Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA



Discovering Madrid &Walking the Camino TrailSeptember 30-October 11, 2017Day-by-Day Itinerary458152513462000September 30:Depart from your hometown for the overnight flight to Madrid.October 1:Arrive in Madrid and spend the night in Madrid’s five star NH Paseo de Prado Hotel (). This centrally located hotel is the perfect place to start your explorations of Spain’s capital city. It is a few minutes’ walk from the historic center of Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, where events have been held since the 17th century.It is a museum-lover’s delight with three world class museums. You may enjoy the Prado Museum, featuring one of the world’s finest collections of European art, including works by Goya, Velázquez, Rubens and Bosch. The other two are the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia and both are short walks from our hotel. Shopping in the Salamanca district is quite fun, with many upscale boutiques. Enjoy the evening on your own. Perhaps an opera is being performed?You may meet other pilgrims who are walking the Camino with you. Overnight in Madrid.October 2Our meeting point will be in the lobby of the NH Paseo del Prado hotel, where we will meet after breakfast at 8:30 am. From here you will be transferred to the city of Sarria in a private vehicle.We will visit the beautiful city of Astorga, situated in the province of León, which has a very rich medieval legacy. We will then go on to the town of Castrillo de los Polvazares to enjoy a wonderful welcome lunch. Finally before arriving in Sarria, we will visit the town of O Cebreiro, which marks the beginning of the Camino de Santiago in Galicia. Tomorrow we will begin our Camino! Night in Sarria.October 3We start our Camino today!First stage: Sarria (Barbadelo) - Portomarín (18.7 km / 11.6 mi)As we journey through this stage we will come across many little villages and towns of which the most interesting are Barbadelo, Ferreiros, Vilachá and Portomarín where we will see many important monuments such as: the church of "Santiago de Barbadelo," famous for its beautiful architecture, the Romanesque portico at the church of Ferreiros, the legendary 100 km marker and the fortified church of St. Nicholas in Portomarín. We will also have the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Mi?o river valley right outside the town of Vilachá. Night in Sarria.4095751143000October 4Portomarín - Palas de Rei (24.3 km / 15 mi)Today's journey will take us through beautiful oak and eucalyptus forest trails passing by the villages of Gonzar, Ventas de Narón, Ligonde and Airexe on our way to the town of Palas de Rei. Night in Palas de Rei.October 5Palas de Rei - Boente (20.7 km / 12.9 mi)In today's stage we will walk along peaceful forest paths passing by the town of Palas de Rei, where we can admire the Romanesque portico of San Tirso's church. We will then cross the border that divides the provinces of Lugo and A Coru?a via an ancient Roman road. Once in A Coru?a we will marvel at true jewels of the Camino such as the church of "La virgen de las nieves" (i.e., “The Virgin of the Snows”) and the ancient Roman bridge in the town of Furelos, as well as the churches of Sancti Spiritus and Santa Maria de Melide in Melide, a town famous for its octopus, which we can sample in one of its many "Pulperías" (establishments specializing in octopus). Night in Arzúa.October 6Boente - Salceda (19.5 km / 12.1 mi)Today we will start our walk from the town of Boente, home of the spectacular church of Santiago, and continue on through the lovely towns of Arzúa, Ribadiso and Casta?eda, all very closely linked to the Camino's history. In Arzúa we can see the beautiful chapel of "La Magdalena" built in gothic style and founded in the 14th century and also enjoy some of Arzúa's delicious cheese, given the European Union’s “Denomination of Origin” protected designation of origin and guarantee of quality traditional specialties. We will continue our walk to Salceda, passing by the town of Calzada. Night in Arzúa.left1206500October 7Salceda - Monte do Gozo (22.9 km / 14.2 mi)Our stage for this day will take us through the beautiful villages of A Brea, Santa Irene, A Rua and O Empalme. Along the journey, we will have the opportunity to see the hermitage of St. Irene and its baroque fountain, whose water is said to have curative properties and the town of Lavacolla where the purification ritual needed to arrive in Santiago was performed in ancient times. The end point of today's stage is one of the Camino's most emblematic places: Monte do Gozo (“Mount of Joy”) — from here we can enjoy a marvelous panoramic view of Santiago from where we will be able to make out our final destination: Santiago de Compostela's Cathedral. Night in Lavacolla.October 8Today is our journey's most exciting day!Monte do Gozo - Santiago de Compostela (4.8 km / 2.9 mi)We will make our way to our final destination: Santiago's Cathedral. We are scheduled to arrive in Santiago before 12:00 pm, so that those who wish to attend the pilgrim’s Mass and perform any pilgrim rituals like hugging the Apostle Santiago can do so. In the evening, we will have a wonderful farewell surprise accompanied by a delicious dinner to celebrate our arrival. Night in Santiago de Compostela.October 9Santiago de Compostela/Return to Madrid326707555689500In the morning we will enjoy a guided visit through Santiago. The focus of the guided