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Itinerary
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LISBON & ALGARVE

Join us for a chance to explore Portugal in your own unique way by sketching your surroundings. This is the perfect experience for any sketching enthusiast with a passion for traveling. Our Retreats are small group, intensive sketching retreats curated by acclaimed artist, Judith Cassel-Mamet in collaboration with Adler & Marlow. With the combination of historical cities and exquisite beaches, Portugal will be the perfect location to engage in Judith's famed artistic "Adventure Journal" approach, a no-fail process that aims to take away the roadblocks to creative expression. You’ll complete your journey immersed in the wonders of Portugal, learning about the culture and making your own observations in a sketchbook for a tangible way to hold your memories. Absolutely no sketching experience necessary!

 ITINERARY

Skyline at Night

DAY 1

The Sketching Portugal adventure begins in Lisbon. We’ll all meet up in the lobby of our accommodation and head to a charming cafe for our orientation session. Introduce yourself and your sketching style, meet the other students, Judith and our local host, João. We’ll do an overview of the week and get started with our first lesson. Take a break for lunch and then meet in the lobby to begin our sunset walking tour to explore the Mouraria district and discover the cultural significance and origins of Fado. We will taste terrific cuisine in a local tavern followed by experiencing the sounds of Portugal from a Fado singer. 

DAY 2

We’ll begin by soaking in the sights of Lisbon on a private guided panoramic tour of Lisbon. Take in the views of some of Lisbon's historical sites including the Tower of Belém, Jerónimos Monastery, and Carriage Museum, for sketching inspiration. Next, we will pause for lunch before we open our journals and enjoy an art intensive workshop led by Judith. We will cover some excellent skills for capturing what we just saw around Lisbon.  

Lisbon Tram
Image by Katia De Juan

DAY 3

Today we will jump in a minibus and drive 1hr west to Sintra, known by the Romans as the Mountains of the Moon. Once in Sintra, we will pop into a cozy cafe and get our creative juices flowing through another workshop led by Judith. Next, we will take a break and enjoy a delicious fish lunch in Guincho/Cascais before heading back to Lisbon for the night. Evening in Lisbon at leisure.

DAY 4

We will enjoy a final morning at our hotel, then pack up and check out to drive south to the Alentejo. Once in Alentejo, we will take a tour of the historic city, Évora. We'll pop into a great local bistro for a lunch and then, we will stop at a local farm to sketch the incredible landscapes. We will finish the night by checking into our seaside hotel for some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the waves. 

Image by Frank Nürnberger
Image by Julia Solonina

DAY 5

Today we will be exploring the beautiful Moorish town of the Algarve, Silves! We will start our tour by the Roman Bridge and pass by the traditional market, City Hall, and Castle. There will be plenty of time to open your journals and capture the local scenery on your own, or as a group. The afternoon will be spent on the dazzling beach surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Algarve.  

DAY 6

Make the coast of the Algarve your own today by visiting some of its beautiful sites to add to your sketchbook. We'll stop by the unique village of Aljezur and feel on top of the world from the castle in town, break for a light lunch, then enjoy a boat tour and get up close and personal with the ocean and the cliffs. Finish the day with a fantastic evening farewell party.

Image by Diego Gennaro
Image by Aayush Gupta

DAY 7

We will put our final touches on our sketchbooks before driving back to Lisbon where we will all say goodbye after a lovely artistic week in Portugal together!  

IMPORTANT NOTE: Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.

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GENERAL
INFORMATION

Dates: October 15th - 21st 2023        

 

Size: 10 participants maximum
Price: €3985

Please note that all prices are listed in EUR.

**For the latest exchange rate see: xe.com 
Your fee includes:
6 nights lodging, 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches with wine, 2 dinners with wine, transportation by private minibus, all entrances fees as part of the itinerary, private tour of Evora, Private tour of Lisbon, Entrance to Fado evening, both Judith and João will accompany the group the entire trip, introduction 3hr sketch workshop then 2hrs of sketching each day.

Image by Detoured Studio
General Information

FAQs

Who is Judith Cassel-Mamet?

Judith Cassel-Mamet is the author of Joyful Pages: Adventures in Art Journaling and a Craftsy online instructor. She has been a mixed media artist and educator for her entire career teaching at a public high school in Denver, the University of Denver and the Art Student League of Denver for over 25 years. She offers independent art adventures to magical spots, including Barcelona, Taos, New York City and Crested Butte Colorado. Judith embraces a no-fail attitude with art journaling where students are encouraged to focus on the joy of creative expression and the power of capturing a moment, rather than aiming for a perfect sketch of anything. She loves to share simple sketching techniques, new ways of opening our hearts and minds and a playful approach. You may view her work and sign up for her monthly Adventure Journal Newsletter at www.jcmamet.net.

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Who is Adler & Marlow?

Adler & Marlow is a bespoke travel company with connections throughout Spain, Portugal and Morocco. A&M's goal is to make travel dreams come true, create sensational moments, joyous memories and enrich experiences tailored just for it's clients. Authentic, unique and exclusive travel experiences are our specialty. A&M is owned and operated by Danny Adler.

