January 31, 2014
An unforgettable eight days in Provence
Provence in October meant eight days of beautiful weather, sightseeing, delightful food, and best of all, Friars for company.
Southeastern France was the destination for the eighth Friar Explorations Alumni Travel Program. The 25-member group included 10 who had been on Friar Explorations trips before: Therese Burke ’85 of Chepachet, R.I.; John Capetta ’77 and his wife, Julie, of Stamford, Conn.; Michael Demcsak ’66 and his wife, Gail, of Crofton, Md.; the Hon. William C. Leary ’60 & ’10Hon. and his wife, Emily, of Windsor Locks, Conn.; Susan Lena ’86G and her husband, Dr. Hugh F. Lena, PC provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, of Smithfield, R.I.; and longtime College friend Diane Ricci of Greenville, R.I.
From the Grand Hotel Roi Rene, participants enjoyed a walk through Aix-en-Provence with a local historian, a tour of the mountain ranges of Le Luberon, a visit to Roman ruins in Arles, and a view of the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. Joining them were Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78 & ’82G, College executive vice president and treasurer, and Robert Ferreira ’83, assistant vice president for alumni relations.
Michael McCarthy ’64 and his wife, Jessica, of Naples, Fla., were so impressed that they’ve been encouraging other alumni to join future Friar Explorations tours.
“We have been on several European trips, both on land and on river boat, and feel that this trip stands out as exceptional, not only because of the locale but because of the immediate feeling of friendship that we got when we met our fellow travelers,” said Michael McCarthy.
Though the group walked good distances each day, “the information and detail that we were presented with made it worthwhile and fun,” he said.
Robert Owens ’61 and his wife, Kathleen, from Springfield, Va., usually travel on their own but found the trip “a treat” because of its organization, the efficiency of the hotel staff, and the knowledgeable tour guides.
“We kept on the go most of the time, but we still had time to wander around by ourselves,” said Kathleen Owens. “It was fun seeing the beautiful mountain towns, the Roman ruins, the castles, the churches, the wineries, the scenery. It was exciting to see some of the sights that were painted by Paul Cezanne and by Vincent van Gogh.”
The Owenses also enjoyed being with fellow alumni.
“The best part was the bonding that took place among the group,” Kathleen Owens said. “Although we hadn’t known each other, it felt like we had been friends for years by the time the trip was over.”
John Mitchell ’67 and his wife, Sara, from Marshfield, Mass., enjoyed the educational aspect of their first visit to Provence. Each day began with a talk about subjects that would be explored in detail later, and the same tour guide and driver accompanied the group each day.
“Being with a group of fellow Friar alums made bonding with the group quick and easy,” said Mitchell. “It was fun being with a group with whom you shared so many common experiences.”
Karen Lyons ’80 and her husband, Peter Lyons ’80, of Barrington, R.I., called the trip “fabulous.”
“The day trips were incredible, and we had a great tour guide to give us the history of each location,” Karen Lyons said. “Of course the food and wine were phenomenal. It was a trip we will never forget.”
