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2020 and 2021 have been a horrible years for planning travel, Four significant trips were booked, canceled, modified and eventually cancelled again. We moved our Trans-Siberian Railroad trip to September 2021. We took our two cancelled trips to Spain and added them to a Spring tulip trip in 2022. This will be an amazing trip covering Amsterdam, Aland Islands (I got to get another “country”) and Spain. The following is our itinerary:
Day 1 Monday, April 11
We arrive in Amsterdam late morning and head to our Airbnb on a houseboat on one of Amsterdam’s canals.
Day 2 Tuesday, April 12
We will take a bus from Amsterdam central to Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. Maybe book a Twizy tour (a GPS guided electric cart) through the tulip fields..
Day 3 Wednesday, April 13
Free day in Amsterdam, unless it rains on Tuesday.
Day 4 Thursday April 14
Fly to Stockholm, and take a late afternoon ferry to Mariehamn, arriving at midnight. What I won’t do to collect another TCC country.
Day 6 Friday April 15
Morning sightseeing in Mariehamn before we take an afternoon ferry back to Stockholm.
Day 7 Saturday, April 16
Fly from Stockholm at
6:15am and arrive in Malaga, about noon. We will be staying at the Villa ‘Caserio
Castaño’ owned by the operators of Tour Andalucía. The villa is a lovely
6,000 square foot guest house in the village of Mollina, near Antequera, in
Malaga Province. Mollina is the largest wine producing area in Andalucía,
being surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The old farmhouse of the
village, it has been extensively renovated and modernized with each bedroom
having its own walk-in shower bathroom. There is a guest lounge and a modern
kitchen with breakfast room. It has a large swimming pool, tiled sunbed
area, outside seating areas and there are restaurants and a supermarket
close-by. The bedrooms are very comfortable with high quality bedlinen
& pillows, large double beds and most have direct access to the outside
terraces. The bedrooms are cleaned daily by our housekeeper and the
towels changed regularly. They all have TV, hair dryer and tea/coffee
making facilities. In total, we have two large suites, an apartment and
three double bedrooms in the Villa, providing 6 bedrooms for guests. If
the Villa is full, we can accommodate guests in another nearby guest house in
the village, Villa ‘Puesta del Sol’ The tour is coordinated and conducted
by Tour Andalucía (B)
Day 8 Sunday, April 17
Depart 09.30 for Ronda.
Visit Teba Castle, the site of a historic battle and the journey of the Heart
of the King of Scotland ‘Robert the Bruce’ to Jerusalem. Stop for a short
coffee break. We arrive in Ronda and take a short walk, via Convent de la Merced
and the scenic park with spectacular mountain views, to the oldest Bullring in
Spain. We cross the famous bridge spanning the gorge and into the old quarter.
We leave you for lunch and the afternoon to enjoy rambling through the
picturesque town and visit any museums/sites. Depart Ronda at 17.30. Arrive
back at your accommodation at 18.45. (B)
Day 9 Monday, April 18
Depart 09.00 for
Granada. Visit the Plaza Bib Rambla, where we take a treat of Chocolate con
Churros. We take you on a short walking tour of Granada’s old quarter,
including: the Cathedral, the Royal Chapel and the ‘Alcaiceria’ Silk Market. We
then have a wander down the banks of the River Darro and leave you in the
centre to have free time to visit any monuments or just enjoy the City. We meet
up at 14:00, walk back to the Tour Vehicle and drive up to the Alhambra, where
you spend time visiting the Gardens and other areas of the Royal City before
entering the Nasrid Palaces. You will have a pre-booked time of entry for the
Palaces. In the evening, we drive to the top of the ‘Albaycin’ for dinner and
an authentic local Flamenco performance at Restaurant ‘Jardines de Zoraya’ and
we see the Alhambra, across the valley and lit up at night, from the Mirador
San Nicolas. We depart Granada around 22:00. Arriving back at your
accommodation around 23:20. A long, but special day. (B)
Day 10 Tuesday, April 19
Depart 09.30 for Málaga.
We visit the amazing El Torcal National Park with its limestone formations. There
is an optional 1.4km walk through the rock formations, wear suitable footwear.
