Toronto - Niagara Falls - New York

Meet at the airport and fly to Toronto. Built on the northern shore of Lake Ontario (the smallest of the Great Lakes) and in the southernmost part of the state of the same name, Toronto is the most dynamic and "living" urban center in the country. Particularly friendly to residents and visitors, it is the financial, commercial and industrial center of Canada and combines the glamor and glitz of the modern metropolis with an excellent quality of life and very low crime rates. Arrival, transfer and check-in at the hotel. Walking in the center of Toronto (downtown), your attention will immediately be drawn to the harmonious coexistence of different architectural structures. Cement and glass skyscrapers and modern department stores alongside old Victorian buildings and small well-maintained homes make up the urban map of the centre, reflecting Canadians' vision of more humane and welcoming cities.

Morning tour of Toronto during which we will see the 553.33 meter CN Tower (1973-1976, which for 31 years held the record of the tallest building in the world, but in 2007 Burj Khalifa "stolen" its first place ), the famous stadium-hotel complex Rogers Center (formerly SkyDome), the City Hall (old and new), the Eaton shopping center with more than 300 stores, the modern buildings in the city center, the Harbourfront Center that "sees" the islands in Lake Ontario etc. You will discover the multicultural character of Toronto away from the city center, in its districts, each of which is "dominated" by a specific ethnicity. The heart of Greektown beats on Danforth Street, the Indians have established their own district (Little India), the Chinese element is found in five suburbs of the city, the Italians have created Little Italy, the Portuguese, the Koreans , the Poles... Each neighborhood of Toronto is a miniature of the homeland of its inhabitants. After the end of the tour, a wonderful riverside drive awaits us, through beautiful landscapes, vineyards and historic forts to the picturesque British city of "Niagara-on-the-Lake", where we will literally be transported to another time, sometime in the 1800s, when Newark was the capital of Upper Canada. We continue to the Falls of the Niagara River. We will see the "Horseshoe" and admire from the Canadian side the American one. The sight of the power and momentum of the water, the trickle of the precipitation and the play of the rainbow and the fog, take the breath away of the tourists, who bow before this majesty of nature. Next we see the Minolta, Skylon and Clifton Hill towers. Weather permitting, we will board the Hornblower/Maid of the Mist boat to get as close as possible to the spectacular waterfall. Back to Toronto.

Transfer to the airport and flight to New York. Welcome to the "Big Apple"! Our first acquaintance with the city begins with the route from the airport to Manhattan. New York consists of five boroughs: Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. The islands are connected by bridges, tunnels and ferries. We will cross some of them to reach our destination - the city where each skyscraper is also a unique piece of architecture. Most avenues are numbered from east to west (so 1st Avenue is east of 2nd ave.). Building numbering on avenues begins at the south end of the avenue and increases northward, while street numbering begins at Fifth Avenue and increases both eastward and westward. This fact means that you can very easily find your way. Streets are numbered - except in midtown Manhattan - and the numbering increases as you go north. Check in at our hotel, located in the "heart" of Manhattan. Those who wish (depending on the time) can go for a first walk in the city, accompanied by our guide.

Today we start our tour from the United Nations (UN). The main objectives of the Organization are the maintenance of international peace and security, development, as well as cooperation between Nations to resolve international crises and promote the protection of human rights. The Great Court is decorated with exhibits donated by various countries. We continue to the circular square with the statue of Christopher Columbus and Lincoln Center, a complex of buildings that house artistic organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera and the famous Julliard School of the Arts, where countless world-renowned artists have appeared, among including the Greek Maria Kallas. Right next door is Fordham University Law School, where the biggest names in modern history have studied. We continue to Central Park, the most important green lung of the American metropolis, which will give you the opportunity to escape to a small natural paradise with artificial lakes, manicured picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields and a zoo. On the west side of the park we see the imposing Renaissance Victorian-style Dakota building, in whose expensive apartments live artists, shipowners, etc. - the late "Beetle", John Lennon, also lived here. Next we see Columbia University - in short, the world's grandest "temple" of humanities. What has been produced by human thought over the centuries about how a society should live, behave, be educated, rule and be governed, exists in this historic institution as science and research. All undergraduate departments, especially those of history, political science, psychology and sociology, are particularly valuable. In the history of art especially, nowhere in the world can a more complete education be given. We continue with the monument of the Northern general Ulysses Grant, who in 1868 was elected President of the USA. with a percentage of 52.7%, the Hudson River and Harlem with the famous Apollo Theater. The physiognomy of the area, which for decades was the largest black ghetto in New York, has undoubtedly begun to change. The dilapidated buildings in which large families were crammed have in recent years begun to be replaced by modern constructions, while the burning garbage bins around which the needy gathered for warmth have long since disappeared. Harlem is now a destination for many gourmet foodies in the American metropolis, as restaurants and cafes have started to spring up everywhere. We continue towards the famous 5th Avenue with the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Trump Tower, the multi-millionaire and former US President Donald Trump, all the European fashion houses and many shiny jewelry stores, such as Cartier, Bulgari, etc. We proceed to Rockefeller Center, a complex of 19 buildings. It is one of the largest private complexes of its kind in the world, with shops, restaurants and in the center, in one of the skyscrapers, the Observatory with an amazing view, called Top of the Rock. We conclude our tour of Broadway, the "heart" of theaters. Broadway is a major boulevard that runs all the way through Manhattan and has lent its name to many spectacular musical productions. For the evening follow the suggestions of your guide.

