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Join Nancy Cain in Fabulous Barcelona, Spain!

April 25 - May 9, 2024

 

Barcelona is on of our favorite desitinations for a Beadventure. What makes it so special is staying right in the middle of all that makes this city so special--from the fabulous architecture, the beautiful plazas, quaint shops, and great food. The tour provides you with some free time so you can conveniently explore what is of special interest to you. When combined, it makes for an incredible two weeks!

Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and today is an important cultural center, particularly renowned for the architectural works of Antoni Gaudi. Join us and be inspired by its culture and art. 

Internationally recognized bead artist Nancy Cain is joining us on this Beadventure and has designed this special project that she will teach during the Beadventure.

Itinerary

Day 1. Friday, April 25. Arrive in Barcelona.
Today you’ll fly into Barcelona (airport code BCN) and travel to our “home” for this Beadventure—the modernist Hotel Gaudi, located only 100 meters from La Rambla. If you arrive early feel free to explore the neighborhood and stores along La Rambla. At 6 p.m. we will gather in the hotel lobby for our welcome dinner at “Los Caracoles,” an historic and charming restaurant, one of the oldest in Barcelona, which is an easy walk from the hotel.
Meal included: dinner

Day 2. Saturday, April 26. Tour Barcelona.
After breakfast, we’ll take a 3-hour historic walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, led by longtime resident and licensed tour guide Iraida Marten. Following lunch together, we’ll orient ourselves to the city with a two-hour tour aboard the “Hop On-Hop off” bus. The rest of the day and evening you’ll be free to further explore Barcelona on your own (your “Hop-On” bus ticket is good through early evening, should you want to travel other routes).
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch.

Day 3. Sunday, April 27. Palau de la Musica & Bead Shopping.
In the morning we will tour the breathtaking Palau de Musica—a gem inside and out. The concert hall was completed in 1908 and has been a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The intricately detailed stained glass, sculptures, mosaics, and metalwork are beautiful—and the acoustics are amazing. 

Following the tour, we’ll walk over to one of the largest bead shops in Barcelona, “My Mineral Style.”  After shopping, you’ll then be free to explore on your own. For those interested, we can walk back to the hotel, down the Rambla, looking in on the beautiful displays of fruit, vegetables, and seafood at the Boqueria Market.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4. Monday, April 28. Palau Guell & Some Free Time.
After breakfast we’ll visit the Palau Guell (located across the street from our hotel). The palace was one of Gaudi’s earliest commissions, built for the industrialist Eusebio Guell. It is one of (and perhaps the first) example of Art Nouveau architecture in the world. You’ll be on your own for lunch and the rest of the day and evening will be yours to further explore this fascinating city.
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5. Tuesday, April 29. Exploration of Salvador Dali.
Today will be an all-day excursion to Figueres to see the Dali Museum as well as Dalí’s home in Cadaques on the Costa Brava. We will immerse ourselves in the world of Salvador Dalí and learn about his life and work. We’ll admire paintings and other mind-bending creations by the 20th-century Spanish artist at the stunning Salvador Dalí Museum in his birthplace of Figueres. We’ll then tour his beloved Costa Brava to see some of his favorite places, such as the coastal town of Cadaques and the Salvador Dalí House in Port Lligat. During the day we’ll stop for lunch; your evening will be free.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 6. Wednesday, April 30. More Gaudi--Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.
In the morning, we’ll walk up the Rambla, crossing the Plaza Catalunya to the lovely Paseo de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s loveliest thoroughfares and home to many beautiful modernist buildings and upmarket shops. We will tour the iconic Casa Batlló, one of the most recognizable of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces. Following lunch (included), we’ll walk to the nearby La Pedrera (also known as Casa Mila), a modernist apartment complex, the last civil work designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, built from 1906 to 1912. It houses a very comprehensive museum dedicated to the genius of Gaudi; the rooftop chimneys and views are not to be missed. Once the tour is completed, the rest of the day and evening will be free.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7. Thursday, May 1. Workshop with Nancy.
Today is a holiday in Spain (May Day, also known as Labor Day or International Workers’ Day) and many of the local shops and venues will be closed. So, we’re going to have our first workshop with Nancy! The workshop will be in the hotel’s conference room, and we’ll also have lunch at the hotel. Class will be finish up at 5 p.m. and your evening will be free.
Meals included:  Breakfast, lunch

Day 8. Friday, May 2. Masterful Work of Antoni Gaudi.
Today your breath will be taken away by the famous Gaudí masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Expiatory chapel, which has been under constructions since 1882—and still is. Gaudí took over as chief architect in 1883, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and Art Nouveau forms. 

