Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia A Balkan Adventure!

Transcription

1 Jm Gold Internatonal Folk Dance Tours Albana, Bulgara, Greece, Macedona, Serba A Balkan Adventure! Sofa, Belogradchk, Vdn, Nsh, Skopje, Ochrd, Korca, Lake Prespa, Btola, Sandansk, Plovdv, Local Koprvshttsa folk festval Folk dancng, folk musc, culture, hstory, art, and adventure! July 29-August 12, 2018 Led by Jm Gold and Lee Otterholt Meet local folklore groups n Bulgara, Macedona, and Greece. Dance workshops wth choreographer Ncola Encev and gada player Ventz Andonov. For dancers, non-dancers, and anyone wth a love of travel and culture 5 UNESCO World Hertage stes, 16 hstorcal ctes, 4 Natonal parks, 2 tectonc lakes, breath-takng scenery, prehstorc cave wth Neolthc drawngs. Internatonal folk dancng wth Lee Otterholt Vst Eastern Orthodox churches and monasteres that helped save Balkan natonal dentty through 500 years under Turksh rule. Attend local folklore festval n Koprvshttsa 14 overnghts wth breakfast at 5-star hotels (4), 4star hotels (8), Koprvshttsa guest houses (2). Land and Ar prce ncludes round-trp arfare, cty tours, transfers, transfers,hotels, two meals daly, and our own prvate bus.

2 ITINERARY Day 1: July 29, Sunday: Sofa Transfer to our hotel. Orentaton and meet-and-greet dnner. Overnght n 5 star Grand Hotel Sofa. Day 2: July 30, Monday: Sofa & Natonal Museum of Hstory Mornng guded walkng tour of ancent and contemporary Sofa. Vst churches from Roman and Byzantne tme, erected on top of older Thracan sanctuares. Contnue down Sofa s unque yellow-brck road, lned wth attractve archtecture, to St. George Roman Rotunda - the oldest fully preserved buldng from the 4th century, Alexander Nevsk Cathedral one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals n the world; Natonal Theater and the ex-royal Palace. Then St. Nedelya Church, Banya Bash Mosque, and Sofa Synagogue. These three stand close together and are spoken of as the trangle of tolerance among faths. Afternoon vst to Natonal Museum of Hstory. Evenng folk dancng wth Lee. Overnght n 5 star Grand Hotel Sofa. Day 3: July 31, Tuesday: Sofa Vratsa Montana Belogradchk Drve north - to the unknown Northwest of the country va Vratsa and Montana to vst Belogradchk - world-famous for ts mraculous rocks decorated wth a medeval fortress. We ll meet a local youth folk group eager to show us dances of northwest area. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz. Overnght n 4 star Skalte Hotel (The Rocks) Day 4: August 1, Wednesday: Belogradchk Vdn Magura Cave Belogradchk Vst Vdn, ancent Celtsh Dunona and Roman Bonona. Cty tour ncludng vst to Baba Vda Fortress bult n , on the foundatons of Roman baston. After a short walk along the Danube Rver, we ll have lunch at a local rver-vew restaurant. Afternoon return to Belogradchk va Magurata Cave to see prehstorc wall pantngs. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz. Overnght n 4 star Skalte Hotel (The Rocks) Day 5: August 2: Thursday: Belogradchk Zajechar (SERBIA) Nsh Skopje (MACEDONIA) Drve nto Serba at Vrushka Chuka check pont. Vst Zajechar cty and UNESCO lsted Felx Romulana memoral complex bult n the 3rd c. AD by Emperor Galerus. Contnue south to Macedona. Stop n Nsh, Serba's thrd largest cty, famous as the brthplace of Constantne the Great, founder of Constantnople. Short tour of the cty center ncludes vst to Medeval Fortress. Contnue south to arrve n Skopje. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz Overnght n 5 star Marrott Hotel. Day 6: August 3, Frday: Skopje Mornng walkng tour of old and new Skopje. Sce ganng ndependence some 20 years ago and amng at strengthenng ts dentty, Macedona has many new and dramatc monuments n the center of the captal. See statues of Alexander the Great, hs father and Phlp of Macedon. We ll vst the House of Mother Teresa, born n Skopje n Then cross the hstorc Stone Brdge and enter Orental Skopje. Stroll through the Old Bazaar, try freshly made tradtonal food, offered all around you; savor a

