Cal Poly Working Itinerary: Morocco and Spain The following itinerary is a working document and is subject to change. June 15, 2017 Thursday Depart USA / Travel Day Depart Los Angeles en-route to Casablanca Per airline June 16, 2017 Friday Arrive Casablanca Arrive Casablanca Upon arrival, group is met by private coach and English speaking guide for transfer to hotel (bottled water provided on coach) Check in hotel Overnight: Casablanca (1) June 17, 2017 Saturday Casablanca: City Tour and Welcome Full Day coach and guide for city tour (bottled water provided on coach) City Tour: Spend the morning learning more about Casablanca. Visit the city
City Tour: Spend the morning learning more about Casablanca. Visit the city that lent its name to the famous film. Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, is a city full of interesting sights. Your first stop is the United Nations Square. This lively square is the focal point of Casablanca and a popular meeting point for the city s residents. Continue to the Mohammed V Square. Set around a central fountain at the heart of the city, the buildings which surround the square are fine examples of French colonial architecture. Explore the Habbous Quarter (the new part of the city). At the heart of this area is Casablanca s Royal Palace. Also visit the Anfa region. This is the oldest residential area of the city and today is the most upper-class. Continue to see the Hassan II mosque, which is a stunning piece of Islamic architecture and craftsmanship. It is also the largest religious monument in the world, after Mecca (outside visit only). End your tour with a visit to the Ain Diab region of the city. The most cosmopolitan area of the city, this part of the Atlantic coast is lined with restaurants, bars and swimming pools and this is where Casablanca s elite come to relax. Evening: Roundtrip transportation to group Welcome Welcome included (one non alcoholic beverage per person included) Overnight: Casablanca (2) June 18, 2017 Sunday Casablanca: Free Day (w/ Optional trip to Jadida) Free day for independent exploration Note: optional day trip can be arranged for interested participants Optional trip to Jadida: Visit La citerne mystere, La fauconnerie, Le port de Joft Lasfar - La citerne mystere: Constructed in 1514 by the Portuguese, this underground room would perhaps have acted as armory or as shop before being transformed into tank conceived to hold seats. Its amazing Gothic architecture represents a square room of 1 100 m ² supported by five rows of columns and of arches. - La fauconnerie: This tradition of the country Doukkala goes back up to the Middle Ages. It would seem that the most reputed falconers come from the region of Lakouassem and from the village of Ouled Frej. This type of hunt was always reserved for the lords. - Le port de Jorf Lasfar: Ancient village of fishermen specialised in lobster, Jorf Lasfar became the biggest African harbour of export of phosphate, Morocco being the first worldwide producer of this ore. Lunch on own Overnight: Casablanca (3) June 19, 2017 Casablanca: Business Visits! 2
Monday Full day private coach and English speaking guide for business visits within city limits (bottled water provided on coach) Business Visit #1 - Proposed theme: Business Development Strategies and Emerging Trends in Morocco (Arranged by WorldStrides) Business Visit #2 - Proposed theme: Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain Services in Casablanca (Arranged by WorldStrides) Return transfer to hotel Overnight: Casablanca (4) June 20, 2017 Tuesday Casablanca: Transfer to Marrakech and Free Afternoon Check out of hotel Private coach and guide for transfer to Marrakech (approx. 3 hours) Check in hotel Lunch on own and afternoon free for independent exploration Evening: Roundtrip transportation to group with Moroccan belly dancing Overnight: Marrakech (1) June 21, 2017 Wednesday Marrakech: City Tour Full Day coach and guide for city tour (bottled water provided on coach) Marrakech City Tour: Marrakech known as the "Ochre City" is the most important former imperial city in Morocco s history. The city of Marrakech is the capital of the mid-south-western economic region of Marrakech-Tensift- Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, being also the 4 th largest city in Morocco. Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. By night food stalls open in the square turning it into a huge busy open-air restaurant. and evening on own Overnight: Marrakech (2) June 22, 2017 Thursday Marrakech: Business Visit and Transfer to Barcelona Full Day coach and guide for business visit and transfer to Casablanca! 3
Full Day coach and guide for business visit and transfer to Casablanca (bottled water provided on coach) Business Visit #3 Proposed theme: Core Business Strategies and R&D in Textiles: Compare and Contrast Emerging and Established Markets (Arranged by WorldStrides) After visit, transfer to airport in Casablanca for afternoon flight to Barcelona Lunch on own at airport Intra program flight: Casablanca to Barcelona Royal Air Maroc AT960 Depart Casablanca @ 2:10pm / Arrive Barcelona @5:10pm Upon arrival, group is met by private coach and guide for transfer to hotel Check in hotel and evening free Overnight: Barcelona (1) June 23, 2017 Friday Barcelona: Business Visits Full day private coach and English speaking guide for business visits within city limits (bottled water provided on coach) Business Visit #4 Proposed theme: Research & Development and Emerging Trends in Spain s Automotive Industries Business Visit #5 Proposed theme: Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Food and Beverages Spain and remainder of evening free Overnight: Barcelona (2) June 24, 2017 Saturday National Holiday St. John Barcelona: City Tour Full day private coach and English speaking guide for city tour (bottled water provided on coach) Barcelona City Tour: Visit the Montjuich Mountain, offering a panoramic view of the city and harbour and great views of Villa Olimpica (home to athletes during the Olympics). See the Bull Ring and the famous Cathedral Sta Maria del Mar, the only gothic church in Catalonia completely finished. Then, downtown, see Gaudi's famous apartment buildings including Casa Batllo (outside only) and La Pedrera (entrance included). Continue to the La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Cathedral, Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece for a visit and finally enjoy a visit at Gaudi's Parc Guell which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage. Entrances to La Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera included. Overnight: Barcelona (3)! 4
June 25, 2017 Sunday Lunch Barcelona: Day trip to Costa Brava Full day private coach and English speaking guide for cultural visits to Costa Brava (bottled water provided on coach) Day trip to Costa Brava: Explore the lovely Costa Brava coast located north of Barcelona and famous for its beautiful small coves and villages, surrounded by high cliffs and its jagged coastline. First stop is Girona with one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. Second stop is Tossa de Mar, a jewel of a resort with cobbled streets, constructed around a magnificent ancient castle on Spain s wild and rugged Costa Brava. Lunch included on tour (one non alcoholic beverage per person included) Overnight: Barcelona (4) June 26, 2017 Monday Barcelona: Business Visit and Free Afternoon Half day private coach and English speaking assistant business visit (bottled water provided on coach) Business Visit #6 Proposed theme: Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Manufacturing (Upstream and Downstream Processes) After visit, return transfer to hotel Lunch on own and afternoon free for independent exploration Evening: Roundtrip transportation to group Farewell Farewell included (one non alcoholic beverage per person included) Overnight: Barcelona (5) June 27, 2017 Tuesday * Return to the USA Check out of hotel (boxed breakfast can be requested due to early departure, but not guaranteed) Private coach and English speaking assistant for transfer from the hotel to the airport (bottled water provided on coach) Depart to the USA! 5