Day 1 Sat, Feb. 23 JFK-GRANADA, SPAIN “we’re off”
Day 2 Sun, Feb.24 Afternoon arrival in Granada: “travel, arrive and explore the Realejo”
Day 12, Wednesday, March 6 PORTO “Tiles, Street Art and Harry Potter”
- Leave Forman mid-afternoon for JFK
- Leave: New York: JFK American Airlines (IBERIA) flight #8646 Terminal 7 9:05 pm
- Leave Madrid flight #8627 (AIR NOSTRUM FOR IBERIA) 12:15 Terminal 4
Day 2 Sun, Feb.24 Afternoon arrival in Granada: “travel, arrive and explore the Realejo”
- Private transfer from Granada airport - hotel: Hotel Parador de Granada - (3 nights) Real de la Alhambra, s/n, Granada City Center, 18009 Granada, Spain Phone: +34 958 22 14 40 Parador de Granada
- Walking tour of Granada’s Realejo neighborhood (Self-guided) Iglesia Santo Domingo – one of the more obscure churches in the city, yet one of the most beautiful, inside and out. The facades of Realejo also constitute a de facto art gallery, displaying the works of local spray-paint artist Raul Ruiz, also known as ‘El Niño’. Niño’s incredible pictures not only lend Realejo an edgy, creative ambience all of its own; they give you the wonderful feeling that you’ve discovered something no one else has. El Realejo is the heart of Granada’s street art culture.
- Dinner in Realejo district
- Breakfast at hotel
- Our tour with “Get Your Guide” begins at our hotel 9:15am and will continue for the day. Tour Alhambra, Generalife, Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba - The Alhambra, the palace complex of the Nasrid dynasty in Granada, can perhaps be considered as one of the most famous examples of Islamic art overall, but is certainly the culmination and grand finale of medieval Islamic culture on the Iberian Peninsula.
- lunch before going to the Al Hammam Moorish baths.
- After our experience at the baths we will have DINNER LOCALLY.
- Breakfast at hotel
- 10:00 am Leather workshop with Munira - creating an original leather tile (20cm.x 20cm) or equivalent art piece. Our studio is located in the heart of the old part of Granada, Plaza Nueva, in an elegant old building with balconies overlooking the square. The essentials of leather tooling, participants will learn to decorate and enhance the surface of leather.
- Lunch
- Carrera del Darro, Paseo de los Tristes and Plaza Nueva - sight-seeing along the river, interesting architecture, shopping and restaurants all near the Alhambra.
- Sacromonte: Flamenco class, Dinner & Show (6:30 flamenco class 7:30 dinner 8;30-10:15 flamenco show). We are by the historical área the Albaicín and to arrive here, the only way to arrive is crossing the Albaicín with a minivan or by foot from Plaza Nueva Square, it takes about twenty minutes.
- Breakfast at hotel
- Granada to Seville: Depart 9:00am private van (Company: *Daytrip* confirmation#: 0EE87D includes guided stop in Ronda 11:09am, depart 1:00 arrive Sevilla 3:00pm) Hotel Pick up
- Casa de Poeta Hotel Don Carlos Alonso, Seville 41004 (2 nights) +34 954 21 38 68
- “Devour Seville” Authentic Tapas Tour & Flamenco Show Tour Start Time: 5:30pm Plaza Nueva next to the statue of King Fernando III in the center of the plaza
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Meropol Prasol...A beehive inspiration it is! Visit this architectural wonder for great panoramic views of Sevilla.
- Plaza de Espana
- Wander the Alcazar - Originally built to serve as a fort in 913, the Royal Palace of Alcázar has gone through many historical changes. Built by the Moorish people, it features various architectural styles due to it being built through various time periods. You’ll find Moorish, Gothic, Mudejar, and Renaissance architecture which can help you to recognize which part of the palace was built when. In the Renaissance section of the cathedral, you’ll find a section that tells of where Columbus stood in it when asking the king and queen for permission to venture into the New World.
- Flamenco Class with Eva in Triana
- Dinner in Triana district
- depart 9:00am, stop in Badajoz, Guided visit, Arrive Lisbon 3:40pm
- Lisbon Hotel: Internacional Design Hotel (4 nights) 351-21-324-0990 Rua da Betesga 3, 1100-422 Lisboa, Portugal
- Take Tram 28 up the hill to Alfama and walk back down to sightsee St. George's Castle, Sé Cathedral and Feira de Ladra are also located in Alfama.
- Fado show and dinner:
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 10 am -1:30. Art of Azulejos Workshop with Caroline - master tile historian and artist Madredeus Rua da Margem, n7 B, Lisboa, Lisboa 1900-324 Paid: The workshop will be held in Caroline’s atelier (759 bus from the city to Madredeus) close to the old Alfama and the Museum of Azulejos.
- The National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) is located in a 16th-century convent and church which provides a lovely setting for tiles spanning the history of the azulejo.The National Tile Museum is located about a mile and a half northeast of Alfama. You can reach the museum by getting off the Santa Apolónia metro stop and walking a little less than a mile northeast.
