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October 23-November 02, 2024
Double Occupancy: $6625 per person
Single Occupancy: $7595 per person
Airfare is not included.

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Tour Highlights

Spain is a country that is more often visited than understood. Join Go Learn, on our much-anticipated trip to Spain, which takes a look behind the tourism and into the vibrant country which boasts two of the world’s most impactful rises and falls in international prestige and power. Led by Dr. Anne Innis, historian, Spanish culture immersion expert, and lifelong student, this trip will ask travelers to consider not just what Spain has to offer its tourists, but also how Spain’s unique history supports a country and economy based on tourism, while simultaneously working to keep separatist groups and an indignados movement from dividing the country to pieces. This trip begins in Madrid, with a welcome lunch at the world’s oldest restaurant; it concludes in the orange groves and vineyards of Valencia. From beginning to end, Anne will lead a trip that drives travelers to consider life and history in Spain from a Spanish perspective, in all of its tumultuous and resilient glory.

This trip includes multiple walking tours of various cities and towns. We may average 5 miles of walking per day, some with a significant incline. All group travel is by public transportation (included in the trip price), and participants should be able to board the Metro, trains, and buses independently (with luggage).

Tour Highlights Include:

Start the tour at the world's oldest restaurant with authentic Castilian cuisine
Trace the path of the Spanish rise to global power in the early 1500s by visiting its conception in Segovia including time exploring the Alcázar de Segovia, one of the most famous medieval castles in the world
Visit La Sagrada Familia, the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church; construction began in 1882 and continues to this day!
View the post-dictatorship cultural renaissance of Barcelona
Pick the oranges that are a part of Spain's modern global economic balancing act
Daily lectures and discussions on the history, food, culture, and 4 official languages spoken by a vastly diverse populaton
Experience Spain as you’ve never experienced it before

Daily Itinerary

Wednesday October 23, 2024 - Day 1: ¡Bienviendo! (Madrid)

Welcome to Spain! Today is arrival day. You will make your way to the hotel where the group will assemble. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we will spend some time today getting to know each other, the city, and discussing the all-important question: tapas or dinner? A welcome walk around the neighborhood will help get you acclimated to our location and a tour of the Palacio Real will begin our immersion in to the Spanish culture. On this first day, we’ll show you how to get around, where the hotel is, and important places nearby that you should know. A welcome lunch at the world’s oldest restaurant, Botín, will allow us all to relax after our day of travel before an early night—because jet lag.

Hotel: Room Mate Alba
Meal: L
Activity Level: Moderate

Thursday October 24, 2024 - Day 2: Plazas y Paella: An Introduction (Madrid)

We’ll begin our day with breakfast at the hotel followed by a walking Tour of Madrid. We’ll start at our hotel, and find our way to Puerta del Sol. Here we will pause to find Kilómetro Cero, which is the point in Spain from which all roads are measured. From here, we will wind our way to the Plaza Mayor, which opened in 1620. Continuously operational since then, the Plaza Mayor has hosted executions, bullfights, soccer matches, seasonal festivals, and some fantastic eateries. From here we will continue to wind our way through small streets and plazas, until we find our way to El Arroyo, a restaurant famous for paella, and the best place in Madrid to get it. After a hearty lunch and lively chat, the rest of the day is yours to explore! We recommend spending more time in Plaza Mayor soaking up the night life and enjoying some wine and tapas!

Hotel: Room Mate Alba
Meals: B, L
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Friday October 25, 2024 - Day 3: Alcázar y Acueducto: Exploring Segovia (Madrid)

We will breakfast early at the hotel and discuss the small town of Segovia. Segovia boasts one of the largest still standing Roman Acueductos in the world, a quintessential Plaza Mayor, of course, El Alcázar. El Alcázar de Segovia is one of the most famous medieval castles in the world. After our discussion, we’re off to the train station for a day trip to Segovia. Once in Segovia, you’ll have the day to explore on your own. Suggestions: DO NOT miss the Alcázar, Walt Disney didn’t when he modeled the Disneyland Castle after it! A breathtaking medieval cathedral, the burial shroud of Isabelle and Ferdinand (which incidentally, they do not occupy). We also recommend eating lunch in the Plaza Mayor where traditional Castilian cuisine is on every menu. Save some time to walk or climb the acueducto at the base of the town (also a great spot to sample the local tapas and have a glass of wine!) Your leader will be in the plaza for questions and suggestions as you explore this beautiful and historical city. In the late afternoon, we’ll meet at the base of the acueducto before we return to Madrid and our hotel as a group. The rest of the evening is yours to pick your own place for a late dinner and then call it a night.

