Recent Travelogue Films
2010 - 2011

COLORFUL MEXICO

September 2010 - presented by Fran Reidelberger

Board the Copper Canyon Railroad for a spectacular ride. Cross to Baja, winter home of migrating gray whales. Enjoy golden Pacific beaches from Puerto Vallarta to Zihuatanejo. Visit gorgeous Morelia. See the wealthy heritage of Spanish “Silver Cities” Taxco, Guanajuato, and Zacatecas.

CUBA - HAVANA to SANTIAGO DE CUBA

October 2010 - presented by Marlin Darrah

Hail a ride from a rolling museum of 1950’s American cars to tour Havana’s Spanish colonial buildings, opera house, El Morro fortress, casinos, and hotels. Drive to the lovely Vinales valley past sparkling beaches to the crown jewel Trinidad and vibrant carnival city of Santiago de Cuba.

WINE REGIONS of FRANCE

November 2010 - presented by Mary Lee and Sid Nolan

Visit Paris - City of Light, then circle the country’s beautiful wine regions ... the Loire, Bordeaux, Pays Basque, Languedoc, Provence, Côtes du Rhône, Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne. To great wines and cuisine, the Nolans add history, art, architecture, and charming inns for a perfect trip.

RUDY MAXA’S SECRETS of WORLD TRAVEL

January 2011 - presented by Rudy Maxa

Hear one of America’s best-known travel writers and broadcasters as he reveals tips and secrets to enhance your own travel adventures. On public radio he is known as “The Savvy Traveler”. Also see the best of “Rudy Maxa’s World” from his public television series.

DISCOVERING the DUTCH

February 2011 - presented by Sandy Mortimer

Explore nine of the twelve lowland provinces, each with its own unique culture and origin. From exciting Amsterdam go to Schiedam for gin and the world’s tallest windmills, Aalsmeer’s flower auction, the resort town Maastricht near the Belgian border, and more.

EAST AFRICAN SAFARI

March 2011 - presented by Rick Ray

Take an exotic look at Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and more. Go gorilla trekking in jungles along the Rwanda-Congo border, get close up with Serengeti wildebeests, sleep in elite treehouse lodges, and view thousands of elephants in early morning light with snow-clad Kilimanjaro in the distance.

REMOTE CORNERS OF CHINA

April 2011 - presented by Ryan Pyle and Brandon Zatt

Photographer Ryan Pyle and journalist Brandon Zatt take us Himalayan hill walking on the Chinese- Tibetan Divide, sharing stories and photos of pilgrimage routes near Minya Konka and Kawa Karpo. Living in China, both are keen observers of its fast-paced development and vanishing culture.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA to the ENDS OF THE EARTH

May 2011 - presented by Anne Doubilet

Underwater explorer, writer, and photographer Anne Doubilet has made over 5,000 dives all over the world, including the Antarctic and Arctic. Alarmed by vanishing corals and melting icebergs, she is filming the fragile underwater world for future generations. Hear tales of her adventures and view stunning images of her journeys on land and under the seas.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARCO POLO

September 2009 - presented by Denis Belliveau and Francis O'Donnell

Join two fearless adventurers on their journey of a lifetime, tracing the path of famed 13th century traveler Marco Polo. For two years and 33,000 hazardous miles, they explored and photographed his exotic world .. Venice, Turkey, Afghanistan, Silk Road outposts, Tibet, China, Sumatra.

SOUL OF INDIA

October 2009 - presented by Rick Ray

Experience incredible India through the perceptive lens of filmmaker Rick Ray .. huge cities, simple villages, thousands of languages, and myriad religions. See amazing architecture .. maharajah palaces .. Jodhpur, the Blue City .. pilgrims at Varanasi .. high Himalayas .. Kerala Backwaters.

SOUTH AFRICA

November 2009 - presented by John Wilson

Go wild! Take a film safari with spectacular scenery and incredible wildlife — Cape Buffalo, lion cubs, leopards, and elephants .. unique resorts .. Cape Wineland’s gracious estates .. rhythmic Swazi dancers .. the enchanting coastline of the Garden Route by train .. panoramic Cape Town.

IRAN — PERSIA TO THE PRESENT

February 2010 - presented by Buddy Hatton

Persia, land of Scheherazade and Arabian nights, has been known as Iran since 1935. In this ancient and modern country, find colorful bazaars .. spectacular mosques and palaces .. impressive archaeological sites .. quiet gardens. Meet the warm, hospitable people who call it home.

CRUISING THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

March 2010 - presented by Mary Lee and Sid Nolan

From glorious Venice embark for medieval Split and walled Dubrovnik. Cruise the Greek islands .. visit Roman ruins in Turkey on the way to Istanbul .. wineries on Cyprus .. Rhodes and Troy .. Israel’s Biblical sites plus Haifa and Jerusalem. Before heading back to Venice, dock at Port Said, entrance to the Suez Canal, and visit the Pyramids of Giza, bustling Cairo, and ancient Alexandria.

