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Once again, Jewish Heritage Tours will be sponsoring its bi-annual Spain tour -a fascinating and exciting learning experience -
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January 23 - February 1, 2005 Summer Itinerary will be similar |
 Sunday, 1/23 Day 1 |
Meet at JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT on Sunday for the 6:15 P.M. , Iberian Airways Flight: 6250 overnight flight to Madrid arriving in Madrid- Barajas airport at approximately 7:10 a.m. |
Monday, 1/24, Day 2 |
After clearing customs, our Madrid Tour Director will welcome us and we will immediately travel due north to Madrid to enjoy a morning tour of the Royal Palace, one of the most beautiful palaces in the entire country! We will then check-in to hotel, rest, wash up and travel farther north for a wonderful afternoon tour in historical Segovia, the home of the Inquisition. We will first have a delicious picnic lunch in its main square. Our visit will include a walk through this quaint city, once home to a large Jewish population, visit the famous Al-Khazar, view (from the outside) the Church of Corpus Christi, the second oldest standing synagogue in Spain (probably late 12th century!) and be amazed by one of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world: the water aqueduct. Upon our return , some more bus-touring of Madrid, Mincha & Ma’ariv, a well-deserved dinner and a good night’s sleep. Overnight: Hotel Emperador in Madrid |
Tuesday, 1/25, Day 3 |
DAF YOMI : 8 A.M.; Shacharis:8:30
a.m; delicious hot “Spanish” breakfast and off to our 9:45 a.m. morning
exploration of the world famous Prado Museum and
lunch in the Central Synagogue, followed by a visit with the Chief
Rabbi of Madrid, Rabbi Moshe Benhadi shlita.
The second half of our day begins with a one hour scenic ride due west
to Toledo for an intensive tour of the city including a fascinating
tour of the old Jewish Quarter: Calle de la Juderia Viejo and Calle de
la Juderia Nueva. Of the many important synagogues that Toledo once
posessed, only two still exist (the oldest in Europe!): the Santa la
Blanca is inspired by Almohad art and design while the 14th century
Transisto Synagogue is a simple building but with very much history.
Shop in a major factory outlet in Toledo for the best deals in Majorca
pearls and Damascene jewelry in the entire Spain! Return to the hotel
to refresh, Mincha & Ma’ariv and a well-deserved delicious dinner awaits you at our beautiful hotel. After dinner, an evening tour
of the Old Jewish Quarter, the elegantly colonnaded Plaza Major (the
main site for the Inquisition's execution of Marranos as late as 1692!)
and visits to Puerto del Sol, Plaza de Espana and Alcala
Archia. Overnight: Hotel Emperador in Madrid |
Wednesday, 1/26, Day 4 |
Early morning rise for the four and one half hour ride
through
the heart of Spain, observing the largest agrarian region in Europe
(vineyards and olive groves). Pass once again through Toledo (the
"Jerusalem of Spain") and the La Mancha region, following the path
taken
by Don Quixote de la Mancha(from the classic work by
Cervantes). Stop for lunch in Ciudad Real and on to Cordoba.
Check into hotel and begin your tour with the old Jewish Quarter,
the birthplace of Maimonides, and home also to R'Abraham
Ibn Ezra, R'Yehudah Ha'levi, the sainted R'Shmuel
Ha'Nagid and many more great Rabbis. Visit the second oldest(still
standing) synagogue in Spain (in Europe, for that matter!), the Tiberias
Plaza (the famous Rambam statue), Gate of Almodovar,
(optional:) explore the largest Cathedral/Mosque in Europe with
its red and white striped arches, cross the Guadilquivir River
via the Roman bridge which connects the Alcazar Calahorra to
the
Mosque and enjoy a panoramic view of Còrdoba by night. Late
dinner followed by an evening stroll through the narrow streets of the
old quarter as we peek into the patios where dozens of potted plants
and
the most colorful, scented flowers engulf us with their sweet aroma. |
Thursday, 1/27, Day 5 |
Late morning rise, Shacharis in
the "Rambam Synagogue," two and one-half hour ride to Granada
traveling through Lucena, the "unknown" home of some of the
greatest Rishonim during the "Golden Years": R'Yitzchak
Al'fasi and R'Yoseph ibn Mi'gash (the two teachers of the
Rambam!) and one of the earliest Jewish settlements in Spain! Arrive
early in the afternoon in Granada. Granada is the home to one of
the most beautiful Moorish sites in Spain, the 11th-14th Grand Alahambra Palace
which houses the Salon de Embajadores, (Hall of Embassadors)
a stunning throne- room built in the 14th century, the famous courtyard
with the 12 lion water-fountain and the Generalife Garden. Walk
through its other absolutely magnificent halls and gardens. Also visit
some of the winding streets of the Jewish Quarter and the
present day Arab Quarter. Enjoy a magnificent tour of the
snowcapped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Early Dinner. Free
time. Evening walk through Granada; experience the city's nightlife and
an exciting flamenco performance (optional). Overnight: Hotel Guadalupe in Granada |
Friday, 1/28, Day 6 |
Rise early for a scenic one and one-half
hour ride through the most popular beach area in Spain: the Costa de Sol
to the bustling port city of Malaga. Visit with the statue of the
famous poet and "Paytan": R'Solomon ibn Gabirol , SHORT
TOUR OF MARBELLA , the most popular resort town in Spain and proceed
one
hour farther southward to Gibraltar. Check into the hotel and
immediately begin a 2 hour intensive tour of The Rock. See also
Gibraltar's main attraction: St. Michael Caves where hundreds
of Barbary
apes roam freely at the top of the Rock. Afterwards, a short stop
to
pray at the old Jewish cemetery; Excellent duty-free, London-
style shopping. Shabbat preparation. Kabbalat Shabbat at the Sha'ar
Shomayim Synagogue. Seudat Shabbat (1): Welcoming remarks: Rabbi
Ronnie Chasid, Chief Rabbi of Gibraltar; Dvar Torah: Rabbi Dr.
