Culture, history, and geology—along the Rhine
Cathy Lee Gierke presented photos about her cruise on the Rhine river, Italian Switzerland, and Lake Como -- and the history, culture and geology along the way. We ran out of time for Iceland! But an upcoming Armchair Traveller is on Iceland.
Culture, history, and geology—along the Rhine and Iceland
Wed, Nov 19, 2025, 10am
UMRA’s Armchair Traveler program on November 19 will take us from Amsterdam to Lake Como, in northern Italy, and from there to Iceland. Here is how Cathy Lee Gierke describes the travelogue she will share:
"In Como, Italy, at the tip of Lake Como, the Italians have built a temple to a 19th century scientist and prominent Como citizen. The temple is a neoclassical rotunda in the grandest Italian style, with marble columns and intricate decoration. Statues in front of the building represent Science and Faith. The inside bas-reliefs relate moments in the life of the famous Como physicist.
"Tempio Voltiano commemorates Alessandro Volta, distinguished physicist & politician, and the inventor of the electric battery. The last thing I expected to see in the central gardens of Como overlooking Lake Como, was a temple to a physicist. That's what I love about travel -- learning, beauty, wonder and getting up close with history.
"In Sept, I travelled the Rhine from progressive Amsterdam to the incomparable Lake Como, nestled in the Italian Alps, and finally, on to stark, dramatic, welcoming Iceland. The history and culture of distant locations is always fascinating and enlightening to me. The geology of Iceland was another kind of mercurial!"
Upcoming Events
"Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026.
The UMRA Breakfast meeting on Thursday, April 16, will be a discussion of technology for older adults: what works best, what is confusing, and what are the best resources for seeking help.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean when it meets via Zoom on Friday, April 17. Diane Madson-Kay will lead the discussion.
On April 20, we will welcome guest leaders Bion Beebe and Linda Bjornberg from Twin Cities Hiking Meetup, to show us their favorite trails from the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge trailhead in Bloomington.
The satisfaction of eating food that you grow or tending a plant that gives you beauty is nourishing in every way. And, according to Terry Straub, the guest speaker for UMRA’s April 21 workshop, we can have this satisfaction throughout our lives, our changing abilities, and wherever we live.
Across 15 years, Ilene Dawn Alexander has made at least a dozen visits to England and Wales, all with longer sojourns in Manchester and Liverpool. Each journey has disproved the dismissive description of Manchester as “the armpit of England.” Join UMRA’s Armchair Traveler program on April 22 to learn what Alexander has discovered what these outside-of-London cities have to offer.
Ever wonder what goes on behind the shiny walls of the Weisman Art Museum on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus? What its mission is, and how the museum staff and its collections relate with our community? Join us for UMRA’s April 28 luncheon forum at Midland Hills and hear Weisman Art Director Alejandra Peña Gutiérrez explain it all.
May 4 is a beautiful Urban hike around Minneapolis’ Cedar and Brownie Lakes.
Join us for the Doors Open Minneapolis photo shoot.
Family history with Craig Moody. A tale with many dead ends.
Peter Moe, retired University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Director and UMRA member, will lead this hike.
Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026.
Bev leads at Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
Abandoned and discarded is the theme for the UMRA Photo Club meeting in June. Newcomers are welcome.
Michael leads this hike at Afton State Park.