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Spotlight on Spain
Spain is a country full of history and modern delights. It is also, in essence, where Hart Travel Partners began.
I was born to an English father and a Spanish mother, and spent much of my childhood in Spain. While I was studying at university, I led my first group of teachers and students on an educational trip to Spain during spring break. That was a first tour of many, which launched my career in educational travel and eventually the founding of Hart Travel Partners. So it is a country near and dear to my heart.
Spain is as varied as its people, landscapes, and history. A mosaic of cultural diversity, Spain boasts a proud legacy influenced by the Romans, Moors, Jews, Christians and others as they crisscrossed the land throughout history.
Along with cultural diversity, examples of Spanishduendecan be found everywhere. Loosely translated as a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity, duende most often refers to the passion Spanish people bring to all of their pursuits, including cuisine, art, architecture, sport,flamencodance and music.
This is excellent news for educators, as it means there is almost no subject you can teach that wouldn’t benefit from a visit to Spain. Madrid, its capital city and traditional heart, is home to artistic treasures by El Greco, Goya and Velazquez, while Barcelona features a fantastic Picasso Museum.
If architecture is your interest, Barcelona allows you explore the transformational Modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, while historical landmarks, such as the royal sixteenth century El Escorial monastery complex and the Valley of the Fallen, a touchstone of 20th-century Spanish architecture, provide historical context.
In recent years, Spain has been best known for being in the vanguard of a culinary revolution, with famous eateries in the northeast, such as El Bulli and Arzak, gaining recognition worldwide. But even the simplest Spanish meal is cause for celebration, and there is perhaps no better way to experience this country by tasting its cuisine.
A few days in Madrid affords you the opportunity to sample typical Spanish foods, such as paella, tapas, and ham—a staple of the Spanish diet. Journey to Toledo, and you can indulge in local delights such as migas, partridge and carcamusas. From traditional food markets to high-end restaurants, the possibilities for sampling fresh and creative food, made with love, are endless!
History buffs will enjoy spending time in Córdoba, which served as the seat of the Islamic emirate of al-Andalus in the 8th century. The Alhambra, in Granada, is a complex of royal palaces, mosques, baths, and shops, and will appeal to historians and architects alike, as will the Cathedral of Seville, which beautifully reflects the fusion of Moorish and Christian cultures.
Spain is also a bustling, modern country. For example, our Business in Spain and Portugal travel program explores how Spanish companies fit into the global economy.
Because of HTP’s unique relationship with Spain, we welcome any special request or idea you may want to incorporate into your travel program. We just can’t wait to share this magnificent place with you. Contact us today to get started. Buen viaje!
Kind Regards,
Steve Hart Hart Travel Partners
Subject spotlight: Understanding business on a global scale
As the world becomes more interconnected and the global economy grows, understanding business and cultures around the world becomes more and more important.
That’s why we have seen more of our faculty-led groups interested in business-themed programs in destinations around the world.
We have helped groups arrange tours, meetings and presentations at companies (both small and large) in destinations throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. Some of our groups have visited Volkswagen offices in Shanghai, explored a family-run pasta factory in Italy (below), met a private restaurant owner in Havana, and even met with executives from the Serie B soccer league in Italy as part of a sports management program.
Subject spotlight: Infusing art into any travel program
Art abounds all around us, especially when we travel.
The most popular destination cities, of course, include the world’s most important and famous museums. Hart Travel Partners groups regularly explore the Louvre and Orsay in Paris, the Uffizi and Accademia in Florence, the Tate Modern and National Gallery in London, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh in Amsterdam, a trio of splendid galleries in Madrid and a host of others.
But our groups do more than just visit these museums. Our faculty and students conduct lessons, attend seminars, participate in workshops and more. While we also regularly create specific art-focused travel programs, many of our groups will incorporate art museums on their trips, regardless of their curriculum or destinations.
Subject spotlight: Bringing history to life — even on the open seas
A fleet of Carthaginian ships, sailing to relieve a Roman blockade of the western coast of Sicily, halts near the Holy Island — the westernmost of the Aegadian Islands, now known as Marettimo.
