EUROPEAN QUARTET EUROPEAN QUARTET

9 OR 11 DAYS The • Belgium France • England

PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES: ■ Round-trip airfare, bus transfers, Eurostar high-speed train ■ 7 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms (9 with extension) ■ 4 dinners (5 with extension) ■ Full-time EF Tour Director ■ 3 sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides: • Paris • London ■ 1 sightseeing tour led by your tour director: Brussels ■ 2 walking tours: Paris • Amsterdam WaWatW chc your stududentnts’ eyees liighttu up in frroontto of Da Vinci’s mmasterpiecee. ■ 4 visits to special attractions: Frank House • Notre Dame Cathedral • Louvre • Multicultural Amsterdam, historic Brussels, chic Paris and timeless London await Tower of London on this eclectic tour of four European cities. Visit the house where spent her turbulent years in hiding, watch history in the making on a tour of the OPTIONAL: European Union buildings, visit some of the world’s finest cultural sites in Paris ■ Volendam and Zaanse Schans (seasonal) and conclude your journey at the Tower of London. ■ Versailles ■ London Eye and Thames River cruise (with

extension) Day 1 Flight Day 3 Amsterdam Overnight flight to Amsterdam • Spend the Guided sightseeing of Amsterdam • A local night fl ying across the Atlantic. guide shows you Amsterdam’s most famous sights on a walk through the city. Pass the Day 2 Amsterdam (West Church), where the remains Arrival in Amsterdam • Touch down in Amster- of Rembrandt and his son are buried. The dam, capital of the Netherlands. After clearing church also held the wedding of Queen Bea- customs, you will be greeted by your EF Tour trix in 1966. Continue to lively Dam Square, Director, who will remain with you throughout a dam around the Amstel River created in the your stay. 13th century to prevent the Zuiderzee Sea from Walking tour of Amsterdam • Your tour direc- fl ooding the city. Now this bustling tourist area tor introduces you to Amsterdam. The capi- boasts the impressive Koninklijk Paleis (Royal tal of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is also an Palace), once the home of the Dutch Royal important commercial, historic, cultural and Family; the National Monument; and the Nieu- artistic center. Amsterdam was once home to wekerk (New Church), where members of the Rembrandt, whose residence remains open to Dutch Royal Family are offi cially inaugurated. visitors today, and boasts friendly cafés and See the Begijnhof, a lovely 14th-century court- world-class museums, including the Van Gogh yard, built as a sanctuary for the Begijnhofi tes, Museum and the Jewish History Museum. Step a Catholic sisterhood. Walk across the lifting into a fairy tale as you marvel at this city of bridge to Waterlooplein. Marvel at the views of 1,200 bridges and 160 canals. the Amstel River as you cross the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge). Although “magere” means skinny in Dutch and the bridge was quite thin when built, rumor says the bridge was actually Londonndon (2 or 4) AAmssterdam (2)

Eurostar train BBruusselssse (1)

Versailles Paris (2)2))

