Itinerary

Day 1, Thursday, June 19 - Departure from Washington-Dulles airport on Virgin Atlantic #56 at 10:22 p.m. Dinner and Breakfast on board

Day 2, Friday, June 20 - Arrival London-Heathrow airport at 11:20 a.m. local time. Transfer to the BRITISH MUSEUM to see the Rosetta stone, Elgin marbles, and Egyptian mummies. Arrival at hotel late afternoon for check-in; Early dinner at hotel; Optional theater tickets to see Billy Elliot. Independent transfers to/from theater via the London Tube.

Day 3, Saturday, June 21 - Departure from London to WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL and the GREAT HALL of Winchester (Arthur's Round Table).  On our way to the city of Bristol, we try to figure out the mystery of prehistoric STONEHENGE.  Overnight in either Bristol or Bath (FB D)

Day 4, Sunday, June 22 - Travel through "King Arthur Country" to visit Glastonbury, Somerset, the supposed last resting place of King Arthur, and Cheddar Gorge with its caves and limestone cliffs.   Also, we will visit the Roman Baths and sites in Bath, plus the Somerset Rural Life Museum. (FB D)

Day 5, Monday, June 23 - Early morning departure to visit TINTERN ABBEY, the magnificent Cistercian Abbey immortalized by the poet, Wordsworth.  We continue to Bleanavon where we visit the BIG PIT COAL MUSEUM.  Next, we enjoy a guided tour of TREDEGAR HOUSE, set in a beautiful ninety acre park.   It is one of the best examples of a 17th century Charles II mansion in all of Britain.   It is the ancestral home of the early Morgans of western Virginia.   Our final stop on this busy day is in Caerleon to visit the ROMAN LEGIONNARY AMPHITHEATRE, otherwise known as "King Arthur's Round Table."  Overnight in Cardiff or Newport (FB D)

Day 6, Tuesday, June 24 - Morning transfer to St. Fagan's National History Museum with afternoon for Welsh cultural and genealogical research (These research arrangements will be made by Dr. Judy Byers and Noel W. Tenney of the Gabor WV Folklife Center at Fairmont State University for the university students and other interested researchers).  All other tour participants will have a full afternoon of leisure in Wales.  Tonight, WELSH EVENING banquet with wine and entertainment included in this uniquely Welsh experience.  Tour of CARDIFF Castle is also included. (FB D)

Day 7, Wednesday, June 25 - Full day's excursion to Swansea, birthplace of Dylan Thomas, the national poet of Wales.  Visit the SWANSEA MUSEUM and the NATIONAL WATERFRONT MUSEUM.  Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (FB D)

Day 8, Thursday, June 26 - Travel to Aberystwyth to see the University of Wales.  Time is allowed to visit the campus.  Travel through the beautiful countryside on our way to Chester, England.  Overnight and dinner in Chester (FB D)

Day 9, Friday, June 27 - This morning depart for Snowdonia National Park.  Visit CAERNARFON CASTLE and travel on the scenic FFESTINIOG RAILWAY between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog before returning to Chester for overnight. (FB D)

Day 10, Saturday, June 28 - Depart for Stratford-upon-Avon.  Visit ANNE HATHAWAY'S COTTAGE, SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHPLACE and HOLY TRINITY CHURCH where Shakespeare is buried.  This evening we see a performance of "The Taming of the Shrew" at the GLOBE THEATRE.  Dinner and overnight in Stratford (FB D)

Day 11, Sunday, June 29 - This morning's focus is on Oxford, city of dreaming spires, where a walking tour takes in the colleges where Britain's elite receive their outstanding education.  Visit CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE to admire the architecture of Christopher Wren (subject to availability) Continue on to London where our farewell dinner and cruise awaits us.  Tonight, a TASTE OF LONDON  This guided evening excursion includes a tasty four-course dinner with wine at a first class restaurant near the famous Tower Bridge.  Following dinner is an illuminated cruise on the River Thames, taking in many well-known landmarks.  (FB D)

Day 12, Monday, June 30 - Departure around 9:00 a.m. for a guided sightseeing tour of the city.   Included in this tour are the famous landmarks of Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey.  A visit to ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL is included.   We end our tour by visiting Prime Minister Brown's house at 10Downing St. and Whitehall's mounted horse guards.  After our tour, we transfer to London-Heathrow airport for check-in with Virgin Atlantic.  Flight #55 departs at 5:30 p.m. arriving in Washington-Dulles at 8:55 p.m.

