* MUSICAL POLAND *
Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Krakow
November 5 – 12, 2008

WE INVITE YOU TO ENJOY GREAT OPERA PERFORMANCES IN THE LEADING OPERA HOUSES IN POLAND

National Opera House - For over 170 years the Teatr Wielki (Grand Theatre), called today the Teatr Wielki - National Opera, has been Poland’s most important institution for opera and ballet. Its building was erected in 1825-1833 to designs by Italian architect Antonio Corazzi of Livorno. It is in this house where great works of opera and ballet are still performed. In 2008, the National Opera House celebrates the 175th anniversary of the National Opera House in Warsaw – a great opportunity to visit Poland and enjoy a spectacular opera performance.

Wroclaw Opera House - since 1997 one of the most impressive opera stages in Poland. The Wroclaw Opera uses unconventional forms and places for its shows, like Tosca in the open air, with acts scattered from the St. Maria Magdalene Cathedral and Leopoldinum to Partisans' Hill; cameral shows in Leopoldinum and the National Museum.

Slowacki Theater in Krakow - an impressive opera house built in 1893, reflecting the high cultural ambitions of Krakow at the end of the 19th century. The building was modeled on Paris’ Grand Opera House and was designed by Jan Zawiejski, who incorporated Polish architectural motifs. The figures decorating the façade are the allegories to Poetry, Drama, Comedy, Song, Dance, Joy and Sadness.

Krakow Chamber Opera - located in Krakow's Kazimierz in a beautiful historic building along Miodowa Street. The activity of the theater includes cultural and artistic enterprises, assembling various arts, in order to maintain Polish cultural inheritance and identity in the Academy of Tradition.

* * * I T I N E R A R Y * * *

Wednesday, November 5 - WARSAW

All tour guests arriving at the Warsaw Airport today will be met and accompanied to the Radisson SAS Hotel in Warsaw. This afternoon, an orientation walk through the Old Town.

This evening: A CHOPIN CONCERT (6:00 PM). A private two-part Chopin Piano Concert: Frederic Chopin’s world famous compositions performed by a leading Polish pianist. A glass of sparkling wine will be served during the intermission. Welcome dinner at one of the local restaurants in the Old Town.

Thursday, November 6 - WARSAW

Half-day tour of Warsaw starting with the CASTLE SQUARE to see the first non-ecclesiastic statue in Warsaw, King Sigismund’s Column, and the Gothic castle dating from the 15th century and expanded throughout the centuries – the seat of kings of Poland. It was there that the Third of May Constitution was promulgated in 1791. Then visit the interior of the ROYAL CASTLE, rebuilt after WW II. All rooms are furnished and decorated as they were ages ago. There is the magnificent KNIGHT’S HALL with six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli; the largest and most impressive of all the chambers is the Ballroom. A highlight will be in the CANALETTO ROOM with 23 paintings by Bernardo Bellotto presenting paintings of Warsaw at the end of the 18th century.

Continue sightseeing “IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FREDERIC CHOPIN:” The HOLY CROSS CHURCH where Chopin’s heart is placed, Chopin Drawing Room, Ostrogski Castle (outside only – property under renovation). Then visit the protestant CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, CHURCH OF NUNS OF THE VISITATION where Chopin played as a young boy and stop by the LAZIENKI ROYAL PARK to see the famous Chopin Monument. Lunch at one of the local restaurants. Afternoon at leisure.

This evening: Donizetti’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (National Opera House - 7:00 PM).

Friday, November 7 - WROCLAW

Morning drive to Wroclaw with accommodations at the Radisson SAS Hotel. Orientation walk in Wroclaw, one of the oldest cities in Poland, the capital of Lower Silesia beautifully located along the Odra River. The city was once described as “the holy blossom of Europe, a beautiful gem among cities” and lately has become a cultural center for the whole of south-western Poland. Welcome dinner at one of the local restaurants in the Old Town.

This evening: Verdi’s NABUCCO (Wroclaw Opera House - 7:00 PM).

Saturday, November 8 - WROCLAW

Half-day tour of Wroclaw, a city of magical places, interesting squares and historical buildings. See the TOWN HALL located in the heart of the Market Square – one of the most beautiful old city halls in Poland and recognized as a gem of Gothic-Renaissance urban architecture – with its characteristic 66 meter-high tower, ceramic gable, lovely portal and sculptures. Walk through the Old Town to see many tenement-houses and churches, including the famous ST. MARY MAGDALENE’S CHURCH and ST. ELIZABETH’S CHURCH. Visit the monumental university building with the magnificent AULA LEOPOLDINUM – one of the best Baroque interiors in the city. Lunch at the PIWNICA SWIDNICA restaurant beautifully located in the Wroclaw Town Hall in the Market Square.

After lunch, visit the magnificent Aula Leopoldinum and the UNESCO Site, Centennial Hall (Hala Ludowa in Polish). The CENTENNIAL HALL, an historical landmark of reinforced concrete architecture, was erected in 1911-1913 by Max Berg when Wroclaw was part of Germany and known as Breslau and is a recreational building situated on the EXHIBITION GROUNDS.

This evening: Verdi’s RIGOLETTO (Wroclaw Opera House - 7:00 PM).

