2022-2023
W&L LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMS
Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends, Washington and Lee University operates one of the most respected arrays of lifelong learning programs in the nation. In this brochure, you’ll discover the many exciting trips, campus seminars, and virtual programming that we have prepared for you in 2022–2023. With the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccinations among our community, we are eager to resume with you a continuing discovery of our world. The best way to celebrate W&L’s enduring commitment to lifelong learning is to experience it personally. You, too, can share in the life of the university with an educational adventure on campus or abroad. You’ll find the companionship of exploring the world with compatible minds rewarding, as well. As travelers, we delight in the history and culture of foreign lands, places wholly apart from the familiar customs and routines of our neighborhoods; places that open our eyes and all our senses to what is new and different, that rekindle the wonder of discovery and the goodwill that naturally comes with it. The W&L campus is a shorter journey for most travelers. Through the Alumni College, we encourage you to satisfy your enduring curiosity about the world, to think with us about history, philosophy, literature, the arts and sciences, and current events. As always, the journey involves a lot of fun. At W&L, it begins with our delight in one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, the traditional warmth of its hospitality, and the engaging expertise of the W&L faculty. You don’t have to leave home to enjoy lifelong learning through W&L. We’ve created several virtual programs that you can enjoy in the comfort of your living room. “W&L After Class,” a podcast series with W&L faculty; “Lifelong Learning Webinars,” timely panel discussions on current issues with W&L faculty and alumni expertise; and the “W&L Virtual Book Club” together offer a rich variety of educational opportunities you’ve come to expect from Washington and Lee. Many adventures await you in 2022–2023. Please take a few minutes to read through this catalog, and prepare yourself for some tough choices! We look forward to welcoming you to the next chapter in a lifetime of learning. Sincerely,
Rob Fure Director of Lifelong Learning
Ruth Candler Asst. Director of Lifelong Learning
Lisa D’Amelio Program Coordinator
Phone: 540-458-8723; Email: lifelong@wlu.edu; Fax: 540-458-8478 Follow us on
@wlulifelong and
#wlulifelonglearning
Cover photo by Volodymyr Byrdyak
2022–2023 Campus and Travel Programs Jan. 4–15, 2022
June 4–13, 2022
Oct. 5–15, 2022
Antarctica
Jane Austen and the Georgians
Walking in Tuscany and the Italian Riviera
Jan. 13–24, 2022
June 15–25, 2022
Antarctica
Voyage to the Lands of Gods and Heroes
Oct. 8–16, 2022 Flavors of Catalonia
Feb. 2–7, 2022 Wild Baja: The Whales of Magdalena Bay
July 6–9, 2022
Oct. 14–15, 2022
Alumni College: A Family Adventure in Science Outdoors
Law and Literature: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
July 8–18, 2022
Oct. 31–Nov. 10, 2022
Great Journey Through Europe
Morocco: Medinas and Minarets
Feb. 4–14, 2022 Patagonian Adventure
March 4–5, 2022 The Institute for Honor Symposium: The Civil War and the Ethics of Loyalty
July 10–15, 2022
Nov. 4–19, 2022
Alumni College: Perspectives on the Middle East
Safari to Tanzania and Kenya
April 8–9, 2022
July 17–20, 2022
Costa Rica Family Adventure
Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar: Rebecca Makkai, The Great Believers
Alumni College: Three Great Russian Composers and the Russian Revolution
Jan. 17–24, 2023
April 21–27, 2022
July 20–23, 2022
Six-Day Getaway to Berlin
Alumni College: Poets of the Neighborhood: Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson
Dec. 26–Jan. 3, 2023
Galapagos
April 28–May 7, 2022
March 22–April 2, 2023
The Undiscovered Italy
May 13–21, 2022 Flavors of Sicily
Feb. 17–March 4, 2023 Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
July 24–29, 2022
Japanese Immersion Cruise
Alumni College: The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
April 14–22, 2023 Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
May 27–June 4, 2022
July 30–Aug. 8, 2022
Flavors of Sicily
Scotland: Highlands and Islands
June 2–12, 2022
Aug. 5–12, 2022
Her-Spania: A Woman’s History of Spain
Discover Southeast Alaska
May 26–June 3, 2023 Flavors of Dordogne
Danube River Cruise
Aug. 18–28, 2022 June 3–12, 2022 Grand Canyon Rafting Expedition
June 21–July 1, 2023
Majestic Great Lakes
Campus Program Reviews
“We were first-time attendees, and our expectations (which were high to begin with) were exceeded!”
“We had a wonderful time in every way. You nourished us: heart, mind, body, and soul. Thank you so very much.”
“Excellent program, and the presentations were excellent. The best program from top to bottom in recent memory!”
“As a first-time participant, this program was a wonderful introduction to the Alumni College. I was very impressed by the format, staff, and amenities. Would definitely return.”
“Thank you for a wonderful weekend. Every aspect of the symposium was fabulous. The W&L way.” “What a joy to see people so knowledgeable and at ease with their subject matter. The high energy, enthusiasm, and sense of humor of the faculty was contagious. They are a credit to W&L.”
“This is a high-quality program in content, teaching, and facilities.” “Super! The staff was responsive + helpful. Food was great.”
Campus Programs 2022 March 4–5 Institute for Honor Symposium: The Civil War and the Ethics of Loyalty
April 8–9 Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar: The Great Believers with Rebecca Makkai ’99
July 6–9 A Family Adventure in Science
July 10–15 Perspectives on the Middle East
July 17–20 Three Great Russian Composers and the Russian Revolution
July 20–23 Poets of the Neighborhood: Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson
July 24–29 The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
Oct. 14–15 Law and Literature Weekend: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, GEOGRAPHY AND MAP DIVISION
The Institute for Honor Symposium: The Civil War and the Ethics of Loyalty With Noted Civil War Historian Elizabeth Varon | March 4–5, 2022 W&L’s fall, winter, and spring weekend seminars continue to be a popular feature of the Alumni College, for the programs offer participants a substantive weekend getaway in the beautiful environs of Lexington and Rockbridge County. Participants stay in local inns, and the program, receptions, dinner, and lunch take place on campus. Programs begin on Friday afternoon and conclude after lunch on Saturday.
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stablished in 2000 by a generous endowment from the Class of 1960, W&L’s Institute for Honor sponsors several initiatives and programs designed to promote the understanding and practice of honor as an indispensable element of society. The Institute for Honor Symposium is dedicated to the advocacy of honor as the core value in personal, professional, business, and community relations. The symposium is directed by Barton Myers, the Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and History.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” —Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 1865
Elizabeth Varon
Ricardo A.Herrera
North and South, Blue and Gray, Yankees and Rebels. The Civil War era has frequently been reduced to neat dichotomies without careful investigation into the nuances and motivations behind loyalty. For this year’s Institute for Honor Symposium, “The Civil War and the Ethics of Loyalty,” three exciting speakers will improve our understanding of the mid-19th century by examining the many-layered issue of allegiance. Each speaker will reexamine the most divisive period in our country’s history by offering new perspectives on wartime loyalty. Such issues as liberation, Union, secession, freedom, and independence during this time of great national discord can be better understood through a deeper awareness of the complexity of allegiance. Faculty for the symposium include Elizabeth Varon, Langbourne M. Williams Professor of American History at the University of Virginia; Barton Myers, Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and History, associate professor of history at Washington and Lee University; Ricardo A. Herrera, professor of military history at the School of Advanced Military Studies, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and Hilary N. Green, associate professor of history in the Department of Gender and Race Studies and coprogram director of the African American Studies program at the University of Alabama.
