By Josh Gallo / Staff writer

The La Cultura lecture program has planned a 10-day trip to Egypt this spring. Many students won’t take advantage of the La Cultura events, not because of a lack of interest, but a lack of awareness.

“I know [La Cultura] has something to do with countries and culture and I know the theme changes each year,” said Junior Karen Babyak. “But, I don’t know what the theme is this year.”

According to Amber McAlister, assistant professor of art history and architecture, La Cultura, which began in 2001, is designed to “explore the art, literature, history, and science of a particular moment in a culture’s history.”

Junior Mary Stolarik said she knew La Cultura dealt with studying other countries’ cultures, but she didn’t know how the program worked, this year’s theme.

Scholars from Pitt-Greensburg and other universities will give lectures and presentations on Egypt. The program has previously explored 15th-century Italy, 19th-century France, 16th-century Spain, Victorian England, Classical Greece and modern China.

The trip to Egypt will take place from May 16 to May 26, 2008, and will cost students, if they sign up by September 30th, $2,694. The trip will explore the Aswan High Dam, Giza Pyramid, Egyptian Museum, Kom Ombo Temple, and Horus Temple.

It also features a four-night cruise on the Nile River. A three-day option to explore Alexandria can be added for $295. In Alexandria, the New Library, Greco-Roman Museum, El Montazah Palace and catacombs can be explored.

One of the stops along the Nile will be the Valley of the Kings, where King Tut’s tomb is located. Whether or not Tut will be there is questionable. McAlister expressed hope that the tomb will be open when the group stops there.

“In the Valley of the Kings, we will visit at least one pharaoh’s tomb. We won’t know which one until we get there because different tombs are open on different days, in order to preserve them from too much foot traffic that would potentially destroy them.”

Scholarly lectures and presentations on Egypt, as part of the La Cultura series, will go on throughout this year. The campus calendar on the UPG Insider’s website has the details on these events.

Dr. Pilar Herr, visiting assistant professor of Spanish, is in charge of registration for the trip and can be contacted for additional information at pmh3@pitt.edu.