2023-2024 zoom Meetings 

Sept. 14, 2023  "One Woman's Journey - Four Months Exploring Northern Thailand"   Presented by Ellen Froot

Are you looking for a place to escape the PNW winters, curious about retiring abroad? Please join me as I share my solo experience of spending four months in Chiang Mai, Thailand. During that time, I immersed myself in the culture, explored the area, mixed with the locals, connected with ex-pats, and got a taste of what retirement life might be like there. I'll share the good as well as the bad, and if I will be returning.

October 12, 2023  “Cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway and Gaspé Peninsula”   Presented by Sandra Gangle

Sandra and Gene traveled on a small ship on the St. Lawrence River, from Toronto to Quebec, then around the Gaspe Peninsula to Halifax, Nova Scotia and beyond.  Beautiful weather, magnificent scenery. 

November 9, 2023  “Our Greek Odyssey”   Presented by Ron Kelemen and Kathy Ellis-Kelemen

Last spring, Ron and Kathy Kelemen traveled independently in Greece for five weeks. They stayed in eight different places, some well-known and others bypassed by most tourists. They connected with the locals, hiked to ancient ruins, experienced spectacular views, and ate well-perhaps a little too well. How did they put this together and get around? What would they do differently next time? Join them as they relive their Greek Odyssey.

December 14, 2023  “The Balkans: Exploring the Cultural Tapestry of Southeastern Europe"   Presented by Natalie Brown

Join us as Natalie Brown recounts her month-long adventure through the Balkans. In early 2023, Natalie and her partner, Noah Mozell, took time off to travel around Europe for two months. They spent the majority of their time exploring Southeastern Europe, starting in Slovenia and Croatia, and making their way further East (both geographically and culturally) to Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Follow along as Natalie shares stories from the idyllic shores of Lake Bled, the steep hills and fortified walls of Dubrovnik, the bright blue waterfalls of Plitvice National Park, the Disney-esque cobblestone lanes of Mostar, and the urban centers Zagreb and Sarajevo, all while learning about the unique mix of cultures, faiths, and the complex history that has shaped this corner of Europe. 


January 11, 2024  “Paris, Cornwall and the Road to Catastrophe”   Presented by Eric Schuman

Learn about a few French gems Eric discovered last August, then visit Cornwall from prehistoric times to today. See magnificent gardens,  beautiful beaches and Victorian estates. At the conclusion of the program, hear 3 other travelers describe their personal travel challenges and catastrophes. 

February 8, 2024  “Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World”   Presented by Dale Ryan 

Nestled in the heart of Central America, Guatemala is a captivating country that boasts a breathtaking array of natural wonders and a rich tapestry of cultural heritage. In my presentation you will see volcanic peaks, Mayan ruins, traditional markets bursting with colorful textiles woven by indigenous artisans, and some of the Spanish influence in Guatemala. I will include photos from Guatemala City, Antigua, Tikal, Lake Atitlán, and various other locations.

March 14, 2024  “Rocking Egypt and Jordan”   Presented by Virginia Vanderbilt


Rocks! Rocks! Rocks!  Who knew there were so many kinds of rocks and so many ways of transforming them into incredible monuments and sights?  Egypt and Jordan have more than their fair share of rocky wonders. Michael and Virginia will be highlighting many of these as they recap their recent three-week trip in Egypt and Jordan.  


Join us as we pop inside some pyramids, meander through museums, be spellbound by the sphinx, be thankful for no murders on the Nile, channel your hidden Indiana Jones as you walk through the Siq to Petra and just generally be struck by the good kind of shock and awe as we revisit the marvels of these two extraordinary countries.


We enjoy traveling with good company; so, please join us for this presentation.


April 11, 2024  “India: Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, plus Kolkatta & Darjeeling”   Presented by Eden Rose Brown

Join us on a magical, once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Jewel of the Northeast: The Great Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, India! In the farthest northeast corner of India, the tribes of Nagaland celebrate their festivals with appreciation and fervor. These celebrations are sacred, and all Nagas take part, with each having their own ways of promoting their culture. The festival is named after the Hornbill, one of the most respected and resplendent bird species in the state, and the bird’s importance is reflected in several tribal songs and dances. We will also spend time in Kolkatta, observe the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya compete in an archery shoot, search for Bengal tigers and the one-horned rhino in Kaziranga National Park (A UNESCO site), mingle with the fishers of the Mishing Tribal village of Majuli Island, and have second flush high tea in Darjeeling with our guide’s father, the son of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first man to summit Mt. Everest.


May 9, 2024   “Take a Trip on Route 66”   Presented by Sharon Elaine Thompson

Road trip! Why do those words excite us? Is it the freedom to explore? To discover the unusual, the past, or ourselves? Whatever it is, driving Route 66 is the iconic American Road Trip. So in celebration of my 70th birthday, with my friend and trusty navigator, we crossed the country on frontage roads, small town main streets, and twisty desert mountain passes. We cruised the 2248 miles through eight states from Chicago to Santa Monica covering a hundred miles a day, stopping for roadside kitsch, colorful murals, family history, old restaurants and hotels, and burros. We met people from all over the world who knew more about Route 66 than many Americans. We drove though history and geography. We discovered towns that were still proud and making the most of what they had, towns that had given up, and towns that had died. We got lost, detoured, and made side trips. It was a delightful, surprising, sometimes silly, and sometimes sad twenty-six days. In short, it was everything a road trip should be.