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Berber
and Belly Dance Workshop
Morocco and Egypt
A
17 -Day Grand Tour of these two gems of North Africa
Leave USA : First Saturday of Each Month , Year Round
Romance
and Grace of the East
Air Included from New York - Compare
with the 9 Day edition
Combine
Morocco and the best of Egypt in a week: a good look at Cairo and a
5-day cruise along the Nile, locally escorted.
The
romance and grace of the East, the Harem, the sophisticated, cultured
ladies of the Harem; the grace, the skill, the allure. "belly dancing
was only one of the cultural delights of the Harem. Come and see them
all!
While
you're here, get to know Moroccan cuisine , and even attend a belly
dancing workshop to experience the romance of the Harem firsthand."
You've seen--you've felt--the rhythms and motions of oriental dance
in the movies, or, more genuinely, during your travels in the East.
Now, Travel in Style affords you the opportunity to immerse yourself
in the sensuous art of belly dancing and other oriental rhythms during
a stay in Morocco. You'll attend daily dance workshops in the fabulous
desert fortress that is Marrakech. Of course, you'll have time to see
the palaces and souks of the city as well. And your guide will use her
network of contacts to Provide an entrée to Moroccan home life and customs
as rarely experienced by outsiders. Join us for this unique experience.
Click
here for the 11-Day Morocco version with the Spa.
DAY
1 - DEPARTURE FOR MOROCCO - First Saturday of Each Month , Year
Round
We'll take off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport,
bound for Morocco. Overnight across the Atlantic. Departure
is the first Saturday of each month
DAY
2 - MARRAKECH - Sunday (BD)
Our Morocco-based personnel will greet you at the international airport
of Casablanca, and assist you with the formalities. Those arriving directly
from New York on Royal Air Maroc will be offered a complimentary tour
of the Great Mosque of Hassan II, then will join participants arriving
on British Airways on a short flight onward to Marrakech. On arrival
in Marrakech, our local staff will greet you and usher you to the superior
(four-star) Hotel Kenzi Semiramis. You'll have time to relax with a
mint tea in the local style, and to stretch your legs. In the evening,
we'll meet with our dance workshop instructor.
All transfers are always on a private basis , private air-conditioned
vehicle, with a private chauffeur
DAY
3 - MARRAKECH , The Flavors of Morocco Monday (BLD)
After breakfast, it's time for our first workshop, a two-hour session
of belly dance and Berber/folk dance. But it isn't all serious study!
One
of the special ways of understanding a culture is through its cuisines--not
only sampling exotic tastes, but experiencing the preparation of dishes,
how they figure in ritual and ceremony, and how they have grown out
of the earth and traditions, we'll proceed to the Ecole Hotelière,
Marrakech's own hospitality & Culinary Academy and training school,
for a demonstration of the preparation of pastry-style doughs. We'll
stay for a lunch of salads, tagine of Maghdour kebab, and refreshing
fruits.
In the afternoon, we'll see some of the sites of this city, which Winston
Churchill called "the most beautiful place in the world at sunset"!
Our stops will include the Koutoubia, the landmark mosque of the city,
with a tower that duplicates the Giralda of Seville, in Spain; the hidden
tombs of the Saadian dynasty; the Menara pavilion and gardens; the ruins
of sprawling Badi Palace; the Bahia Palace, with room after stately
oriental room of intricate plasterwork and sedate hidden gardens; the
Ben Yousef medersa; and the Koubba (chapel) of el-Ba'adiyn. We'll return
to our hotel for dinner.
DAY
4 - MARRAKECH Tuesday (BLD)
We'll have another three-hour dance workshop in the morning, covering
belly dance and other forms of oriental dance, then we'll
rendezvous at the Yacout restaurant, this time to see the detailed preparation
of bestilla. In this uniquely Moroccan dish, a squab or chicken is prepared
in a sauce of lemon, egg, almond and onion, enveloped in a thin dough
called warfa, and garnished with cinnamon and sugar. We'll stay for
lunch , on bestilla, of course.
