WanderWoman™ Travel Favorites for Women

SHOULD I BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE?

2012-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

I am frequently asked if and when to buy travel insurance.

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

How to Add More Pages to Your Passport

2012-01-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

Okay frequent travelers...running out of pages in your passport?

For those with a US passport with 2-4 pages remaining, it's time to send in your valid US passport to add more pages.

You will need to mail in your passport along with current passport fee (at time of publication $82) and completed Form DS-4085, Application for Additional Visa Pages to the address on the form.

Use secure packing materials, such as Tyvek envolope, and a traceable delivery method such as UPS or Fed EX.

Allow at least 6 weeks for processing. If you do not have 6 weeks before your next jet setting adventure, then use the EXPEDITED service starting at $60 for 2-3 week processing. To get your passport back within this time, will require you to use overnight shipping in both directions. Clearly mark the package "EXPEDITED."

For passport processing time visit: travel.state.gov/passport/processing/processing_1740.html

For more information on how to add more pages to your US passport Visit: How to Add Extra Pages to Your Passport.

It is not possible to add pages to Canadian passports. An applicant who has a valid passport in which the visa pages have become filled with visas or entry-exit stamps must apply for a new passport. Visit the Canadian government's site for more information.

It is not possible to add pages to an Australian passports either. You will need to apply for a new passport. Visit the Australian government passport site to learn more.

Live, Laugh & Travel a lot!

Nordic Yuletide Tradition(s)

2011-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

In the Scandinavian and Nordic countries, Glögg (also known as Gløgg or Glöggi ) is a Christmas Eve tradition. Glögg is mulled wine usually spiked with vodka, aquavit or brandy (or a combination). It is not only warming and delicious, but also it fills your home with a wonderful Christmassy aroma.

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!

Simple but Good Traditional Finnish Glöggi:

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)!

Flaming Glögg:

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).

Sweet and Fruity Gløgg

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

www.wanderwoman.com

How to get a Russian Tourist Visa

2011-06-24T04:08:00.000-07:00

When planning a trip to Russia, keep in mind that getting a Russian visa can take weeks unless you want to pay a considerable amount of money. Express processing is $250 plus the visa service fees.

The Russian Consulate does not accept mailed in applications, so unless you live near one of the Russian Consulates, you will need to use a visa service.

A very good reliable visa service that I have personally used is A Briggs. They have a line dedicated to Russian visa applications. Call 1-800-417-4023 to talk with a Russia Visa Specialist. I highly recommend their service.

For you Russian Visa application you will need the following:

A valid passport with at least two blank pages the is valid for 6 months after your return date

Visa application form carefully completed and signed with your signature in blue ink. As of July 1, 2011 only electronic visa applications will be accepted.

A passport size photo (no teeth showing with a white background) affixed to the form

A computer-generated flight itinerary from your travel agent, airline, or online booking agency or a copy of your ticket. The itinerary must show the applicant's name, date of arrival and departure from the country, and flight information.

Consular Fee. A regular Tourist Visa is $140, and can take three weeks to process.

An invitation issued by an agency recognized by the Russian government. This can be issued by the Russian tour company or agency you are dealing with. Also most visa services provide this document for a fee. If you have a hotel reservation, you must provide a hotel confirmation and hotel voucher each with a Russian Government seal affixed thereto with the confirmation and reference number. This confirmation and voucher together serve as your invitation.

The Russian Consulate does not accept credit cards, but most visa services do making it possible to pay by credit card.

For more detailed instructions visit A Briggs Russian Visa Application instructions.

P.S. For shipping choose FED EX, not USPS if you need it expedited.
Get ready Russia here I come!

LIVE, LAUGH & TRAVEL!

Erja
Eurynome Journeys

SOLO TRAVELERS! Roomate(s) sought

2011-05-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

One problem single travelers face is single supplements. Unfortunately most hotels charge almost the same, if not the same amount per night regardless of whether two people occupy a room or one. What is a single traveler to do?

One solution is to travel with groups that offer to arrange roommates.

On our Eurynome Journeys WanderWoman™ trips approximately 80% of our clients are single female travelers and only 20% of them request single (private) rooms. So we match our travelers with roommates, as do many other women's travel companies. We have found this to be very successful.

Right now (10 May 2011) we have two women-only trips with room shares available:
Maine Coast: Art & Nature Tour in July
New Years' Escape: Roman Holiday in late December

If you prefer not to travel with a group, another option is to join an online travel community and look for like minded travelers in the same predicament.

One great resource is: http://globetrooper.com/
Another site to find travel companions, geared exclusively to women, is Thelma & Louise.
And of course every female traveler should check out the resources on Journeywoman.

If you are planning to travel with someone from an online community exercise caution and read safety guidelines provided on these sites.

LIVE, LAUGH & TRAVEL!

MAINE GETAWAY: Save on single supplement

2011-05-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Come enjoy the beauty of the rugged Maine Coast this summer!

Room Share Available July 15-20.

Hike, kayak, visit art galleries, and the Camden Harbor Juried Art & Crafts Show with over 100 exhibitors. Tour the Farnsworth Museum and learn about the art inspired by the region's natural splendor.

Women-only, small group size, quaint inns, and LOBSTER!

For tour details visit: www.wanderwoman.com, or call 207.236.0110

GRACE O'MALLEY (GRANUAILE)

2011-03-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a little preview of our adventure to Ireland in Search of "Pirate Queen" Grace O'Malley.
This documentary was shot on location at the sites we will be visiting with author Anne Chambers (interviewed the documentary).

Join us in August to learn the rest of the story! Maybe even climb to the top of Croagh Patrick on the coast of Clew Bay where St Patrick fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.
Click here to view itinerary.

St Patrick's Day Savings on Ireland Adventure!

2011-02-28T17:48:00.000-08:00

Join our WanderWoman™ travel adventure to Ireland in search of the "pirate queen" Grace O'Malley (Granuaile)!

As we trace the life of Granuaile we explore the beautiful western coast of Ireland from the megalithic tombs of the Burren to the quaint town of Westport on Clew Bay and through scenic Connemara.

Special guests best-selling author Anne Chambers and local archaeologist Michael Gibbons.

Reserve you space by St Paddy's and save $100 per person.

For tour itinerary click here.

Learn more about the extraordinary life of Granuaile and about author Anne Chambers at www.graceomalley.com/

GREECE: Room Share Available!

2011-02-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

Greek Islands: June 1-13, 2011
Save cost of single supplement (filled)
Sorry this tour is FULL
See our fall Greek Islands Getaway

Visit Athens, and some of the most beautiful and fascinating islands of Greece: Crete, Santorini, and Mykonos!

Stay at small quaint local inns on the islands and a 5-star hotel in the heart of Athens.

Small group size (appox. 10), leisurely pace, fully escorted by WanderWoman™ tour director, privately guided tours by local specialists, delicious Mediterranean Cuisine...

For tour details see ITINERARY or call 207.236.0110

We hope you can join us!

EGYPT Urges Travelers to Support Freedom!

2011-02-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

On Friday February 18, Egyptians will march on Tahrir Square, but this time to ask tourists to return to Egypt. Their slogan is "Support Freedom, Visit Egypt!" Tourism is Egypt's largest industry. The lack of tourists over the past weeks has had a detrimental effect on the economy of Egypt. The US State Department has not yet lifted travel warnings, but hopefully they will do so soon.

Hope to see you there!

Erja

Protests in Egypt Cause Tours to Cancel

2011-02-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

The past week of protests in Egypt has resulted in the issuing of travel advisories and tourists to canceled their travel plans to Egypt. Most companies are offering full refunds to travelers who would like to cancel. Many of the large cruise & tour companies have canceled operations until Feb 28th, the date until when the US government's travel warning to Egypt is in effect.

For the most up to date travel warnings visit the US State Department Travel Advisory site.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/

For the latest on Nile Cruise cancellations visit:
http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news

Before you leave home register with the US State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

Traveling Overseas with your Credit / Debit Cards

2011-01-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

Credit & debit cards are a convenient way to have money on hand while traveling internationally. But before you take your plastic on vacation here are some helpful travel tips.

1. Prior to your trip, check the international exchange fee charged by your credit and debit card companies. Some credit cards charge as high as 3% of the purchase amount. Bank of America Amex currently is offering a low 1% fee. Debit cards generally charge 1%. Some debit cards, such as some of TD Bank's debit cards currently do not charge an exchange fee. So it is a good idea to shop around. Note: fees are subject to change, so it is advisable to call all credit cards before deciding on which ones to bring.

2. Once you have booked your trip and selected your cards, BE SURE to notify your credit card company and the issuing bank of your debit card as to where and when you are planning to travel. If you neglect to do this your credit card company may suspect fraudulent activities if overseas charges appear unexpectedly, resulting in a hold on all transactions.

3. Make photocopies of all credit cards and important documents. Leave copies at home with a family member or a friend. NEVER send credit card info via email. So if your credit cards are lost or stolen you'll have access to your credit card number and other info. Keep emergency contact telephone numbers for cards in a separate place in case cards are lost or stolen. NOTE: 1800 numbers do not work out side of the USA, unless you have a US cell phone in which case you will be charged international calling rates for the call. If not printed on the back of your card, ask your financial institution for number that can be dialed from abroad.

