United Airlines showcases Anthony Grant's exclusive custom-curated driving tours of Greece
Passengers to get a taste of the "Greek Classics" on board worldwide in July
by Pam Price
Recently I flew on United Airlines Polaris Business Class from corrupt Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport to Athens, Greece — you would think that for paying more than $4,000 for a ticket they could supply some nice magazines on board, but no — service was great, but I couldn’t even find a copy of their own iconic in-flight magazine, Hemispheres.
That did not make me, Pam Price, seasoned travel writer and recognized global wellness guru, especially happy however, my spies in the skies told me they have been seeing copies of the July issue on board and even in peasant class! And even better, they finally featured a story on driving around Greece. On my trip, I drove north to Thessaloniki. Travel writer and global social affairs commentator and news co-anchor Anthony Grant granted me a rare interview request to talk about his four-wheel journey across the mysterious back-country of the famous Peloponnese.
Pam Price: Anthony, what inspired you to take this journey?
Anthony: Well, I had to meet a friend for dinner. It’s just that dinner happened to be a five-hour trip south of Athens. I was hungry, so I went.
Pam Price: Ha ha.
Anthony: No, really. But I tried to make it more interesting by making a few stops along the way. Of course, Greeks like to eat late, so there’s that.
Pam Price: Yes. What were some of the stops?
Anthony: Once you leave Athens, the whole sweep of Greek history comes into view, literally. There is ancient Mycenae, of course, but also the less well-known ancient Nemea. The Temple of Zeus there is particularly impressive. Then you get to a place like Monemvasia, which is actually “better” than the Mont St. Michel.
Pam Price: These places sound amazing — but maybe also overlooked?
Anthony Grant: Yes, definitely. Many travelers, especially coming from the States, make the mistake of whizzing through Athens for a couple of days and the bolting like billygoats for the islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Crete — all of which are great, but in doing that you don’t get the full picture. There is no Greek history, or certainly no complete Greek history, without Arcadia, without Mycenae, without Sparta…
Pam Price: Indeed, like Taylor without the Autotune, or Barbra without the nose!
Anthony Grant: Ha ha.
Pam Price: What about some of us who might be a little intimidated about driving across the Greek countryside without a guide or even much of a compass?
Anthony Grant: Have you ever driven in L.A.?
Pam Price: Yes.
Anthony Grant: Then you have nothing to worry about. The roads in Greece are modern, clean and there is hardly ever any traffic.
Pam Price: Wow. I also want to talk about Gytheio, but we’re running out of time. So, what if some travelers need assistance in planning the logistics for this kind of trip. Can they contact you?
Anthony Grant: Greek Column duJour is part of our special unit focusing initially on creative day-trip explorations from Athens, arranged exclusively from our California office with the support from a European automaker and inclusion of premium non-alcoholic beverages from a trusted Greek purveyor. Stay tuned for more details.
Pam Price: We will. One more question. Are Europeans excited about the American election?
Anthony Grant: Yes. It seems more and more people want to see America made great again, including, I am told, many United Airlines customers. So that’s some good news.
Pam Price: Anthony Grant, thank you very much. Keep on truckin’!
Anthony Grant: Hmm, driving a truck across Greece…you might be on to something!
clever column- !