Alumni Adventures – Alumni Relations

Land of Egypt Tour

aotto — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 17:23:02 +0000

Please join the Alumni Association and Dr. Jimmy Albright for an unforgettable tour of Egypt.

On May 20-31, 2020, we will spend 12 days touring “Ancient Egypt and the Nile River” from Cairo to Aswan.

The cost of the trip is $4,299 per person. Included in the cost is: air ticket, touring, 4-star hotels, breakfast and dinner daily and five lunches. Not included: tips, carrier surcharges, Egypt entrance Visa, three lunches, drinks, optional travel insurance and items of a personal nature.

Download Informational Flyer (pdf)

Please contact the Alumni Relations office at (816) 271-5670 to sign up or with questions.

Proposed Itinerary

Day 1: Flight to Cairo – May 20, 2020
Depart USA to Cairo. Enjoy a hot dinner aboard the airplane.

Day 2: Arrival in Egypt
Welcome to Egypt! Our representative will meet and greet you at the airport after you clear customs and then will escort you to your hotel in Giza. The rest of the day is free. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 3: The Pyramids and the Sphinx
After breakfast, you will meet your tour director, also a professional Egyptologist and an expert in the history and anthropology of Egypt. Today, your tour takes you to fascinate sites of ancient Egypt. The pyramids of Giza are the only “Wonder of the Ancient World” to have survived the modern era. Your guided sightseeing tour introduces you to the three pyramids here, including the stunning Great Pyramid of Cheops. Then visit the enigmatic Sphinx. Continue to Saqqara and Memphis, which was the ancient capital of Egypt. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 4: Tour of Alexandria
After breakfast we will tour Alexandria (weather permitting), where you’ll see the new Library of Alexandria, the Catacombs, Montana and the Amphi Theatre. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 5: Cairo
After breakfast, you will visit Old Cairo, Moallakah Church, and Saint Sergius. In the afternoon, enjoy some shopping time in the Bazaar.

Day 6: Luxor and Cruise on River Nile
Fly to Luxor to begin the cruise portion of your Egyptian tour. Spend the day touring the Nile’s West Bank. Your tour director/Egyptologist leads you to the Valley of the Kings, a series of tombs hidden in the Theban Hills. This “Place of Truth,” as the ancient Egyptians called it, is the location of the tombs of Pharaohs Turankhamun and Ramses. You’ll enter the tombs for a tour. Then visit and tour the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, devoted to one of the few female pharaohs. Also view the 64-foot-high Colossi of Memnon and tour the Valley of Nobles, whose temples depict amazing scenes of daily Egyptian life. Tonight, attend a sound and light show. Overnight aboard cruise ship.

Day 7: West Bank
This morning, explore the painstakingly excavated Temples of Karnak and Luxor, once connected by an avenue of sphinxes. Your tour director/Egyptologist takes you inside the temples for guided tours. Later, sail towards Edfu. Overnight aboard cruise ship.

Day 8: Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan
This morning, visit the Temple of Horus. Built nearly 2,000 years ago, this amazingly well-preserved temple is a perfect example of the architecture of its era. Next, sail to Kom Ombo. Visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, built during the Greco-Roman period. The temple is noted for its twin deities, Sobek and Horus. Arrive later today in Aswan. Overnight aboard cruise ship.

Day 9: Aswan Dam
Enjoy a visit to the Aswan Dam, on e of the greatest engineering projects of the 20th century. Also view the Temple of Isis at Philae and the “unfinished Obelisk,” once destined to be the largest structure of stone in the world. In the afternoon, you’ll take a felucca (boat) ride past Elephantine Island, on which lies the frontier fortress of Egypt. The island takes its name from the dark granite rocks at its southern end, which resemble a herd of elephants bathing on the river. Also view the mausoleum of Agha Khan, which is situated on a hill with panoramic views. Overnight aboard cruise ship.

Day 10: Aswan
Your cruise ends with disembarkation this morning in Aswan. Fly from Aswan to Abu-Simbel. Visit the temples of Abu-Simbel. Return from Abu-Simbel to Cairo either directly or via Aswan (connecting flights) depending on availability. Tonight, attend an Egyptian Folklore Evening, dinner an overnight in Cairo.

