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For the intellectually curious traveler
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Meet Susan Cassidy
February 24, 2012
For anyone who has traveled with Academic Arrangements Abroad, our seasoned Tour Directors need no introduction. They distinguish our programs as much as our innovative itineraries, private visits and renowned lecturers. Today, find out a little more about Tour Director Susan Cassidy in this Tour Director Q&A.
Hometown: I’m a Native New Yorker and couldn’t dream of a better place than Manhattan.
Tour you most enjoyed: I thoroughly enjoyed the two times I went to the Galapagos and the Amazon Rain forest—so much to see and learn, though South Africa is a close second.
City or country you would drop everything to go see: I would drop everything to go anywhere I haven’t already been!
The last tour you were on: I was on was Turin and Villa d’Este in October. What a lovely time to be in Italy.
Special skills: I speak French and Italian and have a Master’s in Anthropology and am VERY organized!!
3 things you can’t travel without: I always take a backscratcher and inflatable hanger on EVERY TRIP!! And I do ALWAYS travel with a third thing I forgot–MY PEARLS–they make everything look good!!
Favorite historical figure: I’m interested in women throughout history and like Georges Sand, Mary, Queen of Scots (who was a VERY poor decision maker!), and Coco Chanel.
Words of wisdom for fellow travelers: Always be flexible when traveling and keep a sense of humor. Things can change!!
Number of years tour directing: I’ve been doing trips for AAA for about 16 years and have worked in about 25 countries!!
Beyond Tulips
February 21, 2012
By Anastasia Mills Healy
If you have to wonder how anyone might be able to write 388 pages about tulips or why anyone would want to read said tome, then perhaps a trip with a garden focus is not for you.
The distinguished British garden authority Anna Pavord in fact did write a fascinating history of tulips, a bestseller no less, complete with tales of trekking in desolate areas searching for rare species; Turkish sultans who required guests to dress in colors that matched their tulips; and a single bulb selling for the same price as the most expensive house in Amsterdam in the 1630s.
The author of numerous other books on gardening and the gardening correspondent for The Independent, Pavord will be the study leader on an upcoming cruise that focuses on the lush tropical gardens of the Caribbean. Obviously passionate about her subject, Pavord is a riveting lecturer. Even the most unapologetic black thumb will be drawn into her observations about rare orchids and bromeliads, Ixora, Heliconia, and Balisier. You will never look at a Bird of Paradise the same way again.
Vienna, November 2006
September 23, 2011 — 1 Comment
By Nancy Ziegler
One of the first things I was told about group travel is that trips should be logistically elegant. Understanding how such magic happens took me a good deal longer, but it began in Vienna. This picture – snapped by Ellen Renstrom, our Vice President of Operations– captured me and Kate Klorer on our inaugural training trip, caught in a surprise snow shower outside the Naschmarkt.
I am smiling, chin up, so I trust no one else could tell I was utterly disordered by jet lag and hopped up on sachertorte and strong coffee. Mozart! Klimt! Cakes! I had thought when the plane landed in the early morning two days before. True, all Vienna awaited me, but hardly the way I had imagined.
Ellen gave Kate and me our assignments as our taxi zipped out of the airport. We had less than three days to collect enough material for three weeks’ worth of itineraries. Plus gather the first-hand intelligence so priceless to tour directors who lead groups on the ground. Travelers love impromptu events, but believe me, Tour Directors loath surprises. We started scribbling the notes that would become a five-thousand word report. First memo to TDs: the airport ATM is on the left-hand side as you exit customs; Austrian airport taxis do accept American credit cards.
That’s Inge, a Red Badge national guide, ahead of us in the dark glasses. The snow shower must have caught her out too, though as I remember, few things actually stopped Inge. In St. Stephen’s, she somehow had the key to the cathedral’s private altar gate. We slipped through it after her to approach the sacred stained glass windows, survivors of World War II, closer even than their parishioners.
Inge literally marched us by all of Vienna’s treasures. Jugendstil statues led to Biedermeier interiors, Baroque recital halls and charming Kaffeehäuser. Step in, look, step out. We orbited the Ringstrasse. Did Mozarthaus drive-bys. We eyeballed riverboat berths, Lipizanner stallions and opera boxes.
Learn to ignore the art, ignore the beauty, Ellen coached us, so we truly saw the mundane. Where could the motorcoach pick up safely outside the konzerthaus? Where is the elevator? Where are the WCs?
Notice my camera in my left hand. No mere tourist holiday snaps for us. We catalogued whirlpool tubs (fit for a Habsburg?), rainfall shower heads (water pressure?), private salons (musty or dusty?) and marble staircases (slippery!). Memo to TD: Yes, the spa at Hotel Sacher is fabulous and recommended. In the mitteleuropa fashion, it is also co-ed—so be sure a traveler seeking rejuvenation understands that bathing suits are both optional and rare.
We collected menus, maps, floor plans, postcards, pillow mints, souvenirs, brochures and business cards. All such swag went on file in the New York office, there to jog our memories when our operations team planned Viennese sojourns.
As it happened, Kate later led an AAA group in Vienna as a Tour Director, while I planned similar trips from New York with Ellen’s generous help . And I did get to see Klimt’s The Kiss. Briefly. But only after we scouted the museum facilities and understood its group ticketing options. Memo to TD: Visit the Upper Belvedere palace first, so travelers can amble downhill—not up—through the charming gardens. Snow possible in November, but the chestnut trees will be abloom the last week in April. We’ll plan for it.