TRAVELS IN NORTH KOREA

March 2010 - presented by Walter Keats

Cross North Korea’s normally closed border with our speaker who has visited this reclusive country sixteen times. Learn the history of the Korean peninsula. As a tourist, see the Arirang Mass Games’ 100,000 synchronized performers .. the ancient capital Kaesong .. Pyongyang .. Panmunjom.

PORTUGAL

April 2010 - presented by Clint Denn

Visit one of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful countries .. historic Lisbon and Oporto .. postcard-perfect Cascais .. Sintra and the fairy tale Pena Palace .. medieval Coimbra .. Casa Mateus’ spectacular gardens. Cruise the Douro River amid vineyards dotted with white manor houses.

PERILOUS PASSAGES

May 2010 - presented by Karin Muller

Following last year’s exciting Inca Road program, this adventurer, author, and documentary producer returns with her impressions of Cuba, Sudan, and regions of conflict. Traveling solo, she learned local languages and lived with humble families while evading hijackings, disease, hunger, and danger.

BAVARIA

October 2008 - presented by Fran Reidelberger

The Romantic Road … storybook towns … King Ludwig’s dazzling castles … Mittenwald … Oberammergau … Dachau … spa at Bad Tolz … Regensburg … Bamberg … Walhalla … the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal … beer makers … hang gliders. Munich’s vibrant spirit today and its renowned Oktoberfest.

SOUL OF MOROCCO

November 2008 - presented by Rick Ray

An exotic land of kasbahs … desert palaces … forts … luxurious riads … humble mountain villages … labyrinthan medinas in Fez and Marrakech … high tech mosques pointing laser beams toward Mecca. Orange-gold sands of the Sahara … Atlas Mountain forests … camel caravans … the Paris to Dakar Road Race.

ITALY! INSIDE THE TUSCAN HILLS

January 2009 - presented by John Wilson

Life in the magnificent countryside beyond Florence and Siena … traditional artisans … workshops of master craftsmen … the rich rural culture of Tuscany … ancient farmhouses … country cooks … rustic cheese makers … Chianti’s vineyards … towering medieval castles … gardens and elegant cypress trees.

RAILS ACROSS RUSSIA - ST. PETERSBURG TO THE PACIFIC

February 2009 - Mary Lee & Sid Nolan

The Trans-Siberian railroad thunders across Russia linking far flung margins of the world’s largest country. Palaces in St. Petersburg … Moscow … the Golden Ring … Ural Mountains … Siberia’s Lake Baikal … Vladivostok on the Pacific … nomadic reindeer herders of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES - CARIBBEAN JEWELS

March 2009 - presented by Steve Gonser

St. Vincent and the idyllic Grenadines, a prime vacation playground … lush mountains … crystal clear waters for sailing and diving … La Soufriere Volcano … the set where Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed … capital Kingstown’s French/English architecture … exclusive Mustique hideaways.

EGYPT - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MOSES

April 2009 - presented by Dennis Burkhardt

Nile cruise to Aswan … magnificent temples of Kom Ombo, Luxor, Karnak, Edfu … Valley of the Kings … Alexandria and the catacombs … ancient and modern Cairo … Giza’s great pyramids … across the Sinai to Mount Moses and the Red Sea … Saint Catherine’s Monastery … ancient turquoise mines.

BHUTAN: The CLOUD KINGDOM

September 2007 - presented by Tom Sterling

We took a breathtaking trip into the last Shangri-La—the tiny mountainous country of Bhutan. There, a Buddhist reverence for all living things permeates every facet of Bhutanese life. Forests, wildlife preserves, and national parks protect the country’s land and animals-exotic blackneck cranes, golden langurs, tigers, blue sheep. Colorful prayer flags, shrines, and giant monastery fortresses dot the landscape.

INSIDE IRELAND

October 2007 - presented by Clint Denn

We encountered diversity and adventure at every turn—exploring Ireland. We visited prehistoric stone sites and tombs, ancient monasteries, quaint old villages and castles, dramatic seaside cliffs, and intriguing ports. From Blarney to Killarney and Cobh to Dublin, we found history, beauty, and wonders everywhere.

CRUISING the ORIENT on the QE2

November 2007 - presented by Doug Jones

We relaxed on the legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 on a 47-day cruise from Sydney, Australia, through the exotic ports of the Orient. We saw beautiful Bali, fabulously wealthy Brunei, Manila, and the Philippines. Then it was on to Hong Kong and overland to Xian. Other ports of call included Tokyo, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. We saw the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Great Wall of China, Balinese dancers, Thai crocodile wrestlers, and more.

SILK ROAD ODYSSEY: From BEIJING to the BLACK SEA

January 2008 - presented by Mary Lee and Sid Nolan

We followed the Silk Road across Asia, tracing the path of adventurous merchants who led their treasure-laden camels from one sun-drenched outpost to the next. Historical sites, natural beauty, and welcoming people made this an incredible experience. Crossed China to the Central Asian countries of Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Beyond the Caspian Sea, we explored fascinating Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.