ZipZ p ararounouununddL Londononddoonn oonn ththe UnUndderdeeerrgrgroroouund duurriini gyg yoourouurur Number of overnight stastaystays in parentheseses.se frfrereeet timememe. named for the Magere sisters, living on opposite Day 5 Brussels • Paris Day 6 Paris sides of the river, who built the bridge to make Transfer to Paris • Continue on to Paris, cos- Guided sightseeing of Paris • Discover the it easier to visit each other. Finally, you will see mopolitan City of Light. city on the Seine, beginning with the imposing Rembrandtplein, a square packed with terrace Visit to the Louvre • Built to defend the city in Arc de Triomphe, commemorating Napoleon’s cafés, diamond shops, nightclubs and hotels. the 13th century, the Louvre today safeguards Grande Armée. Take a drive down the elegant Visit to the Anne Frank House • Visit the Anne one of the world’s greatest art collections. Enter Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde. Frank House, where the young girl hid with the museum through world-renowned architect Pass the Conciergerie, where prisoners of the her family from 1942 to 1944 and where she I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid, constructed in 1989. Revolution spent their final days, and see Les penned the poignant diary that has been trans- Inside, discover priceless antiquities from Asia, Invalides, Louis XIV’s grand retirement home lated into dozens of languages worldwide. Greece and Rome. You’ll also see precious ob- for wounded soldiers. You’ll also see the École Optional excursion to Volendam and Zaanse jects from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Militaire, where Napoleon graduated to lieuten- Schans • Today, enjoy an optional half-day as well as iconic European paintings such as the ant and was told he’d go far if circumstances excursion to the heart of the Dutch countryside. Mona Lisa. allowed. Next, make a photo stop at the Eiffel Visit the picturesque fishing village of Volen- Walking tour of Paris • Meander through the Tower to marvel at the 6,000-ton centerpiece dam and the living and working neighborhood Latin Quarter, an area dominated by the Sor- for the 1889 World’s Fair. You’ll hear the sto- of Zaanse Schans, re-created to look like an old bonne, Paris’ most famous university, founded ry of how this impressive—but once highly Dutch village. Make your way down the wind- in 1253. As you stroll, look for the Panthéon, controversial—symbol of Paris was spared the ing, cobblestone streets, past windmills, charm- created by Louis XV because of a promise he wrecking ball in 1909. Pass the Opéra Garnier, ing shops and crooked houses. Enjoy demon- made to build a church dedicated to Sainte- where the famous Phantom of the Opera haunt- strations on cheese and clog making. (Please Geneviève if he survived a severe illness. You’ll ed his dear Christine, and marvel at Église de note: This optional is available from March 15 also explore Boulevard St. Michel and spend la Madeleine, designed as a temple of glory for to September 30.) some time browsing the stacks at the famous Napoleon’s army. Continue past the geometric Shakespeare and Company bookstore, which gardens of the Tuileries as you make your way Day 4 Amsterdam • Brussels published James Joyce’s Ulysses in 1922. As to the Place Vendôme, a vast square surrounded Transfer to Brussels • Continue to Brussels, you make your way along the Seine, you’ll also by elegant 17th-century façades. crossroads of Europe. Home to the European have the chance to browse the literary materi- Optional excursion to Versailles • Join an op- Commission and the Council of Ministers of als sold at les bouquinistes, the bookstalls that tional half-day excursion to Versailles, the elab- the European Union, the city is rooted in over sell old books, maps, art prints and postcards. orate palace of Louis XIV. Here, the Sun King 1,000 years of history. Its vibrant, international It’s the perfect place to pick up some authentic held court in the most lavish style imaginable. atmosphere has brought forth such performers souvenirs! At one point, 1,000 nobles were attended by and writers as Audrey Hepburn, Jacques Brel Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral • Built between 4,000 servants inside the palace, while 15,000 and Marguerite Yourcenar. 1163 and 1361 over the remains of an an- soldiers and servants inhabited the annexes. Tour director-led sightseeing of Brussels • cient Roman temple, it was here that Napo- Stroll through the elegantly landscaped gardens Brussels has come to be known as the unofficial leon crowned himself emperor in 1804. Victor designed by André Le Nôtre, tour the State capital of Europe—not only is it the first city of Hugo once described the sculptured façade of Apartments of the King himself, walk through Belgium, but it also serves as the headquarters Notre Dame as “a vast symphony in stone.” the historic Hall of Mirrors, admire the ornate for NATO and the European Union. Pass the However, had it not been for the creation of his decor of the State Apartments of the Queen, EU buildings as you head into the heart of me- famous hunchback, Quasimodo, the cathedral and enjoy free time for lunch. (Please note: dieval Brussels. Here you’ll see the Guild Hous- might never have returned to its former glory. Because of the extreme popularity of Versailles, es lining the Grand’Place, “the most beautiful Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame guided visits of the interior cannot be guar- square in the world,” according to Victor Hugo helped inspire a 23-year restoration of the cathe- anteed during peak seasons. In this case, your (who lived here after being exiled from France). dral that began in 1841. Step inside to admire group will hear a presentation from your guide You’ll also stroll past Brussels’ oldest citizen, the stained-glass rose windows and seemingly before entering the palace. Versailles is closed on the Manneken Pis—ask about the legends sur- weightless vaulted ceilings. Mondays. Participants must enroll in this excur- rounding the statue. In addition, you’ll view the sion no later than 50 days prior to departure.) Atomium; Brussels’ lasting exhibit for the 1958 World’s Fair represents an iron molecule mag- nified 200 billion times. Day 7 Paris • London Day 9 Home London’s tiny Chinatown. Your walk ends at Transfer via the Eurostar from Paris to London Return home • Your tour director assists with chic Covent Garden, where you’ll enjoy watch- • In Paris, board the high-speed Eurostar, an the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in ing street performers (or “buskers”) amuse the 18-car train that runs through the tunnel con- for your return fl ight home. lively crowds. (The exact walking route may necting continental Europe with Britain. Com- vary, depending on your hotel location and the pleted in May 1994, the Channel Tunnel pro- EXTENSION day’s other activities.) vides travelers with easy access to and from the Day 9 London • Stonehenge and Bath Optional London Eye and Thames River cruise continent. Enjoy state-of-the-art technology as Guided excursion of Stonehenge and Bath • Join this exciting optional excursion to see Lon- you glide under the English Channel to Eng- • This full-day guided excursion takes you don’s sights from different angles. Soar into the land. through the English countryside to visit two his- sky aboard the enormous 32-capsule observation Arrival in London • Arrive in London, Europe’s torical landmarks that together span 4,000 years wheel, the London Eye, which offers spectacular largest city. of English history! First, you’ll visit Stonehenge, 360-degree views of the city as far as 25 miles in Guided sightseeing of London • A local guide England’s most mysterious landmark. The ori- each direction. The wheel was originally built to leads you on a panoramic tour of London. Be- gin and purpose of this ring of stones, which mark the millennium celebration and took six gin in Grosvenor Square, which is sometimes dates from the Neolithic period, is unknown, years to build. You will also enjoy the new “4D called “Little America” because it’s the site of though most believe it to have been a temple Experience,” a three-dimensional film that fol- the U.S. embassy and the house where Eisen- and observatory. Before returning to London, lows a little girl’s London Eye journey, complete hower once lived. Continue to Hyde Park Cor- you’ll also visit Bath, famous for its Georgian with in-theater special effects, including wind, ner, located at the southeast corner of Hyde architecture, a lasting reminder of the world snow and mist. Afterwards, board a cruise down Park, one of London’s largest parks. At bustling described in so many Jane Austen novels. In her the River Thames and see London’s landmarks Piccadilly Circus, the intersection of five busy novel Northanger Abbey, Austen wrote, “I really from yet another vantage point. streets, check out the bright lights and big-city believe I shall always be talking of Bath....I do displays. Pass Speaker’s Corner, where anyone like it so very much....Oh! Who can ever be Day 11 Home with something to say is invited to speak his or tired of Bath?” This spa was a favorite vacation Return home • Your tour director assists with her mind. Snap a photo of the Houses of Parlia- spot of early Romans and 18th-century Eng- the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in ment and continue along London’s South Bank lish aristocracy alike. Former residents include for your return fl ight home. for views of the famous Tower of London and Queen Victoria and Lord Nelson. Visit the ac- London Bridge. claimed Roman baths, built by the Romans in For complete fi nancial and registration details, the 1st century, to enjoy the hot springs, and please refer to the Booking Conditions. Day 8 London today these baths remain the finest Roman ru- Visit to the Tower of London • The history of ins in Britain. London comes to life at this complex of 20 tow- ers surrounding Tower Green. The oldest tow- Day 10 London er, known as the White Tower, was completed Walking tour of London • Stroll through the in 1097, when it was the tallest building in heart of London on a walking tour, which London. The Tower buildings have had many begins along the banks of the River Thames. uses over the years; perhaps the most infamous These shadowy waters gave the city its name, was as a jail for political prisoners, not to men- which derives from Llyn-Dyn, Celtic for “city tion two of Henry VIII’s wives. The most fa- of the lake.” Walk along the Strand and see mous exhibit at the Tower is the British Crown the spot considered to be London’s geographic Jewels. Aside from a short interruption during center; all measurements of distances to London WWII, these splendid baubles have been locked end here. Enter Trafalgar Square and pause at behind the Tower’s walls for centuries. Nelson’s Column, built to commemorate his 1805 victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Con- tinue on to Leicester Square, where duelists once fought to the death. Then saunter through

YOUR CURRICULUM To enroll go to efcollegestudytours.com ON A GLOBAL SCALE or call 1.877.485.4184

Cert no. SW-COC-002508

ITN0810EUQA/X Itinerary subject to change. 2011/F