Painting Excursion 2007-2010

If you've missed your chance our last Painting Excursion to Guatemala, keep your eye out for our next Painting Excursions: We will be going to Spain . For a taste of what you might experience in Spain, take a look at the itinerary for our last trip to Guatemala .

Come see Mark's blog for a taste of what we did in 2008.

"Our painting trips have been planned to provide plenty of drawing, painting and photographic opportunities in culturally rich locations. Learning about local arts and culture is a key element in planning these tours where travelers have lots of opportunity to explore their individual interests"

Your Hosts

Mike Radford and Mark Glavina met in the early 80's at Capilano Collage where they were both students of the renowned commercial art program. Both avid travelers Mike and Mark invite you to enjoy the cultural experience traveling with brush in hand.

Our sixth international painting tour will take us back to where it all began, Cuba! Join Phoenix Art owner and instructor Mark Glavina and Artist Mike Radford as we paint our way around this magnificent country. Our tour begins in the heart of Havana Vieja (Old Havana) painting in the Plaza de la Catedral, strolling the Prado toward Castillo San Salvador and the world famous Malecón and winding up an evening at Hemingway’s bar, “La Bodeguita” for a Mojito.

Our tour continues as we travel to the s outher n part of the I sla nd to v isi the picturesque town of Trinidad. A UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1514, it is the third Spanish settlement in Cuba. We stay in the oldest part of the city, containing beautiful churches, public squares, cobblestone streets an d colourful Spanish colonial residential architecture; however the beautiful beaches of the Ancon Peninsula are only minutes away. Our third stop is the city of Cienfuegos, called the “The Pearl of the South” because of its impressive beauty, architecture and surrounding agricultural landscape.

Our tour winds up back in Havana for several days to enjoy the incredible culture, music, nightlife and museums. A typical day on our painting tours would include a beautiful, fresh morning breakfast at our hotel followed by a morning painting session and instructional demonstration. Travelers are usually free to enjoy lunch on their own and explore the cultural sites and absorb the local atmosphere. Typically we would set an early evening rendezvous point to review the days paintings before evening activities and dinner.

Non painters are welcome to join our tours including spouses and friends, however it should be noted that these trips are primarily planned as painting excursions and although every effort is made to accommodate, morning painting hours will be free to explore independently.

For more details download PDF.

Interested? Email Mark.

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Spain 2008

Our 2008 Spring Painting excursion will kick of in Barcelona , a city which has transformed itself into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. The buildings, especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudí, and the art collections of Picasso, Miró and Salvador Dali with make you gasp for breath. From here our schedule includes traveling by train to the southern city of Seville and a short coach ride to our charming boutique hotel near Seville, Andalusia; here we will enjoy the casual pace of southern Spanish living while making daily excursions from country villages like Ronda to magnificent coastal Cities of Cadiz (Costa de la Luz) and Malaga (Costa del Sol). Our two week trip winds up in Madrid with its colourful nightlife, historical architecture and three of the most beautiful art galleries in Europe: The Prado (Spain's National Museum), Reina Sofia (Modern Art Gallery), Thyssen-Bornemisza (said to be the best private collection of 13th to 20th century art).

• Trip Itinerary and costs
• Flight information
• Booking form
• Waiver

The participants must have the Booking Form completed by April 15, 2008

For more information please email Mark .

Guatemala 2008

Guatemala 2008 tour details now available in PDF .

Our 2007 trip was so successful we are going back... there was too much to paint!

The Group will arrive in Guatemala City and transfer by bus to our home base of Antigua . Set amid three magnificent volcanoes - Ague, Fuego and Acatenango, Antigua is among the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas . We will spend a couple of days drawing, painting and enjoying the famous churches and colonial architecture with plenty of time to explore individual interests.

From Antigua the group will bus to the world famous market in Chichicastenango en route to Panajachel, one of the oldest tourist hang-outs in Guatemala . From there we will visit the picturesque lakeside villages of Santiago Atitland, San Marcos, and San Pedro La Laguna.