3 cup of Turksh coffee or hunt out bargans at the markets. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz Overnght n 5 star Marrott Hotel. Day 7: August 4, Saturday: Skopje Struga Ohrd Mornng drve south to Ohrd va Struga for a folk workshop n a nearby vllage. We wll see central Struga and ts crystal clear Drm Rver flowng from Ohrd Lake. Late afternoon check-n at your Ohrd hotel on the bank of eponymous lake. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz. Overnght n 4 star Royal Vew Hotel. Day 8: August 5, Sunday: Ohrd & St. Naum Monastery Mornng walkng tour of Ohrd, the Cty of Lghts: Cradle of Slavc wrtten Language and lterature. Explore the Bazaar, and the Lower Gate, a remnant of ctadel surroundng the entre cty, St. Sofa Church, and ste of the frst Slavc Unversty, all amdst stunnng vews of the lake. Afternoon boat trp and panoramc drve around the Lake Ohrd, one of the oldest, deepest and clearest lakes n the world wth very unque flora and fauna. Travelng south you wll vst the Bay of Bones Museum a fne reconstructon of a Neolthc settlement from 1200 BC. A bt further south, n a breathtakng natural settng, s the famous St. Naum Monastery wth ts flock of peacocks. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz. Overnght n 4star Royal Vew Hotel. Day 9: August 6, Monday: Ohrd Pogradets (ALBANIA) Korcha Lemos Vllage (GREECE) Mornng drve to Albana. We ll follow the eastern coastal lne of Ohrd Lake though scenc Natonal Park Galchtsa. After crossng the border, we ll arrve n Pogradets, the Albanan pearl on the southern lake coast, a tentatve UNESCO ste. Sghtseeng tour of the old town and Drlon Park. If permtted, we wll vst the vlla of the former Albanan dctator Enver Hoxha n Tushemsht vllage. Then, travel to the hstorcal town of Korcha, a unque mxture of relgons and ethnc groups snce Roman tmes. Then, n less than an hour, you're on the eastern sde of Prespa Lake at our choreographer Yanns Konstantnou Mmallones hotel. Overnght n Mmallones Famly owned Hotel. Day 10: August 7, Tuesday: Lemos Vllage and local vllages and Prespa Lake Full day dancng and nature sghtseeng wth Yanns. Vsts to characterstc vllages Agos Germanos and Agos Achllos, stuated on an sland n the smaller Prespa Lake. Near the latter vllage, n Agos Achllos baslca n 1965 a Greek archaeologst dscovers the grave of the Bulgaran kng Samuel ( ). Free tme to hke around or sunbathe on the bg terrace of the hotel. Yanns wll teach and show us popular folk dances from the Florna/Greek Macedona regon. Also a costume demonstraton wth photos and vdeos on the hstory, tradtons and culture of the area. Overnght n Mmallones Famly owned Hotel. Day 11: August 8, Wednesday: Lemos Vllage Btola (MACEDONIA) Strumtsa Sandansk (BULGARIA) Drve to Macedona across ts southern border to hstorc Btola. Folk dance

