Patricia Lund, San Francisco    "music beyond belief"

Last years 2017 folks said it all: music beyond belief (brought us to tears more than once), history, culture and breadth of the Greek peninsula that gave depth to the music. And people—who knew that love of world music would bring together such kindred souls? We feel we have made friends for life not only from our fellow travelers but with the musicians who felt like soul mates. Dore was an amazing leader—we were all pretty sure we had added inches to our waistlines in the restaurants he selected and from the plentiful, delicious food served to us.

Yet we didn’t—probably because we were walking many hours each day! The hotels that Dore chose were all four star as well as having personality appropriate to each region. We could tell that the proprietors were happy to welcome Dore  (lots of hugs and warmth) and his guests.

It was fast paced, and the trip of a lifetime.  As one member from 2017 said, “If necessary, mortgage your house and go on this trip. You will never regret it!”

Charles Yingling, San Francisco     "once in a lifetime experiences"

The T-16 started as a group of 16 strangers and has morphed into a choir. While in the ancient Turkish baths in Thessaloniki with our opera-singing tour guide, the marvelous acoustics motivated us to ask her to sing. As she finished an improvisation, first one and then another tour member joined in and soon the baths became an impromptu performance space as the group, no longer strangers, lifted their voices in harmony, dissonance, and echoes. We left with a spirit of e pluribus unum that in my experience usually occurs when a group of people with common interests spend significant time together in close proximity,  sharing once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And of course, the music is great and the food will require many diets once we return..

Anne Beytin Torkington, Oak. "the most congenial, interesting travel companions"


Anne's note to Tangential 16:

Thank you all for being the most congenial, interesting travel companions any one could wish for. Greece was a marvel, the weather was beyond perfect, the sea was a dream, the music luscious, and our tour leader the most special of human beings. I am so lucky to have shared this time with you. And we will certainly see each other again!

A Transcendent moment in Thessaloniki:

The Bey Hamam, built in 1444, is the largest preserved hamam in the Greek world. Beyond it’s beautiful architectural interest, we discovered an acoustic space not to be matched. Our tour leader, an opera singer, sang for us. I followed suit and so did Chuck, another tour member, then Jacquelyn and many others joined us. We came for music — Now we were making it in this ancient magical space.

Written mid-tour:

The Tangents Greece Music Tour has exceeded my expectations. How could it top the Turkey Tour, I wondered, since I had a great time on that one? Maybe because I’ve fallen in love with the lyra, a new instrument for me, and halfway through the tour I've already seen
the two top lyra players in the world perform. Or maybe it’s the crystalline turquoise Aegean, which I’ve gotten to swim in twice (so far). Still, there’s the food, some of the best cooking and ingredients anywhere, and I’m a Bay Area food snob. Or quirky special Dore, who has chosen the most beautiful hospitable hotels and the most engaging interesting people who are my traveling companions on this fantastic trip.

Lisa Esherick, Berkeley         "you will be enchanted"

Dore’s tour of Greece and its music was fantastic, covering distinct and very different parts of Greece — I had always thought Greece was made up of white washed/blue trimmed hand molded buildings as in Santorini — yes there was Athens and the Acropolis but I knew nothing more.  I knew the music would be wonderful as indeed it was, especially at Underflow in Athens.  But the landscape throughout, the people, the food, the architecture — especially the precariously perched monasteries in Meteora -- gave me new perspectives on this ancient place that has ongoing new life, no matter how imperiled in its economy. The small hotels Dore chose were all exquisite in character, comfort and food.  And because Dore is the unique individual he is, the people who choose to travel with him are equally unique — it was a terrific group — we became a family, everyone looking out for everyone else. 

Through my own missteps, I had the added benefit of exploring the medical system in Greece.  Though understaffed and impoverished, the small hospital I visited in Volos (with the help of Dore and our aptly named bus driver, Socrates), I received excellent good hearted treatment — paying only 6 euros for 4 x-rays not needed and paying nothing for the treatment that was needed to solve my leg injury.

Finally, I carried Greece with me in my ears through the CDs I bought so that in my next stop, Stuttgart, Germany, and now at home I can still hear Socrates Sinopoulos, Monsieur Doumani and more.

Go with Dore on his next trip to Greece — you will be enchanted and never regret it!

Linda Stonier, Berkeley       "Thanks to Dore our beloved pied piper"

What a lucky band of fellow-travelers we were! Thanks to Dore our beloved pied piper and all of you for the excellent fun and enrichment.  Keep on truckin’!

Bill and Cherril Landwehr  Klamath Falls, OR     "outstanding local guides"


Thank you for putting together another great trip. I didn’t think it was possible to top your 2010 expedition to Turkey, but our recent participation in the 2018 Tangents music tour of Greece proved otherwise.  You have crafted a great itinerary, located terrific hotels, secured the services of outstanding local guides and made sure that all i’s were dotted and t’s crossed.  Oh yes…then there’s the music.  In a word, bravo!  You have outdone yourself with this stellar lineup of outstanding talent.  My advice to anyone interested in this trip:  sign up today! 

P.S. Cherril says the cats were wonderful!

Kent Khitikian   Bolinas        "simply wonderful"


This is my 3rd visit to Greece, a country in which I have always found magic, in the spirit of the people I have met and the charms of the places I have visited.  Dore's tour has been no exception, adding the additional dimension of experiencing musical artists who have a joy in their art and infect others with it. Simply wonderful. 

Jeffrey Blake, Belmont "You will never come away with a deeper life experience."


Only by looking at my photos was I able to comprehend the scope of our trip to Greece. Such an array of perspectives. While the tour is touted as a Tangential music tour – it was much more. Greece reflects everything I like about myself – easy going, artistic, political, musical, food loving and expressive. And after the experience of traveling the breadth of Greece – swimming in the Aegean, visiting the amazing mountain high Meteora monastery, seeing the Venetian shipyards in Crete, wandering around the historical Castle at Ioannina,
or walking the Acropolis - having the opportunity to go to 10 mind blowing live music concerts – is icing on the cake.

If you are thinking about experiencing the next tour with Dore - go just for the food, go just for the music or just go for the experience of discovering yourself – as I did. But the very best thing is your traveling companions – they are just like you – adventurous, intelligent, artistic and they love live Tangential music. You will never go on a tour with similar connections to your fellow travelers or come away with a deeper life experience.

Jacquelyn Jenkins, Belmont     "loved being in the mountains"

Additional Testimonials

2018 Tour

2017 Tour

2014 Tour

2013 Tour 2010-2012 Tours

2009 Tour

2008 Tour

2007 Tour

2006 Tour

2005 Tour