Today's tour begins with a Cruise, where from the boat we will admire and photograph the restored piers, the historic Ellis Island - a place of reception for immigrants in the past - the Statue of Liberty, as well as Staten Island and New Jersey. From every point of the cruise we will enjoy a unique view of Manhattan. We will then pass by Governor's Island and Brooklyn. Next we will visit the wonderful Chelsea Market. Red bricks dominate and embrace the entire huge space of the covered market, industrial details such as pipes, chimneys etc. make their presence evident - in general prepare for a labyrinthine space with dozens of different options, entrances, exits etc. quite simply, it is the "mecca" of New York gourmands. Chelsea Market has established itself as the "Food Mall", but there are also several additional options for shopping and artistic activities. we will see the High Line (The High Line), a long and narrow park installed on abandoned elevated train tracks. Continuing towards the southern end of Manhattan (Lower Manhattan), we will see the famous Wall Street, which acts as the heart of big business and is home to the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall. Even further south is Battery Park. The "One World Trade Center" skyscraper, the tallest building in New York, stands today at "Ground Zero". The "National September 11th Memorial and Museum" complex has also been erected on the site, which includes an underground museum and two memorial pools. The underground museum houses exhibits of the victims of September 11, while at the site where the Twin Towers were located, two pools-reservoirs have been built, with the names of the 2,983 victims who were killed that day. The famous Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas of New York, which was destroyed by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, and rebuilt with marble from Penteli and designs by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and with a truly impressive iconography by the equally famous saint hagiographer Fr Loukas and then again after 21 years opens its doors. We continue with the new neighborhood, Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards is the largest private real estate development in US history and the largest real estate development in New York after Rockefeller Center. In the center the "Vessel" dominates. Spread across 14 acres, Hudson Yards includes gardens, groves, dozens of commercial and ultra-luxury stores, celebrity chef restaurants, etc.

