"The Best of Europe - 2008 "

June 15 - 29, 2008
A unique 15-Day European travel experience

"WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE"
An overview of our " Best of Europe" tour.

Here we go, on a most remarkable custom Europe tour. The major cities, significant sights, and the many things to see and experience on this unique tour are most memorable.   Their combination with the tour's comfortably paced schedule makes it a particularly fine travel opportunity.

SPECIFIC TOUR ITINERARY INCLUSIONS

The following are some of the specific sights included in the"Best of Europe" tour. All highlighted events denote an event where admission is paid and included as part of the tour. Those (in parenthesis) are free time activities that may require an admission fee. Many other free sights are included along the way but are to numerous to list here.

For a more complete list of the numerous activities where your admission is paid for you, and included as a part of this custom tour, please visit the "What you Get" page of this website.  

Rome and Lazio

Upon arrival in the "Eternal City," you will be introduced to the grandeur that was once Rome.   You will have the opportunity to "walk where the Caesar's walked" as we visit the Forum , the Capitolina Hill, and the Colosseum . We will visit historic Piazza Venezia the Vittorio Emmanuel Monument , and many of the beautiful piazzas and fountains of Rome, including the Trevi Fountain.   Our professional guide will show us Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica and Square, the Sistine Chapel, the Pope's Apartments and to see Michelangelo's "Pieta ." A walking tour of the historic center of the city will include Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. A relaxing afternoon visit is scheduled see to the beautiful Renaissance gardens of (Villa d'Este), in the nearby hills and town of Tivoli.   An excursion north of Rome takes us to visit the peaceful medieval village of Bagnaia, with its (Villa Lante) renaissance gardens.   

Florence and the Heart of Tuscany

As the quintessential Italian hilltown, Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, and provides us with the ideal introduction to this region. The nearby wine region of Chianti through which we pass is also beautiful and quite stunning in its natural beauty. With its incomparable treasures of architecture and art, Florence defines its position as the cradle of Humanism, and its place in history as the city of the Renaissance.  Our stay here takes us to visit the famous Piazzalle Michelangelo, with a guided city tour to see the Academia Museum and the "David," the Duomo of Santa Maria della Fiore, the Campanile and Baptistery, San Lorenzo Church, and the Medici Tombs with Michelangelo's "discovered" sketches . Other highlights of the city include the (Pitti Palace), (the Uffizzi Gallery), and the (Bargello Museum). We will share an evening walk in Florence to include the Ponte Vecchio, the Ultrarno district, Piazza Della Signoria - (Vivoli's Gelaterria), and Santa Maria Novella Church.  

Beautiful Venice and the Veneto

Our travel through the beautiful Po River Valley brings us into the Veneto Region and one of the highlights of our tour, the ever-so-peaceful island city of Venice. Known as "la Serenissima," or "the quiet one," you will be charmed by this city within the lagoon. Its small pedestrian - only walkways, with their graceful arched bridges and beautiful side vignettes of gondolas and canals, are a beguiling experience.  A 2-Day vaparetto pass will be provided to allow our visits to the special nearby island of Murano, to watch the glass-blowing masters create great art out of molten glass, and to Burano, with its famous hand-tied lace and multi-colored houses, are a must-see. While here our guide will show us the Doge's Palace, St. Marks Cathedral, and the famous St. Marc's Square.  We will take you on an evening vaparetto excursion, to listen to the Professional Musicians in St. Mark's Square, on a walking tour of city along the Grand Canal to the picturesque   Rialto Bridge and allow you to experience a romantic (gondola ride with musicians) through the peaceful nighttime canals of the city.

Salzburg and the Salzkammergut

We travel through the Austrian Alps and ski country on our way to Salzburg.   Our afternoon visit to the old city will include a stroll through the beautiful Mirabelle Gardens, the medieval Getreidegasse merchant's street, the wonderfully tasteful (Carl Schatz Conditerei), and a visit to (Mozart's Birthplace Museum). Outside of Salzburg in the Austrian countryside we'll tour Hellbrunn Palace and Garden with its famous “Waterworks.” We will also take a day trip into the Salzkammergut Region with lunch in old-world St. Wolfgang on the lake, and a visit to the quaint village of Hallstatt . A (tram ride to top of Mt. Dachstein) is also available .

