By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) — If you’re like most Americans, your image of Spain is the region of Andalucia, famous for windswept landscapes, whitewashed hill towns, flamenco and gazpacho. While visitors gravitate to the region’s big cities of Granada, Sevilla and Cordoba, Andalucia’s hill towns — a charm bracelet of cute villages perched in the sierras — offer a taste of wonderfully untouched Spanish culture.

Ronda, 60 miles southeast of Sevilla, is one of the largest white hill towns. It’s also one of the most spectacular, thanks to its gorge-straddling setting. Ronda is easy to visit because it’s one of the few hill towns with a train station. The real joy for travelers lies in exploring the winding back streets and taking in the panoramic views, whitewashed houses, and exuberant flowerpots.

Ronda’s stunning ravine divides the town’s labyrinthine Moorish quarter and its newer, noisier, and sprawling Mercadillo quarter. The New Bridge, massive yet graceful, has mightily spanned the gorge since the 18th century. Look down (carefully) into the ravine — it’s 360 feet deep and 200 feet wide.

Full Article Here

With the release of the iPhone 3GS and the instant access we have to information, you may rest assured that when you tour with MCI, we understand your need to connect. I found this article quite interesting and for those of us who have busy lives, a comfort. When you tour with MCI, we want you to know you can still speak with your family, and if you’re one of the touring directors, still email those you were discussing important matters with. Below is a well-informed article that will provide some clarity on how you can connect wirelessly in Europe.

“With my mantra being “pack light,” I used to be against packing electronics of any kind. But now, I bring my laptop, iPod, digital camera and mobile phone to Europe. With hotels retiring their fax machines in favor of email, mobile phones getting cheaper and easier to buy, and Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere, it’s never been simpler to get connected.

If you tote your own laptop, you’ll find that many hotels and cafes offer wireless access — sometimes it’s free, other times, you’ll have to buy a drink or pay a fee — while some towns have Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around highly trafficked areas. Just pay for a password, park yourself on a bench in your favorite idyllic spot — overlooking a sandy beach, on a floodlit piazza or along a bustling people-watching boulevard — then log on and surf away.

It’s handy to travel with a mobile phone, whether you’re calling a hotel for directions or getting in touch with that lost travel buddy who missed the train. If you want to use a mobile phone in Europe, you have two choices: Take your own, or buy one once you’re there. ”
By: Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

Traveling international with MCI? Not only will you be experiencing an educational and life-changing musical tour but you’ll also be given the opportunity to indulge in a few cuisines that you may not find in the States. Not only is MCI dedicated to insuring a quality tour, but we’re also interested in the cultural experiences you’ll engage in. This article shows a glimpse of what you might find in some of these infamous countries.

By: Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

Eating and drinking in Europe is sightseeing for your taste buds. Every country has local specialties that are good, memorable, or both. Here are many of the fun experiences that stick in my mind after 30 years of travel. Seek out any of these on your next trip.

Germany’s wurst is the best anywhere, and kraut is not as “sauer” as the stuff you hate at home. Only a tourist puts the sausage in a bun like a hot dog. Munch alternately between the meat and the bread (”that’s why you have two hands”), and you’ll look like a local. Generally, the darker the wiener, the spicier it is.

The hallowed vineyards of Burgundy surround the French city of Beaune. Its venerable Marche aux Vins (wine market) welcomes serious wine buyers and tourists into a subterranean, candle-lit world, where fine wines sit seductively in bottles atop old oak kegs, just waiting to be tasted. Pick up a “tastevin” (shallow, stainless-steel tasting dish) and a shopping basket, descend into the dimly lit caverns, and work your way through the proud selection. Sampling a world of $100 bottles in the company of people who live for their fine wine can be both inspirational and intoxicating.

In Italy, sip wine with college students at an outdoor bar in Padua’s market square. Pour some fine olive oil on a dish, season with salt and pepper, rip a long strip from your bread, dip it, and bite. The last time I was there, a student explained I was making the “scarpette” — the little shoe. Soaking up the oil along with the conversation, we travelers become human “scarpette,” sopping up culture as we explore Europe.
Wherever you travel, it’s fun to meet people over food and drink. It’s part of understanding the culture of a country. Take the initiative not to just see your destination, but to experience it.