Meanwhile, a fleet of Roman ships, spying Carthage’s movements, abandon their posts in the harbors of Drepana and Lilybaeum and anchor off the island of Aegusa — modern-day Favignana.
At daybreak, the Carthaginian navy sets sail for Sicily, only to be surprised and intercepted by a fleet of mast-less Roman ships. The leaner, more mobile Roman fleet rams the enemy ships, delivering a decisive defeat to the once superior Carthaginian navy.
The Battle of the Aegates in 241 B.C. was a major victory for the Roman Republic and effectively ended the First Punic War — more than 2,200 years ago.
It’s the sort of battle relegated to the history books, studied by naval historians and examined by professors and students for two millennia.
For a group of Hart Travel Partners students, though, it was a battle to be experienced — on the open seas.
Our faculty leaders rave not only about their experiences on a Hart Travel Partners program but also about our personalized service and how easy it is to lead a trip with us.
“In 15 years of doing student trips, this is one of the best trips I’ve ever had with students,” one faculty leader said after a recent HTP program. “Hart handled everything from A-Z. You can’t ask for better service.”
Even faculty leaders who’ve never before traveled abroad with students are amazed how easy it really is to travel with us.
Spotlight on Northern Italy: From villas to violins
I recently returned to the States from a rewarding research trip to Northern Italy with a local friend. What a lovely place!
Lake Como was the starting point for our trip, and it was simply spectacular. The lake reflects the surrounding Alps and stunning villas. Some villas are small and some are so huge that they’re more like palaces. Some of them look like they are unoccupied (with shutters drawn and no visible signs of life), but they all are impeccably maintained. And they all ooze hundreds of years of history, stories and aristocracy. It is a wonder to see them and imagine the centuries of history they have seen.
It’s been an amazing and busy year so far for Hart Travel Partners and our groups.
We've created wonderful travel programs around the world — from China to Europe, from Costa Rica to northern Africa. Along the way, our groups have enjoyed many unique educational — and exciting — experiences:
Our guarantee: Most direct flights within your budget
When you’re traveling, you want to get where you’re going as quickly and as easily as possible.
Especially on a faculty-led travel program, often with tight schedule constraints, you want to maximize your time exploring your destinations and actively engaging with your academic purpose. You don’t want to spend unnecessary time with extra flights just to get there — and back.
That’s why we always find the most direct flights within your budget.
When I was growing up in England and Spain, Belfast was not a city people traveled to unless they had to. The “Troubles” — with innocent lives lost amid the passionate tensions between the different factions of the Nationalists (Irish and Catholic) and the Loyalists (British and Protestant) — made the Northern Ireland capital a dangerous place to visit.
On my recent visit to Belfast, though, I was happy to see that — although the memories of recent events still are very much alive — the city is doing a fabulous job of “moving on.” And Belfast is booming! New hotels are popping up all over the place to meet a huge increase in demand for travelers. I can see why more and more travelers are flocking there with so much to see and do.
I believe where and what you eat when you’re traveling is important.
Especially on a faculty-led travel program, you want to immerse yourself completely in the local culture, and that definitely includes the local food. It’s important to be able to eat like a local and enjoy food that is typical to your destination. After an active day of learning, it’s important not only to enjoy a nourishing and satisfying meal but also to sample delicious dishes from your destination — whether it’s tapas in Spain, a curry in England or Peking duck in China.
That’s why we always serve meals with local fare that meet your budget.
Our guarantee: Central hotels that meet your budget
I believe where you stay when you’re traveling is important.
Especially on a faculty-led travel program, it matters that your hotel is in a good location so you can maximize your time, immerse yourself in the culture and get the most out of your travels. It matters that your hotel is comfortable and provides a good night’s rest after an active day of learning. And it matters that you are able to stay connected online.
That’s why as founder of Hart Travel Partners, I guarantee that we always find centrally located hotels that meet your budget. Plus, I guarantee that all of our hotels offer free WiFi.
Our founder, Steve Hart, currently is touring China and has been sharing photos of his travels along the way. He's already visited the Great Wall of China ("one of the most magnificent sites I have ever seen”) and the "fascinating" Terracotta Warriors and enjoyed the delicious food in Xi'an, home of Chinese noodles.
