Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ont. N3T 2J1 Tel. 519-753-2695 / 519-756-4900 - Fax 519-756-6376 tours@pauwelstravel.com www.pauwelstravel.com Velasquez s Las Meninas, in Madrid s Prado Museum "THE ART OF SPAIN FROM ALTAMIRA TO DALI" Madrid Burgos Leon Santiago de Compostela Santillana del Mar/Altamira - Bilbao A 13-day tour, from Friday, April 5, to Wednesday, April 17, 2013 A leisurely immersion into the superb art and architecture of Spain, with visits to all the great museums of Madrid, followed by a leisurely tour of the northwestern part of the country, including sights such as Leon, home of the Sistine Chapel of Romanesque painting, the village of Altamira with its world-famous prehistoric Caves, and Frank Gehry s spectacular Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The tour host is Alan Toff, lecturer in the history of art at U of T s School of Continuing Studies. PROPOSED ITINERARY: Day 1 - Friday, April 5: Late afternoon or evening departure from Toronto for Madrid, via Paris or London. Dinner and a light breakfast will be served on board. Day 2 - Saturday, April 6: Late morning arrival in Madrid, and transfer to the centrally located first-class/four-star hotel Mayorazgo or similar. Time to settle in, followed by a late afternoon walking tour of the historical city centre. Dinner in the hotel. Day 3 - Sunday, April 7: After breakfast, visits to the National Archaeological Museum and its wonderful facsimile of the Altamira Caves, whose paintings of bisons and other animals are considered to be the very first artistic expressions produced by human beings. Continue to the world-famous Prado Museum for a visit focusing on the paintings of Spanish masters such as Velazquez, El Greco, and Goya. After the guided part of the Prado, stay in this Prado as long as you wish, or explore Madrid on your own. This evening, dinner in a typical restaurant.
Day 4 - Monday, April 8: Morning visit to the Queen Sofia Art Centre, a collection of mostly Spanish contemporary art; its pride and joy is of course Picasso s world-famous painting, Guernica; however, many other famous artists are represented here, including Miro, Picasso, Dali, Gris, Tapies, and the recently deceased Basque sculptor Chillida. Afterwards, excursion to El Escorial, a huge palace-monastery constructed in the 16 th century for King Philip II. We return to Madrid via the Valley of the Fallen, a monument to the dead of the Civil War 1936-39, commissioned by Franco, Spain s dictator from 1939 to 1975. Dinner in the hotel. Day 5 - Tuesday, April 9: We start the day with a visit the Church of San Antonio de Florida, with wonderful frescoes by Goya. On to the Thyssen-Bornemysza Museum, featuring an amazing collection of paintings ranging from the Medieval Flemish Primitives to contemporary surrealists such as René Magritte and pop artists like Roy Lichtenstein. Afternoon at leisure, and dinner in the hotel or in a nearby restaurant. < El Escorial Picasso s famous Guernica : Day 6 - Wednesday, April 10: Today we travel by train from Madrid to Leon, a proud ancient city founded by Roman legionnaires and full of mementoes of a glorious past. Dinner and overnight in the first-class Hotel Conde Luna (www.hotelcondeluna.es). < San Isidoro, Sistine Chapel of Romanesque painting Day 7 - Thursday, April 11: Morning visit to Leon's Gothic Cathedral with its superb stained-glass windows, similar to those of Chartres Cathedral, and to the Romanesque San Isidoro Basilica, whose amazing crypt, featuring the finest frescoes in Spain, is known as the Sistine Chapel of Romanesque painting! We also view the exterior of Casa de los Botines, an impressive modernist building designed by Spain s world-famous architect Antoni Gaudi. Then we follow the ancient pilgrims road to Santiago de Compostela, cross the mighty Cebrero Mountain Pass, and enter the hilly and very green province of Galicia, situated in northwestern Spain on the rugged shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay. Here we discover the remote sanctuary which used to attract more pilgrims than Rome or Jerusalem - Santiago de Compostela. It was in this town, according to legend, that the body of St. James the Apostle was discovered and buried. St. James Santiago in the Galician language - subsequently became the patron saint of Spain, and played a crucial role in the so-called Reconquista, the Spanish war of independence against the Moors. Today, Compostela is still a wonderful, almost mystical town with a magnificent partly Romanesque, partly Baroque cathedral dedicated to St. James
