departure TIME from athens: tuesday 14th july, 8pm

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Athens - the oldest city in Europe - has a rich history and offers plenty of sightseeing for visitors. You can easily spend 3-4 days here visiting the Acropolis and its museum, walking the pedestrian area of the old town, seeing the marble Panathenaic Stadium which hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896… Or browsing the chic spots in Kolonaki and discovering the hidden foodie joints around town. It is also a trendy city with stylish restaurants and boutiques, delicious cuisine and lots of very friendly Greeks!

For those who wish to enjoy a short stay in Athens before we embark
on the cruise, we have negotiated rates with the
Grande Bretagne and King George Hotels.

Both hotels are offering our guests a 10% discount on Best Available Rate for stays from 10th to 14th July 2015.

You can access the online reservation form here or you can email them directly below.
Please quote "Seraphine & Leo's Wedding" in your email.

Hotel Grande Bretagne: reservations.gb@starwoodhotels.com
King George Hotel: reservations.kg@luxurycollection.com

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To get a taster of Greek cuisine, we highly recommend doing a food safari with Culinary Backstreets. You can either do a Culinary Walk with a guide, or if you prefer to explore on your own check out their Eatinerary service. When booking online please use the promo code SERAPHINE_LEO to get a 15% discount. 

You can also directly email ansel@culinarybackstreets.com and mention "Seraphine & Leo's Wedding" for reservations. 

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For those who are going to be in Athens before the cruise, here are some of Seraphine & Leo's restaurant recommendations after their multiple wedmin trips:

• Stani near Omonia Square, for the best Greek yoghurt in town - best way to start your day!

• Kosta's for the most scrumptious souvlaki you will ever taste

• Diporto for a very very local experience where Grandpa Chef will cook comfort food for you according to his mood... But he will always give you an amazing chickpea soup! You know you're in a good place when no English is spoken.

• To Triantafilo for great fish, a short walk away from the main square where the above hotels are (Syntagma Sq). Again, use sign language.

• Paradisiako for simple Greek taverna style food (beware it is in the majorly touristic old town "Plaka"... Food is still fantastic!)

• Dionysos by the Acropolis has the best combination of awesome view & great modern Greek in town. 

• Funky Gourmet has a bad name but the quality and inventiveness of its cuisine took us by surprise! Michelin starred, and worth it if you want a fancy evening. Advance booking recommended

• For more recommendations visit the Culinary Backstreets website which has a wealth of information and awesome recommendations... We fully trust their taste!

DOCKING TIME IN MYKONOS: wednesday 15th july, 6AM-9PM

CRUISING TIME TO CHIOS: 9 HOURS

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The island of the winds has garnered an international reputation as nightlife island and we have had first-hand experience of this! You can find all sorts of joys in Mykonos and although it gets uncomfortably infested with tourists in the summer, it still has a radiating buzz and energy which keeps visitors coming back, summer after summer, yearning for more… 

We have organised the Olympiades by the beach which will keep you busy until early afternoon. You are welcome to relax with us by the beach until the evening or you may choose to venture out on your own to see the windmills, have a stroll around Little Venice, or get lost in the maze of cobbled streets and white houses….

Whatever you choose to do, please be back at Tourlos port by 6:30pm so we can get you back onboard Le Lyrial in time for Greek Taverna Night!

docking time in chios: thursday 16th july, 6am-9pm

cruising time to lemnos: 9-10 hours

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The 5th largest of the Greek islands, it is said to be the birthplace of democracy upon which Athens modelled its political system. Chios has a long tradition in shipping - many of Greece’s & the world’s richest shipping tycoons come from Chios. Most importantly Chios is famous for its mastic trees: the resin that comes out of their bark is used for the elaboration of different products, of which a unique chewing gum and the super delicious Mastic liquor (“mastiha”), a favourite of the Bride.

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There will be two excursions available while we are docked in Chios

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Short Excursion: 11am-1:15pm in Pirgi

(Duration: 2H15 – Price: €100)

This area of Chios got its name Mastichochoria from the Lentisk (mastic) bush. Most of the mastic villages in the south part of Chios were settled in the time of the Genoese occupation of the island (12th century). They were built mostly like fortresses and they were fortified against the pirates’ invasions.

