highlights of barcelona & madrid -...

Educational Travel Experience Designed Especiallyfor Round Rock High School

Highlights of Barcelona & Madrid - 05846BJune 4 - June 12, 2014

ITINERARY OVERVIEW

DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM HOUSTONDAY 2 ARRIVE BARCELONA (2 NIGHTS)DAY 3 BARCELONA (GOTHIC TO GAUDI)DAY 4 HALF-DAY TRIP TO MONTSERRAT - OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO MADRID (1

NIGHT)DAY 5 ARRIVE MADRID (4 NIGHTS)DAY 6 MADRID (TREASURES OF THE BOURBON MONARCHS)DAY 7 DAY TRIP TO TOLEDODAY 8 DAY TRIP TO EL ESCORIAL & SEGOVIADAY 9 DEPARTURE FROM MADRID

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ITINERARY Spain is a vibrant country that combines the spirit of its various rulers over the centuries, from the Phoenicians and Romans, to the Moors and Christians. Its rich history is complimented by an expansive landscape of mountains, deserts, and glorious beaches. From the pounding rhythms of the flamenco and the unique experience of the bullfight, to the food that brings all people together, Spanish culture is defined by a deep passion for life that is contagious to all visitors.

Educational Tour/Visit Cultural Experience Concert Performance Transportation

Recreational Activity LEAP Enrichment Sporting Fixture

DAY 1 Wednesday, 04 June 2014

Relax and enjoy our scheduled flight from North America.

DAY 2 Thursday, 05 June 2014

Our 24-hour Tour Director will meet us at the airport and remain with us until our final airport departure.

Our private coach will be waiting to transfer us to our hotel in Barcelona.

For the next two evenings we will enjoy the convenience of our centrally-located Barcelona hotel, where daily breakfast will be included.

Barcelona is the heart and soul of Cataluña, and, with one of Spain’s largest ports, has grown through trade and tourism. The city is characterized by the work of Antonio Gaudí, whose unique worldview created some of Europe’s most distinctive architecture. This beautiful city charms visitors at every turn with its vibrant spirit.

In Barcelona, the cost of public transport is included for all group sightseeing. Escorted by our Tour Director, we will be able to experience the city in the same manner as the local people.

Walk to the Castell de Montjuïc. Along the way, we will pass the famous statue of La Sardana, featured on many postcards of the city, depicting the traditional Catalan dance. At the castle, we will wander along the Terraces and high points of the star-shaped fortress-castle, as well as the walkways that surround it, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the Barcelona skyline and the Mediterranean.

Explore Poble Espanyol. This re-created Spanish village was built for the 1929 World’s Fair, and features various regional architectural styles from the Levante to Galicia. A total of 115 life- size reproductions of buildings and monuments are combined with numerous outdoor cafés and shops, which sell crafts and souvenir items from all of the provinces. There are also many artists at work printing fabric, weaving, and blowing glass.

We will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant in Las Ramblas area, Barcelona’s most colorful and interesting street. This pedestrian mall extends almost a full mile, and is lined with shops, cafés, and markets.

DAY 3 Friday, 06 June 2014

During the course of our tour we will gain from the knowledge and insight of six half-day local guides while we are here in Spain.

Experience the cathedral of La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s incomplete masterpiece and one of the more distinctive creations of Spain.

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DAY 3 Friday, 06 June 2014

Spend time in Parc Güell, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, 'Works of Antoni Gaudi'. Designed primarily by Gaudí, particularly interesting areas of the park include a mosaic pagoda, a lizard fountain spitting water, an undulating bench decorated with ceramic fragments, and an array of unique Doric columns, which are hollow and serve as part of Gaudí's drainage system.

Explore the narrow streets and squares of the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). This is the city’s oldest quarter, parts of which have survived from the Middle Ages. A few highlights of the walk will include the Plaça del Pi, the Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, and the magnificent Plaça Sant Jaume.

Visit Barcelona Cathedral, a celebrated example of Catalonian Gothic architecture. The three naves, cleaned and illuminated, have splendid Gothic details, and the large bell towers perfectly blend medieval and Renaissance styles. The beautiful cloister, high altar, side chapels, sculptured choir, and Gothic arches highlight one of the most impressive cathedrals in Spain.

We will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant.

Watch the evening Sound and Light Show at Font Màgica. Music ranging from pop to classical belts out from loudspeakers, and different colored lights are beamed from inside the fountain itself. The streams of water “dance” to the mixture of light and sound. (Shows run from May to early October, Thursday through Sunday at 9:30pm, 10pm, 10:30pm, 11pm, and 11:30pm. The rest of the year, they are held on Friday and Saturday at 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, and 8:30pm.)

Spirit of Spain Immerse yourself in the art that defines the passion of historic Spain. Explore the meaning and compare the techniques of artists like Joan Miro, Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Enrich your knowledge of art history as you debate how these and other artists defined cultural divisions through Spanish history.

DAY 4 Saturday, 07 June 2014

Today we will have a private coach and driver to accompany us for our half-day excursion outside the city.