Start with New York's Grand Central train station. The impressive station is 111 meters long, that is, it will be thirty meters longer than the original one, while to walk it with a normal step from one side to the other you will need about a minute and a half. The architect of the project, the famous Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, tried to build something that would remind Gaudí and the Sagrada Familia temple in Barcelona. The cost of the project would reach 3.4 billion dollars. A little further down we see the Flatiron Building or Fuller Building, as it was originally called, located between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, it is a pioneering skyscraper built in a triangular block, which after its completion in 1902, was one of the tallest buildings in the city. The Flatiron has been designated as a landmark of New York and every year it gathers thousands of visitors from all over the world. Next New York University (NYU) Founded in 1831, New York University is a private institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of 27,444. While the university has several New York City campuses, its main hub is the Washington Square campus, near Greenwich Village. The school has attracted a diverse mix of writers, musicians, artists and intellectuals to study in New York over the years. Tour famous Manhattan neighborhoods that have their own color and culture, such as Greenwich Village - between Houston Street and Broadway - and Soho, the 19th-century neighborhood full of galleries, boutiques and restaurants. We arrive in "Little Italy", with many Italian restaurants and shops, which will remind you of scenes from the movie "The Godfather". We proceed to Chinatown, one of the largest areas of Asians living outside of Asia, famous for affordable restaurants, grocery stores and ethnic gift shops. We continue to the magical Brooklyn Bridge. It is the first suspension bridge with steel cables in the world and has been connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn since 1883 (the journey on foot takes about 20 minutes). An emblematic element of the image, but also of everyday life in New York. Walking, we gaze at the view and countless images from movies and TV series with skyscrapers in the background come to mind. For the end of the tour, Hudson Yards which we passed but will see up close today. Hudson Yards is the largest private investment of 25 billion dollars in reconstruction in the history of the USA and especially in New York, after Rockefeller Center and it intends to change life in the city, forming another city within New York. This brand new neighborhood in New York officially opened its doors welcoming citizens and visitors for the first time - over 1,000 people rushed. Hudson Yards extends over 14 acres and includes huge sidewalks, gardens, groves, dozens of shops and restaurants, ultra-luxurious apartments, while in its center is the Vessel, the impressive building-sculpture, which looks like a huge beehive and consists of 154 stairs with a total of 2,500 steps, offering a unique view. Among these… beasts is The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards building, which gathers in its well-polished corridors some of the biggest retail and catering brands in the world. The first store of Neiman Marcus in New York, a concept store of the Zara chain but also the first physical stores of several online retailers, restaurant proposals from celebrity chefs, such as the eclectic "Mercado Little Spain" by José Andrés and the brothers Albert and Ferran Adrià in the basement, or 'Wild Ink', the first restaurant of the London catering company Rhurhab. There, the new "Estiatorio Milos", which opened its doors, exclusively occupies the top communal floor of the building. Kostas Spiliadis The leading representative of Greek gastronomy in America but also one of its most important ambassadors around the world, the chef, restaurateur and founder of a restaurant empire, is at the heart of this new project.

Today we can spend our day at Woodbury Common, a shopper's paradise just 1.15 minutes from Manhattan. Woodbury Common Premium Outlets features over 220 boutiques and stores, offering the largest collection of the world's best designers and brands, with deals ranging from 20% to as much as 70% off. Some of the stores are: Adidas, Banana Republic Factory Store, Barneys New York Outlet, Burberry, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, Frette, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Zegna, Max Mara, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Gap Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, Versace. You will also be able to relax in a variety of restaurants and cafes.

Alternatively, we suggest you visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), one of the largest and most important art museums in the world. It was founded in 1870 by a group of American businessmen and artists, who wanted to create a museum to bring Art and Education to the American people. Located on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, its collections include approximately two million works of art, spanning more than 5,000 years of history and from nearly every corner of the globe. The Museum hosts exhibits of Greco-Roman, Medieval, Islamic, Asian and modern art, as well as photographs, clothing, weapons and musical instruments. Also for something more different... The Cloisters, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of New York. It opened its gates to the public in 1938 and consists of five medieval monasteries. The museum is dedicated to the art and architecture of Medieval Europe with around 2000 works of art, which date from the 12th to the 15th century. The gardens that surround it are a real refuge to escape the noise of the city. In the afternoon we recommend a stroll through Tribeca and especially Soho - many local artists, writers and intellectuals have given way (and their galleries) to the big brands and the crowd. At night East, West and Greenwich Village are among the neighborhoods listed in the guides as a must - especially for their nightlife

For today's free day we suggest a full-day excursion to Washington D.C., the capital of the United States of America. The D.C. patch comes from the phrase "District of Columbia", meaning the District of Columbia - the federal district identified with the city of Washington. The city was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States. It is the seat of the US government and is home to the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court. It is also home to 172 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Built on the banks of the Potomac River, between the states of Virginia and Maryland, Washington DC is itself a state of the US territory (the state of Columbia) and is endowed with majestic buildings, imposing monuments to the history of the United States, numerous parks with rows of trees, museums, squares and aligned avenues. Apart from its historical value, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. Fresh air, imposing monuments, manicured gardens - a perfectly built city, the nation's capital. We see the Capitol, the White House, Arlington Cemetery with the Kennedy memorials, the Lincoln Memorial and other sights. In the center of the city there are examples of remarkable architecture, as well as DuPont Circle, something like Manhattan's 5th Avenue. Those of you who prefer to stay in New York, we suggest you visit the wonderful "Solomon R. Guggenheim" museum, which has a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works of contemporary art. Also, the "Museum of Modern Art" (MoMA), considered the "Mecca" of modern art, houses one of the richest collections of works by famous artists from the entire spectrum of modern art. Another suggestion is the magnificent New York Public Library. What a wonderful building! Located between 40th and 42nd Streets, the New York Public Library is one of the lesser-known attractions. But you will surely have seen her in a movie (Ghostbusters, The Thomas Crown Affair, Spider-Man, The Day After Tomorrow, Breakfast at Tiffany's). Yes, it is no coincidence that he stars in them! Worth!

