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AUSTRIA & BAVARIA. GERMANY Sep 22 - Oct 04, 2012 Extended stay in Vienna Oct 04 - 06, 2012 2012 Austrian Quilt Exhibition Innsbruck • Salzburg • Vienna and places in-between! Click here for all of the details! HAWAII Feb 24 - Mar 04, 2012 Kona • Maui • Oahu Hawaiian appliqué class Trunk shows Kona Coffee Plantation Fabric shopping & and much more! Click here for all of the details!

Registration is now open! Back by popular demand! Japan November 01-11, 2012 Attend International Quilt Week Yokohama …Quilting class included! Kyoto - Takayama - Tokyo - Yokohama Show & Tell with Keiko Takahashi and local quilt school students Amazing fabric shopping and much more! Click here for all of the details! See photos of past Japan tours!

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AUSTRIA & BAVARIA. GERMANY Sep 22 - Oct 04, 2012 Extended stay in Vienna Oct 04 - 06, 2012

Join Fellow Quilters as we Travel To: Innsbruck • Oberammergau • Neuschwanstein Garmisch-Partenkirchen • Salzburg Austia's Lake District • Burgenland • Vienna Attend the 2012 Austrian Quilt Exhibition See how the Austrian Blue Prints are made!

Your Tour Itinerary:
September 22, 2012-Saturday
For those of you living in North America, you will need to arrange your flight to depart today, in order to arrive in Innsbruck, Austria on Sunday, September 23.

In order to plan your free time wisely and learn more about specific places along the tour that interest you, we recommend that you purchase one of the following travel guides: Frommer’s, Foder’s, Rick Steves’, or DK Eyewitness. You may want to be sure it has a food translation section for ordering when dining out on your own.

Sep 23-Sun
Our hotel in INNSBRUCK is the 5-STAR GRAND HOTEL EUROPA. The hotel is located across the street from the main train station. The public bus “F" departs Innsbruck International Airport every 15 minutes in front of the arrivals hall and takes about 10 minutes, for a cost of approx. € 2.

Dating from 1869, this hotel has hosted Queen Elizabeth II, the shah of Iran, General Patton, and the crew of Apollo 14. The ornate yellow-and-white baroque hall is used by Tyrolean government for its most important functions and the ballroom was constructed by King Ludwig's Bavarian architects and builders.

Contact Traveling Together if you would like to arrive in Innsbruck a day early and stay at the Hotel Europa. If you would like assistance in arranging your air travel please call Northwood Travel at 800-780-0571or email them at info@NorthwoodTravel.com

Innsbruck, capital of the Alps, is one of Austria’s oldest cities. Alpine views are around every corner and the medieval Old Town is home to imperial palaces, world-class galleries and Zaha Hadid's avant-garde designs. This afternoon you may want to take a stroll around Old Town or relax at the hotel, prior to our WELCOME DINNER.

Sep 24-Mon
This morning we will be crossing the border into Germany to visit OBERAMMERGAU and GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN. Oberammergau is located in a wide valley surrounded by forests, green meadows, and mountains and is best known for its famous Passion Play, which began in 1634 when the town's citizens took a vow to give dramatic thanks after they were spared from the devastating plague of 1633.

Although we won’t be attending the play, we will be admiring the many buildings in the historic center that are decorated with "Lüftlmalerei" or frescoes featuring Bavarian folktales or religious themes. The town is also known for its woodcarvers, a craft that has been practiced here since medieval times. There are plenty of shops offering good quality woodcarvings, in addition to two of Kathe Wohlfahrt’s famous Christmas shops!

The villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen make up Germany's top Alpine resort. The two towns were merged for the 1936 Olympic Winter Games and they have maintained the charm of ancient villages. Even today, you occasionally see country folk in traditional dress, and you may be held up in traffic while the cattle are led from their mountain-grazing grounds down through the streets of town. Birgit Kaller is the International Representative of the German Patchwork Guild and will be supplying us with the names of any quilt shops in these villages. She is also working on the possibility of our meeting with some of the local quilters in Garmisch.

Sep 25-Tue
Today you will be on your own to EXPLORE INNSBRUCK. Visit Innsbruck Information to see what Innsbruck has to offer and whether the purchase of an Innsbruck Card would be beneficial to you, depending on your individual interests. Swarovski Chrystal World, The Goldenes Dachl, Hofburg Imperial Palace and Alpin Zoo are just a few of the major attractions. If it’s a clear day, you may want to ride one of the cable cars, funicular railways or lifts to enjoy the spectacular Alpine views. There is no shortage of shopping in the center of town. Tiroler Heimatwerk is one of Innsbruck's best stores for handcrafted Tyrolean items such as sculpture, pewter, textiles, woolen goods, hand-knit sweaters, lace, and regionally inspired fabrics and dress patterns. Be sure to take the time to treat yourself to a piece of rich chocolate cake at the famous chandelier-lit Café Sacher!

Sep 26-Wed

We’re off to Germany again! Near the Bavarian town of Fussen is one of the most visited castles in Germany and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. NEUSCHWANSTEIN, also known as “the castle of the fairy-tale king", is what inspired Walt Disney to create the Magic Kingdom. Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life. Today you will have the opportunity to view what was once his private refuge. King Ludwig was a great admirer and supporter of Richard Wagner, the world - renowned composer, and many rooms in the castle's interior were inspired by Wagner's characters. Though only 14 rooms were finished before Ludiwg II's sudden death in 1886, these rooms were majestically decorated. The two story throne room was designed in Byzantine style, with wall paintings depicting angels. Ironically, there is no throne in the Throne Room, as Ludwig died before it was completely finished. We’ll enjoy a GROUP DINNER this evening when we return to Innsbruck.

Sep 27-Thu
We depart Innsbruck this morning for SALZBURG, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the gateway to some of Austria’s most splendid landscapes. For fans of the movie The Sound of Music, the city was the home to the von Trapp family and you can find movie locations scattered around the city. After time for lunch, we’ll have A WALKING TOUR OF THE OLD TOWN, before checking in to the 5-STAR ALSTADT SAS RADISSON HOTEL. The historic facade and stone arches from the medieval structure still remain, adding to the charm of this 1377 converted Alstadt inn. A GROUP DINNER will be at the hotel this evening.

Sep 28-Fri

After yesterday’s walking tour, you will have gained the knowledge you need to make the most of your FREE DAY IN SALZBURG. Whether you want to follow in Mozart’s footsteps, study the superb baroque architecture, or shop on the famous medieval street known as the Getreidgasse, you will be sure to enjoy your day in Salzburg!

Sep 29-Sat
We depart Salzburg this morning for SEEWALCHEN ON LAKE ATTERSEE, in an area known as Upper Austria. For 60 years, TOSTMANN TRACHTEN has manufactured Dirndls, a type of traditional dress worn in Bavaria, Liechtenstein, Austria, and South Tyrol, based on the historical costume of Alpine peasants…and they sell traditional 100% cotton Austrian fabrics! Our next stop will be BAD ISCHL, a charming small town in the resort area of Austria’s lake district. There’s more fabric at the local Heimatwerk, along with wonderful shops and time for lunch. Be sure to allow time for a stop at the famous Zauner’s Konditorei (confectionery) for an afternoon treat! Late this afternoon we depart for LEOBEN and the FALKENSTEINER HOTEL AND ASIA SPA. Our GROUP DINNER this evening will be at the hotel.

