Dear Travelers: A magnet for traders for millennia, the head of the Adriatic lies on strategic east-west, north-south crossroads linking the Mediterranean with Central Europe. It’s no surprise, then, that it contains some of Europe’s most fascinating sights. Our trip starts in Trieste, once the port on the Adriatic for the landlocked Austro-Hungarian Empire. We explore its different layers of history and learn about one of its most famous twentieth century residents, James Joyce. Trieste will also be our base for visiting the ancient site of Aquileia, sometimes known as the Second Rome, and viewing its impressive array of mosaics from different periods. Closer to Trieste is the great landmark, the Miramare castle set in lush parkland right on the Adriatic. From our second base on the Riviera del Brenta, a canal east of Padua, we have easy access to Venice across the Lagoon. We will spend a whole day exploring La Serenissima and the city. Another day will be spent at the Palladio villas on the Brenta, huge renaissance palaces designed for the 16th-century aristocracy from Vicenza and Venice. We will next explore the Po Delta to learn about its fishing traditions and wildlife. We will stroll round the Calera Botanical Gardens, sandwiched between the sea and lagoons teeming with birds, looking especially at the heron family, at cranes and at other migrants from Northern Europe. Time will also be spent at Comacchio, a small town criss-crossed by canals and picturesque bridges, considered a miniature Venice—without the crowds. In a local museum we will see the remains of a ship dating back to Roman times. A pleasing day-trip will also be spent in the fascinating city of Ferrara, lying upstream on the Po River. When it comes to history, few cities have a heritage to compare with that of Ravenna. Capital of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Ravenna became the capital of the Ostrogothic kings and then became the center of the western Byzantine government in Italy. We will view mausoleums and basilicas studded with mosaics,

and also view the surrounding area, including Punte Alberete, one of the few forested wet-lands surviving in Italy. Ravenna is also noted for its fine cuisine—it is after all in the region of Emilia Romagna, one of the temples of gastronomy in Italy—and there will be extensive opportunities to sample local delicacies during our stay. We invite you to join our ever-popular expedition leader Mark Walters on this tremendous adventure! Sincerely,

Margaret M. Betchart President, Betchart Expeditions Inc. for AAAS, Sigma Xi & ACS

Round the LagoonVenice • Trieste • Po River • Ravenna

October 9-21, 2015

ITINERARYDay 1 — USA to Rome, Italy Depart the USA today on flights from gateway cities to Rome, Italy.Day 2 — Rome to Trieste On arrival in Italy, board a local flight from Rome to Trieste. Transfer to the Urban Hotel Design (3 nights) in the heart of the old town of Trieste, within easy walking distance of the seafront and the main square, Piazza Unità d’Italia. In the late afternoon we enjoy a welcome aperitivo in a historic caffè and then adjourn to a local restaurant. DDay 3 — Trieste We spend today exploring the many facets of the city of Trieste. Our guided walking tour will take us up to see the Roman remains around the 14th century cathedral of San Giusto. From the top we will appreciate the strategic position of Trieste and its importance for the Habsburg dynasty of Austria. We will pass by the old haunts of the Irish novelist James Joyce, who eked out a living here for over 10 years in the early twentieth century, and then end up near his statue on the Canal Grande. There will be free time in the afternoon to explore the city further or just soak up the atmosphere in the old town. BDay 4 — Castello Miramare & the Karst plateau Today our first destination is a ten-minute drive up the coast, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castello Miramare, a residential castle surrounded by parkland built by the Habsburgs in the mid 19th century right on the Adriatic. After visiting its sumptuous rooms, with their aura of romantic sadness, we walk through the park and rejoin the bus at Grignano. From here we wind our way up to the Carso, the limestone plateau spanning the border between Italy and Slovenia. After lunch in a local trattoria in Sgonico, we visit the Carsiana Botanical Gardens and then wind back to Trieste along the karst plateau, stopping at other sights en route. B,LDay 5 — Aquileia & the Riviera del Brenta We leave Trieste today and head northwest to the ancient site of Aquileia, a major town in the later Roman Empire. Destroyed by Attila in 452 AD, part of the city was rebuilt several hundred years later. Our guided tour will take us through the ancient Roman town, past its forum, and then into the Basilica area to admire the beautifully preserved mosaics from various periods. After a leggero lunch, we move on to Hotel Riviera dei Dogi (3 nights), a historic villa close to Mira on the Brenta canal. In preparation for the villa visits the following day, there will be an evening talk on the influential 16th-century Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio. B,DDay 6 — Villa Pisani & Villa Foscari After breakfast we follow the Brenta canal upstream as far as the monumental Villa Pisani at Stra. After decades of neglect, the villa has been restored to its 18th-century splendor, and its frescoed rooms – originally commissioned by the powerful Pisani family from Venice - have now been converted into a museum. After our guided tour through the villa we will have time to explore the extensive grounds on the estate. After breaking for lunch in the canal-side town of Dolo we drive back along the Brenta to the privately-owned Villa Foscari, at Malcontenta, designed by Andrea Palladio in

