Men of La Mancha
Cervantes’ Central Spain
October 4 - 14, 2007

INTRODUCTION

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was born in 1564, the same year as William Shakespeare. Like his British contemporary, he became one of the greatest figures of world literature. As a young man Cervantes was a soldier, became a sailor, was captured by pirates, got sold into slavery, and was eventually ransomed in 1580. He had certainly seen much of the world by a young age, and it inspired his first writings.
     Cervantes wrote his masterpiece, Don Quixote de la Mancha, to mock the popular novels of chivalry, which glorified the ideals of courtesy, constancy, bravery, and loyalty—all qualities that Cervantes found utterly lacking in the world. His central character, Alonso Quijana, is an old man who has read so many stories about brave knights errant that, in his half-mad and senile state, he believes himself to be a knight called Don Quixote.
     The adjective “quixotic” means “idealistic and impractical.” It derives from the protagonist’s name, and the expression “tilting at windmills” also comes from this story. However, there was nothing quixotic or mad about Quijana/Quixote at all. He was just a man looking to bust out of his normal routine in search of a little adventure. And he found it, or at least thought he had, as he battled with other knights, beasts, giants, and magicians while traipsing all over central Spain.
     More than four centuries have passed since Don Quixote first wandered into people’s imaginations, but his passionate spirit lives on in Spain today. La Mancha is the heartland of Spain, and its capital is Madrid. With a population of just over three million, Madrid is Europe’s fourth largest city (after London, Paris and Milan) and its highest capital, at 2,132 feet above sea level.
     Madrid’s strategic location at the geographic center of the Iberian peninsula made it a prized possession among conquering hordes. All of them left their mark on the city after a hasty departure required by the arrival of the next host of invaders. The historic old town, also known as “Madrid de las Austrias” (referring to the Hapsburg empire) is a living example of the city’s 16th and 17th century heyday.
     To the south of Madrid is the ancient Spanish capital of Toledo. Rising above the plains and a gorge of the Rio Tajo, the city is dominated by the magnificent cathedral and Alcazar. Cuenca, a provincial capital famous for its hanging houses, is one of the most attractive of Spain’s medieval towns. Superbly situated on a plain overlooked by the Sierra de Gredos, Avila is world famous for its perfectly preserved 11th-century walls and as the birthplace of the 16th-century mystic, St Teresa. Segovia is renowned for its 800 meter long Roman aqueduct, one of the best preserved structures of its kind in the world, and its fairytale castle.
     All of these extraordinary places are not part of some madman’s impossible dream, but the very real rewards of a noble quest for gallantry, beauty and a rollicking good time on a journey with Toto Tours—all of which Don Quixote would heartily approve.

ITINERARY

Thursday, October 4, 2007
Depart for Madrid

Take an overnight flight to Madrid, Spain, arriving by mid-day tomorrow. We encourage you to consider arriving one day early so that you will be rested for the beginning of the tour, and we can easily arrange an additional night for you at our Madrid hotel.

Friday, October 5, 2007
Arrive in Madrid

Because we are not arranging group flights for this tour, once you arrive in Madrid, transfer via taxi to our hotel. The afternoon is at leisure until the group meets in the hotel lobby for introductions at the cocktail hour followed by a Welcome Dinner.     (Dinner included)

Saturday, October 6, 2007
Madrid Sightseeing

Enjoy a full-day tour of Madrid today. It is intended to provide an overview of the city and a look at its most important points of interest. In addition to a panoramic scenic tour, we visit the heart of Old Madrid, the Plaza Mayor, where bullfights, beheadings and coronations took place in the 17th Century. Stroll through gorgeous Retiro Park and tour the collection at the Prado Museum. Today is a generous taste of Madrid that will leave you wanting more!     (Breakfast)

Sunday, October 7, 2007
Cuenca

After breakfast we drive East of Madrid to the World Heritage medieval town of Cuenca in the province of La Mancha. The town in famous for its hanging houses perched precipitously and precariously on the edge of the cliffs of the Huecar Canyon. Enjoy a half day sightseeing tour included a stroll through the town center, seeing the Plaza Mayor and town Cathedral. Also enjoy a 5-km walk through Huecar Canyon with its narrow paths and suspension bridge that will take us right underneath the hanging houses. Dinner is included at our hotel tonight.     (Breakfast / Dinner)

Monday, October 8, 2007
Quixote Trail (Belmonte Castle, Puerto Lapice, Consuegra, Toledo)

Enjoy a full day excursion on the Quixote Trail. From Cuenca, our motorcoach first heads toward Belmonte to visit the 15th century, hexagonal-shaped castle on the hilltop overlooking the town and valley. Our next stop will be the small town of Puerto Lapice (12 miles/20km southeast of Consuegra), which has a small inn that matches Cervantes’ description of the inn where Don Quixote took his vows as a knight errant. Then it’s on to Consuegra to see the windmills of Campo de Criptana, which Quixote mistook for giants. Finally, we complete our Quixotic journey by arriving in Toledo. The evening is free to explore Toledo.     (Breakfast / Lunch)

Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Toledo Sightseeing

Today enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Toledo, a fortified city dating from Roman times when it was the capital of Visigothic Spain. Visit the 6th century Toledo Cathedral, and the church of Sante Tome, where you will see El Greco’s large canvas of “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.” You also visit the city’s oldest and largest synagogue - the 12th century Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue. Returning to our hotel, the remainder of the day is free.     (Breakfast)

Wednesday, October 10, 2007
El Escorial / Avila / Segovia

After breakfast check out of the hotel and drive to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial for a tour of this World Heritage Site. This expansive site was built by King Philip II of Spain as a necropolis for the Spanish Monarchs as well as a summer residence.
     Continue on to Avila, the highest city on the entire Iberian peninsula (3,710 ft. above sea level) and another World Heritage site. We stop here for lunch (on your own) and a walking tour within the perfectly preserved medieval walls.
     Finally, we arrive in Segovia in the late afternoon. After hotel check-in, the remainder of the day is free.      (Breakfast)

Thursday, October 11, 2007
Segovia Sightseeing

Today enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Segovia, known alternately as the City of Poets, a Roman marvel and a centerpiece of the Bourbon Kingdom. Tour the city’s two most prominent features—the ancient Roman aqueduct with its 165 arches that rise to 10 stories in height, and the fairytale Alcazar Castle. Our tour will also include views of the Old Town, Plaza de San Martin with its Romanesque church and Renaissance mansions, the Jewish Quarter, and the Plaza Mayor. The evening is free.     (Breakfast)

Friday, October 12, 2007
La Granja de San Ildefonso / Madrid

After breakfast, check out of our hotel and board our motorcoach for the return trip to Madrid. Along the way we visit the French-style palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso that symbolizes the vast differences between the Bourbon monarchs and their dour Hapsburg predecessors. The most splendid features of the palace are the gardens and fountains, which are especially pretty in autumn, with the yellow linden in bloom and elm trees reflected in the pools.
     Continue on to Madrid and check in at our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free. Tonight enjoy dinner with an authentic flamenco show, after which you may want to partake in the city’s gay nightlife.     (Breakfast / Dinner)

Saturday, October 13, 2007
Free Day / Farewell Dinner

Today is entirely free to do as you please, whether it may be more sightseeing or planning an optional excursion around town. Tonight our group gathers one last time for a festive Farewell Dinner.     (Breakfast / Dinner)

Sunday, October 14, 2007
Depart from Madrid or Extend

After breakfast, transfer on your own to the Madrid International Airport. You may arrange your flights for any convenient time today. If you wish to extend your stay in Madrid, we can easily make hotel arrangements for you.     (Breakfast)