2001 Trip

2001 trip

This trip will be in June of 2001 and is organized by Intropa, the same group that organized the tour in 1999

15, FRI. CHICAGO/ENROUTE: Depart Chicago on board Lufthansa German Airlines overnight flight to Lisbon. All meals, beverages and movies included on board your transatlantic j ourney.

16, SAT. LISBON: Morning arrival in Lisbon where the group will meet the awaiting Intropa Tour Manager and motorcoach. Continue into Lisbon for hotel check- in via a panoramic tour to acquaint you with the main highlights of this fascinating city. Welcome dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

17, SUN. LISBON: SING morning Mass in a local church or cathedral (mini concert of 20 minutes after mass). Afternoon sightseeing tour including St. Georges Castle and the famous Amalfa, a Moorish district of winding, narrow Casbah-like streets and crooked houses which in the early 1900's was the headquarters for the city's underworld. The Amalfa is now famous for good food, wine, music and atmosphere. Visit the Belem Tower area including the Tower which was built in 1515 and is the fortress that marks the site of Vasco da Gama's first sailing for India. Continue to Jeronimo's Monastery where da Gama is buried and see the towering Castelo do Sao Jorge and old Moorish fort with a medieval village clustered around its base. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

18, MON. LISBON: Full day excursion to Cais Cais, the colorful, little coastal fishing village. Continue to Sintra, with its castles and gardens for lunch in a local restaurant. Return to Lisbon for evening CONCERT. Independent dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

19, TUE. LISBON/FATIMA: After breakfast drive to Nazare, an interesting and charming fishing village; Obidos, and Batalha monastery. Continue to Fatima where, in 1917, three young shepherds saw the apparition of the Virgin Mary. Evening CONCERT and overnight in the area.

20, WED. FATIMA/MERIDA: Morning departure for Tomar, a small town by the Rio Nabao, where the mystical Knights Templar (part monks, part Crusaders) spent centuries plotting and scheming their next moves. Afterwards, travel into Spain by way of Portalegre, Estremoz and Elvas. Arrive in Merida for hotel check-in dinner and overnight.

21, THU. MERIDA/CORDOBA/SEVILLE: After breakfast depart from Merida through the unusual landscape with groves and groves of cork trees to Cordoba to tour the Cathedral, Arab Mosque and Jewish Quarter. Arrive in Seville, the romantic and lovely capital of Andalucia. Evening CONCERT, dinner and overnight in Seville.

22, FRI. SEVILLE: Full day sightseeing tour by coach and by foot, including the Alcazar, the Gothic Cathedral, Giralda Tower and Maria Luisa Park. Lunch in a local restaurant. Evening CONCERT, independent dinner and overnight in Seville.

23, SAT. SEVILLE/GRANADA: Morning drive to Granada, home to many prestigious and exceedingly beautiful Moorish buildings built on 3 hills. Enjoy a guided visit of Alhambra Palace. Its imposing towers and halls, golden mosaics, and fountain courtyards serve as an epitaph to the triumph of the Catholic monarchs and the despair of the defeated Moors. Dinner and overnight in Granada.

24, SUN. GRANADA/TOLEDO/AVILA: Morning departure traveling north to Toledo. Home of El Greco, this city is home to a 13th century Gothic cathedral and the Silver Mines among other major points of interest. Arrive in Avila for hotel check-in, dinner and overnight.

25, MON. AVILA/SEGOVIA/MADRID: Spend the morning visiting Avila, a town which is forever ensured by St. Teresa of Avila. This mystic, writer, and reformer of monastic life founded the Order of the Displaced Carmelites, whose raptures were immortalized in marble by Bernini. Visit the oldest and best preserved medieval walls in Spain, The Murallas Medievales. Some believe that the profile of the cathedral looming over the watchtowers inspired St. Teresa's metaphor of the soul as a diamond castle. Afterwards, continue to Segovia. Legend has it that Segovia's famed 813m aqueduct was built in only a day by the Devil trying to win the heart of a Segovian water-seller named Juanilla. In fact, it was built by the Romans around 50 BC to pipe in water from the Rio Frio. Visit Segovia's amazing churches and palaces, beautiful views, and twisting alleyways. Also see The Alcazar, an archetypal late-medieval castle and site of Isabel's coronation in 1474, occupies the north end of the old quarter. The castle is filled with trappings of its royal and bloody past. Continue to Madrid for hotel check-in, dinner and overnight.

26, TUE. MADRID: Full day of sightseeing in Madrid including the Prado, the Royal Palace and Retiro Park. Evening CONCERT. Dinner and overnight in Madrid.

27, WED. MADRID/CHICAGO: Depart Madrid on board Lufthansa German Airlines return flight to Chicago. All meals served on board, as well as complimentary beverages, movies and earphones for your travel comfort.

Further information - Notes courtesy of Joan Long

Gary Kovener contacted Intropa and secured a list of the hotels that are proposed for our tour in June. For some of us Internet addicts, it is fun to look up the hotels and get a sneak peek. Below is the hotel as well as a list of the proposed concerts for our joyful jaunt in June.

