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All are welcome to A Free
Slide-Lecture with Glenn about this tour. This will only
be held Saturday, November 12th, 2011 at 1:30PM and Tuesday November
15th, 2011 at 12:45PM. At The Animation Guild, 1105 N. Hollywood
Way, Burbank, CA. 91505. Bring a friend!
Sketch with Glenn Vilppu Spain
Madrid, Barcelona & The Island of Mallorca
May 28 - June 8, 2012
"We wander for distraction but … We travel for FULFILLMENT." — Hilaire Belloc, Anglo-French writer & historian
Our 2012 adventure with Glenn Vilppu, el maestro, begins in MADRID …
the capital of Spain.
Our hotel is positioned in a charming "up-scale" neighborhood known
as "the Museum District". For a city of its size, Madrid boasts an
exceptional number of world-class museums. Heading the list as the
very best museum in all of Europe and certainly the one that we will
be visiting on our itinerary is "The Prado", particularly notable
for its collections by Valasquez, Goya, Ribera and Zurbaran. A
special excursion will be made to the chapel where Goya was
commissioned to do the frescoes that cover the walls and ceilings.
It is also in this chapel that Goya is buried.
I want to mention that I found Madrid to be an "elegant" city that
reflects architecture from the periods of Art Nouveau, Bourbon,
Neo-Classical & Art Deco plus the most contemporary buildings in
Europe. We will sketch, paint, photograph and YES, shop the “Gran
Via” and wander into the “Retiro Park” with its enormous and
graceful trees. The Monument of Alfonso XII will certainly be an
inspiration to artists and photographers as its arched facade
reflects into the boating lake just in front of the monument.
Mid-day snacking is an art in Madrid as one slips into a quaint café
just off the Plaza Major where you are served a cup of hot, dense,
dark chocolate which acts as a foil for dipping "Porras" (special
Spanish pastry) into the rich hot chocolate, just to coat the tip of
the porras. Paella is a Spanish experience and Tapas is served at
any time with a glass of wine or beer. One of our dinners will be in
a noted Taberna (tavern) which opened in the mid-19th century.
Our 2012 adventure with Glenn Vilppu continues in BARCELONA.
The heartbeat of Barcelona is intensified by its architectural
wonders & its atmospheric medieval streets. Nothing quite prepares
you for the impact of the Antonio Gaudi structures of Barcelona. La
Pedrera, unmistakably Gaudi seems to grow from the very pavement
itself. Fluid & eerily alive, its curving facade sprouts writhing
wrought iron balconies. This visit to Barcelona will afford the
artist & photographer a never ending array of creative inspiration.
Just to name a few of our favorite spots ... La Rambla Street, with
its mimes & craft kiosks, is the perfect place to indulge in the
Spanish ritual of the paseo (stroll). It's a wide, pedestrian street
that is anything but pedestrian. An orgy of activity day and night,
La Rambla is voyeuristic heaven. We, of course, found the best shop
for “Elato” (that is gelato, Spanish pronunciation) and you all know
how hard we work at finding the very best gelato shop for our
itineraries. Trust us on this one ... Oh, my!
La Mercado Boqueria a cacophonous shrine to food, is a cavernous
market that has it all, from stacks of fruit to suckling pigs and
writhing lobsters. We also photographed an Italian couple that were
dining on a huge mounded plate of fish that cost them 39 euro for
the two of them. A definite must for 2012!
The Barri Gotic is there for wandering through a network of ancient
streets with everything from confec-tionery shops, jewelers to tiny
Tapas and wine bars.
A day will be dedicated to visiting the Gaudi buildings. The "Sagrada
Familia" Cathedral which is the enduring symbol of the city & is
Gaudi's other-worldly "piece de resistance" pierces the Barcelona
skyline with its eight spires. You may even choose to hail a taxi &
have an elegant dinner at Casa Calvet, one of Gaudi's buildings.
THE ISLAND OF MALLORCA.
We will fly from Barcelona across the Mediterranean Sea to arrive in
Palma the seaside capital of Mallorca.
It is the largest of the Balearic Islands, 51 miles east from the
Iberian Peninsula of Spain.
Our destination will be to paint, sketch, photograph and explore the
Monastery of Valldemossa where Frédéric Chopin and Georges Sand
wintered together in 1838. After visiting the monastery and its
gardens we will listen to a hauntingly beautiful, live piano concert
as a tribute to Chopin, in the Monastery’s Chapel.
One of our days, on the island of Mallorca, will be an adventure
"par excellence" ...we will board an antique train which opened in
1912 as we travel through the steep peaks & valleys of the Serra de
Tramuntana on our way to our stay in Port de Sóller. The narrow
gauge, quaint carriages & clanking engine adds to the experience.
Port de Sóller is a charming cove with a beach front village and a
tiny harbor. You will find the best & largest cappuccino at the
seaside restaurant, just in front of our hotel there. In the early
afternoon a little beach cabana offers samplings of Tapas and wines
for 3 euro. Can't beat that!
All of this magic happens along the boardwalk where our hotel is
situated. The beauty of the sea, the little thatched beach umbrellas
tell you that, surely you will return to Mallorca.
"The impulse to travel is one of the HOPEFUL SYMPTOMS of life."
