YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®
Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas
2021
Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13) Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled 1 Dear Traveler,
At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. And the O.A.T. Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas itinerary you’ve expressed interest in will be a wonderful way to resume the discoveries that bring us so much joy. You might soon be enjoying standout moments like these:
I love to delve into the culinary traditions of each destination I explore. With Spain being the world’s largest producer of olive oil, I had to get an in-depth look into this process. I visited a small, family-owned olive oil mill in the countryside outside of Úbeda, where I met the mill owners and was shown the intricacies of this time-honored tradition. You’ll also get an intimate view into the inner workings of this mill during your A Day in the Life experience. Alongside the owners, you’ll tour the groves and the factory before enjoying a fresh, farm-prepared meal.
You’ll also have an opportunity to see a darker side of Portugal when we delve into the country’s colonial past and modern-day racism with a local resident. You’ll learn about the Portuguese involvement in the slave trade and how racism impacts the country’s community of Afro-Portuguese immigrants.
The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of it. So we keep our groups small, with only 8-16 travelers (average 13) to ensure that your encounters with local people are as intimate and authentic as possible. It’s also why your O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader will be a resident “insider” who can show you the culture as only a local can.
To ensure that your adventure is truly unique, put your own personal stamp on it. You can arrive early and stay later, add a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or combine two or more trips. Plus, your itinerary offers ample free time so you can pursue your own interests.
So until the day comes when you are off to enjoy your Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas adventure, I hope you will relish the fun and anticipation that this O.A.T. Adventure Travel Planning Guide® will inspire. Should you have further questions, feel free to call our Regional Adventure Counselors at 1-800-955-1925.
Love and peace,
Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman, Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. For more inspiration, you can watch videos and slideshows from travelers like you at www.oattravel. com/traveler-moments. You can also share some of your own favorite moments by uploading your travel videos and slideshows directly onto the trip-specific pages of our website.
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2 CONTENTS
A Letter from Harriet Lewis ...... 2 The O.A.T. Difference...... 4 The Grand Circle Foundation...... 6 The Leader in Solo Travel ...... 7
BACK ROADS OF IBERIA: ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: SPANISH PARADORES & CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE PORTUGUESE POUSADAS Spanish Culture ...... 64 Your Adventure at a Glance: Portuguese Culture ...... 66 Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Spanish Cuisine ...... and What’s Included ...... 8 70 Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary ...... 9 Portuguese Cuisine ...... 71 Optional Tours ...... 30 Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More ...... 72 Pre-Trip Extension ...... 31 Post-Trip Extension ...... 36 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY Dates & Prices ...... 43 Spain...... 74 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 74 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Spain: A Brief History ...... 75 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 44 Portugal ...... 76 No Visas Required ...... 44 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 76 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health ...... 46 Portugal: A Brief History ...... 77 Vaccines Required ...... 47 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines...... 49 RESOURCES Suggested Reading ...... 79 Tipping Guidelines...... 51 Suggested Film & Video ...... Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch ..... 52 80 Optional Tours ...... 52 Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 53 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 55 Suggested Packing Lists ...... 56 Electricity Abroad ...... 59 Climate & Average Temperatures ...... 61
O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures...... 83 Notes...... 84 Map ...... 87
3 EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE in Portugal & Spain
This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized small group journeys on the road less traveled. SMALL GROUPS: 8-16 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION (AVERAGE OF 13)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using exceed 16 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab. bonds with your travel mates. Personal service from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character, experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and Leader is a resident of the region you are visiting, hospitality. so you will get a true insider’s perspective that brings each place alive—the stories, food, OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES customs, hidden treasures and more. With 36 regional offices around the world, we are perfectly poised to leverage our local AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS relationships to deliver an excellent experience Engage with local people through visits to and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ by our team in Lisbon. studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals; and more.
Learn how to make traditional cheese specialties in Explore centuries-old sites in Évora, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
4 THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY En riching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation of your Back Roads of Iberia adventure.
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) A DAY IN THE LIFE VISIT Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like GCF was established in 1992 to help change to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s people’s lives in the world where we live, find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or exclusive, immersive experience that places you donated $200 million worldwide. in the heart of a community where you’ll meet various people where they live, work, and play; By investing in the places we explore— visit the neighborhood school; lend a hand with including local schools, cooperatives, or arts daily chores; and break bread with our hosts. centers—we hope to give locals the skills and confidence they need to become leaders of This adventure includes A Day in the Life their generation and preserve their heritage Experience in the village of Begijar, nestled in for many years to come. We’re proud to play the countryside near Úbeda, where we’ll visit a part in preserving precious locales like the a family-owned olive oil mill. Olive oil is the Bryggen waterfront district of Bergen, a living dominant industry in this region of Spain; the example of the glory days of the Hanseatic nation produces more olive oil than any other League, and supporting villages like Harmi in country in the world. We’ll have the unique Estonia, whose once-struggling school is now opportunity to meet with the owners, tour a center of community life. the grove and factory, and enjoy a traditional lunch together. CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS Every culture has its joys and achievements, HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES and we celebrate them all. But every place Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds also has its challenges, and to gloss over them engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the would not do justice to those whose stories things that can happen across a kitchen table, need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local deserves more than a sugar-coated version of family in their home for a snack or a meal. things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will This is a rare opportunity to witness family lead frank discussions on controversial issues, life, learn local customs, and taste some and introduce you to people whose stories will home-cooked fare. expand your understanding. On this adventure, we’ll enjoy a Home-Hosted For example, we’ll have a conversation on the Dinner with a local family in the ancient Portuguese involvement in the slave trade, hillside town of Évora during which we’ll modern-day racism in Portugal, and its enjoy some authentic Portuguese food and impact on the country’s community of Afro- hospitality. Take this chance to truly get to Portuguese immigrants with a local who has know the locals and their culture as we are been directly affected. welcomed into their home to get an authentic sense of daily life.
5 GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time
ON THIS ADVENTURE … Dear Traveler, Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family than $200 million to projects around the Foundation, as a means to give back to world. Here are just a few of the ways we have the world that had already given us so partnered with the communities on this trip.. much. We’ve pledged or donated more Clair Sisters of Carmona than $200 million worldwide to support Total Donations: $2,380 the education of young people and the The monastery plays a very important role in a small preservation of international treasures city outside Sevilla. For centuries, the nuns who run and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. this small convent has helped support their community Of course, none of this would be possible through charitable work. While there are only 11 nuns without your help. A portion of the today, they still offer their community a place of refuge, proceeds of every adventure is donated to shelter, spiritual advice and food. Due to the increase in homelessness in the area, the monastery is establish- Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your ing a 50 bed shelter, and the Foundation was happy life will be enriched by the discoveries to support the purchase of 10 beds to start. With the you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also onset of COVID-19 however, the sisters quickly changed help to enrich the lives of the people course and started sewing masks to be distributed. you’ll meet along the way. Thank you for traveling with us, and for helping to Maragato Crafts Center change people’s lives. Total Donations: $2,380 This crafts center supports the continuation of tradi- Love and peace, tional art forms of historical region of la Maragateria, such as textile arts and hand-worked, wooden musical instruments. The Foundation's initial donation funded Harriet R. Lewis Chair, scholarships to help students continue their studies in Grand Circle Foundation order to keep these traditional skills from dying out.
P r o y e c t o I l l u s i o n Total Donations: $4,090 Proyecto Ilusión is an association for the physically, mentally, and sensory disabled. In 2002, a group of families had a shared problem: attending to the needs of a disabled family member. They joined social, psychological, and economic forces to con- front their family members’ needs. GCF funded the renovation of the therapy rooms and the purchase of a projector and monitor.
www.grandcirclefoundation.org
6 THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL in Portugal & Spain—and Around the World
ON THIS ADVENTURE … FREE Single Supplements: We don’t charge The leader in solo-friendly a single supplement on this adventure travel for Americans— and optional trip extensions—a savings of by the numbers $781-$1495 per person compared to other travel companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so early reservations are advised. More than 50,000 solo travelers joined us in 2018 and 2019—on their One of our most popular trips for solo own or with a friend or relative travelers. More than 930 solo travelers joined us on this adventure in the past two years—either independently or sharing 20,000 single spaces with a a room with a mother, daughter, sister, FREE or low-cost Single Supplement or friend. in 2021—a 25% increase from 2019 High ratings: More than 86% of these solo travelers rated their adventure excellent. More than 90% of solo women On average, half of your group will also travelers rated their adventure be traveling independently, so it’s easy excellent to forge special bonds as you experience unforgettable moments together. 38 exclusive women’s departures You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your featured on 23 of our most popular dedicated local Trip Experience Leader adventures—8 of which are single- (a resident of Portugal or Spain), and only departures the expertise of our regional office team in Lisbon.
Increased Single Space: In 2021, we have 42% more single spaces than in 2019, with up to 8 single spaces per departure. See available FREE single space at www.oattravel.com/wps2021.
Exclusive Women’s Departures: We are thrilled to offer 1 women-only departure of Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas: September 8, 2021. Space is limited so don’t delay. Join our traveling sisterhood today! Solo doesn’t mean “alone.” Three out of eight O.A.T. travelers join our small groups as solos, so you will be in good company.
7 Lower prices than last year—a value of $800 per couple
Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas Small Group Adventure Portugal̆dĢŭðŋł̇2ƑŋũÖ̳Ά̳Spain: Carmona, Ronda, Úbeda, Madrid
Countries: 2 Ά!ĢŶĢāŭ̆6
Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included (average of 13) • International airfare, airport transfers, • 19 small group activities government taxes, fees, and airline fuel $ Explore in a small group of 8-16 16 days from surcharges unless you choose to make • 3795 travelers (average group size of 13) Includes international airfare your own air arrangements Services of a local O.A.T. Trip All land transportation • Travel from only $238 a day • Experience Leader Accommodations for 14 nights • • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, 15 days from $2895 • 28 meals—14 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and luggage porters and 8 dinners (including 1 Home- Without international airfare 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward Hosted Dinner) • your next O.A.T. trip—an average of $324 FREE Single Supplement
Maximize Your To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure, Discoveries & Value watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/wps2021
Optional extensions : Portugal: Porto 5 nights pre-trip from $1695 Travel from only $339 per night Spain: Bilbao, Santander, Oviedo 7 nights post-trip from $2695 Travel from only $385 per night
The Puente Nuevo Bridge, Ronda, Spain
Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas
8 Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas
YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION 5 nights in Northern Portugal: Porto & the Douro Valley
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 5 Porto • Optional Minho region tour Day 2 Arrive in Porto Day 6 Explore Gaia • Gaia wine-tasting Day 3 Explore Porto Day 7 Transfer to Lisbon Day 4 Explore Douro River region • Visit wine farm
Day 1 Depart U.S. Lunch: On your own upon arrival at the hotel—your Trip Experience Leader can provide Fly from the U.S. to Lisbon, Portugal. you a recommendation or you can enjoy a meal at the hotel restaurant. You may choose Day 2 Arrive in Lisbon, Portugal to set off to find a local restaurant that serves • Destination: Lisbon regional specialties, such as seafood.
• Accommodations: Hotel Marquês de Pombal Afternoon: Around 5:30pm, we’ll gather Morning: You’ll arrive in Lisbon this morning with our Trip Experience Leader and fellow to begin your Portugal and Spain travel travelers for a Welcome Briefing and drink. experience. An O.A.T. representative greets you Your Trip Experience Leader will lead this at the airport and assists with the transfer to briefing outlining expectations for our time your hotel. together and answering any questions you may have. Then, around 6pm, we’ll embark on an Around 2pm, we’ll check in to our hotel, orientation walk for about half an hour around where you’ll be joined by travelers who took the hotel and surrounding area, including a our Northern Portugal: Porto & the Douro Valley stop at a local bar for an opportunity to meet pre-trip extension. Depending on which some of the locals. This gives us a chance to get hotel we’ll stay at, it may feature a bar and a acclimated and acquainted with Lisbon. restaurant with panoramic views of the historic city center. The air-conditioned rooms typically have wireless Internet, telephone, satellite TV, minibar, safe, and a private bath.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
9 Dinner: On your own. You can sample you may want to enjoy petiscos (Portuguese local specialties ranging from seafood tapas) at one of the many seaside restaurants and grilled chicken, to hearty stews. Ask before cruising back to the heart of Lisbon. your Trip Experience Leader for specific • How to get there: A 20-minute subway recommendations. ride; about $1.75 USD. Evening: Relax at a nearby café and linger over • Hours: 5am-2am, daily. a glass of port or local wine. • Cost: About $3.50 USD per person. • Discover the myriad cultural treasures at LX Freedom To Explore: During your three days Factory: Explore this renovated industrial in Lisbon, you have the freedom to explore complex that has been transformed into a this storied European city on your own during creative hub of restaurants, libraries, work- your free time. Below are a few recommended shops, and more. You may want to discuss the options for independent explorations: works of the artist and part-owner of Atelier • Enjoy a filigree demonstration: Watch as 123 or check out Ler Devagar (Read Slowly), a local artisan demonstrates the process of a trendy bookshop and gathering spot for crafting a piece of filigree jewelry, or jewelry artistic expression that has been named that has very precise and detailed metalwork, one of the “10 most beautiful bookstores in from delicately woven strands of metal during the world.” a visit to a local workshop. This intricate style • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi of jewelry was once worn to denote financial ride, about $6 USD one way. status and has traditionally been passed down • Hours: 11am-9pm, Monday; 11am-11pm, through families to younger generations. You Tuesday-Thursday; 11am-1am, Friday; may choose to shop for souvenirs here as well. 11am-9pm, Sunday. • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi • Cost: Free. ride, about $6 USD one way. Controversial • Hours: 10am-7pm, daily. Day 3 Explore Lisbon • Topic: • Cost: Free. Racism and Portugal’s colonial past with Ana Martins • Take a ride on a cacilheiro (ferry): Admire Lisbon from a different vantage point when • Destination: Lisbon you cruise the Tagus River aboard one of the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner city’s bright orange ferries. As you cross, • Accommodations: Hotel Marquês de Pombal you’ll witness Lisbon’s various monuments, Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries and you might even spot the Atlantic in the include a conversation about the Controversial distance. Depending on when you ride, you Topic of racism in Portuguese society. may be joined by local business people and We’ll speak to a woman in a mixed-race students, who rely on their ferry for their dai- relationship to learn how the influence of ly commutes. Upon arrival on the south bank, colonization in Portugal’s previous empire has led to inequality in society today, and how the country’s unwillingness to admit discrimination exists creates obstacles for its marginalized population. Read more about this activity below.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
10 Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at As one of the first countries to begin the Age of 7am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Exploration, Portugal built a globe-spanning empire, with colonies in the Americas, Africa, Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart the hotel and other far-flung corners of the world. When by motorcoach to explore the highlights of colonial rule ended in 1975, many people from Lisbon and the surrounding area with a local those colonies immigrated to the mainland; guide on an included city tour. Spread out on however, the integration process has not been seven low hills overlooking the Tagus River, the a smooth one, and inequality is rampant. For legendary Portuguese capital has lured traders example, African immigrants and those of and settlers for more than 20 centuries. African descent are 50% more likely to do In the late 15th century, the port of Lisbon manual labor than their white Portuguese was the staging point for Portuguese counterparts, and 40% more likely to rent explorations that would usher in the great Age their homes and have trouble paying bills on of Discovery—and make Lisbon the richest time. Black residents also cite discrimination European capital until the 19th century. During in schools and in the workplace as ongoing our drive, we’ll enjoy views of the Belém district occurrences in their daily lives. where we’ll see historic monuments such as the Despite this inequality, however, Portugal is Tower of Belém and the Discoveries Monument. largely a country in denial about its racism We’ll continue towards the city center where problem. According to a recent study, only we’ll pass through the Avenida da Liberdade, an 23% of people think Portugal has a problem area known for its luxury shops, and we’ll see with racism; the rest think racism is simply the 18th-century architecture of Restauradores something that happens elsewhere. Some even Square. Then, we’ll drive through Baixa, an area wonder if racism is real. As 2020 continues in the heart of Lisbon that was destroyed and to shine a light on racial injustice throughout completely rebuilt after the Great Earthquake the world, many people in Portugal are now of 1755. Baixa now features broad squares and being confronted with questions about their avenues flanked by shops, cafés, and elegant treatment of black people. A national reckoning Neo-Classical buildings. has ensued, with racism a frequent topic on the Around 11:15am, we’ll enter the Alfama district, nightly news and in the media. one of Lisbon’s oldest and most ethnically We’ll get a firsthand perspective of this issue diverse neighborhoods to see the city from from Ana, a woman in her 30s who was born another perspective as we leave our bus behind and raised in Lisbon. As a white woman married and set off on a walking tour. We’ll stroll these to a man of African descent, she can share her narrow laneways, admire the charismatic firsthand experience of how people in Portugal architecture and mingle with locals. are treated differently based on their race. Ana At around 11:45am we’ll walk to a small café and her husband also have a son, a toddler in the Alfama district to meet Ana Martins, a named Simao; raising a mixed-race child has white Portuguese woman married to a man revealed a Portugal that she hadn’t seen before, of African descent, for a conversation about a as she helps her innocent son navigate a world Controversial Topic: racism in Portugal, and in which he’s bullied solely because of the color the country’s struggle to reconcile with its of his skin. colonial past.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
11 During our 1-hour conversation, Ana will of today. We encourage you to come to this candidly share her experiences with racism discussion with an open mind and respect for and explain how it has affected everything the people you’ll be speaking with, who will be from employment opportunities to playground sharing their personal (and often vulnerable) dynamics. She will also tell us how she feels stories to help shed light on this issue. There living in a country where many people do not will be plenty of time for you to ask questions consider racism to be a problem. The staff at any questions you may have. Experiences the café is also very diverse, offering more like this are possible because of O.A.T.’s local opportunity to get a true perspective of the connections. problem of racism in Portugal, and to explore Lunch: On your own around 12:45pm. You have the roots of the issue to learn how it all began. the choice to either explore lunch options at a Portugal has a long and deeply enmeshed local restaurant near downtown neighborhood, history with Africa and its people—first as a or return to the hotel and enjoy lunch there, prominent agent in the slave trade, and then, followed by free time. after slavery was abolished, as a colonizer. By Afternoon: If you choose to return to the hotel 1975, Portugal had given up all of its African for lunch, we’ll depart by bus around 12:45pm colonies—which at the height of the Portuguese and drive for about 30 minutes back to the Empire included Angola, Mozambique, hotel. Then, you’ll have free time to freshen up Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau—but sadly or relax before we go on a walk through the city independence did not bring peace for these around 6:15pm. emerging states. Instead, their first years without colonial rule were marked by political We’ll walk to Bairro Alto, one of Lisbon’s most corruption and civil unrest, causing about one racially-diverse neighborhoods, stopping along million people from the former colonies to the way at a panoramic viewing point, where immigrate to Portugal. we can admire the splendor of the city under the evening sky. Then, we’ll continue our walk Portugal’s total population was only about through Bairro Alto as we make our way to the 10 million at the time, so this influx of restaurant where we’ll have dinner tonight. people—which included black Africans, white Portuguese colonists, and mixed-race Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll enjoy a Welcome families—upset the Portuguese economy, Dinner together at a local restaurant, featuring housing market, and even the country’s Portuguese cuisine and traditional fado music. national identity. Competition arose for jobs, and some buildings, like hotels, were converted Evening: After dinner, we drive for about 15 to house the newly-arrived. This increased minutes and arrive back at the hotel at about competition for work and accommodations has 9pm. The remainder of the evening is free to contributed to an increase in racial tensions explore more of the area and perhaps enjoy a that many in Portugal are still reckoning with. nightcap at a nearby café.
