12 minute read
England
JOURNEY
London
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featuring the African American Experience
Inspiring Moments
> Learn about valuable contributions and achievements of figures within London’s
African American community.
> Uncover 2,000 years of Black history in London’s oldest areas. > Cruise the River Thames, viewing London’s
famous landmarks.
> Tour the National Gallery, witnessing works of art illustrating the Black presence. > Discuss the activities, social struggles and political events within the Black British and U.S. Civil Rights Movements. > Learn how individuals of African and
African-Caribbean descent helped shape London’s culture. > Gain insight into Black luminaries, such as Frederick Douglass, Paul Robeson,
Phillis Wheatley and more. Trace the history of London’s Black communities, learning how these communities helped shape the city’s fascinating culture and way of life. Experience London from the Black perspective, and uncover significant Black history in London’s oldest areas and amid famed landmarks. Along the way, discover the valuable contributions and achievements of key figures in London’s African American community.
ACTIVE TRAVEL
Excursions on this program require:
> walking distances of up to 3-5 miles > walking on cobblestones, unpaved paths and/or uneven surfaces > getting on/off motor coaches, boats and/or trains DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 | In Transit Depart your gateway city for London, England . Day 2 | London, England Arrive in London. Transfer and check in to the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Vanderbilt. Discovery: Welcome to London! Join your Travel Director for a walk through the area around your hotel. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is home to some of London’s most popular restaurants and fashionable shops. Kick off your adventure tonight at a Welcome Reception and Welcome Dinner. Day 3 | London Enrichment: Black British Civil Rights. Watch a poignant film screening that reveals the struggles against racism in the U.K., followed by a discussion comparing the Black British Civil Rights Movement to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Discovery: London’s Black History. Uncover 2,000 years of history during a panoramic tour. Pass by famous attractions, including the Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and other iconic sites. Along the way, your guide’s commentary allows you to view the famed landmarks through the African-Caribbean perspective. Also, see spaces integral to London’s Black communities, and learn about prominent historical figures who made significant contributions to London’s culture. Free Time: Spend the remainder of the day at leisure, exploring London’s many highlights. Gather with your group for a delicious dinner.
Day 4 | London
Discovery: Black Images in the National Gallery. Join an expert to learn about works of art illustrating the Black presence in London from the 15th-19th centuries. Examine why the images are in the National Gallery and what the art means today. Discuss the highlights of your day over lunch. Discovery: Black History of Trafalgar Square. Despite its status as the center for public life in London since the 13th century, few people know that Trafalgar Square holds a rich, often overlooked history. Join your local guide to delve into the links between the African, Indian and Caribbean communities and learn why their stories are untold. Day 5 | London Enrichment: James Baldwin, Frederick Douglass and Phillis Wheatley in London. Discuss the struggles, achievements and influences of these inspirational figures. Discovery: Secrets of Soho. Uncover hundreds of years of African-Caribbean history. Discuss key events and important figures such as Marcus Garvey, Paul Robeson and Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. Free Time: The afternoon is at your leisure. Use your Oyster card to explore the city. You may wish to visit the British Museum on your own to view centuries-old collections featuring African art. Day 6 | London Discovery: St Pauls/Bank. Take the Tube to one of London’s oldest areas, and visit St Paul’s Cathedral and the Roman Amphitheatre. Your guide discusses the Black presence in London and how these communities contributed to the city’s culture. Discovery: Black Cultural Archives and Brixton. Encounter the unrivaled Black Cultural Archives, a national heritage center with an impressive collection that documents the history, culture and presence of people of African and Caribbean descent in Britain. Then enjoy a guided walk through vibrant Brixton, experiencing the buzzing arcades of Brixton Market. Indulge in a lunch of regional flavors. Discovery: An Evening of Jazz. Enjoy dinner and a toe-tapping jazz show at a popular Soho venue. Day 7 | London Discovery: Thames Boat Cruise. Witness the sights of London from a different perspective as you cruise the River Thames. Discovery: London, Sugar and Slavery at Docklands Museum. The unique Museum of London Docklands features a permanent exhibit about the transatlantic slave trade. An array of art, film and interactive screens reveal how slavery shaped London’s economy from the 17th century onward. Day 8 | London Enrichment: Contemporary London, Black Culture. Join a discussion about London’s current political, economic and social status within the context of its Black communities. Free Time: Enjoy a free afternoon to craft your own path through vibrant London. Tonight, celebrate your time together at a Farewell Reception and Farewell Dinner. Day 9 | In Transit Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your gateway city.