and many other places of interest. We stay in one of the finest hotels in the city, the 5 star/deluxe Palacio del Carmen, a beautifully restored former monastery (www.palaciodelcarmen.com/index.html) Dinner in the hotel. Day 8 - Friday, April 12: Morning sightseeing tour of Santiago. The highlight, will of course, be the splendid Cathedral, a shell of Romanesque architecture overgrown with barnacles of exuberant Baroque decorations, featuring the Tomb of St. James, the sublime sculptures of Master Mateo s Portico de la Gloria, the Holy Gate, Obradoiro Square, etc. In the afternoon, visit to the very modern Galician Centre of Contemporary Art. This evening, dinner of regional specialties in a typical restaurant. Façade of Compostela Cathedral: Day 9 - Saturday, April 13: Today we take a sidetrip along the rugged Galician coast with its many fjord-like inlets to Cabo Fisterra, the cape of "the end of the earth," long considered to be continental Europe's westernmost point. A simple but delicious lunch of Galician seafood will be served in a small seaside restaurant. Return to Compostela in late afternoon and rest of the day at leisure. Cabo Fisterra, the end of the earth : Day 10 - Sunday, April 14: This morning we leave Galicia and cross into the neighbouring province of Asturias. We follow the scenic road along the rugged Costa Verde, Spain s window on the Bay of Biscay. Lunch break in Luarca or another picturesque fishing village. In late afternoon we enter the rugged mountain range known as the Picos de Europa and motor via the picturesque town of Cangas de Onis to Covadonga, site of the first Christian victory against the Arabs (in 722), starting point of the Reconquista, and cradle of the Spanish Monarchy. Dinner and overnight in the first-class Grand Hotel Pelayo. Day 11 - Monday, April 15: On through the green Asturian hills and along the shores of the Bay of Biscay to Santillana del Mar, a showcase of Spanish Medieval and Renaissance architecture and often described as the prettiest village in Spain. Visit to the museum of the nearby Altamira Caves, the world-famous Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art, featuring a fine facsimile of the cave paintings; the cave itself is unfortunately not open to visitors. Afterwards there will be time to explore beautiful Santillana on your own. Our hotel here, Los Infantes, is a converted noble mansion of the 17th century! (www.hotel-santillana.com/en/los_infantes_hotel) < Prehistoric Art of Altamira Bilbao s stunning Guggenheim Museum > Day 12 - Tuesday, April 16: Departure from Santillana after an early breakfast. Short drive to Bilbao, the metropolis of the Basque Country, for a guided visit to the world-famous Guggenheim
Museum, a masterpiece of the architect Frank Gehry. Afternoon free in Bilbao. Accommodation in a firstclass hotel, and final group dinner in the hotel or in a nearby restaurant. Day 13 - Wednesday, April 17: After breakfast, transfer to Bilbao Airport and return flight to Toronto. PLEASE NOTE THAT A FOUR-DAY ADD-ON TO BARCELONA IS AVAILABLE. LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED! TOUR COST: $3,495 from Toronto Single room supplement: $475 Included in the tour price are: - Flight from Toronto to Madrid, back from Bilbao; - Accommodation in 4- and 5-star hotels as shown in the above itinerary, based on double occupancy the single room supplement is $475; - Breakfast and dinner (or sometimes lunch) daily; - All transfers, sightseeing, museum visits and excursions as described in the itinerary; - Gratuity for the coach driver. Not included are: -***The standard combination of airport taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges, presently (June 2012) approximately $550, but subject to change; - All items of a personal nature; - Wine, beer, mineral water and similar beverages with dinners; - Travel Insurance, available as follows: Deluxe Package Insurance: Non-Medical Insurance: Up to age 59: $268.92 Up to age 59: $226.80 Ages 60 to 64: $331.56 Ages 60 to 64: $253.80 Ages 65 to 69: $397.44 Ages 65 to 69: $284.04 Ages 70 to 74: $537.84 Ages 70 to 74: $321.84 Ages 75 & up: Call for rates Ages 75 & up: Call for rates
PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695/519-756-4900 Fax: 519-753-6376 Email: tours@pauwelstravel.com Ont. Reg. #1034992 TERMS AND CONDITIONS RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS: Reservations should be made as early as possible to ensure the departure of your choice. A deposit of $750.00 is required at the time of registration. Your reservation is confirmed upon receipt of your deposit and application form. No reservations will be accepted without a signed application form. REFUND OF UNUSED ARRANGEMENTS: Because the rates of Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. are based on group participation, no refund can be made for any tour accommodation or tour service or tour feature not taken. If cancellation occurs while the tour is in progress, no refund can be made for the tour portion not taken. We strongly suggest that to allow for any unexpected contingencies, you purchase the all-inclusive insurance. CANCELLATION POLICY: Refund of deposit is made in full if cancellation is received in writing by Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. more than 90 days prior of the departure date of the tour less a $500.00 non refundable administrative fee per person. For cancellation received in writing 90 days prior or less the following cancellation charges apply: 90 days to 46 days before departure: 25% of tour cost 45 to 15 days before departure: 50% of tour cost Within 14 days prior to departure: 100% of tour cost RESPONSIBILITY: Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. reserves the right without notice, to withdraw any part or all of the tour. Factors such as airline schedule changes, hotel overbookings, inclement weather, etc. may necessitate changes in the itinerary as outlined. There may also be other circumstances in which changes become necessary or advisable. Any savings realized by these changes will be passed on to the passengers, any resultant expenses shall be borne by the passenger. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. acts only as an agent in securing hotel, transportation and other travel services and in no event shall be held responsible for the failure by any person or company to render any transportation, lodging or other travel service to be provided on the tour. All hotel, transportation and other travel services are provided to tour members subject to all the terms and conditions under which they are offered to the public generally. The acceptance of the initial service to be provided under the tour shall be considered an acceptance by the tour member of those conditions. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. also reserves the right to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion of the tour operators. AIR TRANSPORTATION: Trans Atlantic economy flight by scheduled, IATA carriers, based on a group rate, but other fares may also be used. Deviations (e.g. earlier departures or later returns) are usually available at a surcharge. All fares are subject to specific rules and regulations, to changes, and to government approval.
APPLICATION FORM Please book seat(s) on the Art Tour of Spain of April 5-17, 2013. Enclosed is my/our deposit of ($750 per person, plus insurance premium if taken.) Deposit and insurance premium, if taken, are due with registration. You will be invoiced for the balance approximately 45 days prior to departure. WE NOW REQUIRE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT (INFORMATION PAGES ONLY) TO BE SENT WITH YOUR APPLICATION FORM AT TIME OF REGISTRATION. Name as on Passport. Indicate the appropriate title before each name (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr., Ms.) NAME(S): If applicable, give your commonly used first name as you would like it to appear on your name tag: (e.g. Liz for Mary Elizabeth ) ADDRESS: Postal Code: PHONE: (Residence) (Business) (Fax/Email) If traveling alone, please indicate your willingness to share accommodations: YES NO SINGLE ROOM REQUIRED: (We will try to find a roommate for those willing to share, but cannot guarantee success in doing so. For single travelers we are not able to match, the single supplement will apply.) SPECIAL REQUESTS: (Dietary, wheelchair assistance, frequent flyer number, twin beds, etc.) Please list here so we can do our best to assist you. (We will do our best to assist you but cannot guarantee success, especially in the case of requests for specific seating arrangements, since airlines do not normally allow individual seat selections for groups.) I/we agree to the terms and conditions attached to the program. Insurance, I/we accept: All-inclusive Package Non-medical Package Decline Insurance Signature (s) If purchasing travel insurance, we require your date of birth: Name: Date of Birth Name: Date of Birth PAYMENT: Cheque payable to Pauwels Travel Visa Mastercard American Express Amount Paid: Card Number: Signature: Expiry: Security Code: Please forward this completed form, copy of passport and payment to: PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695 / 519-756-4900 - Fax: 519-753-6376