WHY CLASSICAL PURSUITS?
WHERE LIFE INTERSECTS WITH ART
Would you like to retreat for a while from the hurly-burly of daily life to throw yourself into a good book, great art, or fine music? Do you ever finish a book or leave a concert hall, theatre, or museum fired up, wishing you had someone to talk with about what you had just read, heard, or seen? Are you looking for a travel or self-enrichment experience with a difference? Come spend some time with us! Classical Pursuits offers three distinct but complementary options: Toronto Pursuits, small-group tours, and online seminars.
TORONTO PURSUITS: A SALON IN THE SUN
Toronto Pursuits is our annual salon in the sun. It is an unmatched opportunity to be part of a community of people who love talking about books as much as they love reading them. This five-day program hosted at the University of Toronto combines seminars on a diverse range of topics with social and cultural activities that take advantage of our location in one of North America’s most exciting cities. We work closely with the Great Books Foundation (GBF) in Chicago, which provides many of the discussion leaders both in Toronto and abroad and offers continuing guidance on how to more meaningfully read and discuss books, art and music. For full details on our 2024 program, please see our Toronto Pursuits page.
TRAVEL PURSUITS: TRAVEL ADVENTURES FOR THE MIND
Travel Pursuits is unique in offering culture lovers the opportunity to travel through both space and time to destinations like Lorca’s Spain, Paris in the twenties, Dante’s Italy, or Joyce’s Dublin. Each year we offer fully guided travel adventures to destinations around the world. People take our trips not just to visit a new or familiar place, but also to share their ideas about great works of literature, art, and music in a relaxed and informal setting.
What makes our trips special is the balance of
- in-depth discussion of important texts,
- guided walks to immerse ourselves in the cultural and natural history of a place,
- informal talks that provide background and context to our inquiry,
- generous unscheduled time, and
- exceedingly convivial company.
And, of course, lingering conversation over great meals!
Most important, with Travel Pursuits you will not lose the spontaneity, flexibility, and sense of personal discovery you seek in your own private travels – only the logistical hassles. All Travel Pursuits and Made-to-Measure trips operate under the umbrella of Worldwide Quest, a full-service, licensed tour operator (TICO Reg: #2667946). Worldwide Quest handles all registrations, bookings, and insurance. Decide where you’ll go in 2024 on our Travel Pursuits page.
FAQ
01 How are Classical Pursuits tours different from other cultural tours?
02 Who's a typical traveller?
03 Do you have a lot of solo travellers?
Yes! We regularly welcome solo travellers on our tours. Tours are a mix of solo travellers, couples and friends. For almost all independent meals, your leader invites anyone who would like to eat together to meet in a local restaurant.
04 How large are the groups?
Groups range from 12 to 18 travellers.
05 How much free time do we have?
We try keep things flexible and plan an unscheduled morning, afternoon, or evening each day. Participants are free to go off on their own or in small groups at their leisure.
06 Will I feel like i'm in school?
No, and that’s a good thing!
We seek a deeper understanding of the books and art we are studying, and their connection to the place. Discussions are collaborative, and we build on each other’s ideas. The main role of the leader is to ask questions to get you thinking. We do ask you to complete the reading in advance, but this is for your personal enrichment and pleasure. One some trips, seminar discussions include presentations by the leader or local guide to provide richer context.
07 I have never studied literature or art. Am I going to be out of place?
08 Where do I get the book(s) we are going to discuss?
We ship the books and our custom guidebook to you once the trip is confirmed, approximately 3 months before departure.
We also support you with questions that can help you focus your reading, optional materials for greater context, and discussion guides that help both new and returning travellers get the most out of the seminars.
09 Why would I want to spend time in Paris or Venice discussing a book when I could be out exploring?
10 Who organizes the trips?
Classical Pursuits develops the themes, selects the readings, and helps shape the itinerary. All our tours operate under the umbrella of Worldwide Quest, a full-service tour operator that is registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (Reg: #2667946). Worldwide Quest arranges the logistics for each trip to complement our literary theme. They handle all trip bookings and insurance. They are also an accredited agent of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
11 Who leads the trips?
Most trips have two leaders: The Classical Pursuits trip host and discussion leader, and the local guide (or guides, for some multi-destination trips). We sometimes have specialized museum or walking guides. And we often bring in local members of the community for informal talks and presentations. Each leader is selected for their leadership and travel experience, and collegiality.
12 How are flight arrangements made?
Classical Pursuits has learned through experience that many travelers are not interested in group flights. First, they come from all over North America and do not wish to find their way to designated departure points. Further, many wish to extend their stay, either at the beginning or the end. And, of course, there are the proverbial points or miles people wish to use. For all of these reasons, we do not offer group flights. But Worldwide Quest is happy to help you book your flight from wherever you live for the dates you prefer.