Accommodations {with baggage handling} – 7 nights in London, United
Kingdom, at the first-class Radisson Blu
Edwardian, Vanderbilt. Extensive Meal Program –7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners, including Welcome and Farewell Dinners; tea or coffee with all meals, plus wine with dinner. Your One-of-a-Kind Journey – Small group: Sized just right at 24 guests. – Discovery excursions highlight the local culture, heritage and history. –Expert-led Enrichment programs enhance your insight into the region. – AHI Sustainability Promise: We strive to make a positive, purposeful impact in the communities we visit. –Free time to pursue your individual interests. – Oyster transit card for included excursions and exploring at your leisure. –Welcome and Farewell Receptions to mingle with fellow travelers. –A personal VOX headset to hear your English-speaking guide clearly. –Tipping of guides and drivers. –Complimentary travel mementos.
ACTIVE TRAVEL for CULTURAL EXPLORERS
Fisk Jubilee Singers
DEPARTURES & PRICING
September 9-17, 2021
*Special price available for a limited time only. Call for details. VAT is an additional $295 per person. All prices quoted are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy and do not include air transportation costs (unless otherwise stated). Single accommodations are an additional $775 (limited availability).
Program-specific terms and conditions are available on our website under the Pricing & Air Options tab on the trip page. You can also request a copy from our travel experts.
Note: Itinerary sequence and/or scheduled events may change. Walking is required on many excursions.
Flights and transfers provided for AHI FlexAir participants.
JOURNEY
Undiscovered France
featuring Albi,Toulouse & Carcassonne
ALUMNI CAMPUS ABROAD®
Inspiring Moments
> Meet gracious locals while tasting homemade products and touring their countryside farms. > Reflect on the life and gifts of a great artist while exploring the treasures of the Musée
Toulouse-Lautrec.
> Gaze at brilliant frescos and the vaulted ceiling of Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile, an architectural wonder. > Admire the pink bricks and pretty coral-hues of Toulouse, “La Ville Rose.” > Delight in Cordes-sur-Ciel, a hilltop village steeped in medieval splendor. > Cruise on the Canal du Midi, an engineering marvel connecting the Mediterranean and
Atlantic oceans. > Experience four UNESCO World
Heritage sites.
Toulouse
Celebrate the soul of France on a seven-night journey in the country’s southwest region, home to ancient villages, glorious vineyards and beloved painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. A warren of half-timbered homes and cobbled lanes, Albi serves as your base for excursions through the countryside and visits to glorious towns. Explore Toulouse, a city enhanced by the warm hues of its pink façades. Embrace the quaint town of Castres and witness Carcassonne, the largest fortress in Europe. Delight in hilltop Cordes-sur-Ciel and discover the flavors of Gaillac wine during a tasting. Your heart will yearn for the treasures of Albi! DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 | In Transit Depart your gateway city for Toulouse, France. Day 2 | Toulouse, France | Albi Transfer to Albi and check in to the Mercure Albi Bastides Hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Reception and Dinner tonight. Day 3 | Albi Enrichment: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Delve into the intriguing life of this French artist whose art provided insight into Paris’ bohemian era. Discovery: The Musée Toulouse-Lautrec. Visit the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec, home to the world’s largest collection of art by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The collection features many of Toulouse-Lautrec’s world-famous posters depicting Montmartre’s working-class neighborhoods. Discovery: Walking Tour and Cruise of Albi. Perched along the Tarn River, Albi offers a trove of Gothic architecture. Revel in the elaborate carvings and exquisite interior of the vast Cathédrale SainteCécile. Then board a gabare, a traditional flatbottomed wooden boat, and cruise along the Tarn. Enjoy lunch featuring regional cuisine. Day 4 | Montauban
AHI Connects: Country Encounters. Meet the owners of a family-run dairy farm, which uses both innovative and traditional milking methods and is home to chickens, sheep, cows and rabbits. Tour the farm and taste the delicious cheese made on the property. Next, journey through the hills to a winery that produces a variety of delectable wines. Learn
how the owners create bold, rich flavors using old and modern techniques. Then sample their wine varietals and tour the winery. Continue to the Degan family farm and settle in for a lunch made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Discovery: Tour of Montauban. Montauban’s historic city center features many lovely monuments, including the Church of Saint-Jacques and a 14thcentury bridge. Witness neoclassical buildings and the Place Nationale, an inviting central square bordered with arcades and blush-hued architecture. Then step inside the newly renovated Musée Ingres to browse collections by Montauban native JeanAuguste-Dominique Ingres and other artists. Day 5 | Castres | Carcassonne Discovery: Tour of Castres. Visit Castres and marvel at its colorful, half-timbered craftsmen houses along the Agout River. Once home to dyers, tanners and papermakers, they stand tribute to the town’s success in the trade and textile industries.