After lunch , we'll set out to discover the souks
of Marrakech, those labyrinthine warrens of stalls and shops where goods
from near and far have changed hands over the centuries. We'll have
a chance to witness artisans at work, creating the very goods that are
on display, including crafters of fine brassware, and tanners and dyers
of skins, working over great open-air crocks that appear to survive
from another world. Of course, we'll save time for Djemaa el-Fna square,
with its circus atmosphere of itinerant dancers, jugglers, acrobats,
storytellers, soothsayers, snake charmers, medicine men, water sellers,
and public scribes. Our eventful day concludes with a fine Moroccan
dinner in a private room at Dar Haj Idder, accompanied by an oriental
band, and dancing--which we can now join in!
DAY
5 - MARRAKECH Wednesday (BD)
After our morning session of belly dance and oriental dance, we'll spend
the afternoon in a hammam, the traditional Moroccan steam bath, with
scrubbing and a ritual all its own. We'll return to our hotel for dinner.
we'll spend the afternoon in a hammam
the traditional Moroccan steam bath, with scrubbing and a ritual all
its own.
DAY
6 - MARRAKECH Thursday (BLD)
We'll have our morning dance workshop. Then it's time for an unusual
excursion into Moroccan culture, through a henna party. The painting
of hands and body and the coloring of hair with this natural red dye
are a symbol of joy at weddings and a way of enhancing one's beauty.
We'll all share in this time-honored tradition. Dinner will be in a
private room at the Douirya. Once again, we'll have a band, and the
occasion to practice our dancing.
DAY
7 - MARRAKECH Friday (BD)
This morning, we'll have our last dance workshop--and we'll reflect
on how far we've progressed in just a few days! Then we'll spend an
afternoon getting to know Moroccan culture through its food, as we visit
a local family and learn how to prepare traditional pastries. We'll
return to our hotel for dinner.
DAY
8 - MARRAKECH Saturday (BLD)
You'll have free time this morning to relax, or to explore Marrakech
on your own. Perhaps you'll take a steam bath, or explore the newer
part of town, with its wide boulevards and sidewalk cafés. We've set
aside the afternoon for a return visit to the souks, where you can shop
to your heart's content for brassware, leather, carpets, basketry, and
many other goods and crafts from near and far. Of course, every price
is individually set, depending on the quality of the wares and your
skill at bargaining. Our farewell dinner will be set in a private room
at the Diaffa, to the accompaniment of an oriental band. We'll try out
our newly acquired skills, and a jury will select the recipient of an
oriental dance costume, valued at $500. May the best dancer win!
DAY 9 - MARRAKECH / CAIRO (B)
Sunday
After breakfast, our local personnel will call for you and see you to
Marrakech Menara airport to begin your journey to Cairo , via Casablanca
and Europe or direct to Cairo
Our
representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel.
Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport
for : Australian, NZ, American, EU , Canadian, Singaporean & Japanese
citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid
at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
Visa
will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some
stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops,
at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers.
There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding
a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp
from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport
officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport
as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist
you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting
the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle)
to the hotel . All
transfers are always on a private basis , private air-conditioned vehicle,
with a private chauffeur
DAY
10 - CAIRO - Monday (BLD)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum,
including the " Mummies Room" , the Pyramids of Giza,
the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed
Ali Mosque, made of alabaster. Lunch is included at a charming local
restaurant.
In the evening , we get to have our first get together with the local
belly dancers with a relaxed fun amateur dance contest. Dinner included
DAY
11 - CAIRO - Tuesday (BL)
We'll have a three-hour dance workshop in the morning, covering belly
dance and Sufi dance, after a brief rest , then
we'll
rendezvous for lunch at a local restaurant, before we head for a walking
tour of the legendary bazaar 12-century shopping district of Khan El
Khalili with caravanserais, Wekalat, and shops that may have seem to
have been there since Biblical times !
DAY
12 - ASWAN, Camel Caravan! - Wednesday (BLD)
We fly at a very early hour , wake up call 4 AM or earlier :oouch :
6 AM to Aswan ( or Luxor ) and board our Nile cruiser in time
for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you
in your cabin. In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful
felucca on the Nile. Only for those who are interested: a short
camel caravan & ride for almost half an hour to visit a local Nubian
Village.