Meet Mary Harold
September 21, 2011
For anyone who has traveled with Academic Arrangements Abroad, our seasoned Tour Directors need no introduction. They distinguish our programs as much as our innovative itineraries, private visits and renowned lecturers. Today, find out a little more about Tour Director Mary Harold in our Tour Director Q&A.
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Last book you read: “The Wisdom of Your Face” by Jean Haner
Tour you most enjoyed: Antarctica? Africa Safari? Galapagos? See a theme here? Any place with animals!
City or country you would drop everything to go see: Bhutan
Last tour you were on: Galapagos Islands aboard Isabela II
Something about you that surprises people: In my free time I am having a ball always learning something new. Chinese Face Reading being my current learning extravaganza. It is giving me more insights into who I am and being oh so much better at understanding those I work, play and travel with, and accepting and understanding them for who they truly are! Best teacher I have found is at www.wisdomofyourface.com.
3 things you can’t travel without:
- Zip Lock Baggies in all 3 sizes – The kind with the zipper handle, not the squeeze ones
- Ear Plugs – The kinds that squish up and fit in my ear – Has saved innumerable nights sleeps!
- Young Living Essential Oil – “Purification” – I take the bottle of oil with me and a small empty spray bottle. When I enter a room that smells bad, for any reason, I whip out my bottle put 3-4 drops of oil in, fill it with water and spritz the room, curtains, carpet, bedspread, lamp shades, etc. One spritz will usually do it, but I have had no room ordor defeat me after 2 spritzes. (A few hours apart) A real lifesaver in countries where non-smoking rooms are an illusion.
Number of countries visited: 96 by my last count
Destination / trip you would take your family on if money were no object: Galapagos, Cuzco & Machu Picchu – I would charter the Isabela II for a week, then on to Peru for Cuzco – Minimum 3 nights in the Monestario Hotel. Split the family for those energetic ones and not so energetic – One would hike the Inca Trail the other do the Sacred Valley and on to Machu Picchu – Minimum 2 nights at the Sanctuary Lodge for everyone! Does not get any better than that!!!
Most Visited Web Site: I like checking the weather forecast before I go. But what I find helps sometimes even more is to look at the weather history over the last few years. Going to this web site I can put in the city, then click on the month and it will tell me all the weather history. I can go back several years if I want.
http://www.wunderground.com/history
Travel story you will never forget: In the late 80’s and early 90’s I traveled to Russia often, making many friends along the way. During one of my visits a young man asked the favor of bringing him a pair of Nike shoes on my next visit. I owed him a favor and was happy to help. On my return, I met up with him and I gave him the shoes and he paid me. He wanted to let me know how much he appreciated my help and presented me with, what to him, was an incredible gift – A Banana.
Thankfully, I realized just how rare this fruit was. By my guess only the rarest of Russians had ever seen a banana (outside of a book), let alone tasted one. I was not even aware that a few extremely expensive bananas had started to seep into Russia, this gentleman procured one, and was willing to give it to me. Thankfully, I recognized it as the monumental gift it was. I thanked him profusely and returned to my room, tossing the banana on my desk. “Hum” I thought, “What will I do with this?” Obviously, I was not hungry.
The next morning as I went down to breakfast I tossed the banana in my day pack. I was busy shepherding two buses of intrepid souls through the intricacies of breakfast and getting out and onto our buses for a full day of sightseeing. Not an easy task in that era in Russia! Just before departure a husband comes to me and says “My wife is not feeling well, she needs some Potassium tablets”. Wow . . . my travel director brain kicked into overdrive as I ran through the challenges of getting those tablets in Russia and still pulling the buses out on time. The grey cells were working as fast as they could. Then the gentleman casually mentioned “or a banana would do”. Oh, my . . . . I whipped off my day pack, produced “the banana” and handed it to him. He beamed and said “cool, thanks” as he trotted off to the elevators. I knew he had know idea how rare that banana was, the story behind it, nor was I sure I could ever really explain the incredible serendipity that short encounter entailed. I still shake my head in wonder!
Meet Clive Porter
June 25, 2011
For anyone who has traveled with Academic Arrangements Abroad, our seasoned Tour Directors need no introduction. They distinguish our programs as much as our innovative itineraries, private visits and renowned lecturers. Today, find out a little more about Tour Director Clive Porter in our first Tour Director Q&A.
Hometown: Sheffield, UK.
Last Book You Read: Islamic History: A Short Introduction.
Who would play you in a movie? Several people have suggested that Bruce Willis looks like me. However he is one of the last people I would want to play me.
City you most recommend to friends: Venice.
City you would drop everything to go see: Almost anywhere I have never been.
Last tour you were on: A program to my home country! It was called: Gracious Gardens & Architectural Gems: London, Sussex, and Hampshire.
Special skill: Knowing where the restrooms are.
Your most visited websites: Sheffield United (my local soccer team), and BBC.
Something about you that surprises people: At age 55 I still go to see new rock bands play live.
3 things you can’t travel without: Ticket details, passport and credit card. Everything else you can buy once there or do not really need.
Number of trips traveled on: No idea, but it must be in the hundreds.
AAA in Conde Nast Traveler
June 22, 2011
Condé Nast Traveler profiled Academic Arrangements Abroad in its March 2011 issue, giving a brief overview on our founding, philosophy, and most notably, the special access we are able to offer our travelers and the distinguished study leaders who travel with us.
Read the article, “The Informer: Sailings for Students at Heart” here:
We want to hear from you!
May 22, 2011 — 4 Comments
A Note from Jim Friedlander, President & CEO:
Academic Arrangements Abroad is excited to start this new way of communicating with our travelers and friends. We will be posting travel destination news and information, as well as news about our trips and our company, a few times a week.
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