There is a nice cafeteria, if you don’t wish to undertake the walk, from where
you can enjoy the views of the Park. We drive to East Málaga and have lunch at
a typical ‘Chiringuito’ where the locals eat. These specialize in fresh fish,
barbequed on Olive Wood fires, near the Mediterranean. After lunch, we drive
into Málaga centre and park at the stunning new Marina before giving you a
short walking tour of the old quarter. Then you have free time to visit the
Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba Fortress, Málaga Cathedral, relax or shop. We meet
back at the Marina at 18.00 and return to the accommodation, arriving at 19:00. (B))
Day 11 Wednesday, April 20
Depart at 09.00 for Seville.
Arriving in Seville, we park near the fabulous 5* Alfonso XIII Hotel. We walk
to the impressive Plaza España in the Maria Louisa Park, where you can have a
wander around before we meet and tell you the background to Seville and the
role the Plaza plays in it. We walk past the historic buildings of Seville and
into the Barrio Santa Cruz, the old Jewish Quarter. We take a tapas lunch. In
the afternoon, you are free to visit the Cathedral, the largest Gothic
Cathedral in the world and the Royal Alcázar, the oldest Royal Palaces still in
use in Europe. We depart Seville at 18.15, arriving back at your accommodation
at 20:00. (B)
Day 12 Thursday, April 21
Depart 09.30 for
Córdoba. We arrive at the old walls of the City and give you some background
information from its Roman foundation to the leading City it became in the
Islamic period. We take a coffee break and walk through the Barrio San Basilio,
where we visit a typical Patio of Córdoba. We pass the Royal Stables and stop
at the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos for a 45 minute visit. The Alcázar has
beautiful gardens. We walk through the Juderia, the old Jewish Quarter with its
narrow lanes and patios, and arrive at the Mesquita, the greatest ancient
Mosque in the Western World. We take a tapas lunch near the Mesquita. In the
afternoon, we visit Calle de las Flores for the emblematic photo shot of the
City and you can visit the Mesquita and have some free time before we meet at
17:30 and cross the Roman Bridge for departure. We arrive back at the accommodation
at 18.45. (B)
Day 13 Friday, April 22
At 10:00, we visit the 5,000 year old monumental Megalithic structures, the Dolmens of Antequera. After the visit, we head for the Organic Wine Bodega of Joaquin Fernández for a wine tasting and some local Andalusian fare. It is situated in a beautiful setting near the mountain range of Ronda. After our tasting, we head for the white village of Setenil de las Bodegas, where the Romans used to store their wines and where the houses are built in to over-hanging cliffs. At the end of the afternoon we have some time in nearby Ronda before a wonderful multi-course dinner at ‘Muelle de Arriate’, voted one of the best restaurants in Andalucía on Trip Advisor. (B)(D)
Day 14 Saturday, April 23
We will leave the Villa about 7:00am to drive to the border of Spain and Gibraltar. Our driver will drop us off on the Spanish side of the border and we will cross the border on foot. The trip takes about 5 minutes and passports are required. We will meet our guide just as we enter Gibraltar on foot. The tour total cost for 2 people including admission to the upper rock and sites is 380 euros paid cash at the end of the tour. During the tour we will see the Pillars Of Hercules, St Michael's Cave, Apes Den at the top of the rock, Great Siege Tunnel, 100 Ton Gun, Europa Point and Sightseeing drive round the rock. The Tour ends at approximately 1:00 pm straight back at the border where our driver will be waiting and then drive to Málaga. If we have free time, we will explore more of the city before flying to Melilla, at 5:20pm. We will stay at the Paradore de Melilla. (B)
Day 15 Sunday, April 24
Melilla is a medieval Spanish city in Africa. This morning we will tour the city and surrounding area. Midafternoon we fly to Madrid. We will stay near the airport, but take the subway into the Old Town for Tapas in the evening
Day 16 Monday April 25
We fly to Marrakech arriving about noon. Evening tour.