Hotel: Room Mate Alba
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Saturday October 26, 2024 - Day 4: El Ocio: History, Culture, and Leisure Time (Madrid)

As we breakfast at the hotel, we’ll discuss leisure and food in Spain. We will examine our surroundings and interrogate the question: why is no one carrying a to go coffee cup? In fact, everyone is sitting down at a table to have their coffee. After breakfast, we’ll take a group walk to one of the largest parks in the city of Madrid, El Retiro, and explore the park and neighborhood. Then the afternoon is all yours to explore, but we’ll be perfectly situated between El Prado and La Reina Sofia, and we recommend an art museum tour for those interested. Your tour leader is happy to point which of the most famous paintings and time periods are housed in each museum.

This is our final night in Madrid! Dinner will be on your own and then it’s back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep before traveling to Barcelona tomorrow. What will your tour leader be up to? If she hasn’t had a chance already, she’ll be making her way to a side street, very close the Plaza Mayor, to the one spot she visits every time she’s in Madrid. Ask her where!

Hotel: Room Mate Alba
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Sunday October 27, 2024 - Day 5: Por Tren: High Speed to Catalonia (Barcelona)

We’ll have our last breakfast in Madrid before heading to Ave station to catch the high-speed train to Barcelona. We will talk about the high-speed train system in Spain, and how and why it became such a staple of the country. Our train trip will be about 2.5 hours, which will give us time to discuss what awaits us in this jaw dropping city. In the afternoon, we will check in to our hotel located on La Rambla and then the rest of the day is yours to get settled in and explore our new location. La Rambla is one of the most famous streets in Barcelona; closed to traffic, pedestrians rule the day, and can find themselves walking from the fountains on one end all the way to the Mediterranean on the other end.

Hotel: Yurbban Ramblas
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Monday October 28, 2024 - Day 6: Rambla (Catalan)=Ramble (English): A Walking Tour of Barcelona (Barcelona)

While we breakfast at the hotel, we will discuss the diversity of language all around us. Spain has 4 official languages. In Madrid, we heard Castilian, but for the remainder of our trip we will hear a mix of Castilian and Catalan. One thing we will chat about is how words might translate directly from Castilian to Catalan, but the cultural meaning is different. In other words, a Plaza is not exactly a Placa. After breakfast we’ll take a walking tour to explore Barcelona that will include visits to the Palau Güell (our first Gaudí sighting!) and Placa de Catalunya. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours to see the sites of the city and experience the amazing food and drink it has to offer. Your tour leader is well equipped with tips on where to go, as Barcelona is known for keeping its best cafes and cultural sights small.

Hotel: Yurbban Ramblas
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Tuesday October 29, 2024 - Day 7: Día de Gaudí: Two Architectural Masterworks (Barcelona)

We’ll breakfast at hotel, where we’ll talk about the linguistic difference between a parque and a parc. Then we will prepare ourselves for a day of architectural awe and overwhelm as we travel to Park Güell. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Park Güell’s historical, architectural, and artistic uniqueness is unmatched. Here we will spend the morning enjoying the enormous gardens and the architectural elements. During a group lunch we will discuss the Park’s original purpose: to be a luxury community. We will speculate as to why that didn’t work out. After lunch we’ll visit La Sagrada Familia—the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. We will talk about Gaudí’s masterworks and compare this cathedral to the one we saw in Segovia. The evening you will be on your own to have dinner and to continue to explore this unique and historic city.

Hotel: Yurbban Ramblas
Meals: B, L
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Wednesday October 30, 2024 - Day 8: Gaudí a Granacha: High-Speed Train to Valencia (Valencia)

We’ll have a leisurely breakfast and discussion at the hotel, then prepare for departure! We’ll be traveling via train to beautiful Valencia, often called the Orange Capital of Spain. During our 2 hour and 40 mins journey into the heart of the Orange Blossom Coast, we will discuss the history of the region as it is the home of Spain’s most famous oranges and vineyards. Upon our arrival, we will check into our hotel on the Mediterranean Sea. You’ll have the late afternoon and evening to explore our spot on the coast. Take care with your Spanish/English translations as you seek out a spot for tapas. Valencia is famous for a drink called Agua De Valencia, but there is no H20 in this cocktail! Created in 1959, and made with a base of freshly squeezed orange juice, Agua de Valencia is one of the many, many orange themed culinary and beverage options to consider.