Thank you to all of our faculty, group leaders and travelers for making 2018 such a special year for Hart Travel Partners. It's such a privilege for us to work with educators around the country to bring their students around the world. Check out our annual year-end slideshow video with some of the amazing destinations our groups enjoyed this year.
We're looking forward to even more travel adventures in the new year!
My first job out of college was as a Travel Director, leading groups of U.S. students around Spain and Portugal. It was an amazing experience.
I got my start as a Travel Director while studying at the University of Bristol in England many years ago, working mostly over holiday breaks. After I graduated, it became my “full-time” job, and I loved it. Although I initially specialized in Spain and Portugal, I gradually expanded my expertise to other countries throughout Europe.
That first job led to a career in educational travel. While moving into other roles, I always relished the opportunity to return to travel directing, and I’ve been fortunate to lead groups on countless tours across Europe and even Cuba.
Spotlight on Morocco: Eight activities not to miss
I recently returned from Morocco, where centuries of African and European influences have transformed ancient civilizations into one of the world’s most unique and diverse regions. From modern metropolises to the Sahara Desert, Morocco provides an opportunity to explore distinctly different settings while absorbing lessons of the past and glimpses to the future.
With our local team there, I had the pleasure of traveling around Morocco to several cities and desert towns, and I was reminded how truly magical this country is. Morocco sometimes can be an overlooked destination, but it offers so many one-of-a-kind opportunities to explore cities, the mountains and the desert. For starters, it’s easy to get to from the United States; in fact, it is no longer than flying to many European destinations — and you get to spend time in an important and exotic country in Africa!
The FIFA World Cup — the biggest sporting event in the world — kicks off today in Russia. I love the World Cup, not only because I share a love of soccer with my family, but also because it brings players and fans together from all over the world.
Every time I travel to Rome, I am captured by the charm and wonders of this incredibly historical city.
On a recent trip, I flew in to Fiumicino Airport and took a taxi to my hotel in central Rome, as I’ve done countless times. But on that routine 30-minute taxi ride, I realized that we were witnessing 2,000 years of history right from my back seat.
No matter how many times I’ve visited Paris, I always experience something new and exciting. My most recent trip was no different.
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with a group of students and faculty from Arizona State University, which was spending two weeks on a photography course in Paris. I can’t imagine a better backdrop than the City of Light for photography students. This is a regular study abroad program that Hart Travel Partners produces for ASU; you can even see some of the previous students’ photos on the HTP website.
"What a treat to have our own personal guide to the Aran Islands. Seeing the islands from an archeological perspective was eye opening and enriched the students' understanding of what they were experiencing." - Lane C
Spain is a country full of history and modern delights. It is also, in essence, where Hart Travel Partners began.
Spain is as varied as its people, landscapes, and history. A mosaic of cultural diversity, Spain boasts a proud legacy influenced by the Romans, Moors, Jews, Christians and others as they crisscrossed the land throughout history.
Along with cultural diversity, examples of Spanish duende can be found everywhere. Loosely translated as a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity, duende most often refers to the passion Spanish people bring to all of their pursuits, including cuisine, art, architecture, sport, flamenco dance and music.
If architecture is your interest, Barcelona allows you explore the transformational Modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, while historical landmarks, such as the royal sixteenth century El Escorial monastery complex and the Valley of the Fallen, a touchstone of 20th-century Spanish architecture, provide historical context.
A few days in Madrid affords you the opportunity to sample typical Spanish foods, such as paella, tapas, and ham—a staple of the Spanish diet. Journey to Toledo, and you can indulge in local delights such as migas, partridge and carcamusas. From traditional food markets to high-end restaurants, the possibilities for sampling fresh and creative food, made with love, are endless!
History buffs will enjoy spending time in Córdoba, which served as the seat of the Islamic emirate of al-Andalus in the 8th century. The Alhambra, in Granada, is a complex of royal palaces, mosques, baths, and shops, and will appeal to historians and architects alike, as will the Cathedral of Seville, which beautifully reflects the fusion of Moorish and Christian cultures.