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One of the major highlights of our trip to Spain was the unforgettable opportunity to sing and perform at three different places. It was truly a pleasure and honor to be able to perform in such a beautiful country.

Our first concert was on Saturday morning in Madrid. We sang at Trinity College in front of many little children and their parents. The children were so cute and they were very respectful during our performance. They especially loved our Best of Doo-Wop song and dance. After the concert, many of them ran up to us and asked to take pictures and wanted our autographs. We all had a great time and really enjoyed the experience.

The following day we had two concerts scheduled at two beautiful old marble churches in Madrid and Toledo. The first church was Redemptor. We performed for their service and also afterwards for the people who attended that church. Our group sang really beautifully at that church.

Our last and most memorable concert was over at St. John’s the King in Toledo. It was a very beautiful, big, old church located up on a hill. We could see it even before we parked our bus, and we were all so excited about our concert, because the church was so beautiful. We were so excited as the time came around for our performance; we entered the stage and saw the many people who had come to hear our performance. Our harmony was really amazing and we really got into the concert. It almost felt like something was coming down upon us. After our concert, many people told us how beautiful we sounded. There was even a music teacher that came up and asked Ms. Mack for our music! That made Ms. Mack excited.

I can honestly say that the music concerts in Spain were the most wonderful experiences I’ve had, and I will never forget them. I’m truly grateful to all the Spanish students who helped introduce our songs in each concert and especially to Ms. Mack for giving us such a memorable once in a lifetime opportunity.

Jessica Won, Tour Participant, St. Paul’s School For Girls Choir, Maryland

By Alex Robinson
BUDGET TRAVEL

(Budget Travel) — Here’s a snapshot of Portugal’s defining experiences: beaches, cities, and food and wine. Get a sense of which ones fit your travel style and your budget.

Lisbon spreads in terra-cotta and cobblestone over seven hills, staring out over the Tagus River to the shimmering Atlantic. A rugged Moorish castle tops the skyline, and the streets are lined with baroque churches and Gaudíesque art nouveau buildings.

Allow at least three days for a first visit, and make time for the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Extravagantly decorated doorways lead through long cloisters to a church supported by pillars adorned with stone ropes and coils of faux seaweed. These rise to a fan-vaulted ceiling whose thousands of tons of stone somehow look light and airy. Many Portuguese notables are buried at this monastery, including Luís de Camões, author of Portugal’s national epic, Os Lusíadas, and the explorer Vasco da Gama.

The Gulbenkian is one of the world’s great small museums. Oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian acquired a huge collection of Egyptian, European and Oriental artifacts and Renaissance art, which was brought to Lisbon after his death. Highlights include intricate Roman jewelry, opulent Moorish carpets and tapestries, paintings by Rembrandt and Van Dyck, and an extensive collection of René Lalique’s art nouveau glassware.

Full Article Here

By Dean Irvine
CNN

(CNN) — It’s not as achingly hip as Barcelona and it’s more manageable than Madrid: Spain’s third city has plenty of flavor, an urban edge and uniquely Valencian oddities.

Where else could you glimpse the Holy Grail in the morning, gorge on paella on a Mediterranean beach for lunch and then wander along a old river bed transformed into a park and visit architectural blockbusters that look like a Star Trek vision of a colonized planet?

After an early morning shot of coffee and, depending on your sugar tolerance, churros, the Cathedral in the heart of the old city is the best place to start the day. Located on the Plaza de la Reina, the cathedral is an impressive mix of gothic, baroque and Romanesque architectural styles.

As striking as the many parts of the cathedral are, the sight of the Holy Grail my leave you underwhelmed — to the unenlightened it resembles something closer to a plastic mug circa. 1973.

If you’re in town on a Thursday, catch the enactment of a tradition almost as old as the grail. The Tribunal de las Aguas, or Water Court, is the meeting of the city’s elders, who gather outside the cathedral’s Plaza del Palau for around twenty minutes. It generally involves a number of old men sitting down not doing very much, while one pronounces what has been decided, and it’s a bit of a tour-group hot spot.

