TRAVEL INSURANCE is highly recommended for all trips. You may use the policy offered by the tour operator OR you may compare coverage with the policy outlined at www.travelinsuranceservices.com/select/williams. In any event please cover yourself for trip cancellation in case of illness or injury to you or to close relatives.
TOURS FOR 2008
April 29 -- May 9, 2008 - HOLLAND and BELGIUM: Cruise to prim, colorful, historic towns in the Low Countries: Bruges, Delft, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Hoorn, etc. Timed to hit the bloom of tulip season. Lectures about maritime Holland by Prof. Ben Labaree. Unpack just once and enjoy life aboard a beautifully appointed new riverboat.
We are sharing the ship with Middlebury and their art professor. Audio headsets for shore visits.
May 22- June 1, 2008 - The HABSBURG EMPIRE, Revisited:
Prof. John Hyde '52 provides the historical matrix for quality time spent in Krakow, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. Travel to these "crown jewels" of Central Europe by Danube riverboat, vintage train, and motor coach. Visit six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ask for an electronic brochure.
June 6-17, 2008 - SPAIN from BARCELONA to BILBAO: Spanish art, culture and history are absorbed with five days in Barcelona and five days near San Sebastian. This alumni college format has two residential locales plus additional visits to Pamplona, Montserrat, Zaragoza, and Bilbao. The tour leader is Prof. Zirka Filipczak of the Art Department. Ask for a brochure. [See Barcelona article in the Nov/Dec National Geographic Traveler, p.96 ff.] A few openings remain.
July 10-18, 2008 - The DORDOGNE of FRANCE: Village life in and around the well-preserved 14th-century village of Sarlat, plus abbeys, castles, and the famous prehistoric cave paintings. This is a repeat of the very popular 2004 tour. Prof. Guillaume Aubert of the History Department adds the perspective of a native of France. The tour is now sold out.
July 12-18, 2008 - The COLORADO ROCKIES: The original alumni college with Prof. Bud Wobus, located just west of Pikes Peak. First offered in 1981 and enjoyed 14 times since. Unpack once for a series of geological day trips to spectacular locales. The group is housed at the mountain campus of the Colorado Outdoor Nature Education Center. Over 250 past participants can't be wrong: They all loved the experience. Modest fee. Almost sold out.
July 25-August 4, 2008 - A BALTIC CRUISE: Come aboard the elegant full-rigged, three-masted barque "Sea Cloud II" to explore seven ports of call, starting with three days in St. Petersburg.
President, Emeritus Frank Oakley adds his historical perspectives. We share the ship with Yale. Electronic brochure is available. Two cabins remain.
July 4-13, 2008 - The AMAZON of PERU: Cruise on a comfortable 30-passenger riverboat over the waterways of the Upper Amazon. Designed for families and adult couples to interact with flora, fauna, and local peoples. Prof. Michael Brown brings anthropological insights
about the native villagers. Optional post-cruise trip to Machu Picchu. Electronic brochure is ready; just ask. Called one of the "25 Greatest Adventures in the World" by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
October 19-30, 2008 - BURGUNDY AND PROVENCE: Cruise through these lovely regions on the comfortable new riverboat "Avalon Scenery."
Pause at quaint villages and historical sites along the Saone and Rhone Rivers. Enjoy the commentary of Prof. Michael Lewis of the Art Department as he analyzes Romanesque and Roman architecture plus the works of Van Gogh and Cezanne. Concludes with two days in Aix-en- Provence. (Sharing the ship with Tufts.) Ask for a brochure. Audio headsets featured for shore excursions.
October 25 -- November 2, 2008 - ITALY's RIVIERA: The charms of the Cinque Terre plus Portofino, Genoa, Carrara, and Lucca.
This alumni college browses through the fishing villages, picturesque harbors, and rugged coastlines with Prof. Fred Greene, Italian political expert. Unpack just once at your home hotel in Sestri Levante. (The October 18 departure is almost sold out.) Ask for a brochure.
October 4 - 13, 2008 - BRAZIL's PANTANAL: The savannahs of remote southwestern Brazil are a "holy grail" destination for lovers of wildlife. Prof. Hank Art interprets how these unusual birds and animals adapt to their environment. The itinerary includes two days at Iguazu Falls. A brochure is available.
The group is limited to 16. The September 27 departure is sold out.
November 6-18, 2008 - JAPAN: Ancient Traditions and Modern Wonders. Led by Prof. Peter Frost, former director of The Associated Kyoto Program, a junior year abroad. His first-hand expertise will cover the lovely historical sites in and around Kyoto plus Hiroshima and a Tokyo option. Ask for a brochure. Will repeat in November of 2009.
* Ask the Alumni Travel-Study Office to put you on a list for early
information and registration.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2009
- January 15-27, 2009 - THE ANDES OF ARGENTINA AND CHILE: Experience fire and sand and ice at spectacular sites in the Andes, the Atacama Desert, and Patagonia. Designed by the tour leader, Prof. Bud Wobus of the Geology Dept., to touch upon a series of extraordinary landscapes.
Then conclude in Buenos Aires. Electronic brochure available.
- January 23-30, 2009 - THE BEAUTIFUL BAJA: Where the ocean meets the desert enjoy a week of warmth, natural history, lovely scenery, and geology. Unpack just once for rambles with geosciences professor Markes Johnson. Look forward to close encounters with whales, sea lions, manta rays, dolphins, and birds.
