Bon voyage

“Like you, we enjoy travel not just for the sights, but to experience other cultures,” ISBA President Bob Downs writes in the introduction to his 13-day presidential travel program next spring in South America.

“We've selected places, events, accommodations and amenities that are definitely not cookie cutter,” he added, with a minimum of captive group dinners and other distractions from individual preferences.

The tour starts in Santiago, the capital of Chile, then through the lakes region and across the Andes to Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. It ends at awesome Iguassu Falls, near the borders with Brazil and Paraguay.

The price of $3,969 per person, double occupancy ($4,769 single), includes round-trip air travel, hotel accommodations, ground, air and water transfers, 10 breakfasts and three dinners.

For complete details, pick up a brochure in an ISBA office or call Collette Vacations, (800) 201-2438. The day-by-day itinerary follows.

Saturday, March 18 – Overnight flight from O'Hare Airport to Santiago, Chile.

March 19 – The tour begins in Santiago with panoramic city tour and welcoming dinner.

March 20 – Fly south to the seaport of Puerto Montt, stroll through the fish market, and arrive at Puerto Varas in the lake district.

March 21 – Cross the Andes, viewing Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls, to the border of Argentina, cruise across Lago Todos los Santos, Lago Frias and Lake Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Panuelo and San Carlos de Bariloche.

March 22 – Visit the German-influenced village of Bariloche, famous for chocolate production.

Marsh 23 – Fly to Buenos Aires for sightseeing, cuisine and tango performance.

March 24 – Travel through the Pampas for an asado lunch, gaucho music and dancing.

March 25 – A leisure day in Buenos Aires.

March 26 – On a Sunday in San Telmo, see renovated colonial houses and the antique market, and possibly a soccer game.

March 27 – Fly north to Iguassu Falls on the Argentine side of the border with Brazil and Paraguay, and arrive at a hotel in the national park.

March 28 – A day of leisure in the falls area before the farewell dinner.

March 29 – Overnight return flight to O'Hare.

Thursday, March 30 – Arrive in Chicago.

Bar groups plan April in Paris

Two ISBA-sponsored travel programs in April in Paris will include special welcoming receptions for members of the state bar association, the Ordre des Avocats and other Midwest bar associations.

Departures for the nine-day tour are scheduled April 1 and April 8 from Chicago and St. Louis, with seven nights at the Sofitel Paris Forum Rive Gauche Hotel and daily excursion options. The price is $1,599 per person, double occupancy.

Details of other 2006 travel opportunities being coordinated by Global Holidays may be found in brochures now available at state bar association offices.

Summaries follow, with departures from Chicago and St. Louis. Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to change, and may not include government taxes.

Hong Kong (8 days, 6 nights, $1,599) – Four-star Hotel Nikko Hongkong on Victoria Harbor, city orientation tour and daily excursion options; departures Feb. 16), Feb. 23 and March 16.

Rome, the Imperial City (9 days, 7 nights, $1,599) – Jolly Hotel Leonardo da Vinci, daily excursion options; departures March 16, March 23 and March 30.

Treasures of China and Yangtze River Cruise (13 days, 11 nights, from $3,199) – Shanghai 2 nights, Xi'an 2 nights, Beijing 3 nights, aboard Victoria Cruises 4 nights, 31 meals; departures April 27, May 25, June 1 and June 8.

Greek Isles Cruise and Venice (12 days, 10 nights, from $2,995) – Lido di Jesolo in Venice for 2 nights with sightseeing cruise, aboard Costa Victoria 7 days to Bari, Katakalon, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, DuBrovnik; departures May 5, May 12 and May 19.

Baltic and Russian Cruise, plus Copenhagen (12 days, 10 nights, from $3,095) – Copenhagen 2 nights with sightseeing excursion, aboard Costa Magica 7 days to Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm; departures May 18 and June 1.