Hilary N. Green
Barton Myers
The Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar: The Great Believers Featuring the Author Rebecca Makkai ’99 | April 8–9, 2022
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his year marks the 17th annual Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar, W&L’s ultimate book club. Sponsored by the W&L Class of 1951 in honor of their late classmate Tom Wolfe, the program honors a distinguished writer and observer of the American scene. Our most recent program featured Delia Owens’ bestselling debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, which tells the story of Kya Clark, a young girl abandoned by her parents, who must fend for herself in extremely impoverished circumstances. This year, we turn to one of our own, Rebecca Makkai, W&L class of 1999, whose critically acclaimed novel, The Great Believers, was a National Book Award Finalist and was selected as one of the 10 Best Books of 2018 by The New York Times Book Review. Described by Michael Cunningham in his NYTBR review of the novel as “an antidote to our general urge to forget what we’d rather not remember,” The Great Believers is a dual-plot story about loss and recovery, illness and mortality. Set in Chicago during the 1980s and, through interwoven chapters, in Paris in 2015, the novel chronicles the rise of the AIDS epidemic among a group of gay men during the early years of the crisis. A parallel story follows a mother’s search for her estranged daughter in the labyrinth of contemporary Paris. The daughter has no desire to be found, while her mother, Fiona, terribly seared by the loss of so many friends to AIDS during her youth, may be driven more by maternal instinct than by a mother’s love. The Great Believers, writes Cunningham, “is peppered with surprises, a minor wonder in a narrative so rife with dreadfully foregone conclusions.” The writing is crisp and moves at a sure pace, the characters so well-drawn that we are reminded that AIDS has a human face, indeed.
Makkai is the author of three other novels: Music for Wartime, The Hundred-Year House, and The Borrower. Her fiction has been published in The Best American Short Fiction, Harper’s Magazine, and Tin House, among many other publications. She currently lives in Chicago and Vermont with her husband and two daughters. Joining Makkai in the program are Lesley Wheeler, Henry S. Fox Professor of English, and Edward Adams, professor of English. Each will discuss The Great Believers from a variety of perspectives. What does the novel tell us about relationships haunted by an oppressive sense of mortality, the human longing for community, and the intricacies of family life? Further, what moved Makkai to write about the AIDS crisis and the lingering effects of the crisis on those fortunate enough to have survived it? The discussion of these challenging questions should make for a most illuminating seminar.
A Family Adventure in Science Outdoors July 6–9, 2022
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ome share W&L and Lexington with your children and grandchildren in our special familyoriented campus program, which is built around amazing explorations and discoveries with the W&L faculty. Now in its 11th year, this program is specially designed for children ages 8–14, their parents and grandparents.
From the famed Colonnade on W&L’s campus and beyond, incredible adventures await you. Are you ready for an active scientific treasure hunt in the outdoors? Grab your hiking shoes and notepad because the clues may be a challenge to find. Each one will lead you to the next exciting segment of our three-day adventure on and around campus. We’ll explore a creek bed for critters and discover how rich in life a simple neighborhood creek can be. Want to see how rivers erode bedrock in a cool science lab, then discover how it has actually happened on the river? We’ll hike along the Maury River through a towering forest of broadleaf trees and study the rock record written in the limestone cliffs along the river’s banks. Get ready for a picnic lunch on a rock that is more than a million years old! It could lead you to a discovery of what makes a plant thrive in certain areas of our back campus, or it might help you understand how critters live in streams and rivers. Like bugs? We can find them and learn more about their habitat and why it is important to keep it healthy for them. If you’re curious and love adventure, this is the program for you. We’ll learn some basic outdoor skills, such as knot-tying and how to read a map with a compass, and collect stories to tell your friends back
home, along with lots of useful knowledge for your next adventure. This program will feature short field trips and laboratory sessions led by W&L science faculty. Parents and grandparents accompany their children and participate in nearly every phase of the program.
Perspectives on the Middle East July 10–15, 2022
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espite reasons for optimism in some areas, many nations in the Middle East continue to face extraordinary challenges. Armed conflict and insurrection flare across the region, with bloodshed extending well beyond the atrocities perpetrated in recent years by the Islamic State and the Assad regime in Syria. An ongoing war within Sunni and Shia Islam, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran, drags on. That contest, most clearly evident in Syria and Yemen, has spread to Qatar, Iraq, and Lebanon. Egypt has clamped down on every form of dissent, justifying brutal policing tactics in the name of fighting terror. Egyptian President Sisi and Turkish President Erdogan have in recent years not just consolidated their power but extended their terms of office.
In response, U.S. policy in the greater Middle East has wavered, leading to increasing involvement in certain conflicts, attempts to escape others, and uncertainty in most. In 2018, the United States announced its latest troop surge in Afghanistan. After canceling talks with the Taliban in 2021, the U.S. withdrew with tragic clumsiness from its longest war. Support for Saudi Arabia’s erratic leader, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been surpassed only by support for Israel. While peace and prosperity remain the advertised objectives of U.S. policy, the path toward these objectives often resembles a quagmire. Yet there is far more to this extraordinary region than conflict. History in the Middle East runs deep, and the variety of cultures, ethnicities, and languages is vast. Islam is the dominant religion, but it means different things to different people in different places. The roles of women are constantly changing, and women are now competing with men across a range of societal spheres.
“Perspectives on the Middle East” will offer an introduction to all of these themes and to the broader heritage of the region. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the cultural and political complexities of the Middle East as well as some encouraging developments. W&L faculty include Seth Cantey, Robert Strong, and Alia Bassiouny. Serving as distinguished visiting faculty are Miriam Cooke, Craven Professor Emerita of Arab Cultures at Duke University; and Bruce Lawrence, Marcus Humanities Professor Emeritus of Religion, also of Duke.
Short Program: Three Great Russian Composers and the Russian Revolution July 17–20, 2022
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he winds of social upheaval that swept through Russia in 1917 reshaped her musical landscape. Already on the wane in Europe, as indicated by the atonal and serial works of composers like Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern, high romanticism lost favor with the Soviet government. How would three of the towering Russian musical figures of this era, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev, and Dmitri Shostakovich, cope with life in a post-Revolutionary world?
Influenced by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff’s works were rooted in the romantic tradition. He composed music for orchestra, chorus, and solo vocalists but is best known for his piano pieces. Rachmaninoff fled Russia after the Revolution. While his music remained romantic at its core, it took on more chromaticism in its expressivity. We will examine some of his pre- and post-revolution works for piano, cello, and voice to reveal the changes that took place.
sometimes put him at odds with the government. A 1930 review of his opera, “The Nose,” accused him of creating something that was incomprehensible to the people and ideologically wrong. By sampling his symphonic, chamber, piano, and solo vocal works, we will reveal the paradoxes in his life and work. Keenan Reesor of Southern Virginia University will discuss the historical context for these musical developments while W&L music faculty Greg Parker and Julia Goudimova, along with Reesor, will discuss and perform examples of the music of the three composers.