Following our guided tour, we will have lunch. We then will further explore the work of Gaudi by visiting Parc Guell, a public park composed of gardens and architectonic elements that was designed by Gaudi. Here you’ll again see Gaudi’s architectural genius in which he put to practice his innovative structural solutions that later became the symbol of his organic style. We’ll return to the hotel in late afternoon; you’ll be on your own for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 9. Saturday, May 3. Mosaics Class and Picasso Museum.
In the morning we will walk to Studio Mosaiccos for a two-hour class in which we experience the “Trencadis” mosaic technique, developed by Gaudi. At a “make and take” session, you’ll create a mosaic souvenir, such as a small mirror or plaque. After our class, we’ll have lunch, and then walk over to visit the Picasso Museum. It is said that the Picasso Museum is important in understanding Pablo Picasso’s formative years, including his deep relationship with Barcelona that was shaped in his adolescence and youth, and continued until his death. The rest of the day you will be free.
Meals included:  Breakfast, lunch

Day 10. Sunday, May 4. Explore on your own!
You’ll be on your own today--oh boy!
Meals included:  Breakfast

Day 11. Monday, May 5. Workshop; then Flamenco!
In the morning we’ll re-convene in the hotel’s conference room to continue our full day of workshop with Nancy. In the evening, we will walk to Tablao Cordobes for dinner and a Flamenco show!
Meals included:  Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12.  Tuesday, May 6. Montserrat and Codorniu Wine Cellars.
We’ll start the day at bit early (8 a.m.) and walk to the Plaza Catalunya to meet our tour guide for a full day (10-hour) tour. Our first stop will be to Montserrat, which is home to one of the most important religious sites in Spain. A residence for the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, the mountain also provides one of the most spectaculars views of Catalonia. The history of Montserrat goes back to 880 when a group of shepherd children saw a bright light descending from the sky in the Montserrat mountains. It also is home to the L'Escolania choir, a boys' choir of sopranos and altos based at the abbey. They perform most days at the Basilica of Montserrat.  We'll then tour the Codorniu wine cellars where we will tour the world’s largest underground cellars, learn about the invention of cava in the late 19th century, as well as enjoy a sip or two at a tasting! Your evening will be free.
Meals included:  Breakfast, lunch

Day 13. Wednesday, May 7. Girona & Pals Costa Brava.
Today we’ll get started around 8 a.m. for our visit to the beautiful medieval city of Girona. Home to just over 100,000 people, here you’ll find winding medieval streets. The city has been dominated by many different people, and, as a result, has a great richness of architectural heritage—from its Cathedral, founded in 1038 on the site of a former Mosque, to the spectacular Roman walls, along which you can walk. We’ll then visit the pristine medieval village of Pals that grew out of what was once a fortress, where we'll have lunch. We’ll return to Barcelona around 7 p.m.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 14.  Thursday, May 8. Workshop and Farewell Dinner.
In the morning we’ll have our final workshop in the morning with Nancy. The afternoon you’ll be free to see and experience what your heart desires! In early evening, we’ll meet in the lobby to go to Asador de Aranda for our farewell dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 15. Friday, May 9. Depart. 
Today you’ll depart for home or on to other destinations that you may have planned!
Meals included: Breakfast

Important Note: The final itinerary will be very similar to the above. We reserve the latitude to make improvements based on our past experiences in Barcelona. Be assured if there are any changes, the result will be an even better experience!!!!

About your project . . . "Renaissance"
The pendant was the most important piece of jewelry from the Renaissance period. It replaced the Medieval brooch as being the most common piece of jewelry. The pendants were often designed to be seen from both sides with their backs equally impressive as their jeweled fronts. The Renaissance period was the transition from Medieval times to the modern age.

