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FOCUS ON ITALY & PARIS

Day 1 - Thu. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2 - Fri. ARRIVAL IN LONDON, ENGLAND. Check into your hotel. Then, enjoy an afternoon in the lively British capital. Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your time.

Day 3 - Sat. LONDON-BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. Leave London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside to the Channel port, where you embark on your ferry for the Continent. Here, meet your Tour Director and board your luxury coach for the drive to Brussels. (B)

Day 4 - Sun. BRUSSELS-RHINELAND, GERMANY-ULM. A comfortable journey using the German Autobahn traveling south into the Rhineland, then past Stuttgart into Bavaria with its woods, farms, and pretty villages. Next, to Ulm, a lovely city located on the banks of the Danube, famed for its cathedral with the world's highest spire and also as the birthplace of Albert Einstein. (B,D)

Day 5 - Mon. ULM-INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA-VENICE AREA, ITALY. Drive south this morning into Austria by way of Fern Pass into the Tyrol and on to its capital, Innsbruck. Continue by way of the Europa Bridge into Italy and make a stop in the lovely winter sports resort of Cortina in the Dolomites. Descend into the valley of the Trentino and the Venetian plain; then, travel eastwards to the Venice area for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 6 - Tue. VENICE. Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas. The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time at leisure to enjoy this unique city, and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don - t miss the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B)

Day 7 - Wed. VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME. An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then through the gentle Umbrian hills to Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous Basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)

Day 8 - Thu. ROME. The "Eternal City""a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive, and exciting and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter's Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)

Day 9 - Fri. ROME-MONTE CASSINO-POMPEII-SORRENTO. Deeper into the south today, making a first stop in Monte Cassino to view the monastery and abbey perched high above the valley. The monastery was the motherhouse of the Benedictines, founded in 529 and destroyed four times over the past centuries. The last time it was laid to ruin was in 1944 during the great Battle of Monte Cassino. Next is another great sight. Time stopped for the rich, aristocratic town of Pompeii with the terrible eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. You can see the luxurious villas, temples, theater, and forum (entrance fees and Local Guide are included). Just a few more miles to Sorrento, where you'll stay for the next two nights. (B)

Day 10 - Sat. SORRENTO. BOAT TRIP TO CAPRI. Visit this legendary island, surrounded by rocky coastline, where the crashing sea has formed awe-inspiring caves. The town with its pretty piazza, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and smart restaurants is a mecca for the jet set. An optional island tour is available. (B,D)

Day 11 - Sun. SORRENTO-ORVIETO-FLORENCE AREA. This morning, retrace part of the route, bypassing Rome for a stop in Orvieto to visit its black basalt and yellow limestone cathedral, an excellent example of Italian Gothic architecture. Next, enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the Tuscan countryside. Overnight in the Florence area. (B,D)

Day 12 - Mon. FLORENCE. EXCURSION TO PISA. This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled for the entire day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic center so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city's timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don - t miss the included walking tour with a Local Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it off, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry known as the "Gate of Paradise." In the afternoon, take advantage of an included excursion to Pisa and enjoy the sights of the "Square of Miracles" with its Leaning Tower. (B)

Day 13 - Tue. FLORENCE AREA-BOLOGNA-LUGANO, SWITZERLAND. This morning, drive just 50 miles (80 km) northeast to Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Stop awhile to see the twin "leaning towers" and the lovely Piazza Maggiore. Journey northwards across the mighty River Po, through the Lombardy plains and into Switzerland for an overnight in charming Lugano. (B,D)

Day 14 - Wed. LUGANO-LUCERNE AREA. Some truly magnificent Alpine scenery this morning as you travel into the very heart of the Swiss Alps. Once through the St. Gotthard Tunnel you start your descent to Lucerne, perhaps rightly considered the most Swiss-looking city in the whole confederation. This afternoon's visit takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument, a masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cruise on the fjord-like lake; a funicular and cable car ride to the 6,227-foot summit of the Stanserhorn; and, of course, there is time to shop for that very Swiss watch. Return to your overnight hotel in the Lucerne area. (B,D)

Day 15 - Thu. LUCERNE AREA-PARIS, FRANCE. Enjoy vistas of green pastures and attractive chalets with rustic timbering and luxuriant flowers. Then into France on the comfortable highway past some of its most famous vineyards to Paris. Arrive in time to enjoy the optional cabaret show. (B)

Day 16 - Fri. PARIS. One full day to explore the city that's known throughout the world for its fashions, art and museums, delicious food, and joie de vivre. Included sightseeing with a local expert of many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées.Optional excursions are also available. Maybe celebrate the success of your tour with a French farewell dinner. (B)

Day 17 - Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT FROM PARIS ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)