Hilton College
01 July 15 July 2008
| Tue, 01 Jul | 10:50 | Check-in SA550 for Durban boys that will not depart from Oliver Tambo Airport (parents must book these flights through Lynn Bell) |
| 13:05 | Durban boys and staff arrive at OR Tambo Airport | |
| 14:00 | Parents and Choir meet in Airport conference room for buffet lunch (parents that will join us must book through Lynn Bell) | |
| 16:25 | Check in at Turkish Airlines, O R Tambo Airport. | |
| 19:25 | Depart on flight TK081. Meals on board. | |
| Wed, 02 Jul | 06:05 | Arrive Istanbul. Meet your coach and guide. |
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Transfer to Glance Park for tea and summit bread with sesame.
This is a typical Turkish Student breakfast. Enjoy a view of the Marmara
Sea, as well as the Asian and European Shores of the Bosphorus.
Then visit the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Roman Hippodrome. The Blue Mosque (Mosque of Sultan Ahmet) The city's largest and busiest mosque was meant to surpass the Hagia Sophia, and it comes close to succeeding, with its breathtaking interior of blue tiles and its motif of elegant domes drawing the eye skyward. Hagia Sophia This incredible building was the greatest church in Christendom until the fall of Constantinople, then the finest mosque in Islamdom until it was declared a museum. The fantastic dome and interior must be seen to be believed. Topkapi Palace The Topkapi Palace served as a residence for sultans for nearly 300 years. The Palace is actually a huge complex of several courts and living quarters within each one. In its heyday, the palace held a population of over 3,000, from servants to concubines to officials, and was the absolute last word in lavish luxury and opulence. The Hippodrome (Atmeydani) The scene of many Imperial Games and counterpart to the famed Coliseum of Rome, this elegant structure still holds many carvings testifying to the grandeur and beauty of the Byzantine Empire. |
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| 12:00 | Check in to your hotel. Take a little rest and freshen up. Rest of the day to visit the Grand Bazaar for unbelievable shopping experiences. | |
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Basilica Cistern(Yerebatan Sarnici)
An
incredible Byzantine relic, which once stored the drinking water of the
city. The construction incorporated many leftover elements of ruined
buildings, lending an eclectic, occasionally bizarre appearance.
The acoustic here is fantastic a good place for impromptu singing!
Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)
Tales of the Arabian
nights come to mind in this colossal bazaar under one roof, where
anything and everything under the sun is on sale. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. |
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| Thu, 03 Jul | Breakfast at hotel. | |
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Our Bosphorus cruise today is an experience of a lifetime! Bosphorus is the name of the strait, which lies between Europe and Asia. The strait Bosphorus connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and its length is approximately 30 km. long. BOSPHORUS ON BOAT - A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries. The tour starts by visiting the SPICE BAZAAR(Egyptian Bazaar): The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. RUMELI FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul, was completed in only four months to control and protect Bosphorus. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. LUNCH included. BEYLERBEYI PALACE The summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the HAREM on the ASIAN. BOSPHORUS BRIDGE Unique chance to step from one continent (ASIA) to another (EUROPE) CAMLICA HILL The highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style. SHOPPING POSSIBILITY AT BEDESTEN exhibits the traditional silk weaving girls at the carpet weaving courses authorised by the Ministry of National Education Possibility to see jewellery, handicrafts center and leather ware show. Free time provided for shopping. Transfer back to hotel. Dinner at hotel or restaurant. Overnight Istanbul. |
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| Fri, 04 Jul | 05:00 | Breakfast at the hotel, check out and depart. |
| 07:50 | Depart on flight TK1629. | |
| 09:30 |
Arrive Munich Airport. Meet your coach and driver. Sightseeing tour through Munich, continue to Youth Hostel Fussen. Dinner and overnight. |
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| Sat, 05 Jul | Breakfast at Hostel. Transfer to Lake Constanze and Salem School where we will do a tour of the school and an evening concert in the Cathedral. | |
| Dinner and overnight at Fussen Youth Hostel. | ||
| Sun, 06 Jul | 08:00 | Depart to Vienna. (560 km, ± 7 hours) |
| 16:00 | Arrive at Jugen Gastehaus Brigittenau. Coach drops you off and returns to base. Dinner and Overnight. | |
Mon, 07 Jul |
Breakfast at Hostel. | |
| M | ||
| 20:00 |
A musical outing ... |
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| Tue, 08 Jul | Breakfast at Hostel. Morning set aside for practice. Afternoon free for a visit to the fun park. Dinner and overnight. | |
| Wed, 09 Jul | 07:30 | Breakfast at Hostel. Pack Coaches. |
| 08:30 |
Depart to Graz. (190km - ± 2½ - 3-hours). Check into accommodation
arranged by Musica-Mundi. At the games lunch is available at 7.50 per
person. Tickets for the main events in Graz namely the awards ceremony and the Choral Fireworks has to be purchased on the internet at http://www.oeticket.com/ |
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| 15:30 | Choirs parade through Graz. | |
| 19:30 | Opening Ceremony. Coaches at your disposal. Dinner and overnight. | |
| Thu, 10 Jul |
Breakfast at accommodation. Visit Primo in Slovenia for a day tour and evening concert with Vinko Vodopivec Male Choir Return to Graz after the concert and sleep on the bus. Overnight in Graz |
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| Fri, 11 Jul | Breakfast at accommodation. | |
| 10:00 | Qualifying round, Young Male Choirs Graz University Aula | |
| 14:00 | Orpheum: Attend Vocal Jazz Ensembles competition | |
| 16:30 |
Return to accommodation Dinner and overnight |
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| Sat, 12 Jul | Breakfast at accommodation. | |
| 14:00 |
Competition of the World Choir Games, Young Male Choirs Aula of the Graz University |
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| 19:30 |
Choral Fireworks Coaches at your disposal. Dinner and overnight. |
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| Sun, 13 Jul | Breakfast at accommodation. | |
| 09:30 |
Awards Ceremony Concert of the Champions |
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| 14:00 |
Depart for Salzburg Coaches at your disposal. Dinner and overnight in Salzburg. |
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| Mon, 14 Jul | 08:00 | Breakfast at accommodation. |
| 08:30 | Pack the bus | |
| 09:00 | Morning tour of Salzburg | |
| 12:00 | Transfer to Munich | |
| 15:30 | Check-in time | |
| 18:05 | Depart to Istanbul. Meals on board | |
| 21:40 | Arrive Istanbul. Change flights | |
| 23:30 | Depart to Johannesburg. | |
| Tue, 15 Jul | 08:10 | Arrive Johannesburg. Proceed to domestic departures. |
| 11:20 | Depart on 1T203 | |
| 12:30 | Arrive Durban | |
| 13:00 | Transfer from DBN International to Hilton College |