Full Article Here

By Harold Heckle, Associated Press Writer

BARCELONA — Spain’s northeastern city of Barcelona, set between verdant mountains and the Mediterranean sea, basks in a well-earned reputation as one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations.
With a dramatic rocky coastline cradling little fishing ports to the north and almost endless sandy beaches stretching to the south, the capital of the Catalan region has acted as a powerful tourist magnet since the late 1950s.

Around 59.2 million foreign visitors last year made Spain the world’s third most visited holiday destination, a position — behind France and ahead of the United States — it has held consistently for decades.

Thanks to its setting and the beauty of Catalonia, its coasts and offshore islands, millions of tourists explore Barcelona annually. Once there it is easy to understand why.

Full Article Here

The Carolina Master Chorale arrived home on Monday night. Our last flight was about a half hour behind, but otherwise travel logistics throughout the tour transpired smoothly and with no noticeable hitches.

I believe that without exception, every member of our tour group had a spectacular time in Spain. When I have a moment I will write in more detail about the many rewarding experiences of the tour and the handful of minor concerns that might help us plan a future tour for equal success.

My purpose in writing today is to tell you that our tour guide, Iris Paz Martinez, was, by a very wide margin, the finest guide with whom I have ever worked. She would be my first choice for any locale in which she is licensed, and I would expect that she is the first choice of MCI. I can’t imagine entrusting a tour to more capable expertise. Iris is highly intelligent, even-tempered, quick-witted, personable, creative, knowledgeable, resourceful, forward-thinking, accommodating, and much more. There is no question that Iris made our tour considerably more enjoyable, rewarding and successful than it would have been under any of the large majority of professional tour guides that may be eligible to work for MCI. Surely you have heard similar reports from others, and I would expect that you will hear from many in my group. Hiring Iris is a guarantee that your tour will be handled in the most thorough and professional manner.

Cost aside, this was the best of six European tours in which I have been a participant or leader. I heard others comment that this was the best Carolina Master Chorale tour of the five taken in the history of the organization. Thank you for engaging Iris Paz Martinez to lead our tour, and for arranging excellent venues, hotels, and sight-seeing tours which thrilled our touring members.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Tim Koch, Music Director,
Carolina Master Chorale

We really enjoyed the trip. We had a 3 hour follow-up meeting last night and heard that everyone had a good time and was glad we went. Thank you for helping make it come true!

On tour, I enjoyed seeing the kids say “wow” and I know they got a lot out of being in Spain. For one student it was even their first time flying! All of the difficulty with fundraising, etc. was worth it. Traveling makes such a difference to young people and is long-lasting.

The MCI staff that I worked with were just great! Very professional, friendly, helpful and I loved working with them. Both tour managers were just excellent!! They were able to work with us and gave us good advice
(such as keeping our passports altogether at the second hotel.) They were professional, friendly and very hard working. I would recommend them both to anyone!!

As a repeat client, I would gladly recommend MCI to any organization.

Jan Colgate, tour coordinator
Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra

As usual, a great tour [to Spain]. This time the combination of great guides, nice buses, amazing sites, along with great performance venues made for an outstanding tour. We also had more free mornings or afternoons which gave a good break for students and parents.

All the venues were stunning, had wonderful acoustics, and we enjoyed the audiences’ responses to our singing.

The reaction of the audiences to my students was priceless. They were so appreciative of their singing and would not let them leave without a hug and a few words. Another highlight was when the priest in Madrid, at Iglesia de San Cayetano, joined our “Unity” circle at the end of our concert with a child from his parish. The expressions on their faces of joy and peace will forever be etched in my memory. The students were blown away by the Valley of the Fallen. The acoustics and engineering marvel of this place gave them a breath taking experience here. The students all had chills as they gave an impromptu concert here.

Visit and feel free to use any feedback or footage from our website from the tour http://web.mac.com/etpeterson

You need to use the tour managers we had as much as possible. These two were the best escorts I have had in my three international tours. They gave my students and parents great historical information throughout the tour, always
were prepared, took care of any issues quickly, always compassionate, interacted well with the students, took me to each concert site prior to performances, and found things we needed, and gave great suggestions on free days or segments. They were just the best and the two worked very well together. I really can’t explain in words how they impacted my group. We mutually touched each others lives through what our students gave to them in their fellowship and music and in turn what they gave to my students through their talents in providing an amazing experience in Spain for them.

