“NEW! THE BEST OF GERMANY & FRANCE CHRISTMAS MARKETS” December 4-13, 2008 Only $1,689* per person (twin) for land package Trip alumni clients, deduct $100 from rate Single room supplement $200 **Ask us about additional roundtrip airfare from your city to Frankfurt Fairytale villages, cuckoo clocks, gingerbread, scrumptious food, the scenic Black Forest, & charming Alsace. Jawohl & oui, we’re headed to the heart of “Old World” Europe! So, get out your walking shoes & practice your high school German & French. It’s off to Europe’s most enchanting towns & traditional markets. Join Ann Lombardi, certified Europe specialist, on our wonderful small group getaway. It’s packed with colorful holiday markets, memorable walking tours, half-timbered houses, folk traditions, quaint villages, friendly locals, & free time for enjoying the festive magic of Germany & France. On this relaxing adventure by train, we spend eight nights in our cozy Forest home base, nestled in an historic Black Forest village. Every day we venture to corners of Europe few American tourists see. Our daily excursions, using our German Rail Passes, highlight ancient towns, holiday celebrations, insider discoveries, & a special slice of Christmas-time Europe. Space is limited to just twelve congenial travelers. Rush us your application & deposit today

Our unique Europe getaway includes: * 8 Nights’ lodging in family-run Black Forest hotel (with private facilities) * 8 Full breakfasts (B), 2 lunches, & 6 dinners (D) * Welcome orientation walk through home base village * Guided walking tours of Freiburg, Heidelberg, Speyer, & Strasbourg * Hosted daily excursions by train & bus * Roundtrip 2nd class train from Germany to Obernai & Strasbourg, France * German Rail 2nd class seven-day pass * Entrance fees to selected museums & sights (incl. Black Forest Folk Museum & Germany’s highest waterfall) * Tour of German cuckoo clock factory * Advent choral music concert & cathedral organ concert * Time for shopping & exploring five Christmas markets * Visits to Black Forest villages of Titisee & Triberg Contact us for details on recommended Travelex travel insurance & optional airfare.

Daily Itinerary (schedule subject to revision due to local conditions) Day 1 U.S.A. - Frankfurt ~ Depart on our overnight transatlantic flights to Frankfurt. (D) Day 2 Frankfurt – Gengenbach ~ Welcome to Germany! Meet Ann in the Frankfurt Airport rail station. Then hop the train for a beautiful ride to the Black Forest region. Settle into our welcoming village hotel, our snug “home base” for the next eight nights. Rest up from jet lag & later meet our local guide for an afternoon orientation walk past Gengenbach’s 13th c. buildings, half-timbered houses, & traditional Christmas market. Later, enjoy our welcome dinner. It’s early to bed tonight with dreams of cuckoo clocks, Black Forest cake, & hand-crafted treasures. (B/D) Day 3 Day trip to Freiburg ~ After a relaxing breakfast, we travel by rail to Freiburg im Breisgau, the capital of the Schwarzwald area. Catch a morning organ concert in the splendid 13th c. “Münster” cathedral. Then join our tour guide for a stroll through the old university town. See ancient buildings, including the 595-year-old “House of the Whale,” where scholar Erasmus once lived. This afternoon there’s free time to enjoy the lively Christmas market. Back to Gengenbach for a church choir Advent concert & dinner at our hotel.. (B/D) Day 4 Day trip to Triberg ~ Sleep in a bit today perhaps or attend church in our village before the ride to forested, health resort Triberg, a town prized for its pure air & folk art. Marvel at the impressive Gutacher Waterfall, Germany’s highest. Next, visit the fascinating Schwarzwald Museum for a look at traditional Black Forest costumes, rural culture, & time-honored handicrafts. Return to Gegenbach for a tasty dinner at our hotel. (B/D) Day 5 Day trip to Heidelberg ~ This morning we travel by rail to one of Europe’s most photogenic towns, delightful “Student Prince.” Heidelberg. With its fairytale castle set on the Neckar River, this is the oldest university town in Germany, an ideal place for a walk with our guide. Later stroll through the Altstadt (Old Town) Christmas stalls before returning to Gengenbach for dinner at our hotel. (B/D) Day 6 Free day ~ A full day at leisure to explore on our own. Wander through the back alleys of our village. Experience small-town Black Forest shopping & take in Gengenbach’s medieval fountains & beautiful architecture. Be sure to sample the hearty Vesper, a local dish with farmer’s bread, Black Forest ham, & homemade cheeses, along with a glass of the outstanding wines such as Riesling or fruity Müller-Thurgau. Enjoy group camaraderie at dinner back in our hotel. (B/D) Day 7 Day trip to Speyer ~ Catch the train to Speyer, home of the UNESCO World Heritage enormous cathedral & one of Germany’s “Imperial Cities.” After our walking tour of the town which is said to have invented the soft pretzel (Brezel), we enjoy a delicious Rheinland-Pflaz lunch at historical restaurant founded in 1689. The afternoon is free to shop or ramble. Hunt for delicacies such as honey-roasted almonds & mulled wine, traditional woodcarvings, or other local handicrafts at Speyer’s Christmas Market. Return by train to Gengenbach for dinner on our own. (B/L) Day 8 Day trip to Obernai & Strasbourg (France) ~ An early train ride leads us across the border to Alsace, a unique blend of French & German cultures. First stop is Strasbourg, one of France’s greatest cities with its crowning glory, Notre Dame Cathedral, founded in 1176. Our city walking tour shows us Petite France quarter, where 16th c. craftsmen plied their trades. Eat a delicious lunch at an Alsatian restaurant. Then visit the Christmas Market dating back to 1570. Later, ride to enchanting Obernai, with its cobblestone pedestrian-only center & gourmet Christmas Market food stalls. (B/L) Day 9 Day trip to Titisee (B/D) ~ This glacial lake town in a “mythological” setting is known for a tradition of cuckoo clock-making. Visit a local cuckoo clock factory. Then, free time for exploring before our farewell dinner at our Gengenbach hotel. Early to bed, with memories of a lifetime. (B/D) Day10 Gengenbach to Frankfurt Airport – U.S.A. ~ “Auf wiedersehen!” Fly home to USA. (B) CALL WENDY OR ANN AT 770-454-7205 Confirm your space today!