This necklace showcases an impressive 40mm crystal with inverted coating where the front is flat allowing for a unique bezel design. Deeply bezeled 14mm rivolis surround the stone with chain and crystal fringes. The back of the stone celebrates a circular beaded mosaic pattern. The pendant is peyote stitch, with a rope of chenille stitch.

About your teacher . . . Nancy Cain
Nancy has traveled nationally and internationally since she started to teach beading in 1993. She was the 2015 Bead&Button Show Master Class instructor where she taught "Engineering Vessels." She had since taught her master classes seven times. In her workshop sessions, she shares her passion for structural peyote stitch by delving into the process of designing and structure. With an engineering perspective to beading, she shares the processes so students can enhance their knowledge beyond the specific project.

Nancy has exhibited at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Hakone Open-Air Museum. She was named Beadwork’s Designer of the Year for 2010 and twice been a Bead Dreams Finalist at the Bead&Button show. She has also been widely published and is in the process of authoring a book.

Before her beading hobby grew, Nancy was as a graphic artist and calligrapher as well as a draftsman for an engineering company. She is married with two grown children and lives in Colorado.

About your tour leader Carol Moore . . .
Carol and her family (son David and daughter Daniela) spent 8 happy years living in Barcelona as her husband Salvador’s job required an expatriate assignment (NOT a hardship post!!), where she learned to speak excellent Spanish (though not Catalan!). Four years ago, Carol stumbled upon City Beads in Chicago by bizarre coincidence at which she took her first class and became an enthusiastic member of the “City Beads Tuesday Beading Group.”  Combining beads and her love for Barcelona is a dream come true and she can’t wait to show you many of her favorite places to see, shop, and eat!!  Carol and Salvador have since moved from Chicago and now divide their time between their home in San Juan Capistrano and Salvador’s family home in Queretaro, Mexico. 


Trip Details

Trip Cost
4845 Euros for shared hotel room; single supplement (based on availability) is an an additional 1135 Euros (click here to convert currency)

Non-beader discount US$150

Payment Terms
To guarantee your spot on this trip, send in a $1,000 deposit and submit an on-line registration form. Balance will be due 120 days prior to start of Beadventure (see Conditions & Responsibilities for more information).

Trip Cost Includes:

  • 14 nights lodging in a shared room at Hotel Gaudi, a block off La Rambla
  • Extremely knowledgeable tour leader and professional guides or tours
  • Entrance and tour fees for:
    • Gothic Quarter private tour
    • Hop-on-hop-off bus tour
    • Palau de la Musica guided tour
    • La Sagrada guided tour
    • Parc Guell guided tour
    • Dali Museum and Home guided tours
    • Casa Batillo guided tour
    • La Pedrera guided tour
    • Girona guided tour
    • Pals guided tour
    • Montserrat guided tour
    • Codorniu Cava Tour guided tour
    • Picasso Museum guided tour
  • Mosaics hands-on Gaudi inspired workshop
  • Ground transportation for the all the itinerary activities
  • Workshop with Jean
  • About 50% of meals

Trip Cost Does Not Include:

  • Airfare to and from Barcelona
  • Airport transportation to and from the Barcelona hotel
  • Tips
  • Travel insurance
  • Workshop kit
  • About 50% of meals

To Sign Up

To guarantee your spot on this trip, send in a $1,000 deposit and completed registration form after reviewing Beadventures' Conditions & Responsibilities information. Final payment will be due 120 days prior to the start of the trip.

Trip Notes . . . IMPORTANT!

Travel Insurance
You are making a big investment in your upcoming travel. In spite of all your planning, travel can be unpredictable--from cancelled flights to last minute illness. To help protect the investment you are making in your upcoming trip, you are strongly encouraged to purchase trip insurance. Research options by clicking here.

Fitness level
There is a great deal of walking on this trip, some of which will be on uneven cobblestone streets, and stairs.  As a result, this trip is not for people who have difficulty walking or other mobility issues.

Workshop Supplies
Bring your customary beading supplies, bead mat, and a battery-powered light.