4. Bring more than one card. The cards you bring should be from by different institutions. Sometimes there may be problems with networks and your card might not work for no apparent reason, so it is a good idea to have a back up. If traveling with your American Express card remember not all establishments accept American Express.

5. If renting a car you will not be able to use a debit card, you must have a credit card with you.

6. Request transactions in local currency. Some places will offer the courtesy of converting charges to USD, for which the exchange fee can be as much as 3.5% of the transaction amount. Be especially careful of this in Ireland since many establishments automatically convert charges to USD.

6. When using cards always be sure your card is returned to you after each transaction.

7. To prevent theft, keep all cards and money either in a money belt or security pouch worn under your clothes. Never keep your wallet in you pocket. If you use a shoulder bag wear the strap across your chest so it cannot be grabbed from you.

8. If your credit/debit cards are lost or stolen be sure to notify both the local police and the financial institution right away.

9. When you return home, check your statements carefully and if you notice any suspicious activity contact your credit card company and/or bank.

If you have other travel tips related to using credit cards while traveling we invite you to share them.

LIVE, LAUGH & TRAVEL!

The Wanderwoman Travel Team

WWW.WANDERWOMAN.COM

Tis the season...

2010-12-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

To start planning travel for the NEW YEAR 2011!

Here at Eurynome Journeys we have some great deals for the New Year.

Check out out Early Booking Specials on Egypt, Greece, and Ireland.

Soon pricing will be available for a July Maine Coast tour, our Fall trip to Malta and Sicily, and our New Years Escape to Rome in Dec 2011-Jan 2012.

SAVE the cost of the single supplement:

We have a room share opportunity on our Greek Island Hopping Adventure June 1-13

Early Booking Price
Reserve by Feb 7 and SAVE on Ireland: Grace O'Malley Tour August 9-18

Also SAVE an additional $100 if you can name the town in the above photo.

(One entry per person and some restrictions may apply)

We hope you are able to join one of our women-only travel adventures in 2011!

Live, Laugh & Travel!

Erja Lipponen, Owner/Founder

Eurynome Journeys

207.236.0110

Featured destination: CRETE

2010-04-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

Crete is the largest island in Greece. The coastline offers sandy beaches, medieval port cities and quaint fishing villages. The interior of the island has fertile plains, mountains with traditional villages, and amazing hiking trials.

Best time to visit: May-early October

Weather: May to June warm and sunny. July and August are very hot, sunny and can be windy. September and October are less windy, and not as hot, still lots of sunny days. By October there can be a couple of rainy days, but nice for enjoying the outdoors and many of the tourist have gone home and there are more opportunities to experience local activities.

What to do: Explore archaeological sites from Minoan to Byzantine, gorgeous hikes, sea kayaking, quant seaside & mountain villages, medieval post cities, cooking lessons, wine tasting, markets with local crafts, sandy beaches and eco-resorts, dancing and music!

MUST SEE: Knossos archaeological site, Heraklion Museum, Samaria Gorge, small villages, Venetian old port city of Chania

GETTING THERE: There are several daily flights from Athens to Heraklion (HER), Chania (CHQ), as well as charters in the summer time from the UK and other Europen points.

The NEW Olympic Air

Aegean Airlines

Ferries also run regularly between Piraeus (Port of Athens) and Crete. From Piraeus overnight ferries go to Heraklion in Central Crete and Souda (Port of Chania) in western Crete. There is also a port in Eastern Crete, Agios Nikolaos/Sitia, the route is via Santorini and Milos. From Sitia there is also service to Rhodes.

Ferry schedules http://www.ferries.gr/greek-islands-ferry/ferry_crete.htm

For info about Crete visit: http://www.explorecrete.com/

KNOSSOS and the beginnings of Cretan Archaeology:

Crete is an island of myth and magical beauty. Already in classical times myths about the legendary King Minos of Crete inspired the works of poets and arts. According to myth King Minos demanded an annual tribute of seven youths and maidens from Athens, who were sacrificed the Minotaur, a terrible beast that was half man and half bull.

It wasn’t until excavations in the late 19^th and early 20^th century that evidence was found indicating that a highly evolved civilization thrived on Crete over three and half thousand years ago. The archaeological site of Knossos, just miles from the modern capital of Heraklion, appears to be a palace complex complete with an underground labyrinth. This find of the maze-like corridors on the lower level of the building led “archaeologist” Author Evans to coin the term “Minoan civilization,” after the legendary King Minos. Evans believed this civilization to have worshipped the Great Mother Goddess, as is suggested by the numerous female figurines unearthed by Evan's and his team (which included the grandfather of our guide on Crete).

The first British female classicist Jane Ellen Harrison visited Evans during his excavation. The finds at Knossos supported Harrison’s theories of an ancient goddess cult in Greece prior to the Heroic period of the Iliad. However Harrison was blackballed by most of scholars of her time and her work was not resurrected until the 1970s, decades after her death. Many of Harrison’s theories have become popular among scholars today.

Knossos archaeological site http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh352.jsp?obj_id=2369

Bio of Evans http://www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/evansa.htm

Bio Harrison http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=harrja

Live, Laugh & Travel to Crete!

INSURANCE UPDATE

2010-04-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

From Travel Guard:
"... any new volcanic issues in Iceland are now considered new situations for travel insurance coverage, except for travel in and out of Iceland since Iceland airports are not back to normal yet.

Volcanic Ash follow up questions & answers:

When is the eruption of the Iceland volcano on 4/14 considered to have ended?
The event of 4/14 is considered to have ended on 4/22/10 when Eurocontrol announced that air traffic had returned to normal level.

If I purchased a policy on or after 4/14 would coverage apply to a future eruption?
As long as your policy is purchased prior to any future eruption occurring, you would be covered under most of our U.S. products.

You can purchase Travel Guard Coverage through Eurynome Journeys or your travel agent.

NEW YEAR'S ESCAPE: Roman Holiday!

2010-04-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

Do something different for New Year's Eve this year! Join Eurynome Journeys for a New Year's celebration in the eternal city: December 29, 2011 to January 4, 2012! Visit the Christmas market in Piazza Nuovo, see a New Year's Parade Roman style, discover the hidden gems of Rome. Our boutique hotel is located near the Spanish Steps and just a short walk from the Pantheon, and Villa Borghese Gardens. Group size is limited to 14. Email us for tour details at wanderwoman-info@att.net. LIVE, LAUGH & TRAVEL!

King TUT returns to NYC April 23!

2010-03-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

(Image from www.kingtut.org)
An exhibit of artifacts from King Tutankhamun's tomb will make its final stop in New York starting April 23. It is now at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
For more details visit NPR.org

BUY tickets at: http://www.kingtut.org/utility/buyTickets

Then next stop Egypt!

Malta an Oenophile’s island!

2010-03-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

Who knew?!?! I had never heard about Maltese wines…so while here in amazing Malta I sampled some of the local varietals and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised! Malta’s viticulture dates back to 5000 years, but it has only been in the last few years that the quality of Maltese wines have started to get international recognition and AWARDS. So while visiting Malta be sure to try some of the local wine. I can recommend Isis Chardonnay to enjoy with the delicious local seafood; the Fenici Chardonnay /Vermentino blend for sipping at sunset with a plate of Maltese appetizers; or the Palantino Merlot with pasta in a tomato sauce, red meat or with some of the mild local cheeses.

Tor learn more visit: http://www.maltafoodandwine.com/

PACKING for TRAVEL SAFETY

2010-02-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

Advice from the USA Government site: International Travel Site

When you travel abroad, the odds are in your favor that you will have a safe and incident-free trip...
We have prepared the following travel tips to help you avoid serious difficulties during your overseas travel. We wish you a safe and wonderful journey!

BEFORE YOU GO

What to Take

Safety begins when you pack. To help avoid becoming a target, do not dress so as to mark yourself as an affluent tourist. Expensive-looking jewelry, for instance, can draw the wrong attention.

Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended.

Carry the minimum number of valuables, and plan places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your person, you may wish to put them in various places rather than all in one wallet or pouch. Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside pockets that are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat safer. One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing.

Bring travelers checks and one or two major credit cards instead of cash.

Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport’s information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen.

Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality. If possible, lock your luggage.

Consider getting a telephone calling card. It is a convenient way of keeping in touch. If you have one, verify that you can use it from your overseas location(s). Access numbers to U.S. operators are published in many international newspapers. Find out your access number before you go.

What to Leave Behind

Don't bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home:

valuable or expensive-looking jewelry
irreplaceable family objects
all unnecessary credit cards
your Social Security card, library card, and similar items you may routinely carry in your wallet.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency.

Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver's license and the credit cards that you plan to bring with you. Leave one photocopy of this data with family or friends at home; pack the other in a place separate from where you carry the originals.

