Travel and Adventure class on Bulgaria
Learning about adventure travel to Bulgaria

Travel and Adventure

Friday, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Library 1533

Terry Moss, Bob Seyfried, Tom Dole, Jennifer Kerr

The sharing of travel experiences serves as an excellent aid in both the planning and execution of travel plans. Others' experiences, both good and bad, can help take much of the mystery and hassle out of our own travel adventures.

In this seminar, members can meet informally to share such experiences, listen to speakers on travel subjects of interest, and perhaps find companions willing to team up on particular tours.

This is an open seminar limited in attendees to the number of chairs available as determined by Fire Department regulations. You cannot sign up in advance. Get there early to get a seat!

PLEASE NOTE: No food and only certain drinks are allowed in the library.

Feb. 1: WELCOME; FROM CHAMONIX TO ATOP THE MATTERHORN
Considered one of the top-10 hikes in the world, the Walker's Haute (High) Route begins in Chamonix, France, and ends in Zermatt, Switzerland. In-between is about 112 miles of trail and road through some of the most beautiful regions of the Swiss Alps. Last summer, Tom Miner and friend Ted Lenzie trekked with lightweight daypacks for 10 days through a wonderland of snow-capped Alps soaring out of spectacular valleys, crossing wind-swept passes and skirting majestic glaciers and spending their nights in high mountain huts or quaint Swiss villages. Flower-filled meadows, marmots, shy chamois, and big-horned ibex—they saw them all. After the walk, they climbed the Matterhorn, the classic peak of Europe, a 14,500-foot pyramid of rock and ice that required hand-over-hand climbing up fixed ropes, and hundreds of feet of rappelling on the descent (postponed from Oct. 12).
Feb. 8: BIZARRE AND EXOTIC INDIA
Bob Orr's friends wonder why he frequently goes to India. He is lured back to this huge country by its endless first-rate, interwoven attractions: Rewarding visits to religious pilgrimage sites (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Moslem, Jain, and even Christian); the architecture (colonial, Mughal and temple); train travels; the hill stations; and the food, forts, festivals, and simply the street life. India always meets his expectations for "the bizarre and exotic" in travel experiences. He has assembled photos from several trips that he hopes will illustrate and reinforce the above and perhaps even result in a few converts!
Feb. 15: THE SILK ROAD
In Aphra Pia's imagination, the words Silk Road conjure up a magical place, both mysterious and idealistic. In reality, when merchants traveled the roads trading their goods from one place to another, it was a fragmented, unstable, and hostile place. Many divergent silk roads wind through and around the Taklimakan desert. She traveled through the southwest area of Xing Jiang (East Turkestan), China. The people she photographed were mostly Uyghur, whose faces are a glimpse into the lives and customs of an ancient civilization. She was taken with their proud tenacity in struggling in an agrarian society while many added to their income by running small, personal businesses. She loved photographing in the vibrant, noisy markets as well as the quiet neighborhoods where they lived. Without speaking a common language, the Uyghur were friendly and some even welcomed her into their homes.
Feb. 22: TRAVELING THE CAMINO Note Date Change!
In September 2012, Richard Peter rode a bicycle for 500 miles on the ancient pilgrimage route, El Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Please join him in reliving this unforgettable journey from the Pyrenees on the French-Spanish border to the great Galician city of Santiago de Compostela in the northwest corner of Spain. We'll follow in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims who have traveled this path for 1,200 years, passing through tiny towns, big cities, forests, plains and farmland, including places that few regular tourists ever see. Because of the beauty, historical significance and uniqueness of this route, the entire Camino, as well as many features along its length, have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
March 1: TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME AND MORE! Note Date Change!
What do Niagara Falls, fireworks over the St. Louis Arch on the Fourth of July, the Truman Presidential Library, Amish Country, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, riding an airboat through Everglades National Park and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have to do with baseball? These are just a few of the places and experiences that Steve and Caroline Roberts might have missed, if they hadn't combined their shared passions for travel and baseball. Their quest to attend a game at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums took them throughout the U.S. and into Canada. They were pleasantly surprised at many sights and fun times in cities and regions that they otherwise probably would not have visited. Their presentation will not be "all about baseball," and they'll share ideas and tips for any of you who might be interested in a similar quest.