Sep 30-Sun

Today we drive to KRIEGLACH, Austria for the 2012 AUSTRIAN GUILD EXHIBITION! This is the largest quilt show in Austria, with a couple of hundred quilts on display and we will have most of the day to enjoy them and meet the Austrian quilters. HELEN HEANEY is Austria’s European Quilt Association (EQA) representative and has been instrumental in helping us create this tour. In addition to providing us with the information for the Austrian fabric shopping, she is responsible for arranging our visit tomorrow to Blaudruck Koo which is sure to be a highlight of the tour!

Our GROUP DINNER this evening will be at a restaurant on our way to LUTZMANNSBURG’S ALL IN RED HOTEL in the Austrian state of Burgenland, just minutes from the Hungarian border.

Oct 01-Mon

Just a short distance from our hotel is BLAUDRUCK KOO, one of the last blue print fabric dyers in Europe.

Originally, the indigo dyed blue-print fabrics were used for everyday clothing and work clothes. Today, they are perfect for quilting and are much in demand! You will have the opportunity to see how the dying process is achieved, including a look at the workroom, vats and stamps used to make these wonderful prints! They specialize in reversible printed fabrics that are still made with an old roller printing machine that is hand-operated. Most of the dying is done over the summer months, so the stock room will be full in October! Our GROUP DINNER this evening will be at our hotel.

Oct 02-Tue
Our last city on the tour is VIENNA. Vienna is Austria's largest city, as well as its cultural, economic, and political center. It is the 10th-largest city by population in the European Union and is host to many major international organizations, such as the United Nations and OPEC. After a few morning visits in the city and time for lunch, we will have a WALKING TOUR OF CENTRAL VIENNA THAT WILL INCLUDE ENTRANCE TO ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL, THE IMPERIAL APARTMENTS AND THE SISI MUSEUM. Location, location, location! HOTEL ROYAL is on one of the more prestigious streets of the old city and is less than a block from St. Stephen's Cathedral. The hotel is within walking distance of all the major shopping and sights of the city.

Oct 03-Wed
With map and travel guide in hand, you will have the whole day to EXPLORE VIENNA. Whether you decide to shop at the most prestigious shopping zone in downtown Vienna (also called the “Golden U”), visit one of the local markets, or spend time in one of the many museums, you’re sure to enjoy this exciting city! Visit Vienna Information to see whether the purchase of a ViennaCard would be beneficial to you, depending on your individual interests. This is the last day of the tour and we will have a FAREWELL DINNER tonight at our hotel.

Oct 04-Thu
If you will not be joining us on the Vienna extension, you will be transferred this morning to the VIENNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT for your flights home. There will be one group transfer that will have everyone at the airport in time for flights that depart 9:30am or later.

For those of you that would like to experience more of Vienna, please read on:

Oct 04-Thu
This morning we will be boarding our bus for a visit to SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE. Listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria. The tour will include forty rooms and forty fascinating stories spanning three centuries. Also included are the magnificent Hall of Ceremonies, the imposing Gobelin Salon with its exquisite Brussels tapestries as well as the room known in Maria Theresia's time as the Feketin Room, later renamed the Millions Room because of its precious panelling of rare rosewood.

Oct 05-Fri Today we will have a guided tour of Vienna’s famous SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL, including the stables. Each year the best LIPIZZAN STALLIONS are selected for training at the Spanish Riding School. At the height of their career, they enchant visitors from all over the world with their truly unique performances in the world's most famous riding hall, the "Winter Riding School", located in Vienna's Imperial Hofburg Palace. Tickets cannot be purchased until today for the morning exercise that is set to music, but your tour escort will make every effort to secure admission for the group.

Oct 06-Sat
You will be transferred this morning to the VIENNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT for your flights home. There will be one group transfer that will have everyone at the airport in time for flights that depart 9:30am or later.

Book Early!
Space is limited

Included in your tour:
ALL hotels
ALL breakfasts & 7 dinners
ALL group tours & activities
ALL land travel by private motor coach
Luggage handling at hotels, when available
Escorted by a professional tour leader
Group transfer to Vienna International Airport,
as specified on Oct. 04
Shop for fabric with plenty of free time
to explore and shop in each of the cities we visit!

Tour Price:
$ 3,183 per person, double occupancy
$ 687 single supplement
Prices do not include airfare

Included in the Vienna extension:
2 nights at Hotel Royal
Breakfast each morning
All transportation and entrance
for visits to Schönbrunn Palace and The Spanish Riding School
Luggage handling at Hotel Royal
Escorted by a professional tour leader
Group transfer to Vienna International Airport,
as specified on Oct. 06

Extension Price:
$ 351 per person, double occupancy
$ 67 single supplement
Prices do not include airfare

Please note: In order to fully enjoy this trip you will need to be able to walk up to 5 city blocks at one time, and at a moderate pace. In addition to uphill climbs on some of the city streets (some being cobblestone) you may need to climb a flight or two of stairs. A few of the hotel rooms may be located in an area of the hotel that cannot be accessed by an elevator.

Please be sure to print and read the 2012 Tour Terms & Conditions
and fill out the current registration form.

If Traveling Together is bookmarked in your favorites,
please be sure to refresh the links, as many pages have been updated.

To access the required 2012 booking forms:

Terms and Conditions

Registration Form

Printer Friendly Version

_______________________________________________________________________________

Travel Together with Fellow Quilters to Japan Attend International Quilt Week Yokohama 2012 Kyoto ~ Takayama ~ Yokohama ~ Tokyo November 01-11, 2012

Your invitation from Traveling Together…After many trips to Japan, we are anxious to return and invite you to come along! Not only will we shop for fabric, attend Quilt Yokohama 2012 and meet with local quilters, but you will have a chance to experience four very different cities. We will be at a latitude similar to Los Angeles and the days should be crisp and cool. This is when the leaves are changing, making a colorful background at each of the places we visit. We will have a professional interpreter with us for the entire tour and as an added bonus, she is a quilter! What more could you ask for? Take a look at this exciting itinerary and sign up soon, as this is a small group and space is limited!

Let the journey begin!
Barbara Spohn
Traveling Together

Your Interpreter, MARIKO AKIZUKI
Mariko Akizuki is a Japanese quilter and lived in the United States for 11 years. During her stay in the US, she first encountered quilting and at present, teaches her own quilt group “Quilters’ Workshop.” Her works have been published in Quilts Japan, Patchwork Tsushin and others. One of Mariko's quilts was chosen by the Japan Handicraft Instructors’ Association as one of the 100 quilts by Japanese and foreign quilters and travels to various locations. She is also an interpreter and translator and has interpreted for many American and Japanese quilt artists as well as other well known persons including Ivan Lendl, the famous tennis player! She has also translated many quilt related articles and books. She is a lovely and knowledgeable woman! You will have time to get to know her, as she accompanies us on all of our quilting tours.

