GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN EUROPE

10 OR 13 DAYS

England • Belgium • The Netherlands •

Extension to France

Day 1 Flight

Overnight fl ight to England • Relax as you fl y across the Atlantic.

Day 2 London

Arrival in London • Welcome to London, Eu-rope’s largest capital city. After clearing customs, you are greeted by your EF Tour Director, who will accompany you to your hotel and remain with you throughout your stay. Walking tour of London • Stroll through the heart of London on our EF walking tour, which begins along the banks of the River Thames. These shadowy waters gave the city its name, which de-rives from Llyn-Dyn, Celtic for “city of the lake.” Walk along the Strand and see the spot considered to be London’s geographic center; all measure-ments of distances to London end here. Enter Tra-falgar Square and pause at Nelson’s Column, built to commemorate his 1805 victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Continue on to Leicester Square, where duelists once fought to the death. Then saunter through London’s tiny Chinatown. Your walk ends at chic Covent Garden, where you’ll enjoy

watching street performers (or “buskers”) amuse the lively crowds. (The exact walking route may vary, depending on your hotel location and the day’s other activities.)

Day 3 London

Guided sightseeing of London • A local guide leads you on a panoramic tour of London. Begin in Grosvenor Square, which is sometimes called “Little America” because it’s the site of the U.S. embassy and the house where Eisenhower once lived. Continue to Hyde Park Corner, located at the southeast corner of Hyde Park, one of Lon-don’s largest parks. At bustling Piccadilly Circus, the intersection of five busy streets, check out the bright lights and big-city displays. Pass Speaker’s Corner, where anyone with something to say is invited to speak his mind. Snap a photo of the Houses of Parliament and continue along Lon-don’s South Bank for views of the famous Tower of London and London Bridge. Stroll across the Millennium Bridge for an orientation of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the magnificent 17th-century Baroque church designed by Sir Christopher

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN EUROPE

International courts and Houses of Parliament become your classroom on your

tour of some of the world’s most influential countries. See firsthand how the history

and governmental relations of Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and France

helped shape the foundations of modern society. From NATO headquarters in

Brussels to the commercial and cultural melting pot of Amsterdam, discover these

European seats of power and experience today’s exciting political transitions.

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PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES:

Round-trip airfare, bus transfers ■

8 overnight stays in hotels with private ■

bathrooms (plus 3 nights with extension)

European breakfast daily ■

3 dinners (plus 1 dinner with extension) ■

Full-time EF Tour Director ■

TGV high-speed train ■

Select guides and entrances to special ■

attractions as per itinerary

OPTIONAL:

Bruges ■

*PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to

change. Institution visits will be scheduled

subject to availability and confi rmed prior to

departure date.

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Day 6 The Hague

Guided sightseeing of The Hague • Started simply as a hunting residence, The Hague is now the seat of government, the center of politics and home to the States-General of the Netherlands. Among the Netherlands’ largest cities, the area also contains all of the foreign embassies and government ministries. In fact, many significant events in Dutch history have happened here. The Hague originated around 1230, when Floris IV, Count of Holland, purchased land in order to build a hunting residence. In 1248, William II, Count of Holland, extended the residence to include a palace, but died before the palace was completed. In addition to rich history and a vibrant political scene, visitors can also find renowned art museums in The Hague.Visit to the International Court of Justice • Learn about the history, workings and activities of the esteemed International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organization of the United Nations. Established in June 1945 by the charter of the United Nations, the court settles legal disputes in accordance with international law and offers advisory opinions on legal questions referred by United Nations organizations and specialized agencies. Or, visit the International Criminal Court • Learn about criminal justice today during a visit to the International Criminal Court. You may listen to a lecture about the mandate, structure and activities of the court, which tries those ac-cused of the most serious crimes of international concern. Crimes before the International Crimi-nal Court may include genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The exact details of this visit may vary and will be confirmed closer to your departure date.

