Here's the first post from UIC senior associate director Caryn Korman as she prepares to head out on the "Cradle of HIstory -- Athens to Istanbul" EXPLORERS tour:

Two days before trip

The excitement of starting a new adventure is building! How will the flights go? What will the ship be like? What new people will I meet (besides our wonderful University of Illinois travelers)? How will I keep from indulging in all the wonderful food on board the ship? :) 

I've been working off a checklist the last few weeks of things to get done, and while I have been making nice progress, it always seems like there is so much more to do before a trip. Packing for two weeks is challenging, and I'm attempting to be an "astute packer" if I can be. Several reference guides at http://www.travelsmith.com/images/us/local/kickers/travelcenter/PackingGuide.pdf have helped, but I know in the end I'll always choose some of my favorite things, even if they don't make the recommended list! 

Of course, I've also checked the weather, and it's expected to be sunny and beautiful in Athens when we arrive on Sunday, with a high of 77 -- woo-hoo! We're almost set to go ... in just two short days we'll be on our way and my checklist(s) won't matter anymore as the journey begins ...