Leave a copy of the serial numbers of your travelers' checks with a friend or relative at home. Carry your copy with you in a separate place and, as you cash the checks, cross them off the list.

Read more....

For packing suggestions visit:http://www.ehow.com/how_5189_avoid-overpacking.html

NEW: women's travel adventure

2010-02-13T05:08:00.000-08:00

Flavor of Crete:

Myths, Medieval ports & Mountain Villages
Discover the beauty of Crete, Greece's largest Island. Explore ancient sites & caves where the Great Mother goddess was once worshipped and the oldest convent on Crete with its 2000 year old myrtle tree. Sample local olive oils. Visit one of Greece's best wineries. Stay in traditional mountain villages and meet local artisans. Learn Cretan dancing and healthy island cooking and feast on traditional Cretan cuisine.

Dates: Sept 26-Oct 6

Early Booking Price: $3169.00 pp

Small group size

Tour details visit: wanderwoman.com/crete

The ultimate travel clothes and accessories for women...

2009-10-30T04:26:00.000-07:00

Having the right travel clothes and accessories makes packing so much easier!

Best Travel hat: Tilley
When traveling be sure to bring a good hat. I love my Tilley! It's packable, light weight, and comfort... great for summer travel or travel to warm climates.

The ultimate women's travel pants by PrAna!
I just returned from hiking in Ireland and then rushed off to explore archaeological sites in hot, dusty Egypt and the best thing I packed for both trips was the Tenaya Pant by PrAna. These pants are a travel wardrobe essential! Quick drying, light, wrinkle resistant, comfortable and great looking.

Tenaya Pant

$68.00

Style: W4TENP309

Tenaya Pant - The ultimate pant for cool days on the wall offers abrasion-resistance, full stretch and a low-profile adjustable waistband. Stash extra protection or something to snack on between pitches in the cargo pocket.

Purchase online or at Maine Sport in Rockport Maine

Wherever you go don't leave home without a backpack which doubles as a carry-on and day pack for sight-seeing, hiking, biking, etc....
This stylish pack by Vectra is a good choice and is available in green and brown..sorry no orange.

Vectra Backpack - Womens

$80.00

Style: U6VECT309

Fit for a woman's frame, this backpack features a body-hugging design. Padded shoulder and waist straps ensure carrying comfort.

Purchase online at PrAna

Don't forget to pack your camera! For great shots with automatic and manual settings and a 10x zoom the CANON Powershot SX10IS is a smart choice. It may not be the smallest camera out there, but it's small enough and takes great photos...even from a moving bus. Whatever camera you choose...get one with a view finder (a feature hard to find in the newer compact cameras) so that on those bright sunny days when the glare makes it impossible to see your LCD screen you can still see what you are taking a picture of!

Culinary destination: Dublin Ireland!

2009-10-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

Perhaps one of the travel world's best kept secrets is Ireland's gourmet cuisine. Ireland has a long culinary tradition; ancient cooking pits called fulacht fia have been found through out Ireland. These Neolithic and Bronze age pits are believed to have been used to boil water with hot rocks to slowly cook meat and other foods on festival occasions...could this be the origins of the Irish boiled dinner? BUT if you think of Irish cuisine as boiled dinners..think again...Irish cuisine has come a long way since the fulacht fia (although An Fulacht Fia in Ballyvaughan is most certainly a worth a visit). So if you are planning a trip to Ireland..be sure to bring a good appetite!

A few my favorite restaurants in Dublin Ireland are:

BANG CAFE on Baggot Street...trendy spot frequented by Dubliners. Try the scallops or Chump of Lamb or Mushroom Risotto. They serve lunch and have a pre-theater menu...
See menu

THE UNICORN on Merrion Ct off Merrion Row, just around the corner from Bang Cafe, offers delicious gourmet Italian cuisine. Lunch and pre-theater specials...
See menu

DAX, on Pembroke Street Upper, offers gourmet French cuisine, romantic atmosphere, and 140 European wines to choose from. Lunch & dinner..
See menu

PEPLOES WINE BISTRO on St Stephen's Green offers chic modern Irish cuisine at its best! Lunch, pre-concert specials and dinner 7 days a week...
See menu

EDEN in Temple Bar,at Meeting House SQ (a bit difficult to find), offers wild Irish game, such as duck, venison, etc and other delicious choices. The modern decor is a bit sterile but the food is excellent. Brunch, lunch and dinner...
See menu

CAFE EN SEINE on Dawson Street is a must see to believe...you'll think you've stepped into Fin de siècle Paris! Great spot to meet locals after work for drinks and meals. Not gourmet but worth a visit.

Please feel free to share your suggestions!

Live, Travel...and EAT!

Wanderwoman Cheryl Kerr’s new novel came out July 4, 2009

2009-07-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

Photo of Cheryl enjoying sunset cruise in Santorini Greece

One of Eurynome Journeys’ recent Greek Island Adventure travelers, Cheryl (Kempf) Kerr, just publisher her second novel See Ya. To learn more about Cheryl and her latest book visit breakthroughpromotions.com and scroll down to her name.

You can purchase Cheryl’s book at http://chanterpress.com/.

Congratulations Cheryl!!!!

SAVE on Egypt trip: Room share opportunity!

2009-07-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Traveling solo?
But would rather not pay a single supplement?
Consider sharing accommodations with a roommate.

On this year's Egypt trip everyone, except two women, is traveling alone and we have an odd number of room share requests. So if you've always wanted to travel to Egypt and are planning to go alone..join Eurynome Journeys and a small group of adventurous women on a journey through amazing Egypt OCT 2-21, 2009!

The pace is leisurely providing time to "feel" Egypt and not merely run through it, yet we've included the major attractions and a few special surprises. Some days are full from the crack of dawn until after dinner, but others are free for optional activities or for rest and reflection. Since travel in Egypt can be rigorous we’ve selected very comfortable hotels (mostly 5 stars) that offer spas or other rejuvenating amenities, yet are close to shops, restaurants, and other attractions for those who want to explore. To visit Egypt and only see tombs and temples would give an incomplete picture of this fascinating country, so the tour also explores modern day life in Egypt, especially the lives of women.

Click here for itinerary and trip details

Choosing a Women-only Tour

2009-06-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

In the past few years the number of companies targeting the female traveler has increased from a handful to thousands!

There are women’s tours out there for every interest from kayaking in the Arctic (burr!) and gastronomical adventures in the outback to high-end culinary tours. When Eurynome Journeys first launched its website www.wanderwoman.com in 1998, there were two or three other companies out there, one was outdoor adventure tours and the other two were more bus type trips visiting crystal and chocolate factories whose groups were as large as 25 women.

I love that women are now more adventurous and traveling! And it is great that here are so many different companies out there catering to us and our interests!

But deciding which tour to take can be a daunting experience.

Below are tips to choosing the right women's tour for you:

First decide where you want to go and just how adventurous you want to get. If it is your first trip choose your home country or a destination that is not going to be too much of a culture shock.

For North American women Ireland, and other Western European countries are good places to easy into world travel.

Choose a tour suitable to you level of fitness. Don’t sign up for a biking trip that entails 30 miles of biking a day, if you ride you bike 2 twice a year. It’s great to try new things, but be realistic.

Next figure out your budget and the type of accommodations you are comfortable with.

Call or email companies and find out what hotels they use and look them up online. Hotels that are centrally located are best for doing a little exploring on one’s own. If you are accustomed to 5-star properties, you might not be happy in a small local pension. Or if you are looking for a more local experience a pension might be just the right type of accommodation for you.

Ask about roommate opportunities to alleviate the extra cost of single supplements. Keep in mind sharing accommodations is NOT for everyone. If you have trouble sleeping or like to have down time, the single supplement might be a wise investment.

Ask about hidden costs not included in the price: meals, transfers, tips for guides, air taxes, etc.

Look at the website and photos, do the women look like the kind of travelers you would enjoy traveling with? What is the age range and fitness level? If all the photos are models rather than real travelers, the company is most likely a large cooperate operation cashing in on the trend, which doesn’t mean that it is not a good tour, it might be the right tour, but just be aware of what you are purchasing.

Be sure to ask which professional organizations the company belongs to (i.e., ASTA, USTOA, IATA), an established reputable tour company should belong to at least one. If unsure contact the organization to find out if there are any complaints against the company.

Request at least two or three references from past travelers. Call or email them with a list of questions: what they liked about the trip, what they didn’t like, would they travel again with the tour company, is there anything you should be aware of before committing, etc?

Read the fine print! Understand cancelation policies and buy travel insurance-just incase!

And remember, whatever tour you decide on, to bring your sense of humor and an appetite for adventure!

ASTA tips for female travelers: http://www.travelsense.org/tips/solowomen.cfm
Add your advise.

Wanderwoman isn't the only one to visit Egypt!

2009-06-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

2009-06-02 19:55:23
Egypt's local
press
preoccupied
by Obama's
upcoming
visit

by Muhammad Yamany, Xinhua writer Chen Gongzheng

CAIRO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is to deliver a landmark speech at Cairo University on Thursday, in his latest attempt to improve the tarnished image of the United States in the Arab and Muslim World and so as to start a new chapter of partnership between U.S. and the Muslim World.

