YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®

Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas

2023

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,

For me, one of the joys of traveling is the careful planning that goes into an adventure—from the first spark of inspiration to hours spent poring over travel books about my dream destinations—and I can’t wait to see where my next journey will take me. I know you’re eager to explore the world, too, and our Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas itinerary described inside is an excellent way to start.

Exactly how your adventure unfolds is up to you, because you have many choices to customize it. You can arrive early and stay later—perhaps by adding a pre- or post-trip extension, spending time in a Stopover city, or combining 2 or more trips. Plus, your itinerary is laced with free time, so you’ll have opportunities to do your own thing. More than 80% of the travelers who reserve this trip choose to tailor their adventure. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer such flexibility and choice for an experience that is truly personalized.

As for Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas, thanks to your small group of 8-16 travelers (average 13) you can expect some unforgettable experiences. Here are a few that stood out for me:

I love to delve into the culinary traditions of each destination I explore. With 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. That’s why we don’t shy away from controversial topics, and why all our Trip Experience Leaders are “insiders” who live in the country. At times you may be nudged out of your comfort zone. But you will also be inspired by the resilience and humanity of the wonderful people you meet. And that’s what adventure travel is all about.

Thanks for letting me dream along with you about the Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas. I’m looking forward to experiencing the enrichment that only travel can bring, and I hope you are, too. Until then, 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. Inspire fellow travelers with videos and slideshows of your most memorable travel moments from past adventures. You can upload them directly onto the trip-specific pages on our website, or learn more at www.oattravel.com/traveler-moments.

USA Today “Best Tours” 10Best Readers’ Presented by Choice Awards Solo Traveler

2 CONTENTS

A Letter from Harriet Lewis ...... 2 The O.A.T. Difference...... 4 The Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ...... 6 Grand Circle Foundation...... 8 The Leader in Solo Travel ...... 9

BACK ROADS OF IBERIA: ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: SPANISH PARADORES & CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE PORTUGUESE POUSADAS Spanish Culture ...... 77 Your Adventure at a Glance: Portuguese Culture ...... 79 Where You’re Going, What it Costs, and What’s Included ...... 10 Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, Shipping & More ...... 87 Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary ...... 12 Optional Tours ...... 34 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY Pre-Trip Extensions ...... 35 Spain...... 90 Post-Trip Extensions ...... 44 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 90 Dates & Prices ...... 56 Spain: A Brief History ...... 91 Portugal ...... 92 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 92 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 57 Portugal: A Brief History ...... 93 No Visas Required ...... 57 France...... 94 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health ...... 59 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ...... 94 Vaccines Required ...... 60 France: A Brief History ...... 95 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines...... 62 RESOURCES Tipping Guidelines...... 64 Suggested Reading ...... 97 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch ..... 65 Optional Tours ...... 65 Suggested Film & Video ...... 98 Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 66 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 68 Suggested Packing Lists ...... 69 Electricity Abroad ...... 72 Climate & Average Temperatures ...... 74

Notes...... 102 Map ...... 107

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) VISIT A DAY IN THE LIFE GCF was established in 1992 to help change Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like people’s lives in the world where we live, to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an donated $200 million worldwide. exclusive, immersive experience that places you in the heart of a community where you’ll By investing in the places we explore— meet various people where they live, work, including local schools, cooperatives, or arts and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a centers—we hope to give locals the skills and hand with daily chores; and break bread with confidence they need to become leaders of our hosts. their generation and preserve their heritage for many years to come. We're proud to play This adventure includes A Day in the Life a part in preserving precious locales like the Experience in the village of Begijar, nestled in Bryggen waterfront district of Bergen, a living the countryside near Úbeda, where we'll visit example of the glory days of the Hanseatic a family-owned olive oil mill. Olive oil is the League, and supporting villages like Harmi in dominant industry in this region of Spain; the Estonia, whose once-struggling school is now nation produces more olive oil than any other a center of community life. country in the world. We'll have the unique opportunity to meet with the owners, tour CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS the grove and factory, and enjoy a traditional Every culture has its joys and achievements, lunch together. and we celebrate them all. But every place also has its challenges, and to gloss HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES over them would not do justice to those Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds whose stories need to be told—nor to you, engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the as a traveler who deserves more than a things that can happen across a kitchen table, sugar-coated version of things. So our so we’ll break into groups of 4-5 to join a local Trip Experience Leaders will lead frank family in their home for a snack or a meal. discussions on controversial issues, and This is a rare opportunity to witness family introduce you to people whose stories will life, learn local customs, and taste some expand your understanding. home-cooked fare.

For example, we’ll have a conversation on On this adventure, we’ll enjoy a Home-Hosted the Portuguese involvement in the slave Dinner with a local family in the ancient trade, modern-day racism in Portugal, and hillside town of Évora during which we'll its impact on the country’s community of enjoy some authentic Portuguese food and Afro-Portuguese immigrants with a local hospitality. Take this chance to truly get to who has been directly affected. know the locals and their culture as we are welcomed into their home to get an authentic sense of daily life.

5 You're in control with THE FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE Exclusively with O.A.T. Your Choice. Your Adventure. Your Way.

It’s your adventure, so why not make it exactly what you want it to be? We offer an exclusive variety of options that let you tailor your adventure so it’s completely your own. In fact, O.A.T. is the only travel company to offer this level of flexibility and choice for a truly personalized experience.

PRE- OR POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS 2. Great value: All extensions include Every O.A.T. adventure offers at least one accommodations, daily breakfast, and optional pre-trip and one post-trip extension. airport transfers. Here’s why more than 55% of O.A.T. travelers 3. Continuity and camaraderie: You’ll usually choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension: travel with the same Trip Experience Leader who leads your main trip, enjoying more of 1. You’ll maximize your discoveries—often his or her insider expertise—and more time in an even smaller group than your main to bond with the group. adventure (on average, 6 travelers with a dedicated Trip Experience Leader)—and take advantage of your included airfare.

Optional Extensions offered with your adventure

Northern Portugal: Porto & NEW! Medieval Citadels & Chateaux: the Douro Valley Carcassonne to Toulouse 5 nights pre-trip from $1695 5 nights pre-trip from $2795

Porto, Portugal Saint-Etienne Cathredal, Toulouse, France

Northern Spain: Bilbao, San Sebastian & NEW! The Volcanic : Medieval Villages & Gran Canaria 7 nights post-trip from $2495 7 nights post-trip from $3295

Oviedo, Spain Garachico, Tenerife, Spain

6 ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATER daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport Extending your time abroad—with us or transfers. Here are a few popular destinations: on your own—is the best way to broaden • London or Paris: $895 per person your experience. It’s also a practical way to • or Amsterdam: $795 per person maximize the value of the international airfare covered in your main itinerary. Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If the city you’re interested in is not offered, our Regional Expand Your Discoveries Before Adventure Counselors can arrange your airfare. or After Your Adventure COMBINE ADVENTURES Arrive early in the first destination on your You’re already overseas. Why not see more and pre-trip extension or main adventure, or stay maximize your value by avoiding the cost and later in the last city on your main adventure or length of another international flight? Here’s post-trip extension. By coming early, you can why 2,250 O.A.T. travelers combined two or rest after your flight and adjust—with time to more adventures in 2019: explore. By staying later, you have extra time to relax, pack, or continue exploring. • Save a total of $600-$3000 per person when you combine two adventures compared to the This option lets you take advantage of our cost of taking each trip separately. lower group rates, with prices from $50 per person per night—including accommodations, • Apply the 5% or 6% Frequent Traveler Credit private airport transfer, and daily breakfast. you earn on your first trip to your second trip. • Sir Edmund Hillary Club members save an • Arrive early in Lisbon on your main trip extra $250-$350 per person when booking for $75 per person per night multiple trips in a calendar year. • Arrive early in Porto on your Northern • Our Regional Adventure Counselors make all Portugal pre-trip extension for $75 per the arrangements for a seamless experience. person per night Combine this trip with our Northern Spain & • Arrive early in Carcassonne before your Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past adventure—for Carcassonne to Toulouse pre-trip extension a total cost of $7740-10,390 per person—and for $100 per person, per night save $800-1300 per person versus taking each • Conclude your main trip with more time trip separately. in Toledo for $75 per person per night AIR PREFERENCES • Stay later in Gran Canaria after your post- 54% of our travelers customize their air trip extension for $50 per person, per night itineraries: • Spend more time in at the end of your Northern Spain post-trip extension • Choose your departure city and airline for $50 per person per night • Depart from one city and return to another Accommodations are at the same hotels where • Upgrade to Premium Economy or you begin or end the main trip and optional Business Class extensions, so transitions will be seamless. FREEDOM OF CHOICE DURING YOUR NEW! Stopover in any major international city ADVENTURE Travelers with O.A.T. airfare have the Our itineraries provide a balance of included opportunity to Stopover in popular cities. activities and free time so you always have the Your price includes 3 nights accommodations, flexibility to participate in included activities, go off on your own entirely, or do a mix of both.

7 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 than $200 million worldwide to support Maragato Crafts Center the education of young people and the Total Donations: $2,380 preservation of international treasures This crafts center supports the continuation and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and of traditional art forms of historical region of the conservation of natural resources for la Maragateria, such as textile arts and hand- future generations. worked, wooden musical instruments. The Foundation's initial donation funded scholarships Of course, none of this would be possible to help students continue their studies in order to without your help. A portion of the proceeds keep these traditional skills from dying out. of every adventure is donated to Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your life will P r o y e c t o I l l u s i o n be enriched by the discoveries you’ll make Total Donations: $4,090 on your journey, you’ll also help to enrich Proyecto Ilusión is an association for the the lives of the people you’ll meet along the physically, mentally, and sensory disabled. In way. Thank you for traveling with us, and 2002, a group of families had a shared problem: attending to the needs of a disabled family for helping to change people’s lives. member. They joined social, psychological, Love and peace, and economic forces to confront their family members’ needs. GCF funded the renovation of the therapy rooms and the purchase of a Harriet R. Lewis projector and monitor. Chair, Grand Circle Foundation

SCAN ME See how Grand Circle Foundation is giving back in this video Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will take you directly to the video.

www.grandcirclefoundation.org

8 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 and travel for Americans—by optional trip extensions—a savings of $781- the numbers $1495 per person compared to other travel companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so early reservations are advised. More than 50% of all O.A.T. travelers are women who travel solo One of our most popular trips for solo travelers. More than 920 solo travelers joined us on this adventure in 2018 and 2019—either In 2022, we’re offering 30,000 independently or sharing a room with a singles spaces across all O.A.T. mother, daughter, sister, or friend. adventures. That’s 86% more than High ratings: More than 86% of these solo offered in 2019 travelers rated their adventure excellent.

On average, half of your group will also be 92% of our 30,000 single spaces traveling independently, so it’s easy to forge have FREE Single Supplements. The special bonds as you experience unforgettable remaining 8% have the lowest single moments together. supplements in the industry.

You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your dedicated local Trip Experience Leader In 2022, we’re offering 25 exclusive (a resident of Portugal or Spain), and the women’s departures on some of our expertise of our regional office team in Lisbon. most popular itineraries

Increased Single Space: In 2023, we have up to 8 single spaces per departure. See available FREE single space at NEW! 101+ SCAN ME www.oattravel.com/wps2023. Tips for Solo Women Travelers This complimentary, 96-page booklet is a comprehensive collection of savvy tips specifically for seasoned women travelers going solo. Learn about safety for solos, packing like a pro, the best travel apps, self-care on the road, and more. Scan this code to view an online copy or to request one by mail.

9 Our best value in over 5 years—with a savings of up to $400 per person

Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas Small Group Adventure Portugal̆dĢŭðŋł̇2ƑŋũÖ̳Ά̳Spain: Carmona, Ronda, Úbeda, Toledo

Countries: 2 Ά!ĢŶĢāŭ̆6Ά8 nights in intimate pousadas and paradores

Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included (average of 13)

Explore in a small group of 8-16 19 small group activities FROM PER DAY DAYS • • travelers (average group size of 13) $ $ • Services of a local O.A.T. Trip 3795 238 16 • International airfare, airport transfers, Experience Leader government taxes, fees, and airline fuel Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and Including international airfare surcharges unless you choose to make • luggage porters FREE Single Supplement your own air arrangements 5% Frequent Traveler Credit All land transportation • • toward your next O.A.T. trip—an • Accommodations for 14 nights average of $293 Maximize Your • 28 meals—14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, Discoveries & Value and 7 dinners (including 1 Home- Hosted Dinner) Optional extension s : Northern Portugal: Porto & the SCAN ME Douro Valley 5 nights pre-trip from $1695 Watch our #1 most popular video Travel from only $339 per night for this adventure New! Medieval Citadels & Chateaux: Open the camera feature on your mobile device, and hover Carcassonne to Toulouse the lens over this code to scan it. A pop-up notification will 5 nights pre-trip from $2795 take you directly to the video. Travel from only $559 per night Northern Spain: Bilbao, San Sebastian & Medieval Villages 7 nights post-trip from $2495 Travel from only $357 per night New! The Volcanic Canary Islands: Tenerife & Gran Canaria 7 nights post-trip from $3295 Travel from only $471 per night PLUS, see Dates & Prices for Stopover city options

Toledo, Spain

Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas

10 o ur o Itinerary Summary PRE-TRIP EXTENSION D To/From U.S. POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS Internal flight Minho Region Bay of Biscay n Land route FRANCE a (Optional Tour) Santan e Ferry route der ilbao Pre-trip extensions: 5 nights in Northern c Porto B Régua 050Miles San Sebastian O Gaia ouro Madrid Oviedo D N Portugal: Porto & the Douro Valley OR c

i I La Guardia t (Optional Tour) n PORTUGAL A New! 5 nights in Medieval Citadels &

a l Toledo P s t u SPAIN Coimbra Tag Chateaux: Carcassonne to Toulouse A S From Madrid To Lisbon From Madrid SPAIN Puer San Cristóbal DAYS DESTINATION to de l Sintra a Cru de La Laguna Mérida Garachico z Lisbon Sa Alentejo nta Cruz 1 Fly to Lisbon, Portugal Évora Mt. Las Palmas Atlantic Tenerife Agaete PORTUGAL San Mateo Ocean CANARY Gran Canaria 2-4 Lisbon Úbeda ISLANDS Maspalomas uivir Córdoba PRE-TRIP EXTENSION alq Guad Cordes-sur-Ciel Carmona i a Albi u s a l 5-6 Évora (Optional Tour) d Toulouse FRANCE n telnaudary A e Cas n C n a Carcassonne o na a ar l du Midi Ronda S e 7-8 Carmona, Spain G a n a n e Lion r Gulf of r To Lisbon M e d i t e 9-10 Ronda

What to Expect 11-12 Córdoba • Úbeda 13-15 Toledo

16 Return to U.S. Pacing: 6 locations in 15 days Physical requirements: Travel over some rugged paths and cobblestoned streets, Post-trip extensions: 7 nights in Northern as well as bumpy, unpaved roads, both by bus and on foot. Several overland drives Spain: Bilbao, San Sebastian & Medieval of 5-6 hours. Villages OR New! 7 nights in The Volcanic Flight time: Travel time will be 8-17 hours and will most likely have one connection Canary Islands: Tenerife & Gran Canaria

View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/wps2023 Arrive Early, Stay Later Prices below include accommodations, daily breakfast, and private airport Portugal & Spain : The O.A.T. Difference transfer. • Arrive early in Lisbon on your main trip Our Best Value in Over 5 Years: Save up to $400 per person, and travel at the for $75 per person per night lowest price and per diems in the industry. • Arrive early in Porto on your Northern People-to-People Experiences: Learn about a variety Portugal pre-trip extension for $75 per of Controversial Topics such as racism in Portugal, the morality of bullfighting, person per night and the fate of the Spanish monarchy with local people who are deeply affected • Arrive early in Carcassonne before by these issues. You’ll also enjoy an intimate Home-Hosted Dinner with a your Carcassonne to Toulouse pre-trip extension for $100 per person, per night Portuguese family in the ancient hillside town of Évo • Conclude your main trip with more time O.A.T. Exclusives: Spend A Day in the Life at an olive oil mill outside of Úbeda— in Toledo for $75 per person per night a recently enhanced feature—where you’ll meet with the owners, tour an olive • Stay later in Gran Canaria after your grove and the factory, and enjoy a traditional lunch together. You’ll also visit post-trip extension for $50 per person, the Convent of St. Clare, where local nuns offer their aid to Carmona’s poor and per night homeless—a NEW Grand Circle Foundation site. • Spend more time in Oviedo at the end of your Northern Spain post-trip extension for $50 per person per night

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/wps2023

11 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

OR 5 nights in Medieval Citadels & Chateaux: Carcassonne to Toulouse

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Cruise the Canal du Midi • Transfer to Toulouse Day 2 Arrive Toulouse, France • Transfer to Carcassonne Day 5 Explore Toulouse Day 3 Explore Carcassonne Day 6 Discover Albi • Visit Cordes-sur-Ciel Day 7 Toulouse • Join main adventure

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 2 Arrive in Lisbon, Portugal

Fly from the U.S. to Lisbon, Portugal. • Destination: Lisbon • Accommodations: Hotel Marquês de Pombal or similar

Morning: You’ll arrive in Lisbon this morning to begin your Portugal and Spain travel experience. An O.A.T. representative greets you at the airport and assists with the transfer to your hotel.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

12 Around 2pm, we’ll check in to our hotel, where • Enjoy a filigree demonstration: Watch as you’ll be joined by travelers who took our a local artisan demonstrates the process of Northern Portugal: Porto & the Douro Valley or crafting a piece of filigree jewelry, or jewelry New! Medieval Citadels & Chateaux: Carcassonne that has very precise and detailed metalwork, to Toulouse pre-trip extensions. Depending on from delicately woven strands of metal during which hotel we’ll stay at, it may feature a bar a visit to a local workshop. This intricate style and a restaurant with panoramic views of the of jewelry was once worn to denote financial historic city center. The air-conditioned rooms status and has traditionally been passed down typically have wireless Internet, telephone, through families to younger generations. You satellite TV, minibar, safe, and a private bath. may choose to shop for souvenirs here as well.