Castles of Bavaria

The corner of Bavaria in and around Berchtesgaden is an unspoiled gem.   While here we will enjoy   an educational and entertaining Salt Mine Tour in Bad Reichenhaller and then travel through this beautiful alpine region on the famous and panoramic Alpenstrasse highway. In the quiet countryside of Oberammergau we will visit King Ludwig's Linderhof Castle , the beautiful Ettal Monastery, the Baroque Wies Church, and "fantasyland" Neuschwanstein Castle, all located near the base of the lofty and impressive Bavarian Alps.

Tiny Leichtenstein

This small principality is a perfect stop for lunch and a visit to its capital, Vaduz. While here see the Reubens paintings in (Crown Prince's art collection), have your passport stamped, or purchase some of the unusual postage stamps from this unique kingdom.

The Swiss Alps

Travel through this clockwork country to Lucerne and to nearby Engelburg, in the center of the top of the Alps. While here take a day to explore and (Tram ride to top of Swiss Alps), and hike down through the cows in their alpine meadows.   Our afternoon excursion into Lucerne includes a nice walking tour to visit the Lowendenkmal, the “Bridge of Death,” the Old Town Square, a visit to the Baroque Jesuit Church, and a stroll over the Kapellabrucke bridge.   Interlaken provides the opportunity for a (picturesque day cruise across Lake Thunersee). Other options here include an Alpine hike and (tram ride), to get up close and personal with the Alps. We will enjoy the overwhelming view under the shadow of the Eiger, Monc and Jungfrau peaks. An afternoon visit to the remarkable waterfall inside a mountain at (Trummelbach Falls) makes our stay in Switzerland complete.

Paris and environs:

Our afternoon arrival in the “City of Lights” allows us time to relax before a special evening dinner. After dinner we travel to the top of the Eiffel Tower, to view the city at twilight, as it comes alive with its famous garment of lights.

"Kings and Queens"

A 5-Day Paris/London Tour Extension

June 29 -July 3, 2008

"WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE" on the “Kings and Queens”
5-Day Extension tour.

Since you have already paid for your airfare to and from Europe with your main tour, this 5-Day extension is particularly economical. It includes the most remarkable and significant destinations and activities to be found in these two remarkable cities.

SPECIFIC TOUR ITINERARY INCLUSIONS

Paris and Environs

      A professional guide will introduce you to this "City of Lights" an our guided city tour, which will include a tour of Notre Dame Cathedral , the famous Champs-Elysees, the exclusive Isle de la Cite, Louis XIV's Les Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb , a group entry to the Louvre and Orsay Museums, the Rodin Museum and gardens, and the Paris Opera and surrounding district.   Evening activities in Paris will also include a memorable Bateau Mouche cruise on the romantic River Seine and an evening visit to Montmarte, the artist's quarter and Sacre Coeur church.  Countryside excursions/guided tours outside of Paris with our professional guide will include a number of the village towns of Normandy, Giverny - with a tour of Claude Monet's home and gardens, a visit to the Gardens of Versailles - included are visits to Marie Antoinette's Hamlet , the Petite and Grand Trianon Palaces, and the Main Palace of Versailles.

London

       We will shoot quickly into Northern France on the high speed Eurostar train, through the "Chunnel" for our crossing under the English Channel, and into London's Victoria Station. A guided day tour of the City will show us Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, Leicester Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church - with its free midday concerts and performances, the T ower of London-Crown Jewels/Armory collections, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, the British Museum, the (Victoria and Albert Museum), and the National Gallery of Art . We will also be provided with a courtesy ticket to an evening performance to one of London's Famous Theater performances.

Once you return home

      What a remarkable combination of experiences you will have had, as a participant on the "Best of Europe" travel tour. Your fond memories will constantly remind you of this unique and treasured experience.

Note: As a custom designed and fully escorted tour this travel opportunity represents a unique blend of the most remarkable and special itinerary inclusions within these regions of Europe. It is available only through Chemeketa Community College. It has a comfortably paced itinerary to insure that its participants have a most memorable travel experience. We believe you will find it to be the perfect way to experience the most remarkable regions of Europe.  

It's main tour and tour extension include airfare, double room accommodations in three and four star hotels, buffet breakfasts and full course dinners each day (representing traditional regional cuisine), and tours lead by licensed professional guides. All sights and activities are included in the tour price as listed in the tour itinerary. Please visit the "What you Get" page of this website for a more in-depth list of what is included with this tour.