Day 11: Sightseeing of Cairo
Your tour director/Egyptologist will lead a sightseeing tour of Cairo. The city’s mosques, of which there are more than 500, display some of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world. Visit the citadel and Mohammed Ali Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque. Built in the 12th center by mighty Salah el-Din. The Citadel was originally used as a fortress and was the residence of the Sultans until 1850. Also visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum, which houses the famous masks of Tutankhamen. Later, roam through the winding streets and alleyways of the Khan-el Khalili Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 12: Return Home – May 31, 2020
Transfer to Cairo airport for your flight back to USA. Arrive home.

Learn More Facts about Egypt, provided by Dr. Jimmy Albright (pdf)

Greece is the word Part 2

Thu, 23 May 2019 17:07:15 +0000

Max had a hard flight so, after dinner, Colleen went up to the rooftop bar and took a few pictures of Athens.

Tomorrow we begin our trip in earnest with a cruise to Mikinos.

Greece is the Word

Thu, 23 May 2019 14:32:54 +0000

Max surveys Athens from his hotel room

We’ve arrived! We landed in Athens around 10 am local time – that’s 2 am in St. Joseph. It was a 10 hour flight from Newark during which time, Max watched “Aquaman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” After such a long flight, Max needed a quick nap. Now it’s onto a trip meeting and dinner.

Greece and Greek Islands Tour: Ancient and Modern Greece

aotto — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 20:15:44 +0000

May 22 – June 1, 2019

You are invited to join us on the trip of a lifetime to Greece! Dr. Jimmy Albright and the ��߲�� Alumni Association will travel to Greece and the Greek Islands for an 11 day tour. Three days will include a cruise.

Follow in the footsteps of St. Paul as you travel through Greece and the Greek Islands. Retrace the roots of early Christianity through Ephesus, Patmos, Heraklion, Delphi and Corinth. This historical and spiritual tour will give you new perspective on the church as you learn about its earliest days and the lives of the first Christians.

Trip cost: $3,999 per person for a double occupancy room. For a single room add $799. [Please note the cost does not include airport tax and fuel surcharges (currently $700, subject to change), tips ($110), cruise port and fuel surcharge ($199), optional insurance ($319), and any items of personal nature. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Tour terms and conditions can be found on the registration form.]

To Register: Please contact Colleen Kowich, Director of Alumni Relations at (816) 271-5650 or by email.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Wednesday - May 22, 2019 - Depart USA

Depart for your transatlantic flight to Athens. Enjoy hot dinner and entertainment aboard the airplane.

Day 2 - Thursday - Athens

Arrive at Athens Airport. Meet and greet our representative and board the bus for transfer to Athens Center, where we will start immediately with our half day Athens City Tour – the birthplace of democracy. Including: Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the memorial for the Unknown Soldier and the University, the Academy and the National Library. Driving down Herodes Atticus Street you will see the Avzones in their picturesque uniforms and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896), the temple of Olympia Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis mount, you will visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylee, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the Parthenon – the monument which “puts order in the mind” and “is the harmony between matter and spirit.” We end the tour at your hotel. Remaining of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Athens.

Day 3 - Friday - Cruise to Mykonos

After breakfast transfer to the Port of Piraeus and embark on a three day cruise, sailing at about 11 a.m. At about 6 p.m. arrive at Port of Mykonos, famous for its nightlife and windmills. After purchasing a shuttle bus ticket (about 8 Euro, not included in trip cost), we will take a Private Guided Walking Tour. Stroll around the narrow stone-paved streets lined by cubic shite houses built in the Cycladic manner. Afterwards we can shop or enjoy a drink in one of the many waterfront cafes in “Little Venice,” About 10 p.m. depart Mykonos on the cruise ship.