Thank you for the incredible experience. I look forward to many more tours with MCI!

Todd Peterson, Choir Director
Barron Collier High School

Exploring the unique chemistry of Europe’s most innovative culture

By Clive Irving
updated 11:26 p.m. MT, Sun., Jan. 20, 2008

You can learn a lot about Spanish history by looking at a plate of paella. First, consider the large bowl it’s often served in, shallow and a bit wok-like, as well as the larger one it’s cooked in — both are derived from a Roman utensil. (The very word paella is said to come from patella, Latin for “pan.”) Then there’s the rice, which came to Spain in the eighth century, imported by the Moors, who planted it in the wetlands at the edge of the freshwater Albufera lagoon, south of the port of Valencia. The orangy stain on the rice comes from saffron, which the Arabs found in Persia and began cultivating in Spain in the tenth century. And finally, there are the olive oil and peppers, both native to the Iberian Peninsula, and the meat — chicken and/or rabbit — cheap and local, but elevated to succulence by the chemistry of the pan.

I tend to do a lot of reflecting with the help of gastric juices (after all, what is the point of travel if you don’t salivate over the local dishes?), and this, the paella insight, came as I was enjoying a takeaway street version of the dish, lowly but adequate, from a popular joint next to the Central Market in Valencia. Paella lore is as riven with disputes about ingredients and cooking method as it is ancient, but one thing is sure: Valencia was where the concoction evolved.

Full Article Here

By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) — Barcelona is Spain’s second city and the capital of the proud and distinct region of Catalonia. With Francisco Franco’s fascism now long gone, Catalonia’s creative and independent spirit is on a roll. Many visitors find this to be Spain’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant corner.

In Barcelona a local told me “Catalonia is Spain’s Quebec.” Traveling here you see how the people of Catalonia have an affinity for other “stateless nations.” Locals don’t like to call their corner of Iberia a “region” of Spain — that’s what Franco called it.

They stress that they are a “nation without a state.” And they have an affinity for other people who didn’t get their independence when they drew the national boundaries. They live in solidarity with other stateless nations, finding Basque or Galician bars a little more appealing than your run-of-the-mill Spanish ones.

Barcelona has a rich history: Roman colony, a Dark Age Visigothic capital, and a 14th-century maritime power. And beyond its great sights, be sure to appreciate the city’s elegant sense of style and Mediterranean knack for good living.

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It was a fantastic trip! Everyone was very happy, and all the students said it was the most amazing thing that has ever happened to them. Everything about the tour - hotels, food, tour buses, etc., was very high class. The parents that traveled with us were amazed at the high level of service and quality. (I, of course, told them that this is what we have come to expect from MCI….consistent quality.)

The concerts were the highlights. I think the performers loved every venue. It was incredibly difficult to find venues in Spain during Holy Week, but in spite of that challenge, our students were able to sing in some very memorable venues that all provided a slightly different (but all very friendly) acoustic. We were well received by all the audiences as they were very appreciative. The concerts were emotional and very memorable.

My other most memorable moments were just the overall cultural education that I received about Spain - the interaction of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures throughout the centuries. The fact that these people seemed to get along much better 600 years ago was very interesting, when put in context with today’s problems.

I would be more than happy to be a reference! I’m very pleased with our relationship with Music Celebrations.

Paul Wigley, Lakeville North High School

I thought the tour ran really well. The sights were very nicely arranged and the accommodations were very good. The concerts were well received and the audiences were very welcoming.

The MCI tour manager was truly exceptional. Katia was one of the best tour managers I have worked with or toured with (9 tours total). She was always available, helpful and fun. She was up and ready to go before anyone else on the tour and usually the last to bed. She had incredible energy and a wealth of information. She went out of her way to be helpful and was always gracious. She had excellent rapport with directors, chaperones, AND students. She made the trip the experience that it was.

It was a really successful tour; all the kids had a really memorable experience.

Aaron Sherman, Instrumental Music Assistant, Lake Forest High School

I just wanted to formally thank you for making the trip to Spain such a wonderful experience. The musical experience really was important and valued and truly unique. The orchestra members feel like they improved on this journey, and the performances were something to be very proud of. No one can tell us that there isn’t musical value on a tour! Music Celebrations should be used for all of our tours in the future, they were so outstanding!