ROAD TO MANDALAY-MYANMAR and ANGKOR WAT

February 2008 - presented by Buddy Hatton

One of the most mysterious destinations on the planet—Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a land of breathtaking beauty.  We saw spectacular monuments, golden pagodas, and ancient cities, and traveled “the road to Mandalay,” the nation’s principal city.  In Cambodia, the capital Phnom Penh has colonial-era French architecture and wide boulevards.  A side trip explored Angkor Wat and other astonishing temples at this World Heritage Site.  From his second home in Thailand, filmmaker Buddy Hatton has produced films about Malaysia, China, and Vietnam, and is an expert observer of that part of the world.  He notes that Burma and Cambodia are two lands of conflict, but have resilient peoples of charm and strength.

VOLCANIC SAFARI-INDONESIA

March 2008 - presented by Grant Foster

We took an exciting land and sea journey into the Indonesian “ring of fire,” where we found more active volcanoes than anywhere else on earth. We met people who live with a constant threat of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis and learned about their diversified cultures, art, and music. We saw spectacular footage of the still active and growing Anak Krakatoa volcano in full eruption.

WORLDS of the MAYA: GUATEMALA and BELIZE

April 2008 - presented by Sandy Mortimer

We journeyed to Belize and Guatemala and the cities, temples, and caves of Central America's ancient Maya civilization. We visited today's isolated villages, with their age-old rituals and ceremonies. In Belize, we saw new excavations at Caracol, the barrier reef, and visited the only jaguar preserve in the world. Beautiful Guatemala included the colorful Chichicastenango market, Lake Atitlan, colonial Antigua, and intriguing Tikal.

THE OTHER SIDE of MEXICO

September 2006 - presented by Fran Reidelberger

This world premiere about Mexico's unique and unknown places kicked off the Geographical Society’s 2006 - 2007 Travelogue season. Viewers explored charming Bernal, which sits beneath a huge rock monolith, and tiny villages that continue traditional festivals and crafts. Guanajuato’s tunneled streets and troubadours, Guadalajara’s mariachis, and retirement meccas San Miguel and Lake Chapala all beckoned. Finally, the audience experienced Mexico as the winter home of millions of Monarch butterflies.

EPIC VOYAGES of RA I and RA II

October 2006 - presented by Captain Norman Baker

Captain Norman Baker, Thor Heyerdahl’s navigator, radio operator, and second-in-command, gave a gripping firsthand account of wind, waves, sharks, and deteriorating reed boats in this epic tale. The Ra expeditions were Heyerdahl’s efforts to show that ancient Egyptians could have sailed the Atlantic in papyrus vessels and carried Mediterranean culture to the Western Hemisphere.

IN SEARCH of the ALBINO

November 2006 - presented by Tom Sterling

Tom Sterling’s nine-year odyssey began when a friend told him about sighting a white moose. Searching North America from the forests of northern Ontario to the swamps of Louisiana, Sterling filmed more than 40 rare albinos, including a white alligator, porcupine, bear, robin, and boxer dog. And, Geographical Society audiences were treated to another once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience.

FESTIVALS of INDIA

December 2006 - presented by Marty Malgieri

Stunning images from a master photographer’s 29 trips to India took the Geographical Society to the desert festivals of Jaisalmer, Mysore’s Royal Palace, elephant processions, Himalayan monasteries, and the exciting Pushkar camel fair. The rapt audience viewed extraordinary photos of the Taj Mahal, villages of colorful mud-walled huts, and brilliantly clothed people in this multimedia slide presentation.

10 QUESTIONS for the DALAI LAMA

March 2007 - presented by Rick Ray

If you only had one hour, what would you ask? This was the basis for Rick Ray’s personal account of his visit with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. The Geographical Society heard Ray reveal the wisdom of the Dalai Lama - an extraordinary spiritual leader - as he pondered, in his own words, some of the fundamental questions of our time. The audience also enjoyed fabulous footage of sacred Buddhist sites in India and Tibet, which formed a rich backdrop for this fascinating documentary.

EXPLORING EQUATORIAL REALMS

March 2007 - presented by Rich Kern

Led by filmmaker Rich Kern, the Geographical Society explored the volcanic slopes of Costa Rica, Maya ruins in the Yucatan, and mystical Machu Picchu. Together, they followed the equator to the plains of Kenya for the annual migration of zebras and wildebeests. Lions, cheetahs, elephant orphans, and flamingos shared the spotlight. This award-winning film producer combined his training in science with an artist’s eye and the heart of an adventurer to create stunning images for an enthusiastic audience.

CRUISING ST. PETERSBURG to MOSCOW

May 2007 - presented by Clint Denn

Two great Russian cities and a cruise on the scenic waterways between served as a backdrop for this stunning presentation by filmmaker Clint Denn. The canals of St. Petersburg reflected its pastel palaces, and beyond were the fabulous fountains of Peterhof Palace. In Moscow, the Geographical Society took in golden domes rising above the Kremlin’s walls, historic Red Square, and brilliant St. Basil’s cathedral. Stops in small towns and enchanting Golden Ring cities allowed a closer view of Russian culture.

current travelogue films