“LITERARY FOOTPRINTS”
ENGL
430 and 699, Summer II, 2009 Course (3 hrs.)
ENGL
431 and 599 Travel Practicum (3 hrs.)
THURSDAY
23 JULY -
Bath, England
DAY 1 DEPARTURE
FROM
Enjoy
full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to London.
DAY 2 ARRIVE
We
arrive and head for the English countryside, to the village of Chawton, where
we will visit Jane Austen’s Home. The
author lived in this house with her sister and her mother, and it was here that
she wrote and revised Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and
Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. The home is preserved as it would have been
in Austen’s day, with memorabilia, first editions, and even the writer’s donkey
cart to recreate her life. We’ll see the
drawing room where she did her writing, always listening, as it were, for the
sound of the creaking of the door warning her of visitors and to hide away her
work. We continue to Winchester, closely
associated with Alfred the Great and the ancient capital of England. Those that choose may visit Winchester
Cathedral, the most ancient medieval cathedral in Britain and the burial place
of Jane Austen. Travelers will have time
to explore on their own the city itself or the remains of Winchester Castle
where a round oak table, King Arthur’s Round Table, is attached to the
wall. After a full day, we then settle
into our
Stonehenge,
DAY 3 WINCHESTER
AREA – STONEHENGE – DORCHESTER – LYME REGIS – CORNWALL
(2 NIGHTS)
Today
we start with a visit to mysterious Stonehenge, a huge circle of lintels
and megalithic pillars, one of the most impressive prehistoric monuments in
Britain. This was the dramatic setting
for the closing scene in Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles. We continue this morning to Dorchester, the
heart of Thomas Hardy Country, where we will have the opportunity to see Hardy’s
Cottage in Higher Bockhampton and his grave at the Stinsford Church. Hardy was born and lived in this cottage,
where he wrote many of his novels, including Tess of the D’ Urbevilles
and Far from the Maddening Crowd.
For lunch, we drive to the town of Lyme Regis, which figures in
Austen’s Persuasion and in the work of John Fowles. Travelers will have time on their on to
explore this picturesque coastal village and visit the Museum, of which Fowles was
once the curator. This beautiful coastal
region is where Fowles’ character Charles secretly meets The French
Lieutenant’s Woman. As the day wanes, we drive on to Cornwall.
St.
Michael’s Mount, Penzance
DAY 4 DAY
TRIP TO
An
early start today takes us to Penzance and “Land’s End.” Setting for Gilbert and Sullivan’s wacky
pirate tale and a congregating place for artists and writers, Penzance enjoys
sunny breezes, fine seafood, and a sparkling green ocean. Travelers will visit the remarkable St.
Michael’s Mount, the fortress island from which the first sighting of the
Spanish Armada gave the alarm that would bring Britain to arms and to first nation
status in Europe in 1688. The afternoon
will be free for you to stroll through this picturesque and historical town,
visit the quaint shops, or sit in a seaside pub to enjoy a moment of leisure. In the evening, we return to our hotel in
Cornwall.
Glastonbury Abbey Hardy’s Cottage, Dorchester Glastonburg Tor
DAY 5 CORNWALL
- GLASTONBURY - BATH AREA (1 NIGHT)
We
leave Cornwall by driving up the coast through St. Ives to view Virginia
Woolf’s lighthouse, with a lunch stop in the village of Tintagel for scones and
cream and, for those who wish to brave the cliffs, a look at the ancient ruins
of Tintagel Castle, legendary birthplace of King Arthur. The remains of the castle date from the 12th
century but recent excavations have revealed that a Dark Age fortress once
stood on the site. This is King Arthur
country, and we are headed to mystical Glastonbury, known as Avalon in
Arthurian legend. Here the mortally wounded king was carried after the
disastrous final battle at Camlan. A
local tour guide will show us the town, and share its rich history, and those
who wish can climb Glastonbury Tor, where legend says that Joseph of
Arimathea brought the Holy Grail. We’ll
visit the beautiful ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, burial place of King
Arthur and site of the first Christian church in England. Driving from Glastonbury to Bath, we leave
behind Arthurian legend for the architectural elegance of 18th
-century Bath.
