Day 1 Sat. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC
FLIGHT.
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Day 2 Sun. ARRIVAL IN MADRID, SPAIN.
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring
lively Madrid. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)
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Day 3 Mon. MADRID. Of the Spanish
capital, situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say it’s the nearest
thing to heaven. You’ve only a day here and it’s certainly worth making the most
of it by joining the included guided sightseeing tour: a full panoramic drive by
way of the Avenida Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Parliament Square, and a picture stop
outside the Royal Palace. The optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding, too.
The splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in
El Greco’s painting, and even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish
history and art. (B)
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Day 4 Tue. MADRID-AVILA-COIMBRA, PORTUGAL.
West for a visit to fortified Avila with its many towers. Next is
Salamanca, just six miles from the spot where Wellington routed Napoleon’s Army
in 1812. Make sure you spend some time wandering around Plaza Mayor, the
grandest square in Spain. Across the frontier to Guarda, the highest town in
Portugal. From here descend to the valleys of the Serra da Estrela to Coimbra
for overnight. (B,D)
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Day 5 Wed. COIMBRA-FATIMA-LISBON. This
morning enjoy your orientation tour of Coimbra, celebrated for its beauty and
ancient university. Later travel southwards to Batalha with a visit to its
beautifully sited monastery. Today’s penultimate highlight is a visit to the
Sanctuary of Fatima. A sterner and more desolate landscape accompanies you to
Lisbon for your overnight in Portugal’s capital. A stop en route includes a wine
bodega and some wine tasting. (B)
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Day 6 Thu. LISBON. Henry the Navigator
made Lisbon the 15th-century mistress of the seas. On the included tour see his
monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, and the impressive Black Horse
Square. Spend the afternoon in the Alfama’s tile-decorated streets, or take an
optional excursion to coastal Estoril and Cascais. (B)
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Day 7 Fri. LISBON-SEVILLE, SPAIN. From
the rolling plains of the Alentejo with its woodlands of cork and eucalyptus
trees, southwards all the way to the blinding light of Andalusia. Admire its
neat white-painted villages and sun-drenched plantations of olives, figs, and
almonds, while traveling by way of Beja into magnificent Seville. (B,D)
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Day 8 Sat. SEVILLE. At leisure in one of
Spain’s most colorful cities. Perhaps you’d like to spend this morning enjoying
an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of the vibrant city.
(B)
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Day 9 Sun. SEVILLE-FERRY TO MOROCCO-FEZ.
An interesting drive today which starts with views of the sherry wine
region before reaching the coast for embarkation on the ferry to Morocco. Next,
motor south along what was once North Africa’s infamous Barbary coast. Join the
new motorway for the drive southwards, then west bypassing Meknes for overnight
in Fez. (B,D)
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Day 10 Mon. FEZ. At leisure in ancient
Fez, which occupies a position of outstanding scenic beauty and is blessed with
an ample supply of water. This morning visit the Medina on the included
sightseeing tour and watch the crowds of Berbers in their flowing robes as they
buy and sell their goods, accompanied by veiled women. Take advantage of an
optional excursion for sightseeing in Meknes. (B)
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Day 11 Tue. FEZ-MIDDLE ATLAS-MARRAKESH.
Enjoy glimpses of North African village life reminiscent of Beau Geste
while motoring through the Middle Atlas on your way to Marrakesh. (B,D)
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Day 12 Wed. MARRAKESH. The highlight of
this morning is the included city sightseeing. You’ll really feel as if you’ve
stopped the march of time. Marrakesh has always been a meeting place, first just
a group of nomad tents, now a bustling city. An optional evening excursion will
be a fitting choice to end the day. (B)
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Day 13 Thu. MARRAKESH-CASABLANCA-RABAT.
This morning drive northwest from the heartland of Morocco by way of
Settat, to reach the most western of all Moroccan cities Casablanca. Stop here
awhile. Later in the afternoon continue by way of the motorway northwards to
Rabat, Morocco’s capital for city sightseeing and overnight. (B,D)
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Day 14 Fri. RABAT-FERRY CROSSING TO
SPAIN-GRANADA. Today an early departure retraces your steps northwards
for the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to mainland Spain, and drive
directly in the heart of Andalucia to reach Granada for overnight. (B,D)
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Day 15 Sat. GRANADA-MADRID. Take
advantage of the included visit with a Local Guide of the Alhambra Palace, a
summer palace built by the Moorish kings. You’ll treasure the memory of its
architectural beauty, dazzling ceilings, and magnificent gardens. This afternoon
drive into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castle and windmills.
Overnight in Madrid. (B)
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Day 16 Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE
SAME DAY. (B)
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