Most Liveable Cities: Spain CITIES THAT REIGN IN SPAIN October 18 28, 2019 Spain has surpassed the United States to become the world s second most visited country after France. Spanish cities are regularly listed among Europe s most desirable destinations to visit for their food, culture and history. But what is it like to live there? We have chosen three quite different cities in northern Spain where we believe the quality of life for its citizens is exceptionally high, not just for a privileged few but for all who live there. Barcelona is known worldwide as an enchanting seaside city with boundless culture, fabled architecture and a world-class drinking and dining scene. Bilbao is, no doubt, on your radar for its curvy, titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum that made its architect, Frank Gehry, a household name. Oviedo is a gem of a small city, little known (so far) to many outside Spain. Each of our three cities started with a set of native assets and obstacles. And each has taken significant and strategic action to address its particular challenges. In the company of both citizens and professional planners, we will explore what we can see, hear, taste and feel, but also the invisible yet critical elements that cause people to love where they live.
Introducing: The Most Liveable Cities WHERE PEOPLE FLOURISH Cities are birthplaces of civilization; centres of culture, trade, and progress and by 2080 will be home to 80% of the world s population. I invite you to travel with me to some of the world s most liveable cities where we will discover what delights and enlivens people who call a particular city home. On each Liveable Cities tour we will: Liveable Cities is a new and engaging series of trips to places where people love to live. What makes a city great for all its residents, not just a privileged few? Some of the basics are: Vibrant and walkable neighbourhoods Streets that burst with life Transit options that work for all pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, taxis, and, where necessary, drivers Public spaces that are beautiful, exciting, and well-maintained Housing that is plentiful and affordable These are only a few of the markers that contribute to a high quality of urban life for all; young and old; educated and uneducated; new-comers and life-long residents; arts lovers and fitness nuts; athletes and those with special needs. We will travel to people-oriented cities in both the developed and developing world to get to know what makes them tick their proud achievements, and their continuing challenges. Step into the shoes of local residents and walk around, seeing the city through their eyes Consider how buildings and the space between them can enhance quality of life Reflect on the delicate interplay between urban opposites, such as vitality and safety; public and private spaces; gentrification and affordability; diverse populations and homogeneous enclaves Find innovative examples of community-building and creating public spaces Meet urban leaders, professional architects and planners, and, of course, those who live there You will return home never looking at your city, yourself, or your neighbours the same way again. Liveable Cities is the latest brainchild of Ann Kirkland, a lifelong urban enthusiast. She holds a MS in Urban Planning from Columbia University and practiced policy planning for the Province of Ontario for over 30 years before striking out in 1999 to found Classical Pursuits, a unique program that offers travel adventures for serious, curious readers. Now, having bequeathed Classical Pursuits to a worthy successor, she is embarking on a new venture that combines travel with her earlier passion: resilient and joyous cities where its residents flourish.
Bay of Biscay FRANCE Oviedo Bilbao SPAIN Madrid Barcelona TOUR LEADER Veteran Toronto Star architecture critic and urban affairs columnist, Christopher Hume is one of Canada s best-known city commentators. His work has been recognized with a National Newspaper Award, a Royal Architectural Institute of Canada President s Award for Architecture in Media and a Toronto Heritage Award. He has taught at the U of T s Daniel s Architecture Faculty and the Royal Ontario Museum. In 2014, Ryerson University presented Hume with an honorary doctorate of laws. Ann Kirkland is your tour director.