Lunch: On your own upon arrival at the • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi hotel—your Trip Experience Leader can provide ride, about $6 USD one way. you a recommendation or you can enjoy a • Hours: 10am-7pm, daily. meal at the hotel restaurant. You may choose • Cost: Free. to set off to find a local restaurant that serves • Discover the myriad entertainment options at regional specialties, such as seafood. LX Factory: Explore this renovated industrial complex where shops, restaurants, and bars Afternoon: Around 5:30pm, we’ll gather beckon. You can also view the striking street with our Trip Experience Leader and fellow art found throughout the complex, and enjoy travelers for a Welcome Briefing and drink. music entertainment that rotates throughout Your Trip Experience Leader will lead this the year here. briefing outlining expectations for our time together and answering any questions you may • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute taxi have. Then, around 6pm, we’ll embark on an ride, about $6 USD one way. orientation walk for about half an hour around • Hours: 11am-9pm, Monday; 11am-11pm, the hotel and surrounding area, including a Tuesday-Thursday; 11am-1am, Friday; stop at a local bar for an opportunity to meet 11am-9pm, Sunday. some of the locals. This gives us a chance to get • Cost: Free. acclimated and acquainted with Lisbon. • Take a ride on a cacilheiro (ferry): Admire Lisbon from a different vantage point when Dinner: On your own. You can sample you cruise the Tagus River aboard one of the local specialties ranging from seafood city’s bright orange ferries. As you cross, and grilled chicken, to hearty stews. Ask you’ll witness Lisbon’s various monuments, your Trip Experience Leader for specific and you might even spot the Atlantic in the recommendations. distance. Depending on when you ride, you Evening: Relax at a nearby café and linger over may be joined by local business people and a glass of port or local wine. students, who rely on their ferry for their dai- ly commutes. Upon arrival on the south bank, Freedom To Explore: During your three days in Lisbon, you have the freedom to explore this storied European city on your own during your free time. Below are a few recommended options for independent explorations:

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

13 you may want to enjoy petiscos (Portuguese where we’ll see historic monuments such as the tapas) at one of the many seaside restaurants Tower of Belém and the Discoveries Monument. before cruising back to the heart of Lisbon. We’ll continue towards the city center where • How to get there: A 20-minute subway we’ll pass through the Avenida da Liberdade, an ride; about $1.75 USD. area known for its luxury shops, and we’ll see • Hours: 5am-2am, daily. the 18th-century architecture of Restauradores • Cost: About $3.50 USD per person. Square. Then, we’ll drive through Baixa, an area in the heart of Lisbon that was destroyed and Day 3 Explore Lisbon • Controversial completely rebuilt after the Great Earthquake Topic: Racism and Portugal’s colonial of 1755. Baixa now features broad squares and past with Ana Martins avenues flanked by shops, cafés, and elegant Neo-Classical buildings. • Destination: Lisbon • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Around 11:15am, we’ll enter the Alfama district, • Accommodations: Hotel Marquês de Pombal one of Lisbon’s oldest and most ethnically or similar diverse neighborhoods to see the city from another perspective as we leave our bus behind Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries and set off on a walking tour. We’ll stroll these include a conversation about the Controversial narrow laneways, admire the charismatic Topic of racism in Portuguese society. architecture and mingle with locals. We’ll speak to a woman in a mixed-race relationship to learn how the influence of At around 11:45am we’ll walk to a small café colonization in Portugal’s previous empire in the Alfama district to meet Ana Martins, a has led to inequality in society today, and white Portuguese woman married to a man how the country’s unwillingness to admit of African descent, for a conversation about a discrimination exists creates obstacles for its Controversial Topic: racism in Portugal, and marginalized population. Read more about this the country’s struggle to reconcile with its activity below. colonial past.

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.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

14 Despite this inequality, however, Portugal is Empire included Angola, Mozambique, largely a country in denial about its racism Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau—but sadly problem. According to a recent study, only independence did not bring peace for these 23% of people think Portugal has a problem emerging states. Instead, their first years with racism; the rest think racism is simply without colonial rule were marked by political something that happens elsewhere. Some even corruption and civil unrest, causing about one wonder if racism is real. As 2020 continues million people from the former colonies to to shine a light on racial injustice throughout immigrate to Portugal. the world, many people in Portugal are now Portugal’s total population was only about being confronted with questions about their 10 million at the time, so this influx of treatment of black people. A national reckoning people—which included black Africans, has ensued, with racism a frequent topic on the white Portuguese colonists, and mixed-race nightly news and in the media. families—upset the Portuguese economy, We’ll get a firsthand perspective of this issue housing market, and even the country’s from Ana, a woman in her 30s who was born national identity. Competition arose for and raised in Lisbon. As a white woman married jobs, and a number of public buildings and to a man of African descent, she can share her hotels, and even some private buildings, were firsthand experience of how people in Portugal converted to house the newly-arrived people. are treated differently based on their race. Ana This increased competition for work and and her husband also have a son, a toddler accommodations has contributed to an increase named Simao; raising a mixed-race child has in racial tensions that many in Portugal are still revealed a Portugal that she hadn’t seen before, reckoning with. as she helps her innocent son navigate a world Racism can be an uncomfortable topic, and in which he’s bullied solely because of the color some travelers may feel sensitive or emotional of his skin. during our conversation. Despite these During our 1-hour conversation, Ana will difficulties, this is an important subject to learn candidly share her experiences with racism about in order to understand the real Portugal and explain how it has affected everything of today. We encourage you to come to this from employment opportunities to playground discussion with an open mind and respect for dynamics. She will also tell us how she feels the people you’ll be speaking with, who will be living in a country where many people do not sharing their personal (and often vulnerable) consider racism to be a problem. The staff at stories to help shed light on this issue. There the café is also very diverse, offering more will be plenty of time for you to ask questions opportunity to get a true perspective of the any questions you may have. Experiences problem of racism in Portugal, and to explore like this are possible because of O.A.T.’s local the roots of the issue to learn how it all began. connections.

Portugal has a long and deeply enmeshed Lunch: On your own around 12:45pm. You have history with Africa and its people—first as a the choice to either explore lunch options at a prominent agent in the slave trade, and then, local restaurant near downtown neighborhood, after slavery was abolished, as a colonizer. By or return to the hotel and enjoy lunch there, 1975, Portugal had given up all of its African followed by free time. colonies—which at the height of the Portuguese

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15 Afternoon: If you choose to return to the hotel Sintra National Palace, a 15th-century medieval for lunch, we’ll depart by bus around 12:45pm palace where the Portuguese royal family spent and drive for about 30 minutes back to the their summers until the 1800s, and embark on a hotel. Then, you’ll have free time to freshen up tour for about one hour. Discover the medieval, or relax before we go on a walk through the city gothic, and Moorish architectural influences as around 6:15pm. we explore the palace’s decorative staterooms.

We’ll walk to Bairro Alto, one of Lisbon’s most Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll sit down for a racially-diverse neighborhoods, stopping along buffet-style lunch serving hot and cold the way at a panoramic viewing point, where regional dishes. we can admire the splendor of the city under Afternoon: You’ll have about an hour of free the evening sky. Then, we’ll continue our walk time following lunch to explore Sintra. We through Bairro Alto as we make our way to the depart around 3pm for the drive back to Lisbon, restaurant where we’ll have dinner tonight. arriving to our hotel around 3:45pm where you Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll enjoy a Welcome will have free time for the remainder of the day. Dinner together at a local restaurant, featuring You might choose to explore the city on your and traditional fado music. own, perhaps enjoying a visit to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum or the Time Out Market, Evening: After dinner, we drive for about 15 an indoor venue featuring gourmet food stalls, minutes and arrive back at the hotel at about shops, and bars. 9pm. The remainder of the evening is free to explore more of the area and perhaps enjoy a Dinner: On your own—you may choose to nightcap at a nearby café. sample the region’s most famous dishes including , a popular dried and Day 4 Cascais • Sintra National Palace salted cod dish, or , a traditional Portuguese soup. • Destination: Lisbon • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Evening: On your own—you’re free to explore • Accommodations: Hotel Marquês de Pombal as you’d like, or ask your Trip Experience or similar Leader for recommendations.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Day 5 Rural Portugal • Overland to Évora • Home-Hosted Dinner Morning: We’ll depart the hotel by bus around • Destination: Évora 9:30am and drive for about 45 minutes toward • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Cascais. Upon arrival, we’ll join our Trip Experience Leader for a walk through this • Accommodations: Pousada de Évora former fishing village, known for its sandy or similar beaches, mosaic sidewalks, and pastel-colored Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries buildings. include a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local family in Évora. We’ll separate into smaller Around 11am, we’ll continue by bus for about groups of no more than 5 for an exclusive 45 minutes to Sintra. The village is situated opportunity to intimately connect with within a fairytale landscape of lush forests, residents of the city and enjoy home-cooked turreted palaces, and castle ruins. We’ll visit

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16 cuisine and friendly conversation about what Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll split into smaller life is like in this storied Portuguese city. Read groups of no more than 5 and depart the hotel more about this activity below. for a motorcoach ride of about 15 minutes to visit a local family for a Home-Hosted Dinner. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. With your small, intimate group size, you’ll have the exclusive opportunity to Morning: We’ll depart the hotel around 9am on deeply connect with your host family and an hour-long journey by bus to Azeitão, passing enjoy meaningful conversation about what over the Vasco da Gama bridge as we leave day-to-day life is like in this Portuguese city. Lisbon. While in Azeitão, we’ll learn about the Your host will be a working- or middle-class longstanding Portuguese tradition of azulejos. family, living in a typical home where multiple Introduced to Iberia by Moors, these blue or generations will likely be living under one multi-colored ceramic tiles decorate everything roof, offering a broad view of local culture and from church walls and palaces to the façades of tradition. most Portuguese homes. With our small group, we’ll also gain experiential insight into the You’ll also have the chance to savor authentic, ancient art form by trying our hand at painting home-cooked Portuguese cuisine as you share some of the tiles ourselves. the same type of meal that your host would share with their own friends and family. We depart around 11am for a 10- to 15-minute Dinner will be made from seasonally-available drive to the nearby village of Queijeira Velha, ingredients, and might include Portuguese where we’ll visit a traditional artisanal cheese specialties like carne alguidar, a simple but producer to learn about Azeitão cheese, savory dish featuring pork marinated in a a velvety local specialty made from raw mix of roasted pepper paste and spices for 24 sheep’s milk. hours or longer. You might also enjoy a taste of Lunch: Around 12:15pm, we’ll enjoy lunch at Portuguese wine from your host’s wine cellar. the cheese shop. We’ll say goodbye to our new friends at around Afternoon: We’ll depart the cheese shop 9pm, and then drive back to our hotel. around 2pm for a drive of about one hour Evening: The rest of the night is free. You might past landscapes dotted with cork trees and enjoy a nightcap at the hotel bar or simply relax olive groves. before tomorrow’s discoveries. We’ll arrive at our hotel in Évora around 3pm Freedom To Explore: During your two days and receive our room assignments. While in Évora, you have the freedom to explore our exact hotel may vary, the amenities may this quaint hilltop town on your own during include an on-site bar and restaurant. The your free time. Below are a few recommended air-conditioned rooms typically have a safe, options for independent explorations: cable TV, wireless Internet, minibar, and a private bath. You’ll have some free time to • Spending a relaxing afternoon at Acqua freshen up after the day’s journey. Veritas Spa: Inspired by Roman bathhouses, this spa is situated in a noble house and designed to house three Roman-style pools. For maximum relaxation, this ancient bathing ritual is meant to be experienced in

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17 sequential order, moving from warm to hot Day 6 Explore Évora • Discussion with to cold water. The building features arches university students • Portuguese and vaulted ceilings, as well as rooms for cooking lesson traditional spa services and a winter garden • Destination: Évora where you can relax with a drink and tapas. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. • Accommodations: Pousada de Évora • Hours: 4pm-10pm Monday and Thursday, or similar 4pm-11pm Friday-Saturday, 10am-1pm and 4pm-10pm Sunday. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at • Cost: About $40 USD per person. 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes.

• Shop for traditional outerwear capes at Morning: Around 8:45am, we embark on Capotes’s Emotion: Explore a family-run a walking tour of Évora, an ancient hilltop store specializing in the production of the town with Roman and Moorish roots that is a Capote Alentejo Jacket. The Capote cloak is UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, we’ll head typically composed of three layers of wool towards Évora University, the second-oldest and outfitted with a fur-trimmed hood. university in Portugal dating back to the 16th • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi century. Here, we’ll meet a couple of students ride, about $12 USD one way. who will show us around, and speak frankly • Hours: 9am-1pm & 3pm-7pm, to us about the socio-economic implications Monday-Saturday. of many Portuguese students moving to other • Cost: Free. countries after university.

• Learn about the fascinating process of leather We’ll continue our explorations around 10am. book preservation at the local book resto- Our stroll within Evora’s medieval walls ration workshop. Located in a tucked-away will reveal a series of houses adorned with space under the city’s 16th-century aque- wrought-iron balconies. We’ll also see the ducts, you’ll find leather- and cork-bound influence of Rome at the ruins of the Temple of books dating back centuries here. The owner, Diana, whose 14 exquisite Corinthian columns Sandrine, makes it her mission to recover and date back to the second and third centuries. restore these time-worn treasures. Near Évora’s main square is the Church of St. • How to get there: An approximate 5-min- Francis, home to a macabre bone chapel (Capela ute walk from the hotel. dos Ossos) which welcomes visitors with the • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. eerie message: “We bones that are here, for • Cost: Free. yours await.” Inside, thousands of skeletons and skulls have been carefully arranged along the chapel walls, ceilings, and columns—put there by three Franciscan monks in the early 16th century who wanted wealthy residents of Évora to reflect on the transience of material things and inevitability of death.

Around 11:45am, we depart for a drive of about 15 minutes and gather together to learn some of the secrets of Portuguese cuisine during a

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18 cooking class. Our small group size will afford Around 11:45am, we arrive in Mérida where us this special opportunity as it allows us to ask we embark on a walk of about 2 hours. We’ll questions of our hosts, gain more insight about explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site their culture, and learn how to cook like a local. of Mérida, including its 6,000-seat Roman theater and the adjoining amphitheater, where Lunch: Around 1pm during the cooking class, gladiators once battled to the death against featuring Portuguese cuisine. animals imported from Asia and Africa and Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, we head back confined in the large, cross-shaped pit we’ll to our hotel where we’ll arrive after around see at center stage. Although the region of 15 minutes. The afternoon is free for you Extremadura once marked the boundary to explore the town. You might choose to between Moorish and Christian Spain, the explore the cobbled alleyways that many capital of the region, Mérida, fell under of the 15th-century Portuguese kings once Moorish, Christian, and even Portuguese called home, or relax at a café and take in your control throughout its storied history. It surroundings. is better known, however, as one of the most famous Roman capitals on the Iberian Dinner: Around 7:30pm, we’ll enjoy a Peninsula, and it displays this heritage in some traditional dinner at our historic pousada, of the best-preserved Roman ruins in all of featuring traditional cuisine. Europe. Our Trip Experience Leader will help make the history and culture come alive during Evening: You’re free to retire to your room, a walk through Mérida’s old quarter, giving us enjoy a drink at the hotel bar, or venture deeper insight into the region. back out into Évora for the evening. Your Trip Experience Leader is ready with Lunch: On your own around 1:30pm. Your Trip recommendations. Experience Leader will be happy to provide a recommendation for where to eat as options Day 7 Roman ruins of Mérida • Overland to include rustic taverns, tapas, and contemporary Carmona, Spain Spanish cuisine.

