10 replies to this topic

[Major Tallon]

For the past several years, one the highlights of my James Bond fandom has consisted of taking the amazing tours organized by Orlandobond and Mrs. Orlandobond. As a part of these tours, I've been able to visit Bond locations ranging from luxurious French chateaus to Piz Gloria, Blofeld's mountain hideaway. I've been to filming locales not accessible to the general public, such as the "Doctor No" bauxite mine and the Coral Harbour Hotel from "Thunderball."

For next year, the Orlandobonds promise to outdo themselves, with "Operation Euro2013, The Istanbul Venetian Affair," a tour that will cover locations from some of the most popular Bond films. We meet on June 29 in Istanbul, an amazing city that has hosted three Bond films. We'll stroll the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace, follow Bond's footsteps as he stalks an assassin in the Haiga Sophia, visit the underground cisterns, sail to the Maiden's Tower from TWINE, and see the filming locales from "Skyfall." And there's more!

From Istanbul, we fly to Vienna, a breathtaking city, where we'll see the Prater Park from "The Living Daylights" and the classic film "The Third Man." We'll see several other filming sights from TLD before heading on to Prague, Czech Republic. In addition to locations from "Casino Royale" (including an exclusive tour of the library of the Strahov Monastery and Church, where M realizes how much she misses the Cold War), we'll visit spots from several other popular films. The focus on "Casino Royale" will continue as we visit Karlovy Vary, to see the buildings that stood in for the Hotel Splendide and the Casino itself.

Our itinerary next takes us to the beautiful cities of Munich, Innsbruck, and Cortina, with Cortina featuring numerous locations from "For Your Eyes Only." Finally, we travel to Venice, a magical city, entering by private boat. We'll see locations from the films "From Russia With Love," "Moonraker," and "Casino Royale."

Without a doubt, this tour will be an unforgettable experience, with top class travel and accomodations, fun, great food, and "bonding" with a knowledgeable, friendly group of Bond fans from all over the world. As always, interest in these tours runs high, so don't delay. You'll find further information and booking details at http://themepartypeople.com/site You can also reach Orlandobond by PM.

I hope you'll join us for a remarkable experience. Remember, "the whole thing's so fantastic, it just could be . . . true!"

[orlandobond]

Thank you Major Tallon for the mission report, yes the assignment has been looking for a few more agents. This is the big one, 007

[orlandobond]

We're getting deposits in to hold the accomodatoins on 12/31..agents that are interested please email us at

[email protected]

The Istanbul Venetian Affair- 
THEME PARTY PEOPLE TOURS PRESENT
The Ultimate Secret Agent Tour Adventure
June 29th - July 8th , 2012

YOUR MISSION LOCATIONS:


You’re needed in Istanbul …

Join us in celebrating the Ultimate Secret Agent Vacation, exploring 5 countries with exclusive guided tours of spy film locations from SKYFALL, THE BOURNE IDENTITY,CASINO ROYALE, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, MOONRAKER, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE, THE PINK PANTHER, XXX, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, GI JOE:RISE OF COBRA,THE THIRD MAN and more… a very private, small group adventure, if you love films, travel and the company of film fans, this is your trip...



Theme Party People presents OPERATION:EURO2013 “The Istanbul Venetian Affair”,  a 10 day once-in-a lifetime journey  experiencing the intrigue and glamor from the Bond, Bourne & Mission Impossible films and other spy classics with overnight stays in such fabled and romantically exotic cities as Istanbul, Vienna, Prague, Karlovy Vary, Munich and Venice. Theme Party People continues their reputation of ultra-luxury Tours, World Class hotels, cuisine and cocktails with personal and intimate guided tours by cinema and historical experts in each city.


Theme Party has led Film Location tours to Jamaica, Nassau, Key West, France, Italy, Switzerland, around the globe with Bond, Bourne and Spy Movie fans, writers and travel aficionados who all share the same passion for living the Secret Agent lifestyle.


Contact us today for booking information: [email protected]

Our Mission


Pack your tuxedo, good walking shoes and a desire for adventure and board your overnight flight. Note: leave the Walther at home.