Hotel: Neptuno Hotel
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate

Thursday October 31, 2024 - Day 9: Zumo: Naranja y Bebidas (Valencia)

We’ll breakfast at the hotel before taking in the sights of Valencia. Most of our day will be spent on a tour of Valencia’s famous orange groves. With several varieties of oranges in season, we will be able to compare the different varieties of oranges and sample some of the orange-based products that are made locally. In the evening, Anne will show you the proper way to enjoy tapas and small plates as you move from café to café, before sending you out on your own to explore some of the best cuisine the country of Spain has to offer! The evening is yours to enjoy.

Hotel: Neptuno Hotel
Meal: B
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Friday November 1, 2024 - Day 10: Vieja, Moderna, Ahora: Bringing It All Together (Valencia)

Over breakfast at the hotel, we’ll discuss our journey through the history and architecture of every major historical period of invasions in Spain from the Visigoths to the rule of dictator Francisco Franco. We will consider how a pattern of invasion and an authoritarian rule creates the culture we’ve experienced throughout our trip. Cultural geography and human history intersect in all the experiences and places we’ve encountered on our trip, and fully inform what it means to live in Spain today. After our discussion, we will spend some time exploring Valencia’s Old Town on foot, followed by an afternoon at the beach.

We will end our day with a farewell dinner overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and exploring any lingering questions from our time together.

Hotel: Neptuno Hotel
Meals: B, D
Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Saturday November 2, 2024 - Day 11: Departure

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s time to say good-bye. When you are ready, you can depart Valencia by air or by train. Both will get you directly to Madrid or Barcelona, which have a variety of flights to return to the US. We will part with a “¡Nos vemos pronto!” and look forward to a reunion visit after we’ve settled back into Salt Lake City.

Meal: B

Anne Innis

Anne comes to Go Learn with nearly 20 years’ experience in education. Currently, Anne is the Senior Director of Academic and Professional Programs at University Connected Learning, the University of Utah. Anne holds a PhD in Education, Culture, and Society and has taught a variety of university classes, including Rhetoric of Social Protest; Race, Gender, and Curriculum; and Multicultural Education. Anne’s passion lies at the intersection of cultural geography and historically informed human experience. This passion was deeply shaped by Anne’s experience living in Spain and several states around the U.S. This, paired with her love of tapas, wine, and good conversation drive the itinerary and learning experiences that are Spain: Gaudí to Granacha.

Details and What to Expect

Pre-Departure
Like all Go Learn journeys, the adventure begins at home. We'll make sure you have all the information you need before you arrive in Spain—we'll answer questions about what to pack, how to get around, and our daily itinerary. We want you to arrive in Spain ready to learn!

Post-Departure
A trip reunion about a month after returning will be the perfect conclusion to our journey. We’ll exchange pictures and stories while remembering the highlights of our tour. Go Learn expeditions are designed to be small, boutique experiences where one returns with a group of friends for life. Good food, drink, and company await us at this reunion.

Weather

October is one of the best times to visit Spain for perfect weather. In central Spain and on the Mediterranean coast, the autumn is marked by sunlit days and pleasant weather perfect for strolling and outdoor dining in Terrazas, with temperatures cooling down by nightfall. You should expect highs in the mid to low 70s during the day and lows in the 60s at night.

Activity levels and restrictions
This trip includes multiple walking tours of various cities and towns. We may average 5 miles of walking per day, some with a significant incline. All group travel is by public transportation (included in the trip price), and participants should be able to board the Metro, trains, and buses independently (with luggage).
Our exciting itinerary and daily learning adventures will keep you happily exhausted. This is an Activity Level 2 trip. Learn More about our here.

Traveling in a group is enriching and fun. It also requires consideration for everyone’s well-being and for reaching our daily goals in activities set forth in the itinerary. Before we begin our journey, we ask all participants to consider the activity level of each trip and question if it is something they feel they are able to do. The group’s ability to accomplish our itinerary is the priority for trip leaders and we understand and respect this promise. Due to differences in country-specific laws and regulations, many sites visited are not handicap accessible. Go Learn staff can talk to participants in person for assessment and to answer questions.

Level 1

At this level of a tour, trip participants will encounter up to three hours of activities. We may walk and stand for large portions of the lectures or excursions. Extensive breaks and adequate time to relax makes this our lowest activity level. Like all Go Learn adventures, active listening and participation is fundamental to learning and exploration. Participants will be responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage through cities and on and off of public transit.

