TOUR PRICING:
Per person, twin-share AUD$9,475 Single Supplement AUD$1,000 DEPOSIT: AUD$1,000 14 February 2017 Deposits to be sent with your completed booking form. BALANCE DUE: 30th JUNE 2017 For booking enquiries send us an email to [email protected] or to personally to Roma Randles - [email protected]
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Early booking will secure your place on this unique journey of discovery.
_______________________________ TOUR INCLUSIONS:
- 17 nights accommodation in first class hotels including all breakfasts. - All transportations (private a/c buses and 2 high speed rail journeys). - Fourteen lunches or dinners. - Two Pintxos experiences. - All guided excursions mentioned in Itinerary. - Eight classical music performances. - Pre-performance talks by Roma Randles, B.Mus,B.Ed. - One flamenco dance performance; (others optional). - Private hospitality in MIJAS. - Qualified and experienced local guides in all locations. - Services of Tour Director/Cultural Adviser and Tour Assistant throughout tour. - Comprehensive Tour Handbook containing all daily schedules, full information regarding all locations, venues, performance and concert program notes and much more of interest. ______________________________________ ![]() ROMA RANDLES TOUR DIRECTOR Dip.Mus.; B. Mus.; Dip. Ed. (University of Melbourne) Music and travel have been the keystone of Roma's life, both professionally and personally. After graduating from Melbourne University, Roma and her husband took their young family to live in London. Roma continued her music studies and also found time to embark on many journeys of discovery throughout Europe. It was during these early years that the seeds of a lifelong love of Europe and passion for new discoveries was sown. On returning to Australia, Roma embarked fully on a successful professional career in music, ranging from performance and involvement in chamber music, to HSC music tuition and master classes, to presenting a series of educational lectures with music recitals by guest artists in her own home. In 1988 UTA French Airlines invited her to bring a group of friends to Europe, and Lingua Musica was born. Every year since then, Roma has accompanied small groups wishing to experience more out of travel than simply visiting each different city. On tour, music performances include orchestral and chamber concerts in the European music houses and recitals by distinguished guest artists. Roma herself also gives piano recitals and chamber music performances with talented string trios. ABC Radio personality, Clive Stark, recalls one particular instance when Roma performed with RUTH NYE, MBE, FRCM, distinguished musician and teacher, in the hall of Grieg's house in Bergen, Norway. With the fjord seen through the glass wall behind the performers, it was a special highlight for him. Clive says: "The fact that Roma not only creates and leads these tours but is also able to perform on occasion for us, is surely very special indeed. I cannot imagine it happening on any other tour." Roma's success for more than twenty years has been due to her combined passions of travel and music, and her commitment to providing quality European performances in diverse and interesting venues discovered many years ago, many still slightly off the beaten track. _______________ __________________________________________
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LINGUA MUSICA'S SPECTACULAR TOUR 2017
"A SPANISH RHAPSODY" 14 SEPTEMBER 2017 - 1 OCTOBER 2017 18 DAYS OUR TOUR explores the BASQUE COUNTRY of the North, the Basques being "a race apart", which they never want you to forget! The geographical centre of Spain, MADRID, with its population of over 3 million and high altitude, situated at 2,150 ft above sea level and its wealth of monuments .... no less than three internationally acclaimed art galleries, their magnificent royal palace, grand public squares and gardens, the famous El Escorial and so very much more, including its important opera and music venues. SEGOVIA ... we visit this very different and no less important historic facet of Spain on a day excursion. ANDALUSIA ... so different again, with its towns rich in Islamic heritage ... SEVILLE, CORDOBA, GRANADA .... we embrace this regions diverse celebrations ... flamenco, moorish influences, as well as their art, architecture, music and dance. "Twenty-nine years of incredible European travel and music experiences ! Personally created and designed with the known needs and expectations of my beloved guests ! First class travel and accommodation ; highly qualified knowlegeable guides in all locations ; superb music performance in wonderful venues ... opera, symphony, chamber music, solo recitals, including private ones from artists at the top of their fields.
