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{co
SHOPPING}

** Milan Designer Bargain Shopping **
Duration 7nights/8days
By Italian Law only twice a year!
Mid January to Mid February or
Mid July to Mid August

Highlights:
* Visiting the boutiques of Quadrilatero d" Oro, the Golden Triangle.
* Milan's Duomo, third largest church in Europe.
* Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.
* Charming villages of Lake Como, a major silk producing area.
* Textile outlets in Lake Como.

*** Sawgrass Mills ***
Largest Discount Shopping Mall in the World!
Duration Variable
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Highlights:
* Shopping at stores whose lease insists that they sell at reduced prices from their normal level!
* The most prestigious "factory stores" of America -
Calvin Cain, Polo Ralph Lauren, Mikasa, and Banana Republic

*** Scotland Textiles***
See more information under Needlework

*** London's After Christmas Sales***
What better way to extend the holiday feeling then by visiting the fabulous
Harrod's after Christmas sale. Combine this with some London theatre
and off season (no crowds!) sightseeing for a wonderful post holiday experience.

*** Fly to China ***
(English China, that is!)
Time of Year: All year round
Duration: 3 nights/4 day or variable combined with additional England programs

Highlights:
* Visit Royal Doulton, 'the home of the Royal Doulton figure' and the 10.30am factory tour,
* A special 'step back in time' tour of the Gladstone Pottery Museum,
the only complete Victorian pottery.
* On to Spode and another special tour, this time of the birthplace of fine bone china.
* Take the short walk to nearby Minton and Portmeirion to raid their factory shops as well!
* Visit the Wedgwood Visitor Centre, before a leisurely visit to their shop.
* More shopping at the Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and many other 'seconds' shops,
* or see the dazzling display of the world's finest collection of Staffordshire ceramics
at the award-winning Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

TRAINS/AIR

*** Montana Daylight ***
Duration: Various 3 - 8 days by train
Various itineraries include Montana, Idaho, Yellowstone, Glacier Nat'l Park,
the Continental Divide, Missouri River, and the Lewis and Clark Trail

Highlights:
* Budd-built streamliner cars from the 1940's and '50s.
* Wide picture windows for optimal viewing.
* Trains only operate during daylight hours so you don't miss any of the spectacular scenery and wildlife.
* Onboard narration and historians.

*** Space on the Beach***
Duration 7 days/6 nights
Based on the Big Island, Hawaii
An opportunity to gain insight into the geological and astronomical
processes that shape our universe, while exploring one of the most beautiful
and diverse islands in the world.

Highlights:
* A two hour helicopter tour of the island's diverse landscape.
* A one hour underwater excursion in a 48-passenger submarine.
* A summit tour of Mauna Kea observatories.
* A day tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
* Snorkeling at Puuhonua O Honaunau National Park.

*** The World's Smallest Public Railway ***
South East England/Kent

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is a triumph of miniature engineering. One third size locomotives, based on the powerful express engines of Great Britain and North America, haul trains of coaches at high speeds across the almost level terrain of Kent's historic Romney Marsh. This mainline railway originally built for a millionaire racing driver in the 1920's is one of the railway wonders of the world.

*** British Motor Heritage ***
Duration: Variable
Overnights: Various
Time your visit to coincide with a special event staged for
MGs, Jaguars, Minis and other British cars that pre-date 1980.

Highlights:
* Heritage Motor Centre, home to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, 200 vehicles on display.
* Land Rover Off Road Demonstration Course, a white knuckle ride!
* Jaguar factory tour.
* Historic cars and aircraft at Brooklands.

NEEDLEWORK

*** A Stitch In Time ***
Duration: Variable/England
Overnights in Liverpool, Cheshire, Derbyshire

Highlights:
* Embroidery collection at Liverpool's Cathedral.
* Creative Embroidery course.
* A special tour of the Cathedral Art Studio in Liverpool.
* The Mortlake Tapestries at half-timbered Speke Hall.
* Gobelin tapestries, samplers and stump work at the Laky Lever Art Gallery.
* Hands on visit to one of the finest embroidery centers in England.
* Silk Trail in Chesire.
* Viewing of a Cathedral Dean's ecclesiastical vestments.

