Travelin' Irish E-News
Travel the World with Notre Dame

  SUMMER 2009                                                                                                                                       alumni.nd.edu/travel

THE ANELLA'S ABROAD

Louise ’64 SMC, ’77 and Stephen Anella ’65, ’71 MBA have built strong foundations in the South Bend community since graduation. Louise is a certified financial advisor and Stephen is a partner in the firm MPA Architects. Stephen, a native of New Jersey, and Louise, originally from Ohio, raised their family in the South Bend area, including their son, John Anella ’93.

However, as much as they love home, the Anellas have locked their doors and taken flight on more than 20 trips with Notre Dame Alumni Travel over the past 17 years. They love the organization, diversity of trips offered, camaraderie of travelling with fellow alumni, and the quality. “The two main reasons we take these trips, and this is not the only travel service we’ve used, is that we enjoy meeting the other Notre Dame people. And ND Alumni Travel is well-organized; the trips have been pre-tested, so to speak,” says Louise.

“I personally visit the home office of every travel company before I approve them,” explains Karen Anthony ’98 Hon., Director of Alumni Travel. “Then I will go on one of their programs; I evaluate the trip’s organization, educational component, and the company’s overall level of service before I decide to add it to our schedule.”

“I’m a water person,” says Louise, who enjoys snorkeling, sunbathing, and is an active walker. As an architect, Stephen enjoys learning about historical sites. “For me, personally, going back to Ephesus and Delphi during our 2008 Mediterranean trip was really wonderful,” he says. Louise agrees. “I remember walking down the white way on Ephesus, with all those semi-reconstructed buildings from 2,500 years ago, and thinking, ‘St. Paul was here.’ Amazing.” (To see more information on a similar trip taking place in 2010, visit the ND Alumni Travel website . )

Travelling with fellow alumni guarantees a level of conversational comfort. “People from Notre Dame that come on the trips have a broader range of interests and we can share that intellectual enthusiasm. We have met people on trips that are our friends now, that we have travelled with again,” says Louise. ND Alumni Travel supports the lifelong learning goals of its travelers by often scheduling University lecturers to accompany the trips.

“We work hard every year to find programs all over the world that might be attractive to our alumni family,” says Anthony, who relies heavily on past travelers’ post-trip evaluations for new trip ideas. Louise believes Anthony succeeds in finding the right mix of destinations. “ND Alumni Travel offers places we want to go. We have what we call a “bucket list” of places we still want to see. Rather than use another service, usually we just wait for the trips to come up with Notre Dame,” she says.

So what’s left on the Anella’s list? They would like to visit the land of Louise’s Lebanese ancestors, provided it is safe. Also, Stephen has an African safari in mind, and Louise would enjoy taking the Mediterranean cruise again. And, of course, the younger Anellas have an opinion as well. “Our grandson wants to go to Madagascar,” says Stephen. “Keep your eyes on our schedule,” replies Anthony, who is always on the lookout for a new adventure for her ND travelers.

TOP 5 REASONS 
TO TRAVEL WITH NOTRE DAME

After every trip with ND Alumni Travel, we conduct surveys about your experiences and we use your comments to plan new or revise pre-existing trips. We would like to share some of your survey responses about why Notre Dame alumni and friends prefer to travel with Notre Dame.  

1. Camaraderie: “We made new friends, shared wonderful new experiences, and had knowledgeable, helpful guides.” Jim Juster ’69, Italy’s Sorrento & Orvieto, Sept. 4-15, 2008.
2. Quality: “This was our first trip with ND Alumni Travel and we can’t wait to do it again. Everything was arranged for us – all we had to do was pack our suitcases!” – Joan Reynolds, ACA Chianti/Tuscan Villa, June 15-23, 2008.
3. Education: “It was so much more! Education, culinary, nature, and meeting 26 new friends! Truly the trip of a lifetime.” – Jerry Boland ’63, Southern Africa, 2008.
4. Spirituality: “We thought that the scenery of Vancouver and Banff and in between was awesome. It made us wonder how people can doubt the existence of God.” Bob Scannell ’57, Vancouver & Canadian Rockies, July 12-19, 2008.
5. Security: “Travel with no worries. Just enjoy.” Maryann Pairtz-Fuchs, Romance of the Danube, June 28-July 12, 2008.

 TRAVEL INSURANCE VS. TRAVEL PROTECTION

We all know how important travel insurance is to your safe travel. It can protect you, your possessions and your reservations. But recently, the Chicago Tribune reported on cases in which travelers bought travel “protection” as opposed to travel insurance. The difference? Travel protection is cheaper, but not state-regulated. When you go to make a claim, the company may delay or cancel payment, leaving you without any options.

