Day  1  &  2:    Tampa  –  Madrid    Prepare  yourself  for  the  trip  of  a  lifetime  as  we   embark   upon   an   overnight   trans  Atlantic   flight   from   Tampa,   waking   up   in  Madrid,   Europe’s   highest   capital   city   at  over   2,000   feet   above   sea   level.       After  gathering   our   luggage,   clearing   customs,  and   meeting   our   Tour   Director,   we   will  leave  Madrid   for   a  ½  day   excursion   and   a  guided  visit  to  King  Philip  II’s  400  year  old  retreat,   the  Monestario   de   la   San   Lorenzo  which  stands  at  3,500  ft,  above  sea  level   in  the   Guadarrama   Mountains   and   boasts  2,600  windows,  1,200  doors,  and  over  100  miles  of  passages.        Later   this   afternoon,   providing   it   has   re-­‐opened   from   a   3   year   refurbishment,   we  will   visit   the   Valley   of   the   Fallen,   Spain’s  monument   to   the   fallen   victims   of   the  Spanish  Civil  War,  and  final  resting  place  of  General   Franco,   Spain’s   longtime   fascist  dictator.     The   monument   itself   is   actually  underground,   but   atop   the   hill   stands   the  world’s   largest  monumental   cross.     A   500  ft.   granite   cross,   with   a   funicular   that   will  take  us  up  to  the  base  for  an  amazing  view.    Just   a   short  drive   takes   us  back   to  Madrid  to   check   into   our   hotel   and   where   our  traditional  Spanish  dinner  is  waiting.          Day  3:    Madrid  &  Segovia      Our   morning   adventure   takes   us   to   the  quaint  medieval  town  of  Segovia  where  we  will   see  a  2,000  year  old  Roman  Aqueduct  that  is  100  feet  tall  and  2,500  feet  long,  has  118   arches,   and   20,00   granite   blocks,   all  without  any  mortar.    Up  until   the   late  19th  century,   this   aqueduct   still   carried   water,  and  they  say  it  could  still  function  today.      Next   on   our   journey   is   the   Cathedral,   a  Renaissance  church  and  one  of  Spain’s,  last  major  Gothic  churches.      The  main  attraction  of  Segovia  however,   is  the  Alcazar,  a  grand  palace  from  the  Middle    Ages      

The  front  of  the  Alcazar  is  built  like  the  bow   of   a   ship,   and  overlooks   the   town  of  Segovia  and  the  Eresma  River  .    Another   short  drive   takes  us   back   into  Madrid  for  lunch  and  a  brief  orientation  tour.    Next,  we  have  a  guided  tour  of  the  Royal   Palace,   listed   as   Europe’s   third  greatest  palace  ,  only  behind  Versailles,  and  Vienna’s  Schonbrunn.    Built  by  King  Philip  V  the  grandson  of  King  Louis  XIV,  it   is   very   French   in   design,   and   truly  magnificent.       Later   today  we  will   visit  the  Prado  Museum,  home  to  many  great  masterpieces   by   Goya,   Velazquez,  Bosch,   El   Greco,   Raphael,   and   many  more.     Tonight   we   say   “Adios  Madrid”  as  we  enjoy  a  wonderful  meal  in  one  of  Madrid’s  top  rated  restaurants.    Day  4  :    Madrid  –  Granada    Today   we   head   south   across   the  “parched   earth”   land   of   Miguel   de  Cervantes’   Man   of   La   Mancha,   Don  Quixote  catching  glimpses  of  windmills,  sun   bleached   red   roofs,   and  with   time  permitting,   a   brief   stop   for   a   photo   op  at  the  ruined  Castle  in  Consuegra.        

This   afternoon   we   reach   Granada,   the   last  stronghold   of   the   Moors.     The   Alhambra  Palace  was  home  to  the   last  Sultans  in  Spain,  and   the   site  of  Washington  Irving’s  “Tales  of  the  Alhambra”.    Upon  arriving   in  Granada,  we  will  check   into  our   hotel   and   then   take   a   short   city   tour  ending  up  at  San  Nicolas  viewpoint,  hopefully  around  sunset  for  the  most  spectacular  views  of  the  Alhambra.      Day  5:    Granada  –  Nerja  –  Costa  del  Sol    Today’s   highlight   is   the   magnificent  Alhambra   a   14th   century   palace   of   the  Moorish   Empire.    Within   the   confines   of   the  Alhambra,   we  will   take   a   guided   tour   of   the  Gardens,   Palacios   Nazaries,   Charles   V’s  Palace,  and  the  Alcazba.      After  a  brief  stop  at  the   Royal   Chapel   where   Queen   Isabella   and  King   Ferdinand   are   buried,   we   will   have  lunch,   and   head   south   across   the   Sierra  Nevada   Mountains   to   the   coastal   town   of  Nerja.    In  Nerja  we  will   have   time   to   explore,   shop,  and  take  a  stroll  along  the  Balcony  of  Europe  overlooking   the   Mediterranean   Sea.   From  Nerja,  we  travel  to  Costa  del  Sol  for  the  next  3  nights.    Dinner  tonight  will  be  in  the  hotel.