Silvia Manucci, director of the UO Global Education Oregon Center in Siena, and Katie Jo Walter, program coordinator for educational tours, while planning May 2018's UO exclusive tour to Tuscany. Photo by Katie Jo Walter.
French novelist Marcel Proust once said, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
In the coming year, alumni will visit dozens of countries in every corner of the world. With eighteen travel plans to choose from, alumni can dive into the cultures, politics, and histories of various nations, and return home with new eyes.
Starting in 2018, the UOAA will be introducing a new element to its sterling tour selection: UO-led tours. These are trips that are intended to have a member of the UO faculty accompany alumni, offering a deeper insight into a region based on their own research. In July alone, Barbara Mossberg, professor of practice in literature at the Clark Honors College, will help travelers see Bordeaux through the lens of travel writers and literary giants during the Breathtaking Bordeaux tour; while Oregon Institute of Marine Biology senior lecturer Janet Hodder, PhD 86, will impart her ecological knowledge during a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
"When I choose and plan tours, I will do so based on whether or not we have UO leaders who are both knowledgeable in topics related to that destination and are eager to share that knowledge with our travelers," said Katie Jo Walter, program coordinator for educational tours.
In addition, some tours are exclusively for UO alumni. Designed by Walter and Silvia Manucci, director of the UO Global Education Center in Siena, May's Tuscany: Photography and Creative Expressionism trip through the Tuscan countryside will see UO senior instructor Colleen Choquette-Raphael guide discussions of readings and films to heighten one's appreciation of the region.
"It's an exciting tour that is based in Siena that makes daily excursions into the surrounding countryside and villages to savor the landscapes, people, architecture, and local food and wine," Walter said. "It includes five of Tuscany’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is bookended by art history tours of Siena and Florence by the professor teaching study abroad students at the UO facility in Siena, and includes a photography and creative expression component facilitated by Colleen."
SELECT 2018 TOURS
Amalfi Coast
In May, alumni will spend seven nights on the Amalfi Coast with Colleen Choquette-Raphael, BA ’90, BFA ’92, senior instructor and academic advisor in the UO College of Design. During the trip, Choquette-Raphael will offer insight into the culture, history, and modern challenges of Italia.
Over the course of the week alumni will explore the charming, pastel towns dotting the coastline. Among these is the lively city of Naples, famed for its beautiful theaters, museums, cathedrals, and castles—but perhaps known more importantly as the birthplace of pizza. After a panoramic tour of the city, alumni will attend a fascinating discussion regarding the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum, setting the stage for the next day’s excursion.
In 79 AD, disaster struck for the citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum when nearby Mount Vesuvius exploded with devastating effect. The vibrant frescoes, temples, and villas—not to mention the famous body casts that memorialize the victims in their final moments—will transport travelers back in time two thousand years.
Photography in Siena
After the conclusion of the Amalfi trip, alumni have the option of joining Choquette-Raphael for an additional week in Siena on the first tour created exclusively for UO alumni and friends. Alumni will visit five of Tuscany’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the cities of Volterra and Chiusi. Chiusi will be reached aboard the historic steam engine Treno Natura (“Nature Train”). Other excursions include visits to Benedictine monasteries, a Tuscan ghost town, and a wine tasting with current UO students at Brolio Castle, owned by the Ricasoli family since 1141.
In addition to lectures with Choquette-Raphael, alumni will also dive into Tuscan culture with art history lectures in Siena and Florence conducted by Piergiacomo Petrioli, art history professor instructing UO students studying in Siena.
The Galapagos
In July, alumni will set sail for the Galapagos Islands, famed for its formative role in Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. The trip is accompanied by Janet Hodder, senior lecturer and academic coordinator at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Hodder has experience in the Galapagos, and is an expert in the ecology of marine birds and mammals.
Besides Darwin, the islands also have a rich history of native inhabitants, pirates, and conquistadors. Despite its remote location and harsh environment, the Galapagos abounds in natural diversity. It is home to land iguanas, flamingos, penguins, and giant tortoises—some of which measure five feet in length and weigh more than 500 pounds. Alumni may enjoy strolling white sand beaches, kayaking, or swimming with the local sea lions. Only a select number of visitors are granted access to the islands each year, making this a rare opportunity to experience the natural beauty and diversity that inspired Darwin to change the world forever.
Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia
In October, travelers will spend three nights in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. There, alumni will be immersed in the rich blend of French and Vietnamese culture, and will visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and City Hall. They will also explore and be allowed to enter the Cu Chi Tunnels, used by the Viet Cong to engage in guerilla warfare against better-supplied American and South Vietnamese troops during the Vietnam War.
From Saigon, alumni will board the luxurious Mekong Navigator to cruise the Mekong River, visiting rural villages along the way. After each excursion, the crew will greet returning guests with a cool towel and drink. Alumni will also be able to enjoy a performance of the Apsara, a traditional Cambodian dance.
After arriving in Cambodia, alumni will make a moving visit to the Cheoung Ek Killing Fields, where a memorial museum honors the victims of a genocidal campaign carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Included in the tour is S-21, a notorious prison that operated during the conflict. Of the 14,000 people interred there, only seven are known to have survived.
Finally, alumni will visit Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Originally constructed in the 12th century to venerate the Hindu god Vishnu, it has since evolved into a Buddhist temple. With its aged sandstone walls, lotus ponds, and iconic towers, the temple complex is a breathtaking sight.
Travel events are open to all alumni, family, and friends of the University of Oregon. At least one member of each travel party must be a member of the UOAA. Not a member? Become a UOAA member today!
ALL AVAILABLE 2018 TOURS*
January 21–29
Cuba: Art, Culture, and People
Discover Havana: cruise in vintage cars, visit Hemingway’s home, and immerse yourself in colorful art, lively music, and delicious food.
February 28–March 12
Wings Over East Africa
Discover Africa: meet the local Maasai people, visit wildlife preserves to observe lions and zebras in their natural habitat, and take a hot air balloon ride over the savanna.
May 2–10
Dutch Waterways
Cruise through the romantic waterways of Holland and Belgium.
May 9–17
Riviera Rhapsody
Take a glamorous cruise through France, Spain, and Italy, stopping in such celebrity getaways as Saint-Tropez, Côte d’Azur, Marseille, Sardina, and Rome.
May 15–23
Amalfi Coast
Visit Pompeii, see the Paestum's Greek ruins, and view treasures at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale during eight days on Italy's stunning Amalfi Coast.
May 23–31
Tuscany: Photography and Creative Expressionism
Visit five of Tuscany's seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and visit Florence's museums with UO students studying in Siena. Accompanied by Colleen Choquette-Raphael, senior instructor in the College of Design.
June 12–27
Romantic Rhine and Moselle
Take an enchanting river cruise up the Rhine and Moselle through the heart of Europe.
June 17–28
Gaelic Exploration
Dive into the lively folklore and history of the Celtic world with a tour of Ireland, the Isle of Man, and Wales.
June 19–29
UO Led: Pac-12 Alaska Cruise
Join award winning sportswriter Rick Reilly and alumni from other Pac-12 schools in discovering wild Alaska, often called the “last frontier” for its untamed beauty.
July 11–18
UO Led: Galapagos
Walk the white sand beaches, kayak through coves and inlets, or swim with sea lions during a trip to the islands that shaped our understanding of our shared past. Accompanied by Janet Hodder, senior lecturer at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.
July 16–24
UO Led: Breathtaking Bordeaux
Take in the gorgeous countryside of France’s Bordeaux region with a river cruise along the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Accompanied by Barbara Mossberg, professor of practice in literature at the Clark Honors College.
July 27–August 5
Majestic Great Lakes
Tour North America’s Great Lakes and delve into the history of the Midwest, with tours of Mackinac Island (where horse-drawn carriages are used in place of cars), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Henry Ford Museum.
September 13–23
Autumn Inspiration
Take in charming New England aboard the Insignia, then head north to Canada to explore St. John, Québec City, and Montreal.
October 4–15
Wonders of Peru
Visit all the wonders of Peru: the Amazon; Machu Picchu; and Cusco, the capital of the ancient Incas.
October 15–26
Pathways of the Peninsula
Visit six countries along the southern coast of Europe: France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia.
October 16–31
Romance of the Mekong
Explore Vietnam and Cambodia during a cruise on the Mekong Navigator.
* list current as of December 8, 2017.