Day 1 – Saturday June 29th - Arrive Istanbul, Turkey

Welcome to Istanbul! Your group transfer is included to your hotel. Take some time to rest before you meet your fellow agents for a welcome MI6 intelligence briefing and special event. Afterwards, we’ll stroll around the Grand Bazaar from SKYFALL, TAKEN 2 and Topkapi Palace, site of the famous caper film TOPKAPI. Tonight enjoy a welcome Gypsy Dinner featuring local Turkish specialties, Raki and belly dancers.

Day 2 – Sunday June 30th - Istanbul

Explore Istanbul with your local guide featuring Secret Agent Film locations from SKYFALL, TAKEN 2, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH . Visit the Mosques (Sophia/Blue), Cisterns, Sirkeci train station, Kucuksu Kasri, Kiz Kulezi (Elektra’s villa by boat) . The evening is on your own to explore, shop, dine and enjoy this exotic city.

Day 3 – Monday July 1st - Istanbul – Flight to Vienna, Austria

In late morning, transfer as a group to the Airport S.Gokcen where you will board your flight to Vienna. In the afternoon, start your sightseeing with Prater Park with its giant Ferris wheel as seen in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and THE THIRD MAN and a drive along the elegant Ringstrasse. Pass the impressive state opera house, the Jewish quarter, and stop at Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Austrian Imperial Family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous Heldenplatz, and visit Strauss House. The rest of the day is on your own to tour other TLD film sites, such as Kara’s apartment, the street cars and also enjoy these historic cities museums, palaces. Don’t forget to have the world famous Sacher Torte dessert! We have as an option for the evening, the Opera House attending a Mozart Symphony, as Bond and Saunders do in TLD. You will never forget the music or the experience of listening to Mozart in his Hall, don’t miss this!




Day 4 – Tuesday July 2nd - Vienna

Today you will start with an outside visit of Schoenbrunn Palace. Head to Gasometer where Koskov is jetted off to England after his ride through the pipeline. Then pass by the Sniper Book Shop where, at the start of film Bond arrives at the opera to meet Saunders where he informs Bond about General Georgi Koskov. End with the visit at the Volksoper where Bond meets Saunders. Tonight enjoy a typical Heurigen Austrian dinner in the pretty wine village of Grinzing.



Day 5 –  Wednesday July 3rd -Vienna – Prague –Czech Republic

This morning cross the Czech border and enter Moravia. Drive through the rich farmlands of Moravia and Bohemia to Prague. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided sightseeing including a visit to CASINO ROYALE’s Danube House where Bond has to kill Dryden to receive his 00 –Status. The Old Town of Prague is very recognizable from VAN HELSING, AMADEUS, XXX and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE A unique and exclusive visit has been included to the magnificent Library of Strahov Monastery and Church. Here M misses the Cold War in CASINO ROYALE and is seen in multiple films, including MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.  The "Miami" interiors and exteriors of the BODY WORLD museum from CASINO ROYALE is also here in Prague. Tonight, with your trench coat pulled tight, we’ll explore on our own the back streets, cafes and restaurants of exotic Prague.



Day 6 – Thursday July 4th - Prague - Karlovy Vary

This morning depart to Karlovy Vary, a spa town in central Europe and visit the Loket Castle where the shooting of CASINO ROYALE took place. For the Casino building the producers used one of the most beautiful buildings in Czech Republic, ‘Lazne I’ or Spa I, the former ‘Kaiserbad’. It lies a few minutes outside the heart of Karlovy Vary on Mírové nám?stí. Just like in the film, the building is situated a few hundred meters from The Grand Hotel Pupp, the hotel that doubled for Hotel Splendide. All the locations were used to represent  "Montenegro" in the film.



We plan to secure the CASINO ROYALE site, the Grand Hotel Pupp, for our accomodations and will know as we book the tour.  It is in the Hotel Pupp dining room that Bond and Vesper have their late evening dinner in CASINO ROYALE. We are also planning a CASINO ROYALE Texas Hold’ Em Tournament for those wishing to live like James Bond in this World Class locale. This will be a very special evening for Bond aficionados.


Day 7 –– Friday July 5th - Karlovy Vary – Munich, Germany

Depart Karlovy Vary to Munich, where the Germany’s “Secret Capital” comes alive during an orientation, featuring the Olympic Stadium, 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, and Marienplatz in the historic heart of the city. In the afternoon enjoy a stein of beer at the World Famous Hofbrauhaus Restaurant for some German song and PROSIT!