• Destination: Carmona Afternoon: Around 2:15pm, we continue on • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner our bus to the charming Andalusian town of • Accommodations: Parador de Carmona Carmona, where we arrive around 6pm and check in to our hotel. Depending on where Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at we stay, our hotel is likely to be situated high 7am, featuring hot and cold dishes. atop a hill that overlooks the vast plains below. Morning: We depart the hotel around 8:30am, Typical amenities include a restaurant and a setting our clocks forward by an hour as we bar, a swimming pool, and an elegant lounge. travel to Spain, where we enter Extremadura, Rooms may feature a satellite TV, a safe, a an autonomous Spanish province known as minibar, and a private bath. the homeland of such famous 16th-century Dinner: Around 8pm at the hotel restaurant conquistadores as Pizarro and Cortés. As we with regional dishes and sweet desserts. traverse this vast and sparsely populated farming region we will likely see views of storks Evening: On your own to take a short walk or nesting in ancient steeples and medieval towns lounge in the hotel bar. dotting the plain.

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19 Freedom To Explore: During your two days in River, the fifth-longest river in the Iberian Carmona, you have the freedom to explore the Peninsula, for a glimpse into Carmona’s historic area during your free time. Below are medieval history. a few recommended options for independent • How to get there: A 15- to 20-minute walk explorations: or 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel to the • Explore the Roman Necropolis: This trail’s starting point at St. Peter’s Church 2,000-year-old (and well-preserved) (approximately $12 USD one way). memento from Roman rule stuns with its • Hours: All hours, daily (recommended hundreds of tombs and multi-chambered months to hike for ideal weather are ruins. Situated outside of the former city October through April). walls, this archaeological site encompasses • Cost: Free. more than 300 tombs such as the Tomb of the Elephant, which is believed to have served as Day 8 Carmona • Optional Seville tour • Grand Circle Foundation a sanctuary, and the Tomb of Servillia, one visit: Convent of the largest tombs at the site including a of St. Clare courtyard. • Destination: Carmona • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner ride, about $15 USD one way. • Accommodations: Parador de Carmona Hours: 9am-6pm, daily. • Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries Cost: About $3 USD per person. • will feature our NEW Grand Circle Foundation • Join locals on a Walking Tour: Gain valuable visit to the Convent of St. Clare. With our insights as you discover hidden spots and travelers’ help, Grand Circle Foundation has highlights of the city from those that call donated $2,428 to this organization, which Carmona their home and see the area through offers food, clothing, and other vital services to their eyes. Plan to spend approximately two Carmona’s poor and homeless population. Read hours exploring with a local guide. more about this activity below. How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi • Activity Note: If Day 8 falls on a Sunday, we will ride, about $12 USD one way. visit the walled fortress of El Alcázar instead of Hours: 12pm-2pm, daily. • the . • Cost: About $16 USD per person. • Explore Carmona’s rustic countryside on Breakfast: Served at the hotel from a hike through La Cueva de la Batida. This 7:30am-9am, featuring hot and cold dishes. approximate 5-mile hiking trail will take Morning: You may choose to spend the full you into the heart of the picturesque Seville day exploring Carmona on your own. Meander countryside. On the way, you’ll walk past through this picturesque walled town with the historic on Guadalquivir its Roman-era streets at your own pace. You may want to see the Seville Gate and its double Moorish arch, which leads to the narrow streets and Renaissance mansions of Old Town. Cozy Plaza San Fernando is home to a series of elegant 17th-century homes; and the nearby Roman Necropolis contains the relics of more

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20 than 900 families that lived in and around At around 5:45pm, we will set off on a Carmona some 2,000 years ago. You may ten-minute walk to the Convent of St. even choose to take a trip on your own to the Clare to experience this NEW Grand Circle Roman ruins or convent where you can take Foundation visit. We recently began supporting in the architecture and leave with homemade this organization, which offers support to baked goods. Carmona’s poor and homeless population in 2020, and with our travelers’ help, we have Or, you may elect to take our optional tour to already donated $2,428 to help them in their Seville, the romantic Spanish city renowned mission. During our visit, we’ll see just how for bullfighting, the flamenco, and Don much your generosity is appreciated. Juan. Those who choose the optional tour to Seville will depart the hotel around 9am The Catholic Church in Spain has always for a bus ride of about an hour. Discover served an important role in the country’s Seville’s highlights, including its picturesque society, offering vital social services to those homes, 2000-year-old plazas, and maze of in need who cannot support themselves and cobbled streets in neighborhoods like the have been left behind by the government. The Barrio de Santa Cruz. We’ll also explore the eleven Franciscan nuns of St. Clare make up Seville Cathedral, one of the largest and most a crucial part of Carmona’s social safety net, impressive churches in the world. Built in the in a community where the unemployment 15th century at the site of a twelfth-century rate sometimes reaches as high as 40%. The mosque, the massive Cathedral is also home to sisters offer food, clothing, sanitary items, and the golden Retablo Mayor, the largest altarpiece other aid needed by Carmona’s impoverished in the world—and is the reputed burial population, regardless of their religion or place of Christopher Columbus. Thirty-five background. ramps—originally built so guards could ascend We’ll visit their convent for ourselves, where swiftly on donkeys or horses—lead up to the the nuns will meet us and tell us about the bell chamber, where you may enjoy panoramic support that they offer their community day to views of the city. day. We’ll also take a tour of their 15th-century Lunch: On your own—travelers who are staying convent, and you might enjoy the opportunity in Carmona may choose to venture out to find to help out with various tasks, such as baking a local restaurant. If you join us on our optional cakes, or distributing clothes and food to those tour, lunch on your own is scheduled for seeking aid. We’ll also have the chance to see around 1pm. You may seek out local specialties for ourselves the difference that your travel in Seville. dollars are making as we visit a shelter that is currently under construction—supported Afternoon: As our optional tour begins to in part by Grand Circle Foundation’s wind down, you’ll have free time to continue donations—which will offer a safe place to stay exploring or browsing the local shops. Then, for those who need it once completed. we’ll board a bus to Carmona around 3:30pm. We’ll arrive back in Carmona around 4:45pm We’ll spend about an hour at the convent, and reconvene with travelers who didn’t take which will include the opportunity to ask the optional tour. the nuns questions about day-to-day life for Carmona’s marginalized population.

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21 Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll walk over to a local Spain, and have been used in bullfights in restaurant for dinner. some of the country’s most prestigious venues, including the bullrings of Ronda and Madrid. Evening: Upon arrival back to the hotel around 8:15pm, the evening is free for you to go out for We’ll spend about two hours at the farm. First, a nightcap or pack before we depart tomorrow. we’ll head to the family residence where we’ll meet Jose (or another member of the family if Day 9 Explore Ronda • Controversial he is not available) and spend about an hour Topic: The uncertain future of bullfighting getting to know each other as Jose regales in Spain with Jose Murube us with stories of his life in the countryside, and the memories he has of living here with • Destination: Ronda his family. We’ll then head out and explore • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch the farm with Jose as our companion. We’ll • Accommodations: Parador de Ronda walk along the grounds, taking in the dehesa Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we’ll examine landscape that surrounds us, an unspoiled the Controversial Topic of bullfighting in expanse of vast green pastures and evergreen Spain when we meet the owner of a ranch oaks that typifies the pastoral scenery of this which breeds some of Spain’s most prestigious region of southern Spain. We’ll also see the fighting bulls. Together, we’ll have a free-range bulls that are raised here, and learn conversation about the role of bullfighting in about the Murube family’s finely-tuned process traditional Spanish culture, about how cultural for breeding and raising the mighty beasts. attitudes are turning against it over time, and Lunch: At around 12:15pm, we’ll enjoy a about its prospects for the future. Read more light lunch on the ranch, made from fresh about this activity below. ingredients grown on the farm.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at Afternoon: At around 1:30pm, we’ll sit down 8am, featuring hot and cold dishes. with Jose on the ranch for a conversation about Morning: We depart our hotel at about 9am by a Controversial Topic: the waning popularity of private motorcoach, making the journey south bullfighting in Spain. This controversial activity from Carmona to Ronda, admiring views of has been a proud part of Spain’s cultural several of the region’s famous “white villages” heritage for hundreds of years, and at one along the way. Nestled into mountainsides or time was almost universally beloved. In recent set atop dramatic gorges, Andalusia’s Pueblos decades, however, cultural attitudes have Blancos are a series of picturesque whitewashed shifted, and a generation of younger Spaniards hill towns and quaint villages that offer and animal rights activists have come to see it glimpses of Spanish life and culture during as a form of barbaric cruelty that needs to end. medieval times. Throughout the country, approximately 60% of At around 10:15am, we’ll stop at La Cobatilla, a the population is opposed to the practice, and bull farm owned by Jose Murube, a descendent some parts of Spain have outright banned it. In of the prestigious Murube family, which has the Catalonian capital of for example, bred fighting bulls in this region since the 19th bullfighting was forbidden by a grassroots vote century. Murube bulls are prized throughout in 2012. Although the legal status of the ban has been challenged federally, the city converted

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22 its ring into a shopping mall, sending a clear end bullfighting would be to erase part of message about the future of bullfighting in the country’s cultural identity. And although the region. the practice is undeniably bloody, the animal doesn’t go to waste. After a fight, the bull’s We’ll spend about an hour discussing this meat is used to produce food for human and controversy with Jose (or another member animal consumption; is it so different from any of the Murube family if Jose is unavailable). other form of butchery? Critics counter that As a member of the Murube family, which yes, it almost certainly is. They claim that while has been in the business of breeding fighting the goal of a fight may be to kill the bull, the bulls for generations, and the current owner animal endures significant physical and mental of the family’s prestigious ranch, bullfighting abuse before and during the match. In addition has been an important part of Jose’s life. He to the animal rights issues, bullfighting is is therefore deeply attuned to how attitudes obviously dangerous to its human participants; towards this controversial sport have changed over the course of its history, more than 500 over time, and can offer his expert insights matadors are estimated to have died, and into contemporary opinions. During our many more have been injured. Bullfighting’s conversation, Jose will also share his own opponents claim that it is nothing more than point of view and help us understand the role a medieval bloodsport that has no place in a that bullfighting has had in Spanish culture civilized, 21st century society. over time. While bullfights are still regularly held in Bullfighting’s popularity began in the 16th Spain—in the summer, bullrings might host century as a way for nobles to demonstrate a fight every week—its popularity is waning. their bravery and machismo. Throughout Approximately 20 bullrings still exist in the the following years, it became increasingly country, drawing smaller crowds each year. popular, as nobles and commoners alike took During our hour-long conversation with Jose, to the ring, dressing in fabulously flamboyant he’ll share his firsthand perspective of how he attire, and exposing themselves skillfully has seen the practice, and attitudes towards it, to as much danger as they could endure to change over his lifetime, and what he thinks prove their fearlessness and finesse. Because the future might hold for bullfighting in Spain. bullfighting takes so long to master and elicits We’ll also have time to ask questions that such a strong emotional response, Spaniards challenge him and ourselves to deepen our quickly came to view it as a high art rather than understanding of this difficult subject. merely a sport. Over the centuries, bullfighting has become intertwined with Spain’s cultural We’ll depart around 2:30pm, and drive for heritage; Ernest Hemingway fell in love with about an hour to our hotel in Ronda. We’ll the spectacle and famously sang its praises to arrive around 3:45pm, then check in and get an international audience in works like The Sun our room assignments. Our parador’s amenities 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

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23 The rest of the day is free to explore well-earned refreshment before making the independently. At 5pm, you may choose to return trip. The trail is approximately two join your Trip Experience Leader for a short miles each way. orientation walk around the neighborhood • How to get there: A 40- to 45-minute hike. surrounding the hotel. • Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience • Cost: Free. Leader can point you toward a restaurant • Take in the views from the Catalonia’s featuring Andalusian cuisine. rooftop terrace: Experience the sun going down over Ronda’s iconic Real Maestranza Evening: You will have free time to stroll the de Cabelleria bullring against a backdrop of town or enjoy a cocktail at one of the hotel’s mountain peaks. Perhaps you’ll try some restaurants and bars. local Andalusian specialities or enjoy local Freedom To Explore: During your two days wine and cheese from the hotel’s Panoramico in Ronda, you have the freedom to explore Restaurant. the breathtaking area during your free time. • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. Below are a few recommended options for • Hours: 1pm-4pm & 8pm-11pm, daily. independent explorations: • Cost: Free.

• Visit the Ronda Guitar House: Part museum Day 10 Explore Ronda Old Town • and part live music venue, the Ronda Guitar Controversial Topic: Royal corruption House is dedicated to the traditional guitar and the fate of the monarchy with music of Spain. Live music performances are held daily at 7pm (excluding Sunday). Armando & Jaime Founded in 2015 by a couple whose love for • Destination: Ronda music brought them together, you can enjoy • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch compositions from the Romantic and Baroque • Accommodations: Parador de Ronda periods up to modern day contemporary Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries Andaluz and Flamenco styles. include a conversation about the Controversial • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. Topic of the future of the Spanish monarchy. • Hours: 10:30am-8:30pm, Monday-Friday; In recent years, Spain’s former king, Juan 10:30am-2:30pm, Saturday (museum Carlos I, became deeply embroiled in a series of only). high-profile scandals that undermined Spanish • Cost: About $17 USD. faith in the monarchy and eventually led to his • Walk to Los Molinos Well: Hike to the bottom abdication. While his successor, King Felipe of the dramatic Huecar River Gorge. Once VI, seems determined to overcome his father’s at the bottom, you’ll have unique views of reputation, many in the country are beginning Ronda above, a sight not many visitors ever to ask whether Spain has a need for royalty see. You can stop at one of the bars for a at all. We’ll speak to two local experts to hear both sides of this controversial subject—read more below.

Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 8am, featuring hot and cold dishes.

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24 Morning: Around 9:30am, we’ll depart the scandals committed by the country’s previous hotel by foot and meet our local guide for a king, Juan Carlos I—including an expensive walking tour of Ronda, lasting about two hours. 2012 elephant-hunting excursion to Botswana, The town, a bucket list item in Western Europe, and a suspicious $100 million payment that is one of the largest—and most spectacular—of the king received for his part in a Saudi Arabian Andalusia’s white hill towns. Few places can railway project and then promptly gifted to his boast a more dramatic setting than Ronda, one mistress. Although Juan Carlos I abdicated in of the oldest cities in Spain and a one-time 2014, and his son Felipe VI has maintained a stronghold for legendary Andalusian bandits clean reputation thus far, the corruption has led from the 18th to early 20th centuries. The many to question whether the monarchy should town is divided by a 360-foot-deep ravine—El serve any role in Spain’s future. According to Tajo—which is spanned by three bridges, polls conducted in 2020, opinions are about including the newer Puente Nuevo, a graceful evenly split between those who wish to see the 18th-century stone structure high above monarchy preserved, and republicans who want the Guadalevín River. On one side of the it abolished; meanwhile, around 25% of the 210-foot-wide gorge are the narrow medieval population is undecided. streets of Ronda’s Moorish Old Town, known We’ll hear arguments for both sides during our as La Ciudad; on the other, the more recent hour-long conversation with two local people El Mercadillo quarter, which was constructed with strong opinions about the issue. First, after the Christian Reconquest of 1485. Homes we’ll meet Armando Gil Ecay, a local teacher in clinging precariously to the cliff faces of El Tajo his 60s with ties to Spain’s socialist party who add even more to Ronda’s dramatic beauty. believes the monarchy should be abolished. Our walking tour will focus on Ronda’s walled Growing up, Armando was exposed to a variety Old Town, where we’ll wander through its of diverse opinions about the monarchy, but labyrinth of medieval streets, flanked by it was during his studies of history at the Moorish homes with wrought-iron balconies. University of Malaga that he came firmly We’ll also enjoy spectacular views of the canyon around to the republican point of view. from atop the Puente Nuevo Bridge, with the The king is an important figure in Spanish valleys and hills shimmering in the distance. society, and Armando believes that nobody Just don’t get too close—in his novel For Whom should be granted such a prominent place solely the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemingway describes how by the circumstance of their birth. In a fair and prisoners were tossed alive from this very spot just society, only those who earn their office into the deep gorge below during the bitter through merit should be fit to govern. While the Spanish Civil War. current king, Felipe VI, has shown himself to At around 11:45am, we will walk to the historic be a more competent and temperate man than parador located by the bridge, converted his scandal-plagued father Juan Carlos I—who during the Franco regime from a town hall absconded to the Dominican Republic in August building into a luxury accommodation, for a 2020 to avoid prosecution for his alleged conversation about a Controversial Topic: the crimes—Armando believes that a hereditary conflicted attitudes of Spaniards about the system is fundamentally flawed, and it’s only future of the country’s monarchy. The people a matter of time until an unfit head wears the of Spain have grown increasingly wary of the crown once again. institution in light of a series of high-profile

