Art History Alive

My name is Cynthia Quist and I live in Capitola, California. I started Art History Alive in 1998 to bring art and history to life, for those travelers who want to be immersed in culture. For those who do not want to see the sites from a bus window, who on foot want a guide who loves nothing more than sharing knowledge about a subject that he or she is absolutely passionate about. Because our groups are 6-8, in size, we are able to move intellectually curious travelers up close and very personal with all aspects of a culture.

My passion for educational travel was actually born out of frustration. While visiting China with my two sons years ago, I was unable to fully understand our tour guide and missed much of the history he was sharing. That was the last time I ever visited a foreign country without studying it myself.

Since that time I have traveled to France, Italy, England, Switzerland, Fiji, Malaysia, Thailand, and Korea, in addition to having lived in Australia and Hong Kong.

For twenty years I have been immersing myself, my extended family, friends, and many guests in wonderful cultures.

Our Style of Travel

This is a very simple recipe, however it has taken many years to discern and land on “our style” of travel.

• Our groups number 4 to 8. This is micro-group travel and allows us total flexibility everyday.
• We take it easy. We do not try to see or do too much.
• We do most of our exploring on foot at a meandering pace.
• We take our time in order to catch the spirit of each place.
• We are flexible with our itineraries, and with our clients. Breaking away from the group is a great way to explore.

Because of this travel style we are able not just “ to see” but simply “ to be” in a place. A very different experience I can assure you.

This is why you will notice that our trips are about 8 days. We all have a saturation point and this is about it. One can keep going but less and less is being absorbed. Our itineraries expose our clients to thrilling art and architecture everyday, as well as lovely long lunches and dinners that require time to enjoy. By day eight clients are beginning to think about home, and life beyond their vacation. Perfect timing. Simple style.

Our Promise

Art History Alive takes pride in the level of personal attention given to each and every client from your first contact with us. AHA takes care of everything for you from the day we meet at our destination until the day we bid goodbye. There will be nothing for you to concern yourself with beyond, say, which wine to enjoy with lunch. You can look forward to a wonderful camaraderie that is born when a small group of six, like-minded folks embark on a great experience together. This is the best way to travel!

Not surprisingly, this “in-depth” style of travel has attracted some very talented and like minded professionals, who understand and promote the AHA vision.

Meet The AHA Virtual Team

Gillian Seeley, marketing advisor, social networking guru, travel nut

Judith Testa, art history consutant, author, professor

Elsie Floriani,

Maggie Harris

Testimonials

Please enjoy a few of our guest comments that are very special to me.  I hope that they will help you to understand better, what we at Art History Alive, strive to accomplish.

• Cynthia – First and foremost, thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful trip.  You do a great job and of course, I will spread the word. I’dlike to do it again in Europe.  In hindsight, I have to admit that I was a bit tenuous about traveling with folks I didn’t know and having a roommate.  That’s not how I usually travel.  But it was great!  You are a perfect roomie and I really enjoyed getting to know you and the girls.  What a gift – a wonderful travel experience and new friends.  I don’t think I could have asked for anything more.  MF CALIFORNIA 

• Hi Cynthia – I just wanted you to know what a wonderful time I had in California.  You certainly managed to show us so much in a week.  Katherine and I received our wine shipment last week and it is as good here as it was in the tasting room!  Thank you to you and Jim for your hospitality, it was sure fun sharing time with your family.  Looking forward to another trip in the future.  JF  CALIFORNIA 
• Hi Cynthia – I am so looking forward to my trip to Paris.  All the sights I wanted to see, especially Giverny! JF PARIS
  
• Dear Cynthia – Thank you so much for allowing me to borrow Capturing Paris, it was a great read.  I had a wonderful time in Paris and am looking forward to traveling with you again.  JF  PARIS  
• Dear Cyndie and Jim – Thank you for a marvelous evening.  It was a pleasure to meet you and we feel as if we’ve known you a while.  Bill and I are anxiously awaiting our trip, and know it will be a one-of-a-kind experience.  KD  ROME/TUSCANY  
• Dear Cyndie and Jim – What an incredible evening!  We could have listened to you all night in your presentation of what was to come – we were completely riveted, and you really raised the excitement factor, if that was possible!  We are so looking forward to our trip with two such warm and wonderful hosts!  KC  ROME/TUSCANY  
• Dear Cyndie – What an incredible (and I’m sure exhausting) amount of planing and organization you put into our Italy trip.  I can’t begin to express our gratitude for such a perfect experience – one we will never forget!  Every single minute was maximized . . .whether it was seeing absolutely everything we possibly could, or relaxing at our long lunches and dinners.  And we will never forget the “I’ve got a story . . ” dinner, Roberto’s kindness, and the truly Tuscan teamwork dinner that ensued!  Best of all, Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and Jim – your friendship and good company was so hard to leave!  Thank you, thank you both!!  K and MC  ROME/TUSCANY  
• Cynthia and Jim – It was an honor to be with you two on the greatest trip of my life!  What is Italy?  Italy is a gigantic restaurant filled with priceless art with a spectacular view.  TO  ROME/AMALFI COAST  
• Dear Cynthia – Thank you, thank you for our lovely trip!  I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the next one – where ever it will be, Venice, Lake Como, Rome or Tuscany.  KB  AMALFI COAST/FLORENCE 

• Hi Cynthia – I recently discovered your site (today) and I am finding it quite brilliant. I have traveled the world extensively early in my College career and one of the best words of wisdom ever given to me regarding travel was, “you do not really see what you do not understand”. In other, words if you are not familiar with what you are seeing/visiting, you can not fully understand and appreciate it.  After ten years of school, two degrees and a summer of excavations in Pompeii with Oxford, I have started writing my own collection of articles on my own experiences. Many of my articles surround the history and culture of food, I have thus named my column Bite Seeing.  I was hoping that you might be able to bestow me with some of your own words of wisdom on how to get started or improve my travel writings.  Thank you so much for Art History Alive, it s a real joy to read.

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