1x1 - The Land of the Ancient Greeks

October 13, 2011

Joanna Lumley travels to Greece to visit the region that has so influenced Western civilization. Her first stop is the Acropolis which is painstakingly being restored after years of abuse and suffering the ravages of pollution. She experiences the nightlife, where she gets to throw flowers rather than plates. She then travels to Evia, the second largest island in Greece, where people in a small village speak with whistling sounds. Her next stop is the 4th century theater of Epidaurus and a tour given Nana Mouskouri. Then the Gates of Hades, ancient Olympia and Delphi rounds out her visit.

1x2 - Greece's Borderlands

October 20, 2011

Joanna Lumley travels to northwest corner of Greece and visits the island of Corfu. Now a major holiday destination, the island has been fought over for centuries given its strategic location. There is a strong British influence on the island and Joanna visits one of the island's beautiful homes. In the town of Corfu, she walks the narrow streets in the center of the town where in the main square, there is a cricket pitch. She also visits a marching brass band one of more than 20 on the island. From Corfu, she travels overland to the far Eastern corner of Greece.

1x3 - The Islands

October 27, 2011

Visiting some of the numerous Greek islands, Johanna elaborates on their stunning variety, largely due to a long and complex history, and how much Greeks are oriented to the sea, especially for trade. A special case is Crete, southernmost and by far the largest, almost a country in its own right as it has often been.

1x4 - Mount Olympus and Beyond

November 3, 2011

In this last episode, Joanna Lumley visits Mount Olympus and looks at the stories and legends of ancient Greece. The climb to the top of Olympus is demanding and she rests at a refuge at 2100m. The first official climb to the top was in 1913 and is now home to one of the toughest marathons in Europe. She visits the birthplace of the 9 muses. Then it's on to a fortune telling festival and attends a street party. In Thessaloniki, she tours the city with the mayor.

Joanna Lumley

Cast