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2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE+44 (0)20 7752 0000 | info@noble-caledonia.co.uk | www.noble-caledonia.co.ukOur current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request.Cover image: Sanssouci Park, Potsdam. Hotel images %u00a9Marriott International Inc. 48FUL25_KWESTIN GRAND HOTEL The Westin Grand Hotel is ideally located on the historic Boulevard Unter den Linden, one of the main boulevards in Berlin with the city%u2019s finest shopping, restaurants and bars on its doorstep. As you enter the hotel you are greeted by its sweeping lobby, renowned for its unique staircase and 30 metre high atrium. The hotel features 400 rooms and suites that were renovated in 2022 and provides modern luxury through their simple contemporary d%u00e9cor and relaxed ambiance. Rooms come with all the modern amenities including en-suite bathroom with rain shower and underfloor heating, Wi-Fi, desk, mini-bar, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities. The hotel features two restaurants, a bar and a spa and fitness area.The ItineraryDay 1 London to Berlin, Germany. Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the Westin Grand Hotel for a four night stay. Settle into your room before meeting for dinner this evening at a local restaurant. (D)Day 2 Berlin. After breakfast we will start our morning city tour of Berlin which will include parts of the old East Berlin and West Berlin, along with the new modern sections of the city. We will see Potsdamer Platz, formerly bisected by the Berlin Wall but today a symbol of the reunited city, the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial before continuing along Unter den linden, once Berlin%u2019s showcase boulevard. Passing Checkpoint Charlie, we will continue to Alexanderplatz and see the TV Tower and of course see remainders of the Berlin Wall. Going west we will drive along the famous Ku%u2019damm, the heart of the former West Berlin. The tour will end at the Reichstag, the seat of the German government, where we will enjoy lunch at the rooftop restaurant for panoramic views over the city. The afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration. The city%u2019s famous Museum Island is only a short walk or train ride away. Meet early this evening for canap%u00e9s with wine followed by an evening at the Berlin State Opera House for our evening performance. (B, L, C*)%u2018Madame Butterfly%u2019 by Giacomo Puccini %u2013 February departureSet in the early 20th century, %u2018Madam Butterfly%u2019 explores themes of love, heartbreak, betrayal and cultural differences. This enduring tale encapsulates a tragic love story between a young Japanese girl called Cio Cio San and an American naval officer, Pinkerton. After marrying each other, San is soon abandoned by Pinkerton, but stays hopeful waiting for his return. However, she is eventually reunited with Pinkerton and his American wife. Cio Cio goes on to make a devastating decision, which inevitably leads to her own fall.%u2018Don Carlo%u2019 by Giuseppe Verdi %u2013 March departureVerdi%u2019s %u2018Don Carlos%u2019, commissioned by the Paris Opera where it premiered in 1867, brought a new direction to the composer%u2019s musical inspiration: a dark and intense score, in which political, religious and moral issues stir characters in the throes of inner torment. This is a story of love and devotion conflicting with political and religious upheaval. Marco Arturo Marelli brings Verdi%u2019s epic opera classic to the stage in a visually stunning way. The struggle for freedom and independence under the rule of the absolutist King Philip II is emphasised as a central theme. Day 3 Potsdam & Sanssouci Palace. This morning, we will drive westwards from the city centre to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Potsdam. We will visit Sanssouci, the Summer Palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. The palace, built 1745%u20131747, was not merely a summer residence but his favourite place. The many rooms of the palace retain their original elegant designs and furnishings and give you a glimpse at the opulence of the age. There will be time to explore the superb gardens as well. After lunch we will enjoy a walking tour through the historic centre of Potsdam. In the early evening we will meet for canap%u00e9s with wine before enjoying our evening performance at the Berlin State Opera House. (B, L, C*)%u2018Elektra%u2019 by Richard Strauss %u2013 February departure%u2018Elektra%u2019 tells the story of Elektra, a princess consumed by grief and a thirst for revenge after her father King Agamemnon is murdered by her mother Clytemnestra and her lover. Elektra along with her sister Chrysothemis and Brother Orest, plot to avenge their fathers death. This production aims to show that the lines separating passion and obsession are dangerously blurred and we see this every day in the news and in our daily lives. Elektra refuses to grieve and has constructed an existence that rules out the possibility of finding closure after loss. Deep, existential feelings such as anguish require a channel of expression. %u2018L%u2019Italiana in Algeri%u2019 by Gioacchino Rossini %u2013 March departureRolando Villaz%u00f3n tackles one of the great comedies of the bel canto genre. %u2018L%u2019Italiana in Algeri%u2019 remains one of the most popular works by Gioacchino Rossini, who is said to have dashed the piece off in less than a month and was a tender 21 years of age when the opera premiered at Venice%u2019s Teatro San Benedetto in 1813. This titillating tale belongs to the ranks of %u201crescue operas%u201d - a favourite genre of the era that usually stipulated having a beautiful young woman being captured and awaiting torture or death until her heroic beloved arrives on the scene to rescue her. In this case, a resourceful young Italian woman is kidnapped by an Algerian bey yearning for a new wife and outwits him herself %u2013 to everyone else%u2019s great satisfaction. Day 4 Berlin. After breakfast a short coach transfer takes us to Berlin%u2019s largest Palace complex, the Charlottenburg Palace which is embedded in a beautiful garden and was built between 1695 and 1699 for Sophia Charlotte, wife of King Frederick I of Prussia. Over the centuries the palace has been added to and expanded and has encapsulated the changing architectural tastes of its residents. During our visit to the palace we will explore the state rooms, the Rococo ballroom known as the Golden Gallery, as well as the Silver Vault. Return to the hotel and the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. In the evening we meet for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)Day 5 Berlin to London. After breakfast transfer to the airport for the return scheduled flight to London. (B)PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel %u2022 Four nights hotel accommodation at the Westin Grand Hotel %u2022 Meals as indicated (B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner, C* - Canapes) %u2022 Wine or beer with included lunches & dinners %u2022 Excursions as described %u2022 Two performances at the Berlin State Opera %u2022 Noble Caledonia Tour Manager %u2022 Gratuities %u2022 Transfers %u2022 Airport taxes. Not Included: Travel insurance.Group Size: We are restricting the group size to just 25 participants.PRICES PER PERSONBased on double occupancyTwin/Double:%u00a32995Twin/Double for Sole Use:%u00a33495Deluxe Twin Room