Leaving from Guatemala City the group will fly north to El Peten the town of Las Flores for a visit to the world famous ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal .

Our trip concludes back in Antigua for two more sleeps before heading back to Guatemala City and our flight home.

All levels of painters as well as non-painters are welcome to join us on this unique tour of one of Latin Americas most intriguing destinations.

See Tour Details for information about tour costs, rules and regulations.

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Our Tour

The Mayan heartland of Central America is an attractive destination for travelers, offering Central America in concentrated form: its volcanoes are the highest and most active, its Mayan ruins the most impressive, its earthquakes, the most devastating and its history of repression decidedly worldclass. Mayan history survives in the ancient ruins of Tikal , Mayan/Catholic rituals of Chichicastenango and the blazing colours of everyday Mayan dress. Guatemala 's many Mayan ruins and colonial buildings are its most impressive architectural attributes. One of the most intriguing cultural aspects is the nfinite and exotic variety of the handmade, traditional clothing of Guatemala 's Mayan population.

Antigua
Antigua was the nation's capital from 1543 until 1776, when the capital was moved 45km to the east to the present site of Guatemala City . Antigua is among the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas . Set amid three magnificent volcanoes - Agua, Fuego and Acatenango - its sturdy colonial buildings have weathered 16 earthquakes and numerous floods and fires. The cobblestone streets, bougainvillea bursting from crumbling ruins and numerous colonial churches like La Merced and San Francisco date back to the 17 th century.

Chichicastenango
A small stucco-white town on the crests of mountaintops at over 2000 meters, the magical and misty highlands town of Chichi is surrounded by valleys and overshadowed by looming mountains. The colourful native Sunday market attracts vendors from all across Guatemala , and the cofradías religious brotherhoods often hold processions on that day.

Lago de Atitlan

Panajachel
A major tourist centre, this town dates back to pre-Columbian times and is a hub for visiting the villages on the shores of Lago de Atitlan - an absolutely gorgeous caldera lake and our home base while visiting Guatemala 's Highlands .

Santiago Atitland
Across the lake from Panajachel on the shore of a lagoon, Santiago Atitlan still clings to its traditional life style of the Tz'utuhil Maya. This lakeside village is fast becoming a centre for the arts, textiles and gallery scene.

San Pedro & San Marcos
These two towns on lake Atitland are home to the coffee trade and are where many Bohemian foreigners settle, giving them a peaceful tranquil atmosphere in beautiful settings.

El Peten

Las Flores
Las Flores is a dignified capital, with its church and government building arranged around the main plaza, which crests the hill in the centre of the island. The city was founded by the Itzáes, and at the time of conquest was perhaps the last still-functioning Mayan ceremonial centre in the country. Las Flores will be our base from where we will explore Tikal the Cultural Highlight of our trip.

Tikal Ruins
The monumental Mayan ceremonial centre at Tikal lies in the jungle northwest of Flores , in the department of El Petén. Towering pyramids rise above the jungle's green canopy, while down below howler monkeys swing noisily through the branches of ancient trees, colourful parrots squawk and dart, and tree frogs fill in the auditory gaps. The steep-sided temples rise to heights of over 44m (144ft), and although the undergrowth around them has been cleared, the dense rainforest canopy is not far away, making passage within the enigmatic site an unforgettable experience. The many ruins include plazas, an acropolis, pyramids, temples and a museum. Our visit to Tikal includes a two day guided tour of the national park including park entrance, lunch, and transportation to and from the park.

For more information, please contact Mark

Tour Details

Thank you for your interest in our Painting tour of Guatemala in January 2008. Most of our arrangements are complete and we are pleased to announce our expected dates, itinerary, costs and other important details. We ask you to keep in mind our itinerary, hotels and flight arrangements may be subject to change without notice for circumstances beyond our control; although we make every effort to stay faithful to our plan outlined here. Travelers will be responsible for booking their flights, travel and medical insurance which are mandatory for travel with our group. A C$500.00 p/p deposit is due September 15th and will guarantee you a place for our exciting tour.