Prokofiev left Russia after the Revolution only to return some 20 years later. His post-Revolution music exemplified the trend towards neo-classicism that also characterized the works of Stravinsky. This leaner, cleaner style squared with the doctrine of Socialist Realism espoused by the Union of Soviet Composers: Music should be concrete and comprehensible by everyday citizens. Prokofiev is best known as a composer of operas such as “The Love for Three Oranges.” We will also study examples of his piano, chamber ensemble, and vocal music. Shostakovich never turned away from Mother Russia and was generally supportive of Soviet reforms. His First Symphony was the first Soviet work to gain fame in the West. However, his use of various compositional techniques
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Short Program: Poets of the Neighborhood: Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost July 20–23, 2022
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he poetry of Emily Dickinson (1830-1885) and Robert Frost (1874-1963) is familiar to us not merely because it is distinctively American but also because it is local. While New England was their common ground, their most frequent subjects were found in their neighborhoods. Dickinson’s poetic perceptions drew upon her immediate surroundings, the birds and plants of her backyard. In “The Robin’s my Criterion for Tune,” for example, she contrasts England and New England, directly connecting her style and voice to the birdsongs and blooming flowers nearby. The robin sings an “ode familiar,” and in response to that song, Dickinson fashions her own highly original poetry. The buttercup and daisy, the nut of oak or hickory, the deep snows of winter — these are the inspirations for Dickinson’s poetic tableaus. And yet the poems she creates through her encounters with her local place are queenly, as regal as they are provincial. They “rule the Noon” because she sees “New Englandly.”
As different as they are in style, vision, and voice, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost are good neighbors to one another, and also to the natural world they explore in striking ways. Helping us appreciate their remarkable poetry will be Jim Warren, Mason Professor of English emeritus; Laura-Gray Street, associate professor of English at Randolph College; and Mark Long, professor of English at Keane State College in New Hampshire.
For Frost, a poem like “Birches” begins with a simple observation of young birch trees bent over against a line of straighter, darker trees. The poet imagines a young boy riding the birches, swinging up and down on them in the exuberance of youth. He then recalls that he himself was “once a swinger of birches,” until the poem takes all of us to a farther place, “toward heaven.” Local observation grounds meditation, memory, and reflection. Another famous New England poem, “Mending Wall,” ponders whether “good fences make good neighbors.” The seasonal ritual of replacing the fallen stones of a wall separating the neighbors’ properties becomes the poet’s ground for teasing his neighbor with new questions and insights. But like the swinger of birches or a good neighbor, Frost always returns to earth and to the solid ground beneath his feet. Illustration by Sabina Radeva
The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance July 24–29, 2022
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merica is a nation of many voices. In our history, there have been moments when social forces, popular culture, and political life have coalesced to form new national expression and new artistic achievement. The Founding Era is one example; so too is the American Renaissance of the 1850s. The period of the Harlem Renaissance in the early 20th century is another. Within a few decades, American art and culture expanded in ways that are still influencing our self-understanding and artistic production today.
At the end of World War I and continuing into the Great Depression period of the 1930s, African-American artists created a community of art and cultural achievement that was remarkable. Fueled by the Great Migration of African-American peoples from the rural South into the great cities of the Northeast and Midwest, the Harlem Renaissance brought together literature, music, visual art, dance, and other art forms in an explosion of creativity. Harlem itself became the focal point not just of AfricanAmerican art, but also of the night-club scene, as the Cotton Club, Small’s Paradise, and Connie’s Inn became centers of music, dance, and social life. Political life was quickened as the NAACP and Urban League grew in stature partly through their support of the Harlem artists. The leaders of the Harlem Renaissance form a virtual who’s who of African-American cultural achievement: Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson, and many others. Great jazz musicians formed a central part of the Renaissance. Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington, singers Bessie Smith and Billie Holliday, and the great dancer and fashion icon Josephine Baker.
In this program, we’ll examine the historical causes and context of the Harlem Renaissance. We’ll survey the major achievements of the movement, including Hughes’s great lyric poetry, Hurston’s fiction, and the seminal essays and art of the movement. We’ll also enjoy selections from the music that defined the Age of Jazz. Finally, we’ll consider the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how this signal event continues to shape American thought and art to this very day. Serving as faculty will be Lena Hill, provost and professor of English and Africana studies; Michael Hill, professor of Africana studies; and jazz expert and performer Damani Phillips from the University of Iowa.
Law and Literature Weekend Seminar: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Oct. 14–15, 2022
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n its unparalleled run of 26 years, the Alumni College’s Law and Literature Weekend Seminar has relied on a highly effective model: gathering professors and participants to study a single work of literature from legal, ethical, and literary perspectives. The results can be exhilarating. Each fall, the School of Law chooses a compelling text, assembles a team of professors, invites participants to Lexington, and clears the way for a unique sharing of ideas and responses.
The Law and Literature program for 2022 will focus on Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus (1818), the story of a young scientist whose unorthodox experiments end up creating the famed “monster.” But is it rather Dr. Victor Frankenstein who, in his reckless hubris, is the real monster in the book? The young scientist’s ambition and ruthless pursuit of knowledge has become a contemporary image of science out of control and the need for ethical limitations on scientific discovery. Shelley also explores family relationships and the effects of alienation from society — the reason the outcast “monster” becomes a murderer. For participants interested in the law, the novel raises currently important issues of regulating science and technology. Is AI (artificial intelligence), including the trend toward automated decision-making in legal contexts, our own out-of-control “monster”? Has the technology on which companies like Facebook are based gone too far without legislated boundaries? Beyond concerns with science and technology, the novel includes depictions of injustice in unsympathetic criminal courts: two innocent characters are condemned to death, one on weak evidence and one for his religious beliefs alone, and
another has his property cruelly confiscated. This Gothic tale is sure to inspire much discussion. Teaching in the program will be law professors Brian Murchison and Joshua Fairfield, English professor Taylor Walle, philosophy professor Erin Taylor, and Dave Caudill from Villanova Law School. As a bonus to practicing attorneys, the 2022 program will again seek approval for two hours of Continuing Legal Education ethics credit. The program is open to anyone interested in literature; you don’t need to be an attorney to attend. Mikki Brock, Law and Literature Weekend, 2021
Accommodations, Dining, and Fees Accommodations For lodging on campus during the summer at a minimal cost, we can offer spacious, private accommodations in the new Village townhouses and apartments. Each Village apartment offers double-bed accommodations. Each single is assigned a private bedroom and bath. Each apartment includes kitchen, laundry, furnished sitting room, convenient parking, and Wi-Fi access. Residents will need to bring towels and linens.
Our summer program menu is justly famous. You will be served bountiful, tempting lunches and dinners in the main dining room of Evans Hall. We make every effort to accommodate special dietary needs. W&L’s national award-winning food service continues to be one of the truly outstanding features of the Alumni College.
Fees If you prefer off-campus accommodations, Lexington has a wide array of lovely and comfortable lodgings. To explore accommodations in town, please consult the Lexington Visitors Center website: lexingtonvirginia.com/directory/ lodging
As many participants testify each year, the Alumni College remains a bargain vacation. Our comprehensive fee, designed merely to recover W&L’s costs, includes 10 meals (Sunday evening through Friday lunch program), all instruction, books, films, performances, and incidentals. Following your registration in the program, you will receive additional program materials, along with your bill, payable on June 1.