Explore the Catalan region’s holiest place, Monestir de Montserrat, a mountain monastery surrounded by chapels and hermits’ caves. Our visit begins in the Basilica, highlighted by La Moreneta (The Black Virgin), a statue from the 12th or 13th century. We may also have the opportunity to hear the monastery’s 50-member Escolania, one of the oldest and most renowned boys’ choirs in Europe. (The choir normally performs daily at 1 pm)

Tour the Museu Picasso. Pablo Picasso donated nearly 2,500 of his paintings, engravings, and drawings to the museum in 1970. Picasso was particularly fond of Barcelona, the city where he spent much of his formative youth, and many of the works in the collection show the artist’s debt to van Gogh, El Greco, Rembrandt, and Velázquez.

We will enjoy our evening meal together in a local restaurant.

We will board a private coach for our transfer to the train station.

We will board an overnight train from Barcelona to Madrid.

DAY 5 Sunday, 08 June 2014

We will board a private coach for our transfer to the hotel.

This morning our Tour Manager/Guide will assist us with arrangements for breakfast (included).

Our centrally-located Madrid hotel will be our home for the next four nights. We will have breakfast at the hotel daily.

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DAY 5 Sunday, 08 June 2014

Spain’'s capital city of Madrid lies at the heart of the country. Despite its modern and cosmopolitan culture, the city has preserved its traditional architecture and charm. This is a city of great monuments and great art, all against the backdrop of a rich culture and an exciting nightlife.

In Madrid, the cost of public transport is included for all group sightseeing. Escorted by our Tour Director, we will be able to experience the city in the same manner as the local people.

Walk through the Plaza de España. In the center of the square we will see the monument to Cervantes, which depicts characters from his most famous work, Don Quixote. We will also see a monument to Columbus.

Visit the Palacio Real, a huge palace begun in 1738 on the site of the Madrid Alcázar, which burned to the ground in 1734. Our tour will take us through some of the palace’s 2,000 rooms that the “enlightened despot” Charles III called home. Although the palace is no longer home to the royal family, it is still full of art treasures and antiques, including Tiepolo ceilings and paintings by Goya. Highlights of our visit include the Reception Room and State Apartments; the Throne Room; the Banquet Room, where receptions for heads of state are still held; and the Royal Chapel.

Spend time in the Plaza Mayor, Madrid'’s most famous square. Throughout its long history the square has hosted markets, bullfights, soccer games, public executions, and the Spanish Inquisition. It is now ringed by shops and cafés, and often filled with artists and musicians.

Explore the Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’'s busiest and most historic squares. While here we will view the Kilometre Zero marker, from which all distances in Spain are measured, and Madrid’s symbol, the Madrono.

Stroll down the Gran Via, Madrid’'s lively signature boulevard featuring magnificent shopping and cafés.

This evening, dinner will be provided in a local restaurant.

DAY 6 Monday, 09 June 2014

Explore the Prado, one of the world’s finest art museums. Inside is a collection of European art from the 12th to 19th centuries based on the Spanish Royal Collection. Our specialist-guided tour will focus on the Spanish masters, such as Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco; and we will also see works by Raphael, van der Weyden, Bosch, Rubens, Titian, and Caravaggio.

Walk by the Puerta de Alcalá, the ceremonial gateway to Madrid commissioned by Carlos III. The Neo-classical structure is located in the Plaza de Independencia and is named for the old path leading from Madrid to nearby Alcalá de Henares.

Pass by the Plaza de Cibeles, featuring a magnificent 18th century fountain with a statue of the Roman goddess Cybele riding in a chariot pulled by two lions.

Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in the Parque del Retiro, once the grounds of Felipe IV’s royal palace complex. Our visit gives us the opportunity to interact with the locals, and perhaps visit the vendors or listen to the musicians that always seem to be present. Hire Row Boats, if we choose, and paddle around the park’s shallow lake. (Please note that only participants aged 14 and above are permitted to use the rowboats)

Explore the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which houses the greatest repository of 20th century art in Spain. The museum places special emphasis on the great artists of 20th century Spain: Juan Gris, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. A highlight of our visit will be Picasso’s masterpiece, Guernica, which immortalizes the tragic blanket bombing of the Basque town by the German Luftwaffe fighting for Franco during the Spanish Civil War.


El Caudillo'’s Conquest Explore the arguments and tensions that eventually led to one of the most complex and difficult of wars; the Spanish Civil War.

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DAY 7 Tuesday, 10 June 2014

A private coach and driver will accompany us today on our trip outside the city.

The historic city of Toledo, capital of La Mancha, is a cultural fusion of Christian, Arab, and Jewish traditions from the Middle Ages. With numerous churches, museums, mosques, synagogues, and artistic treasures, the city has definitely earned its World Heritage Site designation.

Enjoy a Walking Tour of central Toledo, with streets barely wide enough for a man and his donkey. During our walk, there will be the opportunity to visit spectacular shops that produce and sell Damascene gold jewelry, as well as medieval swords. There will also be some time to relax in the Plaza de Zocodover, a bustling triangular square in the heart of Toledo.

