Spring in Andalucia is a time of festivities. Villages come alive with fairs, pilgrimages, bullfights and dancing. The countryside is carpeted with wildflowers and the spring light is magical. Participants arrive in Jerez during the annual Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair). They experience the Andaluz culture through ritualistic traditions and colorful festivals capturing images of flamenco dancers, bullfights and the colors of the Feria.

Much of the cultural phenomena participants experience comes from the Moorish occupation of Spain. They get a chance to make genuine comparisons as they take a step back in time and venture into exotic Morocco and spend time in cities such as Marrakech and Fez, wandering through the souks and medinas within the city ramparts.

Back in Spain participants return to the Cortijo de Guerra to edit before they head to Sanlucar where they spend the last part of the workshop documenting the departure of the Pilgrimage to El Rocio. This pilgrimage dates back to the 15th century when a man discovered a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary hidden in a tree whilst he was out hunting. A hermitage was constructed at the site and named it La Virgen del Rocio or Virgin of the Dew. Today over a million people come from all parts of Spain in a 4 day trek through the Coto Doñana National Park to worship the Virgen del Rocio

ITINERARY

May 7 - Arrival

May 8-9: Photograph the Feria

The Feria of Jerez.
All Andalucian towns have their own fair. The first of the year is the Feria de Sevilla followed two weeks later by the Feria del Caballo in Jerez. The horse fair is one of Andalucia´s best festivals. It is a two-week celebration of all that Jerez is famous for: horses, sherry, flamenco and bullfighting. In the morning, horse competitions and
exhibitions are held inside the huge indoor IFECA fairground. Early afternoon, elegantly dressed men wearing tight mid-calf trousers and bolero jackets astride gorgeous Spanish horses with flowing mains come out to amble around the fair grounds. Behind the men sit beautifully manicured women in breathlessly tight flamenco dresses. They stop periodically to have a copita of sherry in the casetas where people eat, drink and dance. The festival runs non-stop from noon until sunrise. Sherry, for which Jerez is famous for, is practically the only drink offered in the casetas. Bullfights are held every day at 6pm. 

May 10: Editing at Cortijo de Guerra.

El Cortijo de Guerra
The Cortijo is on the road from Puerto Real (a town of 45,000) to Medina Sidonia (typical Spanish White Village). It is a 3000 acre private estate located 20 miles south of the worlds sherry capital, Jerez, 10 miles east of Europe´s oldest city, the seaport of Cadiz.

May 11: Depart for Tarifa.
Take the ferry (35 minutes crossing to Tangiers). Night train to Marrakech

May 12-13: Photograph Morocco
Marrakech

Train or private bus to Fez

May 14-15: Photograph Morocco
Fez

May 16: Fez-Cortijo de Guerra

Train or private bus to Tangiers, ferry to Tarifa, car to Cortijo de Guerra

May 17: Edit Cortijo de Guerra

May 18-19 : Sanlucar and El Rocio

The price is $3,895 inclusive of in-country transport once the workshop starts, ferry to Morocco, transport within Morocco, most meals and all lodging.  A $1000 deposit is due by March 1, 2009.

For more information about booking and the locations, contact Kirsten Scully: spainworkshop@mac.com

For more information about the content of the workshop, contact Thatcher Cook: thatcher@thatchercook.com

LOGISTICS
The weather in Spain in May is beautiful with an average of about 72 degrees. Expect to wear a sweater in the evenings. Although unlikely, it can rain at this time of year.

The above itinerary might change slightly, but we will be covering the Feria in Jerez, Marrakech and Fez in Morocco and the departure to El Rocio in Sanlucar.

Travel :
Participants are to make their own travel arrangements to Spain. The closest airport is Jerez. Sevilla is an hour´s drive from Jerez. There are direct flights from Chicago and New York to Madrid and connecting flights to Jerez and Sevilla. There are also direct flights from London Heathrow to Sevilla on Iberia and Vueling airlines. If you fly into Jerez, participants will be picked up at the airport free of charge. Participants who fly into Sevilla, can arrange to be picked up for a fee of €50.

Arriving and Departure
Plan to arrive on the 7th May and leave on the 19th May.

Accommodations
Participants will be shooting in Jerez at one of the busiest times of the year when hotels are 100% full and they generally charge triple. Participants will want to be out at the Feria at all hours of the day and night. We will be using Kirsten´s home as a base during this time. Single rooms are not available. If anyone would like a hotel room, they must pay for it themselves. Likewise if anyone would like at single room for our stay at the Cortijo de Guerra, in Morocco, at the Palacio de la Duquesa de Medina Sidonia in Sanlucar, there will be a $595 supplement.

In Morocco, participants will be staying in Riads.

Participants will be staying for 2 nights at a Cortijo (farm) 30 mins south of Jerez. These are double rooms. In Sanlucar participants will be staying in an old Palace converted into a hotel. www.ruralduquesmedinasidonia.com

The workshop fee is $ 3,895, and includes shared accommodation, regional transportation, train in Morocco and ferry to and from Tangiers, Morocco. A $1,000.00 deposit must accompany your registration form to secure your place in this workshop, and final payment is due by March 1, 2010.
NOT included are international air flights, airport taxes, visas, gratuities, for our guides and drivers, bullfight tickets, personal expenses and some meals. The single supplement charge is $ 595.00. Single rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the supplement.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is recommended.
Since enrollment in the workshop is limited, we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

No visa is required for United States citizens.

THE ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

1. Reservations & Payments
A non-refundable deposit of $1,000.00 per person is required to confirm your reservation for the Spain/Morocco 2010 Photography Workshop. Final payment in full is due by March 1, 2010.
Andalucia Photo Projects reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by the stated due date.
2. Cancellations
 If you cancel 90 days or more prior to departure, a refund less an administration fee of $300.00 and less any payments made to travel agents, hotels and sub-contractors will be issued. No refunds are issued if you cancel within 30 days prior to departure. For payments not refunded consult your insurance carrier. Refunds cannot be made to participants who do not complete the workshop for any reason at all.
3. Basis of Rates
All prices are quoted in US dollars. Due to unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to the rising cost of airfares, ground transportation, fuel surcharges, accommodations and currency fluctuations prices are subject to change. Therefore, Andalucia Photo Projects reserves the right to amend trip prices or levy a surcharge on the cost of the trip without prior notice.
4. Insurance
Trip Cancellation, Baggage, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Accident and Sickness Insurance Protection is strongly advised. Camera equipment, computers and baggage are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and we accept no responsibility for lost, damaged or delayed property.
5. Itinerary Changes
The itinerary is subject to change without prior notification.
6. Passports and Visas
A valid passport is required for all travels. Participants are responsible for obtaining their passports and visas.
7. Medical Issues
All participants must be in good health. You must advise Andalucia Photo Projects, prior to booking, of any health, physical, emotional or mental condition that may require special attention or adversely impact the other participants.
8. Single Travelers
Andalucia Photo Projects makes every effort to honor shared and single supplementary requests. However, shared accommodations cannot be guaranteed and the single supplement rate will apply, if we cannot provide accommodations.
9. Liability Waiver
Every participant is required to sign the liability waiver before the trip, acknowledging awareness and acceptance of the risks associated with the workshop and related travel.
10. Responsibility & Photography
To ensure a safe photographic experience you are required to obey local customs and be considerate when photographing people or sensitive locations. Andalucia Photo Projects has the right to eject any person from the workshop for disruptive behavior, compromising the group’s safety, enjoyment or violating the law.