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Northern Tuscan Hills

The 2008-2009 Travel and Adventure Series will start this month at North Iowa Area Community College. “Inside the Tuscan Hills,” a film by John Wilson, takes this season’s series to the scenic county of Italy.

NIACC and the Mason City Noon Kiwanis sponsor the Travel and Adventure Series. There will be a 15-minute intermission at which time door prizes will be given away. The film will be presented at 7 p.m., on Thursday, November 20, in the North Iowa Community Auditorium.

Originally filmed as a PBS documentary travelogue, this show presents a vivid portrait of a place where ancient traditions have never disappeared and gives an insider’s look at the rich rural culture of Tuscany. With exclusive access to the workshops, kitchens, and homes of the Tuscan people, the show is a journey into one of the world’s most beautiful places. Progressing through Tuscany geographically, the program showcases the regions amazing diversity of landscape, arts and food- revealing how the Tuscans themselves really live and weaving compelling stories of master craftsman and county cooks, ancient farmhouses and rustic cheese makers, while soaking up the singularly beautiful landscape.

Audiences will come to know a place where every meal honors the local beauty and pays tribute to culinary traditions; where artisans practice in the style of the masters who come before them; where residents are surrounded by the beauty and history of a mythic landscape; this is life in Tuscany.

John Wilson is one of Canada’s top, award-winning, wildlife documentary film makers. His exciting photographic career began at the age of 21, when he set out on a voyage of discovery from Canada to Panama by motorcycle, and then on to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The eight month adventure increased his love of the natural world and changed his life forever.

After he returned home to Canada, John was interviewed on radio and television. Soon people asked him to conduct seminars in wildlife studies and photography. His still photographs have appeared in Audubon and Ontario naturalist magazines. His films have been made for the CBC, Global and TVO television networks in Canada and the BBC in England. In the United States his shows have appeared on the Discover Channel and PBS networks.

Admission to “Inside the Tuscan Hills” is at the door $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets can be purchased at NIACC or from any Mason City Noon Kiwanis member. All proceeds go towards area youth programs. For additional information, call NIACC Continuing Education at 641 422-4258.

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