,
London ENGLAND
We first met Dick
Caldwell in 1991. His 'tour for people who hated tours' came to our
attention through friends whose cynicism about tours was as strong as
my own. Nevertheless, my wife went to an orientation meeting and
returned home enthusiastic and we were sold. Despite the anxiety
produced by the First Gulf War, we remained committed (interesting
choice of w went to Athens where we began a relationship with Sporades
and Dick that has lasted to the present.
Since our initial general tour, we have traveled with Dick three other
times — to Northern Greece and the Aegean Isles, to Prague and Vienna,
and most recently to Istanbul, a part of Turkey that we missed the
first time around. Each of our experiences was both unique and
incredibly rewarding, not only in places seen, but also in lasting
friendships. Our 1991 Greek group still meets twice a year to renew
bonds developed while traveling together on the tour to end all tours.
Everyone who has ever traveled with Dick easily remembers his efforts
to pretend that we weren't a tour at most of the places where
unlicensed guides are not suffered gladly by the official local guides.
Try to pretend that you are a local Turk while walking lockstep with a
dozen obvious Americans with cameras hanging around our necks. Even
ordinary actions could and did become intriguing adventures.
The best part of Dick's tours is that there are no obligations. If you
don't want to shop, Dick is a firm ally; if you must buy a rug or a
leather coast, Dick has a friend who can get you the best goods at a
fair price. As with everything he does, you are well aware that no one
could or would buy him and, therefore, you are never for sale to local
merchants. This has meant very much to me. The same rules govern your
entire experience. If you want to eat on your own, great. If you want
the comfort of the group, great. Dick never forgets that it is your
trip. All that is asked is a sense of responsibility about agreed upon
times and overall courtesy. A sense of humor is also helpful, because
nothing ever entirely goes as planned. Thank goodness!
As I said earlier, we have taken four non-tours with Dick. We just
returned from our 2003 experience in Istanbul; we are now planning
another tour of Greece and southwestern Turkey for 2005. We can be
flexible, joining the tour wherever we choose and leaving when
necessary to meet other commitments. We are sure that things will work
out OK and that we will have a trip that we will remember for a
lifetime. There are a couple of caveats, one actually - Dick has a
tendency to lose his wallet with a regularity that in other situations
might have you looking for conspiracies. While in Prague, his lost
driver's licence had me driving the van. This year, his lost wallet had
me working as his banker for a time. But I must say that the unexpected
can enhance a journey, and there is never more than that to worry one
for a moment. The bottom line of the tour for people who hate tours is
that Dick takes care of everything and everyone needing attention. He
leaves the rest open to your own imagination and ability to share the
world with those whom you will meet."
Joe Block, Ph. D.
Professor, Cal Poly, Pomona
"If they asked me, I could write a dithyramb...about
the
sites we saw, the food we ate, the wine we drank, the anecdotes and
lectures
we listened to with varying degrees of attention and amusement. But
even
the
most panegyric ode would have to concede that Greece is always
Greece,
a bus is still a bus, and a tour is just a tour. What makes this tour sui
generis is you - your knowledge and experience, network of friends
and
acquaintances, even your own brand of congenial curmudgeonliness. I
can't
imagine a better or more entertaining guide, although sometimes it was
apparent
that with better inspiration you mght have exerted yourself to even
more
dazzling heights..."
Jane Lyons, Phoeniz MD
"Alexa and I had the most
wonderful trip through the back door of Greece, a country where
apparently
my idol Rick Steves does not venture commercially, probably realizing
that
he can't beat Dick Caldwell's amazingly endless array of personal
connections
in this most geographically diverse country. I will never forget
the
amazing lunch we had in the countryside of Crete, served to us by the
family
of the gentleman who owned the whole town. They had the most
delicious
stuffed zucchini flowers, a delicacy in Greece, one that travel books
will
tell you are almost impossible to find. We were taken to one
restaurant
where the patrons started dancing on the tables to the music and
another
where the musicians were accommodating enough to let us sing Italian
and
Broadway show tunes.
Greece is a country where the first time you go, it is
good to have someone like Dick to show you the ropes. How to
get from island to island, which overnight ferry to take, how to find
good, clean, quaint accommodations, avoiding the crowds, eating with
the locals, how to appreciate the ruins and museums, what's important
and what is a Disney recreation; all of this Dick teaches you. So
the next time you go back, you could do it on your own, or you could go
back and join up
with Dick, have a beer and feel like you are with an old friend."