Program Rates (per person) Five-Day Program
$795
Three-Day Program
$495
Family Adventure Program The Georges
Weekend Seminar
Adults, $395 Children, $295 $225
The W&L Traveller June 2022–June 2023 Her-Spania: A Woman’s History of Spain June 2–12, 2022
Jane Austen and the Georgians June 4–13, 2022
Voyage to the Lands of Gods and Heroes June 15–25, 2022
Great Journey Through Europe July 8–18, 2022
Scotland: Highlands and Islands
Flavors of Catalonia Oct. 8–16, 2022
Morocco: Medinas and Minarets Oct. 31–Nov. 10, 2022
Safari to Tanzania and Kenya Nov. 4–19, 2022
Costa Rica Family Adventure Dec. 26, 2022–Jan. 3, 2023
The Galapagos Islands Jan. 17–24, 2023
Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
July 30–Aug. 8, 2022
Feb. 17–March 4, 2023
Discover Southeast Alaska
Japanese Immersion Cruise
Aug. 5–12, 2022
March 22–April 2, 2023
Majestic Great Lakes
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
Aug. 18–28, 2022
April 14–22, 2023
Walking in Tuscany and the Italian Riviera
Flavors of Dordogne
Oct. 5–15, 2022
May 26–June 3, 2023
Danube River Cruise June 21–July 1, 2023
Her-Spania: A Woman’s History of Spain June 2–12, 2022
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wo of the W&L Traveller’s veteran hosts, Florinda Ruiz and Lorri Olan, have designed a fascinating tour of Spain, an extraordinary country of vibrant cities, culinary treats, hospitable people, and stunning art and architecture. The tour’s emphasis is on the remarkable women who have shaped the history of Spain, from saints, queens, and nuns to artists, scientists, and lawmakers. Visiting particular sites and monuments, you will learn interesting facts and stories about Spain’s most distinguished.
Our program begins in Spain’s capital, mighty Madrid, for its historic landmarks, enticing street energy, and one of the finest concentrations of art on Earth. Delve into the city’s treasures from the Prado Museum to Palacio Real, and from elegant Plaza Mayor to bohemian La Latina, sampling some of Spain’s best tapas. From Madrid, enjoy a day trip to the grand Monasterio del Escorial, the historical residence of the King of Spain; and the charming Castilian town of Segovia. Continue overland to the medieval walled city of Ávila enroute to Salamanca, Spain’s famed Renaissance city and home to the prestigious Universidad de Salamanca, one of the world’s oldest universities. We then travel deep into Andalucía, with Córdoba our entry point into this breathtaking corner of Spain. The obvious highlight is Córdoba’s 8th century Mezquita, an immense mosque dating from 784 A.D. However, dinner with local W&L alums will undoubtedly be one, too. In Seville, witness the dazzling Reales Alcázares, the Royal Palace boasting the greatest example of Mudejar (Christian-Muslim) architecture, as well as the passion of Flamenco during a private dance
performance. We conclude with a memorable visit to Granada’s incomparable Alhambra and a final dinner in the Albaicín embracing Spanish cuisine in all its variety. And if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also enjoy free time in each city so your own adventure can unfold!
Price: $6,990 from Madrid, Spain Operator: Criterion
Jane Austen and Georgian Treasures of South England June 4–13, 2022
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nglish novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817) is famous the world over for her entertaining critiques of Georgian society. Following the maxim that to know a person is to walk a mile in their shoes, we invite you on this exclusive W&L program to travel to the places of Jane Austen’s life in the south of England, many of which have appeared in adaptations of her work for the small and big screen alike. Escorting this tour will be W&L’s own Austen expert, Taylor Walle, assistant professor of English.
Following a night in historic Windsor, we’ll travel to Austen’s home in Chawton, a quaint village of rosecovered cottages and where she wrote the majority of her published works. We’ll see women’s writing celebrated at Chawton House, once her brother’s home, while at Berkeley Castle, another Georgian female writer, Elizabeth Craven, led a different life. We’ll also visit architectural stunners like Wilton House, Montacute House, and Bowood, which are all featured as locations for film adaptations of Austen’s work and bring her written words to life. To fully understand Georgian society, we’ll explore towns like Wells, Lacock and Salisbury as well as the country’s only surviving Rococo garden. Bath is the key to knowing Regency society intimately. Our private visits to No1 Royal Crescent, the Assembly Rooms where Jane attended balls, and the Fashion Museum with its period gowns all afford insight into the period that Jane Austen discusses. Lastly, we’ll pay our respects to the writer at Winchester Cathedral, where she is buried. Adding to the relaxation of the tour, we’ll spend seven nights at Bailbrook House Hotel, which dates back to the 1790s and is surrounded by acres of private grounds. Located minutes from Bath, Bailbrook will give us easy access to all of the beautiful landscapes, stunning architecture and lavish interiors on our itinerary that match the quality of Jane Austen’s writing.
Price: $5,995 from London, England Operator: Criterion
Voyage to the Lands of Gods and Heroes June 15–25, 2022
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ew destinations capture the imagination as do Athens and the islands of the Aegean Sea. The magnificent Temple of Athena atop the Acropolis in Athens and the city’s new, dazzling Acropolis Museum are themselves unforgettable. But along the shores of the Greek Isles lie hauntingly beautiful ruins of ancient temples, cities, and palaces. The ancient Greeks built an empire throughout the Mediterranean and, though it vanished long ago, its poetry survives in word and stone. Our program begins with three days in Athens, where we’ll tour the city’s many monuments and amusements. For the subsequent seven-day cruise, we’ll call at ports whose names are synonymous with the legends — both classical and modern — that have flourished throughout this historic sea. Widely believed to be the location of the lost city of Atlantis, Santorini is most easily recognized by its precipitous cliffs topped by whitewashed villages and, at the center of the famous caldera, the still-smoldering core of its ancient volcano. We’ll then call at Crete, the largest of the Greek islands and home to the Bronze Age Minoan civilization and the fabled palace of Knossos. On the island of Rhodes, the legendary way station of the crusading Knights of St. John, we’ll survey stunning examples of Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman architecture. Our cruise itinerary includes several other islands including Delos, legendary home of Apollo, before returning to our home port at Piraeus. For this exclusively W&L voyage, we’ve chosen the 34-passenger motor yacht Callisto for its nimbleness and charm. Throughout the cruise, expert guides will lead our excursions while on-board lectures by Professor
Kevin Crotty will enhance our understanding of how much of what we cherish and espouse grew from Classical Greek origins. If you’re looking for a small ship experience of the Greek Isles, this is a generous as well as exclusive opportunity. Ask us about special family rates.