Day 4 - Saturday - Cruise to Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Patmos

Early morning arrival in Kusadasi at about 7 a.m. Disembark, meet guide and bus for a Half Day Tour of Ephesus. Tour the Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins of Ephesus, one of the world’s finest archaeological sites. Walk through history along Marble Street lined with public buildings, the Arcadian Way, the splendid facade of the library of Celsus, the Baths of Scholastic, Hadrian’s Temple, and Temple of Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders in the Ancient World. Return to the ship by noon time and sail to Patmos. At about 4 p.m. arrive to the Island of Patmos; considered a holy island for the Christian religion. It was here in Patmos where John the Divine, while in exile, wrote the Apocalyptic Revelations, which constitute the last part of the New Testament. Disembark and meet with our guide and bus. The Half Day tour takes you to the monastery of St. John, which still keeps its character of a medieval fortress. Inside the walls you will be able to admire the Byzantine wealth of the Christian Orthodox religion while from its high ground you will have the most stunning panoramic view of the luminous sea. After the visit of St. John Monastery, we proceed to the Grotto – the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse where St. John is said to have had the vision of fire and brimstone and dictated the book of Revelation. Return to the Port of Patmos – free time. Departure around 9 p.m. from Patmos.

Day 5 - Sunday - Cruise to Heraklion and Santorini

In the morning arrive at Heraklion, Crete where you can choose to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, home to king Minos and his legendary beast, the Minotaur. In the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion you can find the unbelievable works of art (pieces of sculpture and pottery, jewelry, arms, frescoes), that have been found in a number of Minoan sites all over Crete. Then sail north to the isle of Santorini, the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. Santorini has a Mediterranean flair and is a famous vacation resort. Disembark the cruise ship, meet with our guide and start the Private Walking Tour of the town and its magnificent island views. Take the cable car up the mountain for an elevated view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Santorini Island (ticket cost of about 8 Euro is not included in the trip cost). Afterwards you will have free time to shop or enjoy the many stores and coffee shops. The ship departs in the evening fromt he port of Santorini.

Day 6 - Monday - Veria and Thessaloniki

Arrive in Piraeus, Athens early in the morning after breakfast. Disembark and begin your journey in the mainland of Greece with the drive from Athens to Thessaloniki. On the way, view the famous Thermopylae Pass, the beautiful Valley of Tembi, the legendary mountain of Olympus and the Byzantine Castle of Platamonas. Arrive at Veria where you will viist the Bema of the apostle Paul. Continue to Thessaloniki, dinner and overnight.

Day 7 - Tuesday - Philippi and Kavala

After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, begin a full day excursion. In the morning – travel east by coach, pass Apollonia to arrive at Amphipolis and visit part of the extensive site, including the North Wall. See both Beta and Gamma gates, and the remains of Strymon Bridge. View the 4th Century B.C. Lion Statue that was prominent on the ancient Egnatian Way that St. Paul would have travelled. Afterwards, continue to the City of Kavala and stop nearby the harbor of Kavala (biblical Neapolis), St. Paul’s gateway to Europe – a busy port with striking castle and an imposing aqueduct built by Suleyman the Magnificent. See the Greek Orthodox seaside church (Agia Sofia) that marks Paul’s landing spot. Lunch is on your own. In the afternoon our next stop will be Philippi, which had a spacious forum and Agora and a theatre, which is also a gladiator arena. Nearby there is a crypt, which has been honored since the fifth century as the place of St. Pauls’s first imprisonment, where Paul and Silas sang hymns and an earthquake set them free. Philippi is the place where the Apostle Paul arrived on the mainland of Europe in response to the vision of a Macedonian that he saw at Troas. Here in Philippi St. Paul first preached the Gospel in Europe. Visit Lydia Springs, the Baptismal Site. Outside the ancient city, the River Gangites still flows through quiet countryside, where St. Paul addressed his first European congregations and the business woman, Lydia – a “seller of purple,” who was the first to be baptized. There is a fine chapel commemorating this event. Return to Thessaloniki on the coastal road. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Thessaloniki.

