Fat of the land -traditional wisdom for modern life

:Mediterraneancivilization

02/04

01 : Life in the old world pg 2

02 : TFK*s take on the Med pg 5

03 : Crete, Greece pg 7

04 : Barcelona, Catalunya pg 14

05 : Your Guides to the Med pg 16

06 : Questions & Answers pg 17

07 : 2011 Departures pg 18

08 : Bookings pg 19

"Fat of the Land": Health and Longevity in the Mediterranean

The coastal regions of the Mediterranean: birthplace of the “mediterranean diet”, longest life expectancy in Europe, tasty food, and a relaxed lifestyle... but the best part is – all they have to do is go on living as before.

TFK* has chosen the Greek island of Crete as our main destination for this trip. Legend has it Zeus himself was born here. A hint to the age and fortitude of the Cretan way of life! On top of that, it is an amazingly friendly and easy-going place where everyone is welcome.

Our last two days are spent in Barcelona, Catalunya (Spain) and serve as a contrast to rural Crete. An old city where the backbone of traditional ways live on amongst fierce cultural expression and rapid economic development.

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01In the Mediterranean landscape, everything feels layered. Thousands of years of civilization shows; you can feel that each rock you step on has seen many more feet than yours.

The way of the agesThis region of the world has been the setting of many civilizations; seen aggressive destruction and creation, ruled by commerce, the struggle for power and the attraction of new ideas; each new era adopting and recasting the best of what was before.

Food and attitudes endure in this way. Pizza started out as a cheap and simple food for Roman legionnaires on march (no dishes!). The rest is history.

People in an old culture are born into a secure place in history, simply because a lot has passed before them. This security manifests itself in the innate confidence people here have about the basic foundations of life. When people have heartily endured for such a long time... you know they’re doing something right!

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01.2With Mediterranean people, you don’t need to think about what to do or how to do it. After awhile it comes naturally to let go of control and follow the inherited know-how.

Let’s put trust in those traditionsTo the average tourist, local food tastes great, but it can’t be recreated at home. The key ingredients- the land, the attitude, and the customary way of doing things- just can’t be bottled and sold. While that may be true, if the experience is right, the lessons and ideas will stick with you your whole life.

When TFK* goes to the Mediterranean for the Fat of the Land, the people are in focus. Our aim is to deliver you into the very heart of the Mediterranean way.

On this trip we will first take a great plunge into the island life of rural Crete, and then balance our impressions with a visit to the very modern, bustling city of Barcelona.

Some of the highlights:

Yorgia & Kostas’ tavernaMilia traditional mountain settlement

Food Origins experience (changing with the season)Ancient remains of Phalasarna

true blue beachesBarcelona cultural overdose

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01.3Talk of the nation: Mediterraneandiet

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You’ve probably heard it all before: olive oil, legumes, pulses, fish, fresh produce and other gems of the Med are the ideal diet. Popularized since the Seven Countries Study, when Ancel Keys found that the men of Crete far outlived the men of the other countries in the study, the Mediterranean diet has been in the public eye for decades. And you know what? It is great- for you, for your body, for the balance of nature.

BUT.

Chances are, you don’t live in a Mediterranean climate. Chances are that you live in a different world altogether. That’s why TFK*s Mediterranean trip stands out from the crowd: we don’t pretend that you can be Mediterranean at home. We dig deeper, into the foundations and feelings behind this traditional diet, and expose the heart of it. It’s not only about ingredients, it’s about a lot more, and we strive to give you an experience that lays foundations you can take home: pleasure, attitude, and instinct.

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02First things first...You’ll fly from your US hub to Crete, where you’ll be met by TFK* as you step off the plane.

Driving west along the coast, you’ll already begin to feel what a special place you’re in; we pass through stunning and varied landscape on the way to our villas.

Our home-away-from-home is in Sfinari, a small coastal village in the western region of Kissamos.

From this point onwards, TFK* makes sure you are left with no outside worries- you’ll be able to truly sink in to your Cretan experience. As you’ll see next, our ‘assignments’ are activities designed to engage you in local culture while building foundations that you can take home with you.

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02.2Island Life: Five days on Crete

What We Do Our structure works like this: each day, we have planned an assignment that provides us with a window into traditional aspects of food and lifestyle on Crete. Our assignments generally take half a day; you’ll have time for yourself and time for exploration.

