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June 17th, 2004 Delegation departs at 4:00 from Hartsfield International Airport. June 18th, 2004 - Rome, Italy Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival in Rome, your People to People delegation manager and coach driver will greet you. For a first look at Rome, your Delegation manager will take you on an orientation of this city. Feel yourself immersed in centuries of history! After stopping in at the hotel to freshen up and relax, take a leisurely evening stroll to the Baroque Piazza Navona and the fantastic Trevi Fountain. This evening you get an opportunity to learn the art of making pizza from scratch! June 19th, 2004 - Rome, Italy Today you will visit the capital of Catholicism and the world's smallest state, the Vatican. Marvel at St. Peter's cathedral, which contains hundreds of works of art. Just off the cathedral, you'll find the Sistine chapel, containing what are perhaps the most amazing frescoes in the world. In the afternoon, you will have an opportunity to explore Rome in small groups. June 20th, 2004 - Rome, Italy Today you will be able to learn what it's like to be a monk in modern-day Rome, as Brother Paul accompanies you through the Rosminian monastery. Continue your exploration of the sights and sounds of this majestic city by paying a visit to the Roman Forum and the magnificent Coliseum. This evening enjoy a visit to Time Elevator, a multi-sensorial attraction that shows 3000 years of Roman history, from Romolus and Remus up through the present day. June 21st, - Florence, Italy This morning you discover the splendid skyline of San Gimignano, a hilltop town famous for its medieval towers. Continuing through the Tuscan countryside, you arrive in one of the most culturally rich cities in the world: Florence. The entire city is a monument of the Renaissance, the artistic and cultural reawakening of the 15th century. You'll find that most of the historic city - from the Ponte Vecchioo, the oldest surviving bridge in the city, to the Duomo - is easily investigated on foot. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy this enchanting city. June 22nd, - Florence, Italy Hopefully by now your creativity is flowing because you will have the chance to show off your artistic ability (Excuse me?!?! What talent are they talking about?!?!) when two of the top art professors from a Florentine art school give you a drawing session in the historical center of Florence. This afternoon meet your Italian guide for an orientation of the city. You'll get an overview of the colorful history of Florence and take a walk through the city center. The Duomo is the tallest building in the city and the fourth largest cathedral in Europe. Look for the bronze doors to the Baptistery, known as the "Gate of Paradise." Then pay a visit to the Academia gallery, which houses Michelangelo's colossal statue, David. This evening you try your hand at some Tuscan cooking (all right, I can handle this!), including learning how to make Tiramisu (yup, I can definitely handle this!) After dinner, you'll have a briefing by a representative of the local council, who will give you a lively introduction to Italian politics. June 23rd, 2004 - La Spezia, Italy Today you will see one of the most famous buildings in Europe when you travel to Pisa. Stopping at the Square of Miracles you'll see some of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Italy, including the Leaning Tower. Then you ferry to Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the five town of the Cinque Terre. Along the way you will stop briefle at Portovernere, whre you can shop in the narrow streets or view the 16th century castle overlooking the sea. From Riomaggiore you hike along the Via dell'Amore to Manarola. FInally, in Monterosso, you will re-join your coach and continue on to La Spezia, a charming town nestled in the unspoiled region known as Cinque Terre. June 24th, 2004 - Riviera, France Today you head to the French Riviera where your delegation manager will then take you on a walk around the principal parts of Nice, the largest resort on the Mediterranean coast and France's fifth largest city. June 25th, 2004 - Riviera, France This morning travel on to the town of St-Paul-de-Vence- a walled city that has been a favorite of many artists and writers, icluding Chagall, Picasso, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Then continue into the opulent Principality of Monaco, famous for its Royal family - the Grimaldis, the world's oldest monarchy - and its Grand Prix racetrack. Next, you will recieve professional lessons from a team of expert mountain guides on rock climbing and abseiling. June 26th, 2004 - Home Stay, France This morning, you discover Cannes. You continue to Grasse, where you'll visit the Fragonard perfume factory to discover how perfume is made. Thne we head further into the Provence