Day 8 - Wednesday - Thessaloniki and Kalambaka

In the morning, after breakfast, drive in Thessaloniki to see the landmark of the city, the White Tower, the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the Roman Arch of Galerius and the Rotonda. Visit two of the city’s oldest and most admired Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia (Divine Wisdom). Continue to Kalambaka, where you visit one of the amazing Byzantine monasteries of Meteora, perched on top of gigantic rock pinnacles. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.

Day 9 - Thursday - Delphi and Athens

Travel to scenic Delphi, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth, which in antiquity was believed to be the “navel” (omphalos) of the world. Walk on the Sacred Way to see the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle delivered her ambiguous prophecies and the Theater. Also visit the Museum with its splendid collection of ancient works of art, including the Sphinx of the Naxians, the Silver Bull, the Column of Dancers, the “Omphalos” and the pride of the museum, the 5th century B.C. bronze “Charioteer.” Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 - Friday - Ancient Corinth and Athens

After breakfast, begin your trip to Ancient Corinth. This is the once glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla and spent a year and a half working and preaching the Gospel. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temples and the famous Bema, where Paul stood before Gallio accused by the Jews of Corinth. Then drive to Cenchreae, the little harbor Paul sailed back to Asia from, thus ending his second missionary journey. Afterwards return to Athens for your Athens sightseeing tour. Admire the architectural miracles of ancient Athens, as you follow your guide to the world renown Acropolis, to see the Propylea, the Erectheum and the Parthenon. Visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his ingenious speech on the “Unknown God.” View the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, see Constitution Square and the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and the Neoclassical Buildings of Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 11 - Saturday - June 1, 2019 - Back Home

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Athens Airport and fly back home.

Alumni Association to Travel to Greece

aotto — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:40:24 +0000

Travel to Greece with the Missouri Western Alumni Association and Dr. Jimmy Albright! We will spend 11 days visiting ancient sites such as the Parthenon, the Temple of Delphi, and the Temple of Apollo. We will also spend three days cruising the Greek islands of Mykonos, Ephesus and Santorini.

Dr. Albright is hosting an information session on the trip at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 in Spratt Hall Enright Room 214. Please join us! If you would like information sent to you, please contact Colleen Kowich at ckowich@missouriwestern.edu or (816) 271-5650. Alumni, parents, and community members are welcome to travel with us!

Israel Adventure: Days 8 and 9

aotto — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 17:47:10 +0000

Yesterday, we ascended the Temple Mount for a view of the dome of the Rock. We continued to the Western Wall (or the Wailing Wall), the last remnant of King Solomon’s Temple. It was Bar Mitzvah day at the Wailing Wall and we saw several young boys celebrate this sacred event.

We continued our journey through the famous Tunnels from the Hasmoni era and out to the Via Dolorosa and the Arab Market–the Shulk–with its hundreds of stores selling many types of artifacts. We concluded the day with a visit to the Holocaust Museum.

Today we are on our own to explore and shop before a farewell supper and the long flight home. While we love being here, we look forward to being with our family and friends.

Shalom

Israel Adventure: Day 7

aotto — Wed, 30 May 2018 17:45:58 +0000

We began our day with a visit to Bethlehem and a tour of an olive wood carving factory. We, of course, went shopping before heading to the Church of the Nativity–the site where it is said that Jesus was born. From Bethlehem, we travelled to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. After that, we walked into the Old City. And what a walk it was–from what I’m told! I flew in and boy are my wings tired! There are going to be some aching muscles in the morning. We spent the afternoon in the Old City, walking the route of the crucifixion; ending our day at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which some believe is the site of Jesus’ tomb.

Tomorrow we return to Jerusalem to visit Temple Mount, the Wailing Wall, the Holocaust Museum and other sites we missed today.

Israel Adventure: Day 6

aotto — Tue, 29 May 2018 17:45:04 +0000

We began the day with a visit to Masada – the southernmost Dead Sea palace of Herod the Great. I should say three palaces – he had one on each level of the mountain. We then drove to the Negev Desert to a Bedouin camp where we rode camels, learned about the Bedouin culture, and shared lunch with them. Our final stop was the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Tomorrow, our adventure will begin with a magnificent view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. After that we will walk down to the Kidron Valley and enter the Garden of Gethsemane – the Church of All Nations – where we will view the Basilica of Agony. In this area we will find the oldest olive trees in the Holy Land, which date back to ancient times.