From St Petersburg to Sicily ; from Budapest to London and Ireland ; Norway and Sweden; Switzerland; France, Austria and Germany ... many times. Several in Italy with all its incredible variety and colour; Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia ... Ljubjana and Dubrovnik ... we've covered and enjoyed it all, over and over . We have experienced incredible journeys with superlative scenery ; we have met and dined with great personalities; we have received hospitality in various Australian embassies in European capitals ; we have enjoyed so many different cuisines and wines; all this and more ... and importantly, we have had so much fun together ! Above all, I am confident people have returned repeatedly to travel with LINGUA MUSICA because they know that they will receive personal care and attention from its Director and her highly professional Assistants and that each and every tour is personally designed and constructed by me, and always based on my own personal knowledge and love of their locations and inclusions. We are anything BUT a commercial tourist operation !" Roma Randles DETAILED ITINERARY DAY ONE Thursday 14th September BILBAO Approx 11:30hrs: Our driver will meet participants who have arrived that morning from either London or Paris at Bilbao Airport. Transfer to Hotel Gran Domine Bilbao for Welcome Meeting with Roma Randles and Assistant. Drinks and tapas served. Visit to GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM opposite hotel. Frank Ghery's amazing building is a work of art in itself; its soaring ceiling of the internal atrium is always a delight. Continue in our private air-conditioned bus to SAN SEBASTIAN where we will stay for three nights at the first class HOTEL DE LONDRES located in the Old City overlooking the beautiful Baie de la Concha. Time to settle in and walk by the sea. 20.30hrs Welcome Dinner in one of the hotel's restaurant. DAY TWO Friday 15th September SAN SEBASTIAN 9.00hrs: Guided walking/ private bus tour of the city ... including a visit to the stunning KURSAAL complex. Free time to enjoy your surroundings ... wandering through the old city or perhaps a swim in La Baie de la Concha? Evening: Guided pixtos tour in the bustling old quarter .... several stops to enjoy the famous Basque brand of the Spanish tapas, which will constitute a marvellous meal. DAY THREE Saturday 16th September SAN SEBASTIAN An excursion out of the city today. We have not decided exactly where .... but we are considering a visit to St Jean de Luz .... our final plans depend on the concert scheduling of Academie de Musique Ravel. DAY FOUR Sunday 17th September BURGOS / MADRID 10:00hrs We set off with our driver for the interesting journey through the varied and beautiful Basque region towards Madrid. En route we will visit the colourful town of BURGOS, the capital town of CASTILLE, for lunch at Rincon de Espana, situated right beside the marvellous Cathedral of St Mary of the Sea, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Burgos was actually declared the culinary capital of Spain a few years ago! Mid-to-late afternoon arrival at our wonderfully located HOTEL RADISSON BLU PRADO, Madrid, which is right opposite the superb Prado Museum and close to the other major Madrid galleries you will visit during your five night stay in this wonderful city. After this full day, your time to rest and settle in will be your own. Two bars and restaurant possibilities within the hotel and others close by. DAY FIVE Monday 18th September MADRID 9.00hrs: Meet your guide in the hotel foyer for a well-conducted tour of the city centre's highlights. Three hours of discovery and time out for coffee. This afternoon is given over to gallery visiting. You will have your entree tickets to the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia. It is recommended that you do your visiting at your own pace and with your own inclinations this afternoon and on your FREE DAY in Madrid. 20:00hrs: Dinner in the restaurant of the Hotel Radisson Blu Prado. DAY SIX Tuesday 19th September MADRID 9:30hrs: We depart the hotel with our guide for a short excursion to the amazing San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the historical residence of the King of Spain . In the afternoon, more Madrid discovery .... the lay-out of this city, its urban design, is so intelligent and beautiful. So much to discover. Evening plans as yet unknown. Dinner somewhere interesting is certainly scheduled. DAY SEVEN Wednesday 20th September MADRID 9:00 hrs: Today we take a wonderful trip to SEGOVIA ... another world, with its incredible architecture, ancient walls and aqueduct. We will enjoy a guided tour of the interesting sights and history of this magical place and spend some time in the restful Alcazar Gardens, enjoying a late al fresco lunch. DAY EIGHT Thursday 21st September MADRID - YOUR TOTALLY FREE DAY IN MADRID! Plan ahead. So much still to discover, Excellent shopping. More museums .... or just walking and absorbing? And of course, you will still have your entree tickets if you have not spent all the time you need in the three major world famous galleries for which Madrid is renowned. DAY NINE Friday 22nd September SEVILLE After breakfast this morning, for variety, we take the first class AVE train from Madrid to SEVILLE, a journey of about 2½ hours. (Time tba) SEVILLE! We are now in Andalusia! A quick transfer to our iconic splendid central hotel .... HOTEL ALFONSO XIII, one of the Luxury Hotels of the World chain. Time