Obama's visit to the Egyptian capital of Cairo, hit headlines on Tuesday in most of Egypt's local newspapers, which all welcomed warmly the upcoming long-waited visit...

Before leaving Cairo at 18:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) Obama will visit archaeological sites in the Pyramids area and Sultan Hassan Mosque...

The [ local daily newspaper Almasry Alyoum] cited Zahi Hawas, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, as saying that Obama would visit the pyramids after his speech at Cairo University.

Hawas said that as a part of his 80-minute tour on foot, Obama would enter the Pyramid of Cheops and visit the nearby Sphinx.

While al-Akhbar local newspaper wrote under the headline "official and public welcoming for U.S. President Barack Obama" that Egypt's government is looking forward to a new page in the relations between U.S. and the Muslim World.

Read full story:http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/02/content_11476445.htm

03/01/2009 04:20 PM

Obama-Crazed Egypt Welcomes U.S. Tavelers

By: Valarie D'Elia

With 319,000 visitors last year, the United States just cracked the top ten list of travelers to Egypt, despite the effects of the global economic crisis and safety concerns.

Tourism was off as much as 14 percent in January, but officials expect the decline to be short-lived because of the treasures Egypt offers...

Most of the Americans I ran into are feeling they are receiving an especially warm welcome mainly because of the recent election of President Barack Obama. His history-making turn as the leader of the free world appears to be so far-reaching that it is touching ancient civilizations.

"The Egyptian people, they love Americans very much and you can see this everywhere," said Dr. Zahi Hawass, an Egyptologist.

"Everybody always says 'Obama! Obama! Obama!'" said a tourist.

"I've noticed since I've talked to people that everyone seems to identify with Obama, and I think because we are on an African continent," said another.

For full story visit: http://www.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/travel/94760/obama-crazed-egypt-welcomes-u-s--travelers/Default.aspx

Wanderwoman Egypt itinerary

2009-05-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

DIVINE GRACE YOGA CRUISE in MAINE

Summertime can be wonderful, but hectic! Here is a wonderful way to end your summer with a Yoga Cruise in Penobscot Bay with Kristi Williams. Enjoy healthy cuisine, gentle walks on uninhabited islands, meditation, chanting, and yoga. This five-day cruise is open to all levels-both women and men.
Date: August 30, 2009
To learn more visit http://www.mainewindjammercruises.com
Om...

17 Places Every Woman Must Go

2009-04-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

If you're burned out and in need of vacation inspiration, check out Stephanie Elizondo Griest's "100 Places Every Woman Should Go." It's a guide to places worth seeing in your lifetime, from the predictable (specific spas in the Caribbean) to the far-flung and adventurous (playing alongside the penguins in Antarctica)....

Griest also emphasizes that traveling can be a gift even in these tough economic times. "It's all about priority," Griest says. "I make less money than almost anyone I know, and I travel more than anyone I know." Dialing down expectations is key: You may not be wallowing in five-star luxury, but a bare-bones holiday can be cheaper and more fulfilling.

See full story on lemondrop and add your favorite destination to the list.

Egypt BENT Pyramid to Open to Tourists

2009-03-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

TRAVELERS to Egypt will soon be able to explore the inner chambers of the 4,500-year-old "Bent" Pyramid, known for its oddly-shaped profile, Egypt's antiquities chief said yesterday.

The increased access to the pyramid as well as others in the area is part of an Egyptian effort in cooperation with the United Nations to develop the pyramid complex in a sustainable fashion, while preserving the environment and the antiquities.

Egypt's chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass said the 100-meter pyramid outside the village of Dashur, 80 kilometers south of Cairo, will be opened for the first time to tourists within the next "month or two."

"This is going to be an adventure, and this is happening now," said Hawass.

Dashur's Bent Pyramid is famous for its irregular profile. The sides rise at a steep angle, then halfway up the massive structure they abruptly taper off at a more shallow approach to the pyramid's apex.

Archaeologists believe the pyramid's builders changed their minds while constructing it out of fear it might collapse because the sides were too steep.

The nearby Red Pyramid, also built by 4th-dynasty founder Pharoah Sneferu, is already accessible to visitors. Hawass said several other nearby pyramids, including one with an underground labyrinth from the Middle Kingdom, would also be opened in the next year.
(read full story)

Planning a trip to Egypt, Greece, or London...?

2009-03-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

If so you will most likely visit the major archaeological sites and museums that are amidst the controversy over ancient treasures discussed in Sharon Waxman’s book Loot, The Battle over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World.

Anyone who has traveled to Greece, Egypt, Turkey or any country with a rich ancient past has heard the words "...and the original is now at the British Museum.." or the Louvre, or the Berlin Museum, etc. The issue of who has the right to ancient treasures of the world was brought back into the public spot light with the 2002 Athens Olympics. Greece took the Olympics as an opportunity bring publicity to their request for the return the Parthenon Marbles (or Elgin Marbles as the British Museum refers to them). But the Marbles still sit in London. And the famed bust of the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti (on book cover to left) sits not in her homeland, but in Berlin.

Hear interview with Sharon Waxman on NPR.

Visit Sharon Waxman’s blog about her travels as she researched her book, a must read for travelers and museum goers!

Women-only Grace O'Malley tour to Ireland!

2009-03-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

2009 Grace O’Malley tour of Ireland!
September 1-10, 2009
Early booking Special: $2379.00*
Dublin extension: $675

We have great special guests joining our women's Ireland adventure including best-selling author Anne Chambers and author/archaeologist Michael Gibbons. The itinerary takes us to the beautiful west coast of Ireland to places and castles associated with Grace O’Malley (Granuaile). For accommodations we have chosen quaint family run bed and breakfasts with lots of Irish warmth. So tell a friend and join us on an exciting adventure to the Emerald Island!

Itinerary online: http://www.wanderwoman.com/itineraryIRELAND.htm

*Price is based on double occupancy for reservations received by May 1, 2009.
We do have a limited number of single rooms; if traveling solo you may want to consider sharing a room with a fellow traveler to save the cost of the single supplement: $400.

The pace of the tour is leisurely, with time to explore on one’s own; and the group size is limited to 12 women or less.

The tour includes nine nights accommodations at traditional Irish B&Bs; hearty Irish breakfast daily, three group dinners, and one lunch; transfers as per itinerary; all tours in the itinerary are privately guided by local specialists and include admission fees; and the tour is fully escorted by a wanderwoman tour director for the duration of the tour to attend to details so that you can enjoy the adventure!

Tour highlights:
Burren walk; Dolman tomb; tour of “Grace O’Malley country” with Anne Chambers including Murrisk Abbey, the Famine Memorial. Rockfleet Castel and the Westport House; Clare Island walking tour; Connamera tour with Michael Gibbons including Omey Island, visit Ballynahinch castle, and Roundstone; optional hike up Croagh Patrick and more!

Also you will be provided with suggested packing and reading lists and recommendations for restaurants and optional activities.

The price does NOT include airfare to Ireland, but right now round trip airfare from the east coast of the USA is approximately $600..including taxes!
Note: as always with the airlines…this price is subject to change

I hope you are able to join us!

Live, laugh & travel!

Erja

What is the best time of year to visit Greece?

2009-03-03T16:29:00.000-08:00

Greece has something to offer year around, but for the first time visitor to Greece early summer and early fall are best.

May to June the climate is perfect, not too hot, but warm and sunny. This time of year is also the most beautiful. With many flowers in bloom in early summer even the usually dry dusty places, such as the small island of Delos, are a live with color.

In July and August the hordes of tourists arrive. In the islands among the hordes are vacationing Greeks from the main land. Prices are inflated and options are limited. And the summer heat can be unbearable. So avoid these moths if possible.

By mid Sept and into Oct the crowds dissipate and prices fall. I especially love Greece during the first half of October, the hoteliers and shopkeepers have made their money for the season and now they are relaxed and enjoying local life. You never know what wonderful local event you might stumble upon!

The only down side of travel in early summer and early fall is the ferries start running less frequently to some of the smaller islands and the number of flights decrease.

Kalo taxidi (happy travels)!

Greek Wines....

2009-02-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

A great resource about Greek wines is www.allaboutgreekwine.com.
"Wine has been an important part of Greek culture for over 4000 years as the numerous archeological discoveries throughout Greece have revealed. The ancient Greeks knew well the nutritional value of wine as it became an inseparable part of their daily regimen. Wine also played and important role in the evolution of the local economy.

For the ancient Greeks the culture of wine was embodied in the deity, Dionyssus. The son of Zeus and Semeli, Dionyssus was one of the most worshiped of the Greek Gods inspiring artists, philosophers and the lives of everyday people." (read more on allaboutgreekwine.com)

But most travelers are not familiar with Greek wines. To sample some Greek wines while in Athens visit Berttos in the Plaka. They now offer flights of wines from various regions of Greece.

Mother's Day Special to Ireland and Summer Sale!