where you will meet your home stay family. June 27th, 2004 - Home Stay, France June 28th, 2004 - Home Stay, France June 29th, 2004 - Carcassonne, France Today you rejoin your delegation and travel to see the 2,000 year old Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, which even the Romans considered to be a testimony to the greatness of their Empire. Continuing on to Nimes, you will discover some of the many enchanting Roman sights that this town has to offer. We continue to our overnight medieval city of Carcassonne. June 30th, 2004 - Canet-en-Roussillon, France Next, step back in time as you enter the walled city of Carcassone. Here you'll have fun exploring Carcassonne's winding, narrow streets packed with shops and restaurants. This afternoon, you ride on bikes along the Unesco's World Cultural Heritage Site: the Canal du Midi. July 1st, 2004 - Canet-en-Roussillon, France Located close to the border of Spain is the town of Tautavel, the site of today's discoveries. You will take part in bringing the mysteries of the past to life when you and your team of archeology professors join in on the dig. Your adventure will have you visiting the laboratories of the European Prehistoric Research Centre. July 2nd, 2004 - Figueres, Spain Today you set out for Figueres, a small town where the artist Salvador Dali was born. Here you'll take part in a discussion about Spanish and Catalan cultures. Afterwards, enjoy a cooking demonstration of one of Spain's most famous dishes: paella. Afterwards, you learn a traditional Catalonian dance called Sardanas before spending time on the beach at the neighboring town of Roses. July 3rd, 2004 - Barcelona, Spain This morning you travel to the lively city of Barcelona, one of the Mediterranean's busiest ports. Entering the city, you'll see some of the major sights of Barcelona. The city is best known for the many buildings built in the Modernism style. Later this afternoon, you'll have time to uncover some of Barcelona's treasures in small groups. This evening, dine amidst the energetic atmosphere of the Hard Rock Cafe before heading up the Montjuic, a hill rising 699 feet above the city. July 4th, 2004 - Barcelona, Spain Today is devoted to the architectural works of Antonio Gaudi, Spain's most famous architect. First, you'll visit one of the most interesting buildings ever conceived: La Sagrada Familia. You'll also see his Parc Guell, a fantasy-like blend of architecture and nature. In the evening, you explore the Spanish Village, which contains the replicas of many famous buildings. July 5th, 2004 - Barcelona, Spain This morning, head for the jagged mountains outside of Barcelona. Nestled into the crags above the valley sits Montserrat monastery, featuring a beautiful church and spectacular views. Upon your return to Barcelona, explore the famous Gothic Quarter. After a traditional dinner, you'll have a chance to meet a matador and learn about the popular Spanish sport of bullfighting. The day will conclude with a spectacular Flamenco show! July 6th, 2004 - Madrid, Spain On your way to Madrid this morning you'll stop in Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon, often said to be the most Spanish city in Spain. View the beautiful Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar. The cathedral takes its name from a pillar on which the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to St. James in 40 AD. In the evening, you arrive in Madrid, the lively and cosmopolitan capital city of Spain. July 7th, 2004 - Madrid, Spain Today you travel to a real Spanish Cortijo, or bull farm. There you will learn how bulls are raised and horses are trained for the Spanish national pastime: bullfighting. You'll learn the various stages of the bullfight, and find out what makes some bulls better than others. Madrid has a seemingly unending supply of things to see and places to visit, many of which will be discovered during this afternoon's orientation. Later, relax and enjoy some time at the Parque del Retiro, which used to be the site of the palace of Felipe IV. July 8th, 2004 - Madrid, Spain This morning it's of to the magnificent Toldeo, the religious capital of Spain. Inside the cathedral, be sure to check out how the sun seems to magically shine between the cherubs behind the altar. later in the day you return to Madrid, home to some of the country's most important cultural institutions. This afternoon, you visit the world-famous El Prado museum, where you can marvel at paintings by some of Spain's most famous artists, among them pieces by Goya and El Greco. Finally, your visit to Madrid would not be complete without a stop at the magnificent Royal Palace. There may also be time today to purchase some last minute souvenirs before your farewell dinner of traditional Spanish Tapas! July 9th, 2004 Delegation departs from Paris back to the U.S.
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