SAVE BY SHARING ACCOMMODATIONS WITH ANOTHER TRAVELER -- Room shares available on upcoming women-only, small group tours to Malta & Sicily in April, Greek Island hopping in June, and Ireland in August. Roommates & single rooms arranged on all our tours. Contact Eurynome Journeys WanderWoman® Tours by email go@wanderwomantours.com or call 207.236. 0110. Find us online at www.wanderwoman.com.
Yes purchase travel insurance and do it right away.
In this age of delays, bankruptcies, and strikes it is wise to have insurance coverage for your travel investment.
The general rule with most insurance companies for best coverage is to purchase insurance coverage within 14 days of you initial trip deposit. So if you wrote your check out on May 15th and mailed it out, you should purchase your insurance no later than May 29th.
BUT to cover unforeseen things like natural disasters such as the volcanic eruptions in Iceland that grounded flights a few years ago, or flight delays due to sun flares as is now happening, etc…GET the insurance soon as you write out your check or give your credit card number for payment.
The less of a time gap between your trip deposit payment and purchase of travel insurance, the less of a chance there is of events such as a new strike happening that would not be covered.
If a strike breaks out, a volcano erupts, etc before you purchase coverage then it will no longer be a covered incident. It then is a re-existing incident and thus not covered. So do not wait till the last minute.
Check the insurance company’s Alert and Strike Lists. Here you will find carriers and tour operators that are not covered, and any announced and on-going strikes that are excluded form coverage.
It is always best to purchase third party insurance. Yes, the cruise ship company you booked your cruise with will recommend you purchase their insurance policy, but if the cruise company goes under there will be no one to pay insurance claims.
Many insurance companies allow you to purchase insurance for the amount of the deposit, but you must remember to add coverage when you pay the balance for your trip.
NOTE: All insurances have a loophole for civil unrest. Some cover it up to 1 day prior to departure for a hefty premium. Shop around for the best coverage to your circumstances and chosen travel destination.
Live, Laugh & Travel!
Erja
Okay frequent travelers...running out of pages in your passport?
Recipes vary slightly from country to country and family to family and are usually passed down from generation to generation. ( image is of iittala Finnish glassware from: http://www.kitchenparade.com/2009/12/gloggi-mulled-wine.php visit the website for an additional recipe)
Below is my family recipe for Finnish Glöggi, as it is called in Finland, and some favorite variations from a Swedish and a Danish friend, as well as a non-alcoholic version suitable for everyone. Glöggi can make the coldest and darkest days of winter feel like a celebration.
Be creative and try your own variation! If you have a favorite Glögg recipe please share it in comments or email me and I will add it.
Delicious Non-alcoholic Variation:
Simply substitute the wine and other alcoholic liquids in the recipes below with a mixture of cherry, apple, grape juice and/or currant juice. I also think Karkade (Egyptian Hibiscus tea) would be tasty. The whole family will enjoy it!This recipe can be made quickly with out much fuss. It takes about ½ hour.
Handful of corrugated (without the pod) cardamom seeds, if you only have pods, use them, but first crack them a bit and remove the pods before serving.
5-8 cloves (cloves can be very powerful, so do not over do it)
2-3 cinnamon sticks
½ cup raisins
½ cup blanched almond slivers
1.5 liter bottle of red wine (nothing too sweet, a burgundy is fine)
1/2 cup Madeira or port
1/2 liter of vodka (optional)
In a large pot add about ½ cup of wine and spices and raisins and almonds and let simmer 15 minutes covered. Add the rest of the wine, Madeira, and Finlandia Vodka (optional)
Simmer 15-20 minutes, do not allow to boil
Ladle into cups or glasses (heat tolerant). Can be kept simmering on stove-top...it only gets better!
If you do not add the vodka, offer to top off each cup of Glöggi with a ½ shot of Finlandia Vodka for a stronger drink. Kippis (Cheers)!
This recipe is a festive and fun way to brighten up a winter night! Takes about 1 hour to make. Only ignites if hard liquor is used.
2 cups currant or blueberry juice (or a mix or juice of choice)
8 whole cardamom pods, cracked
5 whole cloves
1/2 inch peeled fresh ginger chopped into pieces
2-3 cinnamon sticks
1/4 cup slivered almonds
3/4 cup raisins
Orange peel
1 (750 ml) bottle Madeira or port
1 cup brandy
1 cup vodka or aquavit(aquavit adds a nice caraway flavor)
Add juice, cardamom, cloves, ginger, cinnamon sticks, almonds, and raisins and orange peel in a large pot. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Strain and discard spices and fruit. Add the port. Simmer, but do not boil. Add the brandy and vodka/aquavit and heat until warm. Important: do not to boil off the alcohol otherwise it will not light.
Now the excitement begins! Very carefully ignite by throwing a lit match into the mixture (make sure there are no curtains or anything flammable in the fire’s reach). Then cover the pot with a lid to extinguish the flame and serve immediately (remove match first).
This version requires a bit more planning, but well worth the effort; it must stand over night, or longer.
2 liter bottles red table wine
9-12 corrugated cardamom seeds
5-8 cloves
3-4 cinnamon sticks
1 cup blanched almond slivers
1 cup raisins
6 prunes or figs (cut into smaller pieces)
1/2 cup candied orange peel (cut into smaller pieces)
1/2 cup crystallized ginger (cut into smaller pieces)
2 cups fresh orange juice
2 cups pineapple or apple juice
2 cups brandy or cognac
1 liter bottle port
1. 5 cups sweet vermouth
Put about 1 cup of wine in a large pot, add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon sticks, almonds, raisins, prunes or figs, candied oranges, and crystallized ginger. Add more wine if needed to cover fruit. Bring mixture to a boil for just a few minutes and turn heat off and allow to cool. Cover once cooled and let stand at room temperature overnight or up to 48 hours to mingle flavors.
On Christmas Eve or when serving, combine the mixture with juices, brandy, the remainder of the wine, port, and sweet vermouth in a large pot. Cover and bring to a simmer for 1-2 hours, but do not boil. Garnish with fresh orange slices.
For some great Scandinavian-style Winter Solstice and New Year's Eve recipe ideas visit: www.kitchenparade.com
Another Nordic Christmas Eve tradition is a cleansing sauna bath followed by an invigorating swim in a hole in the ice! After a refreshing icy plunge Glöggi is especially tasty.
Happy Yuletide greetings! Hauskaa Joulua! God Jul!
Erja
Eurynome Journeys
Live, Laugh & Travel!
go@wanderwomantours.com
