BRITISH ISLES -- SUMMER 2004 STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM ITINERARY

STUDY ABROAD COURSES

GEOG 469 and GEOG 469G -- Geography of the British Isles (3 credit hours):
Analysis of the cultural and physical landscapes of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Topics included cultural frameworks, transportation and tourism, environmental degradation, agricultural and urban impacts, regional imbalances, physical landscapes, and the impacts of globalization.
Professor: Debbie Kreitzer.

GEOG 100 -- Introduction to Physical Geography (3 credit hours, General Education Category D):
The emphasis of this course was on the basic elements of physical geography (earth, wind, and fire), weather elements, geomorphology, and how people interacted with their physical environment. Student analyzed local and regional variations in the physical elements and presented ideas on how the local people have adapted to create their own "sense of place."
Professor: Will Blackburn.

GEOG 101 -- Introduction to Human Geography (3 credit hours, General Education Category C):
The emphasis of this course was on fundamental principles of human geography, with political, cultural, transportation, language, and how people interacted with the human-built landscapes. Student analyzed local and regional variations in the cultural landscapes and presented ideas on how the local people have adapted to create their own "sense of place."
Professor: Debbie Kreitzer.

GEOG 475 or GEOG 510 -- Independent Study (3 credit hours):
Students choose a topic relevant to geoscience and the areas we visited (students who sign up for independent study must also sign up for one of the other two courses). Independent research is conducted during the study abroad program and a research paper is submitted upon return from the program.

STUDY ABROAD SCHEDULE

Confirmed dates for the 2004 Program were June 1 through June 29, 2004.

Tuesday June 1 -- Met at Nashville Airport, Delta Airlines counter, at approximately 2:15pm. Departure on DL 908 (from gate B3) at 3:45 pm to Atlanta, with connection to DL 64 departing at 8 pm (Concourse E) (we had about a 1.5 hour connection time in Atlanta).
Wednesday June 2 -- 09:05 am Arrived Manchester Airport, England. Cleared customs and immigration. Proceeded to airport railroad station (10 minutes walk) and validated Britrail passes. Caught 10:49 am train to Wavertree (Liverpool) via Manchester and Newton and arrived at Wavertree station around 12:30 pm. It was about a 25-minute walk to the accommodations (dragging heavy suitcases). We stayed at the Holme Leigh Guest House (online access at: Guest House). Rest of the afternoon and evening were free.
Thursday June 3 -- Optional day trip by train to London (7:20 am departure, London arrive 1:10 pm. London depart 6 pm, Wavertree arrive 10:45 pm).
Friday June 4 -- Excursion into Liverpool, 10 am departure (by local rail) - Beatles sites and urban renewal landscapes. Late afternoon and evening free.
Saturday June 5 -- Lake District, 8:00 am departure - Visited Wasdale Head and enjoyed an evening on the moors or in Ambleside. Hike to Scafell Summit.
Sunday June 6 -- 10:00 am departure. Manchester urban renewal, industrial revolution landscapes, Salford Quay, Old Trafford, URBIS Museum.
Monday June 7 -- 9:00 am departure. Yorkshire Dales National Park. Dent village, Hawes (National Park Center), visit to the Wensleydale Creamery and group luncheon. Afternoon visit to Ribblehead Viaduct and Settle.
Tuesday June 8 -- 9:00 am departure. Chester and the Roman heritage (city walking tour). Afternoon and evening free in Liverpool.
Wednesday June 9 -- Transfered to the University of Wales at Aberystwyth accommodations (Depart guest house at 08:30 am via taxis. Train at 09:08 am to Aberystwyth, via Liverpool, Crewe, and Shrewsbury. Arrived Aberystwyth at 1:30 pm and took taxis to the dorms. Rest of the afternoon and evening free.
Thursday June 10 -- Morning excursion to Devil's Bridge on the Narrow Gauge Railway, 10:30 am departure from the Railway Station. Late Afternoon and evening free.
Friday June 11 -- Snowdonia, Llanfair PG, and Caernafon. Departure at 8:00 am
Saturday June 12 -- Bala, Lynn Tegid, Llangollen, and the Chirk Viaducts. Departure at 9:00 am
Sunday June 13 -- Ironbridge and the industrial revolution. Evening cookout at Hacienda Keeling at Shotten Farm. Departure at 8:00 am.
Monday June 14 -- Aberystwyth - free day.
Tuesday June 15 -- Transfer to Scotland (Corpach, Ft. William) by rail. Departed accommodations at 08:30 am. Train departed 09:25 am, via Wolverhampton and Glasgow. Arrived at Corpack at 10:20 pm. Five minute walk to accommodations.
Wednesday June 16 -- Free day to recover and to absorb the local Scottish Highlands environment. Bus from Corpach to Ft. William departs every 15-20 minutes.
Thursday June 17 -- Highland Transect to Inverness and Loch Ness. One-hour cruise on the Loch. Visited Inverness and the Culloden Battlefield.
Friday June 18 -- The Isle of Skye and the Western Isles. Visit Carbost, the Talisker distillery, and rode the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. Stopped at Glenfinnen Viaduct on return drive.
Saturday June 19 -- Visted the Oban region, toured Inveraray Castle, and enjoyed a group dinner at the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.
Sunday June 20 -- Free day in Corpach/Ft. William.
Monday June 21 -- 11 am departure by train to Glasgow, with transfer to Belfast, Northern Island, from Troon, Scotland, by Ferry. Taxis from Belfast Harbor to Elms Village, Queens University.
Tuesday June 22 -- In Belfast - 10 am escorted coach tour of Belfast city; afternoon walking tour at leisure.
Wednesday June 23 -- Train from Belfast (Depart 07:00 from accommodation via taxis, 08:00 Enterprise service from Central Station) to Dublin, Ireland. Picked up rental vehicles. Drove to Limerick. Scheduled arrival at the hostel in Limerick was 4 pm.
Thursday June 24 -- Visited Dingle and the Peninsula, local beaches, and the countryside.
Friday June 25 -- Visited Cobh (last port of the Titanic) and had a group lunch at the Titanic Bar. Drove through the countryside of County Cork and visited Charles Fort near Kinsale.
Saturday June 26 -- Free day in Limerick, Ireland.
Sunday June 27 -- Visited Galway and the Connemara Peninsula.
Monday June 28 -- Depart Limerick hostel at 07:30 am and drove to Dublin docks (about 130 miles). Ferry departed at 1:15 pm for Liverpool and arrived at Liverpool docks at 5:10 pm. Check out details about the high-speed ferry. Transfer to Holme Leigh guest house in Wavertree from Liverpool docks via taxi. Group farewell dinner at the Siam Thai Restaurant.
Tuesday June 29 -- Taxis from Wavertree (depart guest house at 06:20 am to Liverpool Lime Street for 06:50 am connection by rail to Manchester Piccadilly, then bus connection to Manchester Airport. Arrived Manchester Airport at 09:00 am and checked in with Delta #65 by 09:30 am. Flight departed at 11:15 am and arrived in Atlanta at 3 pm. Cleared customs and immigration and transfered to DL 964 to Nashville, which departed late at 6:15 pm. Arrived in Nashville at 6:15 pm.

To contact Debbie Kreitzer, Program Coordinator, click on: debbie.kreitzer@wku.edu
To contact Will Blackburn, Program Instructor, click on: will.blackburn@wku.edu
Call 270-745-5984 or 270-745-4555 for more information about the Study Abroad Program.

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This page last updated on 7/2/04.