Day 7 Amsterdam

Excursion to Amsterdam • The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is also an impor-tant commercial, historic, cultural and artistic center. Amsterdam, once home to Rembrandt, whose residence remains open to visitors today, boasts friendly cafés and world-class museums, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Jew-ish History Museum. Step into a fairy tale as you marvel at this city of 1,200 bridges and 160 canals.

Wren. Finally, witness a London tradition—the Changing of the Guard (subject to scheduling).

Day 4 London

Guided visit of the British Library • If you can’t find it here, you may not find it any-where. Today you’ll visit the British Library, the world’s largest research library. See the burnt copy of the Magna Carta, and learn about the history of the library, created in 1973 by the British Library Act. The enormous building holds more than 150 million items, with a col-lection that includes about 25 million books as wells as manuscripts and historical items dating back to 300 B.C. Visit the Houses of Parliament • Get a glimpse into British government at the Houses of Parliament, also known as Westminster Pal-ace. The House of Commons and the House of Lords (the two houses of British Parliament) have met in the Palace of Westminster since the 16th century. The royal palace has existed at this site for about 1,000 years, though many of the oldest sections of the medieval buildings were destroyed in an 1834 fire, requiring the palace to be rebuilt in the mid-19th century. Henry VIII was the last monarch to live here before he moved out in 1512. The palace boasts about 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases and three miles of hallways! (Tours of Parliament are available only during certain times of the summer when Parlia-ment is not convened.)

Day 5 London • Netherlands

Lecture: UK politics at the local level • At-tend a presentation by a speaker involved in lo-cal London politics. The visit may include a tour of the council chamber, the mayor’s parlor and councilor’s rooms. Details of this visit will be confirmed closer to your departure date. English Channel crossing • The overnight Harwich–Hoek ferry crossing brings you across the English Channel to the Netherlands.

Guided sightseeing of Amsterdam • A lo-cal guide introduces you to Amsterdam’s most famous sights on a walk through the city. Pass the Westerkerk (West Church), where the re-mains of Rembrandt and his son are buried. Th e church also held the wedding of Queen Be-atrix in 1966. Continue to lively Dam Square, a dam around the Amstel River created in the 13th century to prevent the Zuiderzee Sea from fl ooding the city. Now this bustling tourist area boasts the impressive Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), once the home of the Dutch Royal Family; the National Monument; and the Nieu-wekerk (New Church), where members of the Dutch Royal Family are offi cially inaugurated. See the Begijnhof, a lovely 14th-century court-yard, built as a sanctuary for the Begijnhofi tes, a Catholic sisterhood. Walk across the lifting bridge to Waterlooplein. Marvel at the views of the Amstel River as you cross the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge). Although “magere” means skinny in Dutch and the bridge was quite thin when built, rumor says the bridge was actually named for the Magere sisters, living on opposite sides of the river, who built the bridge to make it easier to visit each other. Finally, you will see Rembrandtplein, a square packed with terrace cafés, diamond shops, nightclubs and hotels. Visit to the Anne Frank House • Visit the Anne Frank House, where the young girl hid with her family from 1942 to 1944—and where she penned the poignant diary that has been translated into dozens of languages worldwide.

Day 8 Brussels

Transfer to Brussels • Continue to Brussels, Belgium, crossroads of Europe. Home to the European Commission and the Council of Min-isters of the European Union, the city is rooted in over 1,000 years of history. Its vibrant, inter-national atmosphere has brought forth such per-formers and writers as Audrey Hepburn, Jacques Brel and Marguerite Yourcenar.Guided sightseeing of Brussels • Brussels is considered the unofficial capital of Europe—not only is it the first city of Belgium, but it also serves as the headquarters for NATO and the EU. Your guided tour takes you past the EU buildings to the heart of medieval Brussels. Here, you’ll see the Guild Houses lining the

YOUR CURRICULUMON A GLOBAL SCALE

To enroll go to efcollegestudytours.com

or call 1.877.485.4184

ITN0810GAPA

Itinerary subject to change. 2011/F

Grand’Place, “the most beautiful square in the world,” according to Victor Hugo (who lived here after being exiled from France). You’ll also stroll past Brussels’ oldest citizen, the Manneken

Pis—ask about the legends surrounding the statue. In addition, you’ll view the Atomium, Brussels’ lasting exhibit for the 1958 World’s Fair representing an iron molecule magnified 200 billion times.Visit to the European Council of Ministers* •Sometimes called the Council of the European Union, the European Council of Ministers, along with the European Parliament, forms the legislative branch of the EU. The main roles of the Council of Ministers are to pass EU law, approve the EU budget and achieve a common foreign defense policy, economic policy and justice system among the member states.