Nosson Dovid Rabinowich. Overnight: Elliot Hotel in Gibraltar |
Saturday, 1/29, Day 7 |
Late wake-up call for the 9:45 A.M.
davening at the Nefutzot Yehudah Synagogue where Rabbi
Dr.
Nosson Dovid Rabinowich will deliver the Drosha, Kiddusha
Rabba, Parsha Class, Seudat Shabbat (2):Welcoming
remarks: Mr. Solomon Levy, former President of the Jewish
Community
of Gibraltar. Well-deserved rest, Guided Walking Tour of
Gibraltar's
main streets with Abraham Benadi of Holyland Travel Ltd., Mincha at the
Avudraham
Synagogue, Seuda (3) of Shabbos: Guest Speaker: Rabbi
Roberts, the Principal of the Jewish Boys High School of Gibraltar.
Grand Melave Malka with local singers and musicians; then
observe Gibraltar's week-end night-life or just simply enjoy the
breathtaking view of North Africa, the Atlantic and Mediterranean
Oceans and the Straits of Gibraltar! Optional: Motzoai Shabbos:
1& 1/4 hour ride to beautiful Marbella in Costa de
Sol,
the most famous tourist /resort city on the Mediterranean coast. Overnight: Elliot Hotel in Gibraltar |
Sunday, 1/30, Day 8 |
Early morning rise for the two hour ride
to the quaint and charming "Old Spanish Style" town of Ronda
(visit the oldest bull ring in Spain), be awed and amazed by its
natural gorges (you've never seen anything like this!) and enjoy a
picnic lunch and short rest in the heart of Ronda. Re-board the bus for
another two hour ride to Seville, the capital of Andalusia,
the autonomous region of Southern Spain. Your four-hour afternoon tour
includes the beautiful Alcazar Palace (if open), the Jewish
Quarter known today as Santa Cruz, the history-rich Calle
Susanna, and, time-permitting, the Columbus Archives. Be
brave and walk up the 2nd highest minaret in the world! (King
Ferdinand III did it by horse!) Optional: A leisurely boat
cruise of beautiful Seville along the Guadalquivir River.
Check-in to our beautiful hotel and enjoy a well-deserved dinner:our
farewell banquet and all the wonderful speeches. Discover the night
life of this beautiful city, once the home to the Ritva and
Abravanel family among others. Enjoy a good night's rest for the long
day ahead of us! Overnight: Hotel Al Andalus Palace in Seville |
Monday, 1/31, Day 9 |
Early rise for Iberian Flight 1123L at 9:20 am to
Barcelona,the Mediterranean metropolis par excellence.We board our bus
for the 1½ hour pleasant ride to first visit Gerona, the home of
the rebirth of Medieval Jewish Mysticism and birthplace of the
illustrious Nachmanides and Rabbeinu Yonah. Enjoy a
lecture at the Nachmanides Institute and explore a possible
10th century Mikveh! On to Barcelona to its quarters of unrivaled
beauty including the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas and
the modernist Paseo de Gracia. Time permitting, we will examine
some of the oldest Jewish tombstones in Europe, a special treat off the beaten tourist path! Of course, we will not
miss the old Jewish Quarter. Delicious and festive banquet with plenty
of speeches and thank yous. Final opportunity to appreciate Barcelona's
fascinating nightlife. Overnight: Barcelona |
Tuesday, 2/1, Day 10 |
Early morning rise for a 7:00 am Shacharis at the Hotel , a warn and DELICIOUS BREAKFAST and off to one final panoramic tour of the entire city ON OUR WAY TO THE AIRPORT for our 9:55 a.m. Iberian Airways Flight: 6251 (via Madrid) directly to New York arriving in JFK airport at 3:00 P.M. |
 Bon Voyage! |
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