Racism can be an uncomfortable topic, and some travelers may feel sensitive or emotional during our conversation. Despite these difficulties, this is an important subject to learn about in order to understand the real Portugal
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
12 Day 4 Cascais • Sintra National Palace Dinner: On your own—you may choose to sample the region’s most famous dishes • Destination: Lisbon including bacalhau, a popular dried and • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch salted cod dish, or caldo verde, a traditional • Accommodations: Hotel Marquês de Pombal Portuguese soup. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Evening: On your own—you’re free to explore 7am, featuring hot and cold dishes. as you’d like, or ask your Trip Experience Morning: We’ll depart the hotel by bus around Leader for recommendations. 9:30am and drive for about 45 minutes toward Cascais. Upon arrival, we’ll join our Trip Day 5 Rural Portugal • Overland to Évora • Experience Leader for a walk through this Home-Hosted Dinner former fishing village, known for its sandy • Destination: Évora beaches, mosaic sidewalks, and pastel-colored • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner buildings. • Accommodations: Pousada de Évora Around 11am, we’ll continue by bus for about Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries 45 minutes to Sintra. The village is situated include a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local within a fairytale landscape of lush forests, family in Évora. We’ll separate into smaller turreted palaces, and castle ruins. We’ll visit groups of no more than 5 for an exclusive Sintra National Palace, a 15th-century medieval opportunity to intimately connect with palace where the Portuguese royal family spent residents of the city and enjoy home-cooked their summers until the 1800s, and embark on a cuisine and friendly conversation about what tour for about one hour. Discover the medieval, life is like in this storied Portuguese city. Read gothic, and Moorish architectural influences as more about this activity below. we explore the palace’s decorative staterooms. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll sit down for a 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. buffet-style lunch serving hot and cold regional dishes. Morning: We’ll depart the hotel around 9am on an hour-long journey by bus to Azeitão, passing Afternoon: You’ll have about an hour of free over the Vasco da Gama bridge as we leave time following lunch to explore Sintra. We Lisbon. While in Azeitão, we’ll learn about the depart around 3pm for the drive back to Lisbon, longstanding Portuguese tradition of azulejos. arriving to our hotel around 3:45pm where you Introduced to Iberia by Moors, these blue or will have free time for the remainder of the day. multi-colored ceramic tiles decorate everything You might choose to explore the city on your from church walls and palaces to the façades of own, perhaps enjoying a visit to the Calouste most Portuguese homes. With our small group, Gulbenkian Museum or the Time Out Market, we’ll also gain experiential insight into the an indoor venue featuring gourmet food stalls, ancient art form by trying our hand at painting shops, and bars. some of the tiles ourselves.
We depart around 11am for a 10- to 15-minute drive to the nearby village of Queijeira Velha, where we’ll visit a traditional artisanal cheese
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
13 producer to learn about Azeitão cheese, mix of roasted pepper paste and spices for 24 a velvety local specialty made from raw hours or longer. You might also enjoy a taste of sheep’s milk. Portuguese wine from your host’s wine cellar.
Lunch: Around 12:15pm, we’ll enjoy lunch at We’ll say goodbye to our new friends at around the cheese shop. 9pm, and then drive back to our hotel.
Afternoon: We’ll depart the cheese shop Evening: The rest of the night is free. You might around 2pm for a drive of about one hour enjoy a nightcap at the hotel bar or simply relax past landscapes dotted with cork trees and before tomorrow’s discoveries. olive groves. Freedom To Explore: During your two days We’ll arrive at our hotel in Évora around 3pm in Évora, you have the freedom to explore and receive our room assignments. While this quaint hilltop town on your own during our exact hotel may vary, the amenities may your free time. Below are a few recommended include an on-site bar and restaurant. The options for independent explorations: air-conditioned rooms typically have a safe, • Spending a relaxing afternoon at Acqua cable TV, wireless Internet, minibar, and a Veritas Spa: Inspired by Roman bathhouses, private bath. You’ll have some free time to this spa is situated in a noble house and freshen up after the day’s journey. designed to house three Roman-style pools. Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll split into smaller For maximum relaxation, this ancient groups of no more than 5 and depart the hotel bathing ritual is meant to be experienced in for a motorcoach ride of about 15 minutes to sequential order, moving from warm to hot visit a local family for a Home-Hosted Dinner. to cold water. The building features arches and vaulted ceilings, as well as rooms for With your small, intimate group size, traditional spa services and a winter garden you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to where you can relax with a drink and tapas. deeply connect with your host family and enjoy meaningful conversation about what • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. day-to-day life is like in this Portuguese city. • Hours: 4pm-10pm Monday and Thursday, Your host will be a working- or middle-class 4pm-11pm Friday-Saturday, 10am-1pm family, living in a typical home where multiple and 4pm-10pm Sunday. generations will likely be living under one • Cost: About $40 USD per person. roof, offering a broad view of local culture and • Shop for traditional outerwear capes at tradition. Capotes’s Emotion: Explore a family-run store specializing in the production of the You’ll also have the chance to savor authentic, Capote Alentejo Jacket. The Capote cloak is home-cooked Portuguese cuisine as you share typically composed of three layers of wool the same type of meal that your host would and outfitted with a fur-trimmed hood. share with their own friends and family. Dinner will be made from seasonally-available • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi ingredients, and might include Portuguese ride, about $12 USD one way. specialties like carne alguidar, a simple but • Hours: 9am-1pm & 3pm-7pm, savory dish featuring pork marinated in a Monday-Saturday. • Cost: Free.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
14 • Learn about the fascinating process of leather Near Évora’s main square is the Church of St. book preservation at the local book resto- Francis, home to a macabre bone chapel (Capela ration workshop. Located in a tucked-away dos Ossos) which welcomes visitors with the space under the city’s 16th-century aque- eerie message: “We bones that are here, for ducts, you’ll find leather- and cork-bound yours await.” Inside, thousands of skeletons books dating back centuries here. The owner, and skulls have been carefully arranged along Sandrine, makes it her mission to recover and the chapel walls, ceilings, and columns—put restore these time-worn treasures. there by three Franciscan monks in the early • How to get there: An approximate 5-min- 16th century who wanted wealthy residents of ute walk from the hotel. Évora to reflect on the transience of material • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. things and inevitability of death. • Cost: Free. Around 11:45am, we depart for a drive of about 15 minutes and gather together to learn some Day 6 Explore Évora • Discussion with of the secrets of Portuguese cuisine during a university students • Portuguese cooking class. Our small group size will afford cooking lesson us this special opportunity as it allows us to ask • Destination: Évora questions of our hosts, gain more insight about • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner their culture, and learn how to cook like a local.
• Accommodations: Pousada de Évora Lunch: Around 1pm during the cooking class, Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at featuring Portuguese cuisine. 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, we head back Morning: Around 8:45am, we embark on to our hotel where we’ll arrive after around a walking tour of Évora, an ancient hilltop 15 minutes. The afternoon is free for you town with Roman and Moorish roots that is a to explore the town. You might choose to UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, we’ll head explore the cobbled alleyways that many towards Évora University, the second-oldest of the 15th-century Portuguese kings once university in Portugal dating back to the 16th called home, or relax at a café and take in your century. Here, we’ll meet a couple of students surroundings. who will show us around, and speak frankly Dinner: Around 7:30pm, we’ll enjoy a to us about the socio-economic implications traditional dinner at our historic pousada, of many Portuguese students moving to other featuring traditional cuisine. countries after university. Evening: You’re free to retire to your room, We’ll continue our explorations around 10am. enjoy a drink at the hotel bar, or venture Our stroll within Evora’s medieval walls back out into Évora for the evening. Your will reveal a series of houses adorned with Trip Experience Leader is ready with wrought-iron balconies. We’ll also see the recommendations. influence of Rome at the ruins of the Temple of Diana, whose 14 exquisite Corinthian columns date back to the second and third centuries.
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15 Day 7 Roman ruins of Mérida • Overland to Lunch: On your own around 1:30pm. Your Trip Carmona, Spain Experience Leader will be happy to provide a recommendation for where to eat as options • Destination: Carmona include rustic taverns, tapas, and contemporary • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Spanish cuisine. • Accommodations: Parador de Carmona Afternoon: Around 2:15pm, we continue on Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at our bus to the charming Andalusian town of 7am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Carmona, where we arrive around 6pm and Morning: We depart the hotel around 8:30am, check in to our hotel. Depending on where setting our clocks forward by an hour as we we stay, our hotel is likely to be situated high travel to Spain, where we enter Extremadura, atop a hill that overlooks the vast plains below. an autonomous Spanish province known as Typical amenities include a restaurant and a the homeland of such famous 16th-century bar, a swimming pool, and an elegant lounge. conquistadores as Pizarro and Cortés. As we Rooms may feature a satellite TV, a safe, a traverse this vast and sparsely populated minibar, and a private bath. farming region we will likely see views of storks Dinner: Around 8pm at the hotel restaurant nesting in ancient steeples and medieval towns with regional dishes and sweet desserts. dotting the plain. Evening: On your own to take a short walk or Around 11:45am, we arrive in Mérida where lounge in the hotel bar. we embark on a walk of about 2 hours. We’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site Freedom To Explore: During your two days in of Mérida, including its 6,000-seat Roman Carmona, you have the freedom to explore the theater and the adjoining amphitheater. Here, historic area during your free time. Below are gladiators once battled to the death against a few recommended options for independent animals imported from Asia and Africa and explorations: confined in the large, cross-shaped pit we’ll • Explore the Roman Necropolis: This see at center stage. Although the region of 2,000-year-old (and well-preserved) Extremadura once marked the boundary memento from Roman rule stuns with its between Moorish and Christian Spain, the hundreds of tombs and multi-chambered capital of the region, Mérida, fell under ruins. Situated outside of the former city Moorish, Christian, and even Portuguese walls, this archaeological site encompasses control throughout its storied history. It more than 300 tombs such as the Tomb of the is better known, however, as one of the Elephant, which is believed to have served as most famous Roman capitals on the Iberian a sanctuary, and the Tomb of Servillia, one Peninsula, and it displays this heritage in some of the largest tombs at the site including a of the best-preserved Roman ruins in all of courtyard. Europe. Our Trip Experience Leader will help make the history and culture come alive during • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi a walk through Mérida’s old quarter, giving us ride, about $15 USD one way. deeper insight into the region. • Hours: 9am-6pm, daily. • Cost: About $3 USD per person.
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16 • Join locals on a Walking Tour: Gain valuable Activity Note: If Day 8 falls on a Sunday, we will insights as you discover hidden spots and visit the walled fortress of El Alcázar instead of highlights of the city from those that call the Seville Cathedral. Carmona their home and see the area through Breakfast: Served at the hotel from their eyes. Plan to spend approximately two 7:30am-9am, featuring hot and cold dishes. hours exploring with a local guide. • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi Morning: You may choose to spend the full ride, about $12 USD one way. day exploring Carmona on your own. Meander • Hours: 12pm-2pm, daily. through this picturesque walled town with • Cost: About $16 USD per person. its Roman-era streets at your own pace. You may want to see the Seville Gate and its double • Explore Carmona’s rustic countryside on Moorish arch, which leads to the narrow streets a hike through La Cueva de la Batida. This and Renaissance mansions of Old Town. Cozy approximate 5-mile hiking trail will take Plaza San Fernando is home to a series of you into the heart of the picturesque Seville elegant 17th-century homes; and the nearby countryside. On the way, you’ll walk past Roman Necropolis contains the relics of more the historic Roman bridge on Guadalquivir than 900 families that lived in and around River, the fifth-longest river in the Iberian Carmona some 2,000 years ago. You may Peninsula, for a glimpse into Carmona’s even choose to take a trip on your own to the medieval history. Roman ruins or convent where you can take • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute walk in the architecture and leave with homemade or 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel to the baked goods. trail’s starting point at St. Peter’s Church (approximately $12 USD one way). Or, you may elect to take our optional tour to • Hours: All hours, daily (recommended Seville, the romantic Spanish city renowned months to hike for ideal weather are for bullfighting, the flamenco, and Don October through April). Juan. Those who choose the optional tour • Cost: Free. to Seville will depart the hotel around 9am for a bus ride of about an hour. Discover Day 8 Carmona • Optional Seville tour • Seville’s highlights, including its picturesque Grand Circle Foundation visit: Convent homes, 2000-year-old plazas, and maze of of St. Clare cobbled streets in neighborhoods like the Barrio de Santa Cruz. We’ll also explore the • Destination: Carmona Seville Cathedral, one of the largest and most • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner impressive churches in the world. Built in the • Accommodations: Parador de Carmona 15th century at the site of a twelfth-century Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries mosque, the massive Cathedral is also home to will feature our NEW Grand Circle the golden Retablo Mayor, the largest altarpiece Foundation visit to the Convent of St. Clare, in the world—and is the reputed burial which offers food, clothing, and other vital place of Christopher Columbus. Thirty-five services to Carmona’s poor and homeless ramps—originally built so guards could ascend population—with the help of donations swiftly on donkeys or horses—lead up to the from travelers like you. Read more about this bell chamber, where you may enjoy panoramic activity below. views of the city.
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17 Lunch: On your own—travelers who are staying completed. Currently under construction, this in Carmona may choose to venture out to find shelter is supported in part by dinations from a local restaurant. If you join us on our optional Grand Circle Foundation. tour, lunch on your own is scheduled for We’ll spend about an hour at the convent, around 1pm. You may seek out local specialties which will include the opportunity to ask in Seville. the nuns questions about day-to-day life for Afternoon: As our optional tour begins to Carmona’s marginalized population. wind down, you’ll have free time to continue Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll walk over to a local exploring or browsing the local shops. Then, restaurant for dinner. we’ll board a bus to Carmona around 3:30pm. We’ll arrive back in Carmona around 4:45pm Evening: Upon arrival back to the hotel around and reconvene with travelers who didn’t take 8:15pm, the evening is free for you to go out for the optional tour. a nightcap or pack before we depart tomorrow.
At around 5:45pm, we will set off on a ten-minute walk to the Convent of St. Day 9 Explore Ronda • Controversial Clare to experience this NEW Grand Circle Topic: The uncertain future of bullfighting Foundation visit. in Spain with Jose Murube
Grand Circle Foundation • Destination: Ronda • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Convent of St. Clare • Accommodations: Parador de Ronda Total donated: $2,380 Partner since: 2020 Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we’ll examine the Controversial Topic of bullfighting in The Catholic Church in Spain has always Spain when we meet the owner of a ranch served an important role in the country’s which breeds some of Spain’s most prestigious society, offering vital social services to those fighting bulls. Together, we’ll have a in need who cannot support themselves and conversation about the role of bullfighting in have been left behind by the government. The traditional Spanish culture, about how cultural eleven Franciscan nuns of St. Clare make up attitudes are turning against it over time, and a crucial part of Carmona’s social safety net, about its prospects for the future. Read more in a community where the unemployment about this activity below. rate sometimes reaches as high as 40%. The sisters offer food, clothing, sanitary items, and Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at other aid needed by Carmona’s impoverished 8am, featuring hot and cold dishes. population, regardless of their religion or Morning: We depart our hotel at about 9am by background. private motorcoach, making the journey south We will be received by the nuns at their from Carmona to Ronda, admiring views of 15th-century convent and we will have the several of the region’s famous “white villages” opportunity to learn about their various tasks along the way. Nestled into mountainsides or such as baking cakes or distributing clothes set atop dramatic gorges, Andalusia’s Pueblos and food to those seeking aid. Their most Blancos are a series of picturesque whitewashed recent project is a shelter which will offer a safe place to stay for those who need it once it is
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18 hill towns and quaint villages that offer Throughout the country, approximately 60% of glimpses of Spanish life and culture during the population is opposed to the practice, and medieval times. some parts of Spain have outright banned it. In the Catalonian capital of Barcelona for example, At around 10:15am, we’ll stop at La Cobatilla, a bullfighting was forbidden by a grassroots vote bull farm owned by Jose Murube, a descendent in 2012. Although the legal status of the ban has of the prestigious Murube family, which has been challenged federally, the city converted bred fighting bulls in this region since the 19th its ring into a shopping mall, sending a clear century. Murube bulls are prized throughout message about the future of bullfighting in Spain, and have been used in bullfights in the region. some of the country’s most prestigious venues, including the bullrings of Ronda and Madrid. We’ll spend about an hour discussing this controversy with Jose (or another member We’ll spend about two hours at the farm. First, of the Murube family if Jose is unavailable). we’ll head to the family residence where we’ll As a member of the Murube family, which meet Jose (or another member of the family if has been in the business of breeding fighting he is not available) and spend about an hour bulls for generations, and the current owner getting to know each other as Jose regales of the family’s prestigious ranch, bullfighting us with stories of his life in the countryside, has been an important part of Jose’s life. He and the memories he has of living here with is therefore deeply attuned to how attitudes his family. We’ll then head out and explore towards this controversial sport have changed the farm with Jose as our companion. We’ll over time, and can offer his expert insights walk along the grounds, taking in the dehesa into contemporary opinions. During our landscape that surrounds us, an unspoiled conversation, Jose will also share his own expanse of vast green pastures and evergreen point of view and help us understand the role oaks that typifies the pastoral scenery of this that bullfighting has had in Spanish culture region of southern Spain. We’ll also see the over time. free-range bulls that are raised here, and learn about the Murube family’s finely-tuned process Bullfighting’s popularity began in the 16th for breeding and raising the mighty beasts. century as a way for nobles to demonstrate their bravery and machismo. Throughout Lunch: At around 12:15pm, we’ll enjoy a the following years, it became increasingly light lunch on the ranch, made from fresh popular, as nobles and commoners alike took ingredients grown on the farm. to the ring, dressing in fabulously flamboyant Afternoon: At around 1:30pm, we’ll sit down attire, and exposing themselves skillfully with Jose on the ranch for a conversation about to as much danger as they could endure to a Controversial Topic: the waning popularity of prove their fearlessness and finesse. Because bullfighting in Spain. This controversial activity bullfighting takes so long to master and elicits has been a proud part of Spain’s cultural such a strong emotional response, Spaniards heritage for hundreds of years, and at one quickly came to view it as a high art rather than time was almost universally beloved. In recent merely a sport. Over the centuries, bullfighting decades, however, cultural attitudes have has become intertwined with Spain’s cultural shifted, and a generation of younger Spaniards heritage; Ernest Hemingway fell in love with and animal rights activists have come to see it the spectacle and famously sang its praises to as a form of barbaric cruelty that needs to end. an international audience in works like The Sun
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19 Also Rises, and the Spanish Senate officially include a restaurant specializing in Andalusian declared it part of the country’s cultural cuisine, gift shop, lounge, café, seasonal patrimony in 2013. swimming pool, and wireless Internet. The air-conditioned rooms may include a balcony, Its supporters—more commonly found in minibar, safe, satellite TV, and a private bath. Spain’s smaller towns and villages, and among its older generations—insist that to The rest of the day is free to explore end bullfighting would be to erase part of independently. At 5pm, you may choose to the country’s cultural identity. And although join your Trip Experience Leader for a short the practice is undeniably bloody, the animal orientation walk around the neighborhood doesn’t go to waste. After a fight, the bull’s surrounding the hotel. meat is used to produce food for human and Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience animal consumption; is it so different from any Leader can point you toward a restaurant other form of butchery? Critics counter that featuring Andalusian cuisine. yes, it almost certainly is. They claim that while the goal of a fight may be to kill the bull, the Evening: You will have free time to stroll the animal endures significant physical and mental town or enjoy a cocktail at one of the hotel’s abuse before and during the match. In addition restaurants and bars. to the animal rights issues, bullfighting is obviously dangerous to its human participants; Freedom To Explore: During your two days over the course of its history, more than 500 in Ronda, you have the freedom to explore matadors are estimated to have died, and the breathtaking area during your free time. many more have been injured. Bullfighting’s Below are a few recommended options for opponents claim that it is nothing more than independent explorations: a medieval bloodsport that has no place in a • Visit the Ronda Guitar House: Part museum civilized, 21st century society. and part live music venue, the Ronda Guitar While bullfights are still regularly held in House is dedicated to the traditional guitar Spain—in the summer, bullrings might host music of Spain. Live music performances a fight every week—its popularity is waning. are held daily at 7pm (excluding Sunday). Approximately 20 bullrings still exist in the Founded in 2015 by a couple whose love for country, drawing smaller crowds each year. music brought them together, you can enjoy During our hour-long conversation with Jose, compositions from the Romantic and Baroque he’ll share his firsthand perspective of how he periods up to modern day contemporary has seen the practice, and attitudes towards it, Andaluz and Flamenco styles. change over his lifetime, and what he thinks • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. the future might hold for bullfighting in Spain. • Hours: 10:30am-8:30pm, Monday-Friday; We’ll also have time to ask questions that 10:30am-2:30pm, Saturday (museum challenge him and ourselves to deepen our only). understanding of this difficult subject. • Cost: About $17 USD.
