Team Newsletter May 2014 Notes: Please read the website for additional details for trips, which are added between monthly meetings. Can we also remind Members that they are responsible for their own travel insurance for multiple days trips. The Desk is open from 10.00 until 10.55 at each U3A Monthly Meeting. Friday 6 th June: Day trip to Gandia The Cultural Arts Group are taking a coach to Gandia. To include a guided tour (in English) of The Ducal Palace and a separate tour of the Pueblo with a local guide. The Ducal Palace of Gandia was, from the 14th century, the residence of the Royal Dukes of Gandía, and from 1485, the Borja family. The oldest part of the building dates from the 15th century. There are two gates, a Gothic one and one from the Renaissance. You enter through huge arched doors into an imposing central parade ground with an impressive exterior staircases from which you ascend to the halls, among which the Baroque style Salón de Coronas and la Galeria Dorada are notable. For a virtual tour go to http://www.palauducal.com/ The coach leaves Interiors at Jávea port 09:00. Time for coffee before the Palace tour at 11:00. Then a leisurely lunch (not included in cost) followed by a short walking tour of the Pueblo at 16:00. Lots of time for that extra drink or for shopping. We arrive back in Jávea around 18:00/18:30. Cost 20, to include coach, entry and official guide at Palace and a local guide for pueblo. Please pay David Bristow at the Team table at the next U3A Meeting on 28 th May (correct monies please). May 2014 v1 Page 1 of 6
New Trip: Moraira U3A have a trip to Granada Music and Dance Festival on the 3 rd 6 th July a few places still available This is an exceptional offer for music lovers. During this visit there will be the opportunity of going to a performance given by the English National Ballet and/or a Concert given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. BOTH THESE PERFORMANCES WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE COOL OF EVENING ON TWO OF THE NIGHTS WE WILL BE IN GRANADA. Tickets have yet to go on sale to the general public. We have been guaranteed tickets for both performances for an extended period. So if you are interested please contact the Group as soon as possible. Organised by Carol Mantle please email carol.mantle@hotmail.com to register your interest. Carol Mantle will be on the Desk at the Javea U3A Meeting to collect deposits, by arrangement only. For further information about this trip, please refer to the Moraira U3A details. The cost per person will be about 200 depending on the number of people taking part Plus Tickets for the Ballet 60 & Tickets for the Concert 60 a Single room supplement: 45. To secure a place on this trip, you will be required to pay a deposit of 120 per person. 16th 19th September 2014-4 day trip to Cordoba Balance now due, please bring to the May (or June) Meeting. We will be staying in the city centre opposite the Mezquito at Hotel Maimonides on a bed and breakfast basis. While we are there a visit will be made to the Medina Azahara ruins which are approximately 8 km away. There are two city site seeing buses, one a mini bus for the narrow streets, with the usual hop on, hop off arrangements. Various walking tours are also available. Please note: Due to the narrow city streets there will be a 10 minute walk from the coach stop to the hotel, suitcases will be taken by hotel transport. May 2014 v1 Page 2 of 6
The cost is 250 euros per person, can I please have the balance at the May or June meeting. The Single supplement is 78. There is one single room still available, as well as some double rooms. On route we will be stopping at Guadix for a lunch break, and on the return journey by a different route, stopping at Baeza, which looks to be an interesting renaissance town. We will be leaving Interiors in Jávea port at 8:45. Please remember not to park in front of the shops or flats. Trip organised by Barbara Gorrod, email: travel.bg@u3ajavea.org New Trip: October 23 rd Day Trip to Monestery San Miguel de los Reyes, in Valencia and The Lladro Factory and Museum. This is a former monastery, which is now a library, which is away from the city centre on the edge of a largely Latin American district, in front of a quiet large marbled square and is an incredibly atmospheric experience. It is a spectacular complex in Renaissance style, where you can wander between the tranquil arches of the inner yard. The church in the centre is the second highest (41 m) in Valencia after the Cathedral, with amazing interior of coloured alabaster. We will have a guided tour of the North wing, the church and the crypt. May 2014 v1 Page 3 of 6