Your Tour Itinerary:
November 1, Thursday
If coming from North America, you will need to arrange your flight to depart today in order to arrive at
KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT on Friday, November 2. If you would like assistance with your air travel, please call Northwood Travel at 800-780-0571 or email them at Northwood Travel

November 2, Friday
Mariko will be at the airport to greet you and transfer you to the KYOTO ROYAL HOTEL, a hotel we use for all of our Japan tours. We will be right in the center of the city for our four-night stay in Kyoto. This is the only night that dinner will not be included, as most flights will arrive late in the day and you will have been served meals on your flight.

November 3, Saturday
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we will EXPLORE DOWNTOWN KYOTO. Mariko will take us on a walk through the main shopping arcades, with stops at the local FABRIC SHOPS! The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy or just relax before tomorrow’s full-day tour.

November 4, Sunday We begin today’s TOUR OF KYOTO with a visit to Nijo Castle, the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa era shoguns that was built in 1603 and noted for the contrast of its solemn appearance and beautiful interiors. Next stop is the most authentic and exquisite Japanese-style garden in the world and the celebrated Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion). This gold-leaf covered structure houses sacred relics of Buddha and is probably the most photographed Japanese structure. We’ll stroll through the Kyoto Imperial Palace, before stopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center to watch traditional Japanese artisans work their craft and enjoy a buffet lunch.

This afternoon we TOUR NARA, where in 710 AD the Japanese built their first true city, where artists, scholars, and statesmen began to develop a civilization that survives in its essentials to the present day. The first stop is Todaiji, the world's largest wooden structure and home of the Great Buddha. We’ll wander among more than 1,000 tame deer that roam freely in the 1,250 acres of peaceful parkland of Nara Deer Park and visit the famous Kasuga Taisha Shrine. You’ll marvel at the 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns that make this the most famous Shinto Shrine in all of Japan.

November 5, Monday This morning we will visit a home that is typical to Kyoto and to this area of Japan. Although the home itself is typical, it is very unique in that it has antique Yuzen kimonos made into screens. The home is the residence of the owner of KODAI YUZEN EN (Yuzen dyeing), which is the process of hand-painting silk fabrics, used for kimono. You will have the option of trying your hand at dyeing your own handkerchief, bureau scarf, etc., along with visiting the museum and shopping in their wonderful store.

KEIKO TAKAHASHI ~ Keiko is one of the few contemporary quiltmakers in Japan. She established her Kyoto quilt school in 1979, followed by other schools in Toyko, Osaka, and Kobe. Her quilts have been awarded at the International Quilt Exhibition (‘92) and the Quilt Expo IV (‘94). In addition to being chosen as one of the 100 leading quilters in the world by the Japan Handicraft Instructors’ Association, Keiko has juried and judged at major Japanese quilting shows.

KEIKO TAKAHASHI and her students will be meeting us this afternoon for SHOW & TELL, with traditional tea and cakes. Show and Tell is an activity all quilters love, including the Japanese. They will be looking forward to seeing some of our quilting, so be sure to bring a small sample of your work to show and pictures of any of your quilts that would be too large to bring along. Meeting with local people is always a highlight of any tour and the opportunity to meet Keiko and see her magnificent work is always an added bonus on our quilting tours! A small gift exchange will take place with the students.

November 6, Tuesday
Pack your small carry-on for our overnight adventure up to the JAPAN ALPS! You will need a small overnight bag that you can handle while walking and getting on and off the trains. Your one main suitcase will be shipped from the Kyoto Royal directly to the Marriott Courtyard Tokyo Ginza Hotel. The train ride takes us to the heart of the Hida Mountains to the tranquil town of TAKAYAMA, which has held on to its old-fashioned charm and is no doubt the reason so many artists have made their homes there. The delight of Takayama is that the entire town is something of a museum piece. It’s the perfect place to indulge in those fantasies of old Japan that industrial over-development elsewhere in the country doesn’t accommodate….and some wonderful fabrics have been located on previous tours! In the late afternoon we will check in to our Ryokan... an authentic Japanese-style hotel where we’ll have a traditional style Japanese dinner and stay the night.

RYOKAN... A Ryokan is an authentic Japanese-style hotel where tradition is still observed. At the entrance, you will be welcomed in the Japanese way and ushered in. You must take off your shoes and wear slippers that are provided, when entering a Ryokan and then remove even the slippers before stepping on the Tatami floor of your room. A Ryokan also provides guests with Yukata, a kimono-like outer garment similar to our dressing gown. Staying at a Ryokan is an unforgettable experience and gives you the opportunity to taste the true flavor of traditional Japanese life.

Without question, a stimulating magnetism of the Ryokan is its piping hot soaking baths guaranteed to drain every ounce of stress and fatigue from your mind and body. Besides the hot springs, dinners at the Ryokan are the singular most compelling attraction: they are prepared and presented as a combination of the finest of Japanese cuisine, intermixed with savory local delights. A typical menu, brought to you dish upon dish, offers a variety from Sukiyaki and Tempura to raw and grilled fish. A simple breakfast is served. Your guest room is a large undivided room with traditional rice-straw Tatami matting, with only a single low table as furniture. Doors are Shoji screens, and decoration will usually be one or two simple ink brush drawings or scrolls. Guests sleep on Futon bedding laid out in the evening by maids. Each room will be shared with a total of four quilters and will have a private bath to be shared by your roommates. These arrangements have always worked well on past quilting tours. This will be a truly Japanese experience and as the saying goes... when in Japan, do as the Japanese do!

November 7, Wednesday We’ll have the morning to do a little exploring on our own before departing Takayama and boarding the train to Nagoya. Then we transfer to the famous BULLET TRAIN for the ride to TOKYO. We arrive in time to check into the MARRIOTT COURTYARD TOKYO GINZA HOTEL and have dinner at a local American-style restaurant! Although Japanese food is delicious, it is always nice to be able to have a taste of home. Our hotel is located in the Ginza area of Tokyo and will be our home for the remainder of our stay in Japan. Your suitcase from Kyoto will have been delivered directly to your room.

November 8, Thursday YUZAWAYA KAMATA STORE is a fantastic shopping area with Japanese fabrics and indigo-dyed Japanese panels in abundance and at reasonable prices. Great fat quarters at low prices! You’ll find Yukata (robes) in cotton fabrics, Sashiko thread and patterns, and buttons, buttons, and more buttons! This is not the only store, but one that is located in a complex with many others that carry notions, handicraft items, yarn and much more. We’ll explore the markets and arcades, where it is as much fun to look, as it is to buy!

November 9, Friday Today is the day we have all been waiting for! We will spend the day in Yokohama for INTERNATIONAL QUILT WEEK YOKOHAMA. This wonderful show is sponsored by the Japanese magazine Patchwork Quilt Tsusin. The show has been held since 1992 and has become one of the largest patchwork and quilting events in Japan. Approximately 200 contest quilts will be on exhibit, in addition to many quilts being displayed from other countries and special categories…and over 200 vendors will be selling their wares! See more by visiting Quilt Week Yokohama

As of the writing of this brochure the information is not yet available from the show organizers regarding what QUILTING CLASS we will taking, but with Mariko as our interpreter its sure to be informative and fun! Once the information is available, it will be sent to everyone who is booked on the tour.

