Place-Segovia,Region of Castilla and Leon, Spain
Cost:
$2,270 per person - land package only
(based on double occupancy) ($175 single supplement)
Participation: limited to 8 MOTIVATED, FUN-LOVING TRAVELERS. (Minimum 5)
You don't need to speak Spanish, You don't even need to know how to cook! All you need is a love of good food and wine and an adventurous spirit!
SATURDAY: Morning arrival Madrid and mini-bus to Segovia.Welcome aperitif and program orientation.Lunch at gourmet restaurant NARIZOTAS.After siesta, evening transport to PARADOR, for panoramic view. Then to SAN PEDRO ABANTO for tapas and troubadours. Late night transport to hotel.
SUNDAY: 9 am breakfast in hotel. Art and architecture orientation followed by stroll through PLAZA MAYOR and CATHEDRAL. Late morning departure for the Castilian countryside with stops along the Route of the Castles flora bodega visit, PEDRAZA tour, and roast lamb meal. Return to hotel for siesta.Nouvelle cuisine dinner at the elegant LA CONCEPCION in the Plaza Mayor.
MONDAY: 9 am breakfast at hotel. Language session and overview of culinary course. 10 am transport to LaMatita for first cooking class, with hands-on preparation, enjoyment of the meal, and informal discussion. 4:00 pm return to hotel for siesta. Early evening walk to visit the JUDERIA (old Jewish quarter)and synagogue, meet a well known ceramicist, and view the world-famous AQUEDUCT from several perspectives. TASQUEO (cafe crawl) supper including a stop at the internationally-recognized CANDIDO restaurant-museum.
TUESDAY: Hotel breakfast, second cooking lesson and mid-day meal at La Matita. Mid-morning hike from LaMatitato MONASTERIOin the foothills of the Sierra. Siesta at hotel.Afternoon visits to ALCAZAR castle and the atelier of a Segovian painter. Dinner at JOSE MARIA restaurant.The chef-owner will join us for a discussion of cuisine and wine in Castilla.
WEDNESDAY: Hotel breakfast. A day's excursion in to Spanish history including Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen Basilica and Franco's tomb), El Escorial (Phillip II's magnificent Renaissance dream),and La Granja (Phillip V's homage to Versailles).Lunch is a picnic at atypical Spanish merendero.Siesta followed by free time in Segovia. Your hosts are available to arrange activities according to your interests. Dinner of house specialties at LASCOLUMNAS, restaurant operated by Don Primitivo Martín, father of Pepe and Primi of La Matita.
THURSDAY: 8am breakfast. 9 am visit to Segovia's weekly Open Market with Chef Pepe. Participants assist in selection of ingredients for third cooking class meal. Transport to La Matita. After siesta,meet with yet another Segovian character or two. Wine-tasting at local viñatería. Dinner at DUQUE, Segovia's hundred year old restaurant. Chef Pedro will give us a personal tour of his kitchen.
FRIDAY:
Breakfast at hotel. Final hands-on cooking class, farewell mid-day
meal and folklore show at La Matita, with presentation of awards.Late
afternoon free for shopping, final sight-seeing and packing.Supper
is a selection of whimsical gastronomic delights followed by a"penultimate"
late-night cocktail with your host sat Segovia's #1 nocturnal
café.
SATURDAY: 8am breakfast and bus to Madrid Airport. Adios, Segovia.