A Letter from Dr Bill

Transcription

1 Dear Friends, A Letter from Dr Bill I am very sorry that there has been so much confusion over the planned trip to Scotland. I have to say that this has been a very frustrating exercise for me, and I am sorry that we have not been able to get a satisfactory itinerary together sooner. I am also very unhappy that the price is so high, and this is not the fault of our travel agent, who has tried hard to put this together as economically as possible. We did decide months ago that we would INCLUDE EVERYTHING which has sent the price much higher. I still feel this was the only thing to do there are so many extra s that are not mentioned in brochure trips, unimportant things like dinners and optional trips that it would have cost you the same amount or more, but these charges are hidden. We don t want to do that to Friends. So we are left with one of two options. Option ONE is the full 14 day trip we originally planned, which has everything included, and the cost is $4, 800. This depends on us getting people. Option TWO would be for us to forget about Britain for this year. Someone has suggested maybe doing a bus tour to the East Coast of Canada and we could still look into this, and it would be a lot more economical. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? WE NEED TO DECIDE RIGHT AWAY. I am posting the Britain itinerary on the site here, and would need to know SOON who is interested in either option. If you want to go to Britain, please call or me and let me know right away. I am very sorry that this process has not gone more smoothly, and I can assure you the travel agent is quite tired of me expressing my frustrations. In his defense, he is just as frustrated with the tour companies who have given him a surprisingly difficult time. Let s see who is interested and within a few weeks we will have to make a decision as to whether this tour is a GO or no. We will make a decision BEFORE April 5 th so that you can make alternate plans shoul;d our tour not happen. Thank you for your patience and please let me know asap your thoughts. Sincerely, Bill Webster

2 Britain in Depth Robert Q s Travel Norwich, Ont. July - August 2004 AMONG FRIENDS TOUR Jul 27. Jul 28. Jul 29. Jul 30. Jul 31. Aug 01. TORONTO LONDON, ENGLAND Travel via overnight transatlantic flight to London. Meals and refreshments will be served on board the aircraft. ARRIVAL IN LONDON Trafalgar representatives are available to help you make the most of your stay. On our orientation drive, we see Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, and the area s splendid museums, the district of Knightsbridge with Harrods, St. Jame s Palace, and Westminster Abbey before checking in at our London hotel. Tonight join your touring companions and tour director for a tasty four-course dinner with wine followed by a cruise on the River Thames. (D) LONDON AT LEISURE & THEATRE OUTING A day at our own pace in this cosmopolitan city. Time to perhaps visit the Tower of London, shop at Harrod s or simply explore some antique shops? This evening, we enjoy the spectacular London staging of the Lion King at London s Lyceum Theatre after and included English Pub style dinner. (FB, D) LONDON WINCESTER BATH We stop first in Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex, and visit the immense CATHEDRAL where the murdered King William Rufus and novelist Jane Austen of Pride and Prejudice fame are buried. Try to unravel the mystery of prehistoric STONEHENGE on the way across Salisbury Plain. We arrive in Bath see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. Then time to explore this beautiful city at our own pace. This evening enjoy an excursion to the picture-book 13th-century village of Castle Combe. Two drinks of your choice and dinner at a quaint old village pub will make this a memorable evening. (FB,D) BATH GLASTONBURY - CARDIFF A fascinating journey to the cathedral city of Wells, King Arthur s Glastonbury and the Mendip Hills to the caves and limestone cliffs of the Cheddar Gorge are all part of this day s sights. We arrive in Cardiff and spend an intimate evening at Kerneys Manor, Wale s oldest inhabited house where the family will host a feast of Welsh fayre in the banqueting hall and entertain you with harp music and fine singing. (FB, D) CARDIFF CHESTER - BUXTON On through Brecon Beacons National Park, land of salmon rivers and the Welsh Mountain pony. Head north in the "The Valleys," whose iron ore and coal were the raw materials for the Industrial Revolution. Take the scenic route via Ludlow