November 10, Saturday Our hotel is located in the Ginza and today you will have time to explore the area with Mariko and your Traveling Together escort, getting you oriented so that you can spend time at the stores that interest you most. The GINZA is the most exclusive and expensive shopping area in Japan and known for having the most expensive real estate on earth.

The streets are lined with neon signs, department stores, boutiques, and restaurants. You will want to browse some of the famous department stores, including Itoya (a seven-story stationary store), Mikimoto’s to look at their world-renowned pearls, and you may even find some more fabric! Browsing and spending time may be the only thing you want to do in the Ginza, due to the cost of things at many of the trendier stores. Not to worry, there are plenty of smaller retail shops and department stores, including shops to buy souvenirs for everyone back home.

Our FAREWELL DINNER tonight will give everyone a chance to reminisce about the wonderful time shared with fellow quilters and a last chance to spend time with Mariko. By now, you may even have found someone on the tour that you would like to room with for the next time we Travel Together!

November 11, Sunday
Flights for the U.S. depart TOKYO’S NARITA AIRPORT in the afternoon, and no matter what time your flight is scheduled to leave, your transfer to Narita is included. A lot of shops in the Ginza are open on Sunday in case you feel the need to run out and buy that one last item for someone back home! The scenery, traveling with other quilters and the chance to get to know some of the Japanese people, make this trip the quilting adventure of a lifetime!

BOOK EARLY! This will be a small group and SPACE IS LIMITED!

Included in your tour:
All hotels
All breakfasts, dinners (beginning Nov 03), and 1 lunch
All group tours and activities
All group motorcoach & train transportation in Japan
All airport transfers and luggage handling when arriving Kansai Airport Nov. 2nd
and departing Tokyo on Nov. 11th
Entrance to Quilt Week Yokohama
Quilting class at Quilt Week Yokohama
Show & Tell with Keiko Takahashi and local quilt school students
Escorted by a Traveling Together professional & Mariko Akizuki, interpreter
Lots of fabric shopping, sightseeing and more!

Tour Pricing:
$4494 per person, double occupancy
$ 527 single supplement (Single availability is very limited)
Airfare is not included in the cost of the tour
There is an additional cost for the one night at Takayama for male/female couples or anyone not wanting to share a room with a total of four people. Please call for details and cost.

While Traveling in Japan…
Please note that this particular tour requires a good amount of walking each day. Temples require the climbing of stairs and some train stations have no lifts and require the use of stairs. For the overnight journey to Takayama, you will need to pack a small overnight bag that you will be able to handle when getting on and off the trains and walking between the train station and the hotel. Remember that you may even need to carry it up or down a flight of stairs at the train stations. Please note that not all restaurants “westernize” meals for American groups. Mariko will do her best to have some of the items cooked that normally are served raw, but this will not always be the case. Japan is a country of different smells and different foods, but it will be a wonderful experience! We always request non-smoking areas when they are available. Smoke and its odors are sometimes unavoidable, as many places in Japan allow smoking. Just remember that the reason we all like to travel to other countries is to experience the cultural differences!

Please be sure to print and read the 2012 Tour Terms & Conditions

Print and mail in the completed 2012 Tour Registration Form along with your deposit.

**If Traveling Together is bookmarked in your favorites,
please be sure to refresh the links, as many pages & forms have been updated.

Printer Friendly Version

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

HAWAII QUILT TOUR February 24 - March 04, 2012 HAWAII, The Big Island MAUI, The Valley Isle OAHU, The Gathering Place Your tour includes: 4 nights at the Royal Kona Resort 3 nights at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel 2 nights at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach on Waikiki Hotels Breakfast each morning ***4 dinners/luau, as noted in the itinerary ALL group tours and activities ALL airport transfers in Hawaii ALL luggage handling at hotels ALL land travel by private motorcoach on the islands Group flights within Hawaii (Kona to Maui & Maui to Honolulu) Classes in Kona and Maui with all supplies provided Trunk show with Sylvia Pippen Honolulu City Tour Escorted by a professional tour leader Lots of fabric shopping…and more!

Escape the cold weather!

Call today.....only a few spaces left!

Aloha!
Do you get the February doldrums?
We’ve got a cure!
Join us on our tour of paradise, where the air is balmy,
flowers are in full bloom and the atmosphere is truly tropical!

The ROYAL KONA RESORT is set on twelve oceanfront acres overlooking Kailua Bay in the heart of historic Kona town. During your four-night stay at the resort, there will time to relax on the decks of the oceanfront, split-level swimming pool or enjoy the private beach and saltwater swimming lagoon.

You may arrange your flight to arrive at KONA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT at any time today. Traveling Together will provide you with information on how to make your individual transfer reservation that will get you from the Kona International Airport to the Royal Kona Resort. Should you want to arrive in Kona prior to February 24th, we have rooms available at the cost of $97 per person for a double room and $176 for a single, including breakfast and taxes. If you would like assistance with your air travel, please call Northwood Travel at 800-780-0571 or email them at Northwood Travel

Feb 25, Sat
After waking up to a glorious Hawaiian sunrise, you’ll enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s open-air restaurant, located at the waters edge. Then it’s time to meet everyone on the tour before beginning A DAY FILLED WITH QUILTING ACTIVITIES!

A big thank you goes to Dawn Castelli of the Aloha Quilters for her guidance in arranging many of the activities during our stay in Kona!

LISA LOUISE ADAMS is a quilter, painter, potter, printmaker, bookmaker, papermaker, jeweler and poet. She lives in the lush rainforest village of Volcano, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Her work has been displayed in numerous invitational and juried exhibitions locally, nationally and internationally for almost twenty years. Lisa has taught at International Quilt Festival in Houston and her work has been featured in several quilt publications. Learn more about Lisa at http://www.lisalouiseadams.com/quilts.htm Lisa will teach a workshop using traditional English paper-piecing with Hawaiian fabric. All supplies will be provided for this unique project and will make a great souvenir of your time spent on the Big Island. Lisa has offered to bring some of her collection to show, along with a selection of her work that will be available for purchase.

SYLVIA PIPPEN lives on the Big Island of Hawaii surrounded by the azure Pacific Ocean and a garden full of exuberant tropical fruit and flowers. Having been a gardener most of her life, she considers quilting an extension of her passion for plants and designs quilts. http://www.sylvia-pippen.com/ Sylvia will be presenting a trunk show that reflects the beauty and diversity of the islands. In keeping with the polyglot culture of Hawaii, Sylvia likes to mix-up quilt traditions…contemporary sashiko, a Tahitian curved border, traditional Japanese Kamon designs, the symmetry of Hawaiian quilts. After working as a gardener at the National Tropical botanical Garden on Kauai, she turned to teaching and designing patterns and fabric kits full time. Sylvia will have some of her patterns and kits available for sale.