We’ll depart around 2:30pm, and drive for • Walk to Los Molinos Well: Hike to the bottom about an hour to our hotel in Ronda. We’ll of the dramatic Huecar River Gorge. Once arrive around 3:45pm, then check in and get at the bottom, you’ll have unique views of our room assignments. Our parador’s amenities Ronda above, a sight not many visitors ever see. You can stop at one of the bars for a
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20 well-earned refreshment before making the Morning: Around 9:30am, we’ll depart the return trip. The trail is approximately two hotel by foot and meet our local guide for a miles each way. walking tour of Ronda, lasting about two hours. • How to get there: A 40- to 45-minute hike. The town, a bucket list item in Western Europe, • Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. is one of the largest—and most spectacular—of • Cost: Free. Andalusia’s white hill towns. Few places can boast a more dramatic setting than Ronda, one • Take in the views from the Catalonia’s of the oldest cities in Spain and a one-time rooftop terrace: Experience the sun going stronghold for legendary Andalusian bandits down over Ronda’s iconic Real Maestranza from the 18th to early 20th centuries. The de Cabelleria bullring against a backdrop of town is divided by a 360-foot-deep ravine—El mountain peaks. Perhaps you’ll try some Tajo—which is spanned by three bridges, local Andalusian specialities or enjoy local including the newer Puente Nuevo, a graceful wine and cheese from the hotel’s Panoramico 18th-century stone structure high above Restaurant. the Guadalevín River. On one side of the • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. 210-foot-wide gorge are the narrow medieval • Hours: 1pm-4pm & 8pm-11pm, daily. streets of Ronda’s Moorish Old Town, known • Cost: Free. as La Ciudad; on the other, the more recent El Mercadillo quarter, which was constructed Day 10 Explore Ronda Old Town • after the Christian Reconquest of 1485. Homes Controversial Topic: Royal corruption clinging precariously to the cliff faces of El Tajo and the fate of the monarchy with add even more to Ronda’s dramatic beauty. Armando & Jaime Our walking tour will focus on Ronda’s walled • Destination: Ronda Old Town, where we’ll wander through its • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch labyrinth of medieval streets, flanked by • Accommodations: Parador de Ronda Moorish homes with wrought-iron balconies. or similar We’ll also enjoy spectacular views of the canyon from atop the Puente Nuevo Bridge, with the Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries valleys and hills shimmering in the distance. include a conversation about the Controversial Just don’t get too close—in his novel For Whom Topic of the future of the Spanish monarchy. the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway describes how In recent years, Spain’s former king, Juan prisoners were tossed alive from this very spot Carlos I, became deeply embroiled in a series of into the deep gorge below during the bitter high-profile scandals that undermined Spanish Spanish Civil War. faith in the monarchy and eventually led to his abdication. While his successor, King Felipe At around 11:45am, we will walk to the historic VI, seems determined to overcome his father’s parador located by the bridge, converted reputation, many in the country are beginning during the Franco regime from a town hall to ask whether Spain has a need for royalty building into a luxury accommodation, for a at all. We’ll speak to two local experts to hear conversation about a Controversial Topic: the both sides of this controversial subject—read conflicted attitudes of Spaniards about the more below. future of the country’s monarchy. The people of Spain have grown increasingly wary of the Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at institution in light of a series of high-profile 8am, featuring hot and cold dishes.
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21 scandals committed by the country’s previous We’ll then hear the opposite point of view from king, Juan Carlos I—including an expensive Jaime Coronel, who believes that the monarchy 2012 elephant-hunting excursion to Botswana, is a fundamental pillar of the Spanish nation and a suspicious $100 million payment that and must be protected. Born in Ronda in 1969, the king received for his part in a Saudi Arabian towards the end of the Franco dictatorship, railway project and then promptly gifted to his Jaime came of age in a time of political upheaval mistress. Although Juan Carlos I abdicated in and uncertainty. As a child, he watched as king 2014, and his son Felipe VI has maintained a Juan Carlos I took power from Franco’s fascist clean reputation thus far, the corruption has led regime in 1975, and helped lay the framework many to question whether the monarchy should for a democratic society with the ratification serve any role in Spain’s future. According to of the 1978 constitution. At the age of 12, he polls conducted in 2020, opinions are about witnessed an attempted coup d’etat in 1981, evenly split between those who wish to see the when officers of the military held the Spanish monarchy preserved, and republicans who want Parliament hostage at gunpoint—a situation it abolished; meanwhile, around 25% of the that was resolved without bloodshed when the population is undecided. king denounced the rebels and urged them to surrender. We’ll hear arguments for both sides during our hour-long conversation with two local people Jaime believes that while it may be imperfect, with strong opinions about the issue. First, the monarchy is ultimately an important, we’ll meet Armando Gil Ecay, a local teacher in unifying institution in Spanish society. While his 60s with ties to Spain’s socialist party who he understands the resentment toward the believes the monarchy should be abolished. royals over recent scandals, he believes that Growing up, Armando was exposed to a variety abolishing the monarchy because of them of diverse opinions about the monarchy, but would be a drastic overreaction—working it was during his studies of history at the within the system to reform it would be University of Malaga that he came firmly the wiser course. All forms of government around to the republican point of view. have to deal with corruption, after all, and Jaime is convinced of the current regime’s The king is an important figure in Spanish commitment to justice. For example, in 2018, society, and Armando believes that nobody king Felipe VI’s own brother-in-law, Inaki should be granted such a prominent place solely Urdangarin, was sentenced to nearly six years by the circumstance of their birth. In a fair and in prison for abusing his royal connections just society, only those who earn their office to embezzle public funds. In the end, Jaime through merit should be fit to govern. While the believes that the monarchy may be flawed, but current king, Felipe VI, has shown himself to it can be fixed—with Spain’s authority over be a more competent and temperate man than independent-minded provinces like Catalonia his scandal-plagued father Juan Carlos I—who and the Basque Country in an already tenuous absconded to the Dominican Republic in August position, abolishing the monarchy entirely 2020 to avoid prosecution for his alleged might spell the end of Spain as we know it. crimes—Armando believes that a hereditary system is fundamentally flawed, and it’s only We’ll spend about an hour talking to Armando a matter of time until an unfit head wears the and Jaime, which will include time to ask crown once again. questions of our own about this complicated issue with no easy answers. By interacting
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22 closely with local people strongly connected one of the world’s largest Islamic buildings. to this contemporary controversy, we’ll enjoy But what makes this mosque truly unusual is the rare opportunity to truly understand the Capilla Mayor, a Gothic Christian church built powerful opinions that everyday Spanish in the center of the mosque in the 16th century people hold about this thorny subject. Because by Charles V. Mass is still celebrated here daily. of O.A.T.’s small group size and strong Lunch: On your own around noon. Ask your Trip connections in the region, we’ll be able to Experience Leader for some of their favorite receive insights that are unavailable to most restaurants. travelers. Afternoon: Immediately following lunch you Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll enjoy a traditional have free time to explore the town on your own. lunch at the historic parador. You may visit the ancient Roman bridge or Afternoon: Beginning at around 2:30pm, you’ll triumphal arch, explore the Alcázar of Christian have the rest of the day free to explore Ronda. Kings, or walk Calleja de las Flores—a narrow, flower-lined street that ends in a plaza. Dinner: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience Leader to recommend a restaurant where you At about 2pm, we’ll regroup and explore can enjoy a typical Andalusian dinner, including the Mezquita-Cathedral, witnessing its local favorites such as fried fish, gazpacho, architectural magnificence before we visit the oxtail, Iberian ham or payoya goat cheese. If synagogue and Jewish quarter with the expert you imbibe, ask to sample the regional wines. guidance of our Trip Experience Leader.
Evening: On your own. You may choose to We’ll depart Córdoba around 4pm by bus, linger over a long dinner or enjoy a nightcap at arriving at our parador around 6pm. Our hotel the hotel bar. is conveniently situated next to the chapel of El Salvador in the center of Úbeda’s historic Day 11 Visit Córdoba • Journey to Úbeda Plaza de Vasquez Molina. Amenities typically include an inner courtyard, bar, and restaurant. • Destination: Úbeda Rooms may feature air-conditioning, satellite • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner TV, wireless Internet, minibar, safe, and • Accommodations: Parador de Úbeda private bath. or similar You’ll have about two hours of free time to Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at unpack or freshen up before dinner. 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Dinner: Around 8pm at our parador, featuring Morning: Around 8:45am, we board a bus for local specialties. our journey through southern Spain. Around 12pm, we arrive at the city of Córdoba. While Evening: On your own. You can retire after a it was originally founded as a Roman colony, later dinner or go for a walk around the town. Córdoba reached its peak as an Islamic capital Freedom To Explore: During your two days in the tenth century, rising to become the in Úbeda, you have the freedom to explore largest (and arguably, most multicultural) the city during your free time. Below are a city in Western Europe. Today, Córdoba is few recommended options for independent known primarily for the Mezquita-Cathedral, explorations: its mesmerizing eighth-century mosque and
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23 • Visit the Paco Tito Pottery Museum: Here learn about the Spanish Inquisition’s effect you’ll see three generations of potters from on non-Catholic communities and their strife Úbeda displaying their works of beautiful to keep their faith in the face of persecution. pottery and ornamental objects, representing • How to get there: About a 5- to 10-minute the long tradition of pottery in Andalucía. walk from the hotel. Explore the building, a historic house believed • Schedule: 8am-2pm & 4pm-8pm, daily. to date back to the 15th or 16th century, where Last tour offered at 6:45pm. you’ll learn about the process and perhaps • Cost: About $1.80 USD per person. even get a glimpse of the master at work. • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi Day 12 A Day in the Life of a family-run ride, about $5 USD one way. olive oil mill • Hours: 8am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, daily. • Destination: Úbeda Cost: Free. • • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Witness the medieval art of blacksmithing at • Accommodations: Parador de Úbeda Forja Tiznajo: This family-run forge provides or similar a glimpse into another aspect of the region’s Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries living heritage. Two brothers continue feature our A Day in the Life experience when with the family legacy of six generations of we visit a family-owned olive mill in the blacksmiths using traditional techniques. You village of Begijar. We’ll meet the family and can visit the house, workshop, and store, and learn how they’ve built their business up over get a feel for Medieval Spain’s most import- generations, and get a firsthand view of the ant industry. labor required to keep it running as we walk • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk through the groves and visit the mill. We’ll also or 5- to 10-minute taxi ride, about $5 USD enjoy a farm-fresh lunch with our hosts, made one way. from locally-sourced ingredients. Read more • Hours: 8am-8pm, Monday-Saturday. about this activity below. • Cost: Free. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at • Step back into the Middle Ages at the 8am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Sinagoga del Agua. A hidden gem recently unearthed by chance during construction Morning: Situated in the Jaén province on work in 2007, the synagogue, which dates a plateau between the Guadalquivir and back to medieval times, gives visitors a Guadalimar rivers, Úbeda is bordered on all glimpse into the religious and cultural history sides by numerous olive groves that produce of Spain. Specifically, the structure calls some of the world’s best olive oil. Around back to the Jewish history of Úbeda: several 9:30am, we board a private motorcoach and well-preserved baths reflect the importance drive from our hotel in Úbeda about 30 minutes of the purification of the soul in Judaism. to the village of Begijar where we’ll visit a Though the tours of the space are given in family-owned olive oil mill for our A Day in the Spanish, you’ll be given a worksheet that Life experience. details the history and original function of each room. Perhaps most strikingly, you’ll Olive oil is the dominant industry in this region of Spain; the nation produces more olive oil than any other country in the world,
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
24 and approximately 40% of Spain’s national are tight, and their neighbors regularly come production takes place here. Nearly every by the mill to use their equipment, and to seek person in the local economy is connected to it advice on how to get the best quality product in some way or another. By venturing out into from their harvest. the countryside and intimately connecting with At around 11:30am, we’ll visit the mill to see a family that runs one of the most innovative the production process for ourselves. Jose mills, we’ll have a rare opportunity to see and Manolo will explain how their equipment firsthand just how important olive oil is to the works, and how they use modern technology way of life here, and gain an appreciation for to press the olives and refine them into the the hard work that goes into producing it, from precious finished product. We’ll also see for start to finish. ourselves how the oil is used as they lead us We’ll arrive at the mill around 10am and through a tasting. meet the family owners—Pepe and Ana, the Lunch: After working up an appetite, we’ll patriarch and matriarch of the operation who join Pepe, Ana, Jose, and Manolo at 12:30pm built the business up over decades—as well for an included lunch on the farm, prepared as their children, Manolo and Jose, who have with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. We’ll taken over the company now that their parents take our time and share our meal together for have retired. While Pepe and Ana have handed about an hour and a half, taking advantage of over the reins, they still live on the estate and our small group size to converse with and ask enjoy a close relationship with their children questions of our gracious hosts, as well as any and the farm that they spent their lives building of their workers who choose to join us. together. Afternoon: We board our private motorcoach We’ll walk through an olive grove, where the back to Úbeda around 2pm for a drive of about family will show us the different varieties 30 minutes. Once back at the parador, you of olives that are grown here, and the skills can choose to freely explore the city, perhaps required to identify when the fruit is ready to be visiting the pottery or blacksmith museum. plucked. Pay close attention—we’ll also enjoy a hands-on experience as we help out with the Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience harvest, side-by-side with the workers in the Leader can recommend a local restaurant. field (if we visit outside of harvest season, we’ll still pick a few olives to get a better appreciation Evening: Your evening is free to explore of the hard work that this industry requires). independently. You might choose to continue strolling around the old city, or you may opt to We’ll spend about an hour in the fields, then sit down at a café for a glass of local wine. we’ll go inside the mill, where we’ll sit down with the family for coffee and conversation about their work here, and their role in the local community. Since Jose and Manolo have taken over the day-to-day operations, they’ve strived to innovate to keep the family farm at the cutting edge of Spain’s olive oil production. They’ll also talk about what it takes to thrive in this small, rural community—out here, bonds
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
25 Day 13 Overland to Toledo • mosques, and impressive palaces. The city’s Explore Toledo picturesque old quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is lined with ancient buildings • Destination: Toledo that serve as a time capsule of civilizations • Included Meals: Breakfast long gone. • Accommodations: Sercotel Alfonso VI or similar Our tour wraps up around 5:30pm, at which point you can pursue your own discoveries or Activity Note: Today, we’ll travel by bus for a return to the hotel to relax. total of about three hours, with stops along the way. Roads may be bumpy or uneven at times. Dinner: On your own. You can ask your Trip Experience Leader to recommend Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at some local restaurants where you can try 7:45am, featuring hot and cold dishes. traditional cuisine. Morning: We board our bus around 9am for Evening: Free for you to continue exploring the start of our overland journey. At around the city at night, perhaps joining the locals for 11am, we’ll have an opportunity for a snack and a glass of vermouth, or stopping at one of the restroom break at Puerto Lapice before heading famous cafés to sample churros con chocolate. back on the road around 11:30am. Freedom To Explore: During your three days We’ll arrive in Toledo around 12:30pm, at in Toledo, you have the freedom to explore which point we’ll drop our luggage off at the vibrant city, as well as the neighboring our hotel. Depending on where we stay, Madrid, during your free time. Below are a it may feature a bar and a restaurant. The few recommended options for independent air-conditioned rooms typically have wireless explorations: Internet, telephone, satellite TV, minibar, safe, and a private bath. You’ll have some free • Gain insight on Byzantine-era art at time for a stroll in the heart of Toledo. Your Artesania Burgueno: Nestled in Toledo’s room will be available around 2pm, at which Plaza de Santa Isabel, this artisan shop time you can choose to freshen up or continue displays works that aim to preserve the exploring Toledo. ancient art of Damasquinado. The style is easliy recognized by thin silver and gold lines Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience painted on pottery like vases and dishes, Leader can recommend options for lunch. creating intricate patterns that reflect ornate Afternoon: We’ll reconvene around 3:30pm at tapestry made of damask silk. You can lern the hotel to embark on an approximate 2-hour about the step-by-step process of making walking tour of vibrant Toledo with a local these detailed paintings from the owner guide. Known as the “city of three cultures,” during your visit. Toledo was once the capital of the Castile region • How to get there: About a 5-minute walk of Spain. It was considered a melting pot in from the hotel. medieval times, in which Christians, Arabs, and • Schedule: 9am-1:30pm, daily. Jews lived together for centuries. The varied • Cost: Free. cultural and religious influences of the city can • Heading to Madrid for the day? There’s much still be seen today, and you’ll witness them to explore in and around the Atocha train in the form of ancient synagogues, churches, station: Redesigned with assistance by Gustav
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
26 Eiffel in 1892 following a destructive fire, the Upon arrival at around 10:15am, we’ll take a wrought iron and glass industrial building brief restroom break at Antocha station around no longer serves as a train station. Now the 10:15am. Then, we’ll set off on our panoramic structure features a gallery with shops, cafés, city tour at around 10:30am. Highlights include and a large tropical garden area. The station stops at the bustling Plaza de Oriente; the vast itself is also centrally located among two El Retiro park, and the colorful Paseo de La iconic Madrid museums: the Reina Sofia and Castellana and Paseo de Colon. the Thyssen-Bormeniska. Our bus tour wraps up at Prado Museum, • How to get there: An approximate where we’ll spend about an hour. One of the 30-minute train ride into Madrid from the gems of the city, Prado Museum first opened Toledo hotel. in 1819 and has since maintained its status as • Hours: All hours, daily. the best collection of Spanish art in Europe. In • Cost: Free. this spacious building, you’ll find art dating • In Madrid, soak up the sights and sounds of back as early as the 12th century, and of course, nature at El Retiro Park: Home to over 15,000 witness the works of some of the country’s trees and even two historic palaces, this renowned artists—from El Greco to Velasquez 300-acre park is a popular place for locals to and beyond. take a daily stroll or bring their children to After our museum visit, we’ll board the one of the many little playgrounds in the area. bus again and depart for the approximate This green oasis in the heart of Madrid also 15-minute ride to lunch. has a picturesque lake and is surrounded by shops and cafés. Lunch: At a local restaurant around 12:45pm, • How to get there: About a 20-minute featuring a host of regional specialties. walk from Madrid’s Atocha station or a Afternoon: After lunch at around 2pm, we’ll 6-minute taxi ride, approximately $5 USD get an authentic glimpse of Spain’s famous one way. flamenco dance accompanied by traditional • Schedule: All hours, daily. music. Discover the rhythms of the cante, or • Cost: Free. song, and passion and precision of the baile, Day 14 Toledo • Explore Madrid • Flamenco or dance. After chatting with the flamenco musicians and witnessing their lively demonstration demonstration, perhaps you’ll be inspired to try • Destination: Toledo this dance style for yourself. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch The hour-long dance lesson wraps up around • Accommodations: Sercotel Alfonso VI 2:45pm, at which point you’ll have an hour for or similar independent discoveries in Madrid. We’ll board Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at the bus once more at around 3:45pm to head 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. back to our hotel. Upon return to Toledo around 5pm, The afternoon is free for you to explore on Morning: Around 9am, we’ll board the bus your own. Perhaps you’ll head to the Mirador for the approximate hour and 15-minute drive del Valle for panoramic views of the city, or to Madrid. stroll Toledo’s bustling streets lined with shops and restaurants.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
27 Dinner: On your own. This may be the perfect Dinner: Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a traditional chance to sample caracoles a la andaluza, snails Spanish restaurant, where we’ll toast to the slow-cooked in a rich, spicy broth. discoveries and memories we made in this historic region. Evening: Your evening is free to wander down the lively streets of Toledo, take in a theater Evening: Around 9pm, we’ll depart the show, or relax at the hotel bar. restaurant for the hotel, where you can opt to pack for tomorrow’s departure, or enjoy one Day 15 Explore Toledo or Madrid final glass of specialty vermouth with friends. • Destination: Toledo Day 16 Return to U.S. or begin • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner post-trip extension • Accommodations: Sercotel Alfonso VI or similar • Included Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes.
