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Community Corner

Meet Cynthia Quist: Capitola's Cultural Travel Specialist

Quist's Company, Art History Alive, takes small-group travel to another level.

As director of Art History Alive (AHA), a boutique cultural immersion travel company, Cynthia Quist shares the thrill of European art and architecture with groups of a half-dozen voyagers throughout the year. 

A memorable vacation to China in 1983 impacted her so greatly that it ultimately led to the establishment of AHA as a business.

When visiting the Ming Tombs with her two small sons, she found that absolutely no information was available to them in English. Fortunately, a Chinese tour group with English-speaking guides took pity on the three blonde, round-eyed strangers and let them join in.

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“I am now in the habit of not going anywhere without an understanding of the place, its history and art prior to take off," Quist said. "I am my own tour guide and take folks along for the ride.”

In 2012, AHA will visit seven of the most beautiful places on the globe and immerse guests in their rich cultures.

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“Cultural immersion is so much more than sight seeing and photo taking," the AHA website says. "It’s everything from where you lay your head at night, to the taste, touch, and smells you experience everyday. It’s a different kind of travel, and the best kind of travel.”

Bertha James of San Jose traveled to Italy with AHA and said her experience was “magnificent."

"Cynthia takes care of everything," James said. "I can’t imagine anyone coming home without the very best of memories.”

Aside from adventure planning, Quist is an avid walker.

“Fortunately, we live across the street from a very long beach, which clears my head and completely rejuvenates me," she said. "And also spa treatments, from the candles to the music to every thing warm, I am all about a spa.”

She is proud to be part of the fifth Californian generation of her family.

“Our people were Cornish miners that traveled to California to work in the New Almaden quicksilver mines," she said. "As a youngster, I spent my summers on the beach in Seabright.”

Quist and her husband Jim have lived in Capitola for six years, moving here after living in Connecticut, Sydney and Hong Kong. Their aim was always to return to the coast. 

“I love the Capitola attitude, the fresh air and living within the sound of waves breaking,” she said.

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