Day 8 –– Saturday July 6th - Munich – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Venice, Italy

This morning leave Germany to enter Austria and across the spectacular Brenner pass to Italy. Stop in Cortina d’Ampezzo popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges and scenery. One of the memorable James Bond stunt sequences in 1981's FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, gunners on spike-wheeled motorcycles chasing Roger Moore on skis, was filmed on its slopes, as were several scenes in the film CLIFFHANGER. The Hotel Miramonte was 007’s resort in FOR YOUR EYES ONLY as well as featured prominently in THE PINK PANTHER and we plan to have our lunch there, enjoy a Vesper Martini and Bond’s view of Mt. Tofana.



Enter Venice in style by luxury private boat to your hotel.  Spend your evening in St. Marks Square at Florians, just watch out for Chang falling from the bell tower from MOONRAKER. You may choose to have your nightcap at world famous Harry’s Bar.

Day 9 ––Sunday July 7th - Venice

Canal boat and walking tour of  FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, MOONRAKER, DON'T LOOK NOW, THE TOURIST, THE VENETIAN AFFAIR, CASINO ROYALE, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE film locations. Walk to the Fish Market (Pescheria); next board a canal boat and travel to Ca’ Rezzonico followed by a visit to the courtyard of Palazzo Pisani featured in the finale of CASINO ROYALE .Continue on to St..Marks Square and the byzantine Basilaca, Venini Glass Shop, lavish Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. A highlight from our 2010 tour was a personal gondola ride with our own private opera singer; we will have this available for you again this year. Spend the rest of the day on your own. The evening ends with our farewell dinner at the Caravella as we, like 007 in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, wave goodbye to Venice.

Day 10 ––Monday July 8th - Venice

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning and a group transfer to the Airport. Or you may choose to remain and enjoy Venice a bit longer, go visit Lake Como or Rome!


ALL THIS INCLUDED


THEME PARTY PEOPLE TOUR
Film Location Guides, Video Supported Location Resources, Tour Goodie Bag including Tour Logo Shirt, Program, and Tour Custom Collectable

TRANSPORTATION
Motorcoaches are fully air-conditioned everywhere while touring.

HOTELS
Accommodations will be provided in superior first-class hotels, or best available first-class.  Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, based on double occupancy.  Hotel taxes, service charges, state and local taxes, tips to baggage porters and hotel staff are all included in the tour prices.  

MEALS
8 -  Breakfasts
4 -  Dinners

SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary with inside visits (including admission charges) and special features .Sightseeing with local guides where applicable.

TOUR DIRECTOR
The services of a professional, multilingual Tour Director will be provided throughout.

NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE
Airport taxes (where applicable), excess baggage, meals not included in attached itinerary, all items of a personal nature such as laundry, cleaning, telephone, telex or fax expenses, beverages including tea and coffee (except at breakfast and at hotel dinners), wines, liquors, soft drinks, etc. and TIPS FOR THE MOTORCOACH DRIVER, TOUR DIRECTOR, AND LOCAL GUIDES.  Tips for local guides are not included and must be paid while on tour.

PAYMENT & IMPORTANT DATES

TOTAL COST: $3300.00 pp Double Occupancy – Contact Theme Party People for more details, deposit and cancellation policies.
A Deposit of $350.00 US is due now to reserve your participation in this mission. This is a limited exclusive tour, reserve early to insure your seat.


James Bond materials © MGM, Sony, United Artists Corporation and Danjaq, LLC. 007 Gun Logo, James Bond, Skyfall, Casino Royale and all other James Bond related trademarks ™Danjaq, LLC.
Themepartypeople is an unofficial James Bond genre tour organizer and is not linked to the official James Bond production companies.
All original content Copyright TPP Tour

[Major Tallon]

Orlandobond has informed me that the tour is now full, but he is taking standby applications.  Anyone interested should send him a PM.

[Major Tallon]

Our tour begins in just a month, so I thought I'd list some of the locations from Ian Fleming's From Russia, With Love that are found in Istanbul.  These locations are for "on your own" exploration and are in addition to the wonderful film locations that Orlandobond has scheduled on the offical tour.