Morning: Today is free for you to pursue your Morning: Board a bus with your luggage own interests in Toledo. Perhaps you’ll take this morning and travel about an hour to this time to walk the outskirts of the city for the airport for your return flight to the U.S. impressive views, or visit a local artisan shop Or, catch your flight for your Northern Spain: where you can view and purchase traditional Bilbao, San Sebastian & Medieval Villages post Byzantine-style decorated pottery. trip-extension.
Alternatively, you may decide to take a train ride into Madrid to further your discoveries there. You can take some time to mingle with the madrileños—or the people of Madrid—along the lively boulevards and plazas. Or, discover why the Spanish say, “De Madrid al cielo” (Madrid is the next best thing to heaven) in one of the city’s lovely parks, including Sabatini Gardens with its symmetric, geometric hedges; or El Retiro, Madrid’s most famous park, where people rent row boats and attend local concerts.
Lunch: On your own. Perhaps you’d like to try out a traditional tortilla or Spanish omelet.
Afternoon: You’ll continue to have free time to explore Toledo or Madrid.
Later, we’ll gather together around 7:15pm for a 15-minute walk to our final meal as a group.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
28 END YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION 7 nights in Northern Spain: Bilbao, San Sebastian & Medieval Villages
Day 1 Fly to Bilbao • Explore Bilbao Day 5 Visit Santillana del Mar • San Vicente de la Barquera Day 2 Bilbao Day 6 Transfer to Oviedo • Day 3 Discover San Sebastian Visit Covadonga Day 4 Visit Castro Urdiales • Day 7 Explore Oviedo Explore Santander Day 8 Return to U.S.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
29 OPTIONAL TOURS
During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Experience Leader. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.
In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.
Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.
Seville (Day 8 $85 per person)
Set on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville was occupied by the Romans from about 200 B.C.; then the Moors ruled for some 500 years until they were expelled in the middle of the 13th century by the Christian warrior Fernando III. Seville is also where Ferdinand and Isabella administered their court, and Columbus returned at the end of his voyage to America. Enhance your Spain travel experience, and discover several of Seville’s highlights on this optional tour, including the historic Spanish city’s picturesque whitewashed homes, 2000-year-old plazas, and maze of cobbled streets in neighborhoods like the Barrio de Santa Cruz. We’ll also explore the Seville Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive churches in the world. Built in the 15th century at the site of a twelfth-century mosque, the massive Cathedral is also home to the golden Retablo Mayor, the largest altarpiece in the world—and is the reputed burial place of Christopher Columbus. We’ll also have time on our own in Seville for individual exploring before we return to Carmona in mid-afternoon.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
30 PRE-TRIP Northern Portugal: Porto & the Douro Valley
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» Accommodations: 5 nights in Porto at the » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Grande Hotel de Porto or similar Experience Leader » 10 meals—5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and and 2 dinner luggage porters » 6 small group activities » All transfers
PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
From the time of the Romans and the Celts, Northern Portugal has been a hotbed of rich culture and robust vintages. Discover the role of vineyards in Porto’s history during visits to a family farm and a wine cellar, stroll the lanes of the Ribeira neighborhood and get to know this ancient gem from many angles.
Day 1 Depart U.S. Porto, an outpost of the Roman Empire in the fourth century, is one of Europe’s oldest Depart the U.S. today on your overnight flight to continuously inhabited cities. In the 14th Porto, Portugal. and 15th centuries, Porto was crucial to the Portuguese spirit of exploration, as the city’s Day 2 Arrive in Porto shipyards provided vessels for Henry the • Destination: Porto Navigator and others. By the 18th century, • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto it was not the sailors but their cargo making waves: Britain became a partner in exporting Morning: Arriving in Porto, an O.A.T. the local port wine throughout Europe. During representative will assist us to our hotel our stay, both the maritime tradition and wine where we’ll receive our room assignments. legacy will be on display. Depending on where we stay, our hotel may feature a bar, restaurant, and health club. Each Lunch: On your own. You may opt to have a of the air-conditioned rooms typically include light lunch in the hotel or dine at a nearby a TV, wireless Internet, a safe, coffee- and restaurant. tea-making facilities, and a private bathroom. Afternoon: On your own. You’ll have free time Once we check into our hotel, there is time to to relax and freshen up or stroll the streets to rest or begin your independent discoveries take in the surroundings of your home for the of Porto. next few days.
Around 6pm, we’ll gather as a group to enjoy a welcome drink together.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
31 Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll try local for about 45 minutes along the route that specialties like arroz de polvo, or octopus was once used to transport barrels of wine rice. Your Trip Experience Leader is sure to have into the city. a suggestion or two. • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk. Evening: You have free time to enjoy a glass of • Hours: 10am-6:30pm, daily. port in the hotel bar or head to your room to • Cost: About $17 USD. rest after a long day of travel. Day 3 Explore Porto Freedom To Explore: During your five days • Destination: Porto in Porto, you have the freedom to explore this • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner historical gem on your own during your free • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto time. Below are a few recommended options for independent exploration: Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and Visit the iconic Casa da Música: This soaring • cold dishes. modern structure of glass and concrete is a cultural center and concert hall erected Morning: Around 9:30am we’ll meet as a group to commemorate Porto’s designation as for our Welcome Briefing. During this briefing, the European Capital of Culture in 2001. we will introduce ourselves and review our Depending when you visit, you may be able itinerary in more detail (including any changes to attend a performance. There’s also a café that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience serving locally-produced, light fare. Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and emergency procedures, and answer any • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi questions we may have. ride, about $10 USD one way. • Hours: 9:30am-7pm, daily. We’ll depart the hotel around 9:45am for a • Cost: About $12USD. walking tour of Portugal’s second-largest city. • Spend time with modern art at the Museu Your Trip Experience Leader will introduce Serralves: The museum, which opened in you to the charming city, including the Bolhão 1999, houses contemporary and modern art market, a lively building with vendors selling from Portugal and around the globe. The fresh meats, seafood, and prepared foods. minimalist white architecture, designed We’ll also pass the oldest library, and explore by Alvaro Siza, contrasts Porto’s colorful the Old Town. You have free time to explore cityscape. Porto on your own before meeting back up as a group around 12:45pm. Then, we’ll take a 10- to • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi 15-minute walk to the Batalha neighborhood. ride, about $8 USD one way. • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily. Lunch: At a local restaurant in Batalha • Cost: About $12USD. around 1pm. • Take in spectacular views from the Douro Afternoon: Beginning at about 2:30pm, you’ll River on a Six Bridges Cruise: A small boat have some free time to explore on your own. takes you upstream and back down, affording Consider exploring the Ribeira neighborhood, views of the multiple bridges and buildings a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can that dot the river’s edge. Plan to cruise wander narrow, cobblestone streets full of architectural wonders.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
32 Dinner: Around 7:15pm, we’ll meet at the an éclair. Just follow the locals into one of the hotel for about a 15-minute ride by bus to crowded bakeries where it’s typical to indulge a local restaurant for our Welcome Dinner. in pastries for an afternoon snack. Tonight, we’ll enjoy Portuguese cuisine, which Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience ranges from fresh fish and stews to rice and Leader will be happy to recommend a nearby meat dishes. restaurant. Those looking to really dive into Evening: You’re free to stroll the narrow streets local cuisine can sample tripas à moda do Porto, or enjoy a late-night snack or drink at one of a hearty stew of pork stomach, beans and the many cafés that spill out onto the sidewalks. vegetables.
Evening: On your own to take in the natural Day 4 Explore Douro River region • beauty of the city. Visit wine farm • Destination: Porto Day 5 Porto • Optional Minho region tour • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Destination: Porto • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel from cold dishes. 7:30am to 9am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll depart our Morning: You may enjoy a full day exploring hotel and follow the Douro River to wine Porto on your own. Perhaps you’ll take this country by bus, where the first vintages were opportunity to go on a Six Bridges Cruise produced in the third century A.D. Around to witness Porto’s stunning waterways and 11:30am we arrive at a family-owned quinta bridges, spend the day visiting museums, or (port wine farm) in Regua, where we learn lounge at a café where you can grab a coffee and about how port is made, tour the facility, and watch scenes of daily life. Or, you may join us also enjoy a tasting. Around 12:45pm, we’ll on our full-day optional tour to Minho, which conclude our tour. includes lunch. Lunch: We’ll sit down at a local restaurant in For those taking the optional tour, our group Regua around 1pm where we can savor regional departs around 9am for a drive of about 45 specialties and lighter dishes, like chicken or minutes to Guimarães. Settled in the ninth traditional pork loin. century by a Portuguese warrior trying to wrest Afternoon: After finishing lunch, we’ll depart control of the region, it’s been known ever around 2:30pm for our drive of around 2 since as the “cradle of Portugal” for its role in hours, back to the hotel. The remainder of the nation’s origins. Here, a castle was built the afternoon and evening are free for you to to defend the local monastery from attacks by continue exploring Porto, perhaps checking Muslim and Norman raiders. Expanded over the out the Casa da Música or shops that line the next 100 years, it was the royal residence until city streets. If there’s room for dessert, you can the dawn of the 13th century. Remarkably, local try one of the city’s famous pastries, such as authorities considered tearing it down in the 1800s, but wiser minds prevailed and we visit
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
33 the restored and preserved castle today. We’ll Day 6 Explore Gaia • Gaia wine-tasting also tour the Ducal Palace and historical city • Destination: Porto center on foot. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Lunch: Those staying in Porto may seek out • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto dining options on their own, continuing to Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel sample local cuisine or opt for one of the many beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and restaurants in the area serving international cold dishes. options. For those on the optional tour, we’ll gather around 1pm at a local restaurant in the Morning: We’ll leave around 9am for a town of Guimarães where you’ll enjoy hot and panoramic bus tour of Porto as we drive on to cold entrees. the wine region.
Afternoon: Those who remained in Porto will Around 11:30am, we arrive in Gaia in the Douro enjoy some time at leisure to continue making wine region, one of the oldest protected wine discoveries. You might choose to further regions in the world. Gaia is best known for its explore the lovely side streets or delve deeper wine caves, where port wine is aged. Port has into cultural attractions. been a staple of the local economy since 1703, when the British first began importing it from Around 2:30pm, we will drive for about 30 Portugal, and rules for its official classification minutes to continue our optional tour with have helped maintain high standards since a visit to Bom Jesus, where we’ll explore the the mid-18th century. In fact, the Douro River Baroque pilgrimage site. Valley is recognized as the world’s first legally We’ll depart around 4pm, passing by the Braga demarcated wine region. Upon arrival, we’ll city center around 4:15pm. Braga, settled since visit one of the famed wine cellars for a tasting the Roman era, is one of the world’s oldest where you’ll have the opportunity to learn all Catholic archdioceses. Its heart is the sweeping about the history and production of port, too. Praça da República, first laid out in the Middle Lunch: Around 12:30pm, lunch is included at Ages, and now outlined with restaurants the wine cellar. including the Vianna Café, established in 1858. With its arch-filled arcade, water fountain, and Afternoon: You have the rest of the day to cobbled plaza, it is an elegant glimpse into past relax in Gaia. Perhaps you’ll sit by the river and eras, while still beloved by locals today. We’ll watch people as they go about their daily lives. return to to Porto around 5pm. Dinner: On your own this evening. Perhaps The group will reconvene around 7pm at the you’ll revisit a favorite restaurant from earlier hotel, where we will depart on a 10- to 15- in the week, or seek out new options for minute drive to dinner. Portuguese or European cuisine.
Dinner: Around 7:15pm at a local restaurant, Evening: Your last night in Porto is free for featuring local specialties. independent explorations. Ask your Trip Experience Leader if there are any music events Evening: We’ll arrive back at the hotel around at the Casa da Música, or sip a glass of port at 8:45pm where the remainder of the evening is the hotel bar. on your own. Consider taking in live music on the streets or relaxing at a bar after a long day.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
34 Day 7 Transfer to Lisbon Morning: Around 8am, we leave our hotel in Porto and transfer by bus to Lisbon. We’ll arrive • Destination: Lisbon in Lisbon around 1:30pm. Here, we’ll join our • Included Meals: Breakfast fellow travelers at the hotel and begin our Back Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese hotel beginning at 7am, featuring hot and Pousadas adventure. cold dishes.
OPTIONAL TOUR
Minho region (Day 5 $125 per person) Discover the Minho region during an optional tour today. Our discoveries here begin in Guimarães, settled in the ninth century by a Portuguese warrior trying to wrest control of the region, and known ever since as the “cradle of Portugal” for its role in the nation’s origins. In the tenth century, a castle was built to defend the local monastery from attacks by Muslim and Norman raiders. Expanded over the next century, it was the royal residence until the dawn of the 13th century. Remarkably, local authorities considered tearing it down in the 19th century, but wiser minds prevailed and we visit the restored and preserved castle today. Then, we visit Braga, settled since the Roman era, and one of the world’s oldest Catholic archdioceses. Its heart is the sweeping Praça da República, first laid out in the Middle Ages, and now outlined with restaurants including the Vianna Café, established in 1858. With its arch-filled arcade, water fountain, and cobbled plaza, it is an elegant glimpse into past eras, even while still beloved by locals today.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
35 POST-TRIP Northern Spain: Bilbao, San Sebastian & Medieval Villages
INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» Airfare from Madrid to Bilbao » 6 small group activities » Accommodations: 3 nights in Bilbao at » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Hotel Hesperia Bilbao or similar, 2 nights Experience Leader in Santander at Hotel Hoyuela or similar, » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and and 2 nights in Oviedo at Gran Hotel España luggage porters or similar » All transfers » 13 meals—7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners
POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY
Journey from the Basque gem of Bilbao to historic Santander on the Bay of Biscay to Oviedo, the heart of Asturias. With included tours, visits to medieval villages, and more, enjoy a rich array of perspectives on three of Northern Spain’s most fascinating cities.