Τελευταία μέρα της εκδρομής σήμερα και σας ΠΡΟΣΦΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΔΩΡΕΑΝ επίσκεψη στο Αμερικανικό Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας (American Museum of Natural History) Το Αμερικανικό Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας είναι ένας "υποχρεωτικός προορισμός" για όσους ενδιαφέρονται για τον φυσικό κόσμο. Εκτείνεται σε τέσσερα οικοδομικά τετράγωνα και αποτελείται από 28 ενωμένα μεταξύ τους κτίρια, καθιστώντας το, το μεγαλύτερο μουσείο φυσικής ιστορίας στον κόσμο - ένα καταπληκτικό μέρος για να γνωρίσει κανείς τον φυσικό κόσμο και τα πολλά θαύματα που κρύβει. Ιδρύθηκε το 1869 και στις 45 εκθεσιακές αίθουσές του φιλοξενεί περισσότερα από 33 εκατομμύρια δείγματα φυτών, ζώων, απολιθωμάτων, ορυκτών και πετρωμάτων, μετεωριτών, ανθρώπινων οστών, αλλά και ανθρώπινων πολιτισμικών τέχνεργων. Επίσης, διαθέτει πλανητάριο και βιβλιοθήκη. Οι επισκέπτες μπορούν να χρησιμοποιήσουν την διαδραστική εφαρμογή του μουσείου, Explorer, για να περιηγηθούν στα 570.000 τετραγωνικά του μέτρα και να κάνουν λεπτομερείς περιηγήσεις στις αίθουσες. Το μουσείο προσφέρει επίσης τη δυνατότητα κυνηγιού θησαυρού και διαθέτει 360 συσκευές που μπορεί κανείς να δανειστεί κατά τη διάρκεια της επίσκεψης. Ένα από τα σημαντικότερα τμήματα του μουσείου είναι η συλλογή δεινοσαύρων και απολιθωμένων σπονδυλωτών, η οποία θεωρείται η πιο σημαντική στον κόσμο. Το μουσείο διαθέτει έξι αίθουσες αφιερωμένες στην ιστορία της εξέλιξης των σπονδυλωτών, με δημοφιλή εκθέματα, όπως ο Τυραννόσαυρος Ρεξ και ο Απατόσαυρος. Τα διοράματα του μουσείου είναι επίσης εντυπωσιακά, όπως η Αίθουσα της Βιοποικιλότητας, η οποία επικεντρώνεται στη διατήρηση της ποικιλομορφίας των έμβιων όντων της Γης και η Αίθουσα Margaret Mead των λαών του Ειρηνικού, η Αίθουσα των ασιατικών λαών, η Αίθουσα των αφρικανικών λαών και η Αίθουσα των λαών της Νότιας Αμερικής, όπου παρουσιάζονται οι αυτόχθονες πολιτισμοί, αλλά και η σχετική πανίδα Το Rose Center for Earth and Space του μουσείου είναι ένα εντυπωσιακό γυάλινο κουτί που προστέθηκε το 2000 και περιλαμβάνει το Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway, τις κλίμακες του σύμπαντος και την αίθουσα Cullman Hall of the Universe. Στεγάζει επίσης το Πλανητάριο Hayden, το πιο προηγμένο τεχνολογικά στον κόσμο, το οποίο προσφέρει μια πολυαισθητηριακή περιήγηση στο σύμπαν. Εκτός από τις εκθεσιακές του αίθουσες, το μουσείο είναι επίσης ένα παγκοσμίου φήμης επιστημονικό ερευνητικό ίδρυμα. (Η μετάβαση γίνεται με Μετρό και δεν περιλαμβάνεται το εισιτήριο μετακίνησης) Μεταφορά στο αεροδρόμιο και πτήση για την Αθήνα. Άφιξη την επόμενη μέρα.