2008-04-26T06:47:00.001-07:00

Just in time for our Mother's Day Special to Ireland! Aer Lingus has announce their summer sale!!! ONLY $700 round trip airfare from Boston or New York to IRELAND (That's a $250 SAVINGS. Sale ends April 30; price is subject to availability). Ireland makes for a great mother daughter vacation, so don't wait, reserve your space now and discover your Irish roots with wanderwoman.com's women's travel adventure to Ireland in search of the Celtic pirate queen Grace O'Malley (Mother's day special offer good through Mother's day May 11 and applies to mother/mother-law and daughters traveling together or toward gift-certificates for a special mom. Some restrictions apply. Call 207.236.0110 for details).

GREAT DEALS TO IRELAND!

2008-04-05T06:44:00.000-07:00

Aer Lingus and JetBlue have joined up for more flights from across the USA to the Emerald Isle!
(sorry only applies to round trip tickets)
SAVE on travel to Ireland; great deals with Aer Lingus for April and even the summer fares seem to have dropped by about $100 from a month ago! If you've been thinking about visiting Ireland...the time to book your flight is now.

And we still have availability on our Women's Ireland trip in search of Celtic pirate queen Grace O'Malley Aug 12 (depart USA 11 Aug arrive Shannon 12 Aug) and return from Dublin Aug 24.

An adventure awaits you!!!!!

Ireland Travel in April 2008 to Clifden!

2008-02-29T05:55:00.000-08:00

Clifden Railway Heritage Weekend

Celebrating one of the great lost railways of Ireland, Clifden Chamber of Commerce, together with Galway County Council & the Station House Theatre, hosts our inaugural Railway Heritage Weekend from the 18^th-20^th April, 2008.

The weekend will be launched by Minister Eamonn O’Cuiv on Fri, 18^th April at 7pm in Clifden Station House, followed by the reissue of The Connemara Railway by Kathleen Villiers Tuthill. A special late night railway comedy movie, The Titfield Thunderbolt, will be shown in the Station House Theatre.

Saturday will feature a day of lectures and documentaries in the Station House Theatre. Lecturers will include Paul Duffy, Kathleen Villiers Tuthill, Michael Gibbons & Fergus Mulligan. Saturday evening will finish with a Commemorative Railway Dinner in the Clifden Station House .

Sunday winds up the weekend with a fascinating walk along the original railway line guided by local historian & archaeologist Michael Gibbons.

Learn more

Granuaile's Dance by Celtic Woman! Happy St Patrick's Day

2008-02-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

08 March 2008

2008-02-26T13:29:00.001-08:00

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Governments around the world view International Women's Day as an important opportunity to address the social, economic and political barriers, as well as achievements, of women. Below are the a few of the key governments from around the world who have actively and consistently supported International Women's Day.

Australia

Ontario Canada

USA Government

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time
of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. Read more

Learn how different countries around the world are commemorating this day.

Events around the world

ATHENS covered with SNOW (or Khione)!

2008-02-18T05:06:00.000-08:00

(Photo AP Acropolis covered with snow)

"Snow covered many parts of Greece, including the Acropolis in central Athens, yesterday. Flights were disrupted and tens of villages, mainly in central Greece’s Evia and the Aegean islands, were cut off due to the snowfall, the result of two cold fronts moving south from Russia and Scandinavia. Authorities warned drivers to be more cautious today due to the icy conditions expected. Experts forecast improving conditions as of today."
Read full story in Kathimerini

THIS is not typical weather in Greece!
For temperature, rainfall, and sunshine averages in Athens, Greece visit: HOLIDAY-WEATHER.COM
Weather averages for Crete click here.

The Greek word for "snow" is Khione.
In Greek myth "KHIONE (or Chione) was one of the nymphs, a daughter of Boreas, god of the north-wind, and Oreithyia, the lady of mountain gales. Khione was herself probably the goddess of snow (khiôn)."

To learn more visit: http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheKhione1.html

IRELAND on SALE!

2008-02-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

Summer flights to Ireland on sale! Must be purchased by Feb 20th.
Fares starting at $199 each way.
Prices based on travel dates.

Lowest fares for St. Patrick's Day

Visit Aer Lingus
and choose depature and destination city. March travel starting at $229 each way. Prices are subject to availability.

What is Elginism?

2008-02-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

Planning to visit Greece or Italy or some other destination to see their ancient treasures? Well, you may need to visit London, Paris, or some city other than you'd expect.

To learn more about why the national treasures of some countries are dispersed around the world and about "Elginism" visit the links below:

the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles.

Story about elginsim in the Boston Gobe today:

ON THE FIRST floor of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, in the early Greek art galleries, there is a long display case filled with Athenian ceramics. In one corner, partway up the linen backing, are two holes, a couple of inches apart, where a shelf holding a small, 2,500-year-old oil flask was once attached. Upstairs, in the Imperial Roman galleries, a group of marble busts and statues has been rearranged after the departure of a 6-foot-tall marble statue of the Roman empress Sabina. Ten Greek pots and one carved marble fragment from Imperial Rome are also gone from the museum's collection.

All the pieces were given to the government of Italy, and are now part of a blockbuster exhibition, in Rome's Quirinal Palace, made up entirely of pieces alleged to have been looted and smuggled out of Italy. The show's title, "Nostoi" - from a lost epic poem recounting the perilous homeward voyages of Greek heroes after the Trojan War - is a nod to the labors of the Italian culture ministry and police, whose campaign of persistent arm-twisting, public criticism, and criminal prosecution secured the return of the 68 artifacts in the show, each now the property of the Italian government.

These returned objects are only the most visible recent fruits of a powerful movement aimed at moving some of the world's most prominent ancient treasures from the hands of foreign museums and collectors back to the so-called source countries. Along with Italy, the governments of Greece, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru, Turkey, China, and Cambodia, among others, have pushed to reclaim prized artifacts from collections around the world.

They have tightened their laws governing the export of antiquities or intensified the enforcement of existing laws and international agreements; they have made impassioned public cases on the world stage.

These governments argue that to allow such objects to remain abroad as trophies only encourages the continued pillage of their national patrimony. Their position has won broad moral support and increasingly become the norm among academic archeologists, who see ancient objects as historic artifacts inseparable from their place of discovery. It has forced major concessions from great museums around the world, including the MFA, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The British Museum is under persistent pressure to return the Elgin Marbles, its famous set of sculptures from the Parthenon.

To read entire story visit:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/02/10/finders_keepers/?page=1

Defintion:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/elginism

A Winter Traveler’s Epiphany

2008-01-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Epiphany celebrations are a wonderful way to end the holiday season. Below is a brief explanation of the symbolism associated with this Christian holy day and descriptions of Epiphany celebrations that are annually held at some of my favorite winter destinations.

The Epiphany is on 6 January, and marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. The word epiphany comes from the Greek and means “appearance or revelation.”

“Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is over precisely which historical events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi, while in the East the feast celebrates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. However, in both cases the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(Christian)

ATHENS, GREECE
In Greece, since this day symbolizes many things including the baptism of Jesus Christ, the celebration involves the blessing of the waters. In every port city and town a procession carries a blessed crucifix to the water into which it is then thrown. Each Greek port town has its local variation of this age-old tradition. I once spent the Epiphany in Athens. The procession took place in the Piraeus, the port of Athens. The ferries that transport thousands of travelers each year to the Greek islands and the Greek naval fleet were lined up in the harbor for the blessing. Priests in full regalia carried a large crucifix followed by marching bands and Athenian notables. Loud speakers made the blessing audible to the hundreds that had gathered for this annual ritual.

Added bonus: on the Epiphany, as on other holidays, most archaeological sites and museums have free admission.

FLORENCE, ITALY
An ancient Florence tradition, the "Cavalcade of the Magi" or Procession of the Three Wise Men was resurrected in 1997. On January 6, at 2 pm from Piazza de' Pitti the procession begins and makes its way to Piazza del Duomo.

This is a spectacular event! The year I was in Florence for the Epiphany our room at the Hotel Brunelleschi overlooked the avenue leading to the Doumo, so we watched the procession from the warmth and comfort of out hotel room.

“The three Magi on horseback, wearing Renaissance costumes inspired by …Benozzo Gozzoli's frescoes (see image), are preceded by a cortège of hundreds of other costumed personages, among whom the members of Florence's Historical Football Association and representatives of towns in the Province of Florence, along with horsemen, banner throwers, footmen and standard bearers.”
Source: http://www.florencehotel.com/eng_festa_dei_magi.html

BOAR’S HEAD TRADITION?
I just returned from an epiphany celebration that involved bagpipers, jugglers, lords and ladies regally dressed, and a boar’s head. Perhaps you are familiar with this Anglo tradition. However it was not in the British isles I attended this medieval event, it was in Palm Beach Florida. The sky was sunny and the temperature was 80 degrees F.