Level 2

Level 2 requires more stamina for walking and standing. In the course of a day one can expect to reach and/or exceed 5 miles of walking, multiple stairs, and prolonged periods of standing. We will take breaks and a certain standard of comfort will be maintained. While the journey might stay in a hotel in one location, avoiding extensive travel, public transportation and exploring on foot will most likely be the main form of transportation. Participants will be responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage through cities and on and off of public transit. Happy exhaustion is part of this activity level.

Level 3

Extensive excursions and challenging terrain will be encountered at Level 3. Days with a number of hours on foot is the norm. At this activity level, we may embark on hikes, physically strenuous site visits, and distances reaching and exceeding 10 miles per day. We may be visiting remote locations, areas with poor infrastructure, wild animals, unsafe tap water, or extreme temperatures/weather. Elevators may not be available and you may be required to climb stairs with your luggage. Participants will be responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage through cities and on and off of public transit. Go Learn will always maintain safe and comfortable conditions, incorporate breaks, sometimes a day off, but this level is as strenuous as it is fun.

Dates

October 23-November 2, 2024

Size

Group Size is limited to 20 participants

Cost

Double Occupancy: $6625
Single Occupancy: $7595

See for payment and cancellation details.

Deposits, Payments and Cancellations

A $250 deposit is required upon registration to hold space. The $250 deposit is fully refundable for cancellations occurring within 2 days after registration. After 2 days it is not refundable. A first payment of 50% of the total trip cost is due 31 days after the trip meets participant requirements. Go Learn will determine trip status no later than 120 days before departure.

Remaining payment is due 95 days before departure. Payment amounts and frequency of payments can be arranged on an individual basis. If registration for a program occurs at or within 95 days prior to departure, the entire program cost is due. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the trip opens for enrollment and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges.

Payments are refundable up to 4 months prior to the departure date. We advise all travelers to subscribe to cancellation insurance within 15 days of booking the trip (see the insurance information below). Please contact us if you would like to arrange a special payment plan.

We reserve the right to cancel any trip because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically infeasible to operate or because of good-faith concerns with respect to the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If a program is canceled prior to departure, Go Learn will provide you with a full refund of monies paid to the University of Utah. If we cancel the trip in progress, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the expedition. Participants are encouraged to purchase refundable airline tickets in case of trip cancellation. Airfare and any other costs incurred by participant beyond moneys paid to the University of Utah will not be refundable under any circumstance.

Passport Validation

Travelers’ passports must be valid six (6) months past the return date of the Go Learn experience. Travelers whose passports expire prior to those six months will be unable to board an international flight leaving the US.

Activity Level

Traveling in a group is enriching and fun. It also requires consideration for everyone’s well-being and for reaching our daily goals set forth in the itinerary. Before registering, we ask all participants to carefully consider the activity. Due to differences in country-specific laws and regulations, many sites visited are not handicap accessible. Go Learn staff can talk to participants in person for assessment and to answer questions. Participants will be responsible for transporting and handling their own luggage through cities and on and off of public transit.

Level 1 - At this level of a tour, trip participants will encounter up to three hours of activities. We may walk and stand for large portions of the lectures or excursions. Extensive breaks and adequate time to relax makes this our lowest activity level. Like all Go Learn adventures, active listening and participation is fundamental to learning and exploration.

Level 2 - Level 2 requires more stamina for walking and standing. In the course of a day one can expect to reach and/or exceed 5 miles of walking, multiple stairs, and prolonged periods of standing. We will take breaks and a certain standard of comfort will be maintained. While the journey might stay in a hotel in one location, avoiding extensive travel, public transportation and exploring on foot will most likely be the main form of transportation. Happy exhaustion is part of this activity level.

Level 3 - Extensive excursions and challenging terrain will be encountered at Level 3. Days with a number of hours on foot is the norm. At this activity level, we may embark on hikes, physically strenuous site visits, and distances reaching and exceeding 10 miles per day. We may be visiting remote locations, areas with poor infrastructure, wild animals, unsafe tap water, or extreme temperatures/weather. Elevators may not be available and you may be required to climb stairs with your luggage. Go Learn will always maintain safe and comfortable conditions, incorporate breaks, sometimes a day off, but this level is as strenuous as it is fun.

Insurance

On international trips, Go Learn provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy, CISI. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance.

Responsibility

Go Learn, University Connected Learning, and the University of Utah and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and ship arrangements and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk entirely. It is understood that the ship's ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the cruise company. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither Go Learn, University Connected Learning, or the University of Utah nor our operators accept liability for any carrier's cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the trip opens for enrollment and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability.

