Educational

Tours

EXPERIENCE SPAIN
10 days | Summer 2016

EXPERIENCE SPAIN
INCLUDED ON TOUR

Round-trip flights on major carriers; Full-time Tour Director;

Air-conditioned motorcoaches and local transportation for
included activities; Superior tourist-class hotels with private
bathrooms; Select meals with a mix of local cuisine; Connect
to your travel experiences with weShare, our project-based
online educational tool.
Guided Sightseeings: Madrid; Toledo; Granada; Seville
Entrances: San Miguel Market Visit; Royal Palace, Madrid; Madrid
Cooking Lesson; Santo Tome & Synagogue, Toledo; Cathedral,
Toledo; Alhambra, Granada; Granada City Challenge; Teteria,
Granada; Olive Oil Farm; Salsa Lessons, Seville; Cathedral, Seville;
Alcazar, Seville; Bullring, Seville; Flamenco Show, Seville; Cueva
de Nerja (Nerja Cave); St. Michael's Cave
Overnight Stays:
Madrid (2)
Granada (2)
Seville (2)
Costa del Sol (2)

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Optional excursions; Insurance coverage; Beverages and lunches;
Transportation to free-time activities; Customary gratuities (for your Tour
Director, bus driver and local guide); Porterage; Adult supplement (if
applicable); Weekend supplement; Shore excursions on cruises; Any
applicable baggage-handing fee imposed by the airlines (see
eftours.com/baggage for details); Expenses caused by airline rescheduling,
cancellations or delays caused by the airlines, bad weather or events
beyond EFs control; Passports, visa and reciprocity fees

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YOUR ITINERARY
Day 1: Fly to Spain
Board your overnight flight to Madrid!
Day 2: Madrid
Arrive in Madrid
At 2,100 feet, this is Europe's highest capital, a Mecca for art-lovers,
the world-stage for bullfighting and home to the world's most famous
soccer team! The city was elevated to capital status in 1561 at the
instigation of Phillip II, and the lavishly opulent Palacio Real, built in
1738, is now an uninhabited but fascinating monument to Spain's
much-revered monarchy.
Walking Tour of Madrid (time permitting)
Meet at the Puerta del Sol for your walking tour of Madrid. Here
Madrileos once battled Napoleon. Then, walk through one of the
nine arched gateways leading to the Plaza Mayor, the Renaissance
hub of the city. This square has witnessed events ranging from
bullfights to public festivals as well as the infamous autos de fe
(procession of those condemned as heretics during the Spanish
Inquisition). See the restaurant immortalized by Hemingway in The
Sun Also Rises.
Day 3: Madrid
Mercado San Miguel Challenge
Madrid's Mercado San Miguel is a historic and monumental site, and
stands today as the only surviving market built in iron. Located in the
heart of Old Madrid, el Mercado San Miguel boasts high quality, fresh,
seasonal produce that makes it a genuine gastronomical center. This
morning, in groups of four or five, you'll be handed a few euros and a
list of traditional Spanish items. Your challenge is to barter and haggle
your way through the market, stretching your money as far as you can
to ensure you'll have enough for your whole list. Of course, you'll be
able to keep the food that you buy to eat during a picnic lunch in one
of Madrid's largest parks, el Parque del Buen Retiro.
Guided Sightseeing of Madrid
Your local guide introduces you to the sights of Madrid on a
panoramic tour of the city. Continue with a visit to the extravagant
Palacio Real (Royal Palace), built by Bourbon King Philip V. Once the
seat of the most powerful court in the world, it was here that Spain
officially joined the European Community in 1986. The palace boasts
more than 2,000 extravagant rooms, including one encased in
porcelain. Marvel at the splendor of the marble staircase, the golden
Throne Room, and the incredible collection of priceless frescoes and
chandeliers.
Madrid Cooking Lesson
Learn the art of Spanish cooking this afternoon when you participate
in a cooking lesson with a local chef. The chef will talk to you about
traditional foods, spices and even cooking techniques during this
interactive class. Of course, you will get a chance to do some cooking
of your own and even eat your culinary masterpieces!
Day 4: Toledo | Granada
Transfer to Granada via Toledo
Embark on a journey to the former Spanish capital of Toledo, where
Muslims, Jews, and Christians once peacefully coexisted. Notice the
influence of all three cultures as you tour the 12th-century St. Mary's
Synagogue. Designed to be a mosque, but then used as a
synagogue, it was finally converted into a church. You'll also visit the
cathedral that dominates Toledo's skyline before continuing to the
Church of Santo Tom. Here you'll view El Entierro del Conde de
Orgaz (The Burial of Count Orgaz), one of El Greco's supreme
achievements. Then, make a final stop at a local damascene
workshop. Damascene is an intricate Muslim craft originated in
Damascus and made famous in Toledo.

See the Don Quijote Windmills

Before continuing to Granada, stop in the small town of Consuegra,
where you will view the Windmills of La Mancha.
Arrive in Granada
Journey to Granada, which was once the capital of Moorish
Andalucia. It is now an architectural masterpiece and thriving
university city. Strategically located between the foothills of the
imposing, snowy-peaked Sierra Nevada and the beautiful
Mediterranean coast, Granada boasts an eclectic cuisine of sweet
Moorish desserts. It also boasts one of Europe's most romantic
buildings, the exquisite Arabian palace of the Alhambra.
Day 5: Granada
Guided Sightseeing of Granada
Recall both The Arabian Nights and the works of Washington Irving as
you tour Spain's most celebrated building: Granada's 14th-century
Alhambra. See the exotic mosaics and richly ornamented courtyards
of the country's last Moorish stronghold. Here Christopher Columbus
discussed with the king his plans for sailing to India. Then walk in the
footsteps of sultans as you tour the Generalife- a 14th-century palace
surrounded by magnificent rose gardens- where they often spent their
summers. (Please note: Because of the Alhambra's extreme
popularity, guided visits of the interior cannot be guaranteed during
peak seasons.)
Granada City Challenge
After visiting the Alhambra, your local guide will lead you on a
scavenger hunt throughout the city. Using maps, photographs and a
list of challenges, you will scour the city for some of Granada's hidden
treasures.
Visit a Teteria
Take part in one of Granada's most honored traditions. Due to its
strong Moorish influence, tea drinking is an extremely popular form of
relaxation and socialization for the people of Granada. Today,
experience an authentic tea house in the heart of the city.