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25 We’ll then hear the opposite point of view from closely with local people strongly connected Jaime Coronel, who believes that the monarchy to this contemporary controversy, we’ll enjoy is a fundamental pillar of the Spanish nation the rare opportunity to truly understand the and must be protected. Born in Ronda in 1969, powerful opinions that everyday Spanish towards the end of the Franco dictatorship, people hold about this thorny subject. Because Jaime came of age in a time of political upheaval of O.A.T.’s small group size and strong and uncertainty. As a child, he watched as king connections in the region, we’ll be able to Juan Carlos I took power from Franco’s fascist receive insights that are unavailable to most regime in 1975, and helped lay the framework travelers. for a democratic society with the ratification Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll enjoy a traditional of the 1978 constitution. At the age of 12, he lunch at the historic parador. witnessed an attempted coup d’etat in 1981, when officers of the military held the Spanish Afternoon: Beginning at around 2:30pm, you’ll Parliament hostage at gunpoint—a situation have the rest of the day free to explore Ronda. that was resolved without bloodshed when the king denounced the rebels and urged them to Dinner: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience surrender. Leader to recommend a restaurant where you can enjoy a typical Andalusian dinner, including Jaime believes that while it may be imperfect, local favorites such as fried fish, gazpacho, the monarchy is ultimately an important, oxtail, Iberian ham or payoya goat cheese. If unifying institution in Spanish society. While you imbibe, ask to sample the regional wines. he understands the resentment toward the royals over recent scandals, he believes that Evening: On your own. You may choose to abolishing the monarchy because of them linger over a long dinner or enjoy a nightcap at would be a drastic overreaction—working the hotel bar. within the system to reform it would be the wiser course. All forms of government Day 11 Visit Córdoba • Journey to Úbeda have to deal with corruption, after all, and • Destination: Úbeda Jaime is convinced of the current regime’s • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner commitment to justice. For example, in 2018, • Accommodations: Parador de Úbeda king Felipe VI’s own brother-in-law, Inaki or similar Urdangarin, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for abusing his royal connections Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at to embezzle public funds. In the end, Jaime 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. believes that the monarchy may be flawed, but Morning: Around 8:45am, we board a bus for it can be fixed—with Spain’s authority over our journey through southern Spain. Around independent-minded provinces like Catalonia 12pm, we arrive at the city of Córdoba. While and the Basque Country in an already tenuous it was originally founded as a Roman colony, position, abolishing the monarchy entirely Córdoba reached its peak as an Islamic capital might spell the end of Spain as we know it. in the tenth century, rising to become the We’ll spend about an hour talking to Armando largest (and arguably, most multicultural) and Jaime, which will include time to ask city in Western Europe. Today, Córdoba is questions of our own about this complicated known primarily for the Mezquita-Cathedral, issue with no easy answers. By interacting its mesmerizing eighth-century mosque and

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26 one of the world’s largest Islamic buildings. • Visit the Paco Tito Pottery Museum: Here But what makes this mosque truly unusual is you’ll see three generations of potters from Capilla Mayor, a Gothic Christian church built Úbeda displaying their works of beautiful in the center of the mosque in the 16th century pottery and ornamental objects, representing by Charles V. Mass is still celebrated here daily. the long tradition of pottery in Andalucía. Explore the building, a historic house believed Lunch: On your own around noon. Ask your Trip to date back to the 15th or 16th century, where Experience Leader for some of their favorite you’ll learn about the process and perhaps restaurants. even get a glimpse of the master at work. Afternoon: Immediately following lunch you • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi have free time to explore the town on your own. ride, about $5 USD one way. You may visit the ancient Roman bridge or • Hours: 8am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, daily. triumphal arch, explore the Alcázar of Christian • Cost: Free. Kings, or walk Calleja de las Flores—a narrow, • Witness the medieval art of blacksmithing at -lined street that ends in a plaza. Forja Tiznajo: This family-run forge provides At about 2pm, we’ll regroup and explore a glimpse into another aspect of the region’s the Mezquita-Cathedral, witnessing its living heritage. Two brothers continue architectural magnificence before we visit the with the family legacy of six generations of synagogue and Jewish quarter with the expert blacksmiths using traditional techniques. You guidance of our Trip Experience Leader. can visit the house, workshop, and store, and get a feel for Medieval Spain’s most import- We’ll depart Córdoba around 4pm by bus, ant industry. arriving at our parador around 6pm. Our hotel • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk is conveniently situated next to the chapel of or 5- to 10-minute taxi ride, about $5 USD El Salvador in the center of Úbeda’s historic one way. Plaza de Vasquez Molina. Amenities typically • Hours: 8am-8pm, Monday-Saturday. include an inner courtyard, bar, and restaurant. • Cost: Free. Rooms may feature air-conditioning, satellite TV, wireless Internet, minibar, safe, and • Step back into the Middle Ages at the private bath. Sinagoga del Agua. A hidden gem recently unearthed by chance during construction You’ll have about two hours of free time to work in 2007, the synagogue, which dates unpack or freshen up before dinner. back to medieval times, gives visitors a glimpse into the religious and cultural history Dinner: Around 8pm at our parador, featuring of Spain. Specifically, the structure calls local specialties. back to the Jewish history of Úbeda: several Evening: On your own. You can retire after a well-preserved baths reflect the importance later dinner or go for a walk around the town. of the purification of the soul in Judaism. Though the tours of the space are given in Freedom To Explore: During your two days Spanish, you’ll be given a worksheet that in Úbeda, you have the freedom to explore details the history and original function of the city during your free time. Below are a each room. Perhaps most strikingly, you’ll few recommended options for independent explorations:

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27 learn about the Spanish Inquisition’s effect and approximately 40% of Spain’s national on non-Catholic communities and their strife production takes place here. Nearly every to keep their faith in the face of persecution. person in the local economy is connected to it • How to get there: About a 5- to 10-minute in some way or another. By venturing out into walk from the hotel. the countryside and intimately connecting with • Schedule: 8am-2pm & 4pm-8pm, daily. a family that runs one of the most innovative Last tour offered at 6:45pm. mills, we’ll have a rare opportunity to see • Cost: About $1.80 USD per person. firsthand just how important olive oil is to the way of life here, and gain an appreciation for Day 12 A Day in the Life of a family-run the hard work that goes into producing it, from olive oil mill start to finish. • Destination: Úbeda We’ll arrive at the mill around 10am and • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch meet the family owners—Pepe and Ana, the • Accommodations: Parador de Úbeda patriarch and matriarch of the operation who or similar built the business up over decades—as well as their children, Manolo and Jose, who have Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today’s discoveries taken over the company now that their parents feature our A Day in the Life experience when have retired. While Pepe and Ana have handed we visit a family-owned olive mill in the over the reins, they still live on the estate and village of Begijar. We’ll meet the family and enjoy a close relationship with their children learn how they’ve built their business up over and the farm that they spent their lives building generations, and get a firsthand view of the together. labor required to keep it running as we walk through the groves and visit the mill. We’ll also We’ll walk through an olive grove, where the enjoy a farm-fresh lunch with our hosts, made family will show us the different varieties from locally-sourced ingredients. Read more of olives that are grown here, and the skills about this activity below. required to identify when the fruit is ready to be plucked. Pay close attention—we’ll also enjoy Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at a hands-on experience as we help out with the 8am, featuring hot and cold dishes. harvest, side-by-side with the workers in the Morning: Situated in the Jaén province on field (if we visit outside of harvest season, we’ll a plateau between the Guadalquivir and still pick a few olives to get a better appreciation Guadalimar rivers, Úbeda is bordered on all of the hard work that this industry requires). sides by numerous olive groves that produce We’ll spend about an hour in the fields, then some of the world’s best olive oil. Around we’ll go inside the mill, where we’ll sit down 9:30am, we board a private motorcoach and with the family for coffee and conversation drive from our hotel in Úbeda about 30 minutes about their work here, and their role in the to the village of Begijar where we’ll visit a local community. Since Jose and Manolo have family-owned olive oil mill for our A Day in the taken over the day-to-day operations, they’ve Life experience. strived to innovate to keep the family farm at Olive oil is the dominant industry in this the cutting edge of Spain’s olive oil production. region of Spain; the nation produces more They’ll also talk about what it takes to thrive in olive oil than any other country in the world, this small, rural community—out here, bonds

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28 are tight, and their neighbors regularly come Day 13 Overland to Toledo • by the mill to use their equipment, and to seek Explore Toledo advice on how to get the best quality product • Destination: Toledo from their harvest. • Included Meals: Breakfast At around 11:30am, we’ll visit the mill to see • Accommodations: Sercotel Alfonso VI the production process for ourselves. Jose or similar and Manolo will explain how their equipment Activity Note: Today, we’ll travel by bus for a works, and how they use modern technology total of about three hours, with stops along the to press the olives and refine them into the way. Roads may be bumpy or uneven at times. precious finished product. We’ll also see for ourselves how the oil is used as they lead us Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at through a tasting. 7:45am, featuring hot and cold dishes.

Lunch: After working up an appetite, we’ll Morning: We board our bus around 9am for join Pepe, Ana, Jose, and Manolo at 12:30pm the start of our overland journey. First, we’ll for an included lunch on the farm, prepared make stop at the controversial Casa Pepe, a with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. We’ll living shrine to dictator Francisco Franco who take our time and share our meal together for ruled from 1939 to 1975. Though there have about an hour and a half, taking advantage of been many attempts to take the shrine down in our small group size to converse with and ask respect for those who suffered at the hands of questions of our gracious hosts, as well as any the dictatorship, it was ruled to be preserved of their workers who choose to join us. per Spain’s Historical Memory Law of 2007. We’ll spend a bit of time in the nearby cafe and Afternoon: We board our private motorcoach take in the remnants of Franco’s regime in the back to Úbeda around 2pm for a drive of about form of photograph and flags. 30 minutes. Once back at the parador, you can choose to freely explore the city, perhaps Then, at around 11am, we’ll have an visiting the pottery or blacksmith museum. opportunity for a snack and restroom break at Puerto Lapice before heading back on the road Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience around 11:30am. Leader can recommend a local restaurant. We’ll arrive in Toledo around 12:30pm, at Evening: Your evening is free to explore which point we’ll drop our luggage off at independently. You might choose to continue our hotel. Depending on where we stay, strolling around the old city, or you may opt to it may feature a bar and a restaurant. The sit down at a café for a glass of local wine. air-conditioned rooms typically have wireless Internet, telephone, satellite TV, minibar, safe, and a private bath. You’ll have some free time for a stroll in the heart of Toledo. Your room will be available around 2pm, at which time you can choose to freshen up or continue exploring Toledo.

Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend options for lunch.

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29 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. 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 mosques, and impressive palaces. The city’s Eiffel in 1892 following a destructive fire, the picturesque old quarter, a UNESCO World wrought iron and glass industrial building Heritage Site, is lined with ancient buildings no longer serves as a train station. Now the that serve as a time capsule of civilizations structure features a gallery with shops, cafés, long gone. and a large tropical garden area. The station Our tour wraps up around 5:30pm, at which itself is also centrally located among two point you can pursue your own discoveries or iconic Madrid museums: the Reina Sofia and return to the hotel to relax. the Thyssen-Bormeniska.

Dinner: On your own. You can ask your • How to get there: An approximate Trip Experience Leader to recommend 30-minute train ride into Madrid from the some local restaurants where you can try Toledo hotel. traditional cuisine. • Hours: All hours, daily. • Cost: Free. Evening: Free for you to continue exploring • In Madrid, soak up the sights and sounds of the city at night, perhaps joining the locals for nature at El Retiro Park: Home to over 15,000 a glass of vermouth, or stopping at one of the trees and even two historic palaces, this famous cafés to sample churros con chocolate. 300-acre park is a popular place for locals to Freedom To Explore: During your three days take a daily stroll or bring their children to in Toledo, you have the freedom to explore one of the many little playgrounds in the area. the vibrant city, as well as the neighboring This green oasis in the heart of Madrid also Madrid, during your free time. Below are a has a picturesque lake and is surrounded by few recommended options for independent shops and cafés. explorations: • How to get there: About a 20-minute walk from Madrid’s Atocha station or a • Gain insight on Byzantine-era art at 6-minute taxi ride, approximately $5 USD Artesania Burgueno: Nestled in Toledo’s one way. Plaza de Santa Isabel, this artisan shop • Schedule: All hours, daily. displays works that aim to preserve the • Cost: Free. ancient art of Damasquinado. The style is easliy recognized by thin silver and gold lines painted on pottery like vases and dishes, creating intricate patterns that reflect ornate

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30 Day 14 Toledo • Explore Madrid • Flamenco musicians and witnessing their lively demonstration demonstration, perhaps you’ll be inspired to try this dance style for yourself. • Destination: Toledo • 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 the bus once more at around 3:45pm to head Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at back to our hotel. Upon return to Toledo around 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. 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. Upon arrival at around 10:15am, we’ll take a brief restroom break at Antocha station around Dinner: On your own. This may be the perfect 10:15am. Then, we’ll set off on our panoramic chance to sample caracoles a la andaluza, snails city tour at around 10:30am. Highlights include slow-cooked in a rich, spicy broth. stops at the bustling Plaza de Oriente; the vast Evening: Your evening is free to wander down El Retiro park, and the colorful Paseo de La the lively streets of Toledo, take in a theater Castellana and Paseo de Colon. show, or relax at the hotel bar. Our bus tour wraps up at Prado Museum, where we’ll spend about an hour. One of the Day 15 Explore Toledo or Madrid gems of the city, Prado Museum first opened • Destination: Toledo in 1819 and has since maintained its status as • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner the best collection of Spanish art in Europe. In • Accommodations: Sercotel Alfonso VI this spacious building, you’ll find art dating or similar back as early as the 12th century, and of course, witness the works of some of the country’s Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at renowned artists—from El Greco to Velasquez 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. and beyond. Morning: Today is free for you to pursue your After our museum visit, we’ll board the own interests in Toledo. Perhaps you’ll take bus again and depart for the approximate this time to walk the outskirts of the city for 15-minute ride to lunch. impressive views, or visit a local artisan shop where you can view and purchase traditional Lunch: At a local restaurant around 12:45pm, Byzantine-style decorated pottery. featuring a host of regional specialties. Alternatively, you may decide to take a train Afternoon: After lunch at around 2pm, we’ll ride into Madrid to further your discoveries get an authentic glimpse of Spain’s famous there. You can take some time to mingle flamenco dance accompanied by traditional with the madrileños—or the people of music. Discover the rhythms of the cante, or Madrid—along the lively boulevards and song, and passion and precision of the baile, plazas. Or, discover why the Spanish say, “De or dance. After chatting with the flamenco Madrid al cielo” (Madrid is the next best thing

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31 to heaven) in one of the city’s lovely parks, Evening: Around 9pm, we’ll depart the including Sabatini Gardens with its symmetric, restaurant for the hotel, where you can opt to geometric hedges; or El Retiro, Madrid’s most pack for tomorrow’s departure, or enjoy one famous park, where people rent row boats and final glass of specialty vermouth with friends. attend local concerts.

Lunch: On your own. Perhaps you’d like to try Day 16 Return to U.S. or begin out a traditional tortilla or Spanish omelet. post-trip extension • Included Meals: Breakfast Afternoon: You’ll continue to have free time to explore Toledo or Madrid. Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes. Later, we’ll gather together around 7:15pm for a 15-minute walk to our final meal as a group. Morning: Board a bus with your luggage this morning and travel about an hour to the airport Dinner: Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a traditional for your return flight to the U.S. Or, catch Spanish restaurant, where we’ll toast to the your flight for your Northern Spain: Bilbao, discoveries and memories we made in this San Sebastian & Medieval Villages or New! The historic region. Volcanic Canary Islands: Tenerife & Gran Canaria post trip-extensions.

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.

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32 OR 7 nights in The Volcanic Canary Islands: Tenerife & Gran Canaria

Day 1 Fly to Tenerife • Puerto de la Cruz Day 6 Discover Cueva Pintada Archaeological Park • Explore Agaete • Day 2 Explore Santa Cruz de Tenerife Visit Bodega los Berrazales Day 3 Teide National Park • Day 7 Explore southern Gran Canaria Visit Garachico • Visit the Bandama Caldera • Visit Day 4 Explore San Cristóbal de La Laguna local villages • Visit Taganana Day 8 Return to U.S. Day 5 Ferry to Gran Canaria • Explore Vegueta Old Town • Las Palmas

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33 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.

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34 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 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 or similar waves: Britain became a partner in exporting the local port wine throughout Europe. During Morning: Arriving in Porto, an O.A.T. our stay, both the maritime tradition and wine representative will assist us to our hotel legacy will be on display. where we’ll receive our room assignments. Depending on where we stay, our hotel may Lunch: On your own. You may opt to have a feature a bar, restaurant, and health club. Each light lunch in the hotel or dine at a nearby of the air-conditioned rooms typically include restaurant. a TV, wireless Internet, a safe, coffee- and Afternoon: On your own. You’ll have free time tea-making facilities, and a private bathroom. to relax and freshen up or stroll the streets to Once we check into our hotel, there is time to take in the surroundings of your home for the rest or begin your independent discoveries next few days. of Porto. Around 6pm, we’ll gather as a group to enjoy a welcome drink together.

