DETAILED ITINERARY 2010
Thursday, July 15: Leave for Bulgaria!
Departure from Chicago for Sofia with group flight by Lufthansa Airlines.
Friday, July 16: Welcome to Bulgaria!
Arrival in Sofia, Bulgaria. Take ICMA bus from Sofia to Kyustendil. Check into the ICMA residence. Welcome Dinner.
Saturday, July 17: Orientation, Press Conference, and Beginning of Classes
8:00 AM -- Breakfast
9:00 AM -- Orientation at Chitalishte Bratstvo
11:00 AM -- Rehearsals / Coaching / Individual Practice
1:00 PM -- Lunch
2:00 PM -- Press conference / Interviews with newspapers, cable TV, radio
3:00 PM -- Afternoon rehearsals
7:00 PM -- Dinner and free time
Sunday, July 18: Explore Kyustendil
8:00 AM -- Breakfast
Attend church services (optional). Take a walking tour to the Archeological Historic Museum; learn about the ancient roots of the Kyustendil regent dating from 7th and 6th centuries BC.
1:00 PM -- Lunch
3:00 PM -- Afternoon rehearsals
7:00 PM -- Dinner and free time
Monday, July 19: Regular Schedule
8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM -- Rehearsals / Coaching / Individual Practice
1:00 PM – Lunch
3:00 PM -- Afternoon rehearsals
6:00 PM -- Short mountain hike (optional)
Dinner and free time
Tuesday, July 20 –Concert in Kyustendil
8:00 AM -- Breakfast
9:00 AM -- Rehearsals / Coaching / Individual Practice
1:00 PM -- Lunch
3:00 PM -- Dress Rehearsals
6:00 PM – Concert
Dinner reception at a restaurant
Wednesday, July 21: Concert in Pernik
Regular morning schedule
Leave for the concert (time TBA)
Thursday, July 22: Concert in Dupnitsa
Regular morning schedule
1:00 PM -- Lunch
3:30 PM -- Trip to Dupnitsa
4:00 PM – Dress rehearsals
6:00 PM – Concert
Dinner reception at a restaurant following the concert
Friday, July 23: Trip to Rila Monastery; hike to Seven Lakes (Rila National Park)
7:00 AM – Early Breakfast
7:30 AM -- Leave for Rila.
Saturday, July 24 – Regular Daily Schedule
Sunday, July 25: Regular Daily Schedule
Attend church services (optional)
Monday, July 26: Concert in Blagoevgrad
Regular morning schedule
Leave for the concert (time TBA)
5:45 – Concert in the American University
Dinner reception following the concert
Tuesday, July 27: Concert in Kyustendil
8:00 AM -- Breakfast
9:00 AM -- Rehearsals / Coaching / Individual Practice
1:00 PM -- Lunch
3:00 PM -- Afternoon rehearsals / Dress rehearsal at the Art Gallery
6:00 PM -- CONCERT at the Art Galery
8:00 PM -- Dinner Reception at a restaurant following the concert
Wednesday, July 28: Trip and Vacation on the Black Sea
6:00 AM leave for Sozopol
Arrive in Sozopol in the early afternoon
Check in the Hotel Arena; Free time
Thursday, July 29: Day off at the Black Sea
8:00 AM -- Breakfast in the hotel
Free time
Friday, July 30: Return to Kyustendil
8:00 AM -- Breakfast in the hotel
Free time
12 Noon – leave Sozopol for Kyustendil
Arrive in Kyustendil in the evening
Saturday, July 3: Regular Daily Schedule
Sunday August 1: Sightseeing and Concert in Sofia
7:00 AM -- Early Breakfast
7:45 AM -- Leave for Sofia
9:30 AM -- Arrive in Sofia; visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world
11:30 AM -- CONCERT at the Concert Hall of the Union of Bulgarian Composers
1:00 PM -- Lunch; visit the National Art Gallery; free time to explore downtown Sofia
6:00 PM -- Leave for Kyustendil
8:00 PM -- Dinner in Kyustendil
Monday, August 2: Regular Daily Schedule
Tuesday, August 3: Sightseeing and Concert in town of Gotse Delchev
Wednesday, August 4: Final Concert in Kyustendil
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM -- Regular Schedule
3:00 PM -- Afternoon rehearsals
6:00 PM - CONCERT
Dinner reception following the concert
Thursday, August 5: Departure
Time TBA: Leave for the airport.
Arrive in Chicago in the afternoon.