 Your first stop will be to the medieval fortress town of Pirgi, one of the unusual and attractive villages on the Island. It looks as though it has emerged from the Middle Ages, with its narrow alleyways and its house facades covered with the unique "xysta" decorations, geometric patterns in grey and white. At the central square of the village the effect of  “xysta“ is very intense as all outside walls of the buildings – including the main church – are covered with this extraordinary graffiti. The fortified character of the village of Pirgi was destroyed in the big earthquake of 1881 but it keeps each unique atmosphere with all the beautiful facades of the houses with this extraordinary black and white graffiti. 

After your visit to Pirgi you shall return to Chios port.

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Long Excursion: 11am-3pm in Fortified Village of Mesta, including lunch

(Duration: 4H15 – Price: €135)

This area of Chios got its name Mastichochoria from the Lentisk (mastic) bush. Most of the mastic villages in the south part of Chios were settled in the time of the Genoese occupation of the island (12th century). They were built mostly like fortresses and they were fortified against the pirates’ invasions. After one hour drive, you will arrive in the village of Mesta, and will visit the fortified enclosure and houses (outside visit). Here the houses are built one by the other forming a wall enclosing the village. All the roofs are connected and provided the inhabitants with an escape way in the past, when the invaders were standing outside the walls. As we walk through Mesta’s old narrow lanes and the roofed alleyways we reach the central open square with the big beautiful church of Taxiarches. You will enjoy a tasteful Greek lunch at a local restaurant of the village. Afterwards, you will board your coach for a panoramic drive passing by various villages such as Kalamoti, Nenita, Katarktis and Neochori, before you reach Chios town and the port.

docking time in lemnos: friday 17th july, 7am-3pm

CRUISING TIME TO istanbul: 16 hours

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Totally off the beaten path due to its distance from Athens, this is private Greek island at its best. Gorgeous sand, crystal water and some prime windsurfing spots await if you can wake up for it.

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VAT REFUND FOR SHOPPERS

Everybody can get their VAT receipts stamped in Lemnos (our last stop within what is currently still the EU) at the Custom premises ashore in Myrina, which is located in the port area.  You will need to show the items purchased, receipts and passports to the Custom Authorities . It should be a quick and painless procedure. 

Passage through the Dardanelles: friday 17th july, 8pm

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The Dardanelles is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart, the Bosphorus. The strait is 61 kilometres long but only 1.2 to 6 kilometres wide. It is an international waterway, and together with the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient city of Troy was located near the western entrance of the strait, and the strait's Asiatic shore was the focus of the Trojan War.

Arrival in Istanbul: saturday 18TH JULY, 7AM

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With its strategic position straddling both Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the ultimate “East meets West”: the Western terminus of the Silk Road, the Easternmost city of the original Orient-Express. This intriguing metropolis boasts an extraordinarily diverse culture, a unique culinary heritage, and possibly the most beautiful skyline in the world. Linger on for a few days and visit Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar… and seek recovery in one of the many steamy Ottoman bathhouses.

For those who haven’t had enough of us or of each other…
Seraphine & Leo will be staying at the new Soho House in Istanbul for a few nights,
ready to continue the celebrations!

The Soho House is currently only accepting reservations for Members and has a 2-night minimum stay.
If you are not a Soho House Member please reach out to Members you may know to help you reserve a room. Due to their membership policy it is best NOT to mention our wedding at this stage.

We also recommend the Georges Hotel Galata. Please email artun.yanikbaca@georges.com and quote "Seraphine & Leo's Wedding" for rates.

We highly recommend doing a food safari with Culinary Backstreets. You can either do a Culinary Walk with a guide, or if you prefer to explore on your own check out their Eatinerary service. When booking online please use the promo code SERAPHINE_LEO to get a 15% discount. 

You can also directly email ansel@culinarybackstreets.com and mention "Seraphine & Leo's Wedding" for reservations. 

 Dinner in Istanbul

Most of you have responded that you would be up for a dinner in Istanbul. Some of our friends have been very kind to organize dinner & an evening out – if you indicated Yes or Maybe on our online form, you should have received an email from them so that you can confirm your attendance. If you did not get an email and wish to attend, please write to max.vonromatowski@solarworld.sg to get all the details.