Day
1- Depart USA
Overnight flight to Madrid.
Day 2 - Arrive Madrid
You are met at Madrid Airport
and transferred to your hotel. The
rest of your day is free perhaps to
visit one of the museums or take an
excursion to Segovia. Tonight, we
will enjoy a Welcome dinner
including tapas and drink with our
Tour Director and fellow travelling
companions. (Welcome Dinner)
Hotel: Orense
Day 3 - Madrid - Toledo - Cordoba
This morning we make our way to
the ancient capital of Castile,
Toledo. On arrival our walking tour
with a local guide and audio system
includes visits to the ancient
Synagogue, the Church of Santo Tomé,
a steel workshop and views of the
Cathedral. From here we continue to
Roman-founded Cordoba for dinner and
overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast /
Dinner) Hotel: Occidental
Day 4 - Cordoba - Granada
Highlights of our morning
sightseeing tour using our audio
system include the Mosque of the
Caliphs and medieval Synagogue. Then
we drive past the Sierra Nevada
Mountains to the grandeur of hilltop
Granada, Spain's most beautiful
Moorish-influenced city. This
evening, we will enjoy an included
dinner of local specialties whilst
being serenaded. (Buffet Breakfast /
Highlight Dinner)
Hotel: Gran Luna de Granada
Day 5 - Granada - Costa del Sol
(2 nights)
Morning sightseeing features a
visit to the exquisite Alhambra
Palace, former residence of Moorish
Kings using our audio system. From
here we will continue towards
Torremolinos, the most popular
Mediterranean resort on the Costa
del Sol for two relaxing nights.
This afternoon, perhaps take an
optional excursion to the pretty
hilltop village of Mijas, and later
why not enjoy a delicious fish
dinner in the oldest part of town?
(Buffet Breakfast) Hotel:
Melia Costa del Sol (2 nights)
Day 6 - Costa del Sol at leisure
After breakfast this morning you
can enjoy a full day to relax. You
may wish to lounge on the glorious
beaches, go on a shopping spree,
maybe to visit Malaga, the
birthplace of Pablo Picasso? At
cocktail hour, why not savour the
atmosphere of a 'tapas' bar? (Buffet
Breakfast)
Day 7 - Costa del Sol - Gibraltar
- Seville (2 nights)
After breakfast our day starts
with a drive along the Costa del Sol
past the millionaires' resort of
Marbella and on to La Linea. From
here we cross to the imposing Rock
of Gibraltar, with time for duty
free shopping. Next, our journey
takes us through the sherry wine
region of Jerez to Seville where we
spend the next two nights. Tonight,
why not enjoy a fiery Flamenco show
after our dinner of local Andalusian
specialities in a downtown
restaurant? (Buffet Breakfast /
Highlight Dinner) Hotel:
Occidental (2 nights)
Day 8 - Seville sightseeing & at
leisure
Today's morning sightseeing tour
with our local guide and audio
system is dominated by the Bell
Tower and weather vane of Giralda.
We will also see the pools and
fountains of Maria Luisa Park,
Christopher Columbus' tomb and the
Cathedral and enjoy a walking tour
of the Jewish quarter including the
Casa de Pilatos. Afterwards enjoy
some time on your own in this city
steeped in Moorish history and
culture. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 9 - Seville - Lisbon (2
nights)
Our journey today takes us via
the 'Jabugo' (ham centre) of Spain,
past mighty castles. Later, we enter
the Alentejo region of Portugal with
its many cork forests. We continue
from here to Lisbon, the capital,
for the next two nights. You may
wish to dine on local specialites
this evening. (Buffet Breakfast)
Hotel: Marriott (2 nights)
Day 10 - Lisbon sightseeing & at
leisure
After breakfast, we will see the
Monument to the Discoveries, the
beautiful suspension bridge across
the Tagus and admire views of the
Belem Tower on our guided morning
sightseeing tour including our audio
system. A highlight of our tour will
be a leisurely walk around the
quaint Alfama district. Later time
at leisure perhaps to shop for
pottery, cork and fisherman's
sweaters in the nearby fishing
villages of Cascais and Sintra.
Tonight why not enjoy a typical meal
in the old quarter watching
Portuguese folk dancing and
listening to heart-wrenching 'Fado'
melodies? (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 11 - Lisbon – Fatima –
Salamanca
We enjoy a morning scenic drive
via the magnificent Serra d'Aire
Mountains to visit the Shrine at
Fatima, scene of celebrated
religious miracles. From here we
drive across the border and back
into Spain to Salamanca for the
night. On our arrival an orientation
tour shows us the Plaza Mayor. We
dine at our hotel this evening.
(Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)
Hotel: Stil
Day 12 - Salamanca - Madrid (2
nights)
Our morning drive takes us
through the Sierra de Guadarrama
Mountains before we make our way
back to Madrid, Europe's highest
capital city. This afternoon you may
wish to take an excursion to the
monastery Palace of Philip ll at El
Escorial. Then time is your own to
perhaps try traditional paella or
roast suckling pig specialities for
dinner.Note: dining is late and
nightlife carries on till dawn.
(Buffet Breakfast) Hotel:
Agumar (2 nights)
Day 13 - Madrid sightseeing & at
leisure
Morning sightseeing using our
audio system includes a walking tour
of the oldest quarters of the city
as well as views of the Royal Palace
and the Cervantes Memorial followed
by a guided visit of the Prado
Museum with its fine paintings by
Velazquez and Goya among others. The
remainder of your day is at leisure
perhaps to shop for leather, lace or
porcelain – Lladro is half the price
of anywhere back home!. Tonight, why
not join your fellow travellers in a
farewell dinner? (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 14 - Madrid - USA
There's time to bid farewell to
new-found friends as we transfer you
to the airport for your return
flight to America. (Buffet
Breakfast)
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