the 16th century. Together with the other villas along the Brenta, Villa Foscari has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. BDay 7 — Venice Today we will board a bus for a day of exploration on your own in Venice. After a brief vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal, we disembark at the Piazza San Marco. You can visit several of the major sights in the city, including St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, all testifying to Venice’s centuries-long maritime supremacy, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean. After lunch, explore the calle (alleyways) on your own or take a vaporetto to one of the many islands for a bit of peace and quiet. After returning to our base on the Brenta late afternoon, we reconvene for dinner in a local osteria. B,DDay 8 — The Po Delta & Comacchio Today we head south into the Po Delta, one of Europe’s most fascinating wetlands. On our way we stop to visit the coastal forest of Porto Caleri, occupying a narrow strip of land separating the Adriatic from the lagoons of the Delta. We walk one of the nature trails with a forest ranger, looking out for duck, herons, egrets and avocets in the lagoon area close to the walkways. After a break for lunch at Porto Tolle near the banks of the Po, we walk along the south side of the main channel of the Po, learning about the dynamics of the river in the past centuries. Our base for the next three nights is just south of the delta in the town of Comacchio, a miniature Venice—without the hordes—criss-crossed by canals and medieval streets. La Comacina Hotel (3 nights). BDay 9 — Comacchio & Le Valli

After breakfast we explore the lake of Comacchio by boat. This is an excellent area for wintering ducks and shorebirds, and we also hope to see some of the Greater Flamingo population that has started to breed in the area. On board we also learn about local fishing traditions and salt harvesting. The trip is rounded off with local delicacies in our hotel at lunchtime, noted for its gastronomy, especially its eel dishes. In the afternoon we walk down to the Roman Ship museum and view the remarkable finds from this wreck unearthed nearby in 1980. It will give us an interesting insight into trade, clothing and household items in ancient Roman times. This is followed by an early evening talk

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on ancient cultures in the Upper Adriatic. B,LDay 10 — The Po Delta

& its birdlife Today we meet up with a local ornithologist for exploration of the wetlands southwest of Comacchio. Like the Po itself, the birdlife in the delta has changed considerably in recent years, with several “new” species both breeding and wintering here. During the morning we also visit one of the park’s visitor centers in Sant’Alberto, which serves as the local natural history museum. After lunch in a local trattoria, we go into the heartland of the delta near the main branch, the Po di Venezia, for further exploration of one of Europe’s largest wetlands. October is a good month for viewing birds in passage, as well as the first arrivals of wintering species. We should catch good numbers of shorebirds, and see more

rare Mediterranean species like pygmy cormorants and slender-billed gulls. BDay 11 — Ravenna We head south this morning to Ravenna, where our city tour starts just outside town at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, historically and culturally the most important monument in Ravenna from Roman and paleo-Christian times. Mid-morning we transfer into the center of town to admire the rich Byzantine mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale and the nearby Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (who died in 450 AD), daughter of Roman Emperor Theodosius. After lunch there will be time to explore on your own some of the other five historical buildings inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage list for Ravenna. Late afternoon we leave Ravenna for our last destination, the medieval town of Ferrara. We stay a short distance outside in a converted historic farm. Hotel Fondo Catena (2 nights). B,DDay 12 — Ferrara Ferrara is known to the Italians as the City of the Bicycle, a delightful medieval walled town with quiet streets and elegant shops and cafés. Today our first visit is to the elegantly frescoed rooms of the Palazzo Costabili, housing the archaeological museum, to see the highlights of finds from the Etruscan and Roman periods. After a mid-morning coffee break, in time-honored fashion, we walk along the

top of Ferrara’s 15th-century walls to the Castello Estense, home to the D’Este family for centuries. As we are guided around this moated castle and its remarkable artwork, we learn about the major players during the Italian renaissance such as Lucrezia Borgia, Alfonso D’Este and the Gonzagas of Mantua. After lunch there will be time for further museum visits. Alternatively, rent a bicycle and ride like the locals on protected lanes around the old town! We then return to our rural lodgings for our farewell dinner. B,DDay 13 — Bologna to USA This morning, we will transfer to the Bologna airport for flights home.