- Lunch
- Visit Palácio Marques da Fronteira” to see the beautiful tile work there
- Dinner
- Day trip: Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon Sintra and Cascais Full Day Sintra feels like a place full of magic and mystery, with castles, palaces, and large estates hidden among the trees of this beautiful hillside town. The colorful Pena Palace is perched atop the hill, the old wall of a Moorish castle is a perfect spot to look out to the valley below, and the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira are a mysterious place to explore. Cascais has a great laid-back vibe of a quaint seaside town. The old city center is paved with the beautifully patterned black and white stones like Lisbon, and the streets are lined with trendy boutiques and nice restaurants. There are two beaches right in town.
- Dinner upon return to Lisbon
- Mosaic Workshop with Eileen: Make a sardine mosaic (sardine is the “mascot” of Lisbon) 3 HOURS, 10-1pm - 2 MOSAICS/PER STUDENT Rua St. Antonio da Gloria, 6, Lisbon 1250-096, Portugal
- Lunch
- Walking tour of Lisbon with emphasis on street art: Soulful Lisbon with Igor 3-6pm Mon, Mar 4 · 2:30 PM − 6:00 PM Praça do Comércio, Lisboa, Lisboa 1100
- Dinner
- depart Lisbon 9:00am with guided stops in Coimbra and Obidos Arrive Porto 4:46pm Pestana Porto Hotel - A Brasileira City Center & Heritage Building Rua Sá da Bandeira 91, Centro/Baixa, Porto Porto District 4000-427 (3 nights) Address: R. de Sá da Bandeira 91, 4000-427 Porto, Portugal
- Evening: Walk and dinner: the Ribeira distric-tIf you’re in Porto you absolutely, positively must visit Ribeira. This old city district located by the Douro is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Yes, it’s swarming with tourists, but don’t let that put you off. Cross the river in a rabelo boat; go wobbly looking at the Luíz I, D. Maria II and Arrábida bridges (great backgrounds for dramatic photos); visit the Bacalhoeiros Wall, the Casa do Infante museum, the Rua da Reboleira, Cubo square, São Nicolau Church and the ‘Alminhas da Ponte’, a sculpture by artist Teixeira da Lopes. Eat at the Adega de S. Nicolau (they sometimes have fado nights), Head up to the heights on the Guindais Funicular Railway.
- Dinner: (Adega São Nicolau may have a Fado show).
Day 12, Wednesday, March 6 PORTO “Tiles, Street Art and Harry Potter”
- Tile workshop with Teresa at Oficina “Bramica” 1 hr. Ceramic tile workshop. Finished tiles will be mailed.
- Visit Sao Bento RR station- Built on the former site of a Benedictine monastery, the São Bento Railway Station was inaugurated in 1916. What's notable about this landmark is its 20,000-some painted blue and white tile panels (known as azulejos) that highlight the history of Portugal. Portuguese artist Jorge Colaço is the mastermind behind this azulejo piece; its tiles were mounted over the course of a decade — from 1905 to 1916. Some of the most impressive scenes include King João I and Queen Philippa standing near the city's cathedral in 1387 and a depiction of the Battle of Arcos de Valdevez. "The architecture and beautifully painted tiles speak to the heavy religious influences in Porto.
- Visit Saint Ildefonso Church: This uniquely beautiful church has exterior covered in over 11,000 traditional painted blue azulejos tiles.
- Lunch at the Majestic Café, Note:JKRowling came to Portugal to teach English in a school. Porto was the chosen city and we believe that if the stars had not aligned this way, Harry Potter would have never been created, at least not as we know it. The legend says that Rowling finished her first book on one of the wonderful marble tables at this famous café
- On the Trail of Street Art with Miguel 2:30-5:30 Praça de Almeida Garrett Train Station, Porto, Porto 4000-069
- Visit Liveria Lello Bookstore - There’s a scene in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in which the stairs of Hogwarts don’t stop moving and take the little wizards to undesired places. Do you know where that idea came from? From a splendid bookshop that started as a normal and familiar business in 1906 – selling books – and that has become the most famous bookshop in the world – yes, I dare to say it! – and the most beautiful. J. K. Rowling used it as an inspiration. Those walls, shelves, books, and stairs, which gave birth to the stairs of Hogwarts, tell a thousand stories. It’s a pleasure, indeed!
- Dinner
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Daytrip to Guimaraes and Braga - Journey to two of Portugal’s northernmost cities, Guimarães and Braga, on this immersive guided day trip from Porto, including lunch. Meet your expert guide and set out for Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town. See the 10th-century castle and the Dukes of Braganza Palace. Enjoy a satiating lunch at a local restaurant. Next, venture to Braga, where you will learn about its extensive Roman history from your informative guide. This is a great tour for Portuguese and European history buffs. Northern Portugal day trip from Porto to Guimarães and Braga See Guimarães' UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical center and the Dukes of Braganza Palace Lunch is included: Sample local delicacies during lunch in Guimarães Tour the Bom Jesus sanctuary in Tenões Drive through Braga's historic center, the oldest Christian city in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world Walk around Braga's city center with your local guide
- Dinner upon our return to Porto -celebrating Amelia’s 18th birthday and Ike’s upcoming 19th birthday!
- Private transportation to the airport (Porto to Madrid, Madrid to JFK)
- Flight information:
- Leave Porto (OPO) IBERIA flight# 3093 12:35
- Leave Madrid IBERIA flight #6253
- Travel to Forman