Day 1 Fly to Bilbao • Explore Bilbao Lunch: You may choose to grab something to eat at the airport to enjoy before or during • Destination: Bilbao your flight. • Included Meals: Dinner • Accommodations: Hotel Hesperia Bilbao Afternoon: Arrive in Bilbao sometime this afternoon, depending on exact flight schedules. Morning: We’ll fly to Bilbao, the largest city Here, you’ll be accompanied by your Trip in Basque Country, and the true heart of the Experience Leader for the transfer of about 30 region. In fact, with a million citizens, Bilbao minutes to your hotel. While our exact hotel is one of the five biggest urban areas in Spain. may vary, we will likely be in the heart of Now famous for its Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, within walking distance to the famous designed by the architect Frank Gehry, Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. Typical rooms may has been an important commercial center include wireless Internet access, TV, toiletries, since the 14th century, when it began trading and a private bath with a hairdryer. iron. (Shakespeare references swords made of Basque iron as “bilboes” in Merry Wives Around 2:30pm, we’ll depart the hotel for a of Windsor.) With its locale on the Iberian journey of about 30 minutes to the city center Peninsula, overseeing the Bay of Biscay, Bilbao for a walking tour of Bilbao. We’ll make our retains a maritime flavor, as well as a strong way through the “Seven Streets,” the Old affiliation with Basque identity. Town of Bilbao, witnessing the 19th-century el Arenal bridge, the Saint Nicholas Church, and
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36 the Ribera Market, the largest covered market the river via gondola, then return aboard a in Europe. Continuing on to the Ensanche, a gasolinero, a small boat hired by locals as a newer part of the city from its expansion at the more economical alternative to the hang- dawn of the 20th century, we see Flemish-style ing bridge. Chavarri Palace, which anchors Moyua, • How to get there: A 30-minute metro ride, the public square. Our discoveries in Bilbao about $2 USD per person each way. conclude at a local restaurant around 6:30pm. • Hours: The bridge is open 24 hours a day. Dinner: Around 6:30pm, we’ll sit down for The boat operates 6am-10pm Monday- dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Friday, 8am-10pm Saturday, and 10am- Basque-style cuisine. 10pm Sundays and holidays. • Cost: About 50 cents per person. Evening: We’ll depart the restaurant around • Stroll the Azkuna Center: An old wine 7:30pm and you may choose to walk about merchant building, the center was revamped 15 minutes back to our hotel or ride the bus. by noted French designer Philippe Starck in The rest of the evening is on your own. You’re 2010, and now features shops, a cinema, art free to take a stroll through the heart of the exhibitions, cafés, and a sports complex with city. Perhaps you’ll explore some of the local swimming pools. nightlife, sip some wine at a nearby bar or restaurant, or just relax back at the hotel. • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi ride, about $10 USD one way. Freedom To Explore: During your three days • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. in Bilbao, you have the freedom to explore • Cost: Free. the city that dazzles with both old and new • Visit Sombreros Gorostiaga to find a treasures and architectural gems. Below are traditional Basque hat: Founded in 1857, this a few recommended options for independent family-run shop offers a range of txapela, explorations during your free time: a classic Basque-style hat that has become • Discover a unique mode of transportation part of the region’s cultural identity. Discover at the Vizcaya Bridge in the nearby town the art of hat making and how to wear them of Portugalete. Also known as the Hanging from the shop owners and salespeople. Bridge, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a The shop specializes in artisan-made and fascinating 19th-century engineering marvel, custom txapelas. designed by the Basque architect Alberto • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk. Palacio—a student of France’s Gustav Eiffel. • Hours: 10am-1:30pm and 4pm-7:30pm, This 150-foot-tall metal bridge transports Monday-Saturday. pedestrians and vehicles by way of a gondola, • Cost: Free. which hangs by steel cables just above the water. This unique contraption was the first Day 2 Bilbao of its kind in the world, and visitors can • Destination: Bilbao admire its unique mechanisms while enjoying • Included Meals: Breakfast an opportunity to converse with locals who • Accommodations: Hotel Hesperia Bilbao use it for their day-to-day commute. Cross Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes.
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37 Morning: Around 9am today, we’ll walk Morning: Around 9am today, we’ll depart via to the Guggenheim Museum with our Trip bus to San Sebastian. Located on the Bay of Experience Leader. You’ll have the chance Biscay, and commonly referred to as the “Pearl to explore the grounds of this innovative of the Ocean” due to its sparkling azure waters, architectural landmark on your own for as long San Sebastian is a magnet for world travelers, as you choose. For the remainder of the day, who come for the world-famous film festival, you have the freedom to enjoy this fascinating fine dining, and resorts. San Sebastian is also a city independently. Consider taking a stroll gastronomical and cultural hub, considered to along the Nervión River, or discover the Ribera be the “gourmet capital of Spain” and was one Market. Other options include the Doña Casilda of the most popular destinations for historical Park or the Fine Arts Museum. figures like Leon Trotsky and Mata Hari after World War I. Lunch: On your own. Perhaps you’ll find a local café at which you can savor a glass of zurito, We arrive around 10:30am for a walking tour beer served in a small glass—the popular way through Parte Vieja, the Old Town, where we’ll to order and enjoy the beverage here. Or, ask see the 1774 Church of Santa Maria del Coro, your Trip Experience Leader for suggestions for with its twin towers framing an altar-like the best places to find traditional fare. entrance. Old Town’s narrow, winding streets are rich with history yet bustling Afternoon: Enjoy free time to continue with modern-day activity, as it’s the busiest exploring on your own. You also have the shopping district in San Sabastian. Then, option to join your Trip Experience Leader on a we’ll cross Constitution Square, the arcaded discovery walk of the city. plaza at the heart of the city. Once the home Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll seek out of bullfighting competitions, watched from Basque specialties like lamb or bacalao pil-pil numbered balconies, Constitution Square is (cod fish with garlic and olive oil). Or, you still home to many of San Sebastian’s most might even try kokotxas–typically not found important celebrations. outside of the Basque region, this dish consists At around 11:30am, we’ll stop at a local outdoor of the cheeks of cod or hake in a sauce made market, where local farmers congregate to from garlic, white wine, and olive oil. sell their harvest. Our Trip Experience Leader Evening: On your own to relax or take in the will help introduce us to the local merchants charming Old Quarter at night. and shoppers for an opportunity for authentic people-to-people interaction. Our tour will end Day 3 Discover San Sebastian around 12:15pm, and we’ll have about an hour to continue explore on our own before lunch. • Destination: Bilbao • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Lunch: Around 1:15pm, we’ll walk for about 15 minutes to a local restaurant, featuring Basque • Accommodations: Hotel Hesperia Bilbao specialties. We’ll take part in a special tasting Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel that will give us a glimpse into the unique food between 7am-10am, featuring hot and culture of San Sebastian. cold dishes.
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38 Afternoon: At around 2:45pm, we depart for rooms typically includes a TV, wireless our motorcoach ride back to our hotel in Bilbao, Internet, a safe, coffee- and tea-making arriving around 4:15pm. The rest of the day is facilities, and a private bathroom. free to spend in Bilbao as you please. Lunch: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience Dinner: On your own to continue sampling Leader for suggestions in the city, or opt to the region’s rich cuisine. Ask your Trip have a meal at the hotel. Experience Leader where you can sample Afternoon: We’ll regroup around 3pm for a traditional pintxos tapas. city tour of Santander. The city has been an Evening: During free time this evening, you important trading port since the middle of the may choose to drift in and out of tapas bars like 18th century, when ships sailed from here to the a local, or rest and relax before our explorations rest of Europe and to the Americas. Its beaches begin tomorrow. have made it a draw for sun-worshippers for more than a century, including members of the Day 4 Visit Castro Urdiales • royal family who built a palace here. Backed by Explore Santander verdant hills and mountain peaks, Santander offers dramatic vistas in all directions. As part • Destination: Santander of our tour, we’ll check out the magnificent • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Magdalena Palace, too, where the Spanish • Accommodations: Hotel Hoyuela royal family resides during their visits to Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Northern Spain. beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and Dinner: Around 7:30pm at the hotel restaurant, cold dishes. featuring local cuisine. Morning: We’ll depart the hotel around Evening: On your own—go for a lovely stroll 9am via bus for our 1-hour journey to Castro along sandy coastlines in this resort town, or Urdiales on the Bay of Biscay. This morning, relax at the hotel. we get to know the area on an hour-long walking tour. We’ll begin at the medieval city Freedom To Explore: During your two days in plaza, where you’ll see how the city blends the Santander, you have the freedom to explore modern with elements from the Middle Ages, the coastal resort town on your own during from its Gothic Santa María de la Asunción your free time. Below are a few recommended church to its castle. Castro Uridales best known options for independent explorations: for fishing, especially of anchovies, and for its • Visit the Centro Botin, a waterfront cultural lovely beaches. The Puebla Vieja (Old Town) center finished in 2017 under the auspices of is near the water and boasts the city’s first the award-winning architect Renzo Piano. lighthouse. At the city’s highest point, you This modern construction was designed to can enjoy panoramic views of the glistening complement the seafront aesthetic of its Cantabrian Sea. surroundings, its façade covered in ceramic We continue our journey around 11:30am, tiles to create a dazzling reflection of the sun arriving in Santander and checking in to our and the sparkling sea. Inside the two wings, hotel around 12:45pm. Depending on where we stay, our hotel may feature a bar, restaurant, and health club. Each of the air-conditioned
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
39 you’ll performance spaces, as well as art learning about the significance of these and cultural exhibitions which celebrate the ancient artworks—some of the oldest living unique heritage of the Cantabria region. masterpieces that have ever been discovered.
• How to get there: A 1.5-mile walk from the At about 10:45am, we depart the caves and drive hotel. for about 15 minutes to the charming nearby • Hours: 10am-9pm Tuesday-Sunday. town of Santillana del Mar, known as “The • Cost: $12 USD per person. Town of Three Lies,” arriving at about 11am. Its • Admire the city from above Río de la Pila: The name translates to the “saint’s flat by the sea”, upper part of the city offers sweeping vistas but as the local joke goes, it is not saintly, flat, of the town and coast below. Ride the free or near the sea. It’s one of the best-preserved funicular for about five minutes to the top medieval towns in all of Spain, and as you walk where you’ll find cafés, restaurants, and bars. the golden sandstone roads, you’ll feel you’re • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi stepping back in time. ride, about $12 USD one way. Then, we’ll enjoy a stroll through this small • Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. village, with its medieval lanes and dwellings • Cost: Free. intermingled with “newer” structures • Visit the Refugio Antiaereo: A former air from the 18th and 19th centuries. We’ll see raid shelter—one of the 114 shelters built the casonas (old houses) typical of the 16th in Santander—now reopened as a museum and 17th centuries, with stonework and stucco and features emotional videos. Guest will meeting under red rooftops. gain a deeper understanding of the refugees Around 12:30pm, we’ll drive for about 30 who were seeking shelter during the Spanish minutes to Vicente de la Barquera, a city famed Civil War. for seafood, then walk for about 15 minutes to a • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi local restaurant. ride, about $10 USD one way. • Hours: 11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm, daily. Lunch: Around 1:15pm in Vicente de la Barquera • Cost: About $3 USD. at a restaurant known for its views of colorful boats dotting the bay. The most beloved local Day 5 Visit Santillana del Mar • San Vicente dish is sorropotún, a hearty stew of potatoes, de la Barquera bonito fish, tomato, and pimiento peppers. Perhaps we’ll sample some local specialties • Destination: Santander during our meal. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Hotel Hoyuela Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, we’ll embark on a walk through the city. Underneath the gaze Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the of the snowcapped Picos de Europa mountain hotel beginning at 7am, featuring hot and range, the fishing village of San Vincente de la cold dishes. Barquera is known for its historic flavor. With a Morning: Around 9am, we depart the hotel medieval castle, a church completed in the 16th for a drive of about an hour for a short stop century, and many bridges, it is a feast for the at the Altamira Caves, a UNESCO World eyes, as we discover during our visit. Around Heritage Site known for their prehistoric 3:15pm we board our bus for our return trip to cave paintings. We’ll spend about 45 minutes Santander, arriving at the hotel around 4:15pm.
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40 The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours lions, the chapel is one of the region’s most to explore on your own. You can take in the treasured cultural sites. Around 12:15pm, we’ll shimmering seaside views, or maybe choose to board the bus for our next destination. visit Refugio Antiaereo. Lunch: At a local restaurant around 12:45pm en Dinner: On your own. You might consider route to Oviedo. heading to Río de la Pila viewpoint. Perched Afternoon: We depart around 2:30pm and atop the city, the area offers impressive views continue onward, arriving in Oviedo around and a host of intimate tapas restaurants 4:30pm when we’ll check in to our hotel. While where you can enjoy dinner or people watch our exact hotel may vary, we’ll likely be located over a drink. in the historic center of Oviedo, near sites like Evening: On your own to continue exploring the Cathedral of San Salvador, the Museum this coastal town. of Fine Arts of Asturias, and the University of Oviedo. Typical rooms may include Day 6 Transfer to Oviedo • Visit Covadonga air-conditioning, a TV, wireless Internet, a minibar, and a private bath. • Destination: Oviedo • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Oviedo has been occupied since the eighth • Accommodations: Gran Hotel España century and the capital of Asturias since the 18th. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel it’s considered Spain’s home for intricate beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and pre-Romantic era architecture, with some cold dishes. 10th-century structures still standing Morning: We depart from our hotel around today. You have time to settle into the hotel 9am for a drive of about two hours via before dinner. bus. We’ll journey through Asturias, the Dinner: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience autonomous principality now enclosed within Leader where you can sample local cuisine, Spain, but which was once an independent such as fabada (rich bean and pork stew) or kingdom. As you ride, you’ll see why the region locally produced cheeses. You might also want is known as España Verde (Green Spain); the to try a glass of sidra, a dry cider made of apples. vibrant green hills contrasted by the deep blue Cantabrian Sea make for views that seem closer Evening: You have free time to explore the to a painting than real life. small alleys or bustling town center of Oviedo.
We begin in Covadonga, arriving around 11am Freedom To Explore: During your two days in for a short walk around the site. Covadonga Oviedo, you have the freedom to explore the marks a crucial moment in Spanish history, historic town on your own during your free when the king pushed out Moorish invaders in time. Below are a few recommended options for the year 722. The sanctuary itself is home to the independent explorations: basilica bulit in 1877, which houses the tomb of Take in artwork at the Asturias Museum of the first king of Asturia and his wife, and a cave • Fine Arts: Located in the old quarter of town, chapel that honors the Virgin Mary. Illuminated the museum opened in 1980 and houses an by votives and guarded by massive marble impressive collection of art from the Asturias region. There is an entire room dedicated to
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41 the works of El Greco. The museum houses Morning: We’ll gather as a group and depart more than 15,000 pieces ranging from the the hotel around 9:30am for a 2-hour tour of 14th to the 21st centuries and includes works Oviedo. The city’s monuments and structures from well-known artists such as Goya, offer a view across the centuries, from the Picasso, and Dalí. medieval City Wall to the 16th-century viaduct, • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk. the elegant 18th-century La Reconquista Hotel, • Hours: 10am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, daily. and the 19th-century Campoamor Theater. • Cost: Free. Lunch: On your own in Oviedo, or you can opt • Delight in the seaside town of Gijón: Stroll to take the train to the seaside town of Gijón the old fisherman’s quarter, climb clifftop about 30-minutes away for a feast overlooking overviews, or weave in and out of small the water. alleys full of shops and restaurants. There’s a Afternoon: You have the rest of the day free botanical garden and an abundance of seafood to explore at your own pace. You can explore restaurants where you can try the famous gothic cathedrals, loiter in front of delightful Asturian crab and more. shop windows and outdoor cafés, or visit • How to get there: A 30- to 40-minute train museums. Your Trip Experience Leader would ride, about $9 USD one way. be happy to provide suggestions based on your • Hours: 10am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, daily. interests. • Cost: Free. Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll walk for about 10 • Learn about the region’s history and minutes to a local restaurant to enjoy a Farewell architecture at the Centre for Reception and Dinner, featuring traditional cuisine. This is a Interpretation: Focusing on the pre-Roman- great chance to toast to the discoveries we’ve esque era of the Asturian region, a visit to this made throughout our adventure. informational center will provide a greater context for the city’s surrounding churches Evening: Free to enjoy a last glass of and medieval monuments. wine or cider, or pack for your departure • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi home tomorrow. ride, about $10 USD one way. • Hours: 10am-1:30pm and 3:30pm- Day 8 Return to U.S. 6:30pm, daily. • Included Meals: Breakfast • Cost: Free. Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Day 7 Explore Oviedo beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. • Destination: Oviedo • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Morning: Board a bus for about a 1-hour drive • Accommodations: Gran Hotel España to the airport for your return flight to the U.S.
Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
42 Back Roads of Iberia: RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 Spanish Paradores & We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for Portuguese Pousadas any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. See details at www.oattravel.com/riskfree-booking.
2021 Dates & Prices
NOVEMBER- DEPART FROM APRIL MAY 1-11 MAY 14-31 SEPTEMBER OCT 1-26 OCT 29, 31 DECEMBER
New York $ 5195 $ 5095 $ 5395 $ 4595 $ 4495 $ 4395 $ 3795
Denver, Houston, San Francisco, $ 5295 $ 5195 $ 5495 $ 4695 $ 4595 $ 4495 $ 3895 Washington, DC
Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, $ 5395 $ 5295 $ 5595 $ 4795 $ 4695 $ 4595 $ 3995 Minneapolis, Philadelphia
Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Portland, $ 5495 $ 5395 $ 5695 $ 4895 $ 4795 $ 4695 $ 4095 Seattle, Tampa
Dallas, San Diego $ 5595 $5495 $5795 $4995 $4895 $4795 $4195
Phoenix $ 5695 $5595 $5895 $5095 $4995 $4895 $4295
Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details.
M A Y M A Y OCT 29, N O V E M B E R ; A P R I L 1-11 14-31 SEP 1 SEP 3-29 OCT 1-26 31 DEC 6-10, DEC 13, 15 Without international airfare $ 4295 $ 4195 $ 4095 $ 3295 $ 3695 $ 3595 $ 3495 $ 2995 $ 2895
WPS2021
Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors.
For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/wps2021pricing
SAVE UP TO 10% WITH FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL OUR GOOD BUY PLAN We offer FREE Single Supplements on all New travelers you refer will instantly save The earlier you reserve your departure of our adventures and pre- and post-trip $100, and you’ll earn increasing rewards— and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up extensions. up to a FREE trip! to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.oattravel.com/va For details, visit www.oattravel.com/gbd available—call today to reserve.
Publication Date 12/11/20
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/wps2021
43 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Your Passport • Must be in good condition
• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.
• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)
• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable
Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport
Recommended Blank Pages Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this vacation.
• Main trip: You’ll need 3 blank passport pages
• Pre- and/or post-extensions: No additional blank pages needed beyond the 3 for the main trip.
No Visas Required Travelers with a U.S. passport do not need any visas for this adventure, including the optional trip extensions.
Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org.
Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate.
44 Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.
If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip.
Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.
45 RIGORS, VACCINES & GENERAL HEALTH
Is This Adventure Right for You? Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their condition would adversely affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of themselves or of other travelers.
PACING • 6 locations in 15 days
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs or other mobility aids
• Must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted each day and participate in 3-5 hours of daily physical activities, including walks along cobblestoned streets and up several steps and steep hills
• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience
CLIMATE • Daytime temperatures in July and August often reach above 90°F
TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Travel over some rugged paths and cobblestoned streets, as well as bumpy, unpaved roads, both by bus and on foot
• Travel via private, air-conditioned bus
• Several overland drives of 5-6 hours
ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES • Most nights are in paradores and pousadas, government-owned restored historic inns with comfortable rooms and private baths
• Lodgings in Lisbon and Toledo are hotel-standard, with a variety of amenities and private baths
Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following:
• Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.
46 • Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.
• Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.
• Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent)
Vaccines Required
COVID-19 Overseas Adventure Travel requires that all travelers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and are able provide proof of their vaccination upon arrival at their destination. A full vaccination is defined as having been inoculated at least 14 days prior to departure by an approved vaccine. This requirement is not contingent on the countries the tour visits, but a strict company policy due to the nature of the pandemic.
Medication Suggestions • An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness
• Prescription pain medication in the unlikely event of an injury in a remote location
Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.
• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.
• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.
We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & Special Circumstances”; if you don’t see any medications specifically mentioned, then you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK).
Staying Healthy on Your Trip Jet Lag Tips
• Start your trip well-rested.
• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.
• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.
• Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– your flight.
47 • Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying
• Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane.
• After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.
• Don’t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.
• Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.
Allergies
If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814, and we will communicate them to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.
Water • Tap water in the region is safe to drink, but is processed differently than in the U.S. so it can still upset your stomach or feel “heavy”. Therefore, we suggest drinking bottle water instead.
