Wide World Books and Maps (4411 Wallingford Ave N) has free talks and events throughout the month. Left in September:
Tuesday, September 16th, 7 pm – Trekking in the Himalayas: The Ins & Outs of the Ups & Downs with Pam Perry and Sheri Goodwin
Ever wanted to go trekking in Nepal but don’t know where to start? Come hear Pam Perry of Grand Asian Journeys and Sheri Goodwin of Transformational Journeys, both seasoned trekking veterans, talk about what you need to do to prepare for a Himalayan mountain adventure. How do I get prepared physically? Which is the right trek for me? What do I pack? How much will it cost? How much time do I need? How do I stay healthy? What about trekking options in Tibet, Bhutan or India? They’ll answer all of these questions and more. If you’ve ever dreamed of trekking in the Himalayas, this presentation is for you.
Saturday, September 20th, 9 am – Gutsy Women
This informal gathering is for women to meet and learn from each other’s travel experiences and share wisdom learned on the road. Bring your coffee and your questions! This group meets each month on the 3rd Saturday.
Thursday, September 25th, 7 pm – Wes Krause – Celebrating 30 Years of Madness!
Founded in 1984 by climbers and adventurers Scott Fischer and Wes Krause, Seattle-based tour company Mountain Madness is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Wes has a vast and impressive travel and adventure resume. Numerous climbs in Alaska and the Himalayas culminated in his being named co-leader, along with Scott, of the 1987 American Everest North Face Expedition. Wes later moved to East Africa where he was Director of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Kenya. During this time he and Fischer made the second ascent of the Breach Icicle on Kilimanjaro and pioneered the Shira Plateau Route. Wes went on to develop new walking safaris and created the gold standard in logistics for East African adventures. Wes has lived in Arusha, Tanzania for nearly 30 years, where he directs the Kilimanjaro climbs and treks and safaris for Mountain Madness. Wes will be presenting a program and pictorial history of Mountain Madness, pioneering new routes on Kilimanjaro, safari stories and big mountains all over the world. Join us in a fun evening of tales, reminiscing and a celebration of mountains, adventures and madness! (Note the talk this week is on Thursday, instead of Tuesday.)
Tuesday, September 30th, 7 pm – Nicaragua with Jennifer Spatz
Join Jennifer Spatz of Global Family Travels in an incredible journey to delve into the culture and society of contemporary Nicaragua. While both tours emphasize authentic cultural experiences to give you a true taste of Nicaragua, the trips’ highlights are in the personal connections made with the exuberant people who live there and the opportunity to participate in community projects which that benefit the locals on Omtepe Island. Other highlights include wild Capuchin monkey spotting, swimming in the warm, fresh-water lake, enjoying local mangoes and other fresh fruits, searching for bargains in an arts market, and climbing a volcano through a rain forest.
- Nicaragua: Bridging Cultures through Soccer: Pack up your cleats and head out with Global Family Travels to Ometepe Island inNicaragua where you will teach and learn new skills in a remote, but beautiful setting. Working with a local soccer team, you and your family will help to improve the poor conditions of the sports fields and participate in games, activities and Nicaraguan culture.
- Nicaragua: Learn, Serve, Immerse: For our Service work, Global Family Travels is partnering with the Bainbridge –Omtepe Island Association and Si a la Vida, a 20 year NGO that assists homeless Nicaraguan youth. We will work at the NGO’s center on OmetepeIsland, an idyllic place in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, and participate in local homestays to get to know the local culture and its people.