-Calgary Youth Orchestra

Congratulations are in order to the Calgary Youth Orchestra who received a rave review for their concert in Granada as they toured and participated in the Celebration of Music in Spain.

La Opinion de Granada — Sunday, December 31, 2006
Critica. Centro Cultural Manuel de Falla

The Calgary Youth Orchestra (Canada) originates from the Mount Royal College Conservatory and, from what we heard here, it justifies the claim that it is one of the most prestigious youth orchestras in Canada. The young musicians, under the skilful baton of Edmond Agopian, entertained with a diverse repertoire and provided some moments in which the music was elevated to an unexpected level from musicians of this age. They started with Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn, a piece with enigmatic spirit. Then they performed Frivolités canadiennes, Calma by the Canadian composer Godfrey Ridout, a piece with harmonious dynamics and a cosmopolitan tune. The bond between Agopian and the CYO reached its best moment in the exciting piece, The Portuguese Inn by Cherubini. The connection between the movements, the emphasis, the dynamic control of impeccable resolution, and the precise rhythmic beat, flavoured with a good dramatic tempo, made this piece a pleasure. The Hungarian and Slavonic Dances by Brahms and Dvorak, respectively, were played with such sincere enthusiasm that it generated a rush felt by all. The same kind of emotion occurred with Le Cid Ballet Suite by Jules Massenet. This authentic French piece in Spanish fashion gave us the occasion to musically stroll through Spain and to perceive that sublime rhythmic beat that the French composer was able to grasp, and that Agopian, with the CYO, was able to interpret in a vigorous and exciting version with a Spanish flavour that left the audience delighted. As an encore, with the essence of real Spanish music: Andalucia by the Cuban composer, Ernesto Lecuona, confirmed their success.

First of all, we were delighted by the huge crowds at all our venues. They were at least double the amount of people that we could have wished for in our wildest dreams. In Granada, we performed for an amazing crowd of more than 1,200. Your staff is excellent - very helpful, patient, calm, and pleasant in all of our dealings. I wish to stress that we had a great tour, and that there were many, many positives. We had several memorable concerts and a multitude of fascinating cultural experiences. We are very grateful to Music Celebrations for providing us with a great experience and you’ll definitely be our first choice the next time we are considering a concert tour.

-Dr. Rodney Wynkoop & Dr. Allan Friedman, Duke University Chapel Choir

Spain’s hub is a city of art, architecture, culture, food, nightlife and more

By Pauline Frommer
Special to MSNBC.com
Updated: 12:16 p.m. MT Sept 18, 2006

It says something about the abiding appeal of Madrid that even after it suffered horrific terrorist attacks on its train system in March of 2004, visitors didn’t take it off their lists. Instead, Madrid’s tourism numbers remained steady, and Spain as a country continues to get more tourism—from all parts of the world—than any other country on the planet. Spend just one day and night in Madrid and you’re sure to find out why this resilient, timeless, extremely sophisticated city remains so popular.

The hotels were all outstanding, our Tour Manager was the best we have ever had in Europe, and the city guides were wonderful!! You guys have some great contacts there. Spain was one of those places that I had never realized had so much history and beauty. The Music Celebrations team out did themselves again! I will absolutely travel with MCI again!

Frank Lestina, Vernon Hills HS, Illinois

The H-F Symphony Orchestra & Chorus recently returned from a successful concert tour to Spain and France as part of the American Celebration of Music in Europe concert series festival. The Orchestra and Chorus arrived in Barcelona, Spain, where they rehearsed and enjoyed their first concert, and then moved into France, visiting the cities of Carcassonne, Avignon, and finishing in Nice, performing in each city. Two of the many highlights were the performances in the Cathedral of St. Michel in Carcassonne, where they enjoyed an enthusiastic audience that “would not let them go” until they performed two encore pieces following the scheduled program, and the second highlight worth mentioning was the concert in Centre Cultural ‘Le Forum’ in Les Angles (a suburb of Avignon) where they enjoyed another receptive audience of an estimated 450 people and were afterwards treated to a full dinner & dessert and were given gifts relating to their community.