March 8: CRUISING THE DANUBE
Doug Stryker will share his photographs and experiences of Budapest, Vienna, two beautiful days enjoying the fall colors of the Wachau Valley in Austria, as well as the German cities of Passau, Regensburg and Nuernberg. All of these were included on his Danube River Cruise. The trip ended with an interesting three days in the beautiful city of Prague. He will include some pictures he took in Budapest in 1971 and will discuss how current Budapest and Prague differ from their former years under communism.
March 15: ROAMING THROUGH NORWAY BY LAND, SEA AND AIR
Twice Elaine Duxbury has taken the beautiful sea voyage along Norway's west coast on the Hurtigruten, the passenger and freight ships that sail from Bergen to far above the Arctic Circle at Kirkenes. She has also flown the length of the country and has spent time in several cities and regions, traveling on land and by ferries on the fjords. She will show her photos from her most recent trips to the land of her roots.
March 22: FUZZY LOGIC: LIFE ON A SAILBOAT
What's it like to live and cruise aboard a 37-foot sailboat for five years? Please join Chris Hunter and Gordon Nash for an account of their adventures and misadventures leading up to and including three years adrift aboard Fuzzy Logic in Mexico (1997-2000). Subject areas covered in a slide show include hunting, gathering and the one-screw day; near misses and close calls; staying in touch with family and friends; food, entertaining and socializing; and the historic founding of the Gregor Yacht Club.
March 29
Spring Break; No seminar.
April 5: BIKE RIDE THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY
In October 2012, Steve and Marilee Flannery and four additional bicycling enthusiasts rode from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Washington, D.C. The seven-day, 330 mile trek was completed on two contiguous trails, one the Great Allegheny Passage rail line, the other a mule towpath alongside the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The timing of this ride allowed the cyclists to pass through small towns, some with historical significance such as Harpers Ferry, in the midst of beautiful fall colors and lush riparian habitat along the Youghiogheny and Potomac rivers. Numerous hours of planning and logistical considerations made for an enjoyable, trouble-free and economical journey through four states and many towns full of authentic Americana charm.
April 12: TREASURES AND HISTORY IN TURKEY
Turkey is a fascinating country with a unique position touching Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Very much in the news, it is a vital NATO ally of the United States. Catherine Minicucci visited there in September 2011 on a tour that started in Istanbul and meandered down the Aegean coast. She will be sharing her memories and photos about the treasures of Istanbul, historical Pergamon and unforgettable Ephesus, as well as jewel-like seaside towns of Ayvalik and Bodrun.
April 19: PICTURES FROM SCOTLAND
In the summer of 2010, Doris Keller and a friend traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, for a weekend before going to Stirling University, where they attended a conference for nearly a week. They opted for a fun trip in the Shetland Islands for another week before returning to Edinburgh and home. Most of their local transportation for the two weeks was walking, so it took no time at all to figure out the pattern of the streets and they found some really interesting details that would never have been apparent from a vehicle and met people they would otherwise have missed. She hopes her pictures will exhibit the wonder of centuries-old buildings, the landscapes full of ancient ruins, the North Sea meeting the Shetlands and every surface made of stone.
April 26: TBA
May 3: WONDERS AND DELIGHTS OF ZIMBABWE AND THE SOUTHERN COAST OF AFRICA
In August 2011, David and Peggy Goldstein travelled to Southern Africa to visit their daughter and her family then living in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). From Harare as their base, they explored this extraordinary country with travels to the wild mountainous region along Zimbabwe's eastern border, to "Great Zimbabwe," a remnant of an ancient African civilization, and to the rugged mountainous Mosotho National Park where the infamous Cecil Rhodes is buried. Highlights of Zimbabwe also included a trip to the world-famous Victoria Falls, views of exotic birds and animals from boats along the Zambezi River and a thrilling game drive in Botswana. Before leaving for home, they proceeded to Cape Town, South Africa, from where they toured the wine country, Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and the Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans come together.