to settle in and perhaps a snack beside the pool. 14:30 hrs: Meet your guide in the extravagant foyer for an introduction to the highlights of this amazing city. Our tour will include a visit to the great Seville Cathedral and La Giralda ... a story completely its own. After a break for refreshments, we continue on to the amazing and atmospheric REAL ALCAZAR, created by craftsmen from Granada and Toledo. This is a tiny city within a city, an amazing labyrinth of tiny streets and gardens, terraces, fountains and pavilions surrounding the Palacio Pedro and other fascinating edifices of the early world. A return to our hotel for a swim and dinner beside the pool, will probably be enough for this first day in Seville. DAY TEN Saturday 23rd September SEVILLE This morning we travel a little north, still within the environs of Seville, to La Macarena .... an ancient region of Baroque and Mudejar buildings where we will find coffee and tapas before exploring many other aspects of fascinating Seville. Our driver will be on hand to support our knowlegeable guide's decisions. Also, always necessary here ... time to relax and to enjoy the luxury of your wonderful hotel and its amenities. This evening will be very special ... dinner and a flamenco dancing display? DAY ELEVEN Sunday 24th September SEVILLE Today a full day excursion to extraordinary CORDOBA ... lunch included. The famous and thought-provoking MEZQUITA MOSQUE ... the JEWISH QUARTER ... the incredible history of these times will be brought alive for you by our skilled and highly knowlegeable Cordobian specialist guide. Return, tired and happily sated to the luxury of the Alfonso XIII. DAY TWELVE Monday 25th September SEVILLE Your totally FREE DAY in Seville. Again, plan ahead. There are so many highlights in this wonderful city, so many galleries, museums, so much of interest, and even the shopping is first class. Each will have his or her own priorities and we will do all we can to assist the planning of your own individual special day. DAY THIRTEEN Tuesday 26th September GRANADA 9:30hrs: We say goodbye to our iconic Seville hotel and depart for another extraordinary Andalusian city ... GRANADA. Our marvellous hotel, the HOTEL ALHAMBRA PALACE is situated on the top of the hill right beside the actual ancient Alhambra Palace and breathtakingly beautiful Generaliffe Gardens. It is a beautiful and restful residence with views out over the city a short distance below. This afternoon to settle in and a guided visit through the magical gardens to the Alhambra Palace (where surely you will wish to return alone on your free day!) Dinner this evening will be served on the hotel terrace... enjoy the views of the mountains and the city lights twinkling below. DAY FOURTEEN Wednesday 27th September GRANADA 9:00hrs: Greet your guide in the beautiful Reception Hall of this lovely hotel and descend with her and our driver for a full day exploring all the beauty and hidden jewels of Granada together with its fascinating history. Time out to find a simple lunch in an interesting little cafe she will point out .... one of so many here. Dinner this evening again on the terrace of our hotel. DAY FIFTEEN Thursday 28th September GRANADA Your FREE DAY in Granada. Our driver will be on hand to take you down to the town centre if you wish (your return taxi at your leisure). OR, you may wish to visit again the Alhambra Palace next door, at your own pace and just relax around our beautiful hotel. Something will be planned for the evening here.. DAY SIXTEEN Friday 29th September MARBELLA It has been decided by our driver that the distance Granada/Cadiz/Marbella is just too great. So we have decided to go straight to MARBELLA. On arrival you can relax by the pool of our luxurious HOTEL FUERTE MARBELLA, situated on the sea and recover from our very full days of discovery. An OPTIONAL return trip MARBELLA/ CADIZ by bus will be offered for those who would still love to experience a visit to Cadiz. The Hotel Fuerte is unashamedly very up-market Costa del Sol holiday residence by the sea. Its emphasis is on relaxation. But it is also a leisurely walk away from the interesting town Marbella and its own particular history. Enjoy! We are not going to organise anything for you today. DAY SEVENTEEN Saturday 30th September MARBELLA 11:30hrs: Feeling refreshed and relaxed we hope, you will be ferried by local taxis from our hotel to the villa of Bridget Buckley, an old friend of Roma Randles, in the so called WHITE VILLAGE of MIJAS, about 30/40 minutes' drive in the hills above the coast. it is a simple villa with superb views from its terrace. Here we will enjoy a glass of bubbly, looking across the swimming pool to Gibralta, before we have our last meal together in the Mijas village centre. I am sure we will have so much to talk about over typical fare at the end of our remarkable journey together. Mid-to-late afternoon return to Marbella and your time is your own to relax, talk, swim, walk... and think about packing! DAY EIGHTEEN Sunday 1st October MARBELLA The 2017 Lingua Musica "SPANISH RHAPSODY" tour is over and you will have onward travel arrangements in place. A transfer to MALAGA AIRPORT will be provided for those who require it. SO ENDS OUR MARVELLOUS 2017 LINGUA MUSICA TOUR! FULL DAILY SCHEDULE AND ALL RELATED INFORMATION WILL BE CONTAINED IN OUR 2017 TOUR HANDBOOK WHICH ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE BY THREE WEEKS BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURE FROM AUSTRALIA. |