ART HISTORY ALIVE
Newsletter
September 2007
Hi Everyone,
Art History Alive has been in hyperdrive and this is why you have not heard from us in awhile. We have, in a very slow and meticulous manner, created a beautiful DVD that focuses on Italy. Setting the gorgeous photographs to a piece of music "photo to note" is painstaking but well worth the effort. This five minute escape to Italy is really fun to watch especially because some of you are in it! "Art History Alive: Italy", is available for the asking with only one condition; that you share it with friends and relatives, in fact, I encourage you to copy the DVD and pass them around.
I am two weeks away from my next trip to Italy which will find me in Rome, Tuscany, Sorrento, and Positano for a month overall. Prep for this trip is complete with all reservations made and double checked. From here on out its pure pleasure Italian style. The Coliseum, Forum, catacombs, wine tasting, hill towns, aqua waters lapping at fishing boats, fountains . . . . From the Tuscan salami to steak Florentine, from the small cobblestone streets in Sorano, to the haunting greatness that was Pompeii, I cannot wait to be there again. I would love to show you around.
Next we have been readying the launch of our three fantastic California itineraries for 2008 and 2009. For those of you who have not, or have not in a while, explored these areas, it is time. I have traveled all over the world and these spectacular places can hold their own against anything I've seen. I promise! The itineraries are all roughly 8 days and are as follows:
California's Central Coast and Big Sur - Beginning with two days in San Francisco on Lombard Street and the Golden Gate Bridge, in Chinatown and North Beach, we will move onto Carmel-by-the-sea, overlooking the Monterey Bay. We will wander Carmel, a storybook beautiful little town, visit Carmel Mission, and stay at Mission Ranch, one of Clint Eastwood's inns . With a stop for lunch at a mile high restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Big Sur, we will continue south down the Pacific Coast Highway to tiny little Cambria. Overnight at a beach resort and a morning excursion and guided tour of Hearst Castle, the cozy little cottage, high above the ocean of William Randolf Hearst. From there we will turn our backs on the ocean and travel through some of California's gorgeous central wine country, tasting along the way, as we head north to sleepy San Juan Bautista. In this little western town you feel as though John Wayne will come walking around the corner at any moment. After a wander through the beautiful mission San Juan Bautista we will have dinner in an old fashioned but serious steakhouse, bedecked with branding irons. From San Juan we will travel back to San Francisco for one more evening in that beautiful city, and so that you can leave your heart there until next time.
California's Gold Rush Wines and Yosemite - Beginning with two days in San Francisco we will drive northeast into the foothills of the powerful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Three hours out of San Francisco, that cosmopolitan and classy city, will find us in sleepy little Sonora, CA, where we will check into the Historic Gunn House dating back to the 1800's. This area was the center of the world during the gold rush of 1849, no exaggeration. Prospectors and fortune hunters of every country and every walk of life made their way here with high hopes of striking it rich. Gold fever! We will spend two days in this area exploring and tasting some of California's delicious wines and where zinfandels abound. From Sonora we will make the two hour drive into Yosemite National Park stopping along the way to take pictures when ever you are so staggered by Yosemite's majesty. You cannot take a bad picture here, just point and shoot, perfect. We will stay two nights at the grand and historic Ahwanee Hotel, built in the 1920's and decorated in an authentic native american theme. By day we will wander the paths on the floor of Yosemite valley at a relaxed pace. This place will get under your skin, it has mine. Back to San Francisco for one more night and dinner overlooking the bay.
Northern California's Wine Country and Hawaii - Following four beautiful days shared between picturesque San Francisco and the nearby famous wine areas of Napa and Sonoma, we will catch a flight to Oahu, Hawaii. We will check into the grand dame of hotels, the gorgeous pink Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach, and relax for the following four days. Beach lounging on huge pink fluffy towels under pink umbrellas gazing at Diamond Head, sets the tone for this royal experience. Pampered to the max Royal Hawaiian style. Shopping abounds for the more energetic and perhaps a drive around the island for the more curious, all can be arranged.
All of the marvelous places mentioned above can be googled to have a closer look. Be my guest.
Of course we will continue to return to Italy, Paris, and Mexico, so stay in touch as all of these itineraries are hitched to dates on the calendar.
Between the DVD, the research and development for the new offerings, and preparing for my upcoming trip, I have been flat out and love it! It is good to be back in touch again. I will look forward to hearing from you.
Ciao,
Cynthia Quist
Art History Alive
Email: aha@arthistoryalive.com
850 Park Avenue 14B
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 475-3807