Price: from $6,990 from Athens, Greece Operator: Thalassa Journeys
Great Journey Through Europe July 8–18, 2022
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repeat of a popular trip six years ago, this generous four-nation river-and-land journey evokes the Grand Tour of Europe popular with American and English travelers of recent centuries. Our itinerary combines historic and cultural visits with impressive scenery in the nations of the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland. Among our destinations will be the UNESCO-designated section of the Rhine River, three
of Europe’s legendary railways and four additional UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Following an arrival-day tour of Amsterdam, we’ll begin our cruise on the Rhine River through the Dutch polder land reclaimed from the North Sea. Our ship is the newly launched deluxe MS Amadeus Imperial, unquestionably one of the finest vessels sailing Europe’s waterways. Our calls during the five-night cruise of the entire length of the Rhine include the German towns of Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mannheim and Heidelberg; the lovely Alsatian city of Strasbourg in France; and, finally, Basel, Switzerland. From Basel, we’ll travel overland through the verdant countryside of Switzerland. Here we’ll visit the medieval capital, Bern, and enjoy lunch in the Kornhauskeller. Following two nights in lovely Lucerne at the four-star Hotel Astoria and a journey to the top of Mount Pilatus, we’ll cross the Alps aboard the celebrated Glacier Express. Finally, in Zermatt, we’ll view the iconic Matterhorn as we travel aboard the Gornergrat Bahn, the country’s oldest cog railway. The program concludes with two nights in the Alpine resort of Zermatt. W&L Provost Lena Hill and Africana Studies Professor Michael Hill will be our faculty hosts. With beautiful scenery, fascinating cities and cultural treasures, and the fine accommodations of a beautiful river vessel and hotels, this is the W&L Traveller’s 21st-century version of the Grand Tour.
Price: from $3,995 from Amsterdam, The Netherlands Operator: Gohagan & Co.
Scotland: Highlands and Islands July 30–August 8, 2022
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e invite you to explore the inspiring history, distinctive culture and legendary sites of Scotland. Our itinerary includes the bustling cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh; the romantic, windswept islands of Skye and Arran; and the spectacular Scottish Highlands. Escorting our tour will be popular W&L British Isles historian Mikki Brock, who has deep research interest in Scottish history.
We have many pleasures ahead of us: cruising the Loch Ness to Inverness (alert to monsters of the deep), sampling heavenly spirits refined over centuries, and enjoying the iconic music that so beautifully illustrates the history and legends of this extraordinary land. We’ll wander cobblestoned streets on panoramic city tours, explore venerable castles, tour the Isle of Skye, visit colorful shops to browse works crafted by skilled masters, and perhaps even try on a traditional tartan. This journey also provides private access to Culloden Battlefield and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, plus behind-the-scenes access to Glamis Castle. An additional optional excursion allows guests with Scottish heritage an opportunity to investigate their own ancestry, connecting personally with Scotland’s fabled history. One of the dramatic highlights of this itinerary is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a thrilling international performance of music, dance and military maneuver. Popularly known as the “Athens of the North,” Edinburgh was built to the human scale, and it invites and amply rewards intelligent tourism as well as hours of independent exploration.
Accommodations for this grand adventure offer splendid Scottish hospitality and all the comforts of home. Availability is limited as the tour is likely to fill quickly. If you would like to join us, we encourage you to act without delay.
Price: from $5,595 from Glasgow, Scotland Operator: Orbridge
The Majestic Great Lakes August 18–28, 2022
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n W&L’s latest voyage across our nation’s inland seas, we’ll behold the dramatic shorelines and pine-forested islands of the Great Lakes, as well as many charming small towns and three major cities of America’s heartland.
Our itinerary begins with a one-night hotel stay in Chicago, followed by a tour of Chicago’s many attractions before boarding the M/V Ocean Voyager at the city’s revitalized lakefront. Our cruise begins with a voyage north on Lake
Michigan to the tip of Lake Huron. On the following day, we’ll spend a day on Mackinac Island, where we’ll ride in a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy a luncheon at the iconic Grand Hotel and delight in the city’s Victorian-era charm. Our next call will be the oldest city in the Midwest, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the intersection of three of the Great Lakes: Huron, Superior, and Michigan. At Whitefish Bay, we’ll observe the action at the Soo Locks, one of the world’s largest and busiest sets of locks. Thereafter, sailing further into Lake Huron, we’ll call at Manitoulin Island, where we’ll discover ancient native traditions amidst the island’s lush scenery. After a day of scenic sailing on Lake Huron, we’ll call at one of America’s most vibrant cities, Detroit, Michigan, where popular cultural history comes vividly to life at the Motown Museum. Next, we’ll cruise along Lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio, where we’ll experience the city’s remarkable renaissance along with several cultural sites, including the magnificent Cleveland Museum of Art. Following a voyage across Lake Erie and passage through the Welland Canal, our cruise climaxes with a visit to the thundering beauty of Niagara Falls. Our tour concludes after a short voyage across Lake Ontario to beautiful Toronto, where we’ll the have the option of a post-cruise extension in one of Canada’s most fascinating capitals. Featuring a tastefully appointed interior with only 101 staterooms, the M/V Ocean Voyager well expresses the grace of small-ship cruising. To enrich our travel experience, this voyage includes a stimulating variety of expert-led shore excursions as well as onboard talks by W&L faculty escort Tim Diette, professor of economics.
Price: from $4,699 from most U.S. cities Operator: Go Next
Walking in Tuscany and the Italian Riviera October 5–15, 2022
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ast W&L travelers have observed that a walking tour allows the traveler time not only to enjoy the sites at leisure but also to peer “into the lives of others.” A walking tour in Tuscany and the Italian Riviera compels the traveler to slow down, take it all in, and savor the exquisite tranquility of quaint hill towns that hurried travelers miss. To know a place well, one must measure it on foot, taste its wines and cheeses, listen to the melody of its vernacular in the winding lanes of its villages, and savor its palette of fragrance in the open air. From such intimate experience, one derives a lifetime of memories and, inevitably, a nagging urge to return.
For this sweet immersion in Tuscany and the Italian Riviera, we’ve turned to friends thoroughly familiar with the undulating hills and back roads of Northern Italy, the picturesque villages and vineyards, and the charming hotels where hospitality is still a family affair. This will be a diet-friendly walking tour with Florence, Montalcino, Colle Val d’Elsa, and Sestri Levante as our home bases as we make our gentle progress through such towns as San Gimignano and Lucca in Tuscany to the tiny cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre. Each day, we’ll walk between three and six miles as we sample the vintages and delectable cuisines of Northern Italy. We’ll rise each day to the evocative murmur of the local life in historic towns, stroll along lightly traveled, cypress-lined byways, dine in the charming trattorias and ristorantes that only seasoned travelers know, and rest each night in wellchosen small hotels and inns. With fine guides, wine with all dinners, and transportation for those choosing to rest between destinations, the Italian Walks package is bound to surpass a variety of expectations. This exclusively W&L tour will be limited to 26 travelers.
The scenery will be inexpressibly lovely, of course, the food and wine exquisite, the exercise invigorating, and the fellowship superb as we come to know the subtle flavors of this beloved region of Italy.
Price: from $6,280 from Florence, Italy Operator: Royal Adventures
Flavors of Catalonia October 8–16, 2022
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he renowned rugged coast of Spain’s Costa Brava region is well known for its remarkable natural beauty, distinctive art, and unique architecture. Proudly known by its residents as Catalonia, the region has its own political as well as cultural identity. Beyond the storied history of the region, Catalonia’s independent spirit derives in part from what she sets before her guests. In this reprise of a popular Flavors tour of 2017, we’ll again discover how the gracious Catalans employ traditional ingredients fresh from farm and sea to create the region’s distinctive cuisine.