Sunday, November 9 - WROCLAW-SWIDNICA-KRASKOW-WROCLAW

Drive to SWIDNICA – Church of Peace – a UNESCO Site. THE CHURCH OF PEACE, the largest timber-framed religious building in Europe, was built in the former Silesia in the mid-17th century amid the religious strife that followed the Peace of Westphalia. Constrained by the physical and political conditions, the Church of Peace bears testimony to the quest for religious freedom and is a rare expression of Lutheran ideology in an idiom generally associated with the Catholic Church. Lunch in KRASKOW PALACE. The building was successively inhabited by the families of Seidlitz, Zedlitz, Hochberg and Salish until 1945 when it was taken over by the Polish State. In 1992 it was discovered and completely restored. The FORUM KRASKOW was created – a foundation which promotes European culture and art.

This evening: Rossini’s IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Wroclaw Opera House - 7:00 PM).

Monday, November 10 - WROCLAW-KRAKOW

Leave the hotel this morning for Krakow, the former capital of Poland, with accommodations at the Radisson SAS Hotel. Lunch at one of the local restaurants in the Old Town. This 13th-century merchant town has Europe's largest market square and numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with magnificent interiors. Walk through the Old Town, listed as a UNESCO Site, with its MAIN MARKET SQUARE and magnificent houses and palaces. In the middle of the square is the CLOTH HALL, built before 1349, but altered in the 16th century. Inside are many shopping stalls and on the first floor is the NATIONAL MUSEUM housing a collection of Polish sculptures and paintings from the 18th to the 20th century. Also in the square is the magnificent, extensive GOTHIC CHURCH OF OUR LADY with the famous wooden altar created by Wit Stwosz.

This evening: Paderewski’s MANRU (Krakow Opera/Slowacki Theater - 7:00 PM). Staged by the Bydgoszcz Opera.

Tuesday, November 11 - KRAKOW

A morning city tour including WAWEL ROYAL CASTLE, the residence of Polish kings and the ROYAL CATHEDRAL, the coronation church. See the magnificent chambers of the Royal Castle and admire the tapestry collection of King Sigismund Augustus that includes 138 tapestries of various sizes and character. Visit the Cathedral, the place of the cult of St. Stanislaw and of St. Jadwiga, and the Queen of Poland. It is also a true national Pantheon of Polish kings. The most valuable items are the magnificent tapestries – probably the largest collection of its kind in Europe. The collection contains some 360 tapestries arranged in series which illustrate Biblical themes such as: Adam and Eve in Eden, The Story of Noah and The Building of the Tower of Babel.

Afternoon tour of KAZIMIERZ district registered on the UNESCO list. Further evidence of the town's fascinating history is provided by the remnants of the 14th-century fortifications and the medieval site of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues in the southern part of town.

This evening: Donizetti’s DON PASQUALE (Krakow Chamber Opera - 6:00 PM).

Farewell dinner at one of the Jewish restaurants located in the Kazimierz district. Enjoy your farewell meal and klezmer music concert.

Wednesday, November 12 - KRAKOW

After breakfast, transfers will be provided to the airport for all tour guests leaving Poland today.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Land Arrangements: $3,995.00 per person sharing a twin/double room
Single Room Supplement: $575.00
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The deposit required to hold space on this tour is $1,500.00 per person.

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LAND ARRANGEMENTS PRICE INCLUDES:

* Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 3 dinners. * Accommodations at leading hotels for 7 nights. * All performance tickets. * All taxes, entrance fees. * All transfers where necessary. * Wine with all included lunches and dinners. * Gratuity to the Dailey-Thorp tour director as well as for all other group services. Land arrangements price is based on sharing a twin/double hotel room. Land Arrangements Price does NOT include: Air fares; items of a personal nature; accident/baggage/cancellation insurance.

AIR TRANSPORTATION:

Any flights from any airport -- may be arranged with Dailey-Thorp's air agent in New York -- Mr. Christophe Buszkiewicz; Telephone 212-944-2121, ext. 2829. Having been the manager of Dailey-Thorp's air department for many years in New York, Christophe is familiar with all our tour operations. Or, tour guests may book their flights through their local travel agent or directly with the airlines.

CURRENCY FLUCTUATION:

Please note that, due to the fact that the EURO has gained so dramatically against the dollar in recent months, there may be a surcharge resulting from additional increases of the EURO. This will be established approximately one month prior to the commencement of the tour.

CANCELLATION OF TOUR:

LAND ARRANGEMENTS: For cancellation by the client, these charges will apply: Cancellations received 60 days or more prior to tour commencement = $250.00 per person; 59-31 days prior = 50% of land arrangements price; less than 31 days prior =100% of land arrangements price; no appearance/no written notice = 100% of the land arrangements price. No refunds will be made for any part of the tour package, such as sightseeing, meals, performances or transfers, which are voluntarily omitted by any tour member; the tour is sold as a package. We must strictly adhere to our cancellation policy to offset costs incurred prior to the commencement of the tour.

AIR TRANSPORTATION: Cancellation of AIR FLIGHTS will be subject to the cancellation policy of the airline.

TRIP INSURANCE: WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE. An application for travel insurance will be included with our acknowledgment of your reservation. We suggest that you apply for it as soon as possible after signing up for a tour. Should it become necessary for you to cancel due to illness (but not business reasons) the policy may cover your losses (subject to insurance terms).

All cancellations must be in writing.
All tour programs are subject to change by the operator.

CANCELLATION INSURANCE IS HEARTILY RECOMMENDED!

#2885 --- 5/15/08