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Intergenerational Spain: From Don Quixote to Christopher Columbus

Program Number: 19383RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/21/2013 - 7/1/2013; 6/20/2014 - 6/30/2014;
Duration: 10 nights
Location: Spain
Price starting at: $3,095.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Intergenerational
Intergenerational
Meals: 23; 9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 6 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Program intended for grandchildren from 9 - 12 years of age.

Go back in time to experience the magical age of knights and explorers in Spain as you discover palaces and monasteries, listen to grand tales spun by traditional storytellers, step onto Columbus’s ships and even play a role in acting out Don Quixote’s escapades. Interact with local kids through soccer and flamenco dancing and learn about the culture through exciting hands-on activities.




Highlights

• Learn about Don Quixote, the knight with the fantastic imagination, and act out your part in a play based on his story.
• Visit the spot where Christopher Columbus began his voyage to the New World and climb aboard replicas of the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María.
• Spend two nights inside the fairy-tale-like Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe.



Activity Particulars

Extensive walking, 2-3 miles per day at a steady pace; some winding, hilly paths and uneven terrain.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Madrid; coach to Toledo, 2 nights; coach to Guadalupe, 2 nights; coach to Seville, 3 nights; coach to Granada, 2 nights; departure.



Overnight flight
1 night
Arrival Madrid
Coach to Toledo
2 nights

Begin among the wheat fields of the Castilla-La Mancha region and see how a windmill works from the inside. A scavenger hunt in Toledo introduces you to the city’s history including Santa María la Blanca, the oldest standing synagogue in Europe. Visit the Castle of La Muela to be “knighted” by the castle’s lord and learn about the Spanish hero El Cid.



Coach to Guadalupe
2 nights

Journey to Extremadura, known as the land of the conquistadors. Stay at the famous Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, where Spanish kings, queens and explorers made pilgrimages. Explore the Roman ruins of Mérida, including a theater and an amphitheater where gladiators fought.



Coach to Seville
3 nights

Continue to Andalucía, a true crossroads of religions where Jews, Muslims and Christians lived side-by-side. Learn about Columbus as you venture to Huelva, where he sailed from, and visit his tomb at the Gothic Cathedral of Seville. Take a lesson in the traditional, regional flamenco dance with local children.



Coach to Granada
2 nights
Departure

Discover the beautifully intricate Alhambra palace and learn how the Moors came to rule Spain. Gather around to hear a traditional Spanish epic from a charismatic storyteller. Join modern-day troubadours and learn to sing popular Spanish songs. Play an intramural soccer game with local children.




Spain

With the ascension of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, the Kingdom of Spain took on a shape similar to today’s nation. Ruling a culture born of Roman, Visigoth and Moorish invasions, Spain’s Catholic monarchy threw open the door to the Age of Discovery at the turn of the 16th century, importing goods and ideas from around the world while exporting their cultural fusion throughout the first empire on which the sun never set.
Accommodations
Toledo: Centrally located, Castillian-decorated hotel. Guadalupe: Historic monastery downtown. Seville: Downtown hotel with swimming pool. Granada: Centrally located hotel with swimming pool.
Meals and Lodgings
   Hotel Carlos V
  Toledo, Spain 2 nights
   Hospedería Real Monasterio de Guadalupe
  Guadalupe, Spain 2 nights
   Hotel Becquer
  Seville, Spain 3 nights
   Hotel Carmen
  Granada, Spain 2 nights
 Hotel Carlos V
Type: Hotel
  Description: Centrally located in Toledo's historic center.
  Contact info: Trastamara 1
Toledo,  45001 Spain
phone: +34 925 222 100
web: www.carlosv.com
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, telephone, television
  Facility amenities: On-site restaurants and meeting room.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: consult with hotel directly Participants should contact the hotel directly and ask about room availability and cost. They should always inform the hotel that they are from the Road Scholar program that starts the following day.
  Check in time: 2:00 PM

