Travel the World With a Harvard Archaeologist! History, Culture, and Geography

Do you want your learner to become an awesome, worldly, travel-ready globetrotter? This is the place!

I am so excited to travel the world with you. Each week we will have a new adventure as we get to know the great cities and regions of the world. Each class is individual and students may join at any time. It is not required to have attended the previous week in order to participate in the current week's class. 

In a fun twist on our standard format, our current segment is TIME TRAVELING WITH AN ARCHAEOLOGIST. For the next several weeks we will be visiting relevant locations on the globe at their most interesting time periods in history. 


PLEASE NOTE: This hit class has been running for more than 3 years.  Here are examples of places we have visited:


LIVE FROM ITALY. 


Venice

Get to know the city and how it was built. Don't be afraid to get lost in Venice, everyone does! We will find our way through the tiny streets and lovely bridges. Also, we will learn how the Venetians created this amazing city on the water, with only a swamp to build on. A feat of engineering and human perseverance- with such beautiful results!

Aqua alta, Venetian glass blowers, and the Doge (Such an interesting political office and a really cool hat!). We will have a busy day learning about the ancient art of glass blowing that is unique to Venice, exploring the amazing art inside the Doge's palace, and learning about the effects of aqua alta (the high tides that flood Venice). 


Siena

Now let's journey further into Italy and visit the city of Siena. A renaissance gem.  Get ready for the awesome horse race- Palio!


Pompeii

Let's get to know Pompeii. Before we explore the ruins, we will learn about daily life in the Ancient Roman Empire. What did the people eat? What jobs did they do? How did they spend their day? Then we will discuss the destruction of Pompeii and Vesuvius.  Let's look at the archaeological remains. We will explore the ancient city streets and visit the Forum, an ancient café, and inside  a few homes of the residents. We will learn about the excavations of Pompeii and the exciting work that is still continuing. New discoveries are made all the time and we will get a sneak peek at a few of them. 


Rome

The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, Column of Trajan, and the fun neighborhood surrounding these ancient sites. Plus, a visit to a secret church that only the locals know about- I will show you the way. Finally, a quick peek at one of the weirdest things I have ever seen! Then we will stop for dinner at the Pantheon- my favorite building in the world.


Naples

Let's have a fun day in the modern city of Naples. This beautiful city also city in the shadow of Vesuvius and it's a vibrant, beautiful, and delicious city. We will see what it's like to live in modern Naples and check out their take on pizza. Every city in Italy that I have explored has a different way of making pizza and Naples in no exception. How do they get the crust so light and puffy? We will find our way through the ancient and tiny streets of the city, look inside the archaeological museum, and get a feel for Naples and its unique culture.



LIVE FROM EGYPT


Cairo

Pyramid day! First we will travel to Saqqara to see the first pyramid built, the Step Pyramid of Djoser.  We will also explore the ritual area in front of and around the pyramid- which hosted a festival every 20 years in which the pharaoh would demonstrate his physical fitness to rule. Did you know he had to capture a bull all by himself?  Next we will go deeper into the desert to see the pyramids that tourists usually never see: The Red Pyramid, Bent Pyramid, and the Broken Pyramid. Be sure to put on your sunscreen and bring water, because we are headed into the deep desert.  Then we will head over to Giza.  I worked for three years on the Giza project- part of the 150 years joint project between Harvard and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to excavate, restore, and catalogue all the finding on the Giza plateau.  Often seen as mysterious, the pyramids are actually are remarkable feat of physics and the determination of this ancient culture to erect these pyramids. We will learn about they how were built and why. Then we will move on to the Sphinx, and explore it's fascinating history. Did you know that there was a  great ship buried under one of the Sphinx's paws?



LIVE FROM AUSTRIA


Vienna

I lived in Vienna for the first four months that I lived in Austria. This is a beautiful city that rivals Paris and isn't afraid to admit it! Let's go through the imperial palace, visit the opera house, and see the storybook holiday markets set up in the square in front of City Hall. Vienna is a magical place (with excellent chocolate!) and I am excited to show you around.


Salzburg

I have spent so much time in this city that I can navigate without a map. Let me show you classic Salzburg. We will visit Mozart's house, explore the tiny streets, and see how heavy a mug I can lift at the Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln! I can't believe that monks can lift those giant steins! Finally we will climb up to the castle overlooking the city and the Alps beyond. Medieval beauty at its finest.



AMSTERDAM 

Another city of canals, but with a completely different personality. I love this city and I am looking forward to sharing the Van Gogh museums and exploring the little streets and visiting the thinnest house I have ever seen! Amsterdam can be a lot of fun, grab a bike and join me!



NEW ORLEANS

We will explore this vibrant, musical, and delicious city. We will learn about the pirates in this cities past, as well as the variety of different cultures that make up the magic that is New Orleans. We will listen to the music, learn its traditions, explore the archaeological digs in that area. Also we will be making a delicious New Orleans treat together!

London. Let's get to know this city. Let's tour Hampton Court palace- home to Henry VIII and get a peek in side Bucking Palace as well. We will look around inside the British museum and take a look at the medieval streets and hidden places in this ancient city. Hopefully we can find a place by the fire at the end of the day and enjoy a nice rich British stew, while I tell you a few stories about London's most famous residents.



NEW YORK

Christmas in New York! It's unlike any other Christmas celebration. We will get front seats to the lights shows, window displays, and fabulous holiday performances. We will end our day with a stroll down 5th Ave to see the over-the-top holiday light displays. I live in New York, so all of my pictures will be from this year's Christmas. If you can't see the light shows, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, or the Rockettes in person- then I will take you there!

Rome. Happy New Year from The Vatican! Let's cross the Tiber river to visit St. Peter's Basilica, a tour of the Vatican museums, the Vatican Restoration Laboratories in the basement, Sistine Chapel, and the fun story behind the Egyptian Obelisk in the center of Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square).



TULUM, MEXICO

Let's learn about the Mayans and enjoy a perfect beach and ocean as well! Ancient ruins plus beach time equals awesome!



BOSTON AND HARVARD 

Where do I pahk my cah? I parked mine in Harvard Yard. I will show you around my one of my favorite places in the world- Harvard's campus! I lived here for 7 years and I am excited to also show you around Boston, learn some Revolutionary history, and learn how to eat a lobstah (lobster).

Archaeological China- the Great Wall and the Terracotta soldiers)

Oxford, the Cotswolds, and Stonehenge



Planning a vacation? Tell me where! I will do my best to include your intended destination in the curriculum! Send me your suggestions and requests for additional locations. I am happy to explore the world with you! 

It is not required to take the previous class in order to participate in the current week's class.