Monday – June 11 – Evening departure to Rome.  We depart via connecting overnight flights from Washington Dulles Airport to Rome, Italy.

Tuesday – June 12 – Arrival in Rome (FCO). Transfer to hotel. Time to rest and explore city on own and with a city tour. Welcome dinner Tivili Gardens. Overnight in Rome.

Wednesday – June 13 – After breakfast transfer to Vatican for PAPAL AUDIENCE. In the afternoon, visit of the VATICAN MUSEUM and SISTINE CHAPEL with guide. View the Vatican Artisans. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Thursday – June 14 – Departure for Naples. En route stop in POMPLEII where a local guide will give a tour of the city destroyed in 79 A.D. Continue to Naples for orientation drive to see the Triumplhal Arch of the New Castle, St. Charles Theater, and the Royal Palace. Overnight and dinner in Naples. In the Region of Campania.

Friday – June 15 – Morning departure at into the Region of Campania for Morcone and Benevento. View the Roman Theater, the Arch of Trajan, and visit the MUSEO DEL SANNIO. Continue south driving through Calabria to the city of Cosenza. Dinner and overnight in Cosenza.

Saturday- June 16 – Full day excursion to San Giovanni in Fiore, ancestral home to many West Virginians of Italian heritage. Visit of the city and meeting citizens of the town is being organized by the West Virginia Italian Heritage Association and Heritage Calabria. Return to Cosenza for dinner and overnight.

Sunday – June 17 – Departure for Sorrento. Upon arrival, time to explore on own and shop in the many boutiques. Dinner and overnight in Sorrento by the sea. Visits to the Inland Wood Works and Cameo Shell Factories.

Monday – June 18 – Departure for Assisi. Afternoon visit of the BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS to view the frescos of Giotto. Also visit the CHAPEL OF ST. CLAIRE. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

Tuesday – June 19 – Departure for Venice. En route stop in Ravenna to see the mosaics of the 6^th – century BASILICA OF ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE plus TOMBA DI DANTE. Arrival in Venice for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday – June 20 – Morning sightseeing of the city to include ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the BASILICA, the DOGE’S PALACE and the famous BRIDGE OF SIGHS, concluding with a visit to a GLASS FACTORY. Transfer by boat to BURRANO island where  group will have lunch on its own, and time to visit the island. Return to Venice for dinner and overnight.

Thursday – June 21 – Departure for Florence with en route stop in Bologna to see one of the oldest universities in the world. Side visits to Vinci (birthplace of Leonardo De Vinci) and Carrara (home of Marble works that Michelangelo used for the David.)   Afternoon arrival in Florence with time to shop in the many leather, and gold shops. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Friday – June 22 – Morning sightseeing of the city to include THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, home to the famous David, IL DUOMO, the BELL TOWER, and SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afternoon visit of the UFFIZI GALLERY AND PITTI PALACE. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Saturday – June 23 0 Full day excursion to VERRAZZANO CASTLE to see how the classical Chianti wine is made. Time for wine tasting. Continue to the hilltop town of Siena and visit its famous CATHEDRAL and the beautiful PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, site of the biannual Palio. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Sunday – June 24 – Departure for Rome. Visit to Colosseum and Roman Forum. Farewell celebration and overnight.

Monday – June 25 – Transfer to the airport.  Our homeward bound flight will arrive back in Washington later today.  We say good-bye to Italy, but will have fond memories of fascinating experiences while on the Roads to Appalachia through Italian Heritage 2007 for many years to come.

Roads to Appalachia Through Scotland and Ireland
July 5 - July 21, 2005

Day 1 - Mon/July 04 Departure to Edinburgh. We depart via connecting overnight flights from Washington, Dulles airport to Edinburgh,Scotland.