DAY
13 - ASWAN & KOM OMBO - Thursday (BLD)
First we tour new Nubian Museum then the awesome Aswan dams,
and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk.
Then we go by motor launch to
the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS
:
The
Mystery of Isis : Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled
by the mystery of Isis:
"I,
Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath
ever seen me unveiled."
Called
Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean
tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess
from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.
Isis
was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun
God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and
Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was
also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction
of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!
Because
of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician
capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey
to the Underworld.
Isis
is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the
meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images
show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world.
Isis,
the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt
when you Travel in Style!
Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we sail downstream to Kom Ombo
to visit its twin temples.
DAY
14 - EDFU & ESNA- Dancing on the Nile - Friday (BLD)
After
breakfast, it's time for our first workshop, on the Nile . We'll have
the lounge or the dinning room for our group. Enjoy a two-hour session
of belly dance and Nubian /folk dance.
We
moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop
through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved
temple. Re-embarking, we cruise to Esna and its great temple
dedicated to Khnum, the creator-god. Evening finds us in Luxor.
DAY
15 - LUXOR - Saturday (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley
of the Kings , including Tutankaomn's tomb, and the great temple
of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the
way back to our cruise.
Afterward,
we'll continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective
on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir
el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of
Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives
us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed
and decorated the tombs.
Here
we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic
animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized
rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt
might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and
builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be
the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement
in its tour and cruise programs.
DAY
16 - LUXOR & CAIRO - Home Hosted Family Dinner - Sunday
(B)
The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple
of Luxor are our goals in the morning, followed by a return flight
to Cairo. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own,
or do your last-minute shopping.
A
complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to
a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may
enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know
your preferences.
DAY 17 - CAIRO- Departure - Monday (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight.
RATES
per person in US from New York:
| In
Triple occupancy |
US$
6950.00 |
| In
Double occupancy |
US$
7040.00 |
| In
Single occupancy |
US$
7960.00 |
Rate
includes:
- Round-trip
air fare from New York to Marrakech to Cairo and return, in economy
class , including taxes. (Please inquire about attractive add-on fares
available from other cities through Travel in Style.) .
Most West Coast cities : $ 450 add on, Chicago, DC, Denver : $ 350
USD , based on round trip with tax included.
May - Sep : Please add $ 450 air fare supplement
When you handle your own air fare across the Atlantic : Please deduct
$ 500 , we'll still provide you with the air fare Morocco Egypt.
- All
ground transportation in Morocco Accommodation in first-class (four-star)
hotel in Marrakech.
- Meals
as indicated with preset menu (B = continental breakfast, L = lunch,
D = dinner)
- Oriental
dance workshop and classes as indicated in private meeting room at
hotel.
- Guided
tours, excursions, and activities as described, including the services
of a lady guide, and all entry fees.
-
Three private Moroccan dinners as described Prize to winner of competition
on last evening, as described
- All
domestic airfares with tax and transfers within Egypt.
- Hotel
accommodation with tax & service charges.
- A
complimentary home hosted family dinner in Cairo.
- Bottled
water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are
on board the cruise.
- Tea
or coffee /bottled water with each meal while on board the cruise.
- Visa
fee for Egypt , visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport
for : American,Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens.
You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least
for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
-
Nile Cruise with all meals , one large bottle water ( per person )
daily while on board the cruise & a welcome fruit basket
- All
the shore excursions while on board the Nile Cruise and a complimentary
welcome drink.
- Preset
menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB,
Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D
= Dinner .
- All
guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
Not
Included:
Notes:
While there may not be a whole lot of social situations to which the
average North American woman can bring skills as a seductive belly dancer,
the rhythms of Oriental dance are fun to learn, rewarding to master,
flattering to the figure, and aid to fitness. This newest vacation adventure
from Travel In Style is based on storied dessert fortress city of Marrakech.
Henna party ( Ladies only ) :
One of the "insiders" excursions into Moroccan culture, a chance to
attend a henna party, the painting of hands and body and the coloring
of hair with this natural red dye is a symbol of joy at weddings and
regarded as a way to enhance one's beauty
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