STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Budapest to Tehran by Train ABOARD THE GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS March 26 to April 13, 2016 a program of the stanford alumni association STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Board the luxurious Golden Eagle Danube Express in Budapest, Hungary, bound for Tehran and experience the comfort and charm of Old World rail travel coupled with modern conveniences, off-train tours and great company. The rails lead from the heart of old Europe through Transylvanian and Ottoman territory into contemporary Iran, where the treasures of ancient Persia—fabulous archaeological sites, vibrant bazaars and soaring mosaic-clad architecture—demonstrate the long and proud history of the Persian people. We’ll explore 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites in five fascinating countries along the way, and finish by experiencing the openhearted hospitality of the people of Iran. Join us on this epic journey through an unfamiliar and atmospheric part of the world. BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY PERSEPOLIS, IRAN Highlights CAPTION BE AMAZED by a EXPLORE an under- PONDER the past amid STROLL through Shiraz’s show of traditional expert ground residential area the ruins of legendary Perse- peaceful gardens where Hungarian horsemanship and church, all hewn from polis, Darius I’s ceremonial Sufi poets meditated in on the puszta, the vast soft tuff rock in Turkey’s capital and one of the best- medieval times, and marvel Hungarian plain. otherworldly Cappadocia preserved sites remaining at the tiled mosques and region. from the ancient world. squares of Isfahan. COVER: ISFAHAN, IRAN AKDAMAR ISLAND ON LAKE VAN, TURKEY Stanford Faculty Leader SCOTT PEARSON is professor emeritus of agricultural economics at Stanford and former director of the Food Relief of an ancient Research Institute. As a 6-year-old growing up in a small town Assyrian king, Iran in Wisconsin, Scott Pearson was fascinated by geography. After he mastered the state capitals, his interest shifted to foreign countries and eventually to the seven continents. He remembers voraciously reading National Geographic articles, particularly those on the peoples of Africa. He joined the “Scott Pearson is Peace Corps in 1961 and served in Nigeria, which strengthened his commitment to understanding and improving the lives of what you hope others less fortunate. Thereafter, Scott realized his childhood for in a faculty dream of experiencing the world and studying its people; his career focused on international trade and development and leader. He was his retirement on the rise and fall of empires. Since retiring, not only a great he has lectured on more than 70 educational travel trips, and lecturer, but also he is one of Stanford Travel/Study’s most popular lecturers. a great fellow trav- — Professor of agricultural economics, Stanford University, from 1968 until his retirement in 2002 eler... we would — Director, Food Research Institute, Stanford certainly like to University, 1991–1996 — Regularly advised governments in Asia, Africa and travel with him southern Europe on food and agricultural policy again.” — Dean’s Award for Teaching, Stanford’s School WALTER FRANZ, of Humanities and Sciences, 1978 ‘62, VOYAGE FROM — MA, international relations, Johns Hopkins University SINGAPORE TO — PhD, economics, Harvard University INDIA , 2011 STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?budapest2016 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093 SOLTANIYEH MAUSULEUM, ZANJAN, IRAN HUNGARY CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY Budapest KAZAKHSTAN Kecskemét Sighisoara RUSSIA ROMANIA Brasov Veliko Tarnovo BlackSea BULGARIA Kazanluk Caspian Istanbul Sea Lake Cappadocia Van GREECE TURKEY Van Zanjan Mashhad Tehran M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a IRAN IRAQ Isfahan Yazd LIBYA Persepolis EGYPT Shiraz during which local riders display victory over the Ottoman Turks. SUNDAY, APRIL 3 Itinerary their expert horsemanship, then Near Kazanluk visit an ancient CAPPADOCIA continue across the Hungarian UNESCO-listed Thracian tomb Awake this morning in mesmer- SATURDAY & SUNDAY, Plain to Kecskemét. Marvel at site. This evening we head for izing Cappadocia, known for its MARCH 26 & 27 the city’s art nouveau buildings Turkey. GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE striking topography formed by DEPART U.S. / and sample local apricot brandy EXPRESS (B,L,D) wind and rain erosion of local BUDAPEST, HUNGARY before heading on our train to tuff rock. In the Goreme Valley, Depart the U.S. on overnight FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Romania. GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE marvel at the “Fairy Chimneys,” flights to Budapest. Upon ISTANBUL, TURKEY EXPRESS (B,L,D) tall columns of basalt formed in arrival, transfer to our five-star This morning we arrive in ancient times by cooling volcanic hotel conveniently situated in WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 Istanbul, the world’s only city lava. Visit cave-homes dating central Budapest on the banks SIGHISOARA, ROMANIA / that straddles two continents. back thousands of years that are of the Danube River. Meet BRASOV This cosmopolitan city that carved out of the soft tuff rock, fellow travelers this evening We arrive in UNESCO-listed was first know as Byzantium and also stop at the more recent at a welcome reception and Sighisoara this morning for a stroll and then Constantinople has underground Christian monaster- dinner. SOFITEL CHAIN BRIDGE through this charming medieval been home to many diverse ies and frescoed churches. HOTEL (3/27: D) Saxon town in Transylvania. Enter peoples. During our two-day YUNAK EVLERI HOTEL (B,L,D) the house of Vlad Dracul, Vlad the visit here, we stay at a centrally MONDAY, MARCH 28 Impaler’s father. Climb the Scholar’s located hotel in the old part of MONDAY, APRIL 4 BUDAPEST Stairway to visit the 14th-century the city. Visit the Blue Mosque CAPPADOCIA Budapest, Hungary’s exquisite Gothic church. Travel by train with its six minarets; Hagia Today we explore more of the capital city, boasts a wealth of through the scenic Carpathian Sophia, built in the 6th century geological and cultural wonders baroque, neoclassical and art Mountains to Brasov and tour by Emperor Justinian; Topkapi of Cappadocia before continuing nouveau buildings, and elegant Bran Castle, sometimes called Palace, once the enormous our journey east across Turkey’s shopping avenues. Visit the huge “Dracula’s Castle,” built in the residence of the Ottoman Anatolian Plateau. GOLDEN EAGLE neo-Gothic Parliament building 14th century. Reboard our train Sultans and now a renowned DANUBE EXPRESS (B,L,D) with its striking 16-sided rotunda. and continue on to Bulgaria. museum of the arts; and the TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Enjoy an evening cruise on the GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS Grand Bazaar, one of the largest LAKE VAN / VAN Danube. SOFITEL CHAIN BRIDGE (B,L,D) covered markets in the world, The next destination on our HOTEL (B,L,D) filled with treasures of every THURSDAY, MARCH 31 rail journey is Lake Van in description. ISTANBUL HOTEL TUESDAY, MARCH 29 VELIKO TARNOVO, easternmost Turkey, where we TBD (B,L,D) BUDAPEST / EMBARK BULGARIA / KAZANLUK stop at Tatvan on the shores of / LAJOSMIZSE / Explore the remains of the Royal this large lake. Visit Akdamar KECSKEMÉT Fortress atop Veliko Tarnovo’s SATURDAY, APRIL 2 ISTANBUL Island’s 10th-century Attend a reception in the Royal Tsarevets Hill, then stroll through Armenian Church of the Waiting Room of the Nyugati After a morning spent visiting the town, whose houses cling several of Istanbul’s numerous Holy Cross, known for its Station before boarding our to the hillsides. Reboard our high reliefs and interior private train. Stop in Lajosmizse historic sites, return to our train before it begins its climb to train and continue our journey frescoes. Continue for a spectacular horse show, Shipka Pass, which is marked by eastward to Cappadocia. GOLDEN to the Old City of a monument commemorating a EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS (B,L,D) Van, the ancient CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY ISTANBUL, TURKEY SHIRAZ, IRAN capital of the Urartu Empire and THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Koran Gate and continue to the and disembark our train. Tehran later an Armenian city that was MASHHAD Tomb of Hafez, Iran’s favorite poet, has been Iran’s most important destroyed in World War II. Tonight This morning arrive in Mashhad. and the Citadel of Karim Khan, city and capital since the 18th our train crosses the border Made famous by the death and a massive medieval stronghold. century. Now a huge metropolis, into Iran. GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE enshrinement of Imam Reza, the Later, travel by train to one of the it is replete with mosques, EXPRESS (B,L,D) city is one of the most sacred sites high points of our rail adventure: museums, minarets and a of Shi’ite Islam. Visit the areas of the the impressive ruins of Persepolis, sprawling bazaar. Begin our WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 Imam Reza shrine that are open an important ancient site and tour by visiting the Crown Jewels ZANJAN, IRAN to non-Muslims, the tomb and capital of the Achaemenid kings, Museum to view royal jewelry, After breakfast, visit Zanjan’s museum of Nadir Shah, and the a powerful dynasty that included the world’s largest uncut diamond UNESCO-listed mausoleum Khajeh Rabi Mausoleum. GOLDEN Darius I. Nearby rock carvings are and the Naderi Throne. After at Soltaniyeh, built in the 14th EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS (B,L,D) said to mark the tombs of Darius lunch, tour the opulent Gulestan century by a Mongol sultan to the Great and Xerxes. GOLDEN Palace complex, once a fortress house the remains of Imam Ali, FRIDAY, APRIL 8 EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS (B,L,D) and now a UNESCO World the son-in-law of Mohammed. YAZD Heritage site. ESPINAS HOTEL (B,L,D) The sultan later decided that he Today we explore the ancient SUNDAY, APRIL 10 town of Yazd, located between himself should be buried there ISFAHAN TUESDAY, APRIL 12 instead.