A mere $1375 per person for everything except airfare to Loreto. Ask for a detailed flyer.
- January 24 to February 1, 2009 - TAHITI AND THE SOCIETY ISLANDS: Cruise among the French Polynesian islands aboard the four-masted barkentine "Star Flyer."
Shore excursions on seven islands plus water sports and talks about Melville and Michener with Bob and Ilona Bell, Professors of English.
The 360-foot vessel is a marvelous sight, with the 226-foot foremast square-rigged and the other three masts rigged fore and aft. Ask for an electronic brochure.
- March 21-30, 2009 - LONDON THEATRE WEEK: View a play each night. Then discuss it the next morning with Prof. David Eppel. Afternoons are free to enjoy historical sites, museums, shops, and concerts. Daily English breakfast. Fee is $1750 per person, double occupancy, with upgrades available. International air and theatre tickets are additional. Plays to be selected in the late fall.
- March 22-April 5, 2009 - TUNISIA: Layers of history abound in North Africa, from ancient Carthage through Roman cities and arenas to World War II sites, lovely Islamic architecture, and colorful bazaars. Enjoy
five-star hotels and beaches in this former French colony, now a welcoming secular nation.
Visit film sites of "Star Wars" and "The English Patient." Our leader is Armando Vargas, Professor of Comparative Literature and a linguist who has lived in Tunisia and speaks Arabic fluently.
- April 17-27, 2009 - CRUISING THE ELBE RIVER:
Professor Dan O'Connor illuminates the sights from Prague to Berlin while sailing aboard the five-star "Katarina." Between the bookend cities experience the Saxon Gorge, Dresden, Meissen, and Wittenburg.
Sharing the ship with Wellesley.
- May , 2009 - INSIDE NEW YORK: The Williams key opens many doors in the Big Apple. Go behind the scenes where purple blood pulses in the arts and business and sports. Enjoy tours and workshops by day, receptions and talks and shows in the evening.
- May 3-14, 2009 - SAILING TO CELTIC LANDS: Cruise aboard the deluxe "Le Diamant" from Normandy through the British Isles, with ports of call in England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, plus the Hebrides and Orkneys. The de luxe 410-foot ship, the former "Song of Flower," carries just 200 passengers.
- June 13-21, 2009 - A TASTE OF FRANCE: The lovely castles of the Loire Valley mark the route of a food and wine and history journey. Your expert guide is culture and cuisine maven, Prof. Darra Goldstein. The small Williams group receives red-carpet treatment.
- June 26 - July 9, 2009 - JERUSALEM: One City, Two Nations, Three Religions.
Recreating his Winter Study trip with students, Associate College Chaplain Bob Scherr conducts an in-depth tour of this ancient holy city. Included are visits to sacred sites as well as discussions with local leaders and with Linda Gradstein, NPR reporter. The experience begins with three days in Williamstown. Jerusalem headquarters is the famous King David Hotel.
Ask for further details.
- July 19-31, 2009 - SOLAR ECLIPSE IN CHINA: Join the expedition to chart the solar eclipse of July 22 with Prof. Jay Pasachoff. Then continue with a comprehensive tour of major cultural sites in China.
- July 23 - August 3, 2009 - CLASSICAL GODS AND HEROES:
This family cruise moves from Rome to Athens, with stops at prime classical sites along the way. The academic leaders are Greek and Roman art and architecture specialists: Professors Guy Hedreen and Liz McGowan, a married couple who will bring their own kids. Excellent children's programs are included. Adult couples are also invited.
- September 12-19, 2009 - THE GREAT LAKES: Cruise from Duluth to Toronto aboard an all-suite vessel. Enjoy unusual ports of call and commentary by Prof. John Hyde '52. The ship is the "Clelia II" which has graced past alumni cruises. Ask for a preliminary brochure.
- September 22 -- October 4, 2009 - BHUTAN: The exotic Himalayan kingdom lies suspended between the Middle Ages and today. These active trips for small groups are timed to experience the colorful Buddhist festivals. Second departure is October 28 to November 9.
Leader is alumnus John Child '77, a resident of the region. Ask for an electronic brochure.
- October 13-21, 2009 - TUSCANY from LUCCA: With an ancient walled city as your home base, explore the charms of Tuscany. Unpack once while imbibing the atmospheres of Florence, Pisa, Sienna, Carrara, and Viareggio. The tour employs the popular "alumni college" format. Ask for an electronic brochure.
- November 4-16, 2009 - JAPAN, OLD AND NEW: The former leader of the Williams in Japan Program, Prof. Peter Frost, now shows alumni around the island nation.
With an insider's view, he touches upon ancient and modern cultures. This is a repeat of the November 2008 program. Thirteen days and eleven nights plus an optional Tokyo extension.
- December 26, 2009 - TANZANIA FAMILY SAFARI: One of the world's few remaining unspoiled natural destinations awaits. See hosts of wildlife on the Serengeti Plains and the Ngorongoro Crater. Children's programs are included in the 12-day experience.
Travel-Study Programs at Williams
Robert Behr '55, Coordinator
75 Park Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
phone: 413-597-4011
fax: 413-458-9808
Robert.V.Behr@williams.edu
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