Cultured Travel

17/03/2025

It was an incredible work weekend spent traveling off the beaten path with my side kick/mini me to scout and plan the coolest Whiskey Rebellion long weekend tour. I’m excited about a lot of trips, but this one really lights me up as it’s all local (to me) history that not even a lot of locals seem to know about! Dates for this one will be August 14-17, 2025 with our home away from home being the historic Omni William Penn hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. Enjoy the photo dump from our excursions!

12/03/2025

If you have ever wanted to go to Ireland (and have a nerdy streak in you that wants more than just pictures of pretty cliffs, Guinness, and some smooches with the Blarney Stone - I can help you make arrangements before or after the tour if you wish to squeeze those things in), this is a reminder that we will be hosting a Zoom meeting tomorrow night at 8PM about our April 2026 20th Century Tour.

Topic: 20th Century Ireland
Time: Mar 12, 2025 08:00 PM Eastern Time

https://zoom.us/j/99107138077

10/03/2025

Reminder! 🍀 Our Ireland informational zoom meeting will take place this Wednesday, March 12th at 8PM. This is going to be an awesome tour in April of 2026 focusing on the 20th Century.

Click the link below to join!

Topic: 20th Century Ireland
Time: Mar 12, 2025 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting

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06/03/2025

Picture this: walking alongside sunbathing sea lions, marveling at blue-footed bo***es, and snorkeling through crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life. The Galápagos Islands aren’t just a destination—they’re a once-in-a-lifetime journey into a world so raw and untouched, it feels like stepping into another time.

This thoughtfully curated tour blends adventure with tranquility, giving you the chance to explore iconic landscapes and connect with the vibrant ecosystem that calls these islands home. With expert guides, small groups of like-minded travelers, and seamless planning, you’ll have the freedom to truly soak in the magic of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Don’t let the Galápagos sit on your bucket list forever—this is your chance to experience it in a way that’s authentic, immersive, and unforgettable. Ready to make memories that last a lifetime? Let’s go!

Join us tonight at 8:30PM EST on Zoom to find out more: https://zoom.us/j/99278382661

05/03/2025

If you thought our Galapagos trip looked fantastic and want to find out more about it and cross it off your bucket list, join me (and possibly a few awesome participants from this year’s adventure) on Wednesday night, March 5th at 8:30PM on Zoom. Feel free to come with questions! Booking and registration information will be available there. Spaces are very limited on this one.

Hope to “see” you there!

https://zoom.us/j/99278382661

02/03/2025

Exciting news! We will be going to Ireland in April of 2026 focusing on a deep dive into 20th century history. We will be visiting Dublin and Belfast and will be accompanied by Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council executive director and Ireland native, Paul Nugent, along with other guest professors. If you are interested in finding out more, join Paul and myself for our informational Zoom meeting on Wednesday, March 12th at 8PM. Tour registration and information link will be available at the conclusion of the meeting. 🍀

27/02/2025

26/02/2025

A friendly reminder, if you want to learn more about our epic Istanbul tour, tune in in exactly 24 hours, on Wednesday, February 26, at 8:30 PM on Facebook Live to watch me interview fellow traveler, Michelle Betts regarding her experiences in Istanbul with us! If you can’t make it live, feel free to view later.

This tour has sold out every year. Somehow, we still have spaces available right now. So why not?! For more information on our upcoming Istanbul tour in September, click here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496

24/02/2025

Today is the last day in our “A Day in the Life of” our Istanbul tour posts. This may possibly be my favorite day, but they are all so great - it is hard to pick just one! After learning so much and trekking all over the city of Istanbul, today we board our own private yacht and go out and explore the Bosporus the whole way to the Black Sea.We stop to see ruins as well as have lunch at a beautiful little waterfront village. It’s a great way to wrap up the trip by relaxing and spending the day with friends. Before this trip completely comes to an end, we enjoy one last meal together at sunset right in the heart of Sultanahmet.

For more information on our upcoming Istanbul tour in September, click here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496
And don’t forget to tune in on Facebook Live for our session with Michelle Betts, repeat Istanbul traveler on Wednesday, February 26, at 8:30 PM. Hope to see you there!

