Travel is...
Entertaining.
On Sunday I was privileged to attend a preview of "Hairspray" a show that will be part of the entertainment when Oasis of the Seas the big, new Royal Caribbean ship debuts at Port Everglades last next month.
The show, produced by the talented Royal Caribbean production crew in Hollywood, Fl, is "Hairspray" as you have never seen it before. Performers were recruited from London, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. These outstanding singers and dancers and local scenic designers and other technicians created a real "wow" moment. The performance was every bit as good as the production I saw on Broadway a few years ago.
Passengers who no doubt will be gaga over the entire revolutionary aspects of this 5,400- passenger vessel with bells and whistles never before seen on the seas, will love the show. And, love the ship.
I will be aboard her for two days before she begins her seven-day schedule and you can read all about it here.
While Oasis will be the largest ship in the world, she will offer an array of entertainment including a water show, myriad restaurant and lounges, a cupcake store - and more.
Royal Caribbean International is a global brand with 20 ship currently in service.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Travel is...
Travel is...
Exploring.
At least that's what my nine-year-old grandson thinks.
When I returned from Mexico earlier this week, he asked "grandma, what's an explorer?" I explained it was an adventuresome person who traveled in order to learn about other peoples, lands and cultures. I mentioned Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco de Gama and Lewis and Clark. I didn't go into colonization or seeking gold.
That was on Wednesday. On Thursday he had to write a paper on explorers.
"I wrote about you," he told me this morning. Then my grandson added. "my teacher asked if I could bring some of your souvenirs into class on Monday."
So I spent an hour or two packaging some of the souvenirs of 25 or 30 years of travel to over 65 countries for him to show and tell. The "riches" of my life include a piece of the Berlin wall, some rose water holders from Bulgaria, a souvenir packing crate from the Port of Osaka, a lacquered box from St. Petersburg, Russia and items from Israel, Portugal and Korea.
I packed them in a canvas bag, a souvenir from the wonderful German cruise ship Europa and tomorrow he will pick them up.
Whether his teacher will categorize his grandma along with Vespucci, de Gama and Lewis and Clark is another matter. But the fact that my wonderfully intelligent, intuitive and awesome grandson considers travel writing "exploring" is enough for me.
Exploring.
At least that's what my nine-year-old grandson thinks.
When I returned from Mexico earlier this week, he asked "grandma, what's an explorer?" I explained it was an adventuresome person who traveled in order to learn about other peoples, lands and cultures. I mentioned Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco de Gama and Lewis and Clark. I didn't go into colonization or seeking gold.
That was on Wednesday. On Thursday he had to write a paper on explorers.
"I wrote about you," he told me this morning. Then my grandson added. "my teacher asked if I could bring some of your souvenirs into class on Monday."
So I spent an hour or two packaging some of the souvenirs of 25 or 30 years of travel to over 65 countries for him to show and tell. The "riches" of my life include a piece of the Berlin wall, some rose water holders from Bulgaria, a souvenir packing crate from the Port of Osaka, a lacquered box from St. Petersburg, Russia and items from Israel, Portugal and Korea.
I packed them in a canvas bag, a souvenir from the wonderful German cruise ship Europa and tomorrow he will pick them up.
Whether his teacher will categorize his grandma along with Vespucci, de Gama and Lewis and Clark is another matter. But the fact that my wonderfully intelligent, intuitive and awesome grandson considers travel writing "exploring" is enough for me.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Travel is....
Travel is...
Observing.
Wordsmith and radio quiz show host Clifton Fadiman said "when you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable." And we, as travelers, have to observe and honor local customs.
In preparation for the recent travel professionals' convention I attended in Guadalajara, delegates were told something of the customs of socialization in Mexico. We were told to be hands-on in greeting men and women alike.
As I sat in the Guadalajara and Mexico City airports on my way home I watched Mexican men greet one another. (Alright, I had three hours between planes,) but the same procedure played itself out time and time again. One man extends his right hand in a familiar handshake and then - and here's the difference - with the other pats the other man twice on the back. There's nothing sexual in the display, but it looks great and creates a show of good will that could probably be put to great use in the boardrooms and offices of the U.S.
I am always pleased when I see my sons greet one another in a similar fashion. It speaks of familial affection and that precious good will.
There's always something positive to be learned from the travel experience - if we just take the time to observe.
Observing.
Wordsmith and radio quiz show host Clifton Fadiman said "when you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable." And we, as travelers, have to observe and honor local customs.
In preparation for the recent travel professionals' convention I attended in Guadalajara, delegates were told something of the customs of socialization in Mexico. We were told to be hands-on in greeting men and women alike.
As I sat in the Guadalajara and Mexico City airports on my way home I watched Mexican men greet one another. (Alright, I had three hours between planes,) but the same procedure played itself out time and time again. One man extends his right hand in a familiar handshake and then - and here's the difference - with the other pats the other man twice on the back. There's nothing sexual in the display, but it looks great and creates a show of good will that could probably be put to great use in the boardrooms and offices of the U.S.
I am always pleased when I see my sons greet one another in a similar fashion. It speaks of familial affection and that precious good will.
There's always something positive to be learned from the travel experience - if we just take the time to observe.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Travel is
Travel is...
Often quite wonderful.
Sometimes it is a serendipitous mix of learning about another culture and history as well as meeting with friends.