DAY 6 BATH
- THE LAKE DISTRICT (2 NIGHTS)
Today
a local tour guide will show us Bath, a city with some of the strongest
literary associations in England. Bath provided
the setting for two of Jane Austen’s novels, Northanger Abbey and
Persuasion. We will take a Walking Tour of Jane Austen’s Bath,
beginning with a visit to the Jane Austen Centre, dedicated to the
novelist and her time in Bath. Our walk will include Pulteney Bridge,
the house where Austen lived with her parents for five years, as well as the
Georgian splendors of the Royal Crescent and the Circus. The tour of Bath will conclude with a visit
to the Roman Baths, first associated with the Celtic King Bladud, and
later established by the Romans in the 1st century. The afternoon will be free to explore the
city, visit the Assembly Rooms, Costume Museum, the many Bath shops, or sit
quietly in a quaint pub or coffee shop.
After our day in Bath, we will drive on the Lake District.
Dove
Cottage,
DAY 7 LAKE
DISTRICT
Our
day will include stops in Thirlmere, Derwent Water and Ullswater, before we visit
Wordsworth's Dove Cottage and the Grasmere Churchyard where Wordsworth
and Dorothy are buried at Grasmere. This
afternoon we will have free time in the lakeside village of Windermere,
home to Beatrix Potter who was instrumental in saving the Cumberland Mountains
from developers. Travelers will be free
to explore the town or take a leisurely Lake Walk along the western shores of
Lake Windermere. The Lake Country
provides some of England’s most spectacular scenery, served to inspire the
Pre-Raphaelites, and is rich with literary significance.
DAY 8 LAKE
DISTRICT - KENILWORTH AND WARWICK CASTLES - STRATFORD (1 NIGHT)
Our
morning commences with a stop first at Kenilworth Castle to ponder the
ruins of this once magnificent edifice.
The Castle, associated with “Bad” King John, Henry V, and Henry VIII,
was also home to Elizabeth I’s lover, Robert Dudley and the magnificent setting
for Scott’s novel Kenilworth. A
short drive takes us to Warwick Castle, surrounded by gardens, lawns,
and woodland where peacocks roam freely.
Warwick Castle is one of the most complete and historically interesting
castles in England today. Here we will
get a taste of castle life from the time of Ethelfeda, daughter of Alfred, to
the days of Fulke Greville, who turned the castle into a princely 17th
-century seat for art and military treasures.
Our visit will include the State Rooms, the Great Hall, the Armory,
dungeons, a torture chamber, ramparts and a ghost tower. The contrast between Kenilworth and Warwick
illustrates with vivid poignancy Shelley’s theme of mutability and provides a
fitting context for much of the literature we will study in the Literary
Footprints course. After some free time
to explore and shop in Warwick, we continue on to Stratford. This evening we will enjoy a performance by
the Royal Shakespeare Company. (Subject to RSC schedule)
Kenilworth Castle
DAY 9 STRATFORD
- LONDON (2 NIGHTS)
Today
we will explore Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of Will Shakespeare. We begin with a visit to Shakespeare’s
Birthplace, where the Bard was born on April 23, 1564. Filled with Shakespeare memorabilia,
including a portrait and furnishings of the writer's time, the Trust property
is a half-timbered Tutor structure, dating from the early 16th century. We will also visit the modern Shakespeare
Centre, built next door to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Bard's
birth. Afterward, travelers are free to
explore the town: the Grammar School, where Shakespeare received his education
and the garden remains of New Place, burned by an annoyed neighbor who
hoped to stop the steady stream of pilgrims wending their way to
Stratford. New Place was to have been
Shakespeare’s retirement home; only the foundations remain today. You can
see Nash House, the home of the poet’s granddaughter, and Shakespeare’s burial
place in Holy Trinity Church, located in an attractive setting near the River
Avon. This evening we will drive back
to London so that travelers can enjoy another night of theater if they wish or
explore the lively night life of one of Europe’s grand cities.