Every year for the past 30 years or so Bethesda by the Sea Episcopal Church has reenacted a Boar’s Head procession in honor of the Epiphany. The tradition of a boar’s head procession dates back to medieval times. At Queen’s College, Oxford in England a student was reading a book by Aristotle in the woods when he was attacked by a wild boar., explained the minister of the church. Fearing for his life the youth crammed the book into the attacking boar's throat, killing the beast. This incident came to symbolize the triumph of reason over brute force. Somehow this event became incorporated into the celebration of the epiphany by the Church of England, from which the Episcopal church broke off during the American revolution. In Palm Beach the head of an actual wild boar that was killed in the Palm Beach area (100 plus years ago) is a part of the procession. The bagpipes, the singing, and the costumes are magnificent! The procession is held twice, at 2:30 and 4:40 pm.
Get there early to get a good seat!

To learn more visit: http://www.bbts.org/special/boarshead.html

BELOW ARE SOME LINKS TO HELP YOU PLAN A WINTER TRAVEL EPIPHANY:

Winter is a great time to find DEALS for European travel. To find the best deals travel after Christmas through the end of February, and avoid travel during school breaks, if possible.

Getting to ATHENS, Greece:
Visit Olympic Airlines for great winter specials to Athens (ATH).

British Airways' One World Alliance also has great winter promotions to destination throughout Europe. Consider staying a couple of nights in London on one segment of your trip. More on London winter getaways coming soon!

Athens Hotel favorites:
Electra Palace Hotel is my favorite place to stay in Athens. It has the best breakfast in Athens, an indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, rooftop restaurant-some rooms have acropolis views and it is within walking distance to the Acropolis and major sites. Nightly rate: $215 (photo of hotel lobby)

Herodion Hotel is also a nice hotel with a great location near the Acropolis and Plaka. Winter rates are approximately $127 per night.

Plaka Hotel in the heart of the Plaka district near main sites, in a somewhat busier area, has great roof top views and is less pricey. Sorry no URL, some blogger seems to have swiped it. Check on Hotels.com for description. Nightly rate: $106

Cecil Hotel is also near major sites, it is a smaller property with 40 rooms, offers less amenities, but it has character- a good budget choice at $91 for a double.

Getting to FLORENCE, Italy:
Alitalia has great specials on flights to Florence (FLR) and packages including hotels. Also check British Airways.

Florence Hotel favorites and great winter special:
Hotel Brunelleschi has a great location, and the architecture is historically interesting, however the property is a bit tired, but a great value during the winter months (not worth the money during other times of year). It is located just 100 meters from Doumo. Nightly rate: $210

Hotel Calzaiuoli is a modern hotel located in the center of everything and offers great winter deals and a terrific website with interesting information about Florence.

Wonderful smaller hotels:
DEGLI ORAFI is a charming boutique style hotel with 42 rooms on the Arno River just steps from the Ponte Vecchio. During the winter months save up to 60%. A double standard room is regularly $560 per night, but until March the rates can be as low as $235 per night. There is no restaurant, but there are great views from the top floor breakfast room.

(Photo of Hotel Monna Lisa)

The Monna Lisa has 47 rooms and lots of charm and a great location. No restaurant other than a lovely arched breakfast room.

Hotel Cesstelli is very small hotel with just 8 rooms in the heart of Florence has double room en suite for about $150 (100 Euros) rooms with shared bath are less.

Getting to PALM BEACH, Florida, USA:
Of course winter in Florida is high season, but it’s a quick getaway from the cold northeast and even worth a trip from farther away. In November and early December, before most to the snowbirds arrive, some great winter deals can be found and no worries about the wilting value of the US dollar against the Euro.

Jet Blue flies into West Palm Beach (PBI) from most major US cities.
For a list of all airlines with service into PBI visit the official airport website: http://www.pbia.org/guide/airlines.aspx

Flagler Museum in Palm Beach Forida

Hotels choices in Palm Beach Florida:
The Breakers Hotel is right next to Bethesda by the Sea Episcopal Chruch and it is Palm Beach at its best, but rates start at about $580 plus per night . But if you are looking for an authentic Palm Beach experience, look no further.

The Ocean Front Inn in South Palm Beach, about a 20 minute drive from Palm Beach is a funky little low-rise hotel on the ocean, no thrills, but it has a pool overlooking the Atlantic ocean, a beach (the beach has just been brought back after a storm that washed it away) a fun little pool bar, and a restaurant with ocean views and it is within a short walk to great Ice cream (the Ice Cream Club-try Bear’s Claw), the Florida Stage theater and a couple of good restaurants restaurants and the Ritz Carlton-a favorite brunch spot. It’s not the Breakers, but its only about $150 per night.

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriot-affordable, but on the Lake Worth side of A1A, across the street from the ocean. But its just a short walk to the Lake Worth beach on the Atleantic Ocean and across the bridge from downtown Lake Worth and its many restaurants. Nightly rate approximately : $160

Of course don’t forget about the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton, but for the price you might as well stay at the Breakers (but be sure to check Hotels.com for any specials). The Chesterfield, a boutique hotel in downtown Palm Beach on Palm Row, is just three blocks from the beach starts at $400 per night.

Note: All prices are estimates and may vary depending on travel dates. Prices are subject to change.

New Year’s Traditions

2007-12-31T08:11:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

Modern New Year's celebrations vary from place to place, but they all have roots in ancient beliefs and customs.

In Irish “Happy New Year” is Athbhlian faoi mhaise (Ah-vleen fwee wash-eh)

Traditional Celtic New Year: Samhain
In Celtic lore, the year is divided into two halves associated with the dark and the light. The dark half begins at sunset on November 1st with Samhain and the cycle ends when the light half begins at sunset on May 1st, which is the festival of Bealtaine. Both festivals are closely linked, but in general, Samhain is considered to be the most important.

To learn more visit:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Samhain.html

New Years Day Traditions in Greece
“Kali Chronia!”

St. Basil's Day
On St. Basil's Day (January 1) the "renewal of waters" takes place, a ritual in which all water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new "St. Basil's Water." The ceremony is often accompanied by offerings to the naiads, spirits of springs and fountains. Also in some communities, on New Year's Day there is the interesting custom of breaking a pomegranate on the door for good luck.

Gifts are also traditionally exchanged on this day, but an increasing number of families exchange gifts on Christmas.

Vasilopites are also cooked on this day, which is a special cake cooked with a flouri (coin) in it. The cake is divided into pieces for each family member and other causes. (Family Business, Home, Church, God etc) Whoever receives the coin in their piece of cake is given good fortune for the year. Click here for Vasilopita recipe

Source: http://www.dailyfrappe.com/menu/guide/GreekChristmasTraditions/tabid/86/Default.aspx

New Year's Eve magic in Finland
"Onnellista uutta vuotta”

Casting of tin
New Year's Eve has traditionally been the time for fortune telling and predicting of the future. People have tried to secure a good fortune for the coming year or get a glimpse of the future events by performing various magical tasks and tricks. Some of these tricks have remained until our times as an amusement and games practised for fun in New Year's parties.

Tin horseshoes: One of the most popular tricks performed is the casting of tin. Everyone gets a small piece of tin, cast in the shape of a miniature horseshoe, a traditional symbol of good luck. The horseshoe is melted and poured quickly in a bucket of cold water, making it harden into a more or less irregular-shaped, solid clump.

The shape and shadow of the resulting cast is examined and interpreted to predict the various future events of the coming year. Different shapes have different meaning, promising good luck or health, wealth, happiness, sorrow, sickness etc. If the cast breaks down to pieces, it is a sign of "bad luck".

Source, where other methods of predicting the future can be found:
http://www.dlc.fi/~marianna/gourmet/season6a.htm

Traditions from other countries can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Eve

To say "Happy New Year" in different languages visit Freelang at: http://www.freelang.net/expressions/newyear.html

Seeking travel companion to share accommodations with on 13-Day Ireland tour Aug 12-24, 2008

2007-12-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Women's Ireland Tour:
In search of the celtic pirate queen Grace O'Malley.

" I am lively, like to laugh, talk, meet new people and looking
forward to visiting my roots. "

If interested in sharing a room please email: ejourneys@att.net
For tour details visit:
www.wanderwoman.com/irelandwomensgroup.htm

Great dining in South Africa

2007-08-02T20:38:00.001-07:00

(photo of Blues from http://www.dining-out.co.za/Cape-Town-restaurants.asp)

A traveler from Denver CO sent in these restaurant recommendations for South Africa.

Hi,
Here are some restaurants in S. Africa that I recommend- for dinners especially you should make reservations in advance

Cape Town :
Savoy Cabbage http://www.savoycabbage.co.za/ - this was really great!

Blues (in Camp's Bay near the beach)http://www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberID-1.html nice settings, good food, neither of credit cards worked here though.

Simon's Town:
The Meeting Place http://www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberID-2486.html - good lunch option if you go to see the Penguin colonies at Boulders Beach

The Wine areas of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch:
Reuben's http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/africa/south-africa/franschhoek/restaurant-detail.html?vid=1154654648368 we didn't go here, but everyone is SA says it's really good

Lunch at the Cafe at Boschendal Winery http://www.boschendal.com/experience.q their bobotie was really good

Ahhh...I almost forgot 96 Winery Road http://www.96wineryroad.co.za/- now that was a great dining experience. The setting is nice and the food was perfect. We had lunch there, but I bet dinner would be exceptional as well.