I just returned from Guadalajara, Mexico and the convention of Society of American Travel Writers. I visited with colleagues from Denver and Toronto, from New York and Sacramento, from Fort Worth and northern Michigan. It was a learning experience and an opportunity for a business meeting, professional development and those enjoyable visits with friends.
Sessions on using social media sources professionally and improving writing skills and more brought many delegates as did tours of nearby towns, religious sites - a group even went to a sweat lodge to explore native medical treatments. A city tours drew large numbers.
One of my trips was a tour of the city (town) of Tequila where the popular liquor is produced from the blue agave plant. The tour of the distillery explored every aspect of the drink and offered a look at the many varieties. Consider lime and orange flavored tequila, chocolate and coffee flavored tequila and dozens more.
The food and drink, mariachi music and gracious people made the trip memorable.
Next year's convention is set for Dresden and Leipzig, Germany. In 2011 we head to New Zealand and are in the process of soliciting bids for 2012.
I look forward to all of them.
Often quite wonderful.
Sometimes it is a serendipitous mix of learning about another culture and history as well as meeting with friends.
I just returned from Guadalajara, Mexico and the convention of Society of American Travel Writers. I visited with colleagues from Denver and Toronto, from New York and Sacramento, from Fort Worth and northern Michigan. It was a learning experience and an opportunity for a business meeting, professional development and those enjoyable visits with friends.
Sessions on using social media sources professionally and improving writing skills and more brought many delegates as did tours of nearby towns, religious sites - a group even went to a sweat lodge to explore native medical treatments. A city tours drew large numbers.
One of my trips was a tour of the city (town) of Tequila where the popular liquor is produced from the blue agave plant. The tour of the distillery explored every aspect of the drink and offered a look at the many varieties. Consider lime and orange flavored tequila, chocolate and coffee flavored tequila and dozens more.
The food and drink, mariachi music and gracious people made the trip memorable.
Next year's convention is set for Dresden and Leipzig, Germany. In 2011 we head to New Zealand and are in the process of soliciting bids for 2012.
I look forward to all of them.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Travel is...
Travel is ....
Accepting change.
About 16 years ago my husband and I rented a house in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Why Gulf Shores? It seemed a convenient location for our son and daughter-in-law and their kids in Houston, our son and daughter-in-law and their kids in Orlando and our (then) single youngest son who was flying in from Israel to join his family for a week's vacation. It was a five- or six- bedroom home right on an incredible white sand beach and while a subsequent hurricane blew that specific house out to sea, it was a wonderful family vacation and one we all recall fondly.
Those little kids are all young adults today and many things have changed. I just returned from a three-day stay in Gulf Shores with a group of other writers, and boy oh boy, has Gulf Shores changed!
Where blocks of lovely vacation homes existed there are now high-rise condo after high-rise condo. I stayed in a magnificent resort - Turquoise Place - with great facilities: indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river pool for tubing, a fitness room, sauna and steam rooms, and that same incredible white sand beach. It looks more like the Gulf or Atlantic Coast of Florida than the unique beach community we discovered a decade and a half ago and the area is still lovely with gracious southern hospitality and a variety of eateries, but different. There are many more family-friendly attractions than there were, and a great choice of accommodations.
(Some of the family attractions include the delightful Alabama Gulf Cost Zoo and The Wharf with the largest ferris wheel on the Gulf Coast. A brand new fishing pier and the historic Fort Morgan are not to be missed.)
I also flew Delta for the first time in years and discovered that though one still has to fly through Atlanta, planes were in fine shape, flight crew friendly and competent and scheduled flights right on time. That was the good news.
The bad news was that to fly from South Florida to southern Alabama I had to first fly to Atlanta.
Short story, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the region to others looking for a family destination.
Accepting change.
About 16 years ago my husband and I rented a house in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Why Gulf Shores? It seemed a convenient location for our son and daughter-in-law and their kids in Houston, our son and daughter-in-law and their kids in Orlando and our (then) single youngest son who was flying in from Israel to join his family for a week's vacation. It was a five- or six- bedroom home right on an incredible white sand beach and while a subsequent hurricane blew that specific house out to sea, it was a wonderful family vacation and one we all recall fondly.
Those little kids are all young adults today and many things have changed. I just returned from a three-day stay in Gulf Shores with a group of other writers, and boy oh boy, has Gulf Shores changed!
Where blocks of lovely vacation homes existed there are now high-rise condo after high-rise condo. I stayed in a magnificent resort - Turquoise Place - with great facilities: indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river pool for tubing, a fitness room, sauna and steam rooms, and that same incredible white sand beach. It looks more like the Gulf or Atlantic Coast of Florida than the unique beach community we discovered a decade and a half ago and the area is still lovely with gracious southern hospitality and a variety of eateries, but different. There are many more family-friendly attractions than there were, and a great choice of accommodations.
(Some of the family attractions include the delightful Alabama Gulf Cost Zoo and The Wharf with the largest ferris wheel on the Gulf Coast. A brand new fishing pier and the historic Fort Morgan are not to be missed.)
I also flew Delta for the first time in years and discovered that though one still has to fly through Atlanta, planes were in fine shape, flight crew friendly and competent and scheduled flights right on time. That was the good news.
The bad news was that to fly from South Florida to southern Alabama I had to first fly to Atlanta.
Short story, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the region to others looking for a family destination.
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