Itinerary
Sunday, 10 May, 2009
Fly from USA (Alan, 13:05, BA 578)
Monday, 11 May (Rick & Dale, 18:45, SA 1664, Dale & Patsy, 13:40, LH4084, Ron & Cal, Catherine: 9:40, DL186)
Arrive Venice and transfer by water taxi to the Hotel Giorgione (+39.041.5225810). (Get a receipt and I will reimburse €80.00 for each of the three taxis.) Shower, change clothes, nap, and do whatever you need to do to recover from the long flight. Dinner at 7:30 in the Osteria Giorgione. Overnight in Hotel Giorgione, Venice.
Tuesday, 12 May
Breakfast (and every morning on the tour) at the hotel. Orientation walk to Piazza San Marco for those of you who have not been to Venice. I’ll see the rest of you in the lobby to walk to dinner. Entrance to San Marco provided, including the sala with the famous four horses and the adjascent museum. Afterwards, you are free to explore Venice to your heart’s content–get lost (easy to do and highly recommended), shop (glass is a specialty), hit the museums (I will reimburse you up to €20 including San Marco.) I will also provide you with a 72-hour bus-boat pass which will enable you to get around all of Venice, including the outer islands. Dinner at the nearby trattoria, Vecia Cavana (041 5287106). Overnight in Hotel Giorgione, Venice.
Wednesday, 13 May (Mickie arr. 4:20)
To encourage you to visit the outer islands, I will schedule lunch at the Osteria Al Ponte del Diavalo on Torcello (041730401). Evening free, overnight in Hotel Giorgione, Venice.
Thursday, 14 May (Sara & Carrol, 1:55 LH4084)
Continued explorations of Venice. Dinner again at the Vecia Cavana. Overnight in Hotel Giorgione, Venice.
Friday, 15 May
Check out of hotel in the morning, but I will arrange for us to store the luggage. Morning free in Venice. I will have water taxis pick us up near the hotel at 15:30. Boat departs at 17:00 from San Basilio, Venezia, arriving Poreč at 19:30 where we will then be picked up by our coach and will proceed toward Rovinj. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Eden, (+385 52 800 400) Rovinj.
Saturday, 16 May
Morning sightseeing tour of Rovinj. (Cobblestones, shops, narrow streets, all the good things we like in a town. And of course there is the church.) After visiting the charming Old Town, we will continue toward Motovun, a medieval town in western Istria. This will give you a feel for the rural, agricultural part of Istria. Return to Rovinj–dinner and overnight in Rovinj. Tonight and tomorrow night, after dinner the bus will take you back to Rovinj for an optional visit. The hotel is a 20 minute walk back along the beach.
Sunday, 17 May
Morning sightseeing tour of Pula–good Roman stuff including a great amphitheatre. We will then vist Brijuni National Park (Tito’s digs) before returning to Rovinj. Dinner and overnight in Rovinj.
Monday, 18 May
After checking out of hotel, we will drive to Zadar, the oldest Slavic city on the Adriatic. After a city tour we will have some free time before continuing on to Vodice. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Olympia, (+385 (0) 22 452 452) Vodice.
Tuesday, 19 May
All day excursion beginning with Sibenik. Sightseeing tour of Šibenik, an old royal town with it’s famous St Jacob’s Cathedral. We will proceed south toward Krka Waterfalls National Park – one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Vodice.
Wednesday, 20 May
Check out of hotel and continue towards Trogir. This beautiful town is under Unesco protection. It started as a Greek colony, then the Romans came, followed by the Slavs and the Croats, and then was dominated by the Venitians. Then came the Austrians, Italians, and so on. Old city walls, Kamerlengo tower, St Ivan church, and cobblestone streets, quaint shops. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Tragos, (+385 21 884729) Trogir (near Split). Our hotel will be a bit of a comedown after the two beach resorts, but you will love the location!
Thursday, 21 May
Sightseeing tour of Salona, a huge Roman settlement which was destroyed with the arrival of the Slavs and Croats. It is most interesting because no town was built on top of the ruins. Return in Trogir. Free time to explore the charming town. Dinner and overnight in Trogir.
Friday, 22 May
Full day in Split including the city’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, and it’s contemporary attractions. We will visit: Diocletian Palace, St Duje Catedral, Peristil, Golden & Silver gate, Grgur Ninski. After independent lunch, free time in the afternoon before returning to Trogir. Dinner and overnight in Trogir
Saturday, 23 May (Mickie, 8:05, Dale & Patsy, 7:45, LH2471, Catherine, Ron & Cal 7:40, OU 4562)
Tour concludes with an airport transfer for those of you returning to the states. Free day until late afternoon for those of you continuing on with the optional week of sailing.
Sunday, 24 May through Friday, 29 May
Sailing (Ivana’s cell phone for emergencies only: +385915390089)
Saturday, 30 May (Sara & Carrol, Alan 7:40A, OU4562, Rick & Dale, 8:05A, LH2475)
Tour ends with transfer to the airport.
Option A: Everything
Laurence Barker
Rick Herold & Dale Matlock
Alan Cutler
Option B: Venice/Croatia
Catherine Gilbert
Patsy & Dale Meyers
Cal Cortright & Ron Jenkins
Venice “Lite”
Mickie McElroy (2 nights)
Carrol Smith & Sara Lewis (1 night)
Option C: Croatia Only
Mickie McElroy
Option D: Croatia & Sailing
Carrol Smith & Sara Lewis