M.

Get outfitted for travel!

2007-05-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

Check out the great deals at Backcountry!

15% Off Discount Code at Backcountry.com- 1L3-1-63VLV- Expires 5/30/2007 *Some Restrictions Apply

Korea (Kimchi, Pul-go-gi, and Mechu) vs. Japan (Slimy Octopus)

2007-05-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Smith, currently in Korea on a cultural exchange program with the Rotary, sent in the following entry about Korean cuisine and dining etiquette .

Today's topics: KOREAN CUISINE and DINING ETIQUETTE.

Lots of Fish. Pork. Chicken or Duck. Tofu. Ocassionally Beef. Lots of Vegetables. Spices. Dipping Sauces. Our host Rotarians have been treating us like Kings and Queens, taking us to the best restaurants for lunch and dinner every day. They feed us so much, we feel like we are bursting at the seams all day long! But the food is DELICIOUS.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Korean_food_1.jpg/800px-Korean_food_1.jpg
We often do not have a plate: you just use chopsticks to grab the food you want, dip it in a yummy sauce, often place it in a lettuce leaf which acts as a wrap, and stuff it in your mouth! No mini bites allowed. If you are not completely into double-triple-quadruple-...-dipping, then Koran-style dining is not for you! Kimchi (fermented cabbage in a spicy red pepper sauce) is served with every meal. Often the meat is cooked on a grill in the middle of the table, while you are dabbling into the huge variety of veggies and sauces and appetizers with your chopsticks. Always is lots of mecha (beer) and Soju (potato wine - 20% alcohol) served with every meal. "Con-bay"! (Cheers!) So so messy, and the spicy food induces some sweat and tears - those clever Koreans thankfully have a tradition of placing a wet towel for every place setting. Fave Food of the Week: Pul-go-gi, which is broiled beef marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, sesame salt, pepper, grilled onions, garlic, ginger, rice wine; all broiled together. Dessert: tea (Korean, ginseng, or green), coffee, and fruit. For breakfast, no cereal, toast, eggs, or croissants (except for those families who have succombed to unhealthy Western influence: they have the same foods (with an occasional egg thrown in for good measure).

Dining traditions and etiquette:
Shoes are always left at the door. Sometimes, slippers are provided for us to wear. Seating is on the floor, either on a cushion or a chair with no legs. It is difficult for us Westerners to sit cross-legged for 1-2 hours without developing leg cramps. We're managing though...the food is so worth the formalities! It's fun, anyway - learning and respecting their traditions. Metal chopsticks are used for every meal - at home or in the restaurants. Slurping and burping is polite (indicates satisfaction in the food), but using your fingers and leaving food on/in your plate/bowl is not. Pouring your own drink is a no-no: it is tradition to pour for one another. The pourer holds the bottle with the right hand and grasps his right arm with his left hand. The receiver holds his glass in the same manner. It is considered polite to always be on the lookout for empty glasses and remedy the situation in short order! Then, "Con-bay!" And "Con-bay!" And "Con-bay!" some more!

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
To learn more visit:
http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/gse/

Thinking about Traveling Alone?

2007-05-16T05:17:00.000-07:00

Traveling solo can be very liberating.

Start with a short getaway:
If you’ve never traveled alone before start off with a short weekend to somewhere not too far away and not too unfamiliar to get comfortable with the idea. Do a weekend in New York City or visit a nice resort town on the coast.

Once you realize how much fun it is to be someplace new all alone-do a longer trip to an international destination. You may want to start some place where English is spoken like Ireland or England, but there is no reason not to venture off to Italy or Greece or what ever destination you have always dreamed of visiting.

Before you go:
Where ever you decide to travel to, learn about the customs of the country before you go.
Culture Shock Books, although some are a bit dry, can be very helpful.

Be sure to visit the US Gov travel site for women traveling solo provides helpful tips on safety:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1227.html

Also the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has a helpful consumer site with recommendations for solo female travelers:
http://www.travelsense.org/tips/solowomen.asp

Learn the language before you go. I like RosettaStone. Another good option is taking an Adult Ed course, they are usually inexspensive and offer the “popular” foreign languages, Greek usually isn’t among the offerings. Check with your local high school to find out about classes.

Before booking you airfare plan your itinerary.
So often people book round-trip air and end up spending extra time and money getting back to their starting point, whereas it might be cheaper and more convenient to fly home from a different city.

Rick Steve’s travel guides have good well planned out itineraries and the hotels selected are unique smaller places.

So if traveling to Ireland, instead of flying in and out of Dublin, fly into Dublin and then return from Shannon if it works better with your itinerary or visa versa.

In Greece if you are visiting the islands get a flight that connects to your international flight from the last island you visit rather than doing an additional night in Athens (its is an expensive city).
Check with the national carriers. You may need to call them if not doing a round trip.

Hotels:
As far as hotels are concerned, I recommend pre-booking at least the first and last nights of your trip. So when you arrive jet lagged and tired you know where you are going. You may even want to splurge on a transfer to the hotel from the airport. On the return it is nice to know you have a hotel booked from where you can conveniently get to the airport and catch you flight home.

If you do want to pre-book all your hotels in advance make sure to allow yourself at least two to three nights in each city/town. You’ll need one day just to get to the destination. Another to see the “must-see” sights and it is nice to have at least one day to just explore and people watch. Do your major sight seeing at the beginning of the trip and finish up at a nice relaxing place so when you return home you’ll feel rested and happy.

Hotels.com have great prices on larger hotels and I would also check reviews on sites such as Fodors and Frommers. Smaller hotels can now be found online and booked directly by guaranteeing a room to a credit card. Be sure to find out what their cancellation policies are, should you decide to change you itinerary.

Getting around:
In Europe train travel is a great way to get around and provides opportunities to meet other travelers as well as locals. Click here for Rail Europe fares and schedules.
For different types of passes check the lisyting of different passes

Car travel can be expensive and can make it more difficult to meet people. I have occasionally rented cars for a day or two to go see places that can not be reached by public transportation, but I prefer not to deal with driving in foreign countries.

NOTE: it is cheaper to rent a car here in advance than overseas. Autoeurope provides great rates and also offers airfare and hotels.

Tours:
Another option is to join a group tour. I recommend smaller companies that provide a more personal experience than the large mass-tourism companies (although these can be cheaper than smaller companies or than traveling alone). To get an experience of traveling as one might traveling independently rather than being herded around on motor coaches-look for tours that are limited to 12 to 14 maximum and that have unscheduled time to explore and discover and that do not include all the meals so you can try different types of restaurants.

Travel insurance:
Be sure to have travel insurance. Many homeowners policies include travel medical, but check with your insurance provider and also be sure to have trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
Free Travel Insurance Quotes from AIG Travel Guard.
You can book directly online.

Have a great time!
And drop us a line to let us know about your Solo Travel Adventure!

SAVE Single Supplement-Share accommodations!

2007-05-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Greek Island Hopping for Women Sept 7-21, 2007
Room share available.
$3649.00 including transatlantic airfare to Greece.
(After June 2 a late booking fee may apply)
www.wanderwoman.com

A hike in the Samaria Gorge in Crete, Greece

2007-05-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

This monologue was inspired by a hike in the Samaria Gorge on the Island of Crete in Greece (and there really was someone wearing platform shoes hiking in the gorge!). Learn more about image

Eurynome
By Marilyn Malone

(Eurynome is walking and talking. You can only see the top half of her. She is wearing an over one shoulder toga. She’s walking behind a wall with forest scenery painted on it)
You can imagine my father and mother trying to feed the whole Greek water nymph family. What with 2999 sisters, and 3000 brothers. Maybe you’ve heard of my sisters? Metia was the first wife of Zeus, and Amphitrite married Poseidon. Yes, they’re the pretty ones.
We’re not gods, exactly, although a couple of my brothers think they are. And basically, we like humans, except that war thing of yours is getting a little old. I’m Eurynome, the patron nymph of wandering around. And I’m not aimless, no matter what you heard. Sure, I had a little fling with Zeus that led to my beautiful three Graces--- Splendor, Festivity and Rejoicing. But Metia was well over Zeus by the time we hooked up! The Graces are grown now, and thank Gods, all employed, bringing peace and happiness to Aphrodite on Cyprus. Zeus pulled a few strings to get them the job, but it was the least he could do! They do some weaving of her robes, and bathe her while she waits for her husband. He’s always at war too.
It’s too nice a day on Crete to rehash all that again. Let’s just enjoy the walk down to the Iron Gates, where the rocks almost completely close off the Samaria Gorge. Of course, if we get that far, we might as well squeeze through and walk the rest of the way to the water. Yes, I know it’s really rocky, and takes most of the day to get from the mountains to the sea, but the sky is so blue and the sun so bright. (Looks to her side.)
Watch out! Let those skinny Italian tourists run past on their platform espadrilles. They’ll end up being carried out of here on the back of a donkey.
(jerks slightly, reaches forward and turns off treadmill. Comes around the wall in workout attire, her toga top is her towel which she swings off of her shoulder.)