Day2- Tue/ July 05 Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Upon arrival we clear immigrations and claim our luggage. We will meet our local Globus Tour Director and TRANSFER to hotel. Later this afternoon, we will drive to the Firth of Forth for photo op. Overnight and dinner in Edinburgh.

Day3- Wed/ July 06 Edinburgh. Morning city sightseeing TOUR to include "New" and "Old" Town, and visit to EDINBURGH CASTLE and HOLYROOD PALACE.This afternoon we TRANSFER to University of Edinburgh for a lecture. Tonight, a SCOTTISH EVENING is included. No visit to Scotland's capital city would be complete without joining a Scottish evening with dinner, wine and a show featuring singers, dancers, bagpipers and the Ceremony of the Haggis. Overnight and dinner in Edinburgh

Day 4 - Thu/July 07 Edinburgh - Inverness. Today we travel to Inverness via St. Andrew's. We visit GLAMIS CASTLE and the ANGUS FOLK MUSEUM. Before reaching Inverness, we will stop at the CULLODEN VISITOR CENTER. Overnight and dinner in Inverness.

Day 5- Fri/ July 08 Inverness - Loch Ness - Isle of Skye - Glasgow. This morning we travel via Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye on our way to Glasgow. On the way we visit the MUSEUM & CLAN DONALD VISITOR CENTER OF HIGHLAND FOLKLIFE on the Isle of Skye. Our arrival in Glasgow will be late. Enjoy a brief ORIENTATION DRIVE of Glasgow. Overnight and dinner in Glasgow.

Day 6- Sat/ July 09 Glasgow. Ferry Stranraer -to Belfast, Northern Ireland Depart for Stranraer, where you board your FERRY for the crossing of the North Channel to Belfast. Overnight and dinner in Belfast.

Day 7- Sun/ July 10 Belfast. This morning we start our tour of this fascinating city on this morning's "LIVING HISTORY" TOUR in the company of a local guide. At the end of the tour, we will be driven to the Grosvenor House for an ecumenical Celtic Service with the Rev. Dr. Kerr. This afternoon we travel to Downpatrick to see the burial site of St. Patrick with time to go to the visitor?fs center. Later, we attend a "ceilidh", a social event including dinner. Dinner and overnight in Belfast.

Day 8- Mon/ July 11 Belfast - Sligo, Ireland. We depart Belfast today and travel to Sligo via Giant's causeway. Our coach will pass by Dunluce Castle. Stop for a visit to the ULSTER/AMERICAN FOLK PARK in Omagh. Dinner and overnight in Sligo.

Day 9- Tue/ July 12 Sligo - Clifden. This morning our travels take us to Strokestown to visit the STROKESTOWN HOUSE, 1840 FAMINE MUSEUM. Continue to Clifden for dinner and overnight.

Day 10- Wed/ July 13 Clifden-Connemara-Galway-Limerick. Today we continue to Tralee with a stop in Adare. We will drive the fabulous Ring of Kerry, and arrival in p.m. in Tralee for dinner and overnight.

Day 11- Thurs/ July 14 Limerick-Adare-Ring of Kerry-Tralee. Today we continue to Tralee with a stop in Adare. We will drive the fabulous Ring of Kerry, and arrival in p.m. in Tralee for dinner and overnight.

Day 12- Fri/ July 15 Tralee - Blarney - Cork - Waterford.  Again, we are traveling today, this time from Tralee to Waterford, via Blarney. A visit to BLARNEY CASTLE is included. Continue to Waterford and visit the CRYSTAL FACTORY. Dinner and overnight in Waterford.

Day 13- Sat/ July 16 Waterford - Wexford - Dublin. Our travels today takes us near Wexford, where we will visit the IRISH NATIONAL HERITAGE PARK. Afterwards we travel to Dublin for dinner and overnight.

Day 14- Sun July 17 Dublin. Your morning orientation tour takes in statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Visit Oscar Wilde's TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Dublin exploration in the afternoon. Overnight and dinner in Dublin

Day 15/ Mon July 18 Dublin - Transfer to the Airport. After breakfast this morning, we must say goodbye and return back to the USA. After breakfast, we transfer to the Dublin Airport for our flight to Washington/Dulles.