Day 6: Seville
Transfer to Seville via an Olive Oil Farm
Learn more about the history and production of olive oil during a stop
today at a local olive oil farm. Begin with a walking tour through the
orchard where you will learn about the harvesting, and then watch an
instructional video that explores the process of making olive oil. Lastly,
you will have a chance to taste a variety of oils and purchase some
authentic olive oil made on site.
Arrive in Seville
Arrive in Seville-capital of Andalusia, birthplace of Velzquez, and host
of the 1992 World's Fair. If you're lucky enough to arrive in spring,
Seville will greet you with the sweet fragrance of orange blossoms.
Flamenco Evening and Dinner
The name itself evokes the emotions and traditions of Spain.
Flamenco is a unique art form combining guitar playing, singing,
chanting, dancing, heelwork and handclapping. (Keep in mind that the
guitar is a Spanish invention, dating back to the 1500's.) There are
two main types of song: one lively and cheerful (cante chico) and the
other sad and haunting (cante jondo). (A beverage and dinner are
included.)

Day 7: Seville
Guided Sightseeing of Seville
Hispalis, as Seville was called in Roman times, rests on the banks of
the Ro Guadalquivir and is Spain's only river port. See the Old
Tobacco Factory, setting of Bizet's opera, Carmen, and pass the
Plaza de Toros, one of Spain's preeminent bullrings. Then, visit Maria
Louisa Park to view the beautiful mosaics of Plaza de Espaa, built for
the 1929 Ibero-American Fair. Next, walk through the
geranium-strewn alleys of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, an aesthetic treat
you'll always remember. As you wind your way through this historic
Jewish Quarter, notice the whitewashed houses with sand-colored
trim-this is typical of Sevillian-style architecture. Top off your tour with
a guided visit to the Seville Cathedral, the world's third largest church,
and the Moorish Alczar. Built for Pedro the Cruel in the 14th century,
the Alczar is one of the purest examples of mudjar architecture in
the world. When the Moorish Alczar is closed (Mondays), groups will
visit the Casa de Pilatos.
Visit the Bull Ring
Enter one of the most celebrated bullrings in Spain. The Plaza de
Toros de Maestranza took almost one hundred years to build, and
countless spectators have witnessed bullfights within its walls since
the middle of the 18th century. The golden sand of the ruedo, (the
main space where the matador faces the bull), is surrounded by the
traditional red walls and rising rows of hard stone benches. Enter the
ring, and it's easy to imagine yourself in the shoes of a world-class
matador, performing in front of a crowd of 10,000 cheering
spectators all anxiously awaiting your confrontation with the charging
bull!
Participate in Salsa Lessons
Originating in Cuba as the meeting point between European and
African cultures, salsa dancing today is popular in North America and
Spain alike. A professional instructor will show you a few basic steps
before you try it out for yourself.
Day 8: Costa del Sol
Transfer to the Costa del Sol via Nerja
Visit the Nerja Caves. This natural wonder took over 5 million years to
form.
Arrive in the Costa del Sol
Travel through the whitewashed villages and olive groves of the
stunning Andalucian sierras, to the cosmopolitan Costa del Sol. This
blue-skied coast is a treasure trove of small coved fishing villages and
family holiday resorts popular with seafood lovers, water sports
enthusiasts and beach-goers alike.

Paella Night
Students will enjoy a traditional Spanish dish, Paella, which originated
in Valencia and is considered one of the region's identifying symbols.
Much controversy exists over both the etymology and ingredients of
paella. While some claim that it comes from the Spanish for her or
para ella, others maintain that it derives from the Arabic leftovers or
baqiyah, but the most commonly accepted etymology awards the
origin to the Old French pan or paelle. Although seafood is now a
common ingredient in many versions of paella, Valencianos often
insist that no other meat than chicken, rabbit, snails, or duck be
added to the dish. Be sure to ask your servers and chefs where they
stand on these issues!
Day 9: Costa del Sol
Guided Excursion to Gibraltar
Enjoy an excursion to the colony of Gibraltar. Under British rule since
the War of the Spanish Succession, Gibraltar is best known for its
limestone mountain, the Rock of Gibraltar. El Pen in Spanish, the
rock is believed to be one of the legendary Pillars of Hercules. The
excursion includes a visit to St. Michael's Cave. Be on the lookout for
the tailless Barbary apes that have long inhabited Gibraltar.
Free Time in Costa del Sol
Soak up international culture on the relaxing sandy beaches of the
Mediterranean.
Day 10: Depart for Home
Transfer to the Airport for Your Return Flight
Your tour director assists with your transfer to the airport, where you'll
check in for your return flight home.
Itinerary is subject to change
For complete financial and registration details, please refer to the
Booking Conditions at www.eftours.com/bc.

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ENROLL TODAY

As a parent I am very grateful that I was

able to give this opportunity to my child. It
was worth every penny to see her smiling
face in the pictures on the trip. Encourage
your child to embrace the moment; be
open to new cultures, foods, and just a
new way of life and looking at things.
KATHLEEN, DAUGHTER TRAVELED APRIL 2013

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