DAY 10
Today
is your day to explore this historically rich and entertaining city. You can start with a visit to Westminster
Abbey, where English kings and queens have been crowned since 1066. You can see the Royal Chapels, holding
the tombs of the monarchs, as well as Poets' Corner, featuring memorials
to famous British literary figures.
Travelers who wish can stroll through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace to
watch the changing of the guard. If you
wish to continue the footprints’ path, visit Woolf’s Bloomsbury and Keats’
British Museum, or see the recreation of the Globe Theater, the many museums in
the city in the Trafalgar Square area, or the famed Tower of London. City passes and a superb subway system will
allow you to follow your bliss and enjoy the city nightlife. Popular evening activities include spending
time in the Theatre district of Covent Garden, attending a play at Drury Lane,
exploring Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, two of London’s most vibrant
and lively areas. Theater tickets can be
purchased at last-minute tickets booths in Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus,
and
DAY 11 DEPARTURE
FROM LONDON
Your
enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as you transfer to the airport
for the return flight home.
TOUR
HIGHLIGHTS
(ADMISSIONS
LISTED BELOW ARE INCLUDED)
CHAWTON: Jane
Austen’s House
WINCHESTER:
STONEHENGE:
DORCHESTER: Thomas Hardy’s Cottage
LYME REGIS:
PENZANCE: St. Michael’s Mount
TINTAGEL: Castle Ruins
GLASTONBURY: Tor and Abbey, with Local Guide
BATH: Walking
Tour with Local Guide of Jane Austen’s Bath, Jane Austen Centre, Pulteney
Bridge, Royal Crescent, Circus, Roman Baths
LAKE DISTRICT: Dove Cottage and Grasmere Churchyard
KENILWORTH: Castle Ruins
WARWICK: Castle
Complex
STRATFORD: Shakespeare's Birthplace, Shakespeare Center,
Nash’s House, New Place, RSC Performance (subject to RSC schedule)
LONDON:
WHAT
IS INCLUDED:
·
Round trip airfare with a major carrier on scheduled
flights and guaranteed dates
·
All airport taxes (currently $380 but subject to
change prior to time of ticketing)
·
Accommodation in 3 star and Superior 2 star tourist class
hotels with private facilities guaranteed throughout
·
Breakfasts throughout (cooked wherever possible outside
London) and 8 dinners
·
Transportation by private coach for airport transfers
and touring in the provinces and use of a tube pass on Day 10
·
Admissions as noted in Tour Highlights as well as a
·
The expertise and perspective of 2 local guides during
your tour
·
All Taxes
THIS
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
·
Dinners in London, lunches or beverages with meals
·
Transportation for group sightseeing in
·
A Casterbridge Guide
·
Admissions not listed above
·
Visas (if required)
·
Tips and gratuities for the guide and driver
·
Any fees imposed by the airlines for a second piece of
checked baggage
· Travel
insurance - Each passenger must be covered by Health Insurance while abroad
on a Casterbridge Tour.
Casterbridge
offers a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy which includes full Health,
Cancellation and Property coverage costing $99 for those aged 30 and below $129 for those aged 31
and above on tours of 11+ days.
Please note that Casterbridge can no
longer absorb any changes in the airport tax/fuel surcharge element between
time of final payment and time of ticketing and that this amount is therefore
subject to change until around 60 days before departure.
COSTS & REF# 108019
E
These prices reflect
airport fuel surcharge and ticketing charge of $380.
40-59 PAYING: $ 2,750
36-39 PAYING: $ 2,788
30-35 PAYING: $ 2,860
24-29 PAYING: $ 2,966
20-23 PAYING: $ 3,072
18-19 PAYING: $ 3,143
Currency
rate is guaranteed to £1 = $2.025
TIME-LINE
FOR PAYMENTS:
APRIL
1, 2009: FINAL
PAYMENT