LORETTA (LORI) PASCO is Raintree Hawaii’s designer and owner of Quilt Hawaiian.com. After having done handwork all her life, Lori learned Hawaiian quilting. It soon became a passion…and Raintree of Hawaii was born. “Hawaiian quilting is a gift from the women of the islands that is appreciated greatly by those who are continuing on in the art. Because it is a living art form, there will always be changes and innovations. We have so many products and fabrics available to us today, and those involved in design work are combining them creatively with the legacy of the traditional quilt. My internet store, Quilt Hawaiian.com is my way of sharing wonderful contemporary Hawaiian quilt designs with the rest of the world.” Lori has graciously offered to bring quilt patterns, kits, and some of her artwork to our afternoon event! http://www.quilthawaiian.com

***Dinner tonight will be at the Royal Kona Resort

Feb 26, Sun
You will have the entire day to enjoy the many activities offered on THE BIG ISLAND. Some of the most popular tours include Volcano National Park, helicopter rides over the island, and snorkeling. Peak whale-watching season continues through March, with boat trips that combine sailing and a chance to view the Humpback whales in their natural habitat. If relaxing is more your style, the options are endless!

Feb 27, Mon
We begin our day with a spectacular scenic drive up to the cloud forest on Mount Hualalai, home to the MOUNTAIN THUNDER COFFEE PLANTATION. Our tour guide will introduce you to what it takes to make a cup of Premium 100% Kona Coffee, including the showing of Discovery Channel's Mike Rowe as he tours the farm and its facilities from composting to cup. The cloud forest has an elevation of 3000 feet and can be quite cold, so be sure to bring along a sweater or jacket for this morning’s outing.

Our next stop is KIMURA’S. The following is from Frommer’s online review: “This old-fashioned general store is one of those places you'll be glad you found -- a store with spirit and character, plus everything you need and don't need. You'll see Hawaii's finest selection of yardage, enough cookware for a multi-course dinner, aspirin, Shiseido cosmetics, and an eye-popping assortment of buttons, zippers, and quilting materials. Irene Kimura, the family matriarch, who presided over the store for more than 60 years until she passed away, said she quit counting the fabric bolts at 8,000 but estimated there were more than 10,000. Kimura's is the spot for pareu and Hawaiian fabrics, brocades, silks, and offbeat gift items, such as Japanese china and tabi, the comfortable cloth footwear.”

After time for lunch we’ll drive back to Kona for a visit to QUILT PASSIONS, a shop specializing in quality batik fabrics and patterns from local designers. Quilt Sampler magazine has chosen Quilt Passions as one of the 10 top quilt shops in the country and the shop will be featured in the May issue of the magazine.

	Spectacular oceanfront views, a vibrant Hawaiian sunset and the sound of waves lapping against the lava rocks provide a stunning backdrop for a Royal Kona Resort luau. A luau is a gathering of family and friends for a traditional ***Hawaiian feast.
LAVA, LEGENDS AND LEGACIES POLYNESIAN LUAU includes a traditional Imu (underground oven) presentation, with music and dance, as the performers pay tribute to the fascinating legends and journeys of the South Pacific and Hawaii.

Feb 28, Tue
We depart Kona this morning for a flight to MAUI, THE VALLEY ISLE. You’ll see why it got that designation as you come in for a landing at Kahalui Airport.

Fabric shopping is first on the schedule! We'll begin at the large, well stocked FABRIC MART OF MAUI and then we continue on to the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center for a visit to SEW SPECIAL. The shop has a large selection of fat quarters, in addition to their other Hawaiian fabrics.

No trip to Maui would be complete without visiting historic LAHAINA TOWN. Front Street still retains much of the charm of the old whaling days. You’ll find every kind of souvenir, Hawaiian print clothing, art galleries galore, and many shops with kits and items with Hawaiian appliqué. You’ll have time to browse in this quaint little village before driving to the Ka’anapali resort area.

The KA’ANAPALI BEACH HOTEL has been recognized as the “Most Hawaiian Hotel” by the Waiaha Foundation based on over 100 criteria. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has presented the “He Kuleana Ke Aloha” award to the hotel for demonstrating an ongoing responsibility, commitment and dedication to honoring and perpetuating the Hawaiian culture for generations to come. They are the only hotel to receive either of these honors.

Each of the ocean view rooms have traditional island décor with a private balcony or lanai. A variety of Hawaiian activities are scheduled daily and every night at sunset the blowing of conch shells signals the beginning of the nightly hula show in the Tiki Courtyard. From 6:00pm you'll enjoy a complimentary performance of Hawaiian music and a hula show. The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel will be our home for the next 3 nights

Feb 29, Wed
Hawaiian appliqué opens a whole new design world for your quilts and today you will have an introductory class in the art of Hawaiian appliqué with an instructor from The Maui Quilt Shop. You will be able to select from one of three TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN APPLIQUÉ patterns and everything you need for a finished 18” x 18” pillow or wall hanging, will be furnished.

#1 "ULU" (Breadfruit)

#2 "HALA KAHIKI" (Pineapple)

#3 "KALO" (Taro)

The class will not take all day, so you may want to participate in one of the hotel’s daily scheduled activities, enjoy the whale-shaped pool, or take a stroll along the beach walkway to the nearby beach cafés and shops at Whaler’s Village.

Our group ***dinner this evening will be at the hotel in the Tiki Terrace Restaurant.

OUTRIGGER REEF ON THE BEACH recently underwent a 100-million dollar renovation and is located right on Waikiki Beach, in the heart of the city and just steps away from the exciting, new Waikiki Beach Walk™ promenade, offering visitors the opportunity to revel in the unique heritage of Hawaii and features an array of world-famous shops and distinguished restaurants. The Outrigger Reef features a spa, swimming pool, whirlpool spa, restaurants, along with offering water activities that include snorkeling, high-speed sailing excursions along the Oahu coast, and outrigger catamarans.

Mar 03, Sat Today is the time to see what interests you most, in HONOLULU. You may want to visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial, the Honolulu Zoo, the famous Ala Moana Shopping Mall, or purchase a day pass on the Waikiki Trolley that offers hop-on, hop-off service to over 30 places around the city. Stroll along Kalakaua Avenue with its upscale boutiques and distinctive stores, making a stop at the famous International Market Place.

Our farewell ***dinner this evening will be at the OUTRIGGER’S OCEAN HOUSE RESTAURANT. Located oceanfront, this open-air restaurant will be a wonderful way to spend our last evening in Paradise!

Mar 04, Sun
It’s time to pack up and return to the mainland. You will be provided information for arranging your transfer to HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT that allows you to arrange your departure to the mainland at any time today.

Due to the time difference and depending on your flight departure and destination, you may not arrive home until Monday, March 5th.

Tour Price:
$ 3,199 per person, double occupancy
$ 967 single supplement

Your tour price includes:
Group flights within Hawaii (Kona to Maui & Maui to Honolulu)
Please note in our Terms and Conditions: When the cost of air is included or group space is offered at an advertised price ~ Due to the possible increase in the cost of airline fuel surcharges and airline taxes, the tour participant is responsible for these increases.
Not included: your air to and from Hawaii.

Please be sure to print and read the 2010-2011 Tour Terms & Conditions

Print and mail in the completed Tour Registration Form along with your deposit.

**If Traveling Together is bookmarked in your favorites,
please be sure to refresh the links, as many pages & forms have been updated.