 Hospedería Real Monasterio de Guadalupe
Type: Hotel
  Description: A Royal Monastery, UNESCO world heritage Site, founded in 1340.
  Contact info: Plaza de Juan Carlos 1
Guadalupe,   Spain
phone: +34 927367000
web: www.monasterioguadalupe.com/hospederia.htm
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, telephone, bar.
  Facility amenities: Air conditioning, bar and restaurant, garden with terrace. Lounge with television.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Hotel Becquer
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Hotel Becquer is a four star hotel located in the historical and commercial center of the city. It was built in the old Palace House of the Marqueses de las Torres, keeping significant elements such as Renaissance grilles, coffered ceilings, etc.
  Contact info: Reyes Catolicos 4
Seville,  41001 Spain
phone: +34954228900
web: www.hotelbecquer.com
  Room amenities: Hairdryer, telephone, television, mini bar, safe, heat/air conditioning.
  Facility amenities: On-site restaurant and bar, meeting room, laundry and room service.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Hotel Carmen
Type: Hotel
  Description: Centrally located hotel with swimming pool
  Contact info: Acera del Darro, 62
Granada,  18005 Spain
phone: +34 958 258300
web: www.hotelcarmen.com/granadahotel/eng/index-eng.htm
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, safe deposit box, mini-bar, tv satellite, private connection for fax and personal computer, hair-dryer, Wi-Fi Internet connection, room service and laundry.
  Facility amenities: Boutiques, facilities for handicapped, jacuzzi, outer swimming pool, terrace, restaurant, laundry service
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Program starts with lunch at 2pm at the Hotel in Toledo. Hotel check in begins at 1pm. Meet in hotel lobby for lunch. You will be staying at Hotel Carlos V that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends after breakfast at the hotel in Granada. Hotel check out is at 12pm. There is a morning group transfer to Granada Airport scheduled. You will be staying at Hotel Carmen the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. A passport is required for this program. Participants who are not U.S. residents must contact the Spain embassy or consulate to determine visa requirements.
  Parking availability:
There is no available parking for Road Scholar participants.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: Toledo is an hour away from Madrid, very accessible by train from Atocha station. The price is 10 euros approx. Be sure to factor in costs of taxi transfer from the airport to the train station, and from the train station to the hotel, 30 euros approx.
To Start of Program
  Location:  Toledo
  Nearest city or town:  Madrid
  Nearest airport:  Barajas (MAD)
  Transportation to site: Toledo is approximately an our away from Madrid and very accessible by train (from Atocha station the cost is 10 euros approximately) and direct public bus (from Plaza Eliptica Bus Station the cost is 6 euros approximately). Be sure to factor in costs of taxi transfer from the airport to the train or bus station (approx. 25 euros) in Madrid and from the bus or train station in Toledo to the Carlos V Hotel (approx. 5 euros). There is a new Airport Express public bus transfer from Barajas Airport to Atocha Station almost every hour, and the price is 5 euros: http://www.emtmadrid.es/lineaaeropuerto/ing/home.html There is also a train service every thirty minutes from Terminal 4 at Barajas airport to Atocha train Station. The price is 2.5 euros.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Granada
  Nearest city or town:  Granada
  Nearest airport:  Granada (GRN)
  Transportation from site: We recommend independent travellers to take a taxi to the airport in Granada. The the cost should not normally exceed 25-30 Euros unless traffic is extremely heavy. Please note that the amount shown on the meter does NOT include the supplement for taking a taxi in the airport or the extra charges for baggage or if it is a holiday or at night.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1:
(Friday, June 21)
   
 Evening: International flight to Spain.

Day 2: Arrival/Orientation
(Saturday, June 22)
   
 Morning: Morning arrival at Madrid's Barajas Airport, meet your Group Leader and transfer by private motor coach to the hotel. Check-in and rest before lunch.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel restaurant.
 Afternoon: Orientation and city walk in Toledo followed by a welcome reception and a special activity to get to know each group participant at the hotel.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Carlos V
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Scavenger hunt in medieval Toledo. La Muela Castle and windmill.
(Sunday, June 23)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Explore the medieval capital of Toledo through an interactive scavenger hunt. Discover the harmony in which the three cultures lived in Toledo. Many historical facts are alive in the city: we visit the 12th century synagogue of Santa María la Blanca -- the oldest synagogue still standing in Europe. The hunt will also run through the Bab Al-Mardum mosque, now the Cristo de la Luz church; the Alcázar fortress; and the Franciscan monastery of San Juan de los Reyes.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel restaurant.
 Afternoon: Learn the fantastic adventures of the most famous Spanish literary character: Don Quixote de la Mancha, as we visit the hidden interior of a working mill and listen to a charismatic storyteller. We also visit La Muela Castle, where children will be knighted as they learn about the history of the castle.
 Dinner: Tapas dinner on your own
   
Accommodations: Hotel Carlos V
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Toledo Cathedral. Royal Monastery of Guadalupe
(Monday, June 24)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Explore the city's most outstanding monument, the cathedral, built between 1226 and 1493. It is the second largest Gothic cathedral in Spain and the hierarchical center of the Church in Spain. Hotel check-out and departure from Toledo to Guadalupe (128 miles).
 Lunch: Lunch at restaurant en route.
 Afternoon: Arrive the historic town of Guadalupe. Hotel check in. Enjoy a walk in the fairy-tale setting of the village that grew around the magnificent Monastery, which is set in a deep wooded valley.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hospedería Real Monasterio de Guadalupe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Soccer game with Spanish kids.
(Tuesday, June 25)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: In the morning, special activities are programmed with local children, including a soccer game. Kids will learn useful words in Spanish to be able to converse and play with the other children.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel restaurant.
 Afternoon: Enjoy an afternoon of leisure time in Guadalupe.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own to enjoy Spanish tapas.
   