Hotels

16-19: 3 nights Lisbon: Hotel Real Parque
19: 1 night Fatima: Hotel Fatima
20: 1 night Merida: Hotel Las Lomas
21-22: 2 nights Sevilla: Hotel Macarena (Oh No! Not the Macarena!)
23: 1 night Granada: Hotel Luz Granada
24: 1 night Avila: Hotel Palacio Velada
25-26: 2 nights Madrid: Hotel Praga (with Hotel Gran Versailles on waiting list)

Concerts:
Sing a mass in Lisbon
Sing in conjunction with another choir for a music festival in Cintra
Sing a concert in Leria (near Fatima)
Sing a concert in Sevilla at Santo Angel church after mass
Sing mass and a concert in San Jeronimo church in Madrid

Last Modified July 14, 2003

15, FRI.	CHICAGO/ENROUTE: Depart Chicago on board Lufthansa German Airlines overnight flight to Lisbon. All meals, beverages and movies included on board your transatlantic j ourney.
16, SAT.	LISBON: Morning arrival in Lisbon where the group will meet the awaiting Intropa Tour Manager and motorcoach. Continue into Lisbon for hotel check- in via a panoramic tour to acquaint you with the main highlights of this fascinating city. Welcome dinner and overnight in Lisbon.
17, SUN.	LISBON: SING morning Mass in a local church or cathedral (mini concert of 20 minutes after mass). Afternoon sightseeing tour including St. Georges Castle and the famous Amalfa, a Moorish district of winding, narrow Casbah-like streets and crooked houses which in the early 1900's was the headquarters for the city's underworld. The Amalfa is now famous for good food, wine, music and atmosphere. Visit the Belem Tower area including the Tower which was built in 1515 and is the fortress that marks the site of Vasco da Gama's first sailing for India. Continue to Jeronimo's Monastery where da Gama is buried and see the towering Castelo do Sao Jorge and old Moorish fort with a medieval village clustered around its base. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon.
18, MON.	LISBON: Full day excursion to Cais Cais, the colorful, little coastal fishing village. Continue to Sintra, with its castles and gardens for lunch in a local restaurant. Return to Lisbon for evening CONCERT. Independent dinner and overnight in Lisbon.
19, TUE.	LISBON/FATIMA: After breakfast drive to Nazare, an interesting and charming fishing village; Obidos, and Batalha monastery. Continue to Fatima where, in 1917, three young shepherds saw the apparition of the Virgin Mary. Evening CONCERT and overnight in the area.
20, WED.	FATIMA/MERIDA: Morning departure for Tomar, a small town by the Rio Nabao, where the mystical Knights Templar (part monks, part Crusaders) spent centuries plotting and scheming their next moves. Afterwards, travel into Spain by way of Portalegre, Estremoz and Elvas. Arrive in Merida for hotel check-in dinner and overnight.
21, THU.	MERIDA/CORDOBA/SEVILLE: After breakfast depart from Merida through the unusual landscape with groves and groves of cork trees to Cordoba to tour the Cathedral, Arab Mosque and Jewish Quarter. Arrive in Seville, the romantic and lovely capital of Andalucia. Evening CONCERT, dinner and overnight in Seville.
22, FRI.	SEVILLE: Full day sightseeing tour by coach and by foot, including the Alcazar, the Gothic Cathedral, Giralda Tower and Maria Luisa Park. Lunch in a local restaurant. Evening CONCERT, independent dinner and overnight in Seville.
23, SAT.	SEVILLE/GRANADA: Morning drive to Granada, home to many prestigious and exceedingly beautiful Moorish buildings built on 3 hills. Enjoy a guided visit of Alhambra Palace. Its imposing towers and halls, golden mosaics, and fountain courtyards serve as an epitaph to the triumph of the Catholic monarchs and the despair of the defeated Moors. Dinner and overnight in Granada.
24, SUN.	GRANADA/TOLEDO/AVILA: Morning departure traveling north to Toledo. Home of El Greco, this city is home to a 13th century Gothic cathedral and the Silver Mines among other major points of interest. Arrive in Avila for hotel check-in, dinner and overnight.
25, MON.	AVILA/SEGOVIA/MADRID: Spend the morning visiting Avila, a town which is forever ensured by St. Teresa of Avila. This mystic, writer, and reformer of monastic life founded the Order of the Displaced Carmelites, whose raptures were immortalized in marble by Bernini. Visit the oldest and best preserved medieval walls in Spain, The Murallas Medievales. Some believe that the profile of the cathedral looming over the watchtowers inspired St. Teresa's metaphor of the soul as a diamond castle. Afterwards, continue to Segovia. Legend has it that Segovia's famed 813m aqueduct was built in only a day by the Devil trying to win the heart of a Segovian water-seller named Juanilla. In fact, it was built by the Romans around 50 BC to pipe in water from the Rio Frio. Visit Segovia's amazing churches and palaces, beautiful views, and twisting alleyways. Also see The Alcazar, an archetypal late-medieval castle and site of Isabel's coronation in 1474, occupies the north end of the old quarter. The castle is filled with trappings of its royal and bloody past. Continue to Madrid for hotel check-in, dinner and overnight.
26, TUE.	MADRID: Full day of sightseeing in Madrid including the Prado, the Royal Palace and Retiro Park. Evening CONCERT. Dinner and overnight in Madrid.
27, WED.	MADRID/CHICAGO: Depart Madrid on board Lufthansa German Airlines return flight to Chicago. All meals served on board, as well as complimentary beverages, movies and earphones for your travel comfort.