Printer Friendly Version

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Here's what some of our satisfied travelers have to say.... I am a Canadian quilter and have participated in eight quilt tours with Traveling Together!! The tours are interest-based and well thought out with great organization and accommodations appropriately located to the specific activities. While the tour has organized quilting activities, more than adequate time is allowed for someone, like myself, who enjoys exploring on their own. Traveling Together is more than helpful with suggestions, maps, tips, etc. to ensure your trip is unique. In 2008 we were the 1st quilters from North America to visit several of the Hungarian towns! I've checked the 2010 Hungarian tour itinerary, and if you like quilting, excellent handicrafts, unique fabric and meeting some of the most generous and hospitable people, definitely this is the tour for you. Also, the history of the area and the unbelievable progress the Hungarian people have made since gaining their independence is a total eye-opener for people from our countries. Happy Quilting! I've traveled many times with Traveling Together and always have a wonderful time!! The itineraries always include wonderful special interest and well-known tourist attractions, as well as free time to explore on your own. The travel details are always carefully handled. The 2008 trip to HUNGARY was wonderful! Watching the hand resist-stamping process at the Hungarian Blue-Dye workshop was amazing, as well as the visits to the private doll and embroidery museums. The Hungarian quilters were very enthusiastic and welcomed us warmly! Budapest and all the areas we visited have lots of history and wonderful scenery. I'm going again on the 2010 trip!!

***IN ORDER TO RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES*** please be sure that your email account will accept the following address: Traveling_Together_inc@mail.vresp.com IF you have not already submitted your email address Click here to receive information & updates about our Quilting Tours

 

	We had a great time in FRANCE... going from NANTES to PROVENCE! April 27 ~ May 08, 2011
Attended Europe's Premier Quilt Show (For the Love of Thread!)

See photos from the tour!

Wed, Apr 27
Today you will board your flight for the overnight journey to NANTES, FRANCE. If you would like to arrive a
day early, Traveling Together can help you arrange for an early hotel night. If you would like assistance with your air travel, please call Northwood Travel at 800-780-0571 or email them at info@NorthwoodTravel.com

Thu, Apr 28
You may arrange your flight to arrive in Nantes at any time today and you will receive information on getting from the airport to our hotel. Just be sure to arrive in time for our WELCOME DINNER, giving you the opportunity to meet everyone on the tour. Our home for the next three nights is the NOVOTEL NANTES CENTRE CITÉ DES CONGRÉS. Being located close to the historic centre and next to the convention center, makes it the ideal place to be for attending Pour l’Amour du Fil.

Your tour includes admission to the quilt show on Saturday. If you plan to arrive early and would like to
attend the show prior to Saturday, we can make those arrangements for you.

In order to plan your free time wisely and learn more about specific places along the tour that interest you,
we recommend that you purchase one of the following travel guides: Frommer’s, Foder’s, Rick Steves’, or
DK Eyewitness. You may want to be sure it has a food translation section for ordering when dining out on
your own.

Fri, Apr 29
This morning we will visit LES MACHINES DE L'ILE, an extraordinary artistic project like you've never seen before. Born from the imaginations of François Delarozière and Pierre Orefice, it is a blend of the invented worlds of Jules Verne, the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci, and the industrial history of Nantes.

After a PANORAMIC TOUR OF NANTES, we’ll visit the CASTLE OF THE DUKES OF BRITTANY. Newly renovated and located in the heart of the city, this 15th century ducal residence is now home to the Nantes history museum. You will have all the time you want to explore the castle, as the remainder of the day is
free to do as you please. There are lovely shops and cafes in the area and Carol Veillon will be giving us a
list of her recommendations to make the most of your free time in Nantes.

CAROL VEILLON is the owner and editor-in-chief of the most prestigious quilt magazine in Europe, QUILTMANIA and the principal organizer of POUR L'AMOUR DU FIL. Carol published the magazine in the French language in 1997 and it was immediately a success in France and in Europe (also translated in Dutch); then in 2001 she began publishing an English version for America and the rest of the world and now there are thousands of "Quiltmaniacs!!

Sat, April 30, 2011
POUR L'AMOUR DU FIL translated, means For the love of the thread. In addition to approximately 90 vendors (which Carol promises are only “the Crème de la crème!”), there are six ‘Little Houses’. Like a patchwork quilt of cultures and techniques, each house is of a very different style and will be filled with quilts, embroideries, knitting, clothes and other textile curiosities. For example, the first show in 2009 featured the Kaffe Fassett House, modeled after his studio with Kaffe and his partner Brandon Mably in attendance. There is a Traditional House, Japan House, etc. Quote from Carol: “Our goal is to give envy to the public to rush upstairs to the vendors booths to buy fabric, needles and threads to do something and not like in some other exhibits to show work that nobody else will be able or want to reproduce too far from the reality; it's not our purpose, we want people to have fun, to enjoy and say to themselves: "well, I saw a demo, it seems easy, I want to make it!"... They will also enjoy beautiful pieces exhibited and you will be able to photograph everything!!!”

Sun, May 01
We depart Nantes this morning and drive to the city of BORDEAUX. Most shops are closed on Sunday so we will have the afternoon to relax at the PULLMAN BORDEAUX AQUITANIA HOTEL. Located lakeside on the outskirts of the city, this will be the perfect spot to have a show and tell of everyone’s purchases from our time in Nantes! Dinner tonight will be at the hotel’s Aquitania restaurant.

Mon, May 02
Our destination today is LA CITÉ DE CARCASSONE. This medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and, with it's 52 towers, 3km of battlements and two rings of town wall, stands magnificently overlooking the left bank of the river Aude. LE DONJON HOTEL is located within the fortress and will be our home for two nights.

Time for lunch will give you the opportunity to visit a nearby café and try the local fare, classic peasant stew cassoullet. There will be plenty of time to stroll along the narrow cobbled streets and browse the many shops, some of which will be selling medieval wares. Then, to get an idea of just how magnificent this fortress is, we’ll board "LE PETIT TRAIN" for a local tour, prior to our dinner at the hotel.

Tue, May 03
In addition to visiting several FABRIC SHOPS in the VILLE BASSE (the modern lower city of Carcassone), we’ll drive to MIREPOIX, a late thirteenth-century bastion built around one of the loveliest surviving arcaded market squares in the country. The square is bordered by houses dating from between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries and you will want to be sure to take a look at the medieval Maison des Consuls (council house), whose arcaded rafters are carved with hundreds of unique portrayals of animals, monsters, and caricatures of medieval social groups and professions, as well as ethnic groups from across the world. The gothic style cathedral is the second largest single-naved church in Europe and is classified as an historic monument.

After having suffered during the Hundred Years War, Mirepoix became an important textile centre in the 15th century. Surely there will still be a shop or two that carries fabric!

Wed, May 04
This morning we begin our journey to PROVENCE, a region of southeastern France located on the Mediterranean and adjacent to Italy. Our home for the next two nights will be the ARLES HOTEL JULES
CÉSAR, a 4-star hotel and member of the Small Luxury Hotels chain. Previously a 17th century Carmelite convent, the hotel is located in the heart of Arles and its Provençal décor is accented with the fabrics that are so famous for their color and design.