Our advice: Travel insurance is invaluable – it guarantees assistance in case of an emergency, so don’t skimp. If you aren’t sure what company is reliable, we highly recommend Travel Insurance Services. Visit our website for more information. 

TRAVEL ADVICE
TIPS OF THE MONTH

Given their years of travelling experience, we took a moment to ask Stephen ’65, ’71 MBA and Louise Anella ’64 SMC, ’77 for some of their valuable traveling tips. Here are a few they shared:

1. Read the travel information sent to you before you go and take their suggestions. The travel company will give you good advice about what clothing to pack, for example.
2. Hire a house-sitter, even if you won’t be gone long. If nothing else, he or she may keep your pipes from freezing in the winter.
3. Don’t be afraid to try someplace new to travel, but keep your own preferences in mind. For example, if you like the water, take a cruise. If you like history, look at trips that incorporate historical sites.

GEO-FACT

Q: This country has Africa’s highest mountain (Mount Kilimanjaro), deepest lake (Lake Tanganyika), largest lake (Lake Victoria), and second highest waterfall (Kalambo Falls). What country is it?

A: Tanzania. This country also hosted Dr. Jane Goodall’s studies of chimpanzee behavior, has one of the most important archaeological sites for studies on human evolution (the Olduvai Gorge), and has several large parks, including the Serengeti National Park. Want to visit? Check out our Jan. 31- Feb. 10, 2010 trip online.  

UPCOMING ADVENTURES

The Everglades ND Alumni Travel’s Jan. 31 - Feb. 6, 2010 trip to Florida’s Everglades will satisfy everyone's adventurous spirit. Orbridge Travel’s senior naturalist, Greg Greer, will guide you through this incomparable ecosystem. Between kayaking, swamp walks, and an journey by airboat, you will truly experience such locations as Sanibel Island and Rookery Bay, as well as some of the more hidden treasures of the Everglades.	Cruise The Panama Canal Feb. 3 - 14, 2010, join Chuck Lennon, executive director of the ND Alumni Association, as you relax aboard the 5 star cruise ship, the Crystal Symphony, as it traverses the Panama Canal. Stops in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, West Indies, Aruba and Caldera highlight the melding of colonial and Latin American cultures. And with the $1,000 per couple “As You Wish” shipboard credit, you will be immersed in tropical luxury.	Exploring Vietnam & Cambodia Modern cuisine has been looking to Vietnam for inspiration. Now it’s your chance to try it first-hand. Come with us to Vietnam and Cambodia for two weeks, from Feb. 19 - Mar. 5, 2010. Spend quality time in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hanoi, Bangkok and Thailand. Try the food, meet the people and come to know these beautiful and historic lands.
Cradle of History Turn back the clock thousands of years from May 1-14, 2010 as you journey through the lands of classic Greece and the Bible. The only reminders of today will be the sheer luxury in which you will cruise aboard the Oceania Cruises Insignia. Trace the coast of the Mediterranean Sea; from Egypt to Irael;and from Turkey to Greece, sampling the cuisine and the culture all along the route.This popular trip has limited space availalbe so we also have an alternate option, our Ancient Wonders program. Book by Sept. 30, 2009 to qualify for the special offer on this program
Historic Reflections Santorini, Sicily, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Monte Carlo, Provence – these are the cradles of classical Western history, and they are waiting for you. Feel the warm Ephesian cobblestones as you walk amid its ruins in Turkey and venture into the French countryside at Avignon. This luxury cruise on the Oceania Cruises’ Nautica, from May 13-24, offers the perfect occasion for reflection and rejuvenation. Book before August 31, 2009 and receive $2,000 off per stateroom. Due to the popularity of our May departure, a second option of June 29-July 10 is now available with the same itinerary.	Celtic Lands The M.S. Diamant is the ideal vessel for our journey around the lands of the Celts from May 25 - June 2, 2010. It boasts 113 spacious, outside staterooms, an excellent reputation for service, and numerous amenities. Plus, with its agile size, it’s able to call in the ports at the Isles of Scilly, England; Cork and Dublin, Ireland; Holyhead, Wales; and four stops in Scotland. Immerse yourself in the ancient history and mystery of the Celtic lands as we wind our way through the English Channel and Celtic Sea.	Jewels of the Mediterranean As the leaves change color in the fall of 2010, step away to sun-gilded Mediterranean onboard the Oceania Cruises’ Regatta, a superbly outfitted vessel with excellent cuisine designed by Jacques Pépin. Your guest lecturer, Thomas Noble, Professor of History, will deepen your knowledge about your ports of call in Turkey, Greece, Italy, and France. The cruise runs from Oct.23 - Nov.3, 2010 and offers $2,000 off per stateroom if you book by Oct. 31, 2009. Be sure to book soon, space fills quickly on this popular trip.