How one traveler finally experienced the wonders she’d only read about in books
By Ann Smithcors, 6-time traveler, Santa Barbara, California
My husband and I had always loved to travel. But once he passed away, I didn’t want to travel on my own. I began looking for friends who would like to explore the places I wanted to go. And one of my dear friends—Joan—became a regular traveling partner for me. We’ve known each other for 46 years, we’re both nurses from England, and we both lost our husbands around the same time. Needless to say, we have quite a bit in common.
One of the things I love most about traveling is being able to be up close and personal with all of the things I’ve read and learned about all of my life. Africa will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ve been there three times—it’s magical. My husband was a veterinarian, and I suppose his work with animals has left me with a deep appreciation for wildlife. There’s nothing quite like seeing the lions, tigers, giraffes, and wildebeest live. Sure, I’ve seen photos and read about them in books, but to suddenly see them right in front of you is like nothing else in this world.
Joan (left) and Ann—friends for 46 years—enjoy exploring the world together.
There were several factors that led to my decision to travel on OAT’s Treasures of the Aegean: Greek Island Cruise, Athens & Istanbul Small Ship Adventure. For one, I’d never been to Greece or Turkey and I wanted to experience all of the mythical and biblical history I’d only found in books and in movies. And secondly, I love small ship travel.
When my husband and I were still traveling, we always tried to arrive in the destinations we were planning to visit early. This way, we had a few days to get ourselves acclimated to the time difference and city around us. And also, when our fellow travelers arrived, we would be bright and cheery and ready to join the tour. Joan and I decided to do just that and made our journey to Athens a few days prior to the start of our main trip. This gave us a chance to explore the area on our own and really get a feel for it before the rest of our group arrived.
A breathtaking view of Meteora’s famous monasteries.
It was so amazing to watch everything I’d read and learned about all my life come alive for me. The monasteries in Meteora were unlike anything I’d seen before. I couldn’t imagine how the early residents got all of those materials up onto the rocky pinnacles, but we saw the net in which the monks were winched up to the top, so perhaps that was the answer to my question! The contrasting colors of Santorini’s blue roofs and white houses were incredibly striking. The turquoise sea was incredible. And the islands! I wasn’t expecting how close the islands were to one another and the ship. I could look out my window and see people going about their daily lives.
And how can I forget the Parthenon? After climbing to the top of the Acropolis and finding the Parthenon on top of this sacred rock, I just took in the realization that I was standing next to this ancient temple—something that I’d only seen in photos for much of my life. And we were able to experience the Parthenon in a completely different way later on: As we enjoyed dinner in the hotel we were staying at in Athens, we looked out the window, and there stood the Parthenon floodlit against the night sky. It was spectacular.
A view of the Parthenon by night.
But one of my favorite moments was traveling “off the beaten path” on a lazy Sunday morning in Naxos. Our Trip Leader, Eleni Gaitani, took us for a walk across the valley. It was so rural and we were surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards. As we strolled along, we found artichokes growing, and saw donkeys milling about and people going about their daily business as if we weren’t even there. All of a sudden, we heard the sound of music coming from a nearby church. The sound echoed across the valley. It was such a special moment. We were able to take in the beauty of the valley around us. There was nothing dramatic about the moment … it was just incredibly peaceful.
A peaceful Sunday stroll through a valley in Naxos led to a special musical moment for Ann.
What I love most about traveling to new places is getting to know the people of other countries and cultures. As I interact with the locals, I’m able to lose any preconceived ideas I might have formed about them prior to my trip. That’s another wonderful thing about OAT—the opportunities provided to visit a family’s home and share a meal with them. It gives us a chance to find out more about their lives—like their customs, how they celebrate holidays, or how they cook their food—and why that particular food is so important to their culture. In turn, they learn about us as well.
It's always an adventure to travel, and when you do so with a small group, you make new friends and see things not only through your own eyes, but theirs, too.
Experience the ancient treasures you’ve read about in books and seen in pictures on our Treasures of the Aegean: Greek Island Cruise, Athens & Istanbul Small Ship Adventure.