UA Alumni Association Offers 2003 Tour Program

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s 2003 Tour Program will span the globe with a record 23 tour packages offered to sites including Cuba, the Canadian Rockies, Ireland, Europe, and Mandarin China.

A “Travel Preview Dinner” highlighting these destinations will be held Friday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. at the Bryant Conference Center. A reception will be held prior to dinner in Alumni Hall at 5 p.m. The cost is $10 per person and includes the reception, dinner, slide presentation of tour destinations and door prizes.

According to Pam Lyons, tour coordinator, all of these tour packages are open to the general public as well as UA alumni. “All of our tours, even the ones called ‘Alumni College’ are open to our friends of the University,” Lyons said.

Trips include:

Jan. 10-16, 2003 — “Cuba, a Cultural & Historical Exchange.” Operated in accordance with a special license issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, this seven-day tour is based in Havana with excursions to Pinar del Rio and its tobacco industry, and the village of Cojimar.

Jan. 21-Feb. 1, 2003 — “Trans-Panama Canal Cruise.” Explore St. John, St. Thomas, Aruba, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal on a 10-night cruise aboard the Crystal Harmony. Highlights of the cruise will include the tropical rain forests of Costa Rica and a full-daylight transit of the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” The Panama Canal.

Feb. 1-8, 2003: — “Swiss Winter Escapade.” Spend a fabulous week in the winter wonderland of Switzerland. Stay at Interlaken, the magnificent heart of Alpine Switzerland. This trip offers snow-covered Alps, a stunning winter landscape, excellent skiing, great shopping and cultural opportunities in some of Switzerland’s most famous towns and cities.

March 1-8, 2003 — “Madrid Escapade.” Explore Spain’s capital city including the world-renowned Prado Museum.

March 10-18, 2003 — “Alumni College in Provence, the Cultural Season.” Visit Provence, the rugged countryside, lush vineyards, olive groves and passionate artistry of France.

April 7-15, 2003 — “Alumni College in Veneto.” Located in Northeastern Italy, the Veneto District is renowned for its history, art and architecture, including the city of Venice. Tour includes excursions to Vicenza, Verona and Padua.

April 8-16, 2003 — “Village Life along the Waterways of Holland and Belgium.” Spend nine days in Amsterdam, Dutch Waterways and Brussels and experience a canal ride in Bruges.

April 17-25, 2003 — “Alumni College in Sorrento.” Discover this seaside Italian village with excursions to Naples, Positano, the ruins of Pompeii and the Isle of Capri.

April 10-17, 2003 — “London and Paris.” An eight-day sampling of two of the most famous cities in the world. Tour highlights include Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, two London Theatre performances, Seine River Cruise, Eiffel Tower Dinner, and a Parisian Cabaret Dinner Show.

May (Specific dates to be announced) — “Classic Europe for Graduating Seniors: England, France, Italy & Greece.” A 17-day tour that includes London, Paris, Rome, and Athens.

May 5-21, 2003 — “Mandarin China.” A 16-day journey into the heart of China, featuring a five-day Yangtze River cruise though the incomparable Three Gorges aboard the M.S. Victoria. Visit the cities of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.

May 11-19, 2003 — “Canadian Rockies Train Tour.” Visit the wonders of British Columbia, Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer Train, Kamloops, Jasper, Columbia Icefields, Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary.

June 26-July 3, 2003 — “Alumni College in Scotland.” Explore this mystic land, including visits to Edinburgh, Inverness, Stirling, and the Scottish highlands, home to Scottish folk hero Rob Roy.

June 27-July 7, 2003 — “Treasures of the Seine.” Three nights in London and a six-night Seine River cruise are included on this tour.

July 8-19, 2003 — “SEC Baltic Sea and Norwegian Fjords Cruise.” A 16-day cruise featuring the historic nations of Northern Europe: Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.

July 29-Aug. 6, 2003 — “Alumni College in the Loire Valley.” Often called the “Garden of France,” this valley is home to 15th and 16th century royal residences, wineries, and the home of famed artist, Leonardo de Vinci.

Aug. 13-26, 2003 — “Cruise the Mediterranean Sea.” A 12-day cruise beginning in Venice with stops in Rimini, Portofino, and Soorento, Italy; Croatia, Sicily, and Monte Carlo.

Aug. 31-Sept. 8, 2003 — “Village Life in Canterbury.” A nine-day comprehensive program in the town, which has seen some of the most important events in British history and inspired many of English literature’s greatest works.

Sept. 30-Oct. 8, 2003 — “Village Life along the Adriatic Sea.” Departing from Venice, discover the rarely seen Roman ruins of Croatia, and explore historic towns rarely visited by American tourists.

Oct. 2-14, 2003 — “Legendary Passage: Rhine and Moselle Rivers Cruise.” A cruise on two of Europe’s most scenic and storied rivers is the highlight of this two-week package. Beginning with two days in Amsterdam, this trip then cruises through such famous European cities as Dusseldorf, Cologne, Heidelberg and Rudesheim in Germany and Strasbourg, France. The cruise ends in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Oct. 15-23, 2003 — “Alumni College in Ireland.” Stay at the Old Ground Hotel in the medieval town of Ennis, the perfect setting for this unique travel and study opportunity.

Oct. 17-25, 2003 — “Village Life along the Rhone River.” A seven-night cruise through the regions of Burgundy and Provence.

Nov. 4-11, 2003 — “St. Petersburg Escapade.” Included in this tour are visits to royal residences, the Catherine Palace and Alexander Palace; the State Hermitage Museum, and St. Issac’s Cathedral.

Trip dates are subject to minor changes. For more information on the tour program or to make reservations for the preview brunch, contact Pam Lyons at 205/348-5964 or at plyons@alumni.ua.edu.

Editor’s Note: Photos are available upon request.