Join Cathy Curtis, Bay Gourmet Member-Led Forum Chair, for a food and wine adventure in Paso Robles. The region’s first grapes were planted in 1779 by Franciscan missionaries and today it is home to the third highest concentration of wineries in the United States.

Much has been written about Central Asia's strategic location and its vast untapped reserves of oil and gas. See for yourself the fabled capitals of Silk Road commerce and survey their modern incarnations, arguably even more significant now than when they were at the center of the great trade routes. Join Ambassador John Ordway, as we learn about the Bukhara/Khiva region, with its 600 million barrels of proven oil reserves, and Ashkhabad, capital of Turkmenistan, said to control the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world.

Begin in beautiful St. Petersburg with a cultural performance at the Alexandrinsky Theater and a visit to Catherine’s Palace to see the famous Amber Room. Enjoy an early entrance to the State Hermitage Museum, before our 6-night cruise on the Volga, Svir and Neva Rivers. Journey to the quaint village of Mandrogi, and Kizhi Island, where churches stand as testimony to the skills of Russian craftsmen.

Begin in 2000-year-old Beijing, China’s modern-day capital, and discover its legendary sites: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. Learn about communal life along Beijing’s ancient alleyways or hutongs.

The magnificent Black Sea region is the home of many pivotal events in world history, from the fall of Constantinople to the fall of the Soviet Union. After sailing from Athens, call in Constanta, Romania’s main port, and explore the ruins of Tomis Danubius. Discover Ukraine’s Odessa, a city rich in 19th-century architecture, including the famous Potemkin Steps, as well as Yalta and Sevastopol, crucible of the Crimean War.

This exclusive 14-day journey through the heart of Central Europe features a seven-night cruise on the legendary Blue Danube aboard one of the deluxe vessels of the prestigious Amadeus Fleet, followed by three nights in Prague and two nights in Kraków, Poland, in deluxe hotel accommodations. The carefully designed itinerary encompasses the former glorious realm of Habsburg Emperors, with visits to six countries and six UNESCO World Heritage sites. Specially arranged excursions include a private organ concert in Melk and a private music performance in Vienna.

Founded in 1935, the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, OR is among the oldest and largest professional nonprofit theaters in the nation. Attend four plays and enjoy lively post-theater discussions with fellow Club members, led by our study leader, Dr. Philippa Kelly. Dr. Kelly is a Shakespeare expert, author, and the resident dramaturg for California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes).  Her most recent book, The King and I, is a very personal meditation on contemporary Australian life through the prism of King Lear. Dr.

Experience the cultural rebirth of the Baltic States and the magnificent imperial riches of St. Petersburg on this ten-night program, cruising for eight nights under the spectacular “White Nights of Summer” aboard the deluxe M.S. Le Boréal, launched in 2010. By special arrangement, enjoy a rare opportunity to hear speeches by former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and former President of Poland Lech Walesa.