May 3 to 18, 2019 a Program of the Stanford Alumni Association
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ANCIENT SITES AND UNTAMED PLACES May 3 to 18, 2019 a program of the stanford alumni association Great Britain’s legendary history has been the inspiration for writers, musicians and travelers for centuries. The first time I visited the area in the 1980s, I was struck by the palpable images of its storied past that seemed to linger everywhere, from ancient churches and ruins to misty landscapes and craggy shorelines. Join Stanford professor Linda Paulson aboard the Ocean Adventurer as we sail among the 6,000-plus islands that surround England and delve into the civilizations that have influenced these remote isles—from Stone Age dwellers and Saxon invaders to Celtic tribes and Norman conquerors. As we sail past the shale-and-sandstone cliffs that frame the shores of these mystical isles, keep an eye out for the real-life winged creatures that dwell among the cliffs. Come cruise these haunting waters with us! BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights CAPTION HIKE atop the 40,000 OBSERVE the habits EXPLORE the remarkably LEARN about all aspects naturally formed hexagonal of the colorful puffin and well-preserved Stone Age of these wild places from our basalt columns that make up other native birds such as village of Skara Brae and remarkable roster of some Giant’s Causeway, located the guillemot, kittiwake view the nearby enigmatic six trip leaders that includes on the coast of Northern and razorbill. Standing Stones of our faculty leader, as well Ireland. Stenness and the Ring as a naturalist, geologist, of Brodgar. historian and ornithologist. COVER: RING OF BRODGAR, ORKNEY ISLANDS GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, NORTHERN IRELAND Stanford Faculty Leader DR. LINDA PAULSON discovered Europe as a teenager, traveling with family and visiting friends, and has tried to spend a part of every year there ever since. She majored in English, French and art history as an undergraduate and taught at an international orphanage in Switzerland after graduation. She returned to the U.S. and earned her PhD in comparative literature at UCLA, specializing in 19th-century British, French and German literature, particularly the novel. Since coming to Stanford in 1985, she has shared her love of theater with thousands of undergraduates, some of whom she takes to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival several times a year. “Comparative literature,” says Dr. Paulson, “tempts me to range across disciplines and to “It doesn’t study history, art, theater and music, along with literature—a constant challenge and delight.” — Associate dean and director, master of liberal arts program, Stanford University get any — Lecturer, Stanford’s English department — Resident fellow, Donner House since 1986 better — Recipient, Stanford’s Dinkelspiel Award for distinguished teaching and service to the University than Expedition Leaders Since 1990 Stanford Travel/Study has partnered with Zegrahm Expeditions to combine some of Linda.” the world’s most remote destinations with expedition leaders and naturalists who are experts in their fields and passionate about the natural wonders we encounter. Joining Professor Paulson on TONY BROOKE, ’77, this voyage is expedition leader and Zegrahm cofounder Mike Messick, historian T.H. Baughman, MBAMARY ’81, FIEDLER, PROVENCE ANDNEW THEZEALAND FRENCH BY naturalist Madalena Patacho, geologist Tom Sharpe and ornithologist Jim Wilson. RIVIERA,PRIVATE AIR,2014 2011 SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?britain2019 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 TRESCO ABBEY GARDENS, ISLES OF SCILLY Shetland Islands to the Faroe Islands Lerwick Orkney Islands Isle of Noss Flannan Islands Kirkwall Mousa St. Kilda SCOTLAND Fair Isle Staffa Aberdeen Atlantic North Ocean Iona Sea Isle of Islay Edinburgh Portrush NORTHERN UNITED FAROE ISLANDS IRELAND KINGDOM Gjogv IRELAND Saltee Islands Isle of Man Saksun Dunmore East ENGLAND Streymoy Eysturoy Skellig WALES London Gásadalur Islands Falmouth/ Bour Penzance Vágar TrshavnNólsoy Isles of Scilly Portsmouth FINGAL’S CAVE, STAFFA each dome emulating a natural THURSDAY, MAY 9 SATURDAY, MAY 11 biome. Or, take a walk through DUNMORE EAST / PORTRUSH, NORTHERN Itinerary the expansive Trelissick Garden, WATERFORD OR IRELAND / GIANT’S SALTEE ISLANDS CAUSEWAY / RATHLIN noted for its impressive collection From the port city of Dunmore ISLAND / ISLE OF ISLAY FRIDAY & SATURDAY, of camellias, rhododendrons and East opt to drive through scenic Disembark at Portrush and travel MAY 3 & 4 azaleas; the garden also offers countryside to Waterford and visit overland to the World Heritage DEPART U.S. / glorious views of the Fal River LONDON, ENGLAND the renowned Waterford Crystal site of Giant’s Causeway. and the distant rolling hills. Board independent overnight glassworks to watch master This three-mile-long section OCEAN ADVENTURER (B,L,D) flights to London. Upon arrival on craftsmen at work or tour nearby of coastline is a geological Saturday, check