We’ll enjoy a beautiful boutique inn for our accommodations. Located just outside of Girona, El Racó de Madremanya, a Relais du Silence property, offers convenient access for exploring the region. Modern comforts and old-world charm blend together in
a tastefully refurbished 17th-century property set within a medieval village and surrounded by lush gardens. The spacious common areas provide ample room for relaxation after an exciting day of exploration. The region offers fascinations too numerous to mention in any detail here. Nearby Figueres is the birthplace of Salvador Dalí and the location of the world-famous Dalí Museum. Quaint villages in the rolling countryside tempt the visitor to bide a while, while larger towns like Girona, La Bisbal, and Cadaqués pull you into the region’s relaxed lifestyle. In addition to enjoying the historic sights of Costa Brava, we’ll devote each day to authentic experiences with chefs, winemakers, and artisan producers. We’ll savor many of the outstanding Catalonian recipes and wines in exclusive cooking classes, tastings, and guided tours. Join us as we revel in Spain’s celebrated art, architecture, and history with visits to world-famous sites and cultural monuments. Our tour will be led by W&L art historian and Catalonian expert Elliott King. Space is limited as the W&L Traveller’s Flavors programs are quite popular.
Price: from $3,995 from Barcelona, Spain Operator: Orbridge
Safari to Tanzania and Kenya November 4–19, 2022
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f you want to combine the best of African wildlife with the comfort, sophistication, and security of East Africa’s superb game lodges, Tanzania and Kenya are both the most accessible and the most reliable. Here you’ll find the Big Five — lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and cape buffalo — at home in the fenceless immensity of the Serengeti. In the vast stillness of the Maasai Mara, one of the earth’s largest natural game preserves, you’ll observe the big cats stalking wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle moving in herds as large as a lake. You’ll come upon families of hippos wallowing in the tree-lined rivers that ribbon through the savannas and, in one of earth’s largest skies, the most amazing variety of birds anywhere on the planet. You’ll also visit the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s greatest arenas of wildlife, and Tarangire National Park, which is known for its huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, eland, oryx, and elephant. At Amboseli National Park, located at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll discover the Africa that entranced such famous writers as Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark. This is also the realm of the Maasai, where it’s not unusual to see the proud Maasai tending their cattle as you traverse their territory. You’ll also learn about several wildlife conservation efforts that are helping to assure the health and abundance of East African wildlife for future generations. A safari in East Africa offers more than just another wildlife tour; it is a journey into the heart of nature. On the immense arena of the Serengeti, where a million animals still live in total freedom, the drama
of creation plays out each day. Happily, you’ll still be able to sleep at night, for the accommodations that we’ve included are extraordinarily comfortable. This year, give yourself and your loved ones the gift of the wild kingdom in memories that will surely last a lifetime.
Price: $8,795 from Arusha, Tanzania Operator: Classic Escapes
Top photo: Andrey Gudkov; Bottom photo: Oleg Znamenskiy
Costa Rica Family Adventure December 26, 2022–January 3, 2023
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e invite you and your family to join us on a natural history adventure just after the Christmas holidays in beautiful Costa Rica. A democracy for more than 100 years, Costa Rica is a friendly and peaceful destination that appeals to all ages. With more than 25% of its land set aside for reserves, this small nation is famous for its biodiversity, with 850 species of birds, hundreds of waterfalls, pristine beaches, tropical rainforest, and cloud forests along with an astonishing array of wildlife. Working with our favorite Latin American tour operator, we have designed this trip to include expert naturalist guides, three distinctive hotel properties, and a number of options that will appeal to a broad range of ages and interests. Our tour begins in San José, Costa Rica’s capital, with a visit to a coffee plantation, where we’ll learn about the
cultivation, harvest, production, and roasting of coffee. We’ll also visit the immense crater of Poás Volcano, one of the few active volcanoes in the continent, and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, whose natural wonders include five majestic waterfalls, hummingbird, and butterfly gardens. Our journey continues to the town of La Fortuna, home to the majestic Arenal Volcano, where we’ll enjoy options for horseback riding, bathing in hot springs, walks over suspended hanging bridges, and zip-lining through the forest. On our way to the scenic Pacific Coast, we’ll pause at the Tarcoles River and board a safari touring boat to search for crocodiles and a brilliant variety of aquatic birds. Our hotel on Costa Rica’s central Pacific Coast is adjacent to a wildlife reserve featuring whiteface monkeys, spider monkeys, sloths, coatis, and armadillos. From here, we’ll explore two famous national parks: Carara and Manuel Antonio national parks. During our excursions here, we’ll look for the endangered scarlet macaw, navigate on boats through the mangrove canals of Damas Island, and swim in the warm Pacific Ocean waters. Later, we’ll board a catamaran to snorkel and search for dolphins, migrating humpback whales, sea turtles, and manta rays. Each day will feature unforgettable wonders with expert guidance. We’ve taken care of all of the planning and logistics. We want you to be able to relax and enjoy time with your family amid the stunning natural beauty and remarkable wildlife of Costa Rica.
Price: $5,790 (lower rates for children) from San José, Costa Rica Operator: Royal Adventures
The Galapagos Islands January 17–24, 2023
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he moment you set foot on this rare earth, you’ll discover that freedom and fearlessness are a way of life on the Galapagos Islands. Whether strolling the islands’ pristine beaches, scanning the cliffs for the magnificent waved albatross, chatting with a friendly sea lion, or snorkeling with sea turtles, you’ll find that the gentle freedom of the Galapagos is contagious. Here, indeed, is the peaceable kingdom. This will be W&L’s eighth visit to the extraordinary natural environment of the Galapagos Islands. Here on the legendary islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, we’ll find the rich abundance of wildlife that so inspired Charles Darwin. Widely considered the world’s most important center for the study of evolution, the Galapagos are home to a unique variety of flora and fauna. Here among the spectacular geology of these rugged volcanic islands, we’ll observe the giant Galapagos tortoises, flocks of frigate birds and blue-footed boobies, Darwin’s finches and Galapagos penguins, colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions, along with whales and other fascinating sea life. No other place on earth affords such close access to wildlife, for none of the animals or birds has ever learned to fear man. Here, indeed, we’ll discover one of the last places on earth where all things live in harmony. After a visit to Quito in the high Andes, our home among the islands will be the M/Y Isabela II, a versatile 166foot high-end expedition vessel with 20 spacious cabins comfortably accommodating 40 guests. Designed for active exploration of the Galapagos, the Isabela II can reach places inaccessible to larger ships because of her small size. A staff of resident naturalists will be on hand to point out particularly unusual wildlife behaviors and
characteristics so that you may observe, inquire, and react as it unfolds before your eyes. Throughout our voyage, we’ll enjoy abundant opportunities for hiking, snorkeling, and photography. We invite you to discover why the Galapagos has been one of W&L’s favorite destinations.
Price: from $4,995, from Quito, Ecuador Operator: Orbridge
Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos: The Cultural Mosaic of Southeast Asia February 17–March 4, 2023
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ur most culturally exotic adventure for 2022-2023, the Thailand, Laos and Cambodia itinerary offers a rich variety of history, scenic splendor, and striking political change. The sheer sensual detail of this part of the world is as intense as ever. Everything seems bright and vivid, as if the tropical climate required bold strokes for breath itself. On previous ventures to Southeast Asia, we discovered a region of immense history made all the
more dramatic by a teeming drive toward modernity. Now, through improved infrastructure and dazzling new hotel properties, we’ll find this fascinating mosaic of small nations even more accessible and wondrous. We’ll begin in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, with tours of Southeast Asia’s most visually stunning city as well as Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the Thai people. After three nights at Bangkok’s renowned Peninsula Hotel, we’ll fly to the mountainous province of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s fabled Shangri-La, with its lush vegetation, historic temples, and colorful festivals. Following visits to Elephant Eco Valley, Chiang Rai, and the Golden Triangle, we’ll travel for two days on the Mekong River to Laos and Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage city. After three days of immersive experiences with Lao culture, we’ll fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Here, we’ll spend the remainder of our time exploring the magnificent immensity of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer kingdom, as well as the many marvels of the Siem Reap region. With a remarkable array of historic sites, cultural encounters, and beautiful scenery, along with splendid accommodations throughout, this is the W&L Traveller’s most ambitious and, we think, most rewarding tour of Southeast Asia yet.