Discovery: Canal du Midi Cruise. Glide on Europe’s oldest canal on a leisurely cruise. The canal snakes its way through the land’s natural contours and reveals epic views of the medieval city. Discovery: Welcome to Carcassonne! Enjoy an introduction to this walled, medieval citadel, which boasts over 1.5 miles of defensive ramparts as well as draw bridges, towers, spires and fountains. Enjoy free time to soak up the city’s welcoming ambience. Day 6 | Toulouse Discovery: Walking Tour of Toulouse. Explore “La Ville Rose,” beginning at the Place du Capitole, a large plaza anchored by classic 18th- and 19thcentury architecture, including the grand Capitole. Visit the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, Europe’s largest surviving Romanesque church. It is considered by many to be the most glorious of all churches along the Way of St. James. Stroll along the waterfront and the old quarter, a blend of elegant restaurants, shady squares, trendy cafes and whimsical shops. Celebrate the day over lunch at a local restaurant.
Enrichment: The Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade. Learn about the turbulent relationship between the Catholic Church and the Cathars. Day 7 | Cordes-sur-Ciel Discovery: Cordes-sur-Ciel and Gaillac Wines. Journey through the stunning Midi-Pyrénées countryside to Cordes-sur-Ciel. Meander along timeworn lanes, viewing Gothic buildings, and marvel at sweeping views of the Cérou Valley below. Dine on regional favorites during a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before continuing through France’s oldest wine-producing region. Visit a winery and enjoy a tasting of Gaillac wines. Day 8 | Albi Enrichment: Contemporary France. Examine France’s political, economic and social status. Free Time: Craft your own adventure in Albi today. Perhaps search for treasures along the village’s narrow pedestrian streets or find a special riverside haven to relax and revel in dazzling views. Raise a toast to your French adventure at a Farewell Reception, followed by a Farewell Dinner. Day 9 | In Transit Transfer to the Toulouse airport for the return flight to your gateway city.
Accommodations {with baggage handling} – 7 nights in Albi, France, at the firstclass Mercure Albi Bastides Hotel. Extensive Meal Program –7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners, including Welcome and Farewell Dinners; tea or coffee with all meals, plus wine with dinner. –Opportunities to sample authentic cuisine and local flavors. NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT for Solo Travelers
Your One-of-a-Kind Journey – Small group: Sized just right at 24 guests. – Discovery excursions highlight the local culture, heritage and history. –Expert-led Enrichment programs enhance your insight into the region. – AHI Sustainability Promise: We strive to make a positive, purposeful impact in the communities we visit. – AHI Connects: Local immersion. –Free time to pursue your individual interests. –Welcome and Farewell Receptions to mingle with fellow travelers. –A personal VOX headset to hear your English-speaking guide clearly. –Tipping of guides and drivers. –Complimentary travel mementos.
DEPARTURES & PRICING
June 1-9, 2021
*Special price available for a limited time only. Call for details. VAT is an additional $295 per person. All prices quoted are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy and do not include air transportation costs (unless otherwise stated). Single supplement waived for solo travelers! This offer is limited, capacity-controlled and tends to sell out quickly.
Program-specific terms and conditions are available on our website under the Pricing & Air Options tab on the trip page. You can also request a copy from our travel experts.
Note: Itinerary sequence and/or scheduled events may change. Walking is required on many excursions.
Flights and transfers provided for AHI FlexAir participants.