4 workshop wth Zlatko's group, Folklore Assocaton Pletenka from Btola, along wth the orgnal Btola orchestra Rudna. After lunch, stroll Shrok Sokak (Wde Street) wth ts cafés, colorful neo-classcal buldngs, Clock Tower, and St. Demetrus Church. Then drve eastwards to the border wth Bulgara to our spa hotel a good chance for body and soul recovery through ts water therapy. Evenng dance workshop wth Ncky and Ventz. Overnght n a 4 star SPA Hotel n Sandansk. Day 12: August 9, Thursday: Sandansk Rla Monastery Samokov Plovdv Drve to Plovdv. Vst UNESCO lsted, 10 th century Rla monastery before stoppng n Samokov to see the 19 th century Home of the Areh famly. Hear the dramatc story of the frst modern banker n the country from the turn of the 20th century. The Sephardc famly Areh bult a mnor empre of metallurgy, bankng, real estate, tannng and textle as well as brdges and publc fountans n and around Samokov. Afternoon arrval n Plovdv, artstc captal of Bulgara. Overnght n a 4 star Ramada Trmontum Hotel. Day 13: August 10: Frday: Plovdv Starosel Koprvshttsa Mornng walkng tour of Plovdv s Old Town, often compared to Montmartre Hll n Pars. See masterpeces of 18-19th century Bulgaran cty archtecture, orthodox churches, a 15th century Mosque, and the 2nd century Roman Theater, bult by Emperor Trajan. Vst the country s rchest Ethnographc Museum set n a baroque house from Then jon the pedestran stream n the man shoppng street, offerng numerous opportuntes for shoppng, snacks, coffee amdst the elegant atmosphere of early 20th century archtecture. Afternoon departure for Koprvshttsa, stoppng at Starosel vllage for a vst at a Thracan Temple from 5 th century BC. In Koprvshttsa jon the local folk festval openng. Overnght n Tradtonal Country Guest Houses. Day 14: August 11, Saturday: Koprvshttsa and t annual Local Folk Festval Full day at the festval. folk dancng, sngng, ethnc costumes, performng groups, and photo opportuntes! Vst preserved houses from the Bulgaran revval perod. Farewell dnner wth wne and tour memores sharng n tradtonal Country Guest Houses. Day 15: August 12, Sunday: Koprvshttsa Sofa Arport Breakfast. Transfer to Sofa Arport for your flght home. (2 hours) About Jm Gold Jm brngs a love of musc, people and languages to hs tours and dance classes, makng them a joy for all ages. For over 25 years, he has led Jm Gold Internatonal Folk Tours to Bulgara, Greece, Norway, Turkey, Hungary, Israel, Jordan, Croata, Slovena, Czech Republc, Slovaka, Egypt, Tunsa, Russa, the Baltcs and Span to experence ther hstory and culture, from a folk dance perspectve. He s also the author of ten books. Hs latest s: 50 Folk Dances Choreographed by Jm Gold. Jm s a classcal gutarst and folk snger as well. He has performed on TV, at unverstes and schools, and on natonal rado. About Lee Otterholt Lee Otterholt, born n USA of Norwegan-Amercan parents, has lved and worked n Norway as a professonal dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He founded the Center for

5 Internatonal Folk Dance n Oslo, and was professor of dance folklore at the Norwegan Natonal College of Ballet, and Unversty College of Oslo. Lee establshed folk dance and performng groups n Norway, taught at festvals and workshops throughout Europe, Unted States, and East Asa, and authored folk dance and nstructonal manuals for Norwegan schools. He was a choreographer for the Openng Ceremony of the Wnter Olympc Games n Lllehammer. Vst to see YOUTUBE tour vdeos! Land only: $3495 Land plus group arfare: $4995* *Due to changes n arlne polces, ndvdual arfares (f booked early) are now lower than group rates. REGISTRATION FORM: Enclosed s my regstraton depost of $200 per person. Sngle supplement: $595. Addtonal charges: $145 hotel taxes and servce. Gratutes and drnks durng meals not ncluded. Program subject to change wthout notce. Cancellatons 90 days pror to departure: Total refund: Less than 60 days: No refund. Travel nsurance always recommended. Total balance due May 1, Name Address No. of people Phone_( ) emal Make checks payable to: Jm Gold Internatonal 497 Cumberland AvenuTee, aneck, NJ U.S.A. Phone (201) Web ste at Emal: jmgold@jmgold.com JIM GOLD INTERNATIONAL: TERMS AND CONDITIONS Ar Transportaton: Internatonal ar not ncluded except as noted. Rates: Tour rates are subject to change n the event of currency fluctuatons or ncrease n costs. Inclusve tour rates are per person n double occupancy. In case of computer or human bllng errors, we reserve the rght to re-nvoce clents wth corrected bllng. Reservatons: Deposts and Payments: Depost of $200 per person s requred at tme of reservaton. Balance s due 90 days pror to departure date. Changes: Prces and program subject to change wthout notce Baggage: One baggage per person and a carry on s allowed. Cancellatons: Cancellatons 45 days pror to departure: Refund 50% of total prce. Less than 30 days: No refund. Addtonally, any cancellaton fees mposed by the respectve hotels, arlnes, tour companes and cruse lnes wll be charged. Travel Insurance s non-refundable as are unused servces. Gratutes: Tppng to gudes, drvers, transfer personnel and hotel staff s left to the dscreton of the partcpants and s not ncluded. Insurance: Tour partcpants are strongly recommended to purchase nsurance for trp cancellaton, trp nterrupton, accdent, sckness and/or loss of baggage and personal effects. Dspute Resoluton: The sole and exclusve method of resolvng any dspute whch mght rse under ths agreement and any agreement between Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc., and another party (es), the brochure or webste and deemed to arse n the Unted States of Amerca, shall be by arbtraton before the Amercan Arbtraton Assocaton n New York Cty pursuant to the Assocaton s rules then n effect.