The 15 months that Vincent Van Gogh spent in Arles was the most productive period of his life, where he created more than 200 paintings and drawings. Even though there are no original paintings by Van Gogh in the city, you can still visit the places that inspired him.

Arles has a large number of UNESCO world heritage monuments that bear witness to 2000 years of history, the most famous being the Roman Amphitheatre dating from 80 A.D. LE PETIT TRAIN D'ARLES will take us on a guided tour through the winding cobbled streets, providing an overview of the many museums and points of interest.

Thu, May 05
Today is all about Provence fabric! We start the day with a visit to the SOULEÏADO MUSÉE DU TISSUS PROVENÇAL in Tarascon. This former townhouse housed the famous cotton print factory beginning in 1806. The museum, devoted to these colorful fabrics, has nearly 40,000 wood print blocks with brass tips. The blocks were applied manually and then hammered by workers who printed up to 30m of cotton fabric per day. Several workshops from the period have been reconstructed, such as the color kitchen where dyes were made. You will have time to visit their shop and have lunch before we depart Tarascon.

Our next stop will be will St. Etienne du Grès for a factory tour of the textile manufacturer LES OLIVADES, featuring the only remaining traditional Provencal fabric still printed in Provence. There is also a charming Olivades factory outlet shop!

There will be time late this afternoon to explore more of Arles, before this evening’s dinner at the Jules César.

Fri, May 06
This morning we depart Arles for the village of LES BAUX DE PROVENCE. Perched on a rocky spur, the citadel overlooks the beautiful countryside so be sure to have your camera ready for the panoramic views of Provence. Just inside the entrance to the village are narrow cobblestone streets, terrace cafés, and quaint shops.

Not far from Les Baux are the CAVES DE SARRAGAN, a vast underground cavern with a 60m thick solid rock ceiling that make the perfect natural wine cellar. We will make a short stop for those that would like to try some of the local wine. It’s also the perfect stopping point to get a scenic view of the village of Les Baux and the neighboring valley

L'ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE is a compact medieval town built on the islands of five branches of the Sorgue river, also known as the Venice of Provence. If you have any interest in antiques and antique quilts, this is the place to look! In addition to the many waterside cafes and charming shops, there are nearly 300 permanent antique dealers and second hand shops. There won’t be time to visit them all, but you’ll have several hours to enjoy lunch in the old town and soak in the atmosphere of Provence.

We continue on to AIX EN PROVENCE and HOTEL LE GALICE, our home for the last two nights of the tour.

Sat, May 07
Aix is the capital of Provence and dates back to 122 B.C. The center of Aix (sounds like ex, as in "X marks the spot") is the old town, ringed by a circle of boulevards and squares. The most famous of the boulevards is the Cours Mirabeau, lined with large plane trees, wonderful terrace cafés, bookshops and fountains. Once you venture off the main boulevards, small streets with shops of every kind await you….and we will be sure to look for the ones that carry ‘tissu’, the word to look for when shopping for fabric in France. You may also choose to visit The Musée des Tapisseries that houses a collection of tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries.

	MARKET DAY IN AIX!
We’ll be looking for Provence fabrics, if there's any room left in our suitcases!

Our FAREWELL DINNER tonight will be poolside at our hotel, weather permitting.

Sun, May 08
There will be one group transfer to MARSEILLES AIRPORT this morning for flights that are scheduled to depart no earlier than 10:00am.

Your tour includes:
ALL hotels
ALL group tours & activities
ALL land travel by private motor coach
ALL breakfasts and 5 dinners
Luggage handling at hotels
Admission to " Pour l’Amour du Fil"
“Le Petit Train" tours in Carcassone and Arles
Visits to Souleïado Museum and Les Olivades
Shop for Provence fabric, with plenty of free time
to explore and shop in each of the cities we visit!
Escorted by a professional tour leader
Transfer to Marseilles Airport on May 08

Please note: In order to fully enjoy this trip you will need to be able to walk up to 5 city blocks at one time, and at a moderate pace. In addition to uphill climbs on some of the city streets (some being cobblestone) you may need to climb a flight or two of stairs. A few of the hotel rooms may be located in an area of the hotel that cannot be accessed by an elevator.

Look for our Quilting Travel ads in the upcoming issues of
Quilting Arts, McCall's Quilting, Quilts and Quilters Newsletter!

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We Traveled with Fellow Quilters to...

Hungary in 2010

Hosted by Magdi Csendes,
International Representative for Hungary's European Quilt Association

Meet with local quilt groups, see how the famous Hungarian Blueprints are made
Visit Hungary's wine region, fabric shopping and much more!

Budapest

Quilt made with Hungarian Blue Prints Szekszárd Quilt Exhibition

INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR:
ALL hotels
ALL breakfasts, 5 dinners & 2 lunches
ALL group tours and activities
ALL luggage handling at hotels
ALL land travel by private motorcoach
Transfer to Budapest Airport on October 01
Sightseeing cruise on the Danube ~ Tour of Budapest
Museums ~ Hungarian Folk Park ~ Abbey at Lake Balaton
Meet four local quilt groups for Show and Tell & exclusive quilt exhibits!
Shop for Hungarian Blue-Dye fabric, and more!
Hosted by Magdi Csendes & Escorted by a professional tour leader

Join us for this exciting QUILTING ADVENTURE!

Tour Itinerary:
Wed, Sep 22
Today you will board your flight for the overnight journey to Budapest. If you would like to arrive a day or two early, Traveling Together can help you arrange for early hotel nights. If you would like assistance with your air travel, please call Northwood Travel at 800-780-0571 or email them at info@NorthwoodTravel.com

Thu, Sep 23
You may arrange your flight to arrive Budapest at any time today and you will receive information on getting the hotel bus from BUDAPEST FERIHEGY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to our hotel. If you arrive early in the day, your tour escort will be on hand to help you get acquainted with this exciting city, making some suggestions on how to spend the afternoon in the immediate vicinity of our hotel. Just be sure to arrive in time for our 6:00PM WELCOME DINNER, giving you the opportunity to meet everyone on the tour. Our home for the next four nights is the Danubius Hotel Astoria. The 4-STAR DANUBIUS HOTEL ASTORIA is located in the heart of Budapest, built on the site of the medieval town walls. Opened in 1914, it was reconstructed and modernized several times, with the latest renovation being done in 2006. With its Empire-style interior décor, it is one of the most charming old-style hotels in the city and film producers and directors often take advantage of the perfect scenery for film shooting.

Fri, Sep 24
Our day begins with a TOUR OF BUDAPEST. The city is split down the center by
the Danube River and is connected by a series of bridges. On the west side of the
Danube is hilly Buda, dominated by Castle Hill. On the east side of the river is flat
Pest, the heart of the city with the Great Market Hall, Parliament, and main
boulevards and pedestrian shopping streets. The tour will give you a look at both
sides of this large city, home to nearly two million people. Weekend shopping hours
are limited, so you will have this afternoon to explore the many unique
shops that Pest has to offer.