Descriptions of our assignments follow; here you can see a map of the places we take you.

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CreteMiliaa traditional mountain settlement restored, alive with animals, olive groves, and fresh food from the garden

Tsikoudia Most housewives have one... a distilling machine, that is

Ancient PhalasarnaCrete is littered with remains of defunct civilizations: Minoans, Romans, Turks... the list is long

Soul FoodHeart healthy in more ways than one. Afrata’s village taverna is the epitome of Mediterranean health

The Good FatThe backbone of the Mediterranean cuisine. We pick and press our own olive oil

03the birthplace of zeus, andeurope’s first advanced civilization.

Crete!

X

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03.2Home is where you hang your hat

Assignment:

Where We Live

Sfinari village is our hometown on Crete, and these breathtaking villas our home. Our experiences with food and lifestyle while on Crete will benefit greatly by having our own fully-equipped kitchen to play in, and nothing beats a well-earned drink on the patio of your home away from home. Pool and sunchairs at your service, and only a short stroll down to the beach.

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03.3Third-generation taverna owners Yorgia and Kostas do things as everyone has always done; at Kali Kardia (“The Good Heart”), the heart of Afrata village.

Assignment:

‘The Good Heart’

No one is reinventing the wheel here; they’re just making damn fine wheels. Kali Kardia is a gold standard example of family knowledge and tradition passed down through time. For TFK*, Yorgia and Kostas put us through the paces of daily life at the village taverna and reveal to us the secrets of their own old age (hint: it is both simple and complex, and you can’t eat it!).

– 9 –Kostas III, Rebecca, Kostas Sr., and Yorgia feeling relaxed post-dinner.

Afrata village sits overlooking Kissamos Bay- the best of both land and sea at it’s fingertips.

03.4Not all booze is created equal...

Assignment:

Something from NothingThe birth of a civilization is a messy event. People always tell the stories differently, and inevitably important bits get lost and major details chucked out. Not so with the birth of “tsikoudia”, the traditional digestif of Crete and standard accompaniment to any meal or snack. You can trace tsikoudia back over 1000 years, and very little has changed. It’s recipe stays the same, and it’s place of pride on the table does too. We’ll visit a tiny village square on production day, when the still is fired up and find out just how tsikoudia works. Tastings are, of course, included.

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No one drinks alone on Crete.

September sees men harvesting grapes, first for wine and then for tsikoudia.

03.5Straight to the Source

Assignment:

Food OriginsThe seasons change and so do you. And so, by necessity, does our itinerary. When it comes to going straight to the source of key staples, we can only bow to the will of mother nature and follow her lead. In winter, we join in the olive harvest and oil pressing (make sure to leave space in your luggage for that!); in spring, cheese making and collecting the famous horta; in summer and fall, the enormous bounty of fruits and vegetables native to Crete and the wonderful things one can do with them. Taking back control of your body includes knowing what you put into it. The origins experience is essential and hands-on, and leads to a new understanding of that. Wonder what will happen on your tour? Just ask us!

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Rolling hills... all olive, olive, olive!

Spring is artichoke season all over the Mediterranean.

03.6Bringing it all together

Assignment:

Milia traditional settlementNow here is a perfect microcosm of Crete: it’s at once old and new. Traditional and modern. Our stay at Milia is comfortable yet rustic, and gives you the freedom to bring all of your experiences together into one arena. Milia is a traditional settlement, run by a group of young Cretans who inherited land there. They do things the old way, yet are firmly planted in the now. After hiking through the olive groves, you’ll be able to lend a hand with dinner, where the chef will teach simple ideas that you can use anywhere. A bonfire at night under the stars, then tuck into bed in one of the cottages. This will be our “field-trip” night from our own villa- a bit like a vacation from vacation.

– 12 –Milia's cluster of houses sits nestled in a mountainside, totally isolated and incredibly peaceful.

Melt-in-your-mouth veggies and home-made olive oil... does it get better than this?

Don’t bring your gun, but your pillow?

03.7Taking the long view

Assignment:

Phalasarna, and the beach

What would the Med be without the sea? It doesn’t bear thinking about. Phalasarna is proof: the ruins here date back to 335 B.C., when it was an active harbor and trading town. Nowadays, you can spend hours walking amongst the ruins, up the hill to the acropolis, imagining the ancients approaching by ship. Afterwards, stroll down the long sandy beach and play in the waves, or just lay down and soak up the sun.

