Spain 2015: Moors and Christians, Olives and Wine - Granada Extension

Itinerary

Day 1: 27 September — Madrid - Granada (Day 14 of main tour)

Train: Madrid to Granada.

This day the main group departs for the airport. The Granada group departs for the Madrid railway station to catch the morning train to Granada. Arrive in Granada early afternoon, check into hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, and in the evening we share a group meal. Overnight Hotel Reina Cristina (or similar) Meal plan: breakfast, dinner

Day 2: 28 September — Granada

Alhambra, Albaicin Walking Tour

This morning, after breakfast we depart on a full day's activities. The focus of our sightseeing this morning is Granada's main attraction, the Alhambra, a mighty fortress that houses an extraordinarily delicate and beautiful Moorish palace begun in the 13th century. This was the palace of the Nasrid Sultans, rulers of the last Spanish Moorish Kingdom. A fantasy of "lace in stone" surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by gypsy cave dwellers. In many ways, the Alhambra represents the Moorish concept of life itself — something glorious to be ennobled by learning and enlivened by every kind of pleasure. After a mid-day rest in our hotel, we depart on an informal walking itinerary led by our ASDM escort through the old Moorish quarter of the Albaicin. Overnight Hotel Reina Cristina (or similar) Meal plan: breakfast

Day 3: 29 September — Granada

Side Trip to Pegalajar, Wet Cave, Waterworks, Olive Oil Coop

Pegalajar is a small town one hour north of Granada. It sits in the hilly, arid country side of Andalusia, the heart of the olive industry. The name Pegalar means "water coming out of the rock" in Arabic. This town has restored its medieval irrigation system, called a "fuente-charca-huerta", which means spring-reservoir-garden. The system is engineered to run from terrace to terrace, irrigating the crops along the way. We follow the current ending at an old water-powered wheat mill. We next visit the award-winning Almazara de aciete, an olive oil cooperative where we are offered tastings. As most of the Iberian Peninsula is limestone, it is pocked with caves, and Pegalajar hosts a wet cave which we enter. Next door sits the Restaurante la Cueva de los Majuelos, where we are lunch on Andalusian fare. If time allows we might visit nearby cave homes, hobbit-like dwellings , and perhaps also stop at another coop, where local women craft cosmetics from olive oil by-products. Overnight Hotel Reina Cristina (or similar) Meal plan: breakfast, lunch

Day 4: 30 September — Granada - Madrid

Train: Granada to Madrid

In the morning we depart to the train station for our return trip to Madrid, where we arrive in the late afternoon. The remainder of the day can be spent viewing contemporary art at the Reina Sofia Museum, which is next door to our hotel. Or, if you did not explore the Plaza Major or the Puerta del Sol this will be your last chance! Overnight Hotel Mediodia (or similar) Meal plan: breakfast

Day 5: 1 October — Fly

We rise early this morning for our departure to the airport.

Includes

Three nights in three-star hotel, one night in two-star hotel, four breakfasts, one dinner, one lunch, roundtrip rail Granada - Madrid, chartered bus to/from Pegalajar, entrance to La Alhambra, transport to/from train stations/hotels and hotel/airport, one ASDM escort. Minimum number of participants: 8; maximum: 20.

Pricing

$1060 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum members; $1166 non-members.
$220 Single Supplement. We will assist in matching singles with roommates, however if a roommate cannot be found, then the single supplement must be paid.

Cancellation

Should you need to cancel your trip, you must notify us in writing, by letter, e-mail, or fax immediately. Deposits are refundable within the first 10 days after receipt of this letter. After this date, up until April 1st there will be $200/person cancellation fee. After this date, all monies paid are 100% non-refundable, unless the tour is at capacity and your reservation is filled by another. In this case, the $200/person cancellation fee will still apply. Insurable risks may be covered under trip cancellation insurance policies, if purchased. We may cancel departures if forced to do so by circumstances such as war, civil or political unrest or what is commonly referred to as force majeure. In these instances we will refund all passengers in full. If we cancel your tour due to insufficient enrollment we will also refund all passengers in full. Notice of cancellation due to insufficient enrollment in any program will be given approximately 60 days prior to departure. We will not be responsible for costs associated with re-issuance or extension of visas, airline change/cancellation fees, or for any other trip-related compensation.

Registration

Registration is being taken over the phone. Please call Reservations Coordinator Beth Rice at 883-3086 brice@desertmuseum.org. Inquiries regarding logistics and itinerary should be directed to tour leaders Sonya Norman 883-3030 snorman@desertmuseum.org or Jesus Garcia 883-3089 jgarcia@desertmuseum.org.