BUDAPEST - Business Traveller

A BUSINESSMAN ON HOLIDAY
famous Temple of Artemis (in 383 BC a
shoemaker called Herostratos set fi re to
it). One of the Greek kings of Ephesus
was Croesus, who gathered a fortune
and his name became a synonym for a
wealthy person. Later, Ephesus was under
Roman rule – about 250 thousand
people lived here at that time. Today it
is known as one of the best preserved ancient
cities.
Things worth seeing? During a several
hours long stay in Ephesus, you could see
virtually everything. There is a gate leading
to a real ancient city. The Temple of
Artemis, considered by the Greeks as one
of the world’s wonders, didn’t stand the
test of time (except for some parts), but
there are other places of religious cult, like
the temples of emperors: Hadrian and
Domitian, or the Church of Mary. There
is also the Library of Celsus, Roman bath
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houses, the Trajan fountain, Odeon (theatre),
a commercial agora, a huge stadium,
or the Great Theatre which could accommodate
up to 24 thousand spectators and
where supposedly St. Paul made one of
his speeches. Not everything is open for
the visitors – the archaeological work in
Ephesus is still in progress.
THE ISLAND OF WINDS
Crystal clear water, dark sandy beaches
and villages with white houses with
blue roofs – it’s a typical picture which
is usually associated with Santorini, one
of the most beautiful Greek islands. The
visit to the island takes place during the
fifth day of the Splendour of the Sea
cruise. In 1600 BC the island was struck
by the eruption of Thera volcano, the
biggest one in history. It is believed that
a 200-metre high tsunami wave was for-
The cruise
onboard
Splendour of
the Seas is
an excellent
lesson of
history
med, which fl ooded the Atlantis. As a result,
a huge crater was formed and its irregular
slopes and cliffs contribute to the
characteristic image of today’s Santorini.
The island is known for the production
of sweet wines and cherry tomatoes.
Fira is the capital, with Ia being another
major city. There are no forests here - in
fact Santorini is a rocky tip of an underwater
volcano, with a monastery built
on its highest hill. You should defi nitely
try the Chloro goat cheese. Other local
specialties include moussaka (aubergine
with meat) and the seafood, of course.
Santorini is sometimes referred as
to “the island of winds”. It’s a paradise
for the enthusiasts of such water sports
like windsurfi ng, kite surfi ng or sailing.
Along the beaches there are plenty of
rental companies, where you will fi nd all
the necessary equipment.