UW Alumni Tours Blog

The next time you make an airline reservation, you’ll be asked to provide your full name as it appears on your passport, your date of birth, and your gender. This is all part of the Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight Program. The program’s goal is to reduce the frequency that passengers are mistakenly identified as being on the TSA “watch list.” Click here to read more details about the program.

Our alumni group recently returned from a fascinating trip to Iceland. While I would surmise that there’s plenty of water in “Ice”land, at least during the summertime melt, I just never pictured such a stunning  array of waterfalls. Our UW lecturer, Terje Leiren, shared a few photos with me and I just had to share them with you.

Professor Leiren also shared with us a very poignant moment that took place. The group discovered that a group member’s grandparents were from Iceland and with a five minute deviation to the tour, she was able to stop and walk upon the family farm. While the actual farmhouse was no longer standing, on the hillside next to a growing rhubarb patch, she discovered the old foundation…what a heartwarming addition to the tour.

You can be here!

You definitely need to be!  With us!  The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of my favorite alumni tours and I look forward to it every year.  To sit under the stars savoring the beautiful words of Shakespeare is the total package.   We always have great seats, and informative and lively discussions with actors and lecturers that enhance our experience !   Add that to the great restaurants, boutiques, and parks all within walking distance of the hotel and theatre make it an incredibly relaxing mini-vacation. I’ve even explored some the wineries of the Rogue Valley which are outstanding.

Call me if you would like to join a tried and true group of Husky’s who love great theatre, good company, fine dining and the beautiful town of Ashland, Oregon this August 20 -23rd!

Everyone within the UW community has been hearing about the various UW lay-offs expected due to tightening of budgets, decreasing funds, etc. Unfortunately, the UW Alumni Association has been directly affected and has had to eliminate three positions – one of them from UW Alumni Tours. Today, was a sad day around the office as we had to say goodbye to valued staff members, including Deanna Nicoli who has been working in the travel program for almost five years. If you’ve called our office in the last five years, you’ve most likely spoken to Deanna and have experienced her professional, cheerful attitude. Or, you may have even traveled with her to Turkey, Peru, Provence, India or on another alumni tour that she hosted during her tenure here. We will all miss her and wish her the best of luck!

If you’d like to get in contact with Deanna and send her your good wishes, please send us an e-mail at uwaatour@u.washington.edu and we will forward the message on your behalf.

Thanks for visiting the brand new UW Alumni Tours Blog. Our tours program offers an amazing variety of travel opportunities and we want to have another way to share the latest news with you–whether you’re just beginning to think about travelling with us or have flown around the world on a tour hosted by a UW professor and are looking for a new adventure!

See the About the Blog page for more details–we hope to use the blog for announcements about our tours, trip reports and sharing special deals. Stay tuned for posts from Pauline’s current trip to India.