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Find your balance this spring on a trip that wraps up the best of travel and wellness in one very pretty package. If you love travel that explores culture and cuisine, this one's for you. Especially if you also long to get out and walk the local landscapes, bike through quaint Catalan villages, and stretch into a little low-key Pilates coaching on the side. A collaboration with one of New York's favorite Pilates pros, Karrie Adamany. June 5-10, 2012.
- 5 nights in a historic villa in the Catalan countryside, artfully restored as a boutique inn (double occupancy);
- 5 Pilates classes with renowned New York-based master teacher Karrie Adamany; mat sessions focused on centering, stretching, energizing, strengthening;
- Guided half-day cycling trip through country landscapes and historic hilltowns;
- Guided half-day hike along the spectacular Costa Brava;
- Cooking class that reveals the secrets of high-flavor local Catalan cuisine;
- A rustic cookout at the villa owner's private vineyard;
- A tour and tasting at one of the region's top boutique wineries;
- Sant Pere de Rodes, an ancient monastery overlooking the Mediterranean and a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
- All breakfasts and dinners, and all but one lunch, featuring healthy, seasonal, local cuisine including some indulgences—this is the true Mediterranean diet, but not a diet or weight loss program (nor is this designed especially for vegetarians or vegans);
- Private group minivan service on the scheduled excursions to the winery and monastery and for the hiking trip including the seaside arts town of Cadaqués;
- Round trip chauffer-driven transfer from the village train to the Villa;
- Insider food, history, and culture tips so you make the most of your free time; including assistance booking massages or excursions to Dalí museums or historic Girona—whatever suits your interests (it's OK to just relax and drink in the magic of the place);
- Gratuities at our restaurant meals.
Tour dates: June 5-10, 2012
Price: $3495, double occupancy; single supplement: $750
We're organizing a couple of days in Barcelona before the retreat begins. June 3 & 4:
Join Teresa and Karrie in bustling Barcelona, arriving Sunday morning, June 3 through Tuesday morning, June 5. We'll lead three great city walks:
- A stroll through the winding streets of the city's most important historic quarters (with stops for shoe shopping, perhaps);
- A walk from market-to-market (one of the best ways to see the city's incredible food scene); and
- A tour of our favorite tapas spots (for noshes both rustic and refined).
Beforehand, you'll have Teresa's expert advice picking a place to stay that will suit your style and budget, and on museums and other things you might want to do in addition to our mini-tours. We'll help those who join us early with details like catching the train up to the countryside, too.
Fee: Participants will be asked to contribute $200 for this add on to help cover the personalized advance planning time and our organizing and guiding work in the city.
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Tuscany gets all the press. And maybe that's a good thing. The coastal Empordà region of Catalonia, just north of Barcelona, offers similarly delicious landscapes and a less discovered feel.
It's a beautiful place to tone up your body and tune up your spirit.
Adventurers will be drawn to the nearby Roman ruins, Dalí musems, and Girona, a historic gem of a city. But those who want nothing more than to make themselves at home at the villa can do just that.
The program is limited to 12 participants. The retreat begins with an afternoon walk and Pilates class on Tuesday evening and ends after Pilates and a leisurely breakfast at the villa the following Sunday (June 5-10).
The course fee of $3495 covers double occupancy accommodations, daily classes and activities, tastings, and meals as outlined, including selected wines paired with our meals (not cocktails or other beverages). It covers transport from the local train station to the villa and back, as well as group transportation on our included excursions.
We recommend you take the train from Barcelona—they leave practically every hour for a town near the villa where we'll have a driver pick you up. You really don't need a car for this trip. And we can help arrange for a local private taxi or bike rental for any extra jaunts you might take during your free time.
Travelers who wish to participate in daily fitness activities must be in good physical condition, though no prior Pilates experience is required.
Go to postcards to read what our travelers say about their Spanish Journeys experiences.
Go to enrollment details to register for this trip or contact us with questions.
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