Dates
Depart January 9/10th - Return January 24/25th 2008

Cost Overview

• Tour Package based on Double occupancy C$2500.00 plus taxes
• Single occupancy C$2900.00 plus taxes

Note: please read Rules and Regulations

• Flight 2 B Confirmed (Continental Airlines)
• depart from Seattle C$540.00 Plus taxes ***
• depart from YVR C920.00 Plus Taxes

* Personal expenses (lunches, dinners, Personal) C$50.00 per day estimate

Flight Information: It is the responsibility of each participant to make arrangements for their own flight and insurance; however for those traveling from the Vancouver & Pacific Northwest we are recommending traveling to Guatemala City and transferring to Antigua by bus as a group. In most cases booking your flight early will save you money and will guarantee a place with our group. Specific flight information will be announced prior to deposits being required September 15th. The great benefit to participants making their own flight arrangements is the flexibility it provides for those travelers who wish to extend their tour, use travel points, or are joining us from destinations other than from Vancouver , our home base.

Tour Costs Includes: Our tour package includes all administration and teaching fees, hotel and airport transfers, hotel rooms, hotel breakfasts, walking tour of Antigua, 2 day guided tour package of Tikal National Park including flight to Flores , boat trip in Panajachel and wrap up dinner.

Our Tour Costs do not include: Our package does not include Airline tickets to Guatemala , airport fees and taxes, flight or medical insurance, lunches and dinners and Personal bills such as telephone, laundry, room service etc. Expenses arising from delays, mis-connections etc.

RESERVATIONS: Reservations should be made as early in advance as possible. Late reservations will be accepted only subject to availability. Due date for Deposits is September 15th 2007.

DEPOSITS: A deposit of CAD 500.00 per person is required at time of booking. Reservations may be subject to cancellation if deposit is not received within 7 days of booking. If booking is made within 60 days prior to the date of departure from Canada , then full payment is due. Payment by check or bank draft a 3.5% surcharge for credit card payments will be applied.

BALANCE PAYMENTS: Balance payments must be received by Phoenix Art Workshop no later than 30 days prior to the date of departure from Canada . Failure to comply may result in the cancellation of the reservation and forfeiture of deposits received.

CANCELLATIONS: A charge of CAD 300.00 will be levied for any cancellations received 90 days or more prior to the date of departure Thereafter, the following cancellation penalties will apply:

89-60 days prior to departure: CAD 300.00 per person

59-30 CAD 500.00 (whichever is higher).

29-08 days prior to departure: 50% of total tour cost per person.

7 days or less prior to departure: 100% of total tour cost per person.

*All cancellation notices must be received by Phoenix Art Workshop in writing.*

After departure, any voluntary unused tour services or features, including hotel accommodations, ground transportation, domestic or international flights, and sightseeing tours, are neither refundable nor exchangeable.

PASSPORTS & VISAS: A valid passport is required for all travelers. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after date of tour termination. Visas may also be required for certain destinations. (Passport and visa fees are NOT included in tour cost and are subject to additional charges.)

INSURANCE: We strongly recommend that all passengers purchase travel insurance to protect their tour arrangements against cancellation, medical, and other expenses. This will be the responsibility of individual travelers.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Phoenix Art acts only as intermediary for independent suppliers and other contractors providing transportation, accommodation, and other related travel services. Phoenix Art assumes no responsibility or liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident with any services resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, strikes, war declared or undeclared, government regulations, thefts, failure of any means, discrepancies or changes over which it has no control. Any claims for refunds must be made in writing through the agent from whom the tour was purchased within 30 days after tour termination. Failure to provide Phoenix Art with notice in writing will preclude your right to claims against us.

YOUR RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREED TO EACH AND ALL OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS AND LIMITS ON RESPONSIBILITY.

For more information, please contact Mark