• Bottled water is readily available and inexpensive. (Bottled water is not included in the price of your tour.)
Food • We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals. Your Trip Experience Leader can suggest restaurants for the meal you take on your own.
• Be very careful with food sold from vendors on the street, and with uncooked foods.
48 MONEY MATTERS: LOCAL CURRENCY & TIPPING GUIDELINES
Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card.
• Traveler’s checks are not recommended. They can be difficult to exchange and the commission fee for cashing them is quite high. It’s more practical to view them as a last resort in the event of a special situation.
• You will not be able to pay with U.S. dollars on this trip; you will need euros instead. Most banks in Europe will only exchange money for their customers, so we recommend that you change some money before your trip. (Once on the trip you can use ATMs and/or exchange offices.)
Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter, your bank, or the financial section of your newspaper.
Euro Countries The euro is the official currency in many member countries of the European Union. Unless otherwise listed, the countries you will be visiting will use the euro. Euro banknote and coin denominations are as follows:
• Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros
• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents; 1 and 2 euros
How to Exchange Money If you want to exchange money before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at an exchange office. Your departure airport in the U.S., a travel agent, or an AAA office are also possible outlets. Or you can wait and change money on the trip instead—but it might be helpful to arrive with some local currency in case you run into a bank holiday or an “out of order” ATM.
On your trip, the easiest way to obtain local currency is to withdraw funds from a local ATM. The ATM will give you local money and your bank at home will convert that into U.S. dollars.
You may be able to exchange cash at some hotels, large post offices, and money exchange offices, however they do not typically offer good exchange rates and can be difficult to find. To exchange cash, you’ll usually need your passport and bills in good condition (not worn, torn, or dirty). New bills (post 2004) are best.
49 Please note that many banks in Europe will only exchange money for their own customers. Never exchange money on the street. All exchange methods involve fees, which may be built into the conversion rate; ask beforehand.
ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.
Many banks charge a fee of $1-$10 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.
Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)
Spain: ATMs are widely available throughout Spain, especially in larger cities and towns.
Portugal: ATMs are widely available in Portugal, especially in larger cities and towns.
Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.
Spain: Visa and MasterCard credit cards are fairly common in Spain, but may not be accepted for small purchases or in the markets.
Portugal: Visa and MasterCard credit cards are fairly common in Portugal, but may not be accepted for small purchases or in the markets.
Chip Cards Many countries have adopted a new type of credit card that has an embedded computer chip. These cards are inserted into the reader instead of swiped. The card owner then authorizes the purchase using a PIN instead of signing.
This new technology is only now gaining traction in the U.S., so occasionally there are machines in other countries that can’t read U.S. cards. Or the machine can read the card, but asks for a PIN. This doesn’t happen often, and is nothing to worry about. You can usually resolve the situation by asking the cashier to let you sign. (If you don’t speak the language, just mime signing on your hand.) If you are not able to sign for a purchase, such as at an automated ticket booth, you can use another form of payment, such as a debit card that has a PIN.
50 Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.
You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!
Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines.
• O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $8-$12 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.
• Housekeeping staff at hotels: $1-2 per room, per night
• Waiters: When dining as a group, your tip is included—there is no need for you to leave an additional tip. When dining on your own, check your bill for a service charge. If a service charge is not included in your bill, we suggest you leave about 10% of the check.
• Taxi drivers: The practice of tipping taxi drivers in Portugal and Spain varies from city to city. In some cities it is expected and in others it is discretionary. Your program director can advise you what the practice is in each area that you visit.
Please Note: Your tour price includes gratuities on the main trip and optional extensions for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters that may assist you during the scheduled activities on your adventure. All tips are quoted in U.S. dollars; tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips.
51 AIR, OPTIONAL TOURS & STAYING IN TOUCH
Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air Quick Definitions
• Land Only: You will be booking your own international flights. Airport transfers are not included.
• Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet).
• Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount under “My Reservations”.
Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased For eligible flights, airport transfers may be purchased separately as an optional add-on, subject to availability. To be eligible, your flight(s) must meet the following requirements:
• You must fly into or fly home from the same airport as O.A.T. travelers who purchased included airfare.
• Your flight(s) must arrive/depart on the same day that the group arrives or departs.
Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814.
If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com.
Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.
What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability.
52 • Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)
• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.
• Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount).
Communicating with Home from Abroad To ensure you are available during your trip to friends and relatives at home, you will receive two copies of your hotel list, including phone numbers, with your Final Documents. One copy is for you to bring, and one to leave behind with friends or relatives in case they need to contact you during the trip.
Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one.
Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.
Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.).
One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.
53 Internet WiFi is readily available in some restaurants, cafes, and hotels. Some businesses will offer free WiFi, and some will charge for the service; charges vary. Cafes and chain restaurants are good places to look for free WiFi, although it is expected that you’ll buy a drink while you’re in the café. Many hotels will also have a computer in the lobby or in the business center that travelers can use; there may or may not be a fee.
How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.
Spain: +34 Portugal: +351
54 PACKING: WHAT TO BRING & LUGGAGE LIMITS
Luggage Limits
MAIN TRIP LIMITS
Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on bag per person.
Weight restrictions Varies by international airline. The current industry standard is 50 lbs for checked luggage and 15 lbs for carry-ons.
Size Restrictions Standard airline size: checked luggage should not exceed 62 linear inches (length+ width + depth) and carry-on should not exceed 45 linear inches.
Luggage Type A suitcase with wheels.
TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS
Same as the main trip.
REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS
One suitcase and one carry-on bag per person: Due to the space limitations on our coaches in Iberia, you’ll be limited to one suitcase and one carry-on bag per person. This is to ensure that we have room for everyone’s luggage. We ask that you abide by this limit to avoid inconveniencing your fellow travelers and prevent additional luggage or portage fees (which would be at your own cost). Most airlines now charge to check more than one suitcase per person for flights to Europe and other international flights.
Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question.
Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.
• It’s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.
55 • Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.
Your Luggage • Checked Luggage: One suitcase per person. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap- around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy duty lockable zipper. Our staff in Iberia do not recommend duffel bags as they slow down the loading/unloading/delivery of luggage.
• Carry-on Bag: You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle, camera, etc—during your daily activities.
• Locks: For flights that originate in the U.S., you can either use a TSA-approved lock or leave your luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft-prevention measure.
Clothing Suggestions: Functional Tips As you will experience a range of temperatures and weather conditions, our list suggests several layers of clothing. You’ll want good-quality rain gear and a warm jacket for evenings. In fall and winter, you’ll need a warm coat, hat, gloves, and a scarf. If you like to hand-wash your clothes, bring socks and underwear, and even shirts and pants, made of silk, synthetics, or a blend that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel. Look for clothes that offer warmth and breathability.
• Footwear: You’ll be on your feet a lot during the trip, and walking over some rough and slippery surfaces. The soles of your shoes should offer good traction.
Style Hints & Dress Codes • Dress on our trip is functional and casual. Generally, Portugal and Spain are informal countries. Even in the fanciest hotels and restaurants men don’t need a jacket and tie— though you won’t feel out of place wearing them.
• Shorts are fine for touring except in religious sites, where men and women are sometimes expected to have legs and arms covered.
Suggested Packing Lists We have included suggestions from Trip Experience Leaders and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook.
And don’t forget a reusable water bottle—you’ll need it to take advantage of any refills we offer as we are working to eliminate single-use plastic bottles on all of our trips.
56 Recommended Clothing Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts in a breathable fabric, like cotton or cotton-blend. Polo shirts are more versatile than T-shirts.
Trousers and/or jeans: Comfortable and loose fitting is best. Avoid tight fits. Walking shorts: Cut long for modesty. See the “Style Hints” section on the previous page for more details.
Optional: Travel skirt. Shoes and socks: We recommend you wear sturdy walking shoes or supportive sports shoes for our daytime shore excursions.
Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood Wide-brim sun hat or visor for sun protection Light sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket (air conditioning can be cold in museums, motor coaches, etc).
Underwear and sleepwear Swimsuit
Seasonal Clothing Recommendations For late spring or summer departures, add these items to your list: Light cotton garment, which are more comfortable than synthetic fabrics. A light windbreaker or sweater for layering
For fall and winter departures, add these items to your list: A light coat and sweaters or sweatshirts to layer.
Essential Items Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, etc. Our hotels will provide the basics like soap and shampoo, but if you are sensitive to fragrances or new products, you may wish to bring your preferred brands. Most hotels do not provide a washcloth, so you may wish to pack one.
Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses; sunglasses Sunscreen, SPF 15 or stronger
57 Insect repellent Light folding umbrella Pocket-size tissues Moist towelettes and/or anti-bacterial “water-free” hand cleanser Electrical transformer & plug adapters Camera gear with extra batteries or battery charger
Medicines & First Aid Gear Your own prescription medicines Travel first aid kit: Band-Aids, headache and pain relief, laxatives and anti-diarrhea tablets, something for upset stomach. Maybe a cold remedy, moleskin foot pads, antibiotic cream, or allergy medication.
An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness Optional: A strong prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes. (Applies more to the extensions than the main trip.)
Optional Gear Travel alarm or travel watch with alarm Lightweight binoculars (essential if birding) Hanging toiletry bag (with hook to hang on doorknob and pockets to organize items) Basic sewing kit Hand-wash laundry soap and maybe plastic hang-up clothespins Reading materials Travel journal/note pad and pens Home address book Photos or post cards from home, small gift for Home-Hosted Visit Phrase book
58 Folding walking staff, sold in most camping stores Pocket-size calculator for exchange rates
Home-Hosted Visits Many of our adventures feature a visit with a local family, often as part of the A Day in the Life experience. It is customary, though not necessary, to return your hosts’ generosity with a small gift. If you do bring a gift, we recommend that you bring something the whole family can enjoy, or something that represents your region, state, or hometown. Get creative and keep it small—peach jelly from Georgia, maple sugar candy from New England, orange blossom soap from California; something that can be used or used up is best. When choosing a gift, be certain to consider the local culture as well. For example, we do not recommend alcohol in Muslim countries because it is forbidden in Islam, and your hosts may be religious. Not all O.A.T. adventures include a Home-Hosted Visit; please check your final itinerary before you depart.
Electricity Abroad When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape.
Voltage Electricity in Spain and Portugal is 230 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers—can run off both 110 and 220-240. But you should check the item or the owner’s guide first to confirm this before you plug it in. If you have something that needs 110 volts—like a shaver or a hairdryer—you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.)
Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket you’ll need an adapter that fits between the plug and the socket. Even though you’ll only need two types of adapters for this trip, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/ converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or Walmart. If you forget to bring an adapter, you might also find them for sale at the airport when you arrive at your destination.
Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip:
Spain: C and/or F
59 Portugal: C and/or F
Type C Type F
Availability Barring the occasional and unpredictable power outage, electricity is as readily available on this adventure as it is in the U.S.
60 CLIMATE & AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon is one of the warmest European capitals. Spring and summer months are usually sunny with maximum temperatures close to or above 86 degrees and lows between 59 and 68 degrees. Autumn and winter are typically rainy and windy with some sunny days; the temperature rarely falls below 41 degrees, usually staying at an average of 50. On average, there are 100 days with rain per year. Lisbon’s climate is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream.
Ronda, Spain: Ronda’s climate is heavily influenced by the fact that it is surrounded by mountains. Summers are mild with tolerable heat levels but the winters can be grey, cold and rainy with some interspersed sunny days.
Ubeda, Spain: Located in a region that typically exhibits a subtropical climate, in Ubeda you can expect the weather to be generally dry. Summers are very hot with very little rain. Winters characteristically display moderate temperatures and tend to be relatively humid.
Madrid, Spain: The climate of Madrid fits into that of the interior of Spain. Rainfall is generally rather low over most of the interior. In late summer much of this area has a burnt and barren appearance after the long summer drought. Summers are generally hot. Spring and early summer tend to be the wettest seasons in many places, but the rainfall is light and not very effective as it often falls in short, heavy showers. Winters have frequent cold spells with biting winds blowing off the snow-covered sierras. Dust and hot winds are the most unpleasant features of the summer weather, but low humidity makes the heat more bearable. Sunshine amounts are quite high throughout the year, ranging from an average of five hours a day in winter to as much as twelve hours in midsummer.
Porto, Portugal: Porto, the second largest city in Portugal following Lisbon, exhibits a warm sea climate. Here, you can expect the summers to be warm and relatively dry, while the winters are mild and rainy. In general, Porto is one of the wettest areas in Europe; even during its dry season you can expect showers and bursts of colder weather. Even during its rainiest periods, Porto tends to be sunny and temperatures are mild but could drop into the high 30s-low 40s.
Bilbao, Spain: Along Spain’s northern coast, there is an oceanic-maritime climate, with temperate weather year-round and rare major temperature fluctuations or extremes. Spring has average temperatures of 57°F in February, and 61°F in March. Spring, however, can be rainy.
Climate Averages & Online Forecast The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast.
61 Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall
MONTH LISBON, PORTUGAL RONDA, SPAIN
Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 58 to 47 85 to 72 3.8 61 to 39 84 to 64 2.0 FEB 61 to 49 84 to 68 3.6 64 to 43 82 to 58 1.5 MAR 65 to 51 83 to 61 2.0 70 to 46 79 to 52 1.5 APR 67 to 53 83 to 61 2.5 73 to 48 68 to 40 2.3 MAY 71 to 56 82 to 57 2.2 81 to 55 60 to 34 1.3 JUN 77 to 61 83 to 54 0.7 90 to 61 58 to 34 0.3 JUL 82 to 64 80 to 48 0.2 97 to 66 59 to 36 -- AUG 82 to 65 80 to 48 0.3 95 to 66 66 to 38 -- SEP 80 to 63 82 to 51 1.1 88 to 63 71 to 39 1.3 OCT 72 to 58 84 to 62 3.1 79 to 57 72 to 41 2.6 NOV 64 to 53 86 to 71 4.2 68 to 48 76 to 50 2.8 DEC 59 to 49 86 to 75 4.8 63 to 45 85 to 65 3.0
MONTH UBEDA, SPAIN MADRID, SPAIN
Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 56 to 32 -- 1.4 50 to 37 89 to 62 1.8 FEB 61 to 35 -- 1.1 54 to 39 87 to 57 1.7 MAR 67 to 40 -- 1.3 60 to 42 83 to 47 1.5 APR 70 to 43 -- 1.3 64 to 45 83 to 48 1.8 MAY 78 to 50 -- 1.3 71 to 51 82 to 44 1.6 JUN 89 to 57 -- 0.4 80 to 59 76 to 38 1.0 JUL 95 to 61 -- -- 88 to 65 67 to 30 0.4 AUG 94 to 60 -- 0.1 87 to 65 68 to 31 0.4 SEP 84 to 55 -- 0.9 79 to 59 75 to 38 1.2 OCT 73 to 49 -- 1.9 66 to 50 85 to 51 1.8 NOV 63 to 40 -- 2.0 56 to 43 89 to 60 2.5 DEC 57 to 35 -- 2.1 50 to 39 89 to 66 1.9
62 MONTH PORTO, PORTUGAL BILBAO, SPAIN
Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 56 to 41 87 to 70 6.2 56 to 41 80 to 63 5.0 FEB 59 to 43 88 to 71 5.5 58 to 41 79 to 58 3.8 MAR 62 to 45 86 to 66 3.5 61 to 42 83 to 58 3.7 APR 64 to 48 86 to 66 4.6 62 to 45 84 to 61 4.9 MAY 67 to 52 89 to 67 3.8 68 to 50 86 to 61 3.5 JUN 73 to 57 90 to 66 1.8 73 to 55 89 to 62 2.5 JUL 77 to 60 91 to 65 0.7 77 to 59 90 to 60 2.4 AUG 77 to 60 92 to 64 1.1 78 to 59 92 to 61 3.2 SEP 75 to 57 90 to 65 2.8 76 to 56 88 to 59 2.9 OCT 69 to 53 89 to 70 5.4 69 to 51 83 to 60 4.8 NOV 62 to 47 87 to 70 6.2 62 to 46 81 to 62 5.5 DEC 58 to 44 86 to 72 7.7 57 to 43 79 to 63 4.6
63 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE
O.A.T. Trip Experience Leaders: A World of Difference During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and possess the skills, certification, and experience necessary to ensure an enriching adventure. As locals of the regions you’ll explore with them, our Trip Experience Leaders provide the kind of firsthand knowledge and insight that make local history, culture, and wildlife come alive. Coupled with their unbridled enthusiasm, caring personalities, and ability to bring diverse groups of travelers together, our Trip Experience Leaders ensure that your experience with O.A.T. is one you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Spanish Culture In 1983, the artist Joan Miró created an image for the Spanish Tourist Board that is still used today—a bold red orb encircled by a black shadow, with a vivid yellow penumbra, a star, and the stylized text “España.” Beneath this, the slogan read “Everything under the sun.” It is one of the few bits of advertising that truly captures its subject, for Spain boasts a culture that is strikingly bold, colorful, and lit up by diversity. Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Jews, Arabs, Goths and many other people have left their imprint here, giving each region a unique cultural identity. In some cases, that identify is very distinct from the mainstream culture, most notably in Galicia, Catalonia, and the Basque Country, which are autonomous communities with their own languages and traditions.
Beyond the regionalism, there is a unifying national identity that is bound up with a deep love of country, a sense of personal honor, and a shared value around sociability that Spaniards are very proud of. That pride is sometimes mistaken by outsiders as haughtiness. But once you get acquainted with a Spaniard, you will usually find that they are informal, candid, and unafraid to show their emotions. Spaniards love to converse will stick around long after a meal, chatting for hours. This period has a name: la sobremesa, which means “over the table.” So don’t rush off after your lunch...enjoy a coffee or a digestif, and enjoy the good company.
One reason the sobremesa exists has to do with the organization of the typical Spanish day. Spain has some of the longest working hours in Europe—from 9am to 8pm. But there is also a two- to three-hour break in the afternoon, the siesta. Once upon a time the siesta was a practical way for workers to avoid the midday heat, and recharge their batteries with a little nap. Nowadays, most people do not nap, especially if they work too far from home to commute back for a snooze. Instead, they may linger longer at the table after lunch with colleagues or friends.
Many shops close during the siesta, but this is offset by the fact that they remain open late at night. Spain in general is a late-night culture. Most people do not eat dinner until 9pm at the earliest, and it’s not unusual to see entire families, children included, socializing in the cafes and plazas until midnight or later. Recently, there has been debate as to whether Spain’s traditional working hours make sense. On the other hand, in an age when stress and isolation are serious threats to one’s mental and physical health, a forced break to slow down, relax and enjoy some human connection may not be a bad thing.
64 Among the things Spaniards are proud of is their country’s artistic heritage, and here again, we are talking about diversity. You will see it in the striking architecture—from Roman ruins to Mudéjar palaces to Gothic cathedrals and the modernist masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí. Besides contemporary pop music, you are likely to hear Spanish classical guitar, and the flamenco music that arose from the cante jondo (deep song) of Andalusia’s gypsies. Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes gave us the first modern novel in 1605 with Don Quixote, and others following in his footsteps include the avant-garde Federico Garcia Lorca, Miguel Delibes (a multi-time Nobel nominee), and the contemporary Javier Marías.