We then continue along the Kidron Valley, where we will view the Tomb of Zachariah as well as the Tomb of Absalom (King David’s son). Next we enter the Old City via the Dung Gate and proceed to the Wailing Wall. The Wailing Wall is a remnant of Solomon’s Temple–and the holiest Jewish site–and we will have the opportunity to touch its ancient stones.

We will ascend the Temple Mount for a view of the dome of the Rock. Then we will continue to the famous Tunnels from the Hasmoni era and out to the Via Dolorosa and the Arab Market–the Shulk–with its hundreds of stores selling many types of artifacts. We conclude the day with a visit to the Holy Sepulchre which is the largest Church in Jerusalem.

Israel Adventure: Day 5

aotto — Mon, 28 May 2018 17:44:02 +0000

We kicked the day off with Baptisms in the Jordan River. Colleen was in charge of two cameras – not including her own – so we’ll have to wait for pictures of this event. Over 20 members of our group of 34 were baptized by Dr. Jimmy Albright and Dr. Gerald Small, Associate Professor of HPER.

We then visited Bet She’an – an excavated Roman city that covers 400 acres – was discovered in the 1920s with major excavations beginning in 1986. The settlement of Bet She’an first began in the fifth millennium BC.

We then crossed the border into Palestinian-held territory to visit the City of Jericho and see the ruins of the ancient city. After a quick lunch of chicken and lamb, we were back on the road to the Dead Sea and the caves of Quran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.

We ended our day with a float in the Dead Sea itself, experiencing the therapeutic effects of the salt water – the largest salt lake in the world. (No pictures of this as Max is not a sea-faring Griffon. Plus, nobody likes to get their pictures taken while at the beach.)

Tomorrow after breakfast, we visit Masadas – the site of the Zealots last stand against the Romans, which was originally built as a magnificent palace for Herod the Great. At this great fortress, we will visit the bathhouse, the storage rooms, the mosaics and the Byzantine Church.

After descending by walking along the ramp built by the Romans, we will drive to a Bedouin camp and enjoy a special visit with Middle Eastern hospitality. We will continue to Arad and on to Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev. This is the city where Abraham dug the seven water wells.

We will drive by Tel Arad, the Canaanite city conquered by Joshua. Then we continue via the Negev Desert to the Ela Valley, site of the famous battle between David and Goliath. We will continue our ascent to Jerusalem, 2,400 feet above sea level via Beit Shemes and Emmaus.

At the entrance to the Holy City, we will celebrate with a traditional blessing, while overlooking the walls of the City. We will finish up the day with dinner and the night spent in Jerusalem.

Israel Adventure: Day 4

aotto — Sun, 27 May 2018 17:25:32 +0000

We traveled North today to the Lebanese border. Along the way, we stopped at the Mount of Beatitudes where it’s believed Jesus gave The Sermon on the Mount. We visited Tel Dan – the northernmost kingdom of Israel and the tribe of Dan. There was a quick stop at Caesarea Philippi to see the Temple of Pan. We then viewed “The Jesus Boat,” a first century fishing boat found and excavated from the Sea of Galilee in 1986. After a delicious fish lunch along the Sea of Galilee, it was on to Capernaum where it is believed that Jesus first met Simon Peter and Andrew; performing several miracles during his ministry. A stop at Tel Bethsaida to see the ruins excavated by students and volunteers from Missouri Western, led by Dr. Jimmy Albright, professor of archeology, was next on the agenda. One of our new friends from West Virginia remarked to Colleen, “I didn’t go to Missouri Western, but I’m so proud of what your school accomplished. Our day ended with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. A very full day indeed.

Tomorrow, numerous members of our group will be baptized in the River Jordan by Dr. Albright before driving south to Belt Sheaan, the largest archeological site in Israel. We will explore the ancient Roman City with the Amphitheater and reconstructed streets. We then continue south through the Jordan Valley to Jericho as conditions allow.