2010
The Roses of Pasadena:
Art, Food, and Entrepreneurial Women
September 17-19, 2010
Sitting at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, Pasadena has played a key role in California's history. In 1886, it became the second incorporated city in Southern California after Los Angeles. Today, it is an upscale community with a thriving arts, cultural, and entertainment scene, best known for the Tournament of Roses Parade that takes place every New Year's Day. Join Bay Gourmet Chair, Cathy Curtis for a weekend get-away to the "City of Roses" and explore the culinary and cultural highlights of Pasadena, with a particular focus on meeting with entrepreneurial women in the food industry.
Enjoy a private tour of the Norton Simon Museum of Art which houses an internationally respected collection of European and Asian art, as well as an extensive collection of Modern and Contemporary Art. Explore the Pasadena Farmers Market with local insiders and dine in the private home of one of L.A.'s top caterers. Discover the renown Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens during a private estate tour and wander amidst the extensive gardens which cover over 120 acres! Explore the Gamble House, an outstanding example of American Arts and Crafts style architecture.
During a culinary and tasting walking tour learn about the food and history of Old Pasadena. Colorful alleys and secret thru-ways spice up our path as we seek out spectacular ethnic eateries and sweets havens for tastings! Take a walk to the infamous Rose Bowl and stroll along Colorado Avenue, with its shops, galleries and bookstores.
Trip Cost: $1,175 per person, double occupancy
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In the Wake of Lewis and Clark:
Columbia and Snake Rivers
Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
September 18-24, 2010
Relive a vital chapter in our nation's history during this journey that takes you through a landscape that looks much as it did when they saw it two centuries ago. At the Columbia River, stand on deck as the ship is elevated more than 700 feet through a series of eight navigation locks, a marvel of modern engineering. At Buffalo Eddy see petroglyphs etched by the Native Americans. Follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Clearwater River, visiting several of their actual campsites and learn about their relationship with the Nez Perce. As we travel the Palouse River, search for the mule deer, American coots, western grebes, great blue herons and graceful cormorants. Venture through the Columbia River Gorge and encounter the 620-foot high Multnomah Falls. At the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, learn about the cataclysmic geological origins of the gorge, the region's diverse ecology, and its 10,000-year-old rich human history. At Fort Clatsop, where explorers hunkered down for the wet winter of 1805-1806, walk through the full-scale reconstructed fort. The Columbia River Maritime Museum chronicles the history of river navigation and this port town, the epicenter of the fur trading empire in the early 1800s.
This 6-night cruise starts and ends in Portland and is perfect for those who want to experience remarkable diversity without having to travel too far from home. These rivers and waters are perfect for exploring by small ship, kayak and Zodiac. All along the way, expert naturalists and historians explain and animate the life of this region for us.
Trip Cost: From $3,830 per person, based on double occupancy
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Empires of the Mediterranean Sea
Aboard the Corinthian II
October 5-18, 2010
For thousands of years, the Mediterranean has been the highway to empire. Visit Turkey, Greece, Malta, Croatia and Italy aboard the Corinthian II, which follows the wake of empire-builders, who spread civilization and culture throughout the Mediterranean.
In Istanbul, explore the glorious monuments of the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. On the island of Chios, visit the Nea Moni monastery, adorned with beautiful mosaics created by artists from Constantinople. In Valletta, witness exuberant architecture built by the Knights of St. John to celebrate their victory over the Turks before sailing to Croatia to see the medieval towns of Kotor and Dubrovnik, with their interplay of Venetian, Slavic, and Islamic influences. And at Nafpaktos view the site of the Battle of Lepanto, where a Christian fleet crushed the Turkish navy. Study leaders lecture on the ancient and modern history of the Mediterranean.
Trip Cost: From $7,995 per person, based on double occupancy
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Inside Washington, D.C.
October 17-22, 2010
During this exclusive program in our nation's capital, Club members will participate in a series of private Commonwealth Club forums held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Meet high-level representatives from within the presidential administration, Congress, the media, think tanks, and other prestigious organizations. These expert panels will be moderated by well-known Washington, D.C. journalists and cover topics on energy, the economy, and foreign affairs.
Enjoy private tours of the Capitol Building and the Supreme Court. Visit unique sites such as Lincoln Cottage, Dumbarton Oaks, the Newseum, and the Phillips Collection. (You can always extend a few days to return to your favorite spots or explore the city's wealth of museums on your own.) Stay five nights in deluxe hotel accommodations near Dupont Circle.
Trip Cost: $3,495 per person, based on double occupancy
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Peru: Land of the Andes, Incas, and Machu Picchu
October 2-11, 2010
Awaken your spirit in magical Peru, where breathtaking scenery and ancient mysteries weave together an inspirational journey of history, community and adventure. Starting in Lima, tour the Plaza de Armas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visit the Pisac citadel, with its magnificent stonework and panoramas; Ollantaytambo, a temple-turned-fortress; and Yucay, a paradise for adventure-seekers and zen-like travelers alike. Spend a day volunteering at the SOS Children's Village in Cusco, then depart on the scenic rail trip to the legendary "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu.
Set against a backdrop of cloud-covered Andean peaks, Machu Picchu's abandoned temples, houses and sacrificial altar remain a glorious and mystifying glimpse into the ancient world. Your eco-hotel, situated within 12 acres of cloud forest, is a wealth of biodiversity and features the largest native species orchid garden in the world. Take the option to hike part of the Inca trail to the citadel of Winaywayna. End your journey in colorful Cusco, where you'll visit incredible ruins like Tambo Machay, the traditional bathing place for Inca royalty. Continue with an optional extension to Puno and Lake Titicaca and its unique islands.