Detailed Itinerary Friday, Oct. 18: Meet in Barcelona Participants make independent arrangements to reach the hotel. We ll gather for a briefing and then head out for dinner for a first taste of the city. Meals: Dinner Saturday, Oct. 19: Barcelona From master plan to lively centre For Barcelona s architects and planners, city-building is as much about improving the quality of public life, as it is about buildings. This might stem from the continued reverence for Ildefons Cerdà, godfather of the city s master plan to extend the city beyond its medieval walls in the second half of the 19th century. Cerdà functioned as city planner, architect, even health specialist in other words, as a holistic city-builder. Eventually Plaça de les Glòries could be on its way to becoming Barcelona s main central plaza, just as Cerdà had imagined it more than 150 years ago. This neighbourhood has enjoyed the liveliest planning and building activity in recent years; we ll start our look at the city here today and meet with an architect involved in the planning of the area. Sunday, Oct. 20: Barcelona Renaturing the City Surrounded by the hills of Collserola, the Mediterranean Sea and two rivers, Barcelona is limited in its spatial development and characterized by an exceptionally high density. In order to provide urgently needed green space within the city fabric, creativity is required. Many projects have skillfully interwoven large-scale urban infrastructures with public spaces creating an extended garden for the city s inhabitants. A Barcelona architect with insights into the city s renaturing projects will introduce us to these sights today. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Monday, Oct. 21: Barcelona Seafront In the 1980s, minor surgical interventions and the implementation of new uses were meant to bring more light and air into Barcelona s fetid, filthy, and cramped historic centre. Subsequently, entirely new axes were introduced to improve the existing urban structure and create public space. Today, the preservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings within a heritage context pose new challenges to urban planning. We ll visit a district community centre, cultural centres, and a market this morning. The afternoon is at leisure. Tuesday, Oct. 22: Train to Bilbao This morning we take the train to Bilbao. Much more than the Guggenheim, the city has undergone amazing urban transformation in the last 25 years. To understand the context of the city, we ll take the cablecar to the Artxanda viewpoint, then continue on a walk through the homogeneous construction of the old town and to the geometric Ensanche area. Here, see several interesting starchitect structures including the pedestrian bridge by Calatrava, Philippe Starck s Civic Centre, and Norman Foster s Metro station. Overnight: Hotel Abando, Bilbao Meals: Breakfast Wednesday, Oct. 23: Bilbao Abandoibarra The Guggenheim Museum is for most people to justify their trip to Bilbao but we ll see more! We ll first visit the upscale Abandoibarra neighbourhood, representing the epitome of the new Bilbao. Moving sea containers away freed up room for new architectural icons as well as the emblematic Guggenheim. We ll have a detailed look from the outside and explain Frank O. Gehry s ideas and concept, the building s design, its design process, its construction techniques, and the fascinating story of its success. We ll discuss the impact of the Guggenheim Museum on the development of the city and how it has impacted livability. This afternoon is at leisure to visit the Museum. Overnight: Hotel Abando, Bilbao
Thursday, Oct. 24: Bilbao This morning s walk takes you to the Ametzola area, a former industrial estate and railway station which today is a well located residential area the handsome and not so glamorous counterpart of the upscale Abandoibarra area. We ll cross the suburbs of the metropolitan area by public train to observe states of development. In Barakaldo we will take an intensive look at its modern public spaces and end with the UNESCO-world heritage monument of the hanging bridge in Getxo. Overnight: Hotel Abando, Bilbao Friday, Oct. 25: Drive to Oviedo Set off west by coach, stopping enroute to visit Santander to see the Fundacion Botin Museum, designed by Renzo Piano and opened in 2017. Hopes are high that it will bring the kind of revenue and benefits known as the Bilbao Effect to the city, but at what cost? Arrive in Oviedo in the mid-afternoon; this hidden jewel is one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Spain, nestled between the coast and mountains. You may remember the city form the film Vicky, Christina, Barcelona - Javier Bardem whisked away the leading females for a spontaneous weekend in Oviedo. Overnight: Ayre Hotel, Oviedo Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Barcelona Oviedo Sunday, Oct. 27: Oviedo Today we get inside some of Oviedo s lovely churches and museums; the 13th century Gothic cathedral, a major stop for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and the Museum of Fine Arts displaying a wonderful collection of works dating from the 14th to the 21st century. Cap off our trip with a glorious dinner at the aptly named Gloria. Overnight: Ayre Hotel, Oviedo Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Monday, Oct. 28: Depart Oviedo Our tour ends after breakfast today. Oviedo has convenient train connections to Madrid. Meals: Breakfast Saturday, Oct. 26: Oviedo Oviedo s historical and cultural legacy oozes from the narrow cobbled streets of the old city with its convents, palaces and churches of caramel coloured stone. An allegiance to its past has been thoughtfully incorporated into Oviedo s adaptations to contemporary life. Elegant parks, public squares, car-free livable streets, rich cultural institutions, a university, and plentiful sidewalk cafes, markets, and bars combine to make Oviedo a city where its citizens love to live. Get to know the city today in the company of its local citizens. Overnight: Ayre Hotel, Oviedo Note: The itinerary and accommodation described in this tour brochure are subject to change due to logistical arrangements and to take advantage of local events.
