Nota Karamaouna
Born and bred in Athens, Nota has been travelling to Turkey, especially Cappadocia, for many years, captivated by its multicultural history, the spectacular landscape and the warm local hospitality. With a degree in Archaeology and Art History and a Masters in Byzantine Archaeology, she is currently finishing her PhD. at the École Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris, focusing on the Byzantine churches of Cappadocia.
Nota has excavated and surveyed at a number of sites in Cappadocia and elsewhere in Turkey, and at sites in Greece, ranging from the island of Kos to central Athens. Alongside her academic studies she has worked for a specialist Byzantine photo-library and the Byzantine Museum of Athens. A native Greek-speaker, she is fluent in English and French (and is picking up Turkish too) and puts her language skills to use as a freelance translator and editor. We are very pleased Nota will be sharing her passion and expertise with our guests.
What previous guests have to say about Nota:
"My husband and I thought the guides/ tour leaders were sensational. You could not ask for better. Nota was so lovely, friendly and extremely knowledgeable ! I have nothing but praise for Nota. My husband and I consider Nota and fellow guide Michael highlights of the tour!" Yvonne McGrath
"Nota was top notch. Nota's enthusiasm and profound knowledge of all things Byzantine was a wonder. Its hard to improve on perfection. This was our favorite tour ever! Nota made sure that people with special dietary needs were accommodated and went above and beyond by looking after a member who had to go to the hospital. Nota and Mike, our guides, were exceptional; very knowledgeable and accommodating. This tour really was an investment in memories. It was expertly crafted, perfectly executed, and delivered an unforgettable journey through the Peloponnese rich with culture, history, and natural beauty. Thanks to Nota and Mike, this tour was truly an experience of a lifetime." Clint Cragg
"Nota has vast and detailed knowledge of the ancient sites, and her explanations are engaging and interesting. I really appreciate the way she went the extra mile to ensure that I had special dietary food, which was of the highest quality. Both Nota (and her fellow guide Michael) were friendly, kind and excellent company. Cruising the Cyclades with Michael and Nota was my second Peter Sommers trip, I cannot recommend it too highly: all the site and museum visits were interesting and informative, and the whole trip was great fun. I am looking forward now to a third Peter Sommers experience." Eilidh Macleod
"This has been my 2nd tour with Nota. I would do another with her any time. One of her many talents is an ability to relate personally with people without losing her professionalism. She is especially caring. Ten out of 10!" Anne Lancashire
"Nota's passion for the history and culture are always evident, and her energy was admirable. Always friendly and engaging. As regular travellers on Peter Sommer tours we were delighted to find the Dodecanese cruise offered the same winning combination of a fascinating itinerary with excellent guides. Their grasp of the history, archaeology and culture added enormously to the experience." Ian Suckling
"Nota was outstanding, she couldn't have been a better tour guide - her knowledge was very wide and she was engaging. She was very kind and helpful. Her organisational skills were exceptional. I would definitely travel with her again." Elizabeth Whyte
"Nota (and fellow guide Michael) were extraordinary, individually and as a bonus, as a team. They were both SO knowledgeable and obviously passionate about Greek history matched by their enthusiasm to show and share that passion. Nota was always on top of how each person was doing - thank you!! Excellent." Daryl Fields
"Nota is the most passionate subject matter expert that I ever met. Her knowledge about Byzantine history and iconography was simply amazing. Nota and fellow guide Michael were the BEST EVER guides we had (and we have been with many other guides with other companies). My wife and I have travelled to Greece many times; the 2 week Peloponnese tour we took with Peter Sommer Travels was the most educational, fun and best organized tour we ever had. The guides were simply amazing. We plan to take many more of their tours." Constantin Delivanis
Greece Exploring the Peloponnese Tour
Greece Cruising the Dodecanese
Greece Cruising the Cyclades: Extended Edition
Greece Exploring the Peloponnese Tour
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Oven-Roasted Aubergines with Tomato and Halloumi: a Classic Greek Recipe Aubergine, or eggplant in American and Australian English, but also Melanzane (Italian), Melitzana (Greek) or Patlıcan (Turkish), is one of the most widely used and tasty ingredients in several traditional ... Read More
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Greek Halva Recipe: an East Mediterranean flavour Along the shores of the Eastern Mediterranean, from northern Africa and the southern Balkans eastwards to Lebanon and Syria, the desserts of each country contain more or less the same ... Read More
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Another thing: A Hellenistic pebble mosaic in Rhodes “Another thing” is a series of occasional posts, each presenting a particularly interesting, beautiful or unusual object on display at one of the museums or sites on our tours. Later ... Read More
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The famous Santorini Tomato and a recipe Santorini is one of Greece's best-known travel destinations. It is especially famous for its remarkable volcanic setting, the whole island forming an enormous volcanic caldera, and its extraordinary archaeological wealth, ... Read More
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A Cosmopolitan Heritage Lost: The Jews of Thessaloniki We are happy to welcome Nota Karamaouna, who accompanies most of our tours in Greece and is our tour expert for Cappadocia, as a contributor to Peter Sommer Travels' blog. ... Read More
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Discovering Cappadocia in Turkey Over the years, many of the guests on our Turkish cruises have opted to extend their vacation by a few days to visit Cappadocia, that legendary landscape in the heart ... Read More