 

First, there's the matter of Bond's hotel, which Fleming called the Kristal Palace.  Most of the sources maintain that this is a reference to the real-life Pera Palace, but I don't agree.  The Pera Palace has a history and character much different (Agatha Christie stayed there) from Fleming's description.  More tellingly, Bond's hotel was located near Taksim Square.  My candidate for Bond's hotel is the Crystal Hotel, located near Taksim Square, and the journey to the Galata Bridge would, as Fleming stated, be via the Istikal.

 

The restaurant in the Spice Bazaar where Bond and Kerim lunched can be fairly easily identified.  It's the Pandeli, which features a table with a view over the entrance, as Fleming described.

 

We'll be visting the railway station as part of the tour.  In the novel, the Orient Express departed from Track #3.

 

The location of Krilencu's hideaway is a bit of a puzzle, as the area near the Sea of Marmara has been reconstructed since the novel was written.  It's possible, however, to follow most of the route that Bond and Kerim followed in order to shoot Krilencu.  They crossed Ataturk Boulevard, passed the Grand Bazaar, turned to the right at the Column of Constantine. and proceeded past the Hippodrome and the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet.  Here, it gets tricky, as the long avenue they followed may have been reconstructed.  The train tracks still pass close to the Sea of Marmara, and the closest I can come to the location is the vicinity of hte Sifa Hamami Sokagi and the Akbiyik Degirmeni Sokagi.  We'll check it out next month.

[Jeff007]

Well done, Major.  Can't wait to get on the ground there!

[Double-0-7]

Not long to wait now, Jeff. In 3 days we are somewhere over the Atlantic at this time.

[Professor Dent]

I'm always impressed with the Major's literary Bond prowess. We'll have boots on the ground in approximately 37 hours. See everyone in Istanbul.

[Major Tallon]

Orlandobond and a group of CBn'ers are en route.  Mrs. Tallon and I, plus more of our CBn group, are heading for Turkey tomorrow.  Bon(d) voyage, everyone!

[Major Tallon]

What a wonderful time this was!  From Istanbul, where orlandobond arranged for us all to visit the rooftop of the Grand Bazaar, to Vienna, where we found the location of Kara's flat and climbed aboard the actual tram car used to film her escape scene, to Venice, where we tracked down every one of the multiple sections of the canals used in the "Moonraker" Bondola chase, the trip couldn't have been better.  

 

Against all odds, Mrs. Tallon and I found the "narrow stinking alley" behind the Hippodrome in Istanbul where Bond and Kerim walked en route to shooting Krilencu.  It's still narrow, but today is otherwise quite pleasant.  I appreciate the courtesy of the staff at the Istanbul train station who permitted us access to Track Three, which was closed to non-ticket holders.  The words "James Bond?  Photo?" opened these and many other doors during the trip.  Our group experienced the courtesy of numerous people from our tour locations who, seeing our interest in all things Bond, took time out to share their memories.  The proprietor of the Goethe Inn in Locket, Czech Republic, comes to mind.  His inn provided accomodation for Daniel Craig in the early Mathis scenes in "Casino Royale."  He showed us his personal photos and autographs and would have allowed us to visit Craig's room (Room 7, of course), had it not been occupied.  Current occupation was also the only reason that the staff of the world-class Hotel Danielli in Venice couldn't allow CBn'ers Professor Dent and Jeff007 to visit Lisl Baum's suite from Fleming's short story "Risico."  We also had some shared memories from proprietors of some of the theme rides at the Prater in Vienna. 

 

Mrs. Tallon and I stayed on in Italy for a few days after the tour.  I have an undergraduate degree in ancient history, so I obviously spent a day in Rome looking for more "Risico" short story locations. 

 

Special appreciation goes to Agent and Mrs. orlandobond for putting this tour together and gathering such a wonderful group of special friends.  They're great Bond fans who, over the years, have become like family.  Rich and Leslie, you're the best!  And I absolutely forgive you for the evil looks I got when I suggested that we should do it all again next year, with a trip from the south of France, through Spain and Portugal.  I know how much work is involved in planning these things in such loving detail, and you absolutely deserve a break.  (If you should decide to go for it, however, sign us up!)

[Major Tallon]

Orlandobond has posted a detailed trip report, with many photos, on the Theme Party People web site:

 

http://www.themepartypeople.com/site/