Included in Program Cost

Accommodations and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner); pre-departure information; entrance fees, expeditions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary; all gratuities, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page; ground transportation during the program.

Not Included

Air transportation and related fees; activities noted as optional in the itinerary; passport and visa expenses; baggage/ cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, and alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included.

Single/Shared Accommodations

A limited number of single rooms/cabins are available at an extra cost on a first-come, first-served basis. We will assist persons requesting a roommate. Participants will be notified if a suitable roommate is not available, in which case the single rate will be charged.

Itinerary Changes

The itineraries and staff presented in this catalog are subject to modification and change by Go Learn. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent.

Other

Other Terms and Conditions may apply to some expeditions and will be provided with pre-tour mailings. By registering for a Go Learn program, the participant agrees to the Responsibility statement and the Terms and Conditions herein.

Included

Hotel accommodations in the heart of the cities
High speed train tickets to Barcelona, Valencia, and Segovia
All breakfasts, a welcome lunch, and a farewell dinner
Valencia orange tour
Entrance to historic and cultural sites noted in itinerary
Comprehensive trip insurance, including sick and emergency evacuation insurance

Not Included

Airfare to and from Spain
Meals that are not specifically noted in itinerary
Museums and historical sites not noted in itinerary
Cancellation and lost luggage insurance
Any costs outside of the itinerary

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Spain: Gaudi to Garnacha
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Spain: Gaudi to Garnacha

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Have a question?

Tour Highlights

Daily Itinerary

Wednesday October 23, 2024 - Day 1: ¡Bienviendo! (Madrid)

Thursday October 24, 2024 - Day 2: Plazas y Paella: An Introduction (Madrid)

Friday October 25, 2024 - Day 3: Alcázar y Acueducto: Exploring Segovia (Madrid)

Saturday October 26, 2024 - Day 4: El Ocio: History, Culture, and Leisure Time (Madrid)

Sunday October 27, 2024 - Day 5: Por Tren: High Speed to Catalonia (Barcelona)

Monday October 28, 2024 - Day 6: Rambla (Catalan)=Ramble (English): A Walking Tour of Barcelona (Barcelona)

Tuesday October 29, 2024 - Day 7: Día de Gaudí: Two Architectural Masterworks (Barcelona)

Wednesday October 30, 2024 - Day 8: Gaudí a Granacha: High-Speed Train to Valencia (Valencia)

Thursday October 31, 2024 - Day 9: Zumo: Naranja y Bebidas (Valencia)

Friday November 1, 2024 - Day 10: Vieja, Moderna, Ahora: Bringing It All Together (Valencia)

Saturday November 2, 2024 - Day 11: Departure

Anne Innis

Details and What to Expect

Spain: Gaudi to Garnacha Go Learn

Spain: Gaudi to Garnacha

Stay Informed

Have a question?

Tour Highlights

Daily Itinerary

Wednesday October 23, 2024 - Day 1: ¡Bienviendo! (Madrid)

Thursday October 24, 2024 - Day 2: Plazas y Paella: An Introduction (Madrid)

Friday October 25, 2024 - Day 3: Alcázar y Acueducto: Exploring Segovia (Madrid)

Saturday October 26, 2024 - Day 4: El Ocio: History, Culture, and Leisure Time (Madrid)

Sunday October 27, 2024 - Day 5: Por Tren: High Speed to Catalonia (Barcelona)

Monday October 28, 2024 - Day 6: Rambla (Catalan)=Ramble (English): A Walking Tour of Barcelona (Barcelona)

Tuesday October 29, 2024 - Day 7: Día de Gaudí: Two Architectural Masterworks (Barcelona)

Wednesday October 30, 2024 - Day 8: Gaudí a Granacha: High-Speed Train to Valencia (Valencia)

Thursday October 31, 2024 - Day 9: Zumo: Naranja y Bebidas (Valencia)

Friday November 1, 2024 - Day 10: Vieja, Moderna, Ahora: Bringing It All Together (Valencia)

Saturday November 2, 2024 - Day 11: Departure

Anne Innis

Details and What to Expect

Go Learn Activity Levels

Terms & Conditions

Deposits, Payments and Cancellations

Passport Validation

Activity Level

Insurance

Responsibility

Included in Program Cost

Not Included

Single/Shared Accommodations

Itinerary Changes

Other

Spain: Gaudi to Garnacha
Go Learn