23/02/2025

Today is Day 6 in our “A Day in the Life of” our Istanbul tour. it is the full day spent exclusively in the city. we tour the Suleymaniye Mosque and have the option to explore Medieval Christianity even further going to hidden gems of the era. As each evening does, we conclude with a lecture, our very last of the trip, with professor Thomas Madden.

For more information on our upcoming Istanbul tour in September, click here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496
And don’t forget to tune in on Facebook Live for our session with Michelle Betts, repeat Istanbul traveler on Wednesday, February 26, at 8:30 PM.

22/02/2025

Today is Day 5 in our “A Day in the Life of” our Istanbul tour. On this day, we tour the Topkapi Palace where you will get to see what insane wealth has looked like through throughout the centuries. and the afternoon, you can enjoy a Turkish bath at a Hamam built hundreds of years ago for royalty.

For more information on our upcoming Istanbul tour in September, click here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496
And don’t forget to tune in on Facebook Live for our session with Michelle Betts, repeat Istanbul traveler on Wednesday, February 26, at 8:30 PM.

21/02/2025

Today is Day 4 in our “A Day in the Life of” our Istanbul tour. A packed day, if you want it to be, we visit the Hippodrome exploring all the history spanning centuries and the globe to be uncovered there. Two optional, yet amazing activities can be done after this - most opt for them as they are so great! 1 - a culinary walking tour with Serif Yenen and 2 - an evening Ebru marbling art session in a master’s studio where everyone channels their inner artist!

If you want to find out more, don’t miss our interview with Michelle Betts on Wednesday, February 26th at 8:30PM on Facebook Live. Feel free to visit our upcoming Istanbul tour website: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496

21/02/2025

Today is Day 3 in “A Day in the Life of” our Istanbul tour. Focusing on the Hagia Sophia, an amazing structure building in the 6th century and still standing strong in all of its granduer today, what you will see and learn will definitely be mind blowing. Enjoy an optional cooking lesson at Deraliye Restaurant and wrap up the evening with our lecture from Thomas Madden.

Don’t forget, next Wednesday at 8:30PM, we will be interviewing Michelle Betts who has been on this tour twice with us (because it was so awesome, once was not enough)!

For more information on this tour, click here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496

20/02/2025

Today is Day 2 in our “A Day in the Life” of our Istanbul tour. On this day, we meet our spectacular guide, Serif Yenen (the guide of guides and celebrities, author, Smithsonian presenter, and more) to orient ourselves to this amazing city! Touring the Basilica Cistern with the famous medusa heads, understanding Turkish carpets, learning from a lecture from Thomas Madden, and enjoying our welcome dinner at the Michelin rated Deraliye Restaurant are highlights of the day.

For more info on this tour, visit https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496

19/02/2025

Over the next week, we will be featuring A Day in the Life on our Istanbul tour. On Wednesday, February 26th, we will wrap up with an interview with Michelle Betts, our repeat Istanbul tour traveler!

Day 1 - Arrival and first lecture with Professor Thomas Madden, PhD. Get picked up at the Istanbul Airport and explore the area around our fabulous home away from home, the Magnaura Palace hotel featuring the best views in the city. After exploring and getting a bite to eat, take in the breathtaking views of the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, the Hagia Sofia, and the Blue Mosque all from the rooftop space of the hotel where we will host our lectures throughout the week.

For more information on this tour, click here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/epic-awesomeness-in-istanbul-2025-cultured-travel-50734496

15/02/2025

On U.S. soil again and awaiting the flight back to the Burgh 🥶

Currently reflecting on this amazing trip to the Galapagos, definitely a bucket list destination - a place absolutely like no other. You are never fighting major crowds when the maximum size of most groups is 16 and the whole island system is set up to preserve the natural wonders which make it what it is!

I’m going to start planning next year’s tour promptly upon my return. In the meantime, here is a photo dump from the trip! Many of these pictures were from our group channel, so credit is due to our amazing travelers for capturing a lot of these!

12/02/2025

Some days, the view from the office is better than others! Definitely will be running this trip again next February!

11/02/2025

Good morning from the Galápagos!