DAY    1            DEPARTURE FROM COLUMBUS
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to London.

DAY    2            ARRIVE LONDON (2 NIGHTS)
We will be met at the airport by our tour manager/guide and we will transfer into London, Britain's historic capital city. Upon our arrival, we can take a leisurely Walking Tour of Westminster and Whitehall including Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Horseguards Parade, Parliament Square, Downing Street, St. James's Park and Buckingham Palace, where, [schedule permitting], we can view the fascinating Changing of the Guard ceremony. This afternoon we will take a Thames River Cruise, a relaxing way to view many of London's most magnificent sights. The remainder of the day will be free to relax or explore London on our own.

DAY    3            LONDON
Our morning begins with a visit to the British Museum, one of the most comprehensive collections of art and artifacts in the world. Highlights of our visit will include: the Rosetta Stone, whose discovery led to the deciphering of hieroglyphs; the Elgin Marbles, from the Parthenon in Athens; and the Sutton Hoo Treasure. After some free time to shop and explore Carnaby and Regent Streets, we continue with a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's Renaissance-style masterpiece. Our visit will include an ascent to the Whispering Gallery, an acoustic marvel in which the faintest whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side, as well as the American Memorial Chapel, honoring the 28,000 U.S. service personnel who lost their lives while stationed in Britain during World War II. This evening, we will dine and explore the area around Covent Garden.

DAY    4            LONDON - EUROSTAR TO BRUSSELS (3 NIGHTS)
This morning we will take the Eurostar to Brussels, Belgium's modern capital city. Brussels is considered by many to be the capital of Europe, since in 1958 it became the headquarters of the then European Economic Community (now the European Union), and in 1967 the administrative center of NATO. We begin our day in Brussels with a Walking Tour on which we will get to see the Place du Grand-Sablon, the most elegant square in Brussels, surrounded by old houses, antique shops and numerous cafes; the Place du Petit-Sablon, a square surrounded by columns bearing 48 bronze statuettes representing the trades of Brussels, great 16th century humanists, and the Palais d'Egmont, used only for international receptions.

DAY    5            BRUSSELS
Today is reserved for visits to the European Commission, the Council or Ministers of the European Union, and NATO [pending availability]. We will have a general introduction given by a European Parliament official about the role and work of the European Parliament followed by a discussion with a Minister of the European Parliament (if parliamentary business allows). When the European Parliament is in session, groups may be able to observe MEP's debates 'live' from the visitors' gallery. NATO is a military alliance of European and North American countries, established for the enhancement of security of and military cooperation in the North Atlantic region and the regions surrounding member states and partner states. NATO's headquarters in Brussels is the political headquarters of the organization and the seat of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's political decision-making body. [pending availability and schedule in Brussels]

DAY    6            BRUSSELS
Our morning commences with a visit to the Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, with a focus on the Musee d'Art Ancien, famed throughout the world for its outstanding collections of Flemish Primitives, including famous masterpieces by Bruegel the Elder, Rubens, Bosch, and van der Weyden. Our day continues through the Place Royale to the Place des Palais, where we will view the Hotel Bellevue, the Palais des Beaux Arts, the Palais des Academies, and the Palais Royal, before strolling through the Parc de Brussels, the former hunting ground of the dukes of Brabant, with magnificent formal gardens and statues. On the opposite end of the park we will view the Palais de la Nation, Belgium's seat of government, before visiting the Cathedrale des Saints-Michel-et-Gudule. Designed in Brabant Gothic style, this centerpiece of the city is unique for its architectural design, its detailed carvings and the marvelous stained glass windows. Our day will conclude in the Grande Place, the geographical, historical and commercial heart of the city. The bustling cobblestone square remains the civic center of Brussels, and offers the finest surviving example in one area of Belgium's ornate 17th century architecture.

DAY    7            BRUSSELS - PARIS (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we leave Brussels and travel into Paris, "The City of Lights." Upon our arrival, we will visit the cathedral of Notre Dame, begun in 1163 on a spot that had already been a religious shrine since Roman times. Over the centuries, the cathedral has been the scene of some of France's most momentous occasions, including the coronation of Napoleon. Our afternoon concludes with a Seine River Cruise, which will take us under many of Paris' graceful bridges, and past many important landmarks and monuments along both banks - a perfect introduction to the beauty of Paris. Tonight we will ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most recognizable landmark, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889.

DAY    8            PARIS
Our morning commences with an ascent of the Arc de Triomphe, a massive triumphal arch, commissioned by Napoleon, which today is a symbol of Paris and home to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We continue with a stroll along the Champs Elysees, Paris' most spectacular thoroughfare, which offers a beautiful look at Parisian life and architecture. We return to the Place de la Concorde, before strolling through the Jardin des Tuileries, the beautiful Neo-Classical gardens which lead to the entrance of the Louvre. We will enjoy a specialist-guided tour through the museum, which will include: Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and many of the finest paintings and sculpture from Western Civilization. This afternoon will visit the Musee D'Orsay, dedicated to the rich diversity of visual arts from 1846 to 1914, and featuring masterpieces by: Delacroix, Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin and Lautrec. This evening we will ascend to Montmartre, an area of Paris made famous in the late 19th century as an artist's haunt. We will spend time in the Place du Tertre, a square known for its local artwork, before visiting the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, a huge white church, which dominates the Parisian skyline.

DAY    9            DEPARTURE FROM PARIS
Our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as our guide accompanies us to the airport for the return flight home.