visit will be on the old city, where we will recall the history of the city and the pilgrimage to Santiago through its main monuments, squares and streets. During the visit we will enter the Cathedral where, in addition to its history and evolution, well-known traditions will be explained. We will also enjoy an exclusive visit to the Cathedral's roof to enjoy the most spectacular view of the city. Our tour of Santiago comes to an end at about 1 pm. Next, we will board the train for our return to Madrid. Our next adventure begins!We will arrive in Madrid and enjoy the evening with Duquesne alumni and friends. Night in Madrid at NH Paseo de Prado Hotel.left2413000October 10th:3152775149987000Today we will travel to Toledo, a UNESCO site and capital of medieval Spain until 1560. Highlights are the magnificent Gothic cathedral and the 13th-century synagogue, a testament to Toledo’s Jewish heritage. Tonight, back in Madrid, discover the city after dark, eating and drinking at five wonderful tapas bars. The Tapas, Taverns and History Tour is an unbeatable combination of delicious food and wine as well as culture and history. Overnight in Madrid at NH Paseo de Prado Hotel.5172075952500October 11th: right494030Price:$2950 all-inclusive land tour (Madrid and days on the Camino trail) per person in a double roomSingle supplement: $575Bob Thompson at Ambassador Travel can help you with airfare. He can be reached at: (412)-366-7200 or bob@ambassadortravelpghpa.co00Price:$2950 all-inclusive land tour (Madrid and days on the Camino trail) per person in a double roomSingle supplement: $575Bob Thompson at Ambassador Travel can help you with airfare. He can be reached at: (412)-366-7200 or bob@ambassadortravelpghpa.coToday you will return to the USA to continue your Camino through life.Important Information and details about the Camino WalkThe last 112 kilometers (69 miles) from Sarria to Santiago. Feeling nature in its purest state and amidst breathtaking scenery, we walk the last representative hundred kilometers to Santiago in order to obtain the Compostela certificate in 6 beautiful stages. We stay in charming rural manors along the way to feel the true beauty of Galicia.right1143000The Camino includes the following:?Private Van Support and Luggage transfer?All breakfasts, drinks and snacks?Mobile phones with a Spanish line?Pilgrims' kit?Travel insurance for the entire tour?Guaranteed Botafumeiro ritual (Santiago only)?Carefully selected en suite accommodations459105017970500?English-speaking guide assistance?Informational program and route map?Photos of your Camino?Farewell dinner and surprise?Value added Tax (VAT)?Transfer from Madrid?Welcome lunch in Castrillo de los Polvazares?ALL dinners with wine?1 picnic lunch?Guided visit in Santiago de CompostelaThe guide acts as a bridge between you and Spanish culture, answering any questions and taking care of all the details like checking into the different hotels. Each evening they will give you information about the next day’s route, weather and schedule. The support van will drop you off at the start of the stage each morning. You walk alone but every 4-6 kilometers the guide and support van will meet you with snacks, drinks and a first aid kit in case of blisters, cramps, etc. You will be provided mobile phones with a Spanish line, so if you need the guide or van at any time, they are only a phone call away.Lunches are on your own so you can stop along the way or wait until the end of the stage. The guide will gladly make recommendations on where to go and what to try.Meals:All breakfasts and dinners are included in this tour. We have carefully selected the included meals so you can have a taste of the most typical, most delicious local cuisine. Most lunches are not included to provide more flexibility during the day and so you can experiment on your own. You can stop and eat something along the way, or have lunch at the end of the daily stage.Vegetarians, vegans, or those with a special diet (e.g. gluten-free) can always find suitable options. Just let us know beforehand and we will be happy to accommodate your needs.285762808700Acommodations during the Camino walk are hand-picked to give you the best possible experience. We will stay in charming Galician manors, usually in rural areas, that used to be the homes of important people in the community in the past such as kings or noblemen. They form part of the cultural experience. Usually they are located in privileged areas surrounded with green, peaceful scenery. All our accommodations have private en suite bathrooms. You can be sure to receive personalized attention and excellent service from the owners, who will make you feel more than at home.Walking:You walk at your own pace. There is no one you have to follow or walk with. We have meeting points along the way where our support vehicle will be waiting with snacks, fruits and water. We also offer assistance for any unexpected circumstances or simply to relieve muscular pain or cure blisters.If you do not want to keep walking for any reason, you can hop on the support vehicle or be taken back to the hotel. You mustn't worry about getting lost as the yellow arrows always show the way. Moreover, on the Camino you are never alone. After the daily walk you will have a much-deserved break. In the afternoon, pilgrims can visit places of interest found in the area if they so desire. ................
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