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35 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 or similar independent exploration: Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Visit the iconic Casa da Música: This soaring • beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and modern structure of glass and concrete is cold dishes. a cultural center and concert hall erected to commemorate Porto’s designation as Morning: Around 9:30am we’ll meet as a group the European Capital of Culture in 2001. for our Welcome Briefing. During this briefing, Depending when you visit, you may be able we will introduce ourselves and review our to attend a performance. There’s also a café itinerary in more detail (including any changes serving locally-produced, light fare. that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi emergency procedures, and answer any ride, about $10 USD one way. questions we may have. • Hours: 9:30am-7pm, daily. • Cost: About $12USD. We’ll depart the hotel around 9:45am for a • Spend time with modern art at the Museu walking tour of Portugal’s second-largest city. Serralves: The museum, which opened in Your Trip Experience Leader will introduce 1999, houses contemporary and modern art you to the charming city, including the Bolhão from Portugal and around the globe. The market, a lively building with vendors selling minimalist white architecture, designed fresh meats, seafood, and prepared foods. by Alvaro Siza, contrasts Porto’s colorful We’ll also pass the oldest library, and explore cityscape. the Old Town. You have free time to explore Porto on your own before meeting back up as a • How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi group around 12:45pm. Then, we’ll take a 10- to ride, about $8 USD one way. 15-minute walk to the Batalha neighborhood. • Hours: 10am-6pm, daily. • Cost: About $12USD. Lunch: At a local restaurant in Batalha • Take in spectacular views from the Douro around 1pm. River on a Six Bridges Cruise: A small boat Afternoon: Beginning at about 2:30pm, you’ll takes you upstream and back down, affording have some free time to explore on your own. views of the multiple bridges and buildings Consider exploring the Ribeira neighborhood, that dot the river’s edge. Plan to cruise

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36 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can out the Casa da Música or shops that line the wander narrow, cobblestone streets full of city streets. If there’s room for dessert, you can architectural wonders. try one of the city’s famous pastries, such as an éclair. Just follow the locals into one of the Dinner: Around 7:15pm, we’ll meet at the hotel crowded bakeries where it’s typical to indulge for about a 15-minute ride by bus to a local in pastries for an afternoon snack. restaurant for our Welcome Dinner. Tonight, we’ll enjoy our first taste of Portuguese cuisine, Dinner: On your own—your Trip Experience which ranges from fresh fish and stews to rice Leader will be happy to recommend a nearby and meat dishes. restaurant. Those looking to really dive into local cuisine can sample tripas à moda do Porto, Evening: You’re free to stroll the narrow streets a hearty stew of pork stomach, beans and or enjoy a late-night snack or drink at one of vegetables. the many cafés that spill out onto the sidewalks. Evening: On your own to take in the natural Day 4 Explore Douro River region • beauty of the city. Visit wine farm Day 5 Porto • Optional Minho region tour • Destination: Porto • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Destination: Porto • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner or similar • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto or similar Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel 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 control of the region, it’s been known ever Afternoon: After finishing lunch, we’ll depart since as the “cradle of Portugal” for its role in around 2:30pm for our drive of around 2 the nation’s origins. Here, a castle was built hours, back to the hotel. The remainder of to defend the local monastery from attacks by the afternoon and evening are free for you to Muslim and Norman raiders. Expanded over the continue exploring Porto, perhaps checking next 100 years, it was the royal residence until

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37 the dawn of the 13th century. Remarkably, local Evening: We’ll arrive back at the hotel around authorities considered tearing it down in the 8:45pm where the remainder of the evening is 1800s, but wiser minds prevailed and we visit on your own. Consider taking in live music on the restored and preserved castle today. We’ll the streets or relaxing at a bar after a long day. also tour the Ducal Palace and historical city center on foot. Day 6 Explore Gaia • Gaia wine-tasting Lunch: Those staying in Porto may seek out • Destination: Porto dining options on their own, continuing to • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch sample local cuisine or opt for one of the many • Accommodations: Grande Hotel do Porto restaurants in the area serving international or similar options. For those on the optional tour, we’ll Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel gather around 1pm at a local restaurant in the beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and town of Guimarães where you’ll enjoy hot and cold dishes. cold entrees. Morning: We’ll leave around 9am for a Afternoon: Those who remained in Porto will panoramic bus tour of Porto as we drive on to enjoy some time at leisure to continue making the wine region. discoveries. You might choose to further explore the lovely side streets or delve deeper Around 11:30am, we arrive in Gaia in the Douro into cultural attractions. wine region, one of the oldest protected wine regions in the world. Gaia is best known for its Around 2:30pm, we will drive for about 30 wine caves, where port wine is aged. Port has minutes to continue our optional tour with been a staple of the local economy since 1703, a visit to Bom Jesus, where we’ll explore the when the British first began importing it from Baroque pilgrimage site. Portugal, and rules for its official classification We’ll depart around 4pm, arriving at the Braga have helped maintain high standards since city center around 4:15pm. Braga, settled since the mid-18th century. In fact, the Douro River the Roman era, is one of the world’s oldest Valley is recognized as the world’s first legally Catholic archdioceses. Its heart is the sweeping demarcated wine region. Upon arrival, we’ll Praça da República, first laid out in the Middle visit one of the famed wine cellars for a tasting Ages, and now outlined with restaurants where you’ll have the opportunity to learn all including the Vianna Café, established in 1858. about the history and production of port, too. With its arch-filled arcade, water fountain, and We depart by bus around 12:30pm. cobbled plaza, it is an elegant glimpse into past Lunch: Around 12:45pm at a local restaurant, eras, while still beloved by locals today. We’ll featuring local cuisine. return to to Porto around 5pm. Afternoon: You have the rest of the day to The group will reconvene around 7pm at the relax in Gaia. Perhaps you’ll sit by the river and hotel, where we will depart on a 10- to 15- watch people as they go about their daily lives. minute drive to dinner. Dinner: On your own this evening. Perhaps Dinner: Around 7:15pm at a local restaurant, you’ll revisit a favorite restaurant from earlier featuring local specialties. in the week, or seek out new options for Portuguese or European cuisine.

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38 Evening: Your last night in Porto is free for Morning: Around 8am, we leave our hotel in independent explorations. Ask your Trip Porto and transfer by bus to Lisbon. We’ll arrive Experience Leader if there are any music events in Lisbon around 1:30pm. Here, we’ll join our at the Casa da Música, or sip a glass of port at fellow travelers at the hotel and begin our Back the hotel bar. Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas adventure. Day 7 Transfer to Lisbon • Destination: Lisbon • Included Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring hot and cold dishes.

OPTIONAL TOUR

Minho region concludes with a tasting of the young wines (Day 5 $125 per person) known as vinho verde before returning to Porto Discover the Minho region during an optional this afternoon. 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. Our tour

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39 PRE-TRIP Medieval Citadels & Chateaux: Carcassonne to Toulouse

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations in centrally located hotels » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip for 2 nights in Carcassonne and 3 nights Experience Leader in Toulouse » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » 9 meals—5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, luggage porters and 2 dinners » All transfers » 5 small group activities

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Heed the siren call of southern France and discover what makes this region a perennial favorite with savvy travelers. On this extension you’ll explore two southern cities, each with their own distinct take on the culture. In Carcassonne, step back in time as you stroll the ramparts and drawbridges of the city’s famed citadel. Then travel inland to Toulouse, where sophistication and style are bywords for the historic university town. Throughout it all, you’ll immerse yourself in the unparalleled culture and delectable cuisine of France’s sunny southern shores.

Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 3 Explore Carcassonne

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to • Destination: Carcassonne Toulouse, France. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Breakfast: At the hotel. Day 2 Arrive Toulouse, France • Transfer to Morning: We’ll set the stage for our pre-trip Carcassonne discoveries with a Welcome Briefing in the • Destination: Carcassonne, France hotel. This briefing gives us the chance Afternoon: You will arrive in Toulouse to introduce ourselves and meet our Trip sometime today, depending on your individual Experience Leader. We will also review our flight arrangements. An O.A.T. representative itinerary in more detail (including any changes will greet you at the airport and escort you via that may need to occur). Our Trip Experience minibus to Carcassonne, where you’ll check Leader will also discuss logistics, safety and in to your hotel, and join your Trip Experience emergency procedures, and answer questions Leader for a short orientation walk around the we may have. neighborhood. We’ll then set out to explore Carcassonne Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience on a walking tour with our Trip Experience Leader can recommend a restaurant. Leader. The city’s famed citadel—the Cité de

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40 Carcassonne—is a UNESCO World Heritage Evening: On your own to relax or to explore as Site and the stuff of fairytales: Stalwart turrets, you’d like. Ask your Trip Experience Leader for double-lined ramparts, and a drawbridge recommendations. conjure images of dueling medieval knights and courtly romance. It was featured in the Day 4 Cruise the Canal du Midi • Transfer film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and is even to Toulouse rumored to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s • Destination: Toulouse Sleeping Beauty. We’ll stroll La Cité, taking in the Château Comtal fortress, which overlooks • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch its winding, narrow streets. The Basilique Breakfast: At the hotel. Saint-Nazaire here shows the handwork of the eleventh to 14th centuries, with a Romanesque Morning: We’ll check out of our hotel in nave and Gothic choir illuminated by stained Carcassonne and begin our private motorcoach glass windows. As we explore, we’ll learn about transfer to Toulouse. Along the way, we’ll La Cité’s long history, which stretches back to make a stop to board a barge for a gentle the Gauls and Romans. cruise along the Canal du Midi, admiring the peaceful scenes and idyllic landscapes we pass. We’ll also make our way to the Prosper Stretching nearly 150 miles from Toulouse Montagné Market, named for the eponymous to the Mediterranean, the Canal is one of the chef who quite literally wrote the book on most remarkable feats of civil engineering in French cuisine. Published in 1938, Larousse modern times: Its locks, tunnels, bridges, and Gastronomique is considered to be an aqueducts were built in the 17th century to encyclopedia of gastronomy, and it secured blend in with the surrounding nature, giving Montagné’s place in the culinary pantheon. the Canal an artful, serene air not common Upon arrival at the market, we’ll witness an among man-made waterways. Because of array of butchers, fishmongers, and produce this, the Canal was awarded a UNESCO World merchants selling the freshest ingredients to Heritage designation in 1996, and is a popular Carcassonne’s locals. retreat for French holidaymakers.

Lunch: On your own. If you spot something After our cruise, we’ll enjoy a closer look at the you’d like to try for lunch in the market, ask engineering ingenuity employed in the canal’s your Trip Experience Leader to help you order, construction when we drive by motorcoach to then head to a nearby table to people-watch as the commune of Castelnaudary. Here, we’ll you dine. discover the Grand Bassin, a 17-acre body of water created to accommodate the traffic along Afternoon: The afternoon is free to explore the canal, as well as the locks of Saint Roch, a independently. Perhaps you’ll take a stroll four-chambered staircase of water that allows along the Pont-Vieux, the oldest of the city’s vessels to navigate the 30-foot vertical climb seven bridges. The pedestrian bridge is one required to pass through the canal. of the few remaining medieval bridges in all of France and has been in use since the We’ll then continue our drive to Toulouse, 14th century. arriving and checking in to our hotel in the early afternoon. Dinner: We’ll enjoy an included Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant this evening. Lunch: Included at a local restaurant in Toulouse.

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41 Afternoon: You may choose to join your Trip Lunch: On your own. Consider trying the Experience Leader on a short orientation walk traditional Toulouse dish cassoulet, a rich around the vicinity of your hotel. The rest of the and hearty stew of duck confit, haricot beans, day is free to explore independently. You might and pork. choose to visit Cité de l’Espace, an innovative Afternoon: Your afternoon is free to explore museum and scientific discovery center with more of Toulouse on your own. The city is interactive displays about outer space. home to a large university and is known for Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience its friendly, laidback feel, so you are sure to Leader can recommend a restaurant featuring encounter welcoming locals wherever you go. delicious local cuisine. Dinner: Gather with your fellow travelers for an Evening: Free for you to make your own included dinner at a local restaurant tonight. discoveries. You may choose to join your fellow Evening: Free to spend as you’d like. Perhaps travelers for a nightcap in the hotel bar. you’ll enjoy a glass of local vin in a nearby bar. Day 5 Explore Toulouse Day 6 Discover Albi • Visit Cordes-sur-Ciel • Destination: Toulouse • Destination: Toulouse • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Breakfast: At the hotel. Activity Note: Depending on your departure, Morning: We’ll set out to explore Toulouse, a the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum may be closed. cultural hub renowned for its historic Théâtre An alternative activity will be offered if du Capitole ballet and opera house. Known necessary. as La Ville Rose for the pale-red brickwork Breakfast: At the hotel. common in its traditional buildings, Toulouse offers elegant reminders of the past stretching Morning: Today we drive by private all the way back to the medieval era, as well motorcoach to Albi, a lovely medieval town as glimpses of the future, with its three major perched on the banks of the Tarn River. During universities. The city is also the headquarters a half-day walking tour, we’ll discover Albi’s of the plane maker Airbus and other aerospace highlights, including the Cathédrale Ste-Cécile, companies. a 13th-century fortress that represents one of France’s most monumental Gothic structures. In the company of our Trip Experience Leader, We’ll also explore The portion of Albi known as we’ll take in the city on foot during a walking “the Episcopal City”—a city within the city—a tour. Highlights of our tour will include a visit UNESCO World Heritage Site encompassing the to the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, a UNESCO World Old Bridge and medieval residences. Albi is also Heritage Site and national monument that the birthplace of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec; dates back to the twelfth century; and a stroll we’ll witness his birthplace and tour the through Vieux Quartier, or the Old Quarter, museum that houses an extensive collection of which is known for its tangle of streets and his works. coral-colored buildings. Lunch: Included at a local restaurant in Albi.

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42 Afternoon: After lunch we will drive by motorcoach to Cordes-sur-Ciel, an immaculately-preserved medieval town set atop the Puech de Mordagne, a 330-foot hill overlooking the Cerou Valley. We’ll take in the medieval ambiance during a walking tour which will take us through narrow cobblestone streets and beneath ancient stone arches, evoking the feel of living in another era. We’ll also be sure to take in the view of the surrounding landscape, a sight which inspired Albert Camus to remark that a traveler who sees it “knows that he needs to travel no further, because the beauty here, day after day, will remove any loneliness.”

We’ll return to Toulouse after our tour, where the rest of the day is free to explore independently.

Dinner: On your own in Toulouse. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend a restaurant.

Evening: Free for your own discoveries. You may choose to retire to your room, or explore the nightlife in Toulouse at a local wine bar.

Day 7 Toulouse • Join main adventure • Included Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We transfer to the airport and fly to Lisbon, Portugal, where we’ll begin our Back Roads of Iberia: Spanish Paradores & Portuguese Pousadas adventure.

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43 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 or similar afternoon, depending on exact flight schedules. Here, you’ll be accompanied by your Trip Morning: We’ll fly to Bilbao, the largest city Experience Leader for the transfer of about 30 in Basque Country, and the true heart of the minutes to your hotel. While our exact hotel region. In fact, with a million citizens, Bilbao may vary, we will likely be in the heart of is one of the five biggest urban areas in Spain. Bilbao, within walking distance to the famous Now famous for its Guggenheim Museum, Guggenheim Museum. Typical rooms may designed by the architect Frank Gehry, Bilbao include wireless Internet access, TV, toiletries, has been an important commercial center and a private bath with a hairdryer. since the 14th century, when it began trading iron. (Shakespeare references swords made Around 2:30pm, we’ll depart the hotel for a of Basque iron as “bilboes” in Merry Wives journey of about 30 minutes to the city center of Windsor.) With its locale on the Iberian for a walking tour of Bilbao. We’ll make our Peninsula, overseeing the Bay of Biscay, Bilbao way through the “Seven Streets,” the Old retains a maritime flavor, as well as a strong Town of Bilbao, witnessing the 19th-century el affiliation with Basque identity. Arenal bridge, the Saint Nicholas Church, and

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44 the Ribera Market, the largest covered market Spanish masters and more contemporary in Europe. Continuing on to the Ensanche, a treasures, too. Plus, enjoy the museum’s newer part of the city from its expansion at the 100-year-old English-style garden. dawn of the 20th century, we see Flemish-style • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi Chavarri Palace, which anchors Moyua, ride, about $15 USD one way. the public square. Our discoveries in Bilbao • Hours: 10am-8pm, daily. conclude at a local restaurant around 6:30pm. • Cost: About $11 USD. Dinner: Around 6:30pm, we’ll sit down for • Peruse the Mercado de la Ribera: The largest dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional food market in Europe spanning more than Basque-style cuisine. 100,000 square feet, the space boasts fresh produce, meat, and seafood vendors for Evening: We’ll depart the restaurant around everyday shopping. The market also features 7:30pm and you may choose to walk about a restaurant, tapas stands, and a bar, and 15 minutes back to our hotel or ride the bus. often has live jazz music. Gaze at the Art The rest of the evening is on your own. You’re Deco windows or take in views overlooking free to take a stroll through the heart of the the river. city. Perhaps you’ll explore some of the local nightlife, sip some wine at a nearby bar or • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi restaurant, or just relax back at the hotel. ride, about $15 USD one way. • Hours: 10am-2:30pm and 5pm-8pm, Freedom To Explore: During your three days Monday-Friday and Sunday; 10am- in Bilbao, you have the freedom to explore 2:30pm on Saturday. the city that dazzles with both old and new • Cost: About $11 USD. treasures and architectural gems. Below are a few recommended options for independent Day 2 Bilbao explorations during your free time: • Destination: Bilbao • Stroll the Azkuna Center: An old wine • Included Meals: Breakfast merchant building, the center was revamped • Accommodations: Hotel Hesperia Bilbao by noted French designer Philippe Starck in or similar 2010, and now features shops, a cinema, art Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel exhibitions, cafés, and a sports complex with beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and swimming pools. cold dishes. • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi Morning: Around 9am today, we’ll walk ride, about $10 USD one way. to the Guggenheim Museum with our Trip • Hours: 9am-5pm, daily. Experience Leader. You’ll have the chance • Cost: Free. to explore the grounds of this innovative Visit the Doña Casilda Park and Fine Arts • architectural landmark on your own for as long Museum: The Museum of Fine Arts Bilbao as you choose. For the remainder of the day, was established in 1908, and today boasts a you have the freedom to enjoy this fascinating stunning modern façade. Here, you’ll find city independently. Consider taking a stroll along the Nervión River, or discover the Ribera Market. Other options include the Doña Casilda Park or the Fine Arts Museum.