Day 9 Bruges

Optional Excursion to Bruges • Th is evening, embark on an optional excursion to Bruges, a quintessential Belgian town with cobblestone streets, ancient churches, winding canals and medieval homes. Bruges is the perfect place to sample some delicious Belgian beer as you tour a local brewery. Cap off this exciting excursion with a traditional Flemish dinner this evening!

Day 10 Home

Return home • Your tour director assists with the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in for your return fl ight home.

EXTENSION

Day 10 Brussels • Paris

TGV to Paris • Board the TGV (train à grande

vitesse, or “high-speed train”) to Paris, cosmo-politan City of Light.Guided sightseeing of Paris • Discover the city on the Seine, beginning with the imposing Arc de Triomphe, commemorating Napoleon’s Grande Armée. Take a drive down the elegant Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde. Pass the Conciergerie, where prisoners of the Revolution spent their final days, and see Les Invalides, Louis XIV’s grand retirement home for wounded soldiers. You’ll also see the École Militaire, where Napoleon graduated to lieuten-ant and was told he’d go far if circumstances allowed. Next, make a photo stop at the Eiffel Tower to marvel at the 6,000-ton centerpiece for the 1889 World’s Fair. You’ll hear the sto-ry of how this impressive—but once highly controversial—symbol of Paris was spared the wrecking ball in 1909. Pass the Opéra Garnier, where the famous Phantom of the Opera haunt-ed his dear Christine, and marvel at Église de la Madeleine, designed as a temple of glory for Napoleon’s army. Continue past the geometric gardens of the Tuileries as you make your way to the Place Vendôme, a vast square surrounded by elegant 17th-century façades.

Day 11 Paris

Walking tour of Paris • Begin at the Louvre and cross over the Seine river. On the left bank, watch the bouquinists selling old books and postcards and catch glimpses of the Conciergerie and St. Chapelle from the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in the city. Continue through the Latin Quarter, an area dominated by the Sorbonne, Paris’ most famous university, founded in 1253. The quarter was named for its inhabitants’ na-tive tongue; Latin was the official language until 1793. As you stroll, look for the Panthéon, cre-ated by Louis XV because of a promise he made during a severe illness to build a church dedi-cated to Saint Geneviève if he survived. Your tour will end at Notre Dame Cathedral.

Visit to the Louvre • Built to defend the city in the 13th century, the Louvre today safeguards one of the world’s greatest art collections. Enter the museum through world-renowned architect I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid, constructed in 1989. Inside, discover priceless antiquities from Asia, Greece and Rome. You’ll also see precious ob-jects from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as iconic European paintings such as the Mona Lisa.

Visit to Notre Dame Cathedral • Built be-tween 1163 and 1361 over the remains of an ancient Roman temple, it was here that Napo-leon crowned himself emperor in 1804. Victor Hugo once described the sculptured façade of Notre Dame as “a vast symphony in stone.” However, had it not been for the creation of his famous hunchback, Quasimodo, the cathedral might never have returned to its former glory. Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame

helped inspire a 23-year restoration of the cathe-dral that began in 1841. Step inside to admire the stained-glass rose windows and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings.

Day 12 Paris

Visit the UNESCO headquarters • Today, visit the United Nations Educational, Scien-tific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO functions as a laboratory of ideas and sets standards for forging universal agreements on emerging ethical issues.

Day 13 Home

Return home • Your tour director assists with the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in for your return fl ight home.

*Please note that certain European institutions require

individual colleges or universities to apply for a visit.

For complete fi nancial and registration details, please refer to the Booking Conditions.

Cert no. SW-COC-002508