Updated Itinerary!!

This should be the final one...

McMurry University Wind Ensemble

Italy Tour and Performance at the

World Conference of the International Society for Music Education

July 19 – 26, 2008

ITINERARY

All times on this itinerary are indicated in local time.

Dr. Neal’s cell number is (325) 518-7843. He will not have text messaging capabilities.

Call in case of emergency only!

Our Tour Manager is Enrica Angeli. She will be with us the entire week.

Saturday, July 19

5:15 a.m. Bus arrives at Ryan Recital Hall – put your luggage in specified loading area for

loading crew.

6:00 a.m. Bus leaves Ryan Recital Hall for DFW Airport

9:00 a.m. Arrive at DFW Airport to begin baggage and equipment check

11:50 a.m. Depart DFW at on American Airlines Flight 384 to JFK Airport (NY)

4:45 p.m. Arrive at JFK Airport

5:45 p.m. Depart New York City on American Airlines Flight 198 to Milan

Flight time is approximately 8.5 hours.

Sunday, July 20

8:10 a.m. Arrive in Milan

After we clear customs, board the bus, travel from Milan to Cremona (110 km)

Arrive mid-day in Cremona – lunch on your own there

Afternoon Visit the Stradivarius Museum

Continue to Bologna (159 km)

Check into hotel

Hotel Aemilia

Via Zaccherini Alvisi 16

I-40138 Bologna

phone +39 0513940311

8:00 p.m. Dinner provided at the hotel

Monday, Jul 21, 2008

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

8:00 a.m. Bus leaves for full-day excursion to Venice

Bologna – Venice 154 km

10:15 a.m. Board boat to travel to Venice

11:00 a.m. Morning walking tour of Venice includes

· St. Mark's Square

· Bell Tower

· Entrance to St. Mark’s Cathedral and Doges Palace paid

12:30 p.m. Lunch and afternoon on your own

4:00 p.m. Return to Bologna for the night – meeting location to be announced on-location before lunch.

Dinner and evening on your own

Tuesday, July 22

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

9:30 a.m. REQUIRED - Leave for ISME-arranged meeting with the Mayor of Bologna

Attire = travel uniform (black pants/socks/shoes with maroon shirts)

9:45 a.m. Arrive at Municipality Palace

10:30 a.m. Meet with the Mayor

11:00 a.m. Return to hotel

Lunch on your own

3:00 p.m. REQUIRED - Afternoon rehearsal at hotel

Dinner and evening on your own

Wednesday, July 23

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

8:00 a.m. Bus leaves for full-day excursion to Florence

Bologna – Florence 105 km

10:45 a.m. Morning guided sightseeing tour includes:

· Piazza della Signoria

· Palazzo Vecchio

· Ponte Vecchio

· Baptistry

· Campanile

· Entrance to Duomo

· Entrance to Academy of Fine Arts (entrance fees paid)

Lunch on your own in Florence

Afternoon Drive to Fiesole and Piazzale Michelangelo (both overlooking Florence)

Meeting time and location TBA that day.

Return to Bologna

Dinner and evening on your own

Thursday, July 24

9:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

10:00 a.m. Morning city tour of Bologna, including

· Piazza Maggiore

· Piazza del Nettuno

· Piazza di Porta Ravegnana

· Fontana del Nettuno

· Basilica di San Petronio

· Entrance do the Museo Civico Archeaologico

Lunch and afternoon your own

Early dinner on your own - stay close!

6:30 p.m. REQUIRED - Leave hotel on bus, dressed for concert (travel uniform with black tour shirts), with all music and equipment

7:30 p.m. REQUIRED – Rehearsal on-site

9:30 p.m. REQUIRED - Concert performance for the World Conference of the International Society for Music Education

Return to hotel via bus – pack that evening

Friday, July 25

7:00 a.m. Buffet breakfast provided at hotel

8:30 a.m. Check out of hotel – return keys – load bus for trip to Milan

9:00 a.m. Bus leaves for Milan

Bologna – Milan 325 km

Lunch on your own

2:00 p.m. Guided sightseeing tour includes:

· entrance to La Scala Opera House and Museum

· entrance to the Duomo

7:00 p.m. Dinner provided at local establishment

Check into the hotel after dinner

Hotel le Robinie

Via Per Busto Arsizio, 9

I-21058 Solbiate Olona-Va

phone +39 0331 329 260

Saturday, July 26

6:15 a.m. Check out of hotel – return keys – load bus to go to airport

6:45 a.m. Bus leaves for Milan Airport (box breakfast taken with you)

7:30 a.m. Arrive at Milan Airport for baggage and equipment check

10:35 a.m. Depart Milan via American Airlines Flight 199 to JFK Airport

1:40 p.m. Arrive at JFK Airport – be ready to clear customs!

· Passport

· Items to claim

· VAT receipts

3:10 p.m. Depart JFK via American Airlines Flight 2033 to DFW

6:00 p.m. Arrive at DFW Airport

Bus to Abilene - probably arrive around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.