Whew, seems like half an hour on the treadmill takes all day!

Should you buy travel insurance?

2007-04-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

(image from CBS web site)
The anwer in many cases is YES. The article below gives good advise to the consumer. Don't be misled by the headline. Be sure to read the fine print!

April 11, 2007

Why It Doesn't Pay To Buy Travel Insurance
You're Probably Already Covered ... And You May Not Even Know It

“It may make sense to buy additional travel insurance if your health is an issue and you are traveling overseas. Some health insurance policies, such as Medicare, won't cover you abroad. Before you buy, check your homeowners and other policies [i.e. credit cards] to avoid any overlapping coverage. These policies may already provide adequate protection. Avoid purchasing policies through tour operators or cruise lines. If they go bankrupt, you could be out of luck. Instead, purchase through a third-party insurer … Bear in mind that not all credit cards offer protection, and that some are better than others.”

For full story visit source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/11/business/main2669693.shtml

It is very good advise to check what coverage is provided by your credit cards (you have to use the credit card to pay for the trip for it to be covered) and /or your homeowners insurance policy. Will they cover you if you loose your passport on the way to the airport and are denied boarding for your non-refundable vacation in South Africa? Good travel insurance will.

For a cheap domestic ticket that can be reissued for a fee-you probably don’t need insurance, but for that tour of Europe or Asia be sure to purchase adequate coverage-just in case. And if you or a family member have a pre-existing medical condition make sure it is covered by the insurance you choose.

Better Travel for Women

2007-04-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting story in the New York Times about how the travel industry is responding to the needs of women travelers. American airlines has launched a new travel site for women.

Source: The New York (NY) Times
Women Keeping Up Pressure for a Better Travel Experience
By JOE SHARKEY

"...the growing number of female business travelers has had significant effects on the travel experience. Women are a big part of the reason that a typical hotel room, whether midlevel or luxury, has better bedding, lighting, room service, closets, work spaces and overall design.

Unlike men, women tend to notice the details and share them with friends and colleagues. So hotels are going to be hearing more about safety...

Much of the recent growth in business travel among women comes from
small businesses. Women own nearly 10.4 million businesses, employing nearly
13 million people. And many of these women are frequent travelers who approach life on the road differently from men...

Hotels took the major initiatives in designing travel marketing specifically for women.In 1995, Wyndham Hotels, with American Airlines as a partner, began a marketing program called Women on Their Way.

Yesterday, American Airlines, encouraged by the Wyndham program's successes, introduced a Web site for female travelers, www.AA.com/women. It is the first airline to do so.

Besides a booking system, the site offers advice from an advisory panel of seasoned female travelers, and will soon offer tips and experiences from customers. According to American, 48 percent of its passengers are women.

"We think the market is right for it," said Peggy Sterling, American's vice president for safety, security and environmental issues. "Women clearly have very strong purchasing power."
To read full story visit source:The New York (NY) Times

Kalo Pascha-Happy Easter

2007-04-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

This year Greek orthodox Easter coincides with Catholic and Protestant Easter celebrations. Most years Greek Easter is celebrated on a different date because the orthodox church follows the Julian calender rather than the Gregorian calender (Learn about calenders). Easter is a wonderful time to visit Greece! Below are some links about Greek Easter and Easter dates for the next few years.
Lean more: www.greekcity.com.au
Learn about Greek food: www.ultimate-guide-to-greek-food.com/

(photo: Easter in Leonindion from greekcity.com)

Celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter in Greece!
Dates:
2007 - Easter Sunday - April 8th *
2008 - Easter Sunday - April 27th
2009 - Easter Sunday - April 19th
2010 - Easter Sunday - April 4th*
2011 - Easter Sunday - April 24th*
*same are Gregorian calendar

A Unique Easter in Corfu:
"Celebration of Easter in Corfu is a unique experience, different from anywhere else in Greece and particularly more impressive for first-time visitors to the island.
Easter is a huge festival, in which various components come together harmoniously, the Orthodox Christian faith, pagan traditions, the powerful presence of Saint Spiridon, the Roman Catholic community, the Venetian influence, genuine Corfiot humour, the music of the philharmonic bands and of course the spring atmosphere.
Holy Week throughout Greece is characterised by its church services, by fasting, and by the anticipation of the Resurrection...We recommend that during Holy Week you venture out of Corfu Town and into the villages to see all of the Celebrations.
Also if possible take a drive into the countryside and you will notice that the Island is moving towards springtime and the season of fertility and renewal, and enjoy its scents, after the dullness of winter, with its rain and cold weather, the sunlight underscores the fresh colours of nature, the white, yellow, mauve and green of the wild flowers, the blue of the sky and the sea."
Read more about celebrating Easter in Corfu at source: www.holidaycorfu.org/

Traveling through History

2007-04-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Brush up on history before you travel to enrich your travel experience. I am addicted the Teaching Company courses on CD. The courses are taught by university professors and are now available as audio downloads-so you can take them with you! (image from teaching co website)

Visit www.teach12.com for a full listing of courses. Be sure to check out their their "ON SALE" section.

Traveling to Italy?
Get the History of the Roman Empire taught by Prof Michael Fagan. Professor Fagan narrates (with a delightful Irish accent) the history of Rome beginning with the myth of Aeneas’ arrival in Italy after the Trojan War and his founding of the Roman race to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century CE.

Or get a course about Renaissance Art on DVD. Even better get both!

Going to France and Germany?
Get Medieval Heroines in History and Legend on sale. The course consists of 24 lectures of 30 minute each. The course is taught by Bonnie Wheeler Ph.D., of Southern Methodist University.
“This course presents the lives, based on the latest scholarly interpretations, of four medieval women who still shimmer in the modern imagination: Heloise, the abbess and mistress of Abelard; the prophet Hildegard of Bingen; the legendary Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine; and the woman-warrior and saint, Joan of Arc.” To read more visit their website at www.teach12.com.

Don't really care for history? Too dry? Then get Prof. Fears's Famous Greeks and Romans (the Romans are on sale). He is an extraordinary storyteller.

The Teaching Company lecturers really make history fascinating and knowing the history of a destination makes travel all the more interesting.

Learn, Travel, and Live!

Spring Luggage Sale!

2007-04-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

GREAT Suitcase GREAT price only $112.95

Now is the time to find great deals on luggage for your summer travels. The Travelpro line makes great lightweight yet durable luggage. If you're not going with a backpack style then a carry-on size wheeled suitcase like the above Travelpro (Crew5 22" Expandable) is an excellent choice. But remember airlines are getting stricter about what they consider a "carry-on." Some will not allow wheeled suitcases. If you are not planning to check-in your bag then a backpack style suitcase is best. I love my Eagle Creek . The back straps pack away so it looks like a regular suitcase (which of course they no longer make). Find great luggage and travelgear deals at WorldTraveler.com's Spring Sale.

Happy Travel Shopping!

Learn Travel Phrases Free Online!

2007-03-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

Learn French, Italian, Greek and more on line free at BBC Languages. Visit their site at www.bbc.co.uk , a wonderful resource for travelers. They provide short histories of lanuages, lists of written phrases with audio. So if you just want to learn some basic travel terminology there is no need to spend a lot of money doing it. However not all languages are equally represented.

If you want to go more indepth I recommend Rosetta Stone's language courses (but not for Latin). Click here for Rosetta Stone - Free 2-Day Shipping in the U.S. They have a demo link to sample their program. Downside-can't do their program while driving.

Another program that people have recommended, but I haven't tried personally is offered by Transparent Languages. Click here to learn about their $20 Off Learn Language Now! 10.0

Have fun getting ready for your travel adventures!

Zagats restaurant guide

2007-03-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

New Free Feature on ZAGAT.com: Zagat Discussion Boards!
Zagat offers over 25,000 ratings and reviews of restaurants, hotels, attractions and nightlife. It is a great guide for finding good restaurants-Click on above link to check out some of their new online features.

Welcome

2007-03-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the wanderwoman.com travel blog for women.

The purpose of the wanderwoman.com travel blog is to provide women travelers with an additional resource with travel tips, interesting tours, advise, and suggestions.

Visit the wanderwoman.com blog for European and USA travel itineraries; restaurant and hotel recommondatins; deals on travel and travel clothes; luggage; and anything and everything that relates to travel: books, music, movies, art exhibits, history, theater, health, food and more!

Wanderwoman.com has been online since 1998 as the official home of Eurynome Journeys Travel Adventures for Women. Euryome Journeys is a division of Leisure Markets Inc., a woman-owned and operated business, providing creative travel itneraries to international destination since 1964. Our goal is to provide women with exciting, yet safe travel options.

We encourage your in put. So if there is a hotel in Italy that you love or a great gallery you discoverd in Paris, let us know and we'll share it with our readers.

Happy and Safe Travels!

Erja Lipponen
Group coordinator (a.k.a. wanderwoman)