A Wonderful Adventure Series
Next session: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 1:30pm-3:00pm
Details:
Tom Worosz Jr. will introduce you to regions around the world. Sharing his photos and experiences with you he hopes to ignite your travel bug and curiosity about travelling the world. Each month Tom will take you to a different region around the globe.
About Tom: He is an experienced traveller who has visited over 90 countries and has made numerous presntations at OLLI - NOVA at George Mason University.
Register on MyActiveCenter
September 22 | Peru
In Summer 2012, a friend and I traveled to Peru primarily to visit the 15th-century Inca city of Machu Picchu in the Andes. We quickly discovered Peru offered far more. Our group of twelve spent 15 days journeying south from Lima toward the Chilean border, exploring small desert villages whose livelihoods depended on the nearby Pacific. Turning northwest, we observed the Nazca Lines—ancient geoglyphs dating back two millennia—visited Lake Titicaca and its remarkable floating reed islands, and explored Cuzco, widely regarded as Peru’s most beautiful city. A scenic train ride through the Andes brought us to small mountain villages that served historically as resting stops for travelers to Machu Picchu. With the Andean landscape as a dramatic backdrop, we watched the sunrise over Machu Picchu’s terraces and navigated steep stone pathways while admiring the Inca engineering mastery evident in temples, royal residences, observatories, and homes. Throughout the trip, knowledgeable guides provided context on Peru’s history, its ancient cultures, and, most importantly, its people, enriching our understanding of the places we visited and the enduring legacy of the Inca civilization.
October 27 | Turkey
In Spring 2006 I joined a George Mason University OLLI tour led by two professors who earned doctorates in Turkey. Istanbul, astride Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus, unites ancient history with remarkable architecture and layered religious traditions. Visitors encounter Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, Chora Church, the Blue Mosque, and Süleymaniye Mosque, alongside enduring Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities. Taksim Square and İstiklal Street convey contemporary urban energy, while the Grand Bazaar and neighborhood cafés reveal everyday life and regional cuisine. A unique experience was attending an inspirational Sufi whirling (Sema) performance that provided meaningful cultural context to this spiritual, mystical and ascetic dimension of Islam. Accompany me as I visit multiple rug and carpet emporiums intending to buy a single gift for my wife and, to my surprise, purchased five. Traveling south, we reached the coastal resort of Kuşadası, gateway to Ephesus. Over several days we explored the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Artemis, and the Roman ruins of Ephesus, and visited nearby Şirince, a village celebrated for its Greek-Turkish character, traditional bazaars, and caravanserais that evoke historic trade routes.
Open to all.
Location:
The Center