Thursday - USA:
Depart the U.S. in the late afternoon aboard our trans-Atlantic flight.
Dinner en route.
Friday - Lisbon:
Following our connecting flight, we'll arrive in Lisbon, Portugal's
capital on the Tagus River, Here, we'll be greeted by our professional
tour manager and transferred to our hotel. Following check-in, the
remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. Overnight Lisbon. (D)
Saturday - Lisbon:
Now the capital of a relatively small country, Lisbon was the center
of Europe's first and longest-lived overseas empire. Portugal's imperial
ambitions date back to Prince Henry the Navigator's 15th-Century discoveries
in West Africa and did not subside until the 1970's. Highlights of
Lisbon include: the Belem Tower guarding the mouth of the Tagus River,
and Jeronimo's Monastery. Drive past the Bull Ring to Pombal Statue
and along the grand Avenida da Liberdade, then walk through the cobbled
alleys of quaint Alfama, the quarter of the seamen. Afternoon is at
leisure - possibly for an optional excursion to the royal palaces
of Queluz and Sintra. Dinner is on your own this evening so that you
can enjoy the nightlife of this vibrant city - you may want to have
dinner at a typical taverna with Fado entertainment. (CB)
Sunday - Lisbon
/ Seville: Drive east and south this morning stopping in the historical
town of Evora for sightseeing (including the Roman Temple of Diana)
and lunch in the Pousada - a beautifully restored old palace. UNESCO
has declared Evora a World Patrimony due to its outstanding buildings
and monuments. Later, we'll continue south into the Andalusia region
of Spain and its capital city of Seville. Overnight Seville. (CB,
L)
Monday - Seville:
Sightseeing this morning will include the huge Cathedral (third largest
in the world), the Moorish Alcazar Palace, the quaint Santa Cruz quarter
and the Plaza de Espana. The afternoon will be free for shopping or
exploring one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe. Dinner
will be on your own this evening so that you have the opportunity
to enjoy a typical Andalusian restaurant, followed by a fiery Flamenco
show. Overnight Seville. (CB)
Tuesday - Seville
/ Costa del Sol: Motor through the sherry wine region of Jerez and
along the sunny Mediterranean coast to Marbella, our home for three
nights. (CB, D)
Wednesday - Costa
del Sol: All day at leisure to enjoy the trendy boutiques, the sandy
beaches, and sample the many fancy restaurants. Overnight Costa del
Sol. (CB)
Thursday - Costa
del Sol: All day at leisure. An optional full day excursion by ferry
across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangier, Morocco, where we touch
North African soil. Our sightseeing this afternoon includes the mysterious
Kasbah. Return to the Costa del Sol in the early evening. Overnight
Costa del Sol. (CB)
Friday - Costa
del Sol / Granada: Pass through ruggedly beautiful terrain, seeing
the occasional white-washed Andalusian village and rows of olive and
cork tree plantations on the hillsides. In the late morning we'll
reach Granada with its beautiful Moorish buildings and exquisite setting
near the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Sightseeing this
afternoon will include the Alhambra, considered as a great climax
of Muslim architecture during the pinnacle of their Spanish rule.
We'll see such treasures as the elegant, intricately designed domes,
the Court and Pool of Myrtles, Hall of Ambassadors, Court of Lions
and harem quarters. Overnight Granada. (CB, D)
Saturday - Granada
/ Toledo: Pass through olive and orange groves of the rolling Andalusian
hills, and the barren landscapes of Don Quixote's La Mancha as we
wind our way north to Toledo. Spectacularly situated on a granite
hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River, the ancient Castilian
capital attracts more sightseers from all over the world than any
other Spanish town. Overnight Toledo. (CB, D)
Sunday - Toledo
/ Madrid: This morning our expert resident guide takes us to the Moorish
bridge, an early synagogue, the 13th-Century Gothic cathedral and
the church of Santo Tome with one of El Greco's most famous paintings.
There will be time to visit one of the enticing damascene steel workshops
before we continue on to Madrid for our overnight. (CB, D)
Monday - Madrid:
The capital since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city.
Today we visit the Royal Palace of the current King, Juan Carlos I
and Queen Sofia. We also visit the Prado Museum, with the most extensive
collection in the world of Goya, El Greco, and Velazquez. The afternoon
is at leisure. Overnight Madrid. (CB)
Tuesday - Madrid
(Avila & El Escorial): This morning we visit the fortress-walled
city of Avila, highest provincial capital and the most complete military
installation in Spain during the Middle Ages and the birthplace of
St. Teresa. The walls, more than a mile and a half in length, entirely
enclose the city. Later we'll visit the enormous monastery-palace
of El Escorial and the royal burial chamber of Spain's monarchs. Return
to Madrid in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own this evening.
Overnight Madrid. (CB)
Wednesday - Madrid
/ USA: Depart Madrid this morning and begin our return flights home.
CB
- Continental Breakfast
B - Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner
SD - Special Dinner