As for visual arts, beyond the Golden Age giants like Goya, El Greco, and Velázquez, Spain’s modernist pantheon includes Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Salvador Dali, Miquel Barceló, and of course, Joan Miró, who was spot-on about that “everything under the sun” thing.
Religion and Religious Observance Catholicism became the official religion of Spain in 589 AD, and since then its influence has pervaded every aspect of Spanish society. But the nature of that influence has shifted over the past century. Though 68.5% of Spaniards identify as Catholic, only 14% of them say they attend mass on a weekly basis. Some of this goes back to the Franco era, when the church’s connections with the regime caused many Spanish Catholics to be skeptical of the clergy.
Mistrust of the church hierarchy notwithstanding, there is still a deep embrace of the religious traditions that are now embedded in Spanish culture. There is a church in every neighborhood, and Christian symbols are visible throughout the country. Each region or city has a patron saint who is celebrated on his or her dedicated holiday (santo) with processions and fiestas. Easter in Andalucía is marked by locals carrying elaborate floats and statues of Jesus and Mary through their towns. The truly devout may make pilgrimages (romerías) to religious shrines, the most famous of which is the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (the St. James’ Way) in the north of Spain. Even those who are not observant may attend mass on holidays, have religious weddings, or baptize their children.
The second largest religious group in Spain are Muslims, who comprise about 4% of the population. Many are first- or second-generation immigrants from Morocco and other African nations, and they are more likely to be active worshippers than their Catholic counterparts.
Visiting Churches Many churches run special services that you are welcome to attend. Otherwise, you are welcome to visit outside of services. Most churches have a dress code, but it is loosely enforced. Out of respect, you should try to cover your shoulders and wear long pants or shorts or skirts that reach the knee. If you’ll be traveling during warm weather and want to go sleeveless or wear a tank top, then we suggest that you throw a light sweater or cover-up into your daypack. A pashmina-type shawl is ideal for covering shoulders or low-cut blouses, or even wrapping around the waist as a sarong.
65 Language in Spain The official language that is spoken throughout Spain is Spanish—specifically, the Castilian form of Spanish. Spanish is a Romance language (along with Catalan, French, Italian, Romanian and Portuguese.) But there are many Spanish dialects and even separate regional languages that are widely spoken such as Catalan (spoken in Catalonia), Gallego (spoken in Galicia), Euskara (spoken in the Basque Country), and Aranese (spoken in parts of Catalonia near the Pyrenees.) What language you speak has social and political overtones, and many Spaniards choose to use local dialects at home or in daily business.
English is the most common foreign language, spoken by 27.7% of Spaniards. It is more widely used by young people, and those numbers are destined to rise given that nearly 90% of school- aged children are now learning English in school. In tourist areas, many signs are in English as well as Spanish.
Useful Phrases
Since many people speak English you should have little trouble communicating. And if you know a little Spanish, your hosts will be very appreciative if you make the effort to speak it. Spain has some colorful slang and idiomatic expressions that you may hear. Here are a few:
• Vale is a word you will hear a lot. It just means, “okay,” as in “Vale, vamos!” (Okay, let’s go.) Sometimes, it is just tacked onto the beginning or end of a sentence, just as we might do in English.
• No pasa nada means “no worries” or “its nothing,” and is used as a reply when someone thanks you.
• Chulo is one of those words that originally had negative connotations (as a noun, it means “pimp.”) But today, it is very widely used to mean “cool.” ¡Que chulo! means “how cool,” and you can use chulo to describe a person or object that you think is great. Another way to convey that idea is es la cana. It literally means “it is the cane,” but is used to indicate that an object is great. Me gusta esta comida, es la cana means “I like this food, it’s awesome.”
• Tío and tía mean “uncle” and “aunt.” But they’re also used to call someone a “guy/girl” or “dude/chick.” You can call your friends this, or even refer to strangers as tío and tía.
• You might have learned that simpático means “nice” in Spanish, and it does. But a more informal word to use is majo or maja . Besides meaning “nice””or “pleasant,” it can also mean “pretty.” So you could say, “Nuestra líder de la gira es muy maja.” (Our Trip Leader is very nice.)
Portuguese Culture Portuguese culture is shot through with the influences of the Celtic, Lusitanian, Phoenician, Germanic, Visigoth, Viking, Sephardic Jewish, and Moorish people who settled here. Set at Europe’s westernmost point, Portugal developed its own easygoing ways, and you’ll notice that the pace of life here is more relaxed than in many other parts of Europe. It is one of the most charming aspects of traveling here.
66 Most visitors find the Portuguese people to be gracious, courteous and helpful—if a little reserved. Part of that stems from the value they place on modesty and humility. They are careful not to boast, be too loud, or cause offense. The Portuguese are arguably more conservative than their neighbors. They tend to uphold and revere old traditions, and religious and family ties are very strong here. As you come to appreciate those things, you’ll also begin to feel the Portuguese people’s real warmth.
António de Oliveira Salazar, Portugal’s onetime dictator from 1926 to 1968, once described the nation’s culture in terms of the “Three Fs:” fado (the searingly sad folk song), Fátima (the Catholic shrine where a miraculous vision is said to have occurred), and futebol (soccer). He was being facetious, but there is no denying that the Portuguese people hold these things very dear.
Take fado, for instance. This uniquely Portuguese style of folk music is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Translating to “destiny” or “fate,” fado is mournful, and yet, passionate. The songs are often about homesickness, the sea, lost love and longing—things that would be familiar to many a Portuguese seafarer, of which there are many. It is the musical expression of an important concept called saudade, a word connoting longing, melancholy, and nostalgia for something lost. But saudade is also bittersweet, tinged with beautiful memories. The Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo called it “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.”
Some very devout people do make pilgrimages (romarias) to religious sites like Fátima, but overall, strict religious observance is on the decline in this predominantly Catholic culture. But that is a matter of church attendance and involvement with the organized church. Religion is still interwoven with the larger culture. Most towns are physically centered around a church, which is the nucleus of social events such as the annual village festa (festival). Most people have strong attachments to their hometowns and tend to remain there, or visit often. Grandparents are often involved in helping to care for children when the parents work, and especially in smaller towns (where homes tend to be larger), they often live with their children as part of the extended family.
As for futebol (soccer), Portugal’s obsession with the sport borders on the religious, and some of the greatest players in the world (like Luís Figo, Eusébio, and Cristiano Ronaldo) hailed from Portugal, and are national heroes. When a big match is on, the whole country seems to stop to cheer their favorite of the so-called “Three Greatest” teams: F.C. Porto, Sporting C.P., and S.L. Benfica. Head to a local tavern, watch the game with the locals, and you are sure to get swept up in the excitement.
If sports are not your thing, you will surely find many other cultural diversions...Portugal has experienced a renaissance, with many talented young designers, artists, musicians, architects, chefs, and entrepreneurs flocking to cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Guimarães—all of which have been named European Capitals of Culture since the advent of this century.
Religion in Portugal The majority of Portuguese people (81%) identify as Catholics. However, apart from major celebrations, church attendance is quite low. Even so, Catholicism is deeply entwined with the national and cultural identity. Even those who are not devout still have religious weddings,
67 baptisms, and funerals, and festivals honoring regional saints are still popular. It was only after the 1974 “carnation revolution” that the church and state were officially separated. Dress code in churches is similar to Spain.
Language in Portugal Portuguese is the official language of Portugal. It is a Romance language (along with Catalan, French, Italian, and Romanian), and is closely related to the Galician language spoken in northwest Spain. About 27% of the people also speak English, and that number is growing.
Useful Phrases
Portuguese people will appreciate the effort (even a fractured one) if you try to learn a few words in their language. Please do not try to speak to locals in Spanish—the Portuguese are sensitive to comparisons with their neighbor and are also very proud of their own language. Since enough people speak English, you should have little trouble getting by. Here are some colorful slang expressions that you may hear:
• Pa or Epa are catch-all words that start or end many sentences, similar to “well,” “uhh,” or “so” in English.
• ‘Tá bem is the Portuguese way to say “fine” or “it’s all good.”
• Tipo is the Portuguese equivalent of “like,” when like is used not to indicate a preference, but as a filler.
• Fixe means “cool,” but also “nice” and “good.” It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as Ele é um tipo fixe (He’s a cool guy) or a viagem foi muito fixe (the trip was really nice.)
Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people in Europe is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Consent is especially important if you want to take a photo of a child or minor—ask their parent for permission first. To get a great portrait, show interest in your subject and try to have a bit of social interaction to put them at ease. Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK.
Safety & Security As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people.
Carry a one-day supply of cash in your pocket. Carry most of your money, and your passport, in a travel pouch or money belt under your shirt. Replenish your pocket supply when you are in a safe and quiet place, or in our vehicle. Don’t leave valuables unattended in your hotel room. Most hotels will offer use of a hotel safe at the front desk or an electronic in-room safe (for which you can set your own personal number). Please utilize them.
68 Pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your wallet or money belt. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, be very careful. Con artists sometimes target travelers.
Hotel Courtesy in Spain Like in many other European nations, manners are more formal in Spain than the U.S. Hotel staff will likely address you as “señor” or “señora” and may be caught off guard if you ask a question without greeting them with a quick “hello” or “good day” first. Local staff (and other visiting Europeans) will generally make an effort to be quiet in hallways and common rooms, which are normally used for reading, relaxing, or quiet conversation. For this reason, eating and drinking in any common rooms other than the bar or restaurant is frowned on. If you have any laundry to dry, please keep it inside your room (and not on the balcony).
Bullfighting Season The season starts the end of March and lasts through October. Ticket prices vary according to the seat’s location: near or farther back from the ring, and in the shade or sun. Good seats in the shade run about $50. You do not need to make reservations in advance, unless the bullfighter of the day is famous.
Getting Around in Spain Taxi: Taxis are widely available in the area.
Bus: Generally less expensive than both taxi and train travel, bus travel in Spain has increased in recent years.
Trains: Spain has an extensive railway network linking all major towns and cities, and rail travel in Spain is generally comfortable, reliable and often cheaper than many other European countries. Trains are modern and many are high-speed.
Casino Estoril One of the most famous casinos in Europe is in Estoril, about a thirty-minute taxi ride from Lisbon (cab fare costing about twenty euros). But before you set off, be sure to bring your passport with you, as it is required for entrance.
Getting Around in Portugal Taxi: Portuguese taxis are a convenient but expensive method of transportation for long rides. If you are just going across town, prices are more reasonable. Officially metered taxis are ivory colored or black with green tops.
Trains: Portugal’s railway system is not extensive, but it does operate between major cities. On all train fares, passengers 65 and older will be given half-rate fares upon presentation of passport.
69 Remember to purchase your ticket prior to boarding the train. Once on board, you may be asked to show your ticket. If you do not have one, you will be charged a hefty fine! Tickets are not sold on the train.
Spanish Cuisine The 21st century’s culinary firmament is lit by a galaxy of superstar chefs from Spain. Among them are the legendary Ferran Adría (whose former restaurant, El Bulli, launched the “molecular gastronomy” trend), Carme Ruscalleda (the only female chef to be awarded five Michelin stars), octogenarian Juan Mari Arzak (the father of the “New Basque” cuisine), and Jose Andrés, (credited with bringing small plate dining to America). Even if you do not dine in one of their restaurants, they have influenced Spanish chefs in even the humblest establishments, where you might find traditional classics like these:
All over Spain, people head to local bars after work for drinks and bite-sized appetizers called tapas, or sometimes, pinchos, a reference to the toothpick that you use to spear it. These bar snacks come in endless varieties, such as patatas bravas (deep-fried potatoes), jeta (roasted, bite-sized pork cheeks served with red peppers and potatoes), gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic and chilies), and savory albondigas, meatballs of pork and beef. They could also be as simple as a plate of olives and some cubes of manchego cheese. Follow with a sip of wine or fino or manzanilla sherry.
Many of Spain’s most popular dishes originated in a specific region, but are widely available. One such is paella, originally from Valencia. Cooked in a wide pan, it is based on saffron-scented rice layered with vegetables and protein: The original used chicken and rabbit, but today you’re more likely to find seafood paella, with plenty of shrimp, langoustines, and mussels. Another popular seafood dish is pulpo a la Gallega. It is traditional to Galicia, and features boiled octopus with sea salt, paprika, and olive oil.
Gazpacho is a chilled soup that hails from Andalusia. There are many versions of it, but the traditional recipe calls for cucumber, onion, garlic, pepper, and tomato with salt, olive oil, wine vinegar, and water. A tortilla Espanola is nothing like its Mexican counterpart. It is an omelet starring pre-fried potatoes and eggs, onions, and seasonings
Many bars and restaurants will have hams hanging from the rafters. The best Spanish ham is dry-cured jamón Iberico, made from Iberian black-hoofed pigs raised entirely on acorns. A close second is jamón Serrano, made from white-hoofed pigs. They’ll be presented on a special stand (so you can see the telltale hoof), then deftly carved into wafer-thin slices. The carving is an art, and apprentices may take five years to learn it. Needless to say, the Spanish take their ham seriously.
The Basque region is a standout in a country of culinary superlatives. The city of San Sebastian is one of the world’s great food meccas, and even outside its Michelin star heavy hitters, the average restaurant will blow you away. Basque country is famous for pintxos, which are their version of tapas (but should never called as such!). One specialty is bacalao pil-pil: cod fried with garlic, olive
70 oil, and chili. Txangurro is a baked spider crab stuffed with onions, tomatoes, leeks, brandy, and parsley, topped with bread crumbs. For dessert, try pastel Vasco, a slice of vanilla custard cream heaven with a crunchy crust.
Remember that mealtimes in Spain are later than what you may used to. Breakfast (desayuno) is a light affair of coffee, pastry, and maybe a piece of fruit. Around 10 or 11 am, you can have almuerzo, a mid-morning snack. Places may close after this until lunch (la comida), which is the main meal of the day, a three-course affair eaten between 2 pm and 4 pm. If you’re feeling peckish around 4 pm, the merienda is a traditional time for coffee and cake. But save room for tapas, which usually start around 8 pm. With all that food, no wonder dinner (la cena) is rarely eaten before 9 or 10 pm.
Portuguese Cuisine Start with rich farms and Europe’s oldest vineyards, add in the bounties of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, season with some Moorish spice, and that is a good beginning for Portugal’s unique cuisine. Then, you can ramp it up with a variety of novel ingredients that Portuguese explorers brought home during the 15th-century: African vanilla and cinnamon...potatoes from South America...piri piri chilies from Brazil (used in a popular chicken dish)...and citrus from the Orient. Here are a few things Portuguese chefs do with all that variety:
Caldo verde is the classic soup of kale, potatoes, onions, and garlic simmered with olive oil in a clay pot. It is often served with cornbread and sometimes made with ham or sausage. The Portuguese do love their sausage, such as the smoky and garlicky chouriço, and its stronger variant, linguiça. You’ll also find farinheira (made with flour and red pepper paste), alheira (made with bread and chicken or game), and a blood sausage called morcela.
Some of the above will appear in feijoada à transmontana (bean stew with cabbage and sausages), or cozido à Portuguesa (boiled vegetables, sausages, and other meats). Other porky Portuguese favorites include the prized, acorn-fed Alentejano pork. It is often served confit-style in a dish called rojões, which features white wine and cumin.
The national dish is bacalhau, or dried, salted cod. It is said that the Vikings came and traded cod for salt. The Portuguese put the two together and discovered that salting and drying preserves the fish for several years—perfect for those long expeditions to Canada, where much of the cod was fished. A popular saying claims that there are more recipes for bacalhau than days in the year. One of the most popular involves baking it with cream and potatoes. Or try bolinhos de bacalhau, deep-fried cod fritters.
Named for the clamshell-shaped pan it is made in, cataplana is a fish and shellfish medley with red and green peppers, tomatoes, garlic, wine, and paprika. Other seafood favorites include amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams with garlic, wine, olive oil, and cilantro). If you’re lucky, you may find old-timers on a street corner, grilling fresh sardines over a brazier. Try one and you’ll never eat sardines from a can again.
71 Don’t leave Portugal without sampling the francesinha. This hefty sandwich (which means “little Frenchie”) was invented in Porto, but adopted all over the country. It’s a whopper of thickly sliced bread stuffed with bacon or pork belly, sliced roasted pork, sausage, a whole beefsteak, fried egg, and cheese—ladled with a dark tomato and beer-based sauce. Leave room because francesinhas are always accompanied by a side of fries, with more sauce.
Fed by a steady stream of sugar from the New World, Portugal developed its sweet tooth early. Leite creme is the Portuguese version of crême brulée. You might also try aletria, a sweet noodle pudding made with vermicelli (angel hair) pasta, milk, sugar, egg yolks, cinnamon, and lemon or orange zest. It’s a Christmas staple, but since it’s easy to make, you can find it year-round.
The one sweet you must try before leaving Portugal is the famous pasteis de nata. This delicious egg custard tart was once made by nuns in convents, but today they are available in just about any local pastelaria or bakery. Bom apetite!
Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.
Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.
Crafts & Souvenirs
Spain Leather goods, from supple suede gloves and elegant calf handbags to wineskins that require careful curing (botas), are excellent purchases. Other good buys are shoes, from classical calf pumps to provincial cloth espadrilles; porcelain by Lladro and pottery by regional craftsmen; and wool rugs made by tapestry makers or simple cotton-rag throws.
Siesta: Throughout Spain, most stores and offices close between 1:30 pm and 5 pm. Then they reopen until 7:30 pm (many close even later). Restaurants generally remain open during siesta. In the larger cities you may find that big department stores will stay open from 10am – 10pm.
Value Added Tax: Known in Spain as the IVA, Value Added Tax is levied on most articles, services, and meals. The IVA ranges from 7% to 21% (luxury items, cars). Depending on how much you spend on certain goods, you may be eligible for a partial refund of this tax. Ask the shopkeeper or salesperson about the VAT at time of purchase. Be sure to save all receipts and forms for Customs.
72 Portugal Among the recommended buys in Portugal are Atlantis crystal, Vista Alegre porcelain, pottery, tiles, and gold and silver-filigree jewelry. Other local handicrafts include lace, woodwork, cork products, ceramics, embroidered goods, hand-loomed carpets, hand-knit sweaters, crocheted shawls, brass, copper and pewter ware, and baskets.
Europe Tax-Free Shopping: Many stores in Portuguese cities have adopted the “Europe Tax-Free Shopping” (ETS) system, which allows foreign shoppers to easily recover the Value Added Tax (IVA)—which can be anywhere from 6%-23% depending on the item. Stores that participate in the ETS system will clearly display an ETS sign at the entrance. If you make a purchase, ask the shopkeeper for a tax-free form. When you depart Europe, you show the airport customs official your purchases and tax-free forms. You will then receive a cash refund or a credit to your credit card, approximately four weeks following your return to the U.S., for the total amount of your tax-free allowance.
U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.