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45 Lunch: On your own. Perhaps you’ll find a local We arrive around 10:30am for a walking tour café at which you can savor a glass of zurito, through Parte Vieja, the Old Town, where we’ll beer served in a small glass—the popular way see the 1774 Church of Santa Maria del Coro, to order and enjoy the beverage here. Or, ask with its twin towers framing an altar-like your Trip Experience Leader for suggestions for entrance. Old Town’s narrow, winding the best places to find traditional fare. streets are rich with history yet bustling with modern-day activity, as it’s the busiest Afternoon: Enjoy free time to continue shopping district in San Sabastian. Then, exploring on your own. You also have the we’ll cross Constitution Square, the arcaded option to join your Trip Experience Leader on a plaza at the heart of the city. Once the home discovery walk of the city. of bullfighting competitions, watched from Dinner: On your own. Perhaps you’ll seek out numbered balconies, Constitution Square is Basque specialties like lamb or bacalao pil-pil still home to many of San Sebastian’s most (cod fish with garlic and olive oil). Or, you important celebrations. might even try kokotxas–typically not found Lunch: Around 1:15pm, we’ll walk for about 15 outside of the Basque region, this dish consists minutes to a local restaurant, featuring local of the cheeks of cod or hake in a sauce made specialties and continental European cuisine. from garlic, white wine, and olive oil. We’ll take part in a special tasting that will give Evening: On your own to relax or take in the us a glimpse into the unique food culture of San charming Old Quarter at night. Sebastian.

Afternoon: Beginning around 2:45pm, you’ll Day 3 Discover San Sebastian have a free time to wander San Sebastian on • Destination: Bilbao your own, perhaps opting to spend some time • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch gazing at the blue bay views. Around 4pm, we depart for our bus ride back to our hotel in • Accommodations: Hotel Hesperia Bilbao Bilbao, arriving around 5:30pm. or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Dinner: On your own to continue sampling the between 7am-10am, featuring hot and region’s rich cuisine. Ask your Trip Experience cold dishes. Leader where you can sample traditional pintxos tapas. Morning: Around 9am today, we’ll depart via bus to San Sebastian. Located on the Bay of Evening: During free time this evening, you Biscay, and commonly referred to as the “Pearl may choose to drift in and out of tapas bars like of the Ocean” due to its sparkling azure waters, a local, or rest and relax before our explorations San Sebastian is a magnet for world travelers, begin tomorrow. who come for the world-famous film festival, fine dining, and resorts. San Sebastian is also a gastronomical and cultural hub, considered to be the “gourmet capital of Spain” and was one of the most popular destinations for historical figures like Leon Trotsky and Mata Hari after World War I.

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46 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 or similar 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 • Explore the remains of Termas de San Juan lovely beaches. The Puebla Vieja (Old Town) de Maliano: The archaeological site consists is near the water and boasts the city’s first of Roman bath ruins from the first century lighthouse. At the city’s highest point, you AD, a medieval necropolis, and a 12th-century can enjoy panoramic views of the glistening chapel. It was discovered in 1951 and fully Cantabrian Sea. excavated between 1995 and 1998. We continue our journey around 11:30am, • How to get there: A 20- to 25-minute taxi arriving in Santander and checking in to our ride, about $20 USD one way. hotel around 12:45pm. Depending on where we • Hours: 9:30am-5pm, daily. stay, our hotel may feature a bar, restaurant, • Cost: Free. and health club. Each of the air-conditioned • Admire the city from above Río de la Pila: The rooms typically includes a TV, wireless upper part of the city offers sweeping vistas Internet, a safe, coffee- and tea-making of the town and coast below. Ride the free facilities, and a private bathroom. funicular for about five minutes to the top Lunch: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience where you’ll find cafés, restaurants, and bars. Leader for suggestions in the city, or opt to • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi have a meal at the hotel. ride, about $12 USD one way. Afternoon: We’ll regroup around 3pm for a • Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week. city tour of Santander. The city has been an • Cost: Free. important trading port since the middle of the • Visit the Refugio Antiaereo: A former air 18th century, when ships sailed from here to the raid shelter—one of the 114 shelters built rest of Europe and to the Americas. Its beaches in Santander—now reopened as a museum have made it a draw for sun-worshippers for and features emotional videos. Guest will more than a century, including members of the

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47 gain a deeper understanding of the refugees bonito fish, tomato, and pimiento peppers. who were seeking shelter during the Spanish Perhaps we’ll sample some local specialties Civil War. during our meal.

• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute taxi Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, we’ll embark on ride, about $10 USD one way. a walk through the city. Underneath the gaze • Hours: 11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm, daily. of the snowcapped Picos de Europa mountain • Cost: About $3 USD. range, the fishing village of San Vincente de la Barquera is known for its historic flavor. With a Day 5 Visit Santillana del Mar • San Vicente medieval castle, a church completed in the 16th de la Barquera century, and many bridges, it is a feast for the • Destination: Santander eyes, as we discover during our visit. Around • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 3:15pm we board our bus for our return trip to • Accommodations: Hotel Hoyuela or similar Santander, arriving at the hotel around 4:15pm.

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours hotel beginning at 7am, featuring hot and to explore on your own. You can take in the cold dishes. shimmering seaside views, or maybe choose to visit Refugio Antiaereo. Morning: Around 8:45am, we depart the hotel for the charming nearby town of Santillana Dinner: On your own. You might consider del Mar, known as “The Town of Three Lies,” heading to Río de la Pila viewpoint. Perched arriving at about 11am. Its name translates to atop the city, the area offers impressive views the “saint’s flat by the sea”, but as the local and a host of intimate tapas restaurants joke goes, it is not saintly, flat, or near the sea. where you can enjoy dinner or people watch It’s one of the best-preserved medieval towns over a drink. in all of Spain, and as you walk the golden Evening: On your own to continue exploring sandstone roads, you’ll feel you’re stepping this coastal town. back in time.

Then, we’ll enjoy a stroll through this small Day 6 Transfer to Oviedo • Visit Covadonga village, with its medieval lanes and dwellings • Destination: Oviedo intermingled with “newer” structures from • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch the 18th and 19th centuries. We’ll see the casonas (old houses) typical of the 16th and 17th • Accommodations: Gran Hotel España centuries, with stonework and stucco meeting or similar under red rooftops. Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and Around 12:30pm, we’ll drive for about 30 cold dishes. minutes to Vicente de la Barquera, a city famed for seafood, then walk for about 15 minutes to a Morning: We depart from our hotel around local restaurant. 9am for a drive of about two hours via bus. We’ll journey through Asturias, the Lunch: Around 1:15pm in Vicente de la Barquera autonomous principality now enclosed within at a restaurant known for its views of colorful Spain, but which was once an independent boats dotting the bay. The most beloved local kingdom. As you ride, you’ll see why the region dish is sorropotún, a hearty stew of potatoes,

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48 is known as España Verde (Green Spain); the Evening: You have free time to explore the vibrant green hills contrasted by the deep blue small alleys or bustling town center of Oviedo. Cantabrian Sea make for views that seem closer Freedom To Explore: During your two days in to a painting than real life. Oviedo, you have the freedom to explore the We begin in Covadonga, arriving around 11am historic town on your own during your free for a short walk around the site. Covadonga time. Below are a few recommended options for marks a crucial moment in Spanish history, independent explorations: when the king pushed out Moorish invaders in • Take in artwork at the Asturias Museum of the year 722. The sanctuary itself is home to the Fine Arts: Located in the old quarter of town, basilica bulit in 1877, which houses the tomb of the museum opened in 1980 and houses an the first king of Asturia and his wife, and a cave impressive collection of art from the Asturias chapel that honors the Virgin Mary. Illuminated region. There is an entire room dedicated to by votives and guarded by massive marble the works of El Greco. The museum houses lions, the chapel is one of the region’s most more than 15,000 pieces ranging from the treasured cultural sites. Around 12:15pm, we’ll 14th to the 21st centuries and includes works board the bus for our next destination. from well-known artists such as Goya, Lunch: At a local restaurant around 12:45pm en Picasso, and Dalí. route to Oviedo. • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk. Afternoon: We depart around 2:30pm and • Hours: 10am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, daily. continue onward, arriving in Oviedo around • Cost: Free. 4:30pm when we’ll check in to our hotel. While • Delight in the seaside town of Gijón: Stroll our exact hotel may vary, we’ll likely be located the old fisherman’s quarter, climb clifftop in the historic center of Oviedo, near sites like overviews, or weave in and out of small the Cathedral of San Salvador, the Museum alleys full of shops and restaurants. There’s a of Fine Arts of Asturias, and the University botanical garden and an abundance of seafood of Oviedo. Typical rooms may include restaurants where you can try the famous air-conditioning, a TV, wireless Internet, a Asturian crab and more. minibar, and a private bath. • How to get there: A 30- to 40-minute train Oviedo has been occupied since the eighth ride, about $9 USD one way. century and the capital of Asturias since • Hours: 10am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, daily. the 18th. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, • Cost: Free. it’s considered Spain’s home for intricate • Learn about the region’s history and pre-Romantic era architecture, with some architecture at the Centre for Reception and 10th-century structures still standing Interpretation: Focusing on the pre-Roman- today. You have time to settle into the hotel esque era of the Asturian region, a visit to this before dinner.

Dinner: On your own. Ask your Trip Experience Leader where you can sample local cuisine, such as fabada (rich bean and pork stew) or locally produced cheeses. You might also want to try a glass of sidra, a dry cider made of apples.

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49 informational center will provide a greater Evening: Free to enjoy a last glass of context for the city’s surrounding churches wine or cider, or pack for your departure and medieval monuments. home tomorrow. • How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi ride, about $10 USD one way. Day 8 Return to U.S. • Hours: 10am-1:30pm and 3:30pm- • Included Meals: Breakfast 6:30pm, daily. Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel • Cost: Free. beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and Day 7 Explore Oviedo cold dishes. • Destination: Oviedo Morning: Board a bus for about a 1-hour drive • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. • Accommodations: Gran Hotel España or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7:30am, featuring hot and cold dishes.

Morning: We’ll gather as a group and depart the hotel around 9:30am for a 2-hour tour of Oviedo. The city’s monuments and structures offer a view across the centuries, from the medieval City Wall to the 16th-century viaduct, the elegant 18th-century La Reconquista Hotel, and the 19th-century Campoamor Theater.

Lunch: On your own in Oviedo, or you can opt to take the train to the seaside town of Gijón about 30 minutes away for a feast overlooking the water.

Afternoon: You have the rest of the day free to explore at your own pace. You can explore gothic cathedrals, loiter in front of delightful shop windows and outdoor cafés, or visit museums. Your Trip Experience Leader would be happy to provide suggestions based on your interests.

Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll walk for about 10 minutes to a local restaurant to enjoy a Farewell Dinner, featuring traditional cuisine. This is a great chance to toast to the discoveries we’ve made throughout our adventure.

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50 POST-TRIP The Volcanic Canary Islands: Tenerife & Gran Canaria

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Accommodations in centrally located hotels » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip for 4 nights in Puerto de la Cruz and 3 Experience Leader nights in Las Palmas » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » 12 meals—7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, luggage porters and 2 dinners » All transfers » 10 small group activities

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Cap off your Spanish adventure with a sojourn to the Canary Islands, located just off the western coast of North Africa. Discover the highlights of its two largest islands, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, as you explore colonial capitals like Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and Las Palmas; and immerse yourself in the islands’ volcanic natural beauty as you explore the otherworldly landscapes of Teide National Park and the Bandama Caldera.

Day 1 Fly to Tenerife • Puerto de la Cruz Evening: The evening is yours to relax or explore independently. Your Trip Experience • Destination: Puerto de la Cruz, Spain Leader can offer exploration options. Morning: We transfer from Toledo to the airport in Madrid where we’ll board our flight to Day 2 Explore Santa Cruz de Tenerife Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. • Destination: Puerto de la Cruz Lunch: On your own—you may choose to pick • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner something up at the airport to enjoy before or during your flight. Breakfast: At the hotel.

Afternoon: We arrive in Tenerife this Morning: We’ll drive by private motorcoach to afternoon, where we’ll board our private Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital city located motorcoach and transfer to our hotel in Puerto on the northeastern edge of the island, where de la Cruz, a city on the north coast of the we’ll explore the city on a panoramic tour, island. We’ll check in to our accommodations followed by a stroll through the city with our and then join our Trip Experience Leader for Trip Experience Leader. an orientation walk to get acquainted with our During our explorations, we’ll see the main surroundings. sights of this bustling city, starting with the Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Plaza de España, the largest city square in all of Leader can recommend a restaurant. the Canary Islands. The plaza’s most distinctive

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51 feature is the immense artificial lake in its Day 3 Teide National Park • Visit Garachico center, designed by the Swiss architects Jacques • Destination: Puerto de la Cruz Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. We’ll also • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch discover the Our Lady of Africa Market, Santa Cruz’s central shopping area, where a bounty of Breakfast: At the hotel. fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, handcrafts, and Morning: Today we will immerse ourselves other goods are on display. in Tenerife’s natural beauty as we make our Our tour continues with a stroll through Garcia way by motorcoach to Teide National Park, Sanabria Park, a 17-acre green space in the whose crown jewel is the mighty Mount Teide heart of the city featuring a kaleidoscope of volcano—a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and tropical and vegetation, as well as a the third-highest volcanic peak in the world. scattering of sculptures to give the grounds We’ll make our way toward the mountain by an artistic flair. We’ll also take a walk along private motorcoach, taking the scenic route the Rambla de Santa Cruz, a delightful through the forests of La Esperanza, admiring pedestrian promenade, and make our way to the lush cypress, eucalyptus and trees Plaza Pedro Schwartz, followed by a look at that flank our path. As we enter Teide National the Auditorio de Tenerife, whose remarkable Park itself, we’ll delight as the foliage gives sailboat façade—designed by Santiago way to a rugged volcanic landscape that formed Calatrava—might remind you of the Sydney from the collapse of a massive volcano about Opera House. 300,000 years ago, creating a caldera whose Lunch: On your own in Santa Cruz. Your Trip stark geologic features are unlike any on Experience Leader can recommend a café or earth. We’ll take it all in as we drive through restaurant. You might choose to head back to the lunar landscape of the park, stopping at the Our Lady of Africa Market to sample the scenic overlooks here and there to savor the diverse cuisine available for purchase. panorama of volcanic craters, petrified lava rivers, and rare flora like the Teide broom and Afternoon: We return to our hotel in Puerto Teide bugloss. Throughout our journey, our de la Cruz, where the afternoon is free to constant companion will be the peak of Mount explore independently. If you’d like, you may Teide itself, whose 12,000-foot peak looms like choose to join your Trip Experience Leader a beacon in the distance, appearing to change on an elective tour of , one of the shape as we view it from different angles. most well-preserved colonial towns on the island. You’ll ride by local bus to this quiet After our tour of the national park, we’ll drive enclave, once home to the island’s wealthiest to the town of Garachico on the north coast of residents, and admire the colorful buildings the island, one of the oldest settled areas on that still stand today, distinguished by their Tenerife. eye-catching carved wooden balconies. Lunch: We’ll stop for an included lunch at a Dinner: Included at a local restaurant. local restaurant as we drive to Garachico.