Barcelona What s Included: Accommodations based on double occupancy in listed hotels or similar Meals as noted in the itinerary All ground transportation as listed by public transit Train travel from Barcelona to Bilbao Private coach transfer from Bilbao to Oviedo Presentations by Christopher Hume A full program of activities and presentations with local contributors Excursions as listed with experienced English-speaking local guides All entrance fees Taxes and Gratuities as indicated above TOUR DETAILS Not Included: Roundtrip international airfare from your home Airport and departure taxes Airport transfers on arrival and departure Meals and beverages not included in the itinerary Items of a personal nature, ie laundry, drinks, phone calls, etc. Travel insurance Additional transport due to any emergency situation Fully escorted by Christopher Hume and Ann Kirkland Payment Details: A non-refundable deposit of C$500 per person is required to reserve a place on this tour. A second non-refundable deposit of C$1000 per person is required six months prior to departure. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Updated January 2, 2019 Tour Cost (per person): Approx. C$4995 Taxes and Gratuities (per person): C$275 Single Supplement: C$1400 We would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. If we are unable to, the single supplement will apply. This will be collected at 90 days prior to departure. Group Size: 16 18 participants Please contact us for personalized flight arrangements.
WHAT TO EXPECT Joining Instructions This tour begins with our briefing and welcome dinner at 5PM on Oct. 18th. Please ensure that you arrive in Barcelona by 3PM to join the group. Please note that transfers between the airport and the hotel on arrival and departure are not included. You must make your own arrangements to reach the hotel. Level of Activity: Moderate to Active We will be walking extensively on this tour and using public transportation in cities. You should be able to walk up to three hours at a stretch unassisted on sidewalks and on uneven terrain. Accommodation More information coming soon. Transportation All transportation is on foot or by public transit. Weather Expect temperatures around 21 C in the day and 15 C at night with mixed sun and cloud. Be prepared for some occasional light rain showers. Travel Documents You will require a passport for this trip. Please ensure it is valid for six months beyond your return date. Travel advice Before booking, please refer to the Canadian government website to obtain travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting: www.travel.gc.ca ADDITIONAL INFO Extend your Stay If you are interested in exploring more of this region, we would be happy to design a personalized extension for you either before or after this tour. Please let us suggest some options, based on your time available, budget and interests. Terms and Conditions For additional information about our terms and conditions, please refer to your booking form, the current brochure or our website. All participants booking with Worldwide Quest are covered by the terms of the Ontario Travel Industry Act (Worldwide Quest International, Ontario - License # 2667946). Cancellation Policy All payments are non-refundable, however you may transfer your initial deposit for any land tour to another tour 90 days or more prior to your scheduled departure date. Initial deposits for cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your second payment and your final payment are non-refundable and nontransferable. If you cancel within 90 days prior to trip departure, all associated trip costs are non-refundable. The tour price is quoted as a package. No partial refunds or credits will be given for services not used. In the event of a cancellation, you must notify Worldwide Quest immediately and in writing. Travel Insurance We urge you to ensure that you have adequate cancellation and medical insurance in place, should an unexpected event cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip or should the tour not be operable per our terms and conditions. We will offer you Manulife insurance coverage. Medical insurance including emergency medical evacuation coverage is mandatory on all our tours. Worldwide Quest Explorers Club We d like to make sure that you know about our Worldwide Explorers Club. Travel twice with us and we ll say a special thank you by taking 5% off all your subsequent trips. The bonus applies to our brochure trips only, is non-transferrable, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or credit. Note that some exceptions may apply as indicated on the tour s Detailed Itinerary. TICO#: 2667946