RESERVATIONS #1378

Yes! I/we want to join the Round the Lagoon Expedition, October 9-21, 2015, offered by AAAS Travels, Sigma Xi Expeditions & ACS Expeditions. Please reserve _____ space(s). As a deposit, I/we enclose a check for $__________ ($500 per person) payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account.

Name(s) _______________________________________ Age_________

_______________________________________ Age_________

Address _____________________________________________________

City ________________________________ State ____ Zip ____________

Phone: Home (________) ______________________________________

Work (________) ______________________________________

Email Address ________________________________________________Membership (please circle): AAAS Sigma Xi ACS Planetary Society

Accommodations Preference: ___ Twin ___ Single ___ Share (with a friend)

___ Share (assign a roommate) ___ Nonsmoker ___ Smoker

Signature __________________________________ Date ____________

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Please Mail To: Round the Lagoon 2015Betchart Expeditions Inc. 17050 Montebello Road Cupertino, CA 95014-5345

FIRST CLASS

Expedition Fee: $3,895 per person twin share plus air fare of approximately $1,395 from New York to Rome and Trieste, with return from Bologna.Expedition Fee Includes: Land transport; group airport transfers; accommodations twin share; meals as indicated; tips to drivers and guides; entrance fees; baggage handling where available; leadership; administration.Expedition Fee Does Not Include: International air fare (quoted separately); independent transfers; some meals; gratuity to leader; personal items such as laundry, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, snacks, sodas; personal insurance.What to Expect: This expedition is for travelers who would enjoy exploring with Mark Walters the cultural and natural heritage “Round the Lagoon.” We will visit the premiere historic locations and wetlands at the head of the Adriatic, including Trieste, Venice, the Po River Delta, Comacchio (the “other Venice”), and Ravenna. We will spend most days exploring historic villas, castellos, and museums, as well as outstanding natural areas and botanic gardens. We will explore at a leisurely pace suitable to discovery. Transport will be by van, motorcoach, vaporetto, or motorboat. Accommodations will reflect the cultural heritage of each region on our itinerary, from a city hotel to an historic villa and historic farm. Meals will reflect the local cultures and Mark’s superb knowledge of Italian cuisine. It will be fall with midday temperatures in the 70s. The trip will be a great experience for travelers with an appetite for discovery of another amazing region in Italy! (No smoking in vehicles, during lectures, or meals please.)Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: Air fare quoted is based on air fares as of September 1, 2014 Please contact Marisa or Taunya, (800) 252-4910 for an air fare quotation. AIR FARES AND TAXES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL TICKETED.

COSTS & CONDITIONSSingle Supplement: We encourage you to bring a room-mate or to share with another traveler. If you prefer a single, the cost is $795.Reservations, Deposits & Payments: To reserve a place on this expedition, please mail a deposit of $500 per person with the completed reservation form to: Round the Lagoon 2015, Betchart Expeditions Inc.

17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435Balance of land fee is due 60 days before departure.Cancellations & Refunds: The initial deposit is refundable up to 60 days before departure less a handling fee of $100 per person. There is no refund after the 60-day period unless your place is resold, then only the $100 per person handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for unused meals or other expedition features.Questions: Please contact Marisa Eide, Betchart Expeditions Inc. Telephone: (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910

Fax: (408) 252-1444 Email: Marisa@betchartexpeditions.comOn the Web: www.betchartexpeditions.comResponsibility: Betchart Expeditions Inc., Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society act only as agents for the passenger with respect to trans portation and hotels and exercise every care possible. We can assume no liability for injury, damage, delay, loss, accident, or irregularity in connection with the services of any airplane, ship, motorcoach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, acts of God, terrorism, or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to substitute another leader of similar expertise or to cancel any tour prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded with no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrange ments are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood that the air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance.© 2014 Betchart Expeditions Inc. All rights reserved. CST# 2036304-40

AAAS Travels ACS & Sigma Xi Expeditions

BETCHART EXPEDITIONS Inc. 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435

“Accommodations were excellent,

the guides were good, meals superb

— a well balanced, delightful trip!”

— past trip member

Explore...Round the Lagoon!

October 9 -21, 2015Venice • Trieste • Po River • Ravenna