Evening: Free for you to make your own Afternoon: We continue on to Garachico, discoveries. You may choose to join your fellow stepping off the motorcoach for an included travelers for a nightcap in the hotel bar. walking tour upon arrival. Founded in 1496, Garachico was once Tenerife’s premier city,

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52 and its merchant residents grew enormously heritage, including La Laguna’s Cathedral, wealthy off the trade from its bustling harbor. Saint Dominic Church, Church of Our Lady of Its fortunes were reversed in 1706 when a Conception, Church of the Holy Christ, or Saint nearby volcanic eruption obliterated the town, Michael Chapel. filling the harbor with lava and rendering it Next, we’ll ride along a narrow winding useless to ships. mountain path to Taganana, a picturesque Since then, however, Garachico has triumphed whitewashed hamlet tucked into the verdant in the face of adversity, rebuilding itself as wilderness of Anaga Rural Park in the northeast well-preserved colonial town whose historic corner of Tenerife. Taganana was one of the architecture draws travelers from around the first settlements to be built by the Spanish world. Even the destroyed harbor is now an when they came to conquer the Canary Islands appealing part of the landscape, as the lava has in the 15th century, and it preserves its colonial cooled into picturesque volcanic rock pools. ambiance to this day. The name “Taganana” means “surrounded by mountains” in the We’ll explore the town and its scenic seafront indigenous Guanche language, for reasons on an included tour, then drive back to our hotel which should be immediately apparent as you in Puerto de la Cruz, where the rest of the day is approach. The surrounding peaks, valleys, free to explore independently. and ravines are home to a number of rare Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience species, and this region has been protected as a Leader can recommend a restaurant. biosphere reserve since 2015.

Evening: Free for you to make your own After our walking tour of Taganana, we’ll drive discoveries. You may choose to join your fellow back to Puerta de la Cruz by private motorcoach. travelers for a nightcap in the hotel bar. Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader can recommend a café or restaurant. Day 4 Explore San Cristóbal de La Laguna • Visit Taganana Afternoon: The rest of the day is free to explore independently. You might choose to join your • Destination: Puerto de la Cruz Trip Experience Leader on a short discovery • Included Meals: Breakfast walk through Puerta de la Cruz, or spend the Breakfast: At the hotel. afternoon making your own discoveries. This former fishing village displays its Spanish Morning: Ride by private motorcoach to and island traditions proudly—as you walk San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the capital of its narrow streets in Old Town, you’ll view Tenerife until 1723, and now the second most its colonial architecture and busy village life. important city on the island. The city is located Highlights include the Botanical Gardens, in the countryside of the Aguere Valley and which date back to 1788; Lago Martianez; deemed the island’s cultural and religious Parrot Park; and lush banana plantations. capital—its historic core has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your Dinner: On your own. Check with your visit, you may view some of the area’s beautiful Trip Experience Leader for restaurant monuments, palaces, and traditional houses recommendations. constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries. You may also see the city’s strong religious

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53 Evening: The night is free to spend as you Dinner: On your own. prefer. Your Trip Experience Leader can Evening: Free for you to make your own recommend ways to enjoy Puerta de la Cruz’s discoveries. You may choose to join your fellow nightlife. travelers for a nightcap in the hotel bar. Day 5 Ferry to Gran Canaria • Explore Day 6 Discover Cueva Pintada Vegueta Old Town • Las Palmas Archaeological Park • Explore Agaete • • Destination: Las Palmas Visit Bodega los Berrazales • Included Meals: Breakfast • Destination: Las Palmas Breakfast: At the hotel. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning: We’ll drive to Santa Cruz this Breakfast: At the hotel. morning, where we’ll board a ferry and transfer across the sea to Gran Canaria, the Morning: We’ll board our private motorcoach second-largest of the Canary Islands. We’ll and drive along the northern coast of the disembark in Las Palmas, where we’ll check in island toward the Cueva Pintada Museum and to our hotel and then join our Trip Experience Archaeological Park. This archaeological site Leader on a short orientation walk to get offers a valuable glimpse into Gran Canaria’s acquainted with our surroundings. pre-colonial past; built upon the site of an ancient aboriginal settlement, the park offers Lunch: On your own. During your orientation visitors a view into how the island’s original walk, your Trip Experience Leader will point inhabitants lived long before Europeans arrived out nearby restaurants and cafes to suit your on the island. The centerpiece of the site is the interests. painted cave from which the archaeological park draws its name, whose walls are adorned Afternoon: In the afternoon, we’ll gather with geometric patterns left behind by the together for a walking tour of Vegueta, Las ancient indigenous people who once lived here. Palmas’ historic old town. In the 15th century, Spanish conquerors laid the first bricks here After our tour of the archaeological site, that would eventually blossom into Gran we’ll drive southwest to the coastal town of Canaria’s capital city of Las Palmas. With its Agaete, where we’ll step out for a walking cobbled streets and colonial architecture, tour. We’ll wander among the narrow lanes as Vegueta retains a well-preserved historic they wind down toward the sea, admiring the ambiance, and we’ll take in the sights of the whitewashed houses that surround us, and take city on our walking tour, including the Santa in the views of the harbor which bustles with Ana Cathedral, the Casa de Colon mansion, activity from local fishing boats. We’ll also stop and the Museo Canario, an archaeological to talk with some of the local fishermen as they museum dedicated to the Canary Islands’ go about their business to get a firsthand look pre-colonial history. at daily life in this town.

After our tour, the rest of the day is free to Lunch: Included at a local restaurant in Agaete. explore independently. If you’d like, you can also choose to join your Trip Experience Leader Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll drive south to on a short discovery walk through Las Palmas. Bodega de los Berrazales, a 200-year-old agricultural estate in the Agaete Valley. On

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54 a guided tour of the plantation, we’ll learn spot led to the creation of the island. Today, more about its history and the various crops the sunken canyons boast panoramic views of that are grown here. In addition to vineyards verdant valleys and rocky outcroppings. and tropical fruit orchards, Bodega de los We’ll then drive on to two of the island’s most Berrazales’ unique terrain and climate makes it southernly towns, San Mateo and Fataga. the only plantation in Europe that is suitable for We’ll begin with a walking tour of San Mateo, growing coffee. a quaint town of white adobe buildings and After our tour, we’ll return to our hotel in red-tiled roofs with a historic church. We’ll Las Palmas. arrive in Fataga, a rural mountain village, in time for lunch. Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader will be happy to recommend a Lunch: At a local restaurant in Fataga, featuring restaurant. typical cuisine of the region.

Evening: Free for you to make your own Afternoon: We’ll drive to the Maspsalomas discoveries. You may choose to join your fellow Dunes, an impressive naturally-forming set travelers for a nightcap in the hotel bar. of sand dunes on the island’s south coast. The dunes have been protected as a nature reserve Day 7 Explore southern Gran Canaria since 1987, and you’ll understand why during • Visit the Bandama Caldera • Visit out visit: With sweeping views of the ocean local villages beyond golden sands that seem reminiscent of the Sahara, Maspalomas is a truly unique • Destination: Las Palmas ecological system. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner We’ll drive back to our hotel, arriving in the Breakfast: At the hotel. late afternoon, and you’ll have a few hours to Morning: Today we set out to explore the relax from our day or continue exploring on southern side of Gran Canaria. Our first stop: your own. The Bandama Caldera. At about 700 feet deep Dinner: Our small group will reconvene in a and 3,300 feet wide, this volcanic crater is local restaurant for a festive Farewell Dinner truly a sight to behold. We’ll spend some time featuring the cuisine we’ve come to know admiring the caldera and learning about its during our time here. unique geological history. We’ll also learn more about its status as part of the Tafira Protected Evening: Free to do as you’d like—perhaps Landscape, a region of outstanding natural you’ll spend your final night seeking out live beauty on Gran Canaria. music, or sharing a nightcap with your fellow travelers. Next, we’ll continue our discoveries with a drive through the island’s rugged interior. Along the way we’ll pass through some of Gran Day 8 Return to U.S. Canaria’s most fertile regions, spotting farms • Included Meals: Breakfast and orchards, and then make a stop at the Breakfast: At the hotel. Caldera Tajeda canyons. More than 14 million years ago, a volcanic eruption at this very Morning: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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55 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. 2023 Dates & Prices M A R C H ; MAY AUGUST; 1-9; MAY OCT DEPART FROM JANUARY FEBRUARY OCT 1-24 APRIL JUNE 12-28 SEPTEMBER 29-31 NOVEMBER DECEMBER

New York $ 3895 $4095 $4695 $5395 $5295 $5595 $4795 $4595 $3995 $3795

Denver, Houston, San $ 3995 $4195 $4795 $5495 $5395 $5695 $4895 $4695 $4095 $3895 Francisco, Washington, DC

Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, $ 4095 $ 4295 $ 4895 $ 5595 $ 5495 $ 5795 $ 4995 $ 4795 $ 4195 $ 3995 Philadelphia

Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, $ 4195 $ 4395 $ 4995 $ 5695 $ 5595 $ 5895 $ 5095 $ 4895 $ 4295 $ 4095 Orlando, Portland, Seattle, Tampa

San Diego $ 4295 $4495 $5095 $5795 $5695 $5995 $5195 $4995 $4395 $4195

Phoenix $ 4395 $4595 $5195 $5895 $5795 $6095 $5295 $5095 $4495 $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 R C H ; O C T O C T J A N U A R Y F E B R U A R Y SEPTEMBER APRIL MAY JUNE AUGUST 1-24 29-31 NOVEMBER

Without international $ 2995 $ 3195 $ 3795 $ 4395 $ 4295 $ 3995 $ 3395 $ 3695 $ 3595 $ 3095 airfare

WPS2023

NEW! STOPOVERS All O.A.T. Stopovers include 3 nights in a centrally-located hotel, Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and daily breakfasts, and roundtrip private airport transfers. airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date Paris : $895 per person London : $895 per person of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.oattravel.com/tc. Every Amsterdam: $795 per person Rome: $795 per person effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the Other O.A.T. Stopovers are available. If a city you are interested in right to correct errors. is not offered, we can arrange your airfare for that, too. Call your Regional Adventure Counselor for full details at 1-800-955-1925.

For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/wps2023 pricing

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 5/21/21

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oattravel.com/wps2023

56 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 only: If you are taking only the main trip, you will need 3 blank passport pages.

• Pre-trip extension to Toulouse, France: You will need an additional blank passport page, for a total of 4.

• Pre-trip extension to Portugal: No additional blank pages needed beyond the 3 for the main trip.

• Post-trip extensions to Spain: No additional blank pages are 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.

57 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.

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.

58 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.

59 • 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.

60 • 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.

61 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 extremely difficult to exchange and the commission fee for cashing them is quite high. We do not recommend using traveler’s checks.

• 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, which depending on the bank might add conversion fees, so please check with your bank for applicable values.

You may be able to exchange cash at some hotels 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.

62 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.

France: ATMs can be found throughout large cities and small towns in France.

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. American Express is not commonly accepted.

Portugal: Visa and MasterCard credit cards are fairly common in Portugal, but may not be accepted for small purchases or in the markets. American Express is not commonly accepted.

France: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in France. For small purchases or markets, you may need cash instead.

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

63 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.

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 Trip Experience Leader 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.

64 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.

65 • 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.

66 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 France: +33

Portugal: +351

67 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.

68 • 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.

69 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

70 ‰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

71 ‰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, Portugal, and France 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

72 Portugal: C and/or F

France: C

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.

73 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.

Toledo, Spain: Toledo boasts a semi-acrid, transitional Mediterranean climate, with cool, mild winters and hot, dry summers. Cold waves with snow have been known to occur but are fairly uncommon for the area. Rather, Toledo frequently has night frosts and fog in December and January. In the summer, while the days can get blisteringly hot, the nights noticeably cooler, offering residents and visitors some relief.

Porto, Portugal: Porto, the second largest city in Portugal following Lisbon, exhibits a temperate maritime climate. Here, you can expect the summers to be warm, averaging at 77 degrees with frequent rain showers, and the winters to be 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.

Tenerife, Spain: Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and, due to its year-round weather, is known as the Island of Eternal Spring. Tenerife has a subtropical oceanic climate, with very mild, very sunny summers. Most of the rain ends up on the northeastern end of the island because of its altitude, allowing the area to get lush and green. With the weather on Tenerife being gorgeous and sunny all the time (the coldest month of January sitting at a comfortable low 60s), the main thing to look out for are the days of calima, when hot air masses from Africa sweep over Tenerife for three days. These abnormally hot and dusty days are rare but most likely to happen in the spring or summer.

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.

74 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 TOLEDO, SPAIN PORTO, PORTUGAL

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # Days of Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 53 to 34 76 5 56 to 41 87 to 70 6.2 FEB 57 to 37 69 5 59 to 43 88 to 71 5.5 MAR 65 to 41 59 4 62 to 45 86 to 66 3.5 APR 68 to 45 58 6 64 to 48 86 to 66 4.6 MAY 76 to 61 54 6 67 to 52 89 to 67 3.8 JUN 87 to 61 45 3 73 to 57 90 to 66 1.8 JUL 94 to 66 39 1 77 to 60 91 to 65 0.7 AUG 93 to 66 41 22 77 to 60 92 to 64 1.1 SEP 84 to 59 51 3 75 to 57 90 to 65 2.8 OCT 72 to 50 66 7 69 to 53 89 to 70 5.4 NOV 60 to 42 74 6 62 to 47 87 to 70 6.2 DEC 53 to 37 79 6 58 to 44 86 to 72 7.7

75 MONTH TOULOUSE, FRANCE BILBAO, SPAIN

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 49 to 36 82 6 56 to 41 80 to 63 5.0 FEB 52 to 37 78 6 58 to 41 79 to 58 3.8 MAR 58 to 41 75 6 61 to 42 83 to 58 3.7 APR 63 to 45 72 7 62 to 45 84 to 61 4.9 MAY 70 to 52 71 7 68 to 50 86 to 61 3.5 JUN 77 to 58 69 6 73 to 55 89 to 62 2.5 JUL 82 to 62 65 4 77 to 59 90 to 60 2.4 AUG 82 to 62 65 6 78 to 59 92 to 61 3.2 SEP 76 to 56 72 6 76 to 56 88 to 59 2.9 OCT 67 to 51 78 6 69 to 51 83 to 60 4.8 NOV 56 to 42 82 6 62 to 46 81 to 62 5.5 DEC 50 to 38 84 7 57 to 43 79 to 63 4.6

MONTH TENERIFE, SPAIN

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # Days of Humidity (avg) Rainfall JAN 70 to 60 64 8 FEB 70 to 59 65 7 MAR 72 to 62 62 7 APR 73 to 62 61 6 MAY 75 to 64 61 3 JUN 79 to 67 61 1 JUL 84 to 70 58 0.2 AUG 84 to 71 60 1 SEP 83 to 71 64 3 OCT 79 to 69 66 6 NOV 75 to 65 65 9 DEC 72 to 62 66 9

76 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.

77 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 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 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.

78 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.

• Que tal is the informal way of greeting someone, meaning “what’s up?” or “how are you going?”

• 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.

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

79 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, 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.

80 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:

• Tchau is pronounced similar to the Italian word ciao, and is used as an informal way to say “goodbye”

• Okay, though an English word, is frequently used by Portuguese people as a way to say “it’s fine”.

• 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.

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.

81 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.

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.

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.

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.

82 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 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.

83 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 ...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 (made with flour and red pepper paste), (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 pasteis 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.

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.

84 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!

French Cuisine It would be an understatement to say the French have an appreciation for fine food. They have a reverence for it, and it shows in the quality of French cuisine, which was designated by UNESCO as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. You certainly don’t need to dine at a Michelin- starred restaurant to experience the best of French cuisine. A visit to just about any local marché (open-air market), pâtisserie (pastry shop), boulangerie (bakery), café, bistro, or brasserie may well be as memorable an outing as visiting the famed monuments and museums.

Classical French dishes formed the basis of what we once called haute cuisine. But some of these dishes were regional in origin. Fortunately, because there is such widespread regard for gastronomy, regional dishes may appear on menus far from home, especially in large cities.

Few dishes are more universally loved than French onion soup (soupe á l’oignon), a sweet and savory broth of caramelized onions, beef stock, and sherry with a crust of grilled Comté or Gruyère cheese. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, workers at Paris’ famous outdoor food market, Les Halles, would often huddle around steaming cauldrons of onion soup. But then some local restaurateurs added the gratinée of bubbling cheese atop a crouton, and a classic was born.

Coq au vin is a specialty of Burgundy, made with chicken braised with red Burgundy wine, lardons, mushrooms, and garlic. But there are also delicious regional variations such as coq au Riesling or coq au Champagne. Another Burgundian classic is boeuf bourguignon, mixing succulent beef with red wine, onions, mushrooms, and lardons. In Bordeaux a traditional beef dish is entrecôte á la Bordelaise, a rib eye steak cooked in a red wine sauce with bone marrow.

Charles de Gaulle once quipped “How can you govern a nation that has 246 varieties of cheese?” It was an understatement. There are actually more than 1,000. Try some salty Roquefort, a mild Comté, a pungent raclette (melted cheese dish), a nutty Emmental, or a rich, triple creme Brillat- Savarin with a vein of black truffle through the middle. Some of France’s best cheese comes from dairy-rich Normandy, the home of Camembert, Livarot, Neufchâtel, and Morbier. They all pair famously with other Norman specialties such as cider and calvados, a delicious apple brandy.