— Agnes Repplier, American essayist & writer
This Spanish itinerary has created more interest than any other
itinerary during our 26 years of “small group travel”.
Many of you have expressed an interest in traveling to Spain with
Glenn in 2012 and we would like to suggest that if you plan to go on
this trip, mail in your $300 deposit before August 1, 2011. This
will guarantee your space and also give you a choice of $100 off the
tour price or … an evening performance in Barcelona of Flamenco
dancing and Opera. — "Carpe diem" … seize the day. Non-Artists are
Welcome.
Adios y saludos. Roberta Kritzia & Henry Dalgart (480) 907-7436
Roberta1119@aol.com
A deposit of $300 will hold your space
for the 2012 tour.
Early registration is your only guarantee
of a space on this trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes your tours so special?
Many
participants have asked "Roberta, how can tomorrow be as much
fun as today was?" Our attention to detail is what
sets us apart from other tour groups. Personalized Travel was
founded in 1985 on the premise that we should address the concept of
"small group travel at its best", and we do just that
with a passion! The participants have the daily opportunity to
work personally with Glenn to hone their artistic skills.
Glenn is most generous with his time on the Italy tour. Many
of those who attend find their travels with Glenn a big boost to
their artistic careers, and return year after year for more!
What is the skill level of the artists?
We often
hear questions from "I'm not sure if I am good enough yet" to "I am
not sure if I will get anything out of it since I am already very
accomplished, a professional, or a teacher". Just as in
Glenn's regular classes, there is a wide range in the experience and
training of the artists attending the tour. Glenn will give
his lectures and demonstrations and then help each artist at their
own level. There is usually a mix of students of all ages and
skill levels as well as professionals and teachers. While
Glenn's method is ideal for beginners, he is also known as the
"teacher's teacher". No matter what your skill level, you will
find it very comfortable to be in this supportive, non-competitive
environment.
How many are in the groups?
For the optimal
experience, we limit our group size to 15-20 participants, including
both artists and non-artists.
Will my non-artist friend enjoy the tour?
Roberta and Henry, with Personalized Travel, are the Tour Designers
Extraordinaire! They make sure that there are activities for
the non-artists to enjoy while others are sketching. There are
optional field trips, shopping, etc, or they may decide to stay with
the artists and take photographs. Some even decide to pick up
a pencil or brush and sketch!
What is the age group of the
participants? We have a wide range in ages from college students to older adults.
Younger travelers are also welcome if accompanied by a parent.
The mix of ages and skill levels makes for very dynamic and
interesting groups.
How much instruction is there?
What is the average day like? Most days will
include a demo either after breakfast at the hotel or on location at
one of the sites that we visit. The rest of the days will be spent
between sketching, personal instruction and sightseeing, as well as
some museums. It is up to you how much time you would like to
dedicate to each activity.
How much time does Glenn spend
with the participants? Glenn is very
generous with his time. Basically, you can spend as much or as little
time with him as you like. You can watch him and work right next to
him all of the time, or as he says: “you are free to
totally ignore me”. Glenn will
participate in all of the events on the scheduled itinerary,
including meals, and is always happy to critique your work and
answer questions. You will often see him even sketching at meals!
What if I do not want to join
the group sometimes? You are welcome to “do
your own thing”, just make sure to let us know.
Where are the participants
meeting up with the Group? Depending
on the itineraries, which change from year to year, the group will
meet at the airport closest in proximity to our first hotel
location. There will be one pick-up at the airport for those that
arrive on the designated schedule. The participant should look for a
representative of Personalized Travel carrying a
large sign marked “Roberta”.
We also
provide special luggage tags that will enable participants to
recognize other members of our group.
What kind of hotels do we stay
in? All hotels
on Personalized Travel’s tours have personally been selected and
checked out by Roberta Kritzia & Henry Dalgart, our tour designers. The hotels
must meet the high aesthetic standards that have been established. In
general they are Italian owned, top of the line, 3-star or 4-star
hotels. Participants choosing to have a private room, will be given
the opportunity with a "single supplement" (additional fee).
How many meals are covered on
the tour? Sixteen
(16) meals are covered. That includes 10 buffet breakfasts and 6
complete meals. All restaurants have been personally selected and
are “tried and true”, chosen
for their ambiance, local cuisine & great service.
Are the Museum Admission
Charges covered?
All
museums and general admission fees that are covered will be
designated in the detailed itinerary provided to each participant,
one month prior to departure.
How do we travel from place to
place?
Our
primary mode of transportation while traveling in Italy is
our professional, modern, air
conditioned coach seating 30-40 people. We limit our groups to
15-20 people so there is ample room for comfortable seating on the
bus plus room for art supplies.
Does Glenn have a tour every
year?
Yes, we are planning
tours for future years. That being said, every year the itinerary is
different and you never know what the future holds. So, if you like
this itinerary and you are able to go this year, please join us. If
that is not possible, please sign up to be on our update list for
future tours. Each year is a new adventure! We have many repeat
participants; both artists & non-artists and we consider this our
greatest compliment!!!
Travel Arrangements Hosted by:
Personalized Travel 4618 E
Tumbleweed Dr., Cave Creek, AZ 85331 p: (480)
907-7436
http://www.artistravel.com