in to our hotel, Mount Congreve, a magnificent masterpiece—with some 40,000 TUESDAY, MAY 7 closely packed hexagonal with the rest of the day at leisure ISLES OF SCILLY 18th-century Georgian estate with columns of varying heights lining to explore the city independently. Because they are warmed by beautiful gardens. Alternatively, the coast and descending like Gather at our hotel this evening the North Atlantic Drift, the Isles cruise toward the privately a staircase into the sea. After for a welcome reception and of Scilly have allowed the islands’ owned Saltee Islands. These lunch, go ashore on the Isle dinner. HILTON LONDON PADDINGTON inhabitants to turn a passion islands attract a variety of birds of Islay for a tour of the world- HOTEL (5/4: D) for growing flowers into a major to their craggy masses; on Great famous Lagavulin Distillery. industry. This morning board local Saltee Island search for puffins, OCEAN ADVENTURER (B,L,D) SUNDAY, MAY 5 boats and cruise to Tresco to visit murres, razorbills, gannets and LONDON / PORTSMOUTH the ruins and exquisite subtropical more of the 47 bird species that / EMBARK SUNDAY, MAY 12 gardens at the medieval Tresco have been recorded here. This After breakfast, depart via motor afternoon, re-embark our ship in STAFFA, INNER coach and visit Stonehenge and Abbey. OCEAN ADVENTURER (B,L,D) HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND / Kilmore Quay. OCEAN ADVENTURER Winchester Cathedral. Enjoy IONA (B,L,D) Weather permitting, spend lunch in Portsmouth before a WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 SKELLIG ISLANDS, the afternoon exploring the tour of this famous port city. IRELAND FRIDAY, MAY 10 This afternoon embark our ship. The wonderfully remote Skellig PORT ST. MARY, OCEAN ADVENTURER (B,L,D) Islands are one of Europe’s most ISLE OF MAN, UK CROWN DEPENDENCY impressive seabird citadels; Little Enjoy a leisurely morning aboard MONDAY, MAY 6 Skellig is home to the second- FALMOUTH / PENZANCE ship as we cruise to Port St. Mary largest colony of gannets in the This morning take a stroll through on the Isle of Man. Ashore, board world. Other seabirds found here Trebah Garden, a beautiful the Isle of Man Steam Railway, include kittiwakes, razorbills, subtropical garden with a the last-remaining remnant from Manx shearwaters and nesting stunning coastal backdrop five the extensive Victorian rail system puffins. Dependent on weather miles southwest of Falmouth. that served the main centers on and permission to access, visit After lunch aboard our ship, the island. Ride through quaint nearby Skellig Michael, the site enjoy a tour of the Eden Project and picturesque villages to the of an important 6th-century in Penzance. This innovative southern resort of Port Erin. Anchorite monastery and today complex of domes houses OCEAN ADVENTURER (B,L,D) plants from around the world, a World Heritage site. OCEAN ADVENTURER (B,L,D) THE EDEN PROJECT, PENZANCE FINGAL’S CAVE, STAFFA LERWICK, SHETLAND ISLANDS uninhabited island of Staffa by TUESDAY, MAY 14 more. This evening go ashore at Zodiac and visit its most famous KIRKWALL / Mousa to view one of Britain’s feature, Fingal’s Cave. The cave’s ORKNEY ISLANDS finest Iron Age ruins, an unusually Optional Arrive today in the capital city peculiar rock formations and well-preserved 40-foot broch, or of Kirkwall on Mainland Island unusual coloring are a delight to dry stone structure, dating from Post-trip in the Orkneys for visits to the behold, and the wonderful echo about 200 C.E. OCEAN ADVENTURER magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral of the sea from within served as (B,L,D) and some of the island’s major Extension the inspiration for Mendelssohn’s archaeological sites. Maeshowe, Hebrides Overture. Stop next THURSDAY, MAY 16 a chambered tomb dating from at Iona where, in 563 C.E., the FAIR ISLE MAY 17 TO 21 2,800 B.C.E., is known for its (4 ADDITIONAL DAYS) missionary St. Columba built a One of the most isolated runic hieroglyphs left by visiting FAROE ISLANDS monastery and spread Christianity settlements in the British Isles, 12th-century Vikings. Then visit With dramatic landscapes throughout Scotland. Though it Fair Isle is renowned for the quality the enigmatic Standing Stones of green meadows, craggy suffered repeated attacks and and intricacy of its handmade of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar mountains and windswept destruction by Vikings over the sweaters that are crafted using and Skara Brae, a remarkably headlands, the remote Faroe centuries, the monastery was local wool. It is also famous as well-preserved Stone Age village Islands are a nature lover’s restored each time, and some of a haven for seabirds, including buried in sand some 4,500 years paradise. The hospitable the later buildings still stand. Visit gannets, murres, black-legged ago. Return to Kirkwall for an residents of this Danish-ruled the monastery site; the nearby kittiwakes, numerous gull species afternoon walking tour of this demi-country have a language cemetery of St. Oran, where and a large colony of puffins. After charming city.