6 Any such arbtraton must take place n N.Y.C., N.Y. In any such arbtraton, the substantve law of N.Y. wll apply. In the event a tour partcpant should fnd a servce or hotel unacceptable, t should be reported mmedately to the local representatve and to Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. upon ther mmedate return. No clam shall be deemed legtmate f not reported to the local representatve and f reported after the scheduled servce or after departure from the hotel. Responsblty: Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. Of 497 Cumberland Avenue, Teaneck, NJ U.S.A acts solely n ts capacty as marketng agent on behalf of ts supplers such as ar carrers, ground operator, tax supplers, motor coach supplers, excurson or tour companes and hotels dentfed on documents suppled n connecton wth purchase of the tours. Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. shall not be held responsble for any wrongful or neglgent acts or omssons by any suppler or other party not drectly owned or exclusvely controlled by Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. or by the falure of any equpment operated by any such suppler or other party. Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. shall not be lable for any loss, njury or damage to person, property or otherwse, n connecton wth any accommodatons, transportaton, or other servces, resultng drectly or ndrectly from any acts of God, dangerous ncdent to the sea, fre, breakdown of machnery or equpment, acts of government or other authortes, wars whether or not declared, hostltes, cvl dsturbances, strkes, rots, thefts, plferage, epdemcs, quarantnes, medcal or customs regulatons, defaults, delays or cancellatons of or changes to tnerares or schedules, or from any causes resultng from nsuffcent or mproperly ssued passports, vsas, or other documents passports, vsas, or other documents. Nether Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. nor any of ts afflates or subsdares shall be or become lable or responsble for any addtonal expenses or lablty sustaned or ncurred by the tour member as a result of any of the aforementoned causes. Tour partcpant agrees that any clam aganst Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. s subject only to the jursdcton of the courts of the country n whch the cause of acton arose. The rght s reserved to substtute hotels and to alter tnerares. The rght s also reserved to cancel the tour pror to departure. If any tour s canceled pror to departure, Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. wll be responsble only up to the amount of mones Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. receved less any cancellaton fee appled by a suppler as defned above. Travel Insurance s recommended. Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. s not responsble or lable for defaults of those not drectly under the exclusve control of Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. All tckets and vouchers ssued for transportaton and servces are subject to the terms and condtons under whch such transportaton and servces are provded to the partcpant by the owners or contractors. The traveler assumes full responsblty for, and hereby releases Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. from any duty of checkng and verfyng any and all passport, vsa, vaccnaton or other entry requrements for each destnaton, and all safety and securty condtons durng the length of the proposed travel. Should any clause contaned here n be determned vod by any court of law, such a fndng shall not affect the other clauses contaned heren; each clause s a covenant whch stand on ts own. The recept of your depost and/or fnal payment wll ndcate that you have read these Terms and Condtons, and that you have agreed to them. Prces are subject to change. Jm Gold Internatonal, Inc. 497 Cumberland Avenue, Teaneck, NJ U.S.A. Phone: (201) e-mal: jmgold@jmgold.com

7