Make a brief visit to the Iglesia de Santo Tomé, where we will view El Greco’s masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.

Visit the Sinagoga del Transito. Toledo is the capital of Sephardic Judaism, and its importance is expressed in the elaborate Mudéjar architecture of the synagogue. Our visit includes the adjoining Museo Sefardi, with fascinating exhibits featuring tombstones, costumes, and sacred objects.

Walk to Toledo Cathedral, considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in Spain. The cathedral actually reflects several architectural styles, and features many art treasures, including: the Transparente, a Last Supper in alabaster, El Greco’s Twelve Apostles and Spoliation of Christ, Goya’s Arrest of Christ on the Mount of Olives, and works by Juan de Borgona. The Treasure Room features a 500-pound, 15th-century gilded monstrance, allegedly made with gold brought back from the New World by Columbus, which is still carried through the streets of Toledo during the feast of Corpus Christi.


DAY 8 Wednesday, 11 June 2014

A private coach and driver will accompany us today on our trip outside the city.

Journey to El Escorial, a massive monastery-palace commissioned by Philip II. During our visit, we will explore the Royal Apartments, many decorated with fine tapestries; the Pantheon of the Kings, which contains the mortal remains of all the Spanish monarchs from the time of Emperor Charles V; the Art Gallery, featuring works by Bosch, Titian, and El Greco; the Basilica; and the spectacular Library, with over 40,000 original books from the time of Philip II and a ceiling by Tibaldi.

Segovia is a beautiful and romantic city that has inspired the work of artists and architects over the centuries. Roman, medieval, and Renaissance influences can be seen throughout the city, and its relaxed way of life makes it difficult to leave.

Enjoy a Walking Tour through Segovia’s beautiful city center. The highlight of our walk is the impressive Roman Aqueduct, an architectural marvel built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago.

See Segovia Cathedral, the last Gothic church built in Spain. It stands on the Plaza Mayor at the spot where Isabella I was proclaimed queen of Castile, and is often referred to as la dama de las catedrales.

Discover the fairytale Alcázar de Segovia, a castle dating from the 12th century. Royal romance is associated with the Alcázar; it was here that Isabella first met Ferdinand, and Philip II married his fourth wife, Anne of Austria. Our visit is highlighted by the replicas of Isabella’s and Ferdinand’s thrones, the battlements of the once-impregnable castle, and the tower, originally built by Isabella's father as a prison. Those who choose may ascend the tower for breathtaking views over the city and surrounding countryside.


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DAY 9 Thursday, 12 June 2014

Our rewarding and enjoyable tour comes to an end as our Tour Director accompanies us to the airport on our final day.

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What is Included:• Round trip airfare with a major carrier on scheduled flights and guaranteed dates

• All airport taxes and fuel surcharges (which will not change after time of enrolment for any participant)

• Accommodation in three and four star hotels in twin or triple rooms with private facilities guaranteed throughout

• A filling breakfast everyday to get the day started well throughout your touring program

• A hearty three course dinner daily reflecting local cuisine on every evening (usually in local restaurants in capital cities)

• A full-time WorldStrides International Discovery programs Tour Director, familiar with our LEAP Educational Program, to accompany your group 24 hours a day from arrival to departure

• The expertise and perspective of local guides during your tour

• All excursions, cultural activities and (several pre-booked) admissions as per your itinerary

• Transportation by private coach for airport transfers and touring, except in the capital city, where public transport is used (and the cost included) for group sightseeing

• Basic health insurance while on tour (including medical treatment on tour up to $7,500) and $50,000 of coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation

This Does Not Include:• Lunches or beverages with meals

• Visas (if required)

• Tips and gratuities for the guide and driver (or cruise staff if applicable)

• Any fees that might be imposed by the airlines at the airport for checked baggage

• Twin Room supplement at a rate of $50 per night (mandatory for anyone 24 or above)

• Cancellation Protection Plus, which provides for cancellation for reasons not normally covered by insurance, at a rate of $25 a day. Please note the rate will be reduced to $20 a day if all the participants on the program choose to take this valuable assurance.

TOTAL PER PERSON TOUR COSTS BASED ON NUMBER OF FULL-PAYING PARTICIPANTS

(Subject to final airfare confirmation)Round Rock High School Full Paying

ParticipantsPrice IN USD

20 3,87616 3,97014 4,070

This proposal is valid until Sunday, 05 January 2014 and this tour cannot be operated in its present format with fewer than 10 participants.

Tour Prices Guaranteed at Time of Enrollment!

Our Price Guarantee: Once you have accepted this proposal, the dates have been confirmed and the Worldstrides International DiscoveryPromotional Packs has been made available for your group’s tour, the prices shown for the various group size levels will not change, regardless of any subsequent movements in airline fuel and taxes or currency fluctuations, for anyone enrolling before January 1, 2014 (or 150 days before departure, whichever comes first).

highlights of barcelona & madrid -...

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