Outstanding knowledge of Greek history
Silvia Bettinelli, Ellenicando’s travel designer, guided us for a full day in Athens on June 28, 2024. In sum, she is knowledgeable, effervescent, and easy to understand. Meeting us at our hotel, we began the morning with an early visit to the Acropolis, per her suggestion to mitigate both crowds and heat. We were immediately comfortable with Silvia’s animated personality and – as the day proved – amazing energy. She managed our ascending the Acropolis on a hot summer day (my wife and I are in our late 70’s) easily and comfortably, always aware of our physical limitations. What also became quickly apparent is the vast knowledge she has of the history, and stories, related to ancient Greece generally, and with facets of the Acropolis’ history itself, with a great facility of weaving this sometimes-convoluted information into easily followed narrative. Throughout our day we inevitably had to interact with a polyglot of other people. Silvia quickly demonstrated her full fluency in spoken and written Greek, Italian, and of course English. Leaving the amazaing Acropolis, Silvia introduced us to many fascinating parts of Athens, its people, and to some excellent Greek food that we would never otherwise have experienced (I had done considerable pre-trip research). Throughout the day we peppered her with both general and very specific questions. She not only enjoyed our dialogue, but increased my interest in what otherwise might have been obscure or mundane aspects of Athens. On the few occasions we were physically tired from the heat and walking, she quite voluntarily ran (literally) to stores to purchase cold drinks, and other items, to make us more comfortable. There is absolutely no area of her expertise as our guide that we take issue with. Our comfort and interests were quite obviously always paramount in her thoughts and action. My wife and I are fairly experienced travelers, and I must say that we have never had an all-around better guide. She is recommended without qualification.
Arthur & Roni Y.