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I'm thinking about this trip, but I have never sketched. Is this trip for me?
No problem!  Please be assured that Judith will guide you thru some simple steps so you can enjoy your time recording the magnificent views on the trip, regardless of your previous art journal or drawing experience. With a small group (class is limited to 10 students) there will be plenty of individual instruction. We will include instructions on fun ways to use our phone cameras for those who prefer to capture their experiences in photos and we will also review a mixed media approach for those wishing to collage their pages with minimum sketching.

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How do I get to and from the Lisbon airport?

Transport is not included in the Sketching fee, but may be arranged with Danny Adler on an individual basis. It is really easy to walk to the taxi stand just outside of the airport. The cost of the taxi into town is approx. 35€ ($40)

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I am attending with a friend/spouse, can we share a room or apartment?
Yes! Both hotels can accommodate two people wishing to share a room & bathroom.

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During the free time in Lisbon I'd like to see additional points of interest that I have read about; how will I get around on my own?
Danny will provide a guide with free time ideas for Lisbon for each participant & set you up for exploration on your own.

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How can I make arrangements to stay before or after the tour if I wish to arrive a few days early or stay a few days longer?
You will have the option of extending your visit on either end by booking extra lodging thru Adler & Marlow directly, depending on availability. You can also book your lodging thru your own travel agent or your own searches online.

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What art materials will I be asked to bring?
Students will be sent a simple list of art supplies to bring on the trip along with a short video tutorial showing various sketchbooks and materials.  We are going to travel light; each student will bring their own materials. Students are encouraged to carry their art materials in a very light day pack. No need to bring a portable stool; we will loan each student a small chair to use throughout the trip.

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Will I have time to do some photography?
Absolutely! Our sketching time will allow students time to explore the area with their cameras if they prefer.

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What will the weather be like? (typical October)
Typical weather in October for Portugal includes dry, sunny and mild temperatures with averages ranging from 55° - 70° degrees; perfect! We have planned the itinerary with a "plan B" in mind in case of rain. We suggest students bring a small umbrella and
light raincoat just in case, but also include a sun hat.

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How will we be traveling from one destination to the next?
We will be in a private coach while staying on the Algarve. The price of the coach is included. Other transport in Lisbon will be at the discretion of the students and not included in the fee,
however, taxis and Ubers are inexpensive.

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What is the cancellation policy?
Your deposit and fees are non-refundable. We strongly suggest each student inquire about insurance before submitting their deposit for the trip to find out how time sensitive the transaction will be. Most students purchase travel insurance as soon as they purchase their airline tickets and/or when they make the final payment on the Sketching Spain trip.

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Should I purchase travel insurance?
Yes, Yes, Yes! You are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance since the tour fees are non-refundable. If you’re interested in a recommendation, please let us know and we will direct you to Square Mouth through our affiliate link (https://www.squaremouth.com/22903).

 

Please be aware that purchasing insurance is time sensitive; some companies require insurance to be purchased within a few days of reservations.

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What if I have dietary restrictions?
No problem! We are prepared for Gluten Free and vegetarian options, and will survey participants for other dietary considerations before the trip and will accommodate everyone at all included meals.

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What meals are included?
There is a total of 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners included in your fee. You will be well fed!

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What additional fees should we expect?
Students will pay for meals not listed above and any additional transportation that is not part of the trip. Additionally, we will suggest an amount to tip our coach driver and local expert. Any “
add-on” tours scheduled after our trip concludes will be an extra charge at the time of booking.

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How rigorous will the walking/touring be?
Generally, students travel at their own pace when we are not working in a large group for sketching or on a formal tour. Many of the sketching locations are easily accessed but on uneven ground. If walking is an issue, we suggest bringing a fold-up walking stick for stability and comfy shoes. 

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Any packing suggestions?
Travel light! Portugal is fairly casual. Comfy walking shoes and a light
daypack to hold your art materials are a must. We will be driving on some windy roads along the coast so please bring motion support (Dramamine, etc) if you know you have difficulty in this area. Tourists anywhere are an easy mark for pickpockets, so it is advised that you carry your wallet in a secure fashion.

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Suggestions for keeping connected to folks at home
Please check with your individual phone carriers to determine the best plan for you. If you decide to purchase a SIM card for your phone when you arrive in Portugal, we can help you install it. You will have access to WiFi in all of our hotels and apartments.

 

Communications during the trip

We will stay connected on the trip thru WhatsApp which is a free phone app we would like you to download before arrival. We will share our cell numbers with the group so we can confirm meeting times, etc. during the adventure
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Please explain the payments in Euros vs Dollars.

All fees for the trip are quoted in Euros only. The conversion of dollars to Euros varies; you may wish to keep an eye on the conversion rates thru: www.xe.com for an accurate daily rate. The conversion will be made as soon as you submit your payment and it will be based on the rate that applies to that day.  

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Registration

Registration

This edition of Sketching Portugal is limited to 10 students.

 

Please use the form below if you wish to sign up, or if you have any questions. We will get back to you quickly. If we have reached our maximum, we do accept students on a waiting list.

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