Price: $6,395, from Bangkok, Thailand Operator: Classic Escapes
Japanese Immersion Cruise March 22–April 2, 2023
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apan’s dramatic coastlines, volcanic mountain ranges, and misty forests so often depicted in Japanese art reveal a country of extraordinary diversity and natural beauty. The soaring mountains of the nation’s interior range, combined with the proximity of her craggy coastline, create deep valleys with swift rivers and pristine lakes. Scattered throughout the countryside are quiet villages, and yet, within a short distance by high-speed rail, teeming cities rise in steel and neon. Throughout her vast archipelago, Japan is also a country of varying climates, hot in summer, cold in winter, with spring and fall sweetly mild. Our objective on this 10-night cruise from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond is to savor both the exquisite natural beauty of Japan in spring as well as the delicate complexities of her many traditions.
We’ll embark in Tokyo and sail to Shimizu to experience the serenity of Japanese woodlands and a view of the majestic Mount Fuji. In Kyoto, we’ll visit the remarkable shrines and Shinto temples of Japan’s old Imperial capital. In Hiroshima, a city that has risen from the ashes to become a thriving metropolis, we’ll visit the deeply moving Peace Museum. After a brief sojourn across the Kanmon Strait, we’ll call in Busan, the second largest city in South Korea, a hub of Korean culture, tradition, and modern life. On our return voyage to Tokyo we’ll enjoy days in Nagasaki, another ancient Japanese city that has had a phoenix rebirth after WWII; Hososhima, with its Myokoku-ji Gardens and Omi Shrine; and a view of Sakurajima, one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. Our ship of choice is Oceania Cruises’ luxurious Nautica, an award-winning ship with world-class cuisine and many
elegant amenities. Providing insights throughout our voyage will be Janet Ikeda, W&L professor of Japanese. W&L’s previous travels to Japan, as well as our extensive network of contacts through W&L’s East Asian Studies Department, will help ensure a rewarding perspective on this fascinating country.
Price: from $5,249 from most major U.S. cities Operator: Go Next
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast April 14–22, 2023
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o the inveterate Italian visitor, the Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s hidden gems. The spectacular coastline of the Sorrentine Peninsula south of Naples offers by itself a visual feast. Here you’ll find, nestled within the precipitous cliffs facing the Mediterranean, such lovely towns as Positano and Amalfi as well as Sorrento, our base for an eight-day exploration of this region. The colorful villages scattered along the Amalfi Coast have always attracted visitors. Their appeal lies not only in their beauty and the sweet vagaries
of local culture but also in a rich architectural and cultural legacy of fine churches, villas, and monasteries. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on the Amalfi Coast each year to enjoy the local cuisine and wine. Limoncello is unique to the region. Summer vacationers seek the sea coast and verdant islands — Capri lies an easy ferry ride away — while students of Italian history and culture gather to learn the melodic Italian language and stroll the haunted lanes of ancient Pompeii. Italy is always appealing but, as you will discover on this more focused tour of Italy, the Amalfi Coast has its own unforgettable charm. This distinctive adventure will combine tours of Positano and Amalfi, Naples, the Isle of Capri, and Sorrento. We’ll also tour the famous archaeological sites of Paestum and Herculaneum, then (assuming conditions are favorable) the rim of Vesuvius, the region’s notorious volcano. Because one must somehow cope with the bountiful temptations of Italian cuisine — 13 included meals and a visit to a mozzarella cheese farm — nearly every day will offer walking opportunities, particularly in the Punta Campanella (Land’s End), one of the more scenic areas of the peninsula. Early enrollment is strongly encouraged as our Italy trips tend to fill quickly. Roundtrip air from Washington, D.C., is included in the package price.
Price: $3,995 from Washington, D.C. Operator: Jet Vacations
Flavors of the Dordogne May 26–June 3, 2023
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n the Dordogne, all of France’s provincial charms have been distilled into one of the most beautiful regions of Europe. The medieval town of Sarlat-La Canéda, for example, one of the gems of the Périgord, boasts the greatest concentration of medieval, Renaissance, and 17th-century facades of any town in Europe. The Périgord Noir, where we’ll spend most of our time, is a lushly forested corner of Aquitaine embraced by the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. From any angle, the area is rapturously lovely, but it is also a gourmet’s dream: the home of
France’s finest foie gras, truffles, strawberries, walnuts — the quintessence of Gallic cuisine. Here, we’ll find wonderful markets with a mouth-watering tableau of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats, as well as crafts and a colorful array of French country folk. Our base camp for this extraordinary week will be a lovely Relais et Châteaux property, the Château de la Treyne. A stately home imbued with a storied history that traces back to the 14th century, Château de la Treyne towers over the surrounding landscape and offers exceptional views of the Dordogne River. Fringed by a private forest and French-style gardens, Château de la Treyne is the ideal base from which to set off and explore this fascinating region. But wait, there’s more: the chateau’s chef adapts the cuisine of the terroir based on foie gras or lamb from the nearby Causses du Quercy nature park. We’ll need to choose between dining in the Grand Louis XIII Salon or on the terrace overlooking the Dordogne. We’ll learn much about the culture and history of southwest France through our leisurely visits to SaintÉmilion, Sarlat, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, and La Roque Gageac, one of France’s most beautiful villages. We’ll also enjoy an afternoon cruise on a river barge, participate in French cuisine cooking classes, study the prehistoric paintings at the Rouffignac Grotte, and visit the pilgrimage site of Rocamadour. This, too, will be a Flavors trip worth savoring.
Price: from $5,995 from Bordeaux, France Operator: Orbridge
Danube River Adventure June 21–July 1, 2023
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uropean river cruising has long been among the W&L Traveller’s most popular travel options. For our 2023 river journey, we’re pleased to return to the Danube River. Cruising through the center of Europe on her most celebrated river, we’ll visit the quaint river towns and old-world capitals that have made a Danube River cruise such an appealing destination for travelers. As a special enhancement, this itinerary will begin with two days in Prague, the Czech Republic capital that boasts Europe’s most impressive display of historic architecture. Over 11 days, we’ll visit four countries: the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. After our days in Prague, we’ll travel to Nuremberg, our point of embarkation on the Main-Danube Canal. Once aboard our ship, we’ll sail through the heart of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and into the resurgent nations of Central Europe with a final call in the splendid city of Budapest. One of the advantages of this cruise is that, in addition to the many sights, we’ll enjoy learning about the history
and culture of our destinations from W&L faculty and others. In addition to the Danube’s magnificent scenery, we’ll enjoy a private concert featuring the works of Strauss and Mozart in the grand splendor of the iconic Palais Liechtenstein, sample beer at one of the world’s oldest breweries in Regensburg, explore powerful WWII history in Nuremberg, and marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Český Krumlov and Melk Abbey. This special departure represents an outstanding travel value with seven nights aboard the deluxe MS Emerald Dawn, two nights in Prague’s President Hotel, all meals on the river, daily sightseeing tours, gratuities to guides and ship’s crew, and several cultural immersion events and lectures included in one very attractive price. If you haven’t tried European river cruising yet, please consider joining the many aboard who have.