3 and Shrewsbury with a break in the market town of Brecon. Travel north again to the walled city of Chester, the historic country town on the River Dee. On your walking tour see the Roman remains, black and white half-timbered buildings, and the two-tiered shopping arcades called the "Rows". The next two nights are spent in the elegant spa resort of Buxton, in the heart of the Peak District National Park. (FB,D) Aug 02 Aug 03 Aug 04 Aug 05 BUXTON PEAK DISTRICT EXCURSION A leisurely morning's outing to enjoy the wild beauty of the National Park. The highlight is a visit to CHATSWORTH HOUSE, the stately home of the Duke and Dutchess of Devonshire. Marvel at the opulence of the interior of this great national treasure and wander through the gardens with cascading fountains and backdrop of the rolling Derbyshire countryside. Back in Buxton the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore at your own pace. (FB,D) BUXTON GLASGOW Past the city of Manchester, once known as "Cottonopolis," we head north into the scenic Lake District for a visit to Grasmere, home of the poet William Wordsworth, father of the Romantic Period. At the Scottish border shop for gifts at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. At BIRDOSWALD ROMAN FORT on Hadrian's Wall, a local expert explains life during the Roman occupation and the ongoing archaeological excavations. Finally, we arrive in Scotland s largest city Glasgow for our overnight stay. (FB,D) GLASGOW ISLE OF SKYE INVERNESS We follow the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond to Glencoe, where the MacDonald s were treacherously massacred, and see Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, Britain s highest mountain, before we cross over to the Isle of Skye. Here visit the MUSEUM OF THE ISLES at the Clan Donald Centre for an insight into 13 centuries of clan history. On our return to the mainland, take photos of Eilean Donan Castle and watch out for the mysterious monster as via the waters of Loch Ness, we arrive in Inverness the highland capital. (FB,D) INVERNESS EDINBURGH We depart Inverness to visit a WHISKY DISTILLERY, where your guide explains the ancient art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming liquor and cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor. On to CRATHIE CHURCH, built in 1895 as a place of worship for the Royal Family. It is located opposite to the bridge leading to Balmoral Castle s main entrance. Continue on to drive through Braemar, where the Royal Highland Games have been held for over 900 years. A drive through St. Andrews, home to the royal and ancient Golf Club that gave us the rules of Golf we use today. Finally, we arrive in Edinburgh for our two night stay. No visit to Scotland's capital city would be complete without a Scottish evening with dinner, wine and a show featuring singers, dancers, bagpipers and the Ceremony of the Haggis. (FB, D)

4 Aug 06 Aug 07 Aug 08 EDINBURGH MORNING SIGHTSEEING EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Morning sightseeing with a local Guide includes an orientation drive along Princes Street and the Royal Mile, and tours of mighty EDINBURGH CASTLE and the Queen's HOLYROOD PALACE. Later a unique experience: Transfer to Edinburgh Castle for the EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO. The Edinburgh Tattoo is the most spectacular show in the world, enjoyed by an international television audience of 100 million. But there's no substitute for being there, as part of the 217,000-strong audience over its three-week season on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle who don't simply watch the show but become a part of it. Also enjoy a traditional pub style dinner tonight. (FB,D) EDINBURGH EXPRESS TRAIN YORK Today, for an exciting change of travel style, board the east coast line EXPRESS TRAIN, which in just over two hours follows a particularly scenic route to York. On arrival in York, enjoy a walking tour where we will view the great structure of the York Minster, and then follow our Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (FB, D) YORK COVENTRY- STRATFORD LONDON This morning we drive through the Midlands to Coventry, home of Lady Godiva. Here we will see the new and old Cathedrals before making our way to Stratford-Upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare s birthplace and see Anne Hathaway s cottage. Later, we continue through the scenic Cotswolds dotted with the golden sandstone of thatched cottages en route back to London. Celebrate a successful tour with a tasty farewell dinner at Simpson's-in-the-Strand, the renowned English restaurant, (FB, D) LONDON DEPART FOR CANADA Aug 09 After breakfast, we are transferred to Heathrow for our return flight to Canada. (FB) Tour Features Britain in Depth Robert Q s Travel Norwich, Ont. Round Trip airport transfers in London Services of a professional tour director First class hotels in twin bedded rooms with private bath/shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling Welcome drink; 12 Full American or English breakfasts (FB); 12 three course dinners including a welcome dinner cruise in London, and a farewell dinner (D) Private Deluxe air conditioned motorcoach Sightseeing with local guides: London, Winchester Cathedral, Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian s Wall, a whisky distillery, Edinburgh, Visits to: St. Paul s Cathedral, Shakespeare s Birthplace, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, Crathie Church, Whiskey Distillery, Museum of the Isles, Roman Baths, and Stonehenge Scenic Highlights: Peak District National Park, Lake District, Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, Isle of Skye, Cotswolds;Trip Highlights: Express Train York Edinburgh, Military Tattoo in Edinburgh

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