Accommodations: Hospedería Real Monasterio de Guadalupe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Medieval town of Trujillo and Roman city of Merida
(Wednesday, June 26)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Depart by motor coach to Seville. On our way, we relive the magical atmosphere of the Roman theater and amphitheater of Merida, where gladiators fought and won glory.
 Lunch: Lunch at restaurant en route to Seville.
 Afternoon: Afternoon arrival in Seville, check in at the hotel for orientation and walk in the city center.
 Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Becquer
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Jewish Quarter of Seville; flamenco dancing workshop.
(Thursday, June 27)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: We discover the magical atmosphere of the oldest neighborhood of Seville- the "Barrio de Santa Cruz"/Jewish Quarter, as we walk and learn the history of its windy, cobblestone streets, crucible and cross-roads of cultures and religions. It is followed by a guided exploration of the Cathedral of Seville to visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
 Lunch: Lunch at hotel restaurant.
 Afternoon: Enjoy an afternoon of leisure time in Seville.
 Dinner: Participate in a flamenco dancing workshop with local children at CC-CS headquarters. Enjoy a typical Spanish tapas dinner afterwards.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Becquer
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Christopher Columbus expedition. Enjoy a day at the beach.
(Friday, June 28)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Morning departure to the Monastery of La Rabida, where Columbus' expedition departed from for the New World. Our imaginations come alive as we climb aboard replicas of the ships they sailed on - the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Afterwards, we will enjoy a day at the beach.
 Lunch: Picnic lunch at the beach.
 Afternoon: Afternoon arrival in Seville.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Becquer
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Transfer to Granada. Meet Spanish children at local swimming pool.
(Saturday, June 29)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Morning check-out and departure from Seville to Granada (160 miles). Check-in at the hotel for orientation and walk in the city center.
 Lunch: Lunch at the hotel restaurant.
 Afternoon: Meet Spanish children at local swimming pool for a fun cultural exchange and games.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel restaurant followed by a performance by a modern-day troupadour group, called Tuna, to learn popular Spanish songs.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Carmen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Alhambra/Farewell Dinner
(Sunday, June 30)

Note: Expert-led guided visit to the majestic Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens, vestige of the last Islamic kingdoms in Spain.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Morning field trip to the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife gardens. The Alhambra was the palace of the last dynasty of Muslim kingdoms of Granada until the conquest of Granada by the Catholic Kings, Isabella and Ferdinand in 1492. The children can play in the gardens and imagine life in the palace during this rich period in Spanish history.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own.
 Afternoon: Afternoon of leisure time.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant where we will recall the highlights of our program and share thoughts on our experiences.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Carmen
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: Return Travel
(Monday, July 1)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Depart for Granada's Airport and return flights from Spain.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Taste of Spain


Author: Goodwin, Bob and Perez, Candi


Description: Basic information is given for kids about the history & culture of Spain, followed by material on Spanish food & a group of representative recipes.



Don Quixote de la Mancha


Author: Parry, Judge and Crane, Walter


Description: The story of the Spanish knight adapted for children and enhanced by the delightful illustrations of Walter Crane.



Shadow of a Bull


Author: Wojciechowska, Maia


Description: Fiction for kids.



If I lived in Spain


Author: Knorr, Rosanne and John


Description: Basic introduction on Spain and Spanish for kids.



A day in the Life of Spain


Author: David Cohen and Rick Smolan


Contemporary Spain: A Handbook


Author: Christopher Ross


Description: Contemporary Society



For Whom the Bell Tolls


Author: Ernest Hemingway


Description: Fiction



Lonely Planet: Spain


Author: Lonely Planet


Moorish Architecture of Andalusia


Author: Marianne Barrucand and Achim Bednoz


Spain: The Root and the Flower


Author: John Crow


Tapas: The Lilttle Dishes of Spain


Author: Penelope Casas


The Alhambra


Author: Washington Irvin


Description: Fiction



The New Spain


Author: John Radford


Description: A Complete Guide to Contemporary Spanish Wine



The Sun Also Rises


Author: Ernest Hemingway


Description: Fiction



Travellers' Tales: Spain


Author: Lucy McCauley




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