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About this trip
Join Rabbi Straus and Julian Resnick on this exciting visit to Jewish Spain. Many of us have travelled to Israel, Berlin, Prague or Morocco with Julian over the years. Julian is an educator’s educator who believes that guiding is a means of educating and creating a narrative- both of what we see, and what we don’t see in front of us. Julian brings to our trip his passion, humor and knowledge.
What’s included
- Duration13 days in Spain
- AccomodationsCentrally located 4* hotels
- Meals16 include meals - 10 lunches; 6 dinners and breakfast every day
- GratutiesAll gratuities to waitstaff, all guides including Julian and our bus driver
- EscortIn addition to Julian an English speaking Spanish Tour guide will be with you throughout the trip
- Escort/educatorsJulian and Rabbi Straus
- Local guidesSpecial city and site guides will bring their expertise to the trip
- WineWinery tour
- AudioPersonal audio headset so that all touring will be clear
- Flamenco showAuthentic Flamenco and dinner in the heart of Andalusia
- Water2 bottles on the bus per person every day
- OPTIONAL ACTIVITIESSpanish cooking class & dinner/ mosaics class
What’s not included
- PorterageExcept in Granada where the hotel is located in a pedestrian only area - porters are available at all hotels
- ExpensesPersonal items, tips at non included meals etc.
- Transportationair to and from Spain - Please see other webopage
Available Packages
Double occupancy includes all features detailed on the MLRT website's description of the trip. Click read more to see deadlines and refund policy.
Deadlines and Refunds:
BY December 20, 2021 - a non refundable $750 deposit must be received - NO applications will be accepted after that date.
BY February 14, 2022 - a non refundable balance payment must be received to participate in this trip
You can receive a complete refund of either your deposit or balance payment if cancellation is received by email ( [email protected]) prior to their respective deadlines.
If based on deposits received and prior to December 23, 2021, MLRT decides to cancel the trip, you will receive a full refund of your deposit
Deadlines and Refunds:
December 20, 2021 - a non refundable $750 deposit must be received - applications will be accepted after that date.
February 14, 2022 - a non refundable balance payment must be received to participate in this trip
You can receive a complete refund of either your deposit or balance payment if cancellation is received by email ( [email protected]) prior to their respective deadlines.
If the trip is cancelled by MLRT, you will receive a full refund of your deposit.
Itinerary
Itinerary – Subject to Change
MARCH 30 ARRIVAL; MADRID, CREATING THE CONTEXT
We arrive into Madrid early morning. After fortifying ourselves with our first Spanish meal and lots of coffee we orient ourselves to Madrid with a panoramic tour of Madrid visiting some of the “must see” sites. After lunch we check in to our hotel, rest for a while and head off for our opening dinner.
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MARCH 31 MADRID, BEAUTY AND BEYOND
We head off after breakfast for the Old Quarter of the city, the area of the Royal Palace. WE HAVE MUCH TO SAY TO THE ROYAL FAMILY OF SPAIN, TODAY. Lunch and off to one of the most important art museums of the world, the Prado (BTW, for those of you who are serious aficionados, you are welcome to stay on on your own in the Prado after the guided tour – we will pick you up an hour and a half after we end the guided tour). A free evening to relax after a very intense start to the Journey.
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APRIL 1 JEWISH MADRID
The morning is dedicated to the local Jewish story. Lunch and the afternoon you are on your own and we reconvene late afternoon to travel to CJRM (the Reform Community of Madrid) for Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner with the community (TBC)
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APRIL 2 TOLEDO, MEMORY TRACES
We travel to Toledo once a center of Jewish life visiting some of the many sites in Toledo visited by others as sites of general interest, and by us as sites which, with close scrutiny, reveal another story, our story. Sites include Puerta Del Cambron, Santa Maria la Blanca, the Toledo Cathedral, Plaza de Zocodover and the El Transito. We transfer midafternoon to Cordoba. Check into our hotel and leave for Havdalah and dinner in a nearby restaurant.
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APRIL 3 CÓRDOBA, THE JEWEL OF ANDALUSIA
A morning with Maimonides, a former resident of this beautiful town, the Sephardi Jewish story in Casa Sefarad, both in the Juderia, the old Jewish Quarter. After lunch some of the general sites of Cordoba including the exquisite Mezquita. Before you head off to dinner on your own please join us for wine and poetry as we celebrate the genius of Jewish Andalusia.
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APRIL 4 SEVILLE, POWER BOTH SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL
We leave for Seville after breakfast. Here we start with a powerful Jewish story, or rather stories (invoking the literary genius of Eli Wiesel)and continue to the sites of both heavenly and temporal power, the Reales Alcazares, La Giralda and the Seville Cathedral. Our afternoon closes with a walk through the magnificent Parque Maria Luisa ending at the Plaza Espana. And this evening… Flamenco
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APRIL 5 THE ROAD TO GRANADA, MONTALBÁN DE CÓRDOBA - LUCENA
Leave for Granada via Montalban De Cordoba where we will visit a Spanish winery (L’Chaim) and Lucena where we will visit a, there is no other way to say this, a Jewish Necropolis . We arrive late afternoon in Granada.
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APRIL 6 GRANADA (ALHAMBRA and more)
Say Granada, mean Alhambra. A visit to what must be the most exquisite set of buildings in the world. The Alhambra takes physical beauty to another level. Sublime is the word that seems to fit here. In addition to the Alhambra we will visit the Generalife Gardens and the Old Quarter with Cathedral and Royal Chapel. For those interested, this will be your opportunity to learn how to cook Spanish style.
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APRIL 7 BARCELONA, THE RAMBLAS
After an early breakfast we transfer to the Granada airport from where we fly to Barcelona. Our first stop in Barcelona is at Montjuic, the Mount of the Jews. After lunch we head to the first of a number of iconic sites in Barcelona, the Ramblas, which we walk from the area of the port at the one end, up to our hotel situated at the other end. On the way we share stories of Christopher Columbus, George Orwell and the Spanish Civil War, a medieval Jewish presence and modern Islamic terror.
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APRIL 8 BARCELONA FROM GAUDI TO PICASSO
The morning belongs to Gaudi with Casa Mila (exterior) and Park Guell (interior) and Sagrada Familia (interior). After lunch we visit a small gem, the Picasso Museum. Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner with Atid Progressive Synagogue (TBC).
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APRIL 9 MONTSERRAT
Out into the glorious countryside for a visit to the monastery of Montserrat and an easy hike along the trail that pilgrims take. We head back to Barcelona for time on your own, starting, I am sure, with a latish lunch. We invite you to meet us for Havdalah before you head out to enjoy dinner on your own in one of the many fabulous restaurants in Barcelona which are famous for their very special Catalan cuisine.
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APRIL 10 GIRONA
A slow morning. Choose to relax before the big flight home tomorrow or take part in an optional Mosaic workshop celebrating the Barcelona of Gaudi so you can bring home a memento of the past days made by you and imbued with your feeling so f what happened these past almost two weeks in Spain. Leave for the city of Girona, once the city of the great Jewish scholar Nachmanides. Today, famous locally as one of the major locations for the filming of Game of Thrones. Heard of Nachmanides? Game of Thrones? Of course. Head back to Barcelona, pack, join us for our final circle and then for our final dinner.
APRIL 11 DEPARTURE AND TRAVEL DAY
Leave very early morning for Barcelona-El Prat airport to begin the long flight home. See you on the next Journey.
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