Mystic Haida Gwaii - rom

- 1 -

Volume 56, Fall 2020

A Message on COVID-19 Dear ROM Traveller: In these unprecedented times, when it is difficult to predict the future, ROMTravel has chosen to plan ahead for our 2021 and 2022 seasons. We believe people will travel again and we want to be ready when that time comes. However, as always, the safety of our guests and volunteers is our paramount concern. Please be assured that we will adjust plans as necessary in response to new information. For now, we can at least read travel books, look at old trip photos and dream of the day when we can again pack our bags.

Mystic Haida Gwaii June 8 to 17, 2021

Figure 1: In the forest, Haida Gwaii, Canada. Courtesy of Destination BC/Ian Holmes.

Come and explore iconic Haida art and culture in old villages, Tanu, Skedans and the UNESCO World Heritage site of SGang Gwaay.

See the 18 totem poles that still stand there and listen to Haida Watchmen share stories as you walk through each village.

- 2 -

Visit the famous forests of Haida Gwaii with their 1,000-year-old cedars and spruce. View an abundance of seabirds, eagles, puffins and perhaps albatross that make their nests in the islands at the edge of the continental shelf. Marvel at the variety of humpback, fin and orca whales as well as smaller cetaceans swimming in the waters.

Figure 2: Totem poles, Haida Gawii. Courtesy of Bluewater Adventures.

Figure 3: A hat and drum, Haida Gwaii. Courtesy of Fran Money.

Figure 4: The Haida Heritage Centre, Skidegate, Haida Gwaii. Courtesy of Bluewater Adventures.

Figure 5: Haida canoes. Courtesy of Wikipedia and Susan Clarke.

Explore Burnaby Narrows with its spectacular 24-foot intertidal range. Discover why this area is known as the “Canadian Galapagos” while cruising the waters aboard an 82-foot yacht.

Figure 6: An Ochre Sea Star, Burnaby Narrows, Haida Gwaii. Courtesy of Peter Money.

Coordinator: Penelope Hughes 416.686.3787 [email protected]

Cost: $9,030 per person/double occupancy only (Flights not included)

Travel arrangements by: Ellison Travel & Tours Ontario Registration Number: 2392471

mailto:[email protected]

- 3 -

Scotland Slowly June 14 to 24, 2021

There is no better way to see the mystical coastal landscape and spectacular scenery of the Scottish islands than from the deck of a ship.

Join us to cruise aboard Adventure Canada’s 198-passenger “Ocean Endeavor” from Glasgow to Aberdeen, stopping at various islands along the way. Bird watchers can see vast colonies of seabirds, including gannets, puffins and fulmars.

Figure 7: Broch of Dun Carloway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Courtesy of Dennis Minty.

Whisky lovers can sample a dram or two of fine malt on Islay, while shoppers can buy locally woven tweeds in Stornoway, the capital of the island of Harris. History lovers can visit St Columba’s monastery, the burial place of kings, or wander among UNESCO World Heritage sites featuring Neolithic ruins and prehistoric megaliths.

Photographers can snap pictures of sea caves, rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and dramatic hills. You can meet the locals too, experiencing

island life in small Gaelic speaking seaside villages, including Foula, the most remote inhabited island in the UK. On board ship, you can share in music, dancing and storytelling, lectures by local experts and good food. And join new friends in a Gaelic toast: Sláinte.

Figure 8: Hirta, an island in the St Kilda archipelago, Scotland. Courtesy of Dennis Minty.

Coordinator: Virginia Van Vliet 416.925.5891 [email protected]

Cost: From $5,995 USD per person/double occupancy (Flights not included)

Travel arrangements by: Adventure Canada Sheryl Saint 905.271.4000 ext. 224 or 1.800.363.7566 [email protected] Ontario Registration Numbers: 4001400 and 5002186



- 4 -

High Arctic Explorer with Bob McDonald August 5 to 16, 2021

Come see the Canadian High Arctic before it disappears. Explore Inuit communities and the Franklin gravesite while you cruise through the historic Northwest Passage. Then voyage across to Greenland to some of the most amazing UNESCO World Heritage sites where icebergs calve off glaciers into the ocean. We end at Nuuk, one of the world’s northernmost capitals. Travel with Canada’s favourite science journalist, Bob McDonald, of CBC’s “Quirks & Quarks”. Limited space is still available.

Join us for a Zoom Information Night on Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00 pm. Please register with the Coordinator.

Coordinator: Eric Morrison 416.691.6770 [email protected]

Figure 9: A polar bear mother and cubs. Courtesy of Andrew Stewart.

Travel arrangements by: Adventure Canada Sheryl Saint 905.271.4000 ext. 224 [email protected] Ontario Registration Numbers: 4001400 and 50021860

Tanzania: The Great Rift Valley with Bob McDonald March 2022

Travel to the famous Olduvai Gorge with one of Canada’s great science storytellers, Bob McDonald of CBC’s “Quirks & Quarks”. Learn about the Leakeys who found some of the earliest human remains. Experience the greatest animal migration on the face of the earth – millions of wildebeest and their predators on the move. See the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro and have a sundowner on the Serengeti. Limited space is still available.


Figure 10: A lioness in Africa. Courtesy of ali-oop photography.