Jean Hazelton,
Southampton NY
"Our tour through the Peloponnese with Dick
Caldwell was a kaleidoscopic combination of great food, fantastic
glimpses into the past, incredible scenery, and an encyclopedic
knowledge of Greek mythology, history, and customs (and particularly
interesting, his well seasoned
thoughts on the psychoanalysis of myth). We visited the
traditional
highlights, but then saw out of the way places and things no
conventional
tour would have led us to. Just the right mix of structure and freedom
to explore.We asked questions and more questions until Dick answered
every
question we could think of to ask, which left us to happily enjoy the
scenery,
a swim in the Ionian sea, the perennial cats in the open air
restaurants
and comfortable beds at the end of the day. The trip even piqued my
interest
to the point where I am just finishing a 300 page book about
Greece
now some 2 months later...and I usually shut the book on the country
when
I leave it! A tour guide and trip extraordinaire...."
Staff and Sue Warren,
Charleston WV
"This year's Sporades Tours' Islands, Mountains and
Archaeology trip provided the best combination of the experiences of
present day
Greece and the Greece of the past. The visits to the Acropolis, the
monasteries of Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, Epidauros and other
sites were
fascinating as Dr. Dick provided just enough historyand explanation. My
favorites
are always his retelling of the Greek myths, and with luck, his
discussion
of the psychological basis of the myths. We even got the chance to
submit
some questions at the Oracles of Zeus and Apollo. Unfortunately, Dick
was
not able to interpret the answers.
Each day, we had plenty of time to enjoy the Greece of
today. Who could forget the exciting ride to Skopelos on the back
deck of the Flying Dolphin? The sea, the mountains and the blue sky
would
make Gaea proud. Then we spent relaxing days on the beaches of
Skopelos,
followed by an evening of singing and Greek dancing at Crazy Jimmy's.
We continued on to the mountains and the alpine village of Metsovo.
Again,
sitting at the tavernas watching and talking with the city council
members,
eating several varieties of local
cheese, and of course, sipping Amstel. Dick helped us make every lunch and dinner a dining adventure. I love Greek food. Of course,
bacon and
eggs aren't bad either.What a
surprise
in Olympia. Somehow, Dick managed to schedule our stay to coincide with
the Olympic Games Committee's opening event, a Folk Music festival held
in the original Olympic stadium. We stayed for the entire 30 country
show
and then had a pleasant late evening dinner.
The coastal city of Nafplion in the Peloponnese, was a
most pleasant surprise. We enjoyed fabulous sunsets, great shopping,
and more time at the beach. Finally, we drove back to Athens to enjoy
another great farewell dinner at the Harp restaurant in the Plaka,
accompanied of course, by lots of Amstel.
Ok, bring on Turkey!"
Jerry
Doyle, Charlotte NC
And here's a letter in the Santa
Cruz CA Sentinel (June 2003)
"Before the war in Iraq, I arranged a three-week tour
of Turkey with Sporades Tours. Despite warnings that Turkey was
dangerous,
I recently returned home after a wonderful trip.
I never experienced any anti-American sentiment in
Turkey; to the contrary, the Turks appeared delighted when they
discovered I was an American and were very friendly and gracious. As a
woman walking alone around archaeological ruins, towns, museums and
bazaars, I felt completely safe.
From Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea to Antalya on Turkey's
southern Mediterranean coast, the scenery was breathtaking. Even more
amazing than the natural beauty were the many well-preserved ancient
archaeological sites. For example, the Aspendos Theatre is considered
to be the best-preserved theater of the ancient world. It was truly
awe-inspiring to sit (practically alone) in the top row of the theater,
three stories high, and imagine a
performance 1,800 years ago. My guide, Dick Caldwell, is a former
professor
of classics at USC. He has been leading tours in Greece and Turkey for
the past 25 years. He is extraordinarily knowledgeable about ancient
and
modern cultures, Greek mythology, archeology and art history. His
enthusiasm
and passion for his subjects were quickly contagious.
If you are looking for a trip that will enhance your life
forever, consider visiting Turkey, particularly this year when it
appears most tourists have stayed home. You will have this awesome
ancient country to yourself."
Cheryl Ontiveros, Los
Aptos CA