Both scenes were painted at Auver, France. Does one call to you, saying, “Come see me?” Who painted them? Can you detect the magic of impressionists Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh? After a rich, September 2017 travel adventure–to two neighboring European countries–you will be able to recognize the artists. (.tsrif eht si krow s’hgoG naV)
Director Theresa Brandon and Ned J. Nesti, Jr. are delighted to announce the 2017 Morrison Travel Club trip: “Nice to Barcelona.” It will be Monday, September 18, through Wednesday, September 27, traveling with WorldStrides tour company. Consider an optional extension to Madrid, Spain, from September 27, through Sunday, October 1.
Day one begins on the French Riviera in the Alps above Monte Carlo, but you also will explore French and Spanish Roman ruins, like Pont du Gard, a 30-mile long aqueduct; churches; medieval villages. In Arles, France, a 25,000-seat Roman amphitheater still is used–for bullfighting! Average September day-to-night temperatures range from the high 70’s to the low 60’s, making it perfect for being outdoors.
Walk in work spaces of Paul Cezanne (his studio); Vincent Van Gogh (the psychiatric hospital where he painted copiously, while a patient); Auguste Renoir and Salvador Dalí (their homes.) View museums devoted to Pablo Picasso–with 2500 paintings, engravings, and drawings–and Joan Miró–10,000 of his works from age eight until his last.
Everywhere, admire architecture through the ages. In Barcelona, marvel at several distinctive buildings, a park, and a cathedral by renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Visit the sites of the 1929 World’s Fair and 1992 Olympics. Note Frank Gehry’s “Golden Fish,” designed for those Summer Games.
You will contrast and compare French and Spanish cultures and foods.
Stop for lunch at a French winery and relish a tasting of its products.
Take a French cooking class.
In Barcelona, attend a flamenco show fueled by power and passion.
Best of all, enjoy the companionship of old friends and new. Brandon urged, “Please pass along this trip information to friends or family who may be interested. It is not limited to Morrison residents.”
Want to see the complete itinerary plus the add-on to Madrid? Access information about the trip at www.worldstridesdiscovery.org/register with the trip ID number 138584. Click on the Itinerary tab.
Do you want to be part of those rich experiences? Register, using the same site and ID number. A $300 initial deposit is due by Thursday, September 29, 2016. Sign up by that date and qualify for an Early Enrollment Discount of $300. Brandon stated, “Although people may sign up for the trip for several months after that, we need to meet our minimum enrollment by the Friday, September 30, deadline in order to book the trip.”
“Carefully review all the information at the site listed above for your registration,” she stressed. “When setting up your on-line registration you must have your passport available. If you choose to add the Madrid extension, the dates on your registration site may only show the Nice to Barcelona trip dates, so make a note of the additional dates for yourself.”
To make other payment arrangements, or if you do not want to register online, please contact WorldStrides Customer Service. A dedicated Customer Service Team is ready to assist with any items specifically related to the online registration system or making payments. Call toll free Monday-to-Friday (excluding holidays) at 1-855-843-3436 from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Email Customer Service directly at customerservice@worldstrides.org. Always have your Trip ID number: 138584 available.
Please direct any questions about payment and online registration to Customer Service. Should you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Theresa Brandon at 847-669-1861 or by email: thebrandon@aol.com.
All costs are included except transportation to and from O’Hare; lunches, two dinners, personal beverages with meals; tips and gratuities for the Tour Director, tour guides, and bus drivers; any fees that might be imposed by the airlines at the airport for checked baggage; travel insurance. There is an $80 surcharge per night for single rooms.
We require all MTC members to purchase Trip Mate travel insurance policy. This comprehensive policy includes health, property, and cancellation coverage at a cost of $149–if you are going from Nice to Barcelona. If you add the Madrid extension, insurance will be $199. Please review the insurance information link at the registration page for the specific coverage details and cancellation policy. “We will contact you in the future to collect the fee for tips and gratuities for the Tour Director, tour guides, and bus drivers,” Brandon noted.
“We will look into transportation costs between Morrison and O’Hare and will let you know what options are available, once we know how many Travel Club Members are interested in this service. We cannot guarantee that this service will be offered.”
“Please take into consideration your health and physical capabilities. You should be able to walk one-to-two miles at a moderate pace, possibly over uneven or steep terrain and stairs, in all kinds of weather. You need to be able to keep up with the group at all times, stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums, negotiate stairs and escalators, and get on and off a coach bus unassisted. Your luggage should not be so big or heavy that you cannot carry it up stairs, if needed.”
“Occasionally the coach bus may not be able to stop in front of the hotel. If this is the case, you will need to be able to transport your luggage a short distance to the hotel. If you are unable to keep up with the group, you may need to wait for the group as they tour a site, or you may have to take public transportation or a taxi at your own expense to meet the group at a walking destination. If you require any type of assistance, you must bring a capable travel companion who can help you get on and off the motor coach, in and out of hotels, and keep up with the pace of the tour.”
“We understand that traveling abroad is a concern in these uncertain times, but when you travel with WorldStrides, you can rest assured knowing that they have taken every precaution possible to ensure the safety of our group.”
Safe and Secure: A Core WorldStrides Value
On all travel programs, WorldStrides has emergency contingency plans in place to ensure the highest level of safety for travelers in every scenario. WorldStrides has a global presence with over 45 offices around the world, to monitor situations and assist in the event that safety issues arise. WorldStrides has an extensive on-the-ground support network in all travel destinations.
Our VP of Risk Management, supported by our 24/7 team of dedicated risk management professionals, assesses all travel destinations and situations. Our internal risk and operations teams are staffed by executives with decades of experience in contingency planning.
Our Tour Directors have experience working in the cities our tours visit and are available at all times to support their groups. We are in regular contact with all of our staff on the ground, to provide up-to-date information on local conditions.
WorldStrides partners with iJet, a leading worldwide security and risk management organization, for additional assistance in evaluating global conditions, and we actively monitor situations with them. Lastly, our team works closely with the U. S. State Department, International SOS, and iJET to evaluate global conditions and advise clients when substantive issues arise.
Rick Steves has a good article on his travel site that addresses travel and safety concerns: http://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/dont-be-terrorized/.