*** Scotland Textiles***
Duration: Variable/Scotland
Overnights: various

Highlights:
* Visit with independent artists and craftsmen working in wool in the Borders.
* Demonstrations of spinners, weavers, and tapestry makers at their workshops.
* Hear how their work has been inspired by the epic Scottish characters such as
Robert the Bruce,William Wallace, and Walter Scott.
* Enjoy purchasing quality cashmere and tartan items at reasonable prices at their source.

*** Quilting In Wales***
Duration: Variable
Overnights:various
Combine this with the Malvern, Wales Quilting Festival in May for a truly special visit.

Highlights:
* Visit the rural market town of Llanidloes with its rich tradition of textiles and quilting.
* The Minerva Arts Centre, home of an important collection of Welsh Heritage Quilts.
* Stunning Powis Castle, renowned for its terraced gardens without,
and within the Clive of India Collection.
* A visit to the worlds' most comprehensive collection of antique Welsh quilts.
* Spend time with enthusiastic quilters in the Bath/Bristol area of England.

CHEERS

*** What's Brewing in England***
Duration: Variable
Overnights: Various
Combine a mix of visits to breweries, pub meals, and historic sight seeing for a
leisurely immersion in some of England's most scenic countryside. Whether you choose
to visit Kent, Yorkshire, Susex or the Cotswolds, you will have a chance to
sip the local brews while savoring the local flavor.

*** Whisky Trail, Scotland***
Duration: Variable
Overnights: Various

Discover the best Scotland has to offer - Highland scenery, a beautiful coastline and attractive towns and villages. Visit the seven distilleries and cooperage on the Malt Whisky Trail, the Cashmere Visitor Centre, craft centres, castles & gardens. You could also include a visit to the Glenturret Distillery and fly with the Famous Grouse. Do it up in style with a true Scottish evening complete with swirling bag piper and Scottish Haggis if you choose! Time it for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in May.

*** Poetry and Pints in Wales ***
Celebrating the Works of Dylan Thomas
2003 50th anniversary of his death
Duration: Variable Location: Swansea, Wales

* Visit the Dylan Thomas Centre's Exhibition and his birthplace.
* The famous boathouse at Laugharne.
* Hear his poetry and prose performed by Welsh voices in his native town.
* Stop for a pint, as he did, in one of the Mumbles pubs.
* Be inspired by the sounds of a Welsh Male Voice Choir

MISCELLANEOUS

*** Antiquing in England ***
There are numerous opportunities for "antiquing" in England.
Here are but a few suggestions of the tours that could be arranged focusing on antiques.
All of course could be combined with several nights in London and/or
be arranged to coincide with an antique show or fair.

* South East England/Kent - Visit the pretty village of Sandgate, an antique hunter's haven. Over fifteen antique shops to browse around. Also an abundance of specialty shops, pubs, bars, and teashops. Combine this with a visit to the picturesque town of Rye. See why this area attracted such literary figures as H. G. Wells and Russell Thorndike (the "Dr. Syn" stories) and Edith Nesbitt, author of the children's classic "The Railway Children".

*Time of Year: October Based: Royal Tunbridge Wells. Combine visits to the Detling International Antiques and Collectors Fair with the Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fairs with plenty of time for hitting the shops in Tunbridge Wells and Brighton. Throw in a visit to the priceless collections at Penshurst Place and a pub supper to finish things off.

* Shop til you drop! Go directly from your flight to the famous Petticoat Lane market in London! Then travel to Bath for a combination of free time for antique hunting at your leisure and a day trip to the Cotswold town of Tetbury with its many antique shops. Back to London for some theatre and time to visit a local market.

FESTIVAL AND EVENT DATES
May - Spring Autojumble (England)
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, (Scotland)
July - Goodwood Festival of Speed and Historic Motor Sport Event (England)

September - Ardingly International Antiques and Collectors Fair (England)
Detling International Antiques and Collectors Fair (England)
Chelsea Antiques Fair (London, England)
International Autojumble (England)

October - Scottish Quilting Championships (Perth and Edinburgh)
Dylan Thomas Celebration (50th anniversary of his death in 2003)

November - London - Brighton Veteran Car Run