– 13 –Not only the best beach on the island, but usually empty.

04Off to Catalunya:

Barcelona!A short flight takes us to Spain and a more modern approach to the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. They do a lot of things right in Barcelona, and it’s impossible not to be a little impressed. Work hard, play hard... live long? How do they do that? We spend two days observing their ways and enjoying their city before heading home. While here, we’ll stay in a charming hotel and eat as the locals eat: out.

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Our hotel is small bur centrally located. The rooms have that modern Mediterranean feel, while the surroundings are in the oldest part of town.

04.2Same same but different

Assignment:

Architecture and small plates

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Two highlights of our stay here: Gaudí and tapas. Gaudí is most famous for his La Sagrada Familia, but we recommend Parc Güell; it’s wondrously inspiring. Tapas are easily the most famous dish from Catalunya, and the sheer variety can stun a person. The tradition is to “bar hop”, having a different small dish and drink at each place. Bars have specialties; some only serve fish tapas, some only do potatoes in 10 different ways. The bottom line is: always small, always simple, always amazing. We don’t think there’s a better way to paint a picture of a culture’s priorities!

Gaudi is God here. His most famous pieces are the details. Here are his ‘soldiers’ which march on a rooftop.

05The Finest Kind*s Own

Your guides to the Med

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Jesper Malmberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He has over ten years experience living and working throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. Jesper is TFK*s resident authority on nutrition, metabolism, and all things food.

Rebecca Jackson grew up in South Dakota, USA. She’s been living overseas for a decade, cultivating a network of good people in over 31 countries. She’s a history and geography buff who is also First Aid/CPR certified.

TFK* is owned and run by:

Each tour is personally accompanied by both Rebecca and Jesper, and they are joined by capable and competent local friends.

Q: What does all-inclusive mean? A: When you buy a trip, you’ll get flights, accommodation, and all meals. It’s that simple.

06The Finest Kind*

Questions and Answers

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Q: Do I need a passport and a visa? A: Yes, you need a valid U.S. passport, but no visa is necessary. Contact your local post office to obtain a passport, and make sure to leave plenty of time before you want to travel for it to arrive!

Q: I have diabetes/high blood pressure/similar conditions. Is this trip right for me? A: Yes! In fact, it’s perfect. Other vacations don’t necessarily account for such conditions, but we do. We think our trip is the perfect thing to inspire healthier choices that can have a positive effect on your condition. We understand your needs and plan accordingly.

Q: How does insurance work? A: The Finest Kind* is insured for Errors & Omissions with Berkely Travel Insurance. However, all passengers are highly recommended to purchase their own travel insurance when booking (we can get you a good deal). Alternatively, many credit cards offer travel insurance when a trip is paid on that card; check your own cards for details.

Q: Sounds great! How do I book?A: That’s easy- the next pages have dates and prices available for booking. Then, either go online and fill out our reservation request, or clip out the one in this book and send it in. All our bookings are done direct and personally- you’ll be contacted and from there, it’s only a few short steps until we see you in Greece!

072011 Departures + Prices

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All of our trips to the Med are departing on Friday evening and returning the following Sunday.

Price: $4500 all-inclusive.

*January 2011: one-time only pricing at $3500 per person! This trip is identical to our later departures and includes a discount for winter pricing. Ask for details!

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08Booking!

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I want to go to the Med with you!

Name ________________________________Address ______________________________ _____________________________________Telephone ____________________________Email ________________________________

Contact me during these times: _____________________________________

Mail this form to:

The Finest Kind* Travel1122 43rd St NWWatertown, SD 57201

OR

Contact us faster to make sure you get a spot!Email gogogo@thefinestkind.net

Call +1 605 884 5308

Follow the instructions below, or go to www.thefinestkind.net to speed up the process!

All reservations require a $450 deposit. Terms and Conditions are available online, along with full payment details. After initiating your reservation request, we’ll guide you in making your deposit and completing your tour release forms. When your reservation is complete, you’ll start getting updates about your departure date and our activities, and one month before leaving, you’ll receive your official TFK* Trip Kit, with final details, airline tickets, and fun travel goodies.