While Paris may be a moveable feast, the capital of French gastronomy is Lyon, thanks to its central location amidst some of France’s richest agricultural regions. Try the classic fonds d’artichauts aux foie gras, made by melting foie gras over crisp artichoke hearts. Quenelles are football-shaped dumplings made with pike, served with tomato sauce, béchamel, or the famous

85 Nantua sauce made with crayfish, carrots, celery and cognac. In the Loire Valley, sample Anjou pears, all kinds of freshwater fish, or fouaces—puffy turnovers stuffed with different fillings such as rillettes (a pork paté) or goat’s cheese.

In the south, Provencal cooking relies on intensely flavored, sun-ripened vegetables, fresh seafood, olive oil and herbs. For a starter, try tapenade, a paste of olives, garlic, capers and lemon served with toast points. Pissaladière is a flatbread topped with caramelized onions, garlic, and anchovies. Bouillabaisse is a seafood soup made from fish and shellfish cooked in a broth of onions, tomatoes, saffron, and herbs. For the main course, try cassoulet, a stew of white beans, pork, duck confit, and bacon.

In the French Basque country, try the prized jambon de Bayonne ham; or marmitako, a stew of tuna, potatoes, onions peppers, and tomatoes. For dessert, there’s gâteau Basque, a shortbread filled with either black cherry jam, or an almond or vanilla cream. The icing on the cake is not icing at all, but the fact that no matter what you eat in France, there will be an exquisite wine to pair with it. Bon appetit!

Alsace is where French joie de vivre meets ’s cozy gemutlichkeit, and both of these traits are reflected in the Alsatian cuisine that awaits you. Farm-to-table fare was a tradition here long before its current vogue. Look for seasonal, locally grown produce (such as the famous white asparagus, a springtime favorite), farm-raised animals, and wild fish and game.

The signature dish of Alsace is choucroute garni, which means “garnished sour cabbage” but is much more. Here, silvery strands of sauerkraut are braised with herbs and caramelized onions in Riesling. The “garnishes” are cuts of bacon, sausage, and smoked pork. Baeckeoffe is a hearty casserole named for the Alsatian term for “baker’s oven.” Housewives would gather meat and vegetable scraps in an earthenware dish, and bring it to the local baker, who’d seal the lid with a strip of dough and leave it in his oven to be collected the next day. Today, it’s made at home but with the same pork, beef, lamb, and potatoes, simmered for hours in white wine.

Another iconic dish is flammekueche (or in French, tarte flambée), a chewy flatbread smothered with fromage blanc (a tangy fresh cheese), crème fraîche or sour cream, slivered onions, and crispy lardons of bacon. (It is also popular in Germany’s Baden and Palatinate regions.) Once upon a time flammekueche was considered peasant fare. Today it is as ubiquitous as pizza, but it may also grace upscale menus, perhaps topped with shrimp, scallops, lobster, duck, or that Alsatian specialty, foie gras.

Coq au Riesling is an intensely flavorful dish of chicken braised in white Riesling wine, accented with lardons of bacon and button mushrooms, and enriched with a silky touch of crème fraîche. Coq au Riesling is typically served with buttered noodles or mashed potatoes.

Alsatians love cheese and the local favorite may be munster, a small, creamy cheese made with unpasteurized milk, often dusted with cumin. Also popular is bibeleskaes, a cream cheese seasoned with garlic, onion, parsley, and sometimes, bacon. Smear some of this on a fresh-baked bretzel, a chewy Alsatian pretzel. You’ll find them in bakeries, bars and special bretzelleries. They

86 come salted or unsalted, immersed in emmental or munster cheese, flecked with bacon, drizzled with chocolate, or wrapped around a steamy, snappy knack sausage, so-named for the sound it makes when you bite into it. But it can also be enjoyed with a simple dusting of sugar.

More sugary treats will tempt you in Alsace’s many patisseries. When you are done sampling the beautiful éclairs, tartes, and madeleines, upgrade to the king of Alsatian desserts: kougelhopf. This moist cake is made from a brioche-type dough with dried fruits and nuts, and is baked in a special round fluted pan. If you visit around Christmas, you’ll find plenty of bredele, small cakes baked in many shapes and flavors such as anise, lemon, and ginger.

You will have plenty to toast during your journey. Of course you will want to raise a glass of dry Riesling or other white wine. But Alsace is also the main beer-producing region of France, thanks to Strasbourg’s many breweries. Or for something different, try kirsch, an eau-de-vie made from elderberries, cherries, strawberries, or whatever fruit is locally available.

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.

87 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.

France Perfumes, fashion, jewelry, art, glass, china, and wine—these are just a few of the many goods for which France is famous. Each region has its own specialties, but you can often then for sale in other parts of the country. If time is short, try checking out a big department store, like Galeries Lafayette or Printemps. Or look for the Prisunic and Monoprix chains, which have lower prices and are more for everyday shopping (sort of like the French version of Target).

• Paris: Fashion, art, antiques, perfume, food and wine—really, you can buy just about anything in Paris.

• Normandy: Look for salted caramels, rich cheeses, apple pastries, hard cider, and calvados apple brandy. Items with images of the Bayeux Tapestry are popular, as are anything with Joan of Arc (who spent her last days in Rouen). Lastly, World War II and D-Day are remembered in books, images, slogans, and more throughout the region.

• Provence: Typical products include fragrant lavender sachets and beauty products, olive oil, tapenade spread, rosé wines, and herbes de provence. The region is also known for its rustic pottery and anything with cicadas, as they are the unofficial mascot of Provence. And don’t forget the table linens and handbags in brightly-colored fabrics known as indienne patterns—the most sought-after (and expensive) are by Souleiado.

• The Rivera: Designer names the French Riviera, but there are also plenty of local products too, especially at the colorful open-air markets.

• Bordeaux and the Southwest: The Bordeaux region is so famous for its wines that they are known all over the world just by the name of the region. In addition to wine, France’s southwest is also known for its fine foods, like foie gras, Toulouse sausages, and croquants (similar to biscotti). Lastly, Occitan crosses (also called Languedoc crosses) are symbolic of the region, as are items with artwork by Impressionist painter Toulouse-Lautrec.

88 Value-Added Tax: The French value-added tax (VAT) is typically 19.6% and can be as high as 33.33% on luxury articles. 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 at the time of purchase. Be sure to save all receipts for Customs. (Generally, you have to spend over 175€ at the same shop, on the same day, and have filled out a special form for this process.) Note that our ships do not have VAT forms.

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.

89 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.

90 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, , and , you can see remnants of , bridges, aqueducts, temples, and amphitheaters. Towards the end of their dominion, the Romans also brought . But 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 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.

91 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)

92 • 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.

93 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 and Vasco da Gama expanded the empire from Africa to India and southeast Asia, and to Brazil.

In 1580, Spain invaded Portugal and held it for 60 years. Although the Portuguese independence was restored in 1640, Portugal kept fighting back frequent Spanish raids to take over again for about 28 years. By that time, 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.

France

Facts, Figures & National Holidays • Area: 248,573 square miles

• Capital: Paris

• Language: French

• Location: France is a large country, two and a half times as big as Great Britain, extending for some 600 miles from north to south and from east to west. It has coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Its southern land border is Spain; to the north are Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany; to the east are Switzerland and Italy.

• Geography: Except for extreme northern France, which is part of the Flanders plain, the country may be described as four river basins and a plateau. Three of the streams flow west—the Seine into the English Channel, the Loire into the Atlantic, and the Garonne into

94 the Bay of Biscay. The Rhône flows south into the Mediterranean. For about 100 miles, the Rhine is France’s eastern border. In the Alps, near the Italian and Swiss borders, is Europe’s highest point—Mont Blanc, at 15,781 feet.

• Population: 66,836,154

• Religion: Roman Catholic 63-66%, Muslim 7-9%, Jewish .5-.75%, Buddhist .5-.75%, other .5-1.0%, none 23-28%

• Time Zone: France is on Central European Time, six hours ahead of U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is noon in Paris. Daylight Saving Time begins the last weekend in March and ends the last weekend in October.

National Holidays: France

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/08 World War II Victory Day France celebrates a number of national 07/14 Bastille Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and Whit Monday. To find out if you 08/15 Assumption of Mary will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 11/01 All Saints’ Day

01/01 New Year´s Day 11/11 Armistice Day

05/01 Labor Day 12/25 Christmas Day

France: A Brief History That the French do things with flair has been borne out by history. Even their most famous prehistoric treasure, the 17,000-year old cave paintings of Lascaux, are a dazzling work of art. The rest of French history is just as dazzling, colored by events and ideas that have impacted all of humanity, far beyond the borders of this hexagon-shaped crucible of culture.

When the Celts arrived in Gaul in the 5th century BC, it was already occupied by Iberians, Ligurians, and Greeks, who established the oldest city in France, Massilia (Marseille). It was a major port with temples, theaters, an agora, and a flourishing wine trade. The city had forged an alliance with Rome by the time Julius conquered Gaul in 57-52 B.C. Julius often gets credit for founding (Paris), but the Gallic Parisii tribe had already established a settlement there on the banks of the Seine. The Romans erected their own magnificent cities whose ruins still stand in Arles, Nimes, Vienne, Lyon, and beyond.

During the 5th century AD, the Franks invaded and converted to Christianity under Clovis I. A national spirit emerged when Charlemagne, King of the Franks, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD. Though his reign left an indelible imprint, French national history is considered to begin in 987, when Hugh Capet centralized the monarchy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, trade prospered, guilds were founded, and cathedrals were built. But the 14th century brought the Hundred Years War with England (1337-1453), whose Norman kings held vast

95 estates in France. The English were expelled and as in the days of Charlemagne, the throne held a powerful mystique, this time with the aid of Joan of Arc, whose divine voices urged her to lead France to victory at Orleans in 1429 and to champion Charles VII as king.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, France moved closer towards absolute monarchy, best exemplified by Louis XIV, whose reign was unequaled for its autocracy—and magnificent style. From Versailles, he presided over a gloriously gilded France—so resplendent that it earned him the title of “the Sun King.” Ironically, the very splendor of the French monarchy precipitated its downfall, for it was exorbitant to maintain. That burden fell to the peasants and middle class, as nobles and the clergy were exempt from the taxes. That ended with the French Revolution in 1789. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined, the monarchy was abolished, and the new (but short-lived) First Republic was established.

The ensuing chaos led to the rise of Napoleon, who became emperor in 1804 and built an empire across nearly all of Europe. Though Napoleon was a dictator, his Napoleonic codes brought unprecedented legal rights and civil liberties to his domains, in many places ending feudalism. With his fall in 1814, the monarchy was restored. France’s Third Republic was founded in 1870, during which the groundbreaking Impressionist school of painting emerged, as well as the Modernist movement. From 1914-18, France fought with the Allies in World War I, prevailing but suffering devastating losses. Between wars, France nourished major intellectual movements: Constructivism, Dadaism, Surrealism, and Existentialism.

In 1940, France was invaded by Germany who set up a puppet government in Vichy under Marshal Philippe Petain. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Allies landed in Normandy and went on to liberate Paris in August. A provisional government was set up under General Charles de Gaulle. He remained France’s most influential statesman of the 20th (or perhaps any other) century, becoming president in 1958 until his resignation in 1969. Post-war France saw the break-up of its remaining colonial outposts. The country was one of the leaders in the founding of the European Union (1993) and the Eurozone (1999).

More recently France, like its European neighbors, had to contend with the fallout of the 2008 global economic crisis. Unemployment, immigration, structuring the post-Brexit EU, and climate change are some of the issues France must address with its historic resourcefulness—and characteristic flair.

96 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.

97 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.

France The Seine: The River That Made Paris by Elaine Sciolino (2020, Nonfiction) Sciolino traces the history, route, and impact of the Seine River through the stories of its people—a riverbank bookseller, the Seine police, a houseboat owner, fishermen, and film directors, to name a few. She also includes a touching chapter on the 2019 Notre Dame fire, which was put out with water pumped from the river.

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik (2001, Travel Essays) A self-described “comic-sentimental essayist,” Gopnik spent the years from 1995 to 2000 in Paris writing the “Paris Journals” for the New Yorker. Collected here are his most charming, insightful, heartfelt, and humorous dispatches on the Parisian people, culture, food, economy, and lifestyle.

A Brief History of France by Cecil Jenkins (2017, History) Exactly what the title promises: A compact overview of the history of France. Look for the 2017 edition, which was updated to include more recent events.

My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme (2007, Memoir) Memoir of the famous chef’s first, formative stay in France in 1949. Child describes herself as a “rather loud and unserious Californian,” without a word of French. She enrolled at the Cordon Bleu and toiled with increasing zeal and competence. With the bestselling Mastering the Art of French Cooking, she revolutionized the American idea of cooking. This memoir recalls gorgeous meals in bygone Parisian restaurants, and reveals the personality and some of the secret arts of a culinary genius.

The Miracle of Dunkirk: The True Story of Operation Dynamo by Walter Lord (2017, History) A well-written and comprehensive account of the British evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940 with the help of the French. The author has been praised for his ability to weave the personal stories of the survivors—who he interviewed in great depth—into the overall narrative of how events unfolded.

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.

98 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.

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.

99 France Midnight in Paris (2011, Comedy) Screenwriter Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) escapes his romantic troubles by roaming the streets of Paris at night, where he is miraculously (and hilariously) transported back to 1920s Paris, where Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dali, F. Scott Fitzgerald and the entire “Lost Generation” await him.

Summer (also released as The Green Ray, 1986, Comedy) Set in and around Biarritz and Bayonne, this confection from French master Eric Roehmer follows a young woman who is forced to re- evaluate herself when her summer vacation plans go awry.

Loving Vincent (2017, Biography) Van Gogh’s paintings come to life in this remarkable, animated film created by 125 artists, who hand-painted each of the film’s 65,000 frames in the style of Vincent van Gogh. The plot follows the efforts of a postmaster’s son to solve the mystery of van Gogh’s life and death in Auvers-sur-Oise.

Saving Private Ryan (1998, Drama). Probably the best (and most riveting) depiction of the Normandy D-Day landings and their aftermath. It won Steven Spielberg an Oscar for Best Director.

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982, Drama) Set in the Pyrenees, this epic tells the true story of a man who returns to his village after the Hundred Years War, and resumes his family life. But the man who calls himself Martin Guerre (Gerard Depardieu) is not who he seems to be.

Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962, Drama) See why director Agnes Varda deserves her rightful title as the godmother of the French New Wave. This film follows a young singer’s afternoon as she awaits the results of a biopsy. We trail her to cafes and shops, to an assignation with her lover, and across the cityscapes of Paris of the 1960s, which is vividly captured.

Chocolat (2000, Drama/Comedy) In this warm and beautifully filmed romance, a lovely chocolatier (Juliet Binoche) falls in love with a handsome gypsy (Johnny Depp), disrupting life in a prim riverside village. Many scenes were filmed in the Dordogne region.

Au revoir, les enfants (1987, Drama) In this heartbreaking, autobiographical film, director Louis Malle recalls the winter of 1943-44, when the priest of his boarding school introduced three new students who turned out to be Jewish children he was attempting to hide. The main character, Julien, forms a close bond with one of the Jewish boys, until their friendship is cut short by a betrayal.

Amelie (2001, Romantic Comedy) This quirky gem tells the heartwarming story of a shy waitress in Paris who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation. The award-winning film is a whimsical depiction of everyday life, sure to capture the hearts of its viewers time and time again.

100 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

101 Notes

102 Notes

103 Notes

104 Notes

105 Notes

106

a e bal

z ó S FRANCE Las Palmas u

r San Sebastian C

San Mateo o Agaete

a

a t n

La Guardia (Optional Tour) b

n Maspalomas

l

i a San Crist de La Laguna

a B S

From Madrid From Gran Canaria Gran e From Madrid From z

r u n e r Teide Mt.

d C a

n a l a

Tenerife t r

SPAIN e

n d

Bay of Biscay Bay a o r S t

POST-TRIP EXTENSIONS r Oviedo

e e

u CANARY Atlantic Ocean ISLANDS

P Garachico

t

i

d

a

e i

Úbeda

M s

Madrid u rdoba Toledo ó

C l

r

a i

Ronda v

i

u

q d

l a

Miles d

Carmona

To/From U.S. Internal flight Land route Ferry route

a

n

u

050 G

rida A SPAIN

s é

u

g M

a

T o

r

u Seville o D

(Optional Tour)

N

I A

Lion P S

Gulf of Gulf y

Évora

r

a

d

i

u

d a

gua i n é

Carcassonne

l M

Alentejo R

e

t Albi

u s

o

a d r

C u l o a (Optional Tour)

Minho Region n Coimbra D FRANCE To Lisbon To

PORTUGAL a PORTUGAL C

To Lisbon To e

n

n

o

r

Gaia

Porto a Lisbon

n

a

e c O

c i G t n a l t A Sintra

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION PRE-TRIP EXTENSION

Toulouse Cordes-sur-Ciel Ocean Atlantic

107 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.

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