Trip Cost: $3,995 per person, based on double occupancy
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Vietnam and Cambodia
Temples and Waterways
(with an extension to Laos)
November 4-20, 2010
Join Ambassador James Rosenthal on this incredible journey to Southeast Asia. Start in bustling Hanoi, with its French colonial architecture and broad tree-lined boulevards. Continue through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, with scenes of rice fields and water buffalo, then board a boat for a cruise on Halong Bay.
Visit the impressive mausoleum complexes of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Explore charming Hoi An with its bridges and wonderful open markets. In Ho Chi Minh City visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum, then journey to the Mekong Delta and Can Tho to experience the canals and floating markets.
Fly to Cambodia's Siem Reap where we stay for three nights. Explore the amazing Khmer ruins at Angkor, one of the world's most impressive temple complexes. Join an optional 3-day/night extension to Laos. Throughout the trip hear lectures from Ambassador Rosenthal whose experience and knowledge from living and working in the region are a highlight of the journey.
Trip Cost: $5,595, per person (Laos extension $1,445)
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2011
South Africa and Namibia by Sea
Natural Treasures and Human Accomplishments
February 14-28, 2011
Round the Cape of Good Hope with us aboard the elegant 114-guest Corinthian II from Mozambique's attractive capital of Maputo on to South Africa's Table Mountain, Stellenbosch wine country, and wildlife preserves (where many of "the big five" can be seen). Experience Namibia's serene deserts, where you will enjoy a private dinner in the dunes.
Explore no fewer than five game reserves and national parks to admire South Africa's unbelievable variety of terrain and creatures. Marvel at the 150,000 birds flying their way across Walvis Bay, and travel through Namibia's Art Nouveau-influenced towns to abandoned diamond mines. From high savannah plateaus with giraffes and wildebeest to mountain wildernesses teeming with flowers and bird life, the transition from rugged forests to desert dunes will astonish and delight.
Accompanying us on the voyage will be guest lecturer Paul A. Volcker, Chairman of the President's Economic Advisory Board, as well as other speakers who will all enhance your experience via discussions on the economics, politics, history, culture, and nature of this incredible region. An optional post-trip extension to Victoria Falls is available.
Trip Cost: From $9,995 per person, based on double occupancy
Special rates and savings of $1,000 per person!
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The Red Sea, Nile Valley & the Holy Land
With four nights aboard the M.Y. Harmony V
March 23–April 4, 2011
Five thousand years of human history, achievement and faith are explored on this one-of-a-kind journey through Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Join us as we sail along the ancient trade routes of the Red Sea aboard the exclusively chartered M.Y. Harmony V, an intimate, deluxe ship with only 25 cabins.
Stand face to face with the Sphinx in the shadow of Giza's pyramids. Spend one night in the awe-inspiring city of Luxor to visit the Pharaonic splendors of the Nile Valley, including the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Karnak. Wind through dramatic wadis to the sixth-century Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Bask in the glory of the legendary "Rose-Red City" of Petra, hewn from sandstone cliffs by the ancient Nabataeans 2,000 years ago, and discover the sacred sites of the Holy Land in the ancient cities of Jerusalem and Nazareth.
A Cairo Pre-Program Option is also offered.
Trip Cost: From $4,795, per person, based on double occupancy
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The Eastern Mediterranean to the Adriatic
Venice and the Medieval World
Aboard the Corinthian II
April 22-May 4, 2011
Throughout the Middle Ages the art, architecture, music, and science of Venice were influenced and enriched by the Byzantine and Islamic civilizations that flourished in the Aegean, Asia Minor, and the Middle East.
Setting forth from Cyprus, we sail to Israel, where we offer you the option of exploring the Roman city of Caesarea and the Crusader sites of Akko, or joining a full-day excursion to the holy places in Jerusalem. We'll continue to explore the rich interplay of cultures that is the hallmark of the old Venetian colonies in the Eastern Mediterranean: the magnificent Crusader castle, Krak des Chevaliers, in Syria; the Byzantine monuments embellished with Venetian flourishes on the island of Crete; the immense ruins of Methoni, a formidable Venetian fortress that guarded the trade routes from Asia Minor to Venice; and the Roman and Romanesque monuments of Zadar in Croatia. Our ship for this idyllic spring voyage is the incomparable all-suite Corinthian II, a ship that is modeled on the comforts and elegance of a private yacht.
Trip Cost: from $8,395, per person, based on double occupancy
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Legendary Turkey
From Istanbul to the Turquoise Coast
April 23-May 7, 2011
Turkey-where Europe and Asia meet to form "the cradle of civilization"-is yours to discover on this exclusive 15-day tour. Begin your journey in Istanbul, Turkey's cultural and spiritual heart. The city astonishes with its legendary Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, and Topkapi Palace, one of the world's richest museums. Then travel south to the sacred World War I battlefield of Gallipoli, ferry across the Dardanelles to Troy, and explore the wealth of Greco-Roman ruins at ancient Pergamum.
Spend a full day at Turkey's nonpareil classical city, Ephsesus. Among its treasures are the grand Library of Celsus and a 25,000-seat amphitheater with excellent acoustics and splendid views. Board a privately chartered gulet yacht and cruise the exquisite Turquoise Coast for four splendid days, relaxing and discovering hidden sights, quaint fishing villages, and remote ruins. End your journey in the seaside resort Antalya, with a side trip to ancient Perge. There is an optional 5-day/4-night post-tour extension for those who wish to see the remarkable rock formations of Cappadocia and Ankara, Turkey's capital.
Trip Cost: $4,295, per person, based on double occupancy
Includes air from San Francisco!
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