Croatia

Pearl of the Adriatic

Led by:

The Rev. Steve Wilson
Grace Episcopal Church
Carthage, MO

August 20 - 31, 2007

DAY 1, Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - Depart the United States for our trans-Atlantic flight with superior in-flight service.  Dinner on board the aircraft D

DAY 2, Wedednesday. September 19, 2007 – We will arrive in Dubrovnik, Croatia, which Lord Byron called the “Pearl of the Adriatic.  This city was an independent republic for over 400 years and it retains its ancient character within its fortress walls.  After driving through Cavtat (“Civitas,” the ancient Roman city which is now a garden suburb), we will arrive at our hotel, the Grand Argentina, one of the premier hotels in Southern Europe.  The afternoon is free to wander the beaches, visit the city (a pleasant walk from the hotel) or sit in the garden admiring the views of the city’s ancient walls while sipping a glass of local Grk (“Greek”) white wine.  We will have dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik. BD

DAY 3, Thursday, September 20, 2007. - We begin the day with a guided tour of the city.  The city is so small that we will be able to take the walking tour taking in all the major sites and including entrance Knezev Dvor (Bishop’s Palace).  This building was originally built in the 15th century but reconstructed several times over the years in a combination of late-Gothic and early Renaissance styles.  It features an arcaded loggia and an internal courtyard.  Once our morning tour is completed, you will have time to walk around the city on your own or perhaps take a ferry to the Elaphite Islands where the nobility of the republic had their summer homes.  Dinner and overnight in Dubrovnik. BD

DAY 4, Friday, September 21, 2007 – After breakfast, we board our coach for a day excursion to Montenegro, the planet’s youngest nation.  We will visit Kotor, Budva and Sveti Stefan, lovely small cities clustered around the Bay of Kotor, Europe’s southern-most fjord.  These small towns had such a maritime tradition that Peter the Great sent his first class of Russian naval students to Kotor to learn to sail.  On the way back, we have dinner at the famed Konavoski Komin restaurant, which serves the traditional fare of Konavle (the “Canals”), a region famous throughout Croatia for its regional cuisine.  We will overnight in Dubrovnik. BD

DAY 5, Saturday, September 22, 2007 – We will have breakfast at the hotel and then board our coach and drive to board the ferry for our adventure to Korčula Island.  Upon arrival, we will have a guided city tour of this, Southern Dalmatia’s most sophisticated and most visited island and once the home of Marco Polo.  There will be free time on your own this afternoon before we return to Dubrovnik for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 6 – Sunday, September 23. 2007 - Today we leave Dubrovnik and drive along the Makarska Riviera (where Maraschino liquer is made) to Međjugorje, site of the famous apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the 1980s.  This quick jaunt into the Catholic section of Bosnia-Herzegovina reminds of the ethnically mixed nature of the former Yugoslavia.  After a visit to the major sites of Mary’s appearance to the shepherd children, we will have free time in Medjugorje before continuing to our hotel in Trogir.  The Hotel Tragos is a small baroque city mansion just steps away from the cathedral and the main square—we have the entire hotel to ourselves!  The hotel provides the perfect location to watch the city’s korso, where everyone, young and old, turn out to walk the streets for a half hour of socializing around sunset.  Dinner and overnight in Trogir. BD

DAY 7 – Monday, September 24, 2007 – We begin our day with tours of Trogir and Split, a city nearby which is built within the walls of the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s retirement palace.  In Split, we will how the early Christians converted the works of the last persecuting emperor into churches—his mausoleum, for instance, is now the cathedral.  In the 18th century, visiting English architects made sketches of the remaining portions of the palace which later influenced the design of Washington DC.  We will have dinner and overnight in Trogir. BD

DAY 8 – Tuesday, September 25, 2007 – All aboard again!  Today we sail to Hvar Island, famous for its fields of lavender and elegant city palaces.  There will be plenty of time for browsing, snacking and shopping here.  Perhaps you will find some of the rare lace that is woven by Dominican Nuns from cactus fibers.  At the very least, buy a bottle of lavender essence to keep this island of flowers alive in your memory during the coming winter months.  Dinner and overnight in Trogir. BD

DAY 9 – Wednesday, September 26, 2007 – Today is a busier day as we visit Šibenik, a small city north of Trogir where we will take a city tour with a local guide.  Then we will visit the famous Krka National Park, famous for its many waterfalls which tumble down the Dinaric Alps on their way to the Adriatic, making it a moist green oasis in this Mediterranean landscape.  Dinner and overnight in Trogir. BD

DAY 10 – Thursday, September 27, 2007 – A leisurely drive back to Dubrovnik this morning with an entire afternoon free to continue your explorations or this enchanting city.  Try an afternoon snack of prsut (prosciutto ham) and paski sir (white goat cheese).  We will have a gala farewell dinner tonight at the famous Konavoski Dvori restaurant.  We will overnight in Dubrovnik. BD

DAY 11: Friday, September 28, 2007 – After breakfast in our Dubrovnik hotel, we will transfer to the airport for our return flights to the United States having had wonderful exploration of the enchanting country of Croatia. BL

Price: $3,999.00.  Price is based on double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Springfield, MO. on United and Croatian Air.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single suppliment costs are available on request.

Final Payments are due on July 15, 2007

Cancellation penalties
February 15 – May 1, $200.00 per person
May 2 - July 14, $300.00 per person
After July 16, NO REFUND

An application for travel insurance will be included with the receipt for your deposit.  We strongly recommend that you seriously consider this coverage.

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.