Day 17 Tuesday, April 26
Day Tour of Marrakech and surrounding area,
Day 18 Wednesday, April 27
We will start around 9 :00 am, and take the road of Ouarzazate facing the Atlas Mountains. We will then go through Tichka Mountain pass (2 260 m) around 11 :30 am with a short stop for a mint or absinthe Moroccan tea before reaching Ouarzazate. Lunch in l’Etoile restaurant in before enjoying a full afternoon of visits with the Movie Museum, Tiffeltout and Taourirt Kasbah (built in XVII century by the powerful Glaoui tribe), or the famous cinema studios. We will leave Ouarzazate to reach the huge palm grove of Skoura before sunset (about 40 mn drive). Dinner and night at a charming guesthouse in the palm grove.
Day 19 Thursday, April 28
Nice homemade breakfast before leaving at 9 :00 am. Skoura palm grove (25 km2) is a fertile oasis lined with immense palm groves and tiny houses made of clay and bound by small paths shadowed by palm and fruit trees. Pise kasbahs melt into the landscape along the way to the Roses Valley. This narrow luxurious valley with steeps sides, ocher couloured offers a majestic view and is amoung Morocco major tourisitic sites. Stop for lunch at Anissa auberge (just before entering the Todra Gorges) Arrive in Merzouga at the end of the day, the ‘desert door’. Here, you swap your car for a camel and start your camel trek through the red dunes of Erg Chebbi. An opportunity to enjoy serenity and peace of desert before arriving to your camp for the sunset. Dinner and night at the camp.
Day 20 Friday, April 29
Start at 8 :00 am. Departure to Rissani and Erfoud in order to visit the treatment plant marble fossilized before continuing to the beautiful Ziz Valley dotted with palm trees. After lunch we will stop by Ifrane, a charming ski resort, for a visit before reaching Fes at the end of the day.
Day 21 Saturday, April 30
Day Tour of Fes. Either Friday night or tonight also a night tour.
Day 22 Sunday, May 1
Transfer tour to Casablanca with a A/C car and a driver.
-Drive into Rabat to visit the Hassan tower and the mausoleum of Mohamed the 5th. You will be dropped off there to visit the mausoleum on your own.
-Continue your drive to Casablanca to visit the mosque of Hassan the second (entrance tickets are required for the inside tour).
Day 23 Monday, May 2
· Fly to Bilbao. Evening Pintxo smapling
Day 24 Tuesday, May 3
Days 24 to 29 are with a highly rated private guide/driver
· Leave Bilbao at 8:00am and drive to Burgos Cathedral
· Continue on to León Cathedral
· Outside view of Gaudi’s Casa Botines
· Visit Bodegas Palomares in Valdevimbre.
· Late lunch in Astorga for cocido maragato
· Visit “Cruz de Ferro”
· If time, visit Templar Castle in Ponferrada (closes at 6:00pm)
· Overnight at Palacio de Canedo (B)
Day 25 Wednesday, May 4
· Start the day at 9:30am and drive to Casar de Burbia winery in Carracedelo
· Visit Medulas, an open air gold mine
· Visit a winery in the Valdeorras appellation with lunch
· Afternoon visit Ribeira Sacra with 1 possibly 2 wine cellars
· Overnight at Monforte de Lemos Parador (B)
Day 26 Thursday, May 5
· Start the day at 9:00am and drive to Ribeira Sacra wine region
· Drive to Finisterre. Have lunch in town at either Tira do Cordel or O Pirata
· Late afternoon drive to Santiago de Compostela and visit the Cathedral and city
· Tapa tasting in the evening
· Overnight Parador de Santiago de Compostela (B)
Day 27 Friday, May 6
· Start the day at 9:00am and drive to Rías Baixas for Albarino wine tasting
· Catamaran to taste mussels
· Late Lunch at lighthouse or Michelin starred Yayo Daport
· Overnight at Parador de Baiona (B)
Day 28 Saturday, May 7
· We start the day at 9:30 and drive to Porto, Portugal
· Tour the city of Porto
· Boat ride along the Douro River
· Cellar Visit to Calem
· Lunch at Taylors
Day 29 Sunday, May 8
· More wine & food in and around Porto. Some of the activities listed on Day 28, might move to today.
Day 30 Monday, May 9
Our flight from Porto leaves just before noon and takes us to London, via Lisbon. Overnight in London.
Day 31 Tuesday, May 10
Since our flight doesn’t leave until late afternoon we will see a bit of London in the morning before heading to Heathrow and Home.