The monastery was built in 1546 by Fernando of Aragon for the monasterial order of Santo Geronimo. There was a smaller monastery of XIII century on this site. The monastery kept functioning until 1879, during the Franco regime it became a political prison. These days it is a conservation library where valuable historic documents are kept and restored. We will also have a guided tour of the Lladró factory and museum which starts in a huge showroom where you can admire hundreds of porcelain figurines. In the last years Lladró has redefined itself by hiring young artists that dragged the company into the 21st century. The factory is located in a small village, just outside Valencia, in Tavernes Blanques, There is a very pleasant café on-site, which is located next to the City of Porcelain's swimming pool and surrounded by palm trees and a dark green lawn, it serves snacks and drinks. Depart from Interiors, Javea Port at 9.00 am, Cost 12, to include the coach, entrance to the Museum and the guided tour. To be paid in May please (as neither Jan nor I will be at the June meeting) Or September by arrangement only please let me know either at the May meeting or by email if you wish to pay in September, as this is close to the Trip date. Please contact Joni Hills email: travel.jh@u3ajavea.org New Trip: Wednesday 12 th November a pre-christmas trip to the city of Valencia. Leaving Interiors, in Javea Port at 8.30 am, arriving centre of Valencia at approx 10.15 for you to shop, sight-see or just wander. Departing at 17.00 to arrive back in Javea at approx 18.45. Cost will be 5 per person. This is a subsidised trip. Organised by David Bristow, email: travel.db@u3ajavea.org May 2014 v1 Page 4 of 6
New Ski Trip to Andorra - March 2015 Tony Sullivan is proposing a trip to Andorra from 1 st to 7 th March 2015 (6 nights). We would be staying in the 4star Hotel Delfos on a half board basis which is situated in the centre, close to the shops and 150 metres to the widely acclaimed Caldea Spa. We have selected this location as it will appeal to couples where one partner is a non-skier. The town and the spa offer a range of activities for the non-skier and we may be able to arrange concessionary prices at the spa and a possible mid-week excursion if there is sufficient interest. The ski slopes are a short distance from the hotel and the full range of the Encamp/Soldeu/El Tarter ski area is available. The cost will be approx. 400 per person including transport. Ski equipment and lift pass which can be arranged if required. There are concessionary lift pass rates for 65+ and a free pass for 70+. Early expressions of interest would be helpful in the planning process. A holding deposit will be collected in September with the full balance payable in Jan 2015. If you require further details I can be contacted via email travel.tony@u3ajavea.org MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT THE PARADOR MEETING between 10.00 am 10.55 am. Diane Joni Jan Barbara David Note to Members: We have been requested, by some residents who live in Avda. Ausias March, to park away from the Interiors shop parking area, when leaving our cars for the day, whilst we go on U3A trips. May 2014 v1 Page 5 of 6
METHODS OF PAYMENTS FOR TRIPS Please Note that once a trip has been paid for it cannot be cancelled and the cost refunded. However, if the Member finds another person to take their place, or there is a wait list, then a full refund can usually be arranged. BY CHEQUE Payments of 50 or over can be made by cheque at the General Meeting at the Parador to one of the Group representatives. Cheque must be made payable to: ASOC SOCIAL DE LA TERCERA EDAD DE JAVEA You should put the name of the trip on the reverse of the cheque. BY BANK TRANSFER Payments can be made by bank transfer. The Payment Reference for the transfer must include: your name, the trip destination, the Jávea U3A membership number or numbers for all those being paid for. It is essential that this information is included in the Payment Reference to enable identification of the payee and event. The following information is required to pay the Association by bank transfer. Association name: Asoc Social De La Tercera Edad De Javea Bank: Barclays Address: Avenida del Pla 160 03730 Javea Spain IBAN Number: This is a 4 character country code followed by a 20 character account number (without spaces). It is defined below in format to make it easier to read. Country Entidad Office D:C: Account Number I.B.A.N. ES04 0065 0049 80 0001 0581 01 BIC(Swift) details may be required by some banks for transfer from overseas. B.I.C. (Swift) BARCESMM May 2014 v1 Page 6 of 6