Darton State College
Home » Current Students » International Program » Travel Abroad
TRAVEL ABROAD TO SPAIN
WITH DARTON COLLEGE
(May 9-18, 2006)
ATTENTION! COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DARTON STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF! We are now recruiting for a trip to SPAIN during the Summer of 2006! Continuing Education Credit will be available for participants in this tour. Contact the Office of Continuing Education at 317-6730 for details. Deadline for Registration is Oct. 31, 2005.
The Plaza de España in Madrid memorializes Miguel de Cervantes and his famous novel, Don Quixote de la Mancha.
What follows is a detailed description of the program and all costs except your spending money there. In order to participate, students must be in good standing. Community members, faculty and staff must be adventurous and energetic! All participants are responsible for obtaining their own passports. International students should inform themselves regarding visa requirements.
This tour, called Andalusian Fiesta, will be coordinated and conducted by ACIS (American Council for International Studies), a very reputable educational travel company with which we have traveled a number of times.
WHERE WE'LL GO AND WHAT WE'LL SEE
(ACIS reserves the right to modify the itinerary slightly, but this is pretty close. We'll get you a new one if it changes.)
Day 1: Depart USA by overnight flight. I hope you packed your walking shoes!
Day 2: Toledo. Arrive in Madrid and drive the short distance to Spain’s former capital of Toledo. Free time to explore or enjoy a sidewalk café.
Day 3: Toledo. Today we enjoy the sights of Toledo with a local guide. We’ll visit the Church of Santo Tomé (home to one of El Greco’s greatest works, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz), the impressive Gothic cathedral, and the medieval synagogue. In the afternoon there is free time to enjoy this wonderfully preserved World Heritage City and shop for Damascene ware, or take time for a café con leche on the main plaza. If you prefer this afternoon, the group may opt for an excursion to Aranjuez, a favorite residence of monarchs over the centuries. See details in section on costs.
Day 4: Granada. On our way south to Andalucía, we’ll view the windmills of Consuegra in La Mancha and imagine the scenes played out by Cervantes’ Don Quixote. After a brief stop, we’ll continue on to Granada, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. Granada is home to the greatest Moorish legacy in Europe.
Day 5: Ronda. A morning sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Alhambra and the fragrant Generalife Gardens. The Alhambra is one of the greatest accomplishments of Islamic art and architecture and is simply breathtaking. In the afternoon we depart for Mijas, one of the “white towns” (pueblos blancos) of Andalucía. The white houses decorated with iron grilles makes it a real jewel. Finally, we’ll arrive at Ronda for the night, where we’ll have time to wander to the 18th century bullring and view the cathedral at sunset. Ronda is known as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, and a key scene in the movie For Whom the Bell Tolls was filmed here.
Day 6: Sevilla. Today we head north through sunflower fields and olive groves to Seville, capital of Andalucía. Along the way we’ll view several of the “white towns” situated on rocky crags, with whitewashed houses and charming narrow streets.
Day 7: Sevilla. Our sightseeing in Sevilla includes the immense and impressive Gothic cathedral, home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and the Moorish Giralda Tower. We’ll also visit the Moorish fortress/palace, the Alcázar, and later have time for a stroll through the old Jewish quarter Santa Cruz or a horse and buggy ride. This evening there is an evening of flamenco included.
Day 8: AVE-Madrid. Say adiós to Sevilla as we travel to Córdoba. Roman and Moorish influences are seen in the long arched bridge and the Mezquita, the colorful mosque of this former Moorish capital of Spain. The mosque dates to the 10th century, and parts of its beauty are preserved to this day, while part of the interior was taken for the construction of a cathedral. Later we’ll board the high speed AVE train to Madrid, Spain’s busy capital, for dinner.
Day 9: Madrid. Sightseeing with a local guide shows us the Plaza Mayor and the treasures of the Prado Museum, home to El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya, as well as many of the Flemish masters. This evening you may want to wander through the Puerta del Sol, geographic center of Spain, and sample some tapas.
Day 10: Departure for the USA with memories for a lifetime!
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Please read carefully all of the Terms and Conditions in the Registration Booklet for details of all regulations, fees and late fees, payment schedules and deadlines, insurance coverages, and allowances. What follows is a brief outline. Deadlines are indicated as appropriate.
All information below is valid only for
participants enrolled by October 31, 2005.
| ACIS Membership Fee | $95 |
|
|
| Program Fee | $2559 |
|
|
| Weekend Departure Fee | |
|
|
| Adult Surcharge (10 day trip, 8 overnights) | ($355) |
|
|
| Comprehensive Protection Plan insurance (Optional – see details in Registration Booklet) |
|
|
|
| Ultimate Protection Plan (Optional – see details in Registration Booklet) |
|
|
|
| Airport Taxes and Security Charges | $146 |
|
|
| Optional Excursion to Aranjuez | |
|
|
To register, or for further information, contact Patty Davis in F-120G, 317-6876, patricia.davis@darton.edu.
Deadline for Registration is Oct. 31, 2005.
ACIS is on the web at http://www.acis.com.
La mezquita de Córdoba
