Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/669304
N O R T H E R N S P A I N A N D T H E D O U R O V A L L E Y DEPART AUSTRALIA Day 1: Monday 22 May Boarding our evening Emirates flight to Europe, we're looking forward to skirting the periphery of northern Spain and Portugal. ARRIVE BARCELONA (SPAIN) Day 2: Tuesday 23 May Located just off Las Ramblas, hotel El Palace is the perfect base for discovering Barcelona. An afternoon at leisure precedes dinner at the hotel. BARCELONA Day 3: Wednesday 24 May Bring the Spanish spirit to life touring the Gothic Quarter, including the ever evolving Sagrada Familia. The fragrance of saffron infused paella will lead you to the beach for a tantalising seaside meal. Then, explore Gaudi's beguiling candy cane creations at Park Guell until sunset dapples the city in muted evening pastels. Tonight's Welcome Dinner in a special location is sure to impress. BARCELONA Day 4: Thursday 25 May Follow the sea breeze further afield today. Perhaps your palate will guide you on a gourmet inspired tour of local Catalan cuisine, learning the secrets of local artisan food and wine? Or maybe you will strike out further to admire the mountain monastery of Montserrat, with its iconic basilica. We reconvene for a dine-around this evening. BARCELONA – SAN SEBASTIAN Day 5: Friday 26 May After a morning at leisure and a traditional tapas lunch, we're ready to open our hearts to San Sebastian aboard an afternoon flight. Ever a highlight, this diminutively sized town is a proud purveyor of fiercely unique Basque culture. The air is flavoured with salt, the taste of sangria lingers on your lips and bars laden with Pintxos and Basque beer beckon. The Hotel Londres is a personification of elegance and timeless beauty. An inhouse dinner with sea views sets the scene. VILLASANA DE MENA JOIN EL TRANSCANTABRICO GRAN LUJO Day 6: Saturday 27 May Transferring to Bilbao, we meet the esteemed El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo. Spain's oldest vintage train is a hotel on wheels steeped in old world glamour, exclusively chartered for Captain's Choice guests. Settling into our elegant private cabins in their beautiful saloon cars, this is the last time we will have to unpack for seven nights. Soon the cityscape of Bilbao fades into rural pastoral scenes on the tracks to Villasana de Mena. Don't expect any of the locals to speak English here. This evening the train remains stationary as it will every evening so you can enjoy an uninterrupted sleep, dreaming of the journey to come. B a l e a r i c S e a B a y o f B i s c a y A t l a n t i c S e a SPAIN PORTUGAL Included Flight Coach El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo Spirit of Chartwell Barcelona San Sebastian Bilbao Santander Arriondas Candas Luarca Regua Pinhao Barca d'Alva Salamanca Viveiro Ferrol Santiago de Compostela Porto Lisbon Fall in love with the sundrenched beauty of San Sebastian Opposite: Capture the essence of the Douro River 1800 650 738 | captainschoice.com.au 25