Travel to Portugal with UMRA, Road Scholar
Wed, Oct 28, 2020, 12am - Sat, Nov 7, 2020, 12pm
The UMRA Travel Committee is announcing its first Road Scholar Tour: “Discoveries along the Douro: Portugal’s best-kept secrets.” This exclusive learning adventure is scheduled for October 28 to November 7, 2020, and will be preceded by an optional, three-night tour of Lisbon.
We’ll sail along the winding Douro River, through the fairytale landscapes of Portugal, aboard a riverboat chartered exclusively for Road Scholar. We’ll have full access to top-notch instructors as we explore medieval towns and villages and Baroque architecture. We’ll also get a taste of the local culture, with a bountiful selection of some of the region’s most spectacular wines, and discover some of the best-kept secrets of Portugal from the locals who know it best.
Travel for seven nights aboard the MS Gil Eanes, a premium three-deck ship that accommodates 100 passengers. Before boarding the ship, spend two nights at the Sheraton Porto Hotel and Spa in the cultural district of Porto. A group leader will begin our adventure with an introduction to Portuguese history, and then accompany us throughout the day to explore the city of Porto, one of the most beautiful in Europe. The day will end with a visit to the home of a Portuguese family to learn of their role in 19th-century Porto and taste their family estate-produced wine.
This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat Program. So, in addition to lectures and field trips, you are invited to take advantage of classes and events aboard ship.
A brochure detailing both the river cruise and an optional pre-cruise tour of Lisbon will be sent to UMRA members in January. Questions? Please contact Cherie Hamilton at [email protected] or 612-929-0233.
—Cherie Hamilton, chair, UMRA Travel Committee
Upcoming Events
52 Loaves: One Man's Relentless Pursuit of Truth, Meaning, and a Perfect Crust by William Alexander will be the selection for discussion when the UMRA Book Club gathers via Zoom for its first monthly meeting of 2026.
Developing a sense of identity is a central psychological task of the lifespan. Memories and stories from our personal past, as well as cultural memories and stories in society play key roles in how we develop our identities. This presentation will discuss psychological theory and research on how memories and stories make us who we are.
When you are of Icelandic descent you can trace your ancestors back to around 1200 and sometimes further.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Here’s another great opportunity to buy discounted tickets and join your UMRA friends to cheer for the Gophers when the Women’s Basketball team hosts the Purdue Boilermakers at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on February 1.
Join fellow UMRA members for a morning hike in Theodore Wirth Park to celebrate Groundhog Day on Monday, February 2.
UMRA’s special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We’ll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the University’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
"One color" is the theme for the meeting of the UMRA Photo Club on Tuesday, February 10.
Family history with Jim Kurle. A tale of Swedish emigration to Dunn County, North Dakota including my grandfather, whose unusual relationship to several churches, and religion in general, was one of the reasons for his emigrating.
UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour on Thursday, February 12, will offer an inside look into the rich resources of the University Libraries Borchert Map Library. Map Librarian Ryan Mattke will showcase the treasures and innovations of one of the largest map libraries in the U.S.
Well-known Twin Cities-based financial journalist and economics commentator Chris Farrell will be the featured guest for UMRA’s February 17 Living Well Workshop via Zoom. He will discuss why and how the current generation of older Americans is not following the traditional retirement pattern of a relaxed lifestyle.
UMRA's Book Club I will discuss Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother's Life. Author is Kao Kalia Yang. Discussion leader is Linda Lindeke.
Renee Alexander’s first job at the Great Minnesota Get-Together was as an intern in 1989. She took over the top job in 2023, following the 26-year tenure of her predecessor.
Growing Up by Russell Baker.
Family history with Michelle Casey.