Travel arrangements by: Merit Travel Sandra Weber 416.345.9726 [email protected] Ontario Registration Numbers: 4499356 and 4499372





- 5 -

Intriguing Silk Road Across China with Sara Irwin October 2021

Figure 11: Camel-riding in the Echoing Sand Dunes near Dunhuang, China. Courtesy of Marion Ho.

Experience the cultural tapestry and wonders of China’s Silk Road. You will see spectacular Buddhist cave art in the Meijishan and Mogao Caves. Ride a camel over the Echoing Sand Dunes. Walk in local markets and view the ancient karez irrigation system in Turpan and the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar. Clamber up Jiayuguan’s Great Wall Fort and wander through the Jiaohe ruins that both Marco Polo and Genghis Khan once visited.

Figure 12: The Sunday Livestock Market, Kashgar, China. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Figure 13: Apakh Khoja's tomb, Kashgar, China. Courtesy of Wikipedia and John Hill.

Take a deep breath – it is truly an epic journey. Limited space is still available.

Figure 14: The Shanghai skyline, China. Courtesy of freepik and evening_tao.

Coordinator: Marion Ho 416.586.8034 [email protected]

Cost: TBA

Travel arrangements by: Tour East Holidays (Canada) Inc. Steve Hope 416.929.0888 [email protected] Ontario Registration Number: 67531472



- 6 -

Russian Rendezvous: Moscow, St Petersburg & The Golden Ring May 2022

Figure 15: Red Square, Moscow, Russia. Courtesy of pixabay.

Come with us on a Russian Rendezvous! Witness 1,000 years of turbulent history, from medieval Rus through the Romanov empire to the post-Soviet world power of today. Discover a wealth of art and immense cultural riches!

Figure 16: A canal in St Petersburg, Russia. Courtesy of pixabay.

Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites. Enjoy a private guided tour of the Kremlin treasures. Marvel at the onion-domed cathedrals and opulent imperial gilded palaces.

The many special highlights include exclusive access to the Hermitage, private choral recitals at St Basil’s Cathedral and St Sergius Lavra, a cooking master class, and a private tour behind the scenes at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Dr Robert Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Imperial Russian and Soviet History at the University of Toronto, will enrich your experience of this amazing country.

Figure 17: The Church of St Nicholas in Suzdal, Russia. Courtesy of pixabay.

Coordinator: Margaret Magdziak 416.268.3921 [email protected]

Cost: TBA

Travel arrangements by: Georgia Hardy Tours Inc. Kathleen Hardy 416.483.7533 [email protected] Ontario Registration Number: 2747543



- 7 -

Japan: Mediaeval, Mysterious and Modern November 2022

Figure 18: Itsukushima Gate near Hiroshima, Japan. Courtesy of Wikipedia and Jordy Meow.

Once closed to Westerners for centuries, Japan was labelled mysterious and exotic. It is one of the oldest and yet most modern civilizations, a complex and rewarding destination ranging from bustling cities to quiet mountain villages. Come and experience the distinct history and culture of Japan.

Experience dynamic Tokyo and its famous Imperial Palace. Travel through the Japanese Alps and see a more traditional way of life in smaller villages. Marvel at the shrines and temples of Kyoto, the ancient capital. Learn about samurai warriors, the geisha and the tea ceremony. Stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. Japan’s fall colours will provide a spectacular setting for our travels.

Coordinator: John Golla 416.239.1855 [email protected]

Cost: TBA

Travel arrangements by: Elite Orient Tours Inc. TICO Registration Numbers 5000112 and 5000110

Looking Forward: Upcoming Trips Morocco: Imperial Cities and Enchanted Kasbahs – March / April 2023

Journey with the ROM’s Curator of Islamic Art and Culture, Fahmida Suleman, through Morocco as you explore Imperial cities (Casablanca, Fes, Rabat, and Meknes), dramatic scenery of the Atlas Mountains, palm groves, dunes of the Sahara desert, lively souks and delectable cuisine.

Coordinator: Neera Chopra 416.441.9259 [email protected]

Figure 19: The interior of the Basilica at Volubilis, Morocco, Courtesy of Wikipedia and Prioryman.

Cost: TBA



- 8 -

Highlights of Spain: Ancient and Modern – May 2023

Join Dr Jonathan Edmondson, a professor at York University and a specialist in the society, economy and culture of Roman Spain, to discover past civilizations of the Iberian Peninsula. The beautiful cities of Barcelona, Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla and Madrid provide a wealth of historical monuments, fine restaurants and vibrant culture.

Coordinator: Ann Dandy 647.346.4334 [email protected]

Figure 20: La Mezquita, Cordoba, Spain. Courtesy of Ann Dandy.

Cost: TBA

A Tale of Three Cities: Vienna, Prague, Budapest – Fall 2023

See the fairy-tale heart of European civilization in a trip filled with music, art, architecture, fascinating history and unique local cultures. Christopher Hume, the former Toronto Star columnist, will be your expert resource.


Figure 21: Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary. Courtesy of Wikipedia and Epistola8.

Cost: TBA

When a trip brochure is first issued, it is sent by e-mail to everyone on The Traveller electronic mailing list. This first notification helps your travel planning and enables you to avoid discovering that a trip has sold out. To put your name on The Traveller electronic list, send your request along with your e-mail address to [email protected]. Your contact information will only be used by ROMTravel.




Documents

Mystic Haida Gwaii - rom