The top three points to know are:
• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.
• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.
• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.
73 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY
Spain
Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: The mainland occupies approximately 195,364.5 square miles. Off Spain’s east coast in the Mediterranean are the Balearic Islands (1,936 square miles), the largest of which is Majorca. Sixty miles west of Africa are the Canary Islands (2,808 square miles).
• Capital: Madrid
• Languages: Spanish, Basque, Catalan, and Galician. In resort areas, many people also speak English, French, and German.
• Geography: Spain’s topography consists of a broad central plateau that slopes to the south and east, crossed by a series of mountain ranges and river valleys. It is a land of both towering peaks and endless beaches, as well as fertile landscapes and high, dry plains. Principal rivers are the Ebro in the northeast, the Tajo in the central region, and the Guadalquivir in the south.
• Population: 48,958,159 (estimate)
• Religions: Roman Catholic 67.8%, atheist 9.1%, other 2.2%, non-believer 18.4%, unspecified 2.5%
• Time Zone: Spain is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
74 National Holidays: Spain
In addition to the holidays listed below, Spain 05/01 Labor Day celebrates a number of national holidays that 08/15 Assumption of Mary follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be traveling during these 10/12 Hispanic Day holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/ holidays. 11/01 All Saints Day
01/01 New Year’s Day 12/06 Constitution Day
01/06 Epiphany 12/08 Immaculate Conception
12/25 Christmas
Spain: A Brief History Spain has been continuously inhabited for 1.2 million years, but the bulk of our knowledge about Spain’s earliest people begins around 1100 BC, when Phoenicians established trading colonies along the southern coast. These attracted the Greeks; and around the same time, Celts descended in the north, establishing hill villages known as castros, many of which still stand in Galicia and northern Portugal.
The Romans arrived in Spain around 206 BC, but had to defeat the Carthaginians for it. Afterwards, the Romans still had a fight on their hands: The Iberian tribes resisted for 200 years. Today, in places like Mérida, Córdoba, Segovia, and Tarragona, you can see remnants of Roman roads, bridges, aqueducts, temples, and amphitheaters. Towards the end of their dominion, the Romans also brought Christianity. But Pax Romana crumbled as Visigoths and Franks swept over the Pyrenees.
The civilized heights of Rome were not equaled until the Moors arrived from North Africa around 711 AD. The enlightened Islamic civilization they established was called Al-Andalus, and it lasted for nearly 800 years. Islamic cities such as Córdoba, Seville, and Granada flourished. Throughout Al-Andalus, Christians, and Jews lived under some restrictions, but were free to worship, work, own property, and trade. When the rest of Europe was struggling through the Dark Ages, the city of Córdoba became a beacon of enlightenment with a celebrated university, palaces, gardens, observatories, libraries, street lamps, and running water. Mathematics, astronomy, literature, music, and architecture flourished.
Córdoba’s star began to dim in the 11th century as the caliphate broke into dozens of small kingdoms. Infighting opened a crack for northern Christians to pry open, and the Christian Reconquest pushed south. The last stronghold of the Moors, Granada, fell to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1491. They instituted a 300-year campaign of terror, the Spanish Inquisition, which sought to root out heretics through the confiscation of property, imprisonment, torture, and execution. It required Muslims and Jews to convert to Christianity or leave Spain, thereby ending a source of valuable cultural contributions.
75 But Spain’s fortunes continued to rise. In 1492, Christopher Columbus opened up the New World to Spain’s imperial ambitions. Spain amassed tremendous wealth and a vast empire through Columbus’ conquest of the Caribbean, as well as the conquest of Mexico by Cortes (1519-21) and Peru by Pizarro (1532-33). In 1588, Philip II sent his Armada to invade England, but its defeat cost Spain its supremacy. After centuries of dwindling losses, Spain’s overseas empire ended with Cuban independence in 1898.
Spain remained neutral during In World War I, but was unable to avoid the upheavals that arose in its aftermath. Civil war erupted in 1936, pitting right-wing Nationalists under Francisco Franco against socialist, communist, and centrist Republicans. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supported Franco with planes, weapons, and 92,000 troops, making Spain a testing ground for WWII. Franco declared the war over in 1939, but there was no peace. In the ensuing years, his regime killed 100,000 intellectuals, teachers, and dissenters. After World War II (which Spain sat out), a UN- sponsored boycott plunged the nation into “years of hunger.” They didn’t wane until the 1950s, when U.S. aid and tourism infused the economy. When Franco died in 1975, Juan Carlos I took the throne and Spain transitioned to democracy.
When the 2008 global economic crisis plunged Spain’s economy, the conservative government enacted harsh austerity measures. Youth unemployment reached 60%, and by 2017 over 87,000 workers left Spain, creating a brain drain. Recently, the government rolled out a “Return Plan” to lure them back. Also in 2017, a referendum in Catalonia backed separation from Spain. Madrid imposed direct rule, though polls show that 68% of Spaniards prefer dialogue with Catalonia. This issue, along with economic recovery, will dominate Spain for the near future.
Portugal
Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: Portugal contains 35,556 square miles, including the Azores and Madeira islands. The Madeira island group occupies 305 square miles. The main island of Madeira is 35 miles long and about 13 miles across at its widest point.
• Capital: Lisbon
• Language: Portuguese
• Geography: Portugal’s mainland terrain is mountainous, pastoral, and earthy. Its interior moors and flatlands are circumscribed by 500 miles of gorgeous coastline with long stretches of sandy beaches. Madeira consists of two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, and two groups of uninhabited islands. The largest island is Madeira. It is volcanic and mountainous, with its highest peaks in the interior rising to over 6,000 feet. The island contains nearly 100 miles of coastline, but no beaches (except one tiny one at Prainha near the eastern tip of the island). The north coast is untamed and less populated; the western end is forested and cool; and the eastern tip consists of barren reddish rock that extends into the blue sea.
• Population: 10,839,514 (estimate)
76 • Religion: Roman Catholic, 81%, Christian and other, 19%
• Time Zone: Portugal is ahead of U.S. Eastern Time by five hours; Central Time by six hours; Mountain Time by seven hours; Pacific Time by eight hours.
National Holidays: Portugal
In addition to the holidays listed below, 06/10 Portugal Day Portugal celebrates a number of national 08/15 Assumption of Mary holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Corpus Christi. To find out if you 10/05 Republic Implantation will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 11/01 All Saints’ Day
01/01 New Year’s Day 12/01 Restoration of Independence
04/25 Liberty Day 12/08 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
05/01 Labor Day 12/25 Christmas Day
Portugal: A Brief History Portugal’s earliest tribes occupied the Tagus valley, the Alentejo and Estremadura as far back as 8,000 BC. Later, Neolithic clans built hilltop forts called castros in northern Portugal, and around 700 BC these were occupied by Celtic Lusitanians. They were fierce, which led the Carthaginians (who had settled on the south coast) to recruit them around 200 BC to fight off the Romans. The Celtic Lusitanians proved their worth—while it only took Rome seven years to conquer Gaul, it took them nearly 200 to subdue Iberia. By the time that was accomplished, Rome had colonies in Lisbon, Evora, Santarem, and Beja.
Christianity reached Portugal near the end of the 1st century, and by the 3rd century, bishoprics had been founded at Lisbon, Braga, and other towns. As Visigothic invaders crossed the Pyrenees, they made their way to Portugal. But since they ruled from Toledo, their influence was not strong. This made it easy for the Moors, who arrived soon after 711 AD. Portugal’s Moors settled mainly in the south, and brought many agrarian reforms as well as a love of culture. They established Muslim supremacy, but allowed Christians and Jews to worship, work, own property, and freely engage in business. Though their cities were grander and larger in Spain, they still left an enduring impact on Portuguese culture.
The Christian Reconquest had some early victories in Portugal, taking Porto back from the Moors by 868 and Coimbra by 1064. Meanwhile, a small kingdom was coalescing around the old Roman settlement of Portus Cale. It was controlled by the kings of Leon and Castile until 1139, when Afonso Henriques won a battle and proclaimed himself King of Portucale. The Algarve was reconquered in 1264, the capital was moved from Coimbra to Lisbon, and Portugal’s land boundaries have since remained almost unchanged.
77 But Portugal’s imperial ambitions had no boundaries. In 1415, King John conquered the North African trading post of Ceuta. Under his son Prince Henry the Navigator, advances were made in shipbuilding, navigation, and cartography; and Portuguese caravels sailed the coast of Africa. Madeira and the Azores were colonized, and over the next century, explorers like Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan expanded the empire from Africa to India and southeast Asia, and to Brazil.
In 1581, Spain invaded Portugal and held it for 60 years. By the time Portuguese independence was restored in 1668, Dutch, English, and French competitors had surpassed Portugal’s colonial might. The country’s fortunes mostly waned over the next centuries. Portugal was able to end a five-year occupation by Napoleonic forces with the help of Britain. But that alliance did Portugal no good when the 1890 British Ultimatum was delivered, requiring Portugal to give up its claim to land between Mozambique and Angola. Still, Portugal fought in World War I on the Allied side.
A weak postwar governments led to a military coup in 1926, in which Antonio Oliveira Salazar became a Finances Minister, before progressing to dictator in 1933, ruling for almost 40 years. He kept Portugal neutral in World War II, but granted naval and air bases to the Allies after 1943. Portugal joined NATO as a founding member in 1949, but did not gain admission to the United Nations until 1955. Salazar suffered a stroke in 1968 and died in 1970. In 1974, a socialist military coup ended the Salazar era. It was called the “carnation revolution” since civilians placed flowers in the rifles of the military. Directly afterwards, most of Portugal’s former colonies were granted their independence. With EU membership in 1986, Portugal entered the European mainstream.
Since the debt crisis of 2008, Portugal’s economy has made progress. The government deficit has fallen, as has unemployment. But some of this has been achieved by austerity measures that have hit the young, teachers, health care workers, and others. The future will call for the same kind of resolve and innovation that drove Portugal’s golden Age of Discovery so long ago.
78 RESOURCES
Suggested Reading
Spain A Million Steps by Kurt Koontz (Travel Narrative) Follow the author as he walks the Camino de Santiago—a pilgrimage route in Spain that stretches more than 400 miles—a journey that is both physical and spiritual.
Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile by Julia Fox (2011, biography). The daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella each lost positions of power—one to the whims of England’s Henry VIII, and the other to madness.
The Last Jew by Noah Gordon (2000, Historical Fiction) A sweeping tale of survival during the Spanish in Inquisition.
Iberia by James A. Michener (1968, History) The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer offers a panoramic view of his second home, Spain, celebrating its art, customs, landscapes, peasant life, and history up to the early post-Franco era.
For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940, Fiction). Hemingway wrote this iconic novel about an American volunteer fighting Franco’’s fascists right after his own stint as a correspondent during the Spanish Civil War.
Traveler’s Tales: Spain edited by Lucy McCauley (1995, Anthology) Incisive, lyrical musings on all aspects of Spain, written by luminaries such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Calvin Trillin, and Barbara Kingsolver.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (2005, Fiction) A mix of mystery, romance, and hauntings abound in this international bestseller, set in 1950s Barcelona.
Portugal A Small Death in Lisbon and The Company of Strangers by Robert Wilson (1999 and 2001, Fiction) Both these political thrillers are set in Portugal with flashbacks to World War II, when the supposedly neutral nation was a hotbed of espionage.
The Portuguese: The Land and Its People by Marian Kaplan (1991, History) A travel guide and history book all in one that takes you from the Moorish Invasion to the Age of Discovery to modern times.
A Concise History of Portugal by David Birmingham (2018, History) This condensed, illustrated history offers an introduction to Portugal’s people, culture, and evolving role in contemporary Europe.
79 Baltasar and Blimunda by Jose Saramago (1998, Historical Fiction) Written by the winner of the 1998 Noble Prize for Literature, this historic romance offers detailed insight into what life was like in Portugal in the late 18th century. Set in 1711, in the midst of the terrors of the Inquisition and the plague, it follows a seemingly mismatched couple as they discover the wonders of love.
Suggested Film & Video
Spain Pain and Glory (2019, Drama) Antonio Banderas earned a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of a legendary director flashing back through his past, and facing a present filled with loss, memory, physical ailments, and imagination. This thinly-veiled autobiographical sketch from director Pedro Almodovar is a rueful reflection on creativity, wrapped up with warmth, humor, and vivid glimpses of life in late 20th-century Spain.
The Way (2010, Drama) A grieving father (Martin Sheen) honors his lost son’s desire to finish the journey of a lifetime by competing the historical pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Along the way, he meets other trekkers with their own stories to tell.
Ocho Apellidos Vascos (released in the U.S. as Spanish Affair, 2014, Comedy) Two of Spain’s most disparate cultures collide as a jilted bride from the Basque Country goes to Seville, where a skillful Andalusian ladies man is frustrated by his inability to woo her. A fun and warm-hearted look at the differences between northern and southern Spain.
Belle Epoque (1992, Comedy/Drama) On the eve of the Spanish Civil War, Fernando, a young soldier, deserts and ends up at the country home of Manolo, a man with four strong-willed but very different daughters. Fernando seduces them all, but then is perplexed when they each reject him. All the characters represent different sides of the coming conflict, but for a moment, enjoy the “beautiful epoch” of joyful sensuality and warmth.
All About My Mother (1999, Comedy) When her 17-year-old son is tragically killed in a car accident, Manuela sets out to reconnect with her son’s father and ends up forging new connections with an outrageous transvestite, a pregnant nun, and her son’s favorite actress. This 1999 Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film is another from director Pedro Almodovar, whose other acclaimed works include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Volver.
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, Fantasy) From director Guillermo del Toro. Following Spain’s bloody civil war, young Ofelia enters a world of unimaginable cruelty when she moves in with her new stepfather, a brutal military officer. Armed only with her imagination, Ofelia discovers a labyrinth and a faun who offers her a path to saving herself and her mother. The lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and before Ofelia can turn back, she’s at the center of a ferocious battle between good and evil.
80 Portugal Night Train to Lisbon (2013, Drama) A Swiss schoolteacher (Jeremy Irons) prevents the suicide of a young Portuguese woman, who then disappears. Soon thereafter, he visits a bookshop where he discovers a puzzling memoir written during the Salazar era. Consumed by the idea that he may not be living his life to the fullest, he travels to Lisbon to unravel the mysteries.
Lisbon Story (1994, Drama) A straightforward tale of a German sound engineer who falls in love with Lisbon. Director Wim Wenders takes you through a city that he obviously loves, offering the beauty of old houses, narrow streets, the sounds of the city, a haunting soundtrack, and the lives lived in Portugal’s capital.
Amália (2008, Documentary) This biopic tells the story of Amália Rodrigues, Portugal’s Queen of Fado.
Porto (2016, Drama) An American expatriate and a French woman spend one intense night together in the titular Portuguese city. Years later, they try to make sense of their connection, the transience of joy, and haphazard nature of life. Filmed in 35, 16 and Super 8 mm, this film sees Porto through a novel and striking lens.
No Reservations: Lisbon (2012, Season 8, Episode 4) Emmy award-winning chef and social critic Anthony Bourdain visited Lisbon just as it was on the verge of becoming a travel sensation. Enjoy his witty commentary, local encounters, and mouth-watering presentations of Lisbon’s culinary pleasures.
81 Useful Websites
Overseas Adventure Travel World Weather www.oattravel.com www.intellicast.com www.weather.com Overseas Adventure Travel Store www.wunderground.com www.oatshop.com Basic Travel Phrases (80 languages) Overseas Adventure Travel Frequently www.travlang.com/languages Asked Questions www.oattravel.com/faq Packing Tips www.travelite.org International Health Information/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) U.S. Customs & Border Protection http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel www.cbp.gov/travel
Electricity & Plugs Transportation Security www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/ Administration (TSA) plugs-and-sockets www.tsa.gov
Foreign Exchange Rates National Passport Information Center www.xe.com/currencyconverter www.travel.state.gov www.oanda.com/converter/classic Holidays Worldwide ATM Locators www.timeanddate.com/holidays www.mastercard.com/atm www.visa.com/atmlocator
82 VACCINATIONS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL TRAVELERS, SHIP CREW, TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS, AND COACH DRIVERS Plus, updated Health & Safety Protocols for our Land Tours
The health and safety of our travelers is always our #1 priority, and we understand travelers are concerned about exploring the world in light of the unprecedented crisis we are currently facing. To ensure your safety and give you peace of mind, we have worked with our regional team and listened to government guidance and feedback from our travelers to create these health and safety protocols for our trips. As we continue to make changes, we will keep our website updated with the latest information.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS • All travelers, ship crew, and Trip Experience AND UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY Leaders will have their temperature checked PROTOCOLS FOR SMALL SHIP every time they return to the ship using a non- ADVENTURES contact infrared temperature scanner. • All travelers must be fully vaccinated against • All meals are served by the dining staff— COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure buffets are no longer available. and provide proof of vaccination upon VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND boarding the ship. If you are unable to UPDATED HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS provide proof of vaccination upon arrival at FOR SMALL GROUP ADVENTURES ON LAND your destination, you will have to return All travelers must be fully vaccinated against home at your own expense. • COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. If To meet this requirement, please bring your you are unable to provide proof of vaccination original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card upon arrival at your destination, you will with you on your trip. The white card must have to return home at your own expense. display your name, type of vaccine, and the To meet this requirement, please bring your date(s) the vaccine was administered. We also original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card with suggest taking a picture of this card to keep for you on your trip. The white card must display your records as a backup. your name, type of vaccine, and the date(s) • All local Trip Experience Leaders, the vaccine was administered. We also suggest ship staff, and crew will be fully taking a picture of this card to keep for your vaccinated against COVID-19. records as a backup. • All coach drivers will be fully • All local Trip Experience Leaders will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. vaccinated against COVID-19. • All public areas will be sanitized nightly and • All coach drivers will be fully vaccinated all ships are equipped with High Efficiency against COVID-19. Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
Help us ensure travelers’ safety and health while on our trips. Please follow best health and hygiene practices to prevent the spread of illness—wash your hands regularly and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. Together, we can create a safer travel experience for everyone.
Learn more at www.oattravel.com/covid-update
83 Notes
84 Notes
85 Notes
86 Úbeda
Madrid Sea
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i Mediterranean s
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Toledo u d
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SPAIN d Miles To/From U.S. Land route
Carmona Córdoba n
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A s
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a T Seville
(Optional Tour)
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Évora
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T R O P Alentejo Porto Lisbon (Pre-trip Extension) (Pre-trip FRANCE San Sebastian La Guardia (Optional Tour) Bilbao SPAIN Ocean Atlantic Madrid Santander Bay of Biscay Bay Oviedo POST-TRIP EXTENSION
87 YOUR TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADER
Your O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader is an insider who lives in the destinations you are exploring. They are not just knowledgeable, but personable and personal—eager to understand your own interests, and happy to share their own. This makes all the diff erence between just visiting a place, and experiencing its true spirit.
For your Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas adventure, your Trip Experience Leaders have earned an overall “Excellence” rating of 96% in post-trip surveys completed by our travelers.
The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled
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