Price: $4,345 from Prague, Czech Republic Operator: Go Next
W&L Scrapbook
“There’s not enough space here to say how absolutely wonderful, amazing, incredible, awesome and fabulous the safari was!! Each day better than the day before, each place so beautiful and awe-inspiring. The weather was perfect, the wildlife-viewing beyond my wildest dreams!” “For most travelers, it was the perfect way to see all that the grand tour affords. For us, packing and unpack-
ing is not as easy as it used to be. That said, I would not have missed a thing.” “To be honest, I was apprehensive about taking a group tour. But after experiencing this W&L Traveller tour, my wife and I are already discussing where we will go next with the program.” “The people we met were the nicest group of people we have ever traveled with.”
“Our faculty escort was so much fun: great personality and so knowledgeable. Wonderful W&L representative. Hopefully, he will be sent on Traveller programs again!!” “My most vivid memory of the trip? The wonderful friendships we developed with other W&L Alumni on the tour. We all bonded. These will be lasting friendships.”
Additional Travel Program Information
Goals and Expectations: The W&L Traveller Programs are designed to provide exciting and enriching educational travel opportunities to W&L alumni, parents, and friends. All tour participants are expected to enjoy traveling as members of a group and as such can anticipate the many advantages of group travel as well as changes, delays, or minor mishaps that may occur in any kind of travel, whether it be group or individual. Our programs are closely managed by the personnel of the Office of Lifelong Learning working in conjunction with tour operators. While management staff will do their best to look after the individual needs of travelers, their principal concern, necessarily, will be the welfare of the group as a whole.
the final terms of the tour package. Balance of payment is due upon receipt of final invoice or approximately 60 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified by the tour operator.
Tour Costs: Dates, schedules, program details, and costs, based on information available and in force by Jan. 1, 2022, are subject to change and revision. Please note that all tour prices are per person based upon double occupancy. Single occupancy is available on a limited basis for each program at a single supplement charge. For singles wishing to share accommodations, we will do our best to make appropriate pairings.
Program Selection:
Cancellations and Refunds:
The W&L Traveller Program is compiled by W&L’s Office of Lifelong Learning from proposals by the finest tour operators specializing in educational travel. Our sponsorship of specific tours means that tour operators have met our criteria of financial responsibility, established reputation, professional staff, efficient operation, and general dependability. In contracting with tour operators, the Office of Lifelong Learning ensures that neither Washington and Lee University nor the Office of Lifelong Learning will be held liable for any failure by tour operators to uphold contracted services or to meet the expectations of our travelers. In serving W&L travelers, our principal agency is on behalf of our travelers’ realization of the program’s objectives and expectations as advertised.
Unless otherwise noted, the initial deposit for all tours is fully refundable up to six months prior to departure. After this time, tour participants are subject to cancellation policies governing the particular trip in which they are enrolled. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other included features. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
Registration: Reservations are now open for 2022–2023 tours and are honored in order of receipt. Deposits, which are requested upon receipt of reservations, indicate your acceptance of
Additional Information: On the following registration form, please check the program(s) for which you would like to have an itinerary and package description and return the form to us. We will respond promptly to your inquiries as we receive them at Washington and Lee University, Office of Lifelong Learning, Early-Fielding Memorial Building, 204 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450-2116. If you wish to make your inquiries by phone, please contact Rob Fure, Ruth Candler, or Lisa D’Amelio at (540) 458-8723, or email them at lifelong@wlu.edu.
Registration Form I would like to enroll in the following vacation seminar(s) of the 2022 W&L Alumni College:
The Institute for Honor: The Civil War and the Ethics of Loyalty Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar with Rebecca Makkai ’99 A Family Adventure in Science Outdoors Perspectives on the Middle East Three Great Russian Composers and the Russian Revolution Poets of the Neighborhood: Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance Law and Literature: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
March 4–5, 2022 April 8–9, 2022 July 6-9, 2022 July 10–15, 2022 July 17–20, 2022 July 20-23, 2022 July 24-29, 2022 Oct. 14-15, 2022
Please send me more information about the following W&L Traveller destinations:
Her-Spania (6/2-12/22) Jane Austen and the Georgians (6/4-13/22) Lands of Gods and Heroes (6/15-25/22) Great Journey through Europe (7/8-18/22) Scotland: Highlands and Islands (7/30-8/8/22) Discover Southeast Alaska (8/5-12/22) Majestic Great Lakes (8/18-28/22) Tuscany and the Italian Rivera (10/5-15/22) Flavors of Catalonia (10/8-16/22)
Morocco: Medinas and Minarets (10/31–11/10/22) Safari to Tanzania and Kenya (11/4-19/22) Costa Rica Adventure (12/26/22-1/3/23) The Galapagos Islands (2/17-24/23) Thailand to Cambodia (2/17-3/4/23) Japanese Immersion Cruise (3/22-4/2/23) The Amalfi Coast (4/14-22/23) Flavors of Dordogne (5/26-6/3/23) Danube River Cruise (6/21-7/1/23)
Please reserve the following place(s): I will be there. I will be there with my spouse/guest.
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Comments or Questions
Space is limited, so early application is encouraged Please direct questions to Rob Fure, Ruth Candler, or Lisa D’Amelio, Office of Lifelong Learning Phone: 540-458-8723; Email: lifelong@wlu.edu; Fax: 540-458-8478 Mail, email, or fax:
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after class PODCAST
Lifelong Learning Webinars (go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/ webinars) Through our new webinar series, you have an opportunity to attend talks and participate in discussions with W&L faculty and other alumni on front-page issues of our day. Webinars are available live for interactive discussions or through recordings archived on our website. Recent webinars: • Beyond the Classroom: Frontiers of Faculty Research • Truth, Opinion, and the News Media • Prejudice, Discrimination and Anti-Racism Winter webinar: • Sustainability: Challenges, Strategies, and Technologies (January–February 2022)
W&L After Class: The Lifelong Learning Podcast (go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/ podcasts) Among lifelong learners, intellectual curiosity is a habit of mind. In “After Class,” our ongoing series of conversations with W&L faculty, you’ll encounter an extraordinary variety of subjects, from the familiar to the exotic. You’ll meet many new faculty who will introduce you to new worlds, along with favorite professors whose lives may now seem friendlier, more immediate. Through Lifelong Learning’s podcast series, we invite you to attend the kinds of discussions you had in faculty offices or along the Colonnade, those engaging conversations that remain such a vital part of the W&L experience.
W&L Virtual Book Club (go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/ bookclub) Together we will connect with our university alumni family, faculty, and staff as we read and discuss recent novels, histories, memoirs, and other bestsellers. We are eager to share in this experience of lifelong learning as we explore several of the great books available today. Books we’ve read: • A Gentleman in Moscow • The Other Wes Moore • All the Light We Cannot See • Code Girls • Pachinko • The Alice Network • Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland Now reading: • The Great Believers by W&L’s own Rebecca Makkai ’99
Office of Lifelong Learning 204 W. Washington Street Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116
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