Sat, Sep 25
The HUNGARIAN PATCHWORK GUILD, headquartered in Budapest, was founded in 1989 and has about 600 members, with approximately 2,000 more in local clubs. The Hungarian quilters participate actively in European quilt exhibitions and today you will begin to see examples of their wonderful handiwork! Ági Szomor is a member of the Budapest guild and is arranging a special morning for our group to meet with the local members at the BUDAPEST TEXTILE MUSEUM, where the history of the substantial Hungarian textile industry is traced and recorded. In 2008 we had a wonderful SHOW AND TELL, the local quilters had a small quilting project for us to work on, vendors were selling unique buttons and Hungarian embroidery designs, and we were treated to delicious refreshments! A SIGHTSEEING CRUISE ON THE DANUBE will complete the day!

Sun, Sep 26
Located north of the city on the Danube Bend, is SZENTENDRE, a postcard-pretty village with twisty Mediterranean streets and Austrian Baroque houses that has always been favored by artists as somewhere both to live and to work. This morning we’ll visit the FOLK MUSEUM, Hungary’s largest open-air museum. Located in Duna-Ipoly National Park, the museum features a large collection of Hungarian architecture from around the country. After time for lunch, we will meet the SZENTENDRE QUILTERS. Sofi Bihari and some of the local quilters will be our guides at the Folk Museum and the village, in addition to organizing the guild’s REGIONAL QUILT EXHIBITION to coincide with our visit and we will be the first to view these amazing quilts!

Mon, Sep 27
MAGDI CSENDES is a member of the Board of the Hungarian Patchwork Guild and the international representative for Hungary in the European Quilt Association (EQA). She lives in Székesfehérvár, where she is also the leader of her local quilt guild. Magdi will be meeting us when we arrive today in SZEKSZÁRD and will be our host for the remainder of the tour. We will also be meeting MAGDOLNA ACÉLOS, president of the Szekszárd quilt guild. She and her guild members are arranging a QUILT EXHIBITION, just for us! Lunch today will be at a wonderful local restaurant in the town square, giving you a chance to taste special dishes of the region, followed by a WALKING TOUR of the city. Our hotel for the next two days is the charming HOTEL ZODIACO.

Founded in the early 11th-century, Szekszárd has a population of 36,000 people and is a famous wine-growing region that boasts 4500 wine cellars! We’ll only have time to visit one, for dinner this evening. The Takler family has been working in viticulture and winemaking since the 18th century in Szekszárd. Located in a beautiful little village house on the slope of Decsi Hill, TAKLER WINE CELLAR is the perfect place for an evening that will include dinner and tasting the famous wines of this region.

Tue, Sep 28
Hungary is famous for their BLUEPRINT FABRIC and this morning we will visit a workshop that has been family-run since 1810. We will be only the second American group to visit (In 2008 we were the first!) and they are looking forward to showing us their age-old process of block printing on 100% cotton. In addition to having plenty of fabric for sale that day, there will be items made by local people from their fabric. Lunch will be at ÉTTEREM HÁMORI, a famous restaurant in TOLNA. This is where the residents eat lunch, in addition to students of the small local school. You will enjoy watching how well-behaved the students are, in addition to tasting the local cuisine. The locals and school children will enjoy looking at us, with outsiders being a rarity in this small community. Our first stop this afternoon is BABAMÚZEUM, sure to be a highlight of the tour! One woman has hand-made over 150 dolls, in addition to their period costumes and accessories, which represent over 200 years of Hungarian history. As an example, you will see the progression of wedding outfits, mourning clothes, and clothing worn in everyday life on the farms and in the villages. A special surprise is planned for one of our quilters! Next is a visit to TAJHAZ, a house with traditional Hungarian furniture, costumes and embroidery, with a chance for everyone to try traditional Hungarian cake.

Wed, Sep 29
We depart Szekszárd this morning and make a stop at an EMBROIDERY MUSEUM in SIÓAGÁRD, a village famous for its folk costumes and rich embroidery. The owners are a wonderful couple that will be dressed in costume and anxious to show us everything that the small museum and shop have to offer, including a chance to try on pieces of the traditional clothing and purchase some of their beautiful handiwork. We continue on to SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR, one of the most ancient towns in Hungary. During the course of this tour you will have learned about Hungary’s rich textile tradition, particularly in embroidery, cross-stitch, and sewing techniques. You will also have learned that although quilting is quite new to Hungary, these ladies are creating amazing works of art! This afternoon you will see more of their talent, as we take a short walk to the meeting place of the MIDDLE-TRANSDANUBIA QUILTERS. As president of this guild, Magdi is anxious to show off their work!...and you’ll want to be sure to pack a sample of your handiwork for the SHOW AND TELL they are arranging. Also invited to this event will be Margit Siposné Cseh and her group of quilters from Tatabánya. Margit is a fabric shop owner and will bring some of her self-painted fabrics to sell. To make this an event to remember, Magdi’s quilters would like us to join in a BLOCK EXCHANGE. The squares that were exchanged in 2008 were used by Magdi’s group to make quilts and auction them off, with the money having been donated to charity. If you would like to participate, you will only need to make one block measuring 12 ½” x 12 ½”. When you sign up for the tour, please let us know if you plan to participate by noting it at the bottom of the registration form, so that Magdi and her quilters will know how many blocks they will need to make for the exchange. It’s been another wonderful day in the world of quilting! The NOVOTEL SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR will be our home for two nights.

Thu, Sep 30
Today we’ll drive to TIHANY, a village on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, where you will have time to explore the village, with its quaint old buildings, local crafts and Hungarian food offerings. Next will be a visit to the Baroque church and convent of the BENEDICTINE ABBEY, founded in 1055 by András I, a popular tourist attraction due to its historical and artistic significance. The interior was fully restored by 1996, after the church was returned to the Benedictine Abbey in 1994.The still functioning abbey is perfectly situated on top of the high part of town and has the best view of Lake Balaton, the largest shallow lake in Central Europe. At our FAREWELL DINNER tonight, it will be time to say goodbye to Magdi as we thank her for making our visit to Hungary a most memorable one!

Fri, Oct 01
This morning our coach will transfer us to the BUDAPEST AIRPORT for flights that depart 11am or later. After having received so much inspiration for new quilting projects, it’s time to return home. Saying goodbye to the friends you have made on the tour will be difficult, so be sure to stay in contact with them for making plans to Travel Together on the next quilting adventure!

When we toured Hungary in 2008, several people stayed on in Budapest for an extra day and many others on the tour wished they had! After visiting the other cities, they would have liked to return for another chance to shop at the Great Market Hall. If you would like to take advantage of this OPTIONAL NIGHT IN BUDAPEST, we have reserved some rooms at the Danubius Astoria Hotel and our bus will drop you off after the airport stop. You can then arrange to take the hotel bus to the airport on the following day. This also gives you the option to check a second piece of luggage to hold all of those purchases!

Please note: In order to fully enjoy this trip and the walking tours offered you will need to be able to walk up to 5 city blocks at one time, and at a moderate pace. In addition to uphill climbs on some of the city streets (some being cobblestone) you will need to climb several flights of stairs.

See photos from our 2008 & 2012 Quilt Tours to Hungary at:
http://www.travelingtogether.net/Traveling/PhotoGallery.htm

...and our Quilt Group was "In the News" in 2008:
http://travelingtogether.net/Traveling/video.htm