New Year's Traditions!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Modern New Year's celebrations vary from place to place, but they all have roots in ancient beliefs and customs.  Below are a few you may want to incorperate into your celebration...

In Irish “Happy New Year” is Athbhlian faoi mhaise (Ah-vleen fwee wash-eh)
Traditional Celtic New Year: Samhain
Traditionally during the New Year, as the world transitioned from dark to light, it was a time for casting spells and incantations to ward off evil.  Today in Ireland this custom is still practiced by some, but rather than banishing misfortune with spells, a Christmas bread or cake is throw at the front door to out keep hunger and sorrows.  Also on New Year's Eve, to attract good luck, the Irish will enter through the front door and go out the back door.

 

New Year in Italy "Felice Anno Nuovo"

Patagonia Women's Print Paries Bottom

 

In Italy New Year’s is a family event with a dinner of pork and lentils (symbolizing wealth), after which the Italians take to the streets to enjoy firework displays at midnight.  Many Italians observe the New Year with traditions such as the wearing of RED underwear (the color of prosperity) and eating a spoonful of  lentil stew at each bell toll at midnight.  So, if spending New Year's Eve in Italy, be sure to pack your red Patagonia travel underwear!

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 practiced 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, health, wealth, happiness, travel, marriage, or sorrow, etc.

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

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 Greece, on New Year's Day there is an ancient custom of breaking a pomegranate on the door for good luck. Gifts are also traditionally exchanged on this day.

Specail cakes, Vasilopites, with a flouri (coin) in it  are also baked on this day.  The cake is divided into pieces for each family member and/or designated to represent 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


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

In case you are wondering where to get the Patagonia New Year's Eve appropriate underwear, here is a link: Moosejaws

PLANNING TO TRAVEL SOLO?

SAVE BY SHARING ACCOMMODATIONS WITH ANOTHER TRAVELER -- Room shares available on upcoming women-only, small group tours to Malta & Sicily in April, Greek Island hopping in June, and Ireland in August. Roommates & single rooms arranged on all our tours. Contact Eurynome Journeys WanderWoman® Tours by email go@wanderwomantours.com or call 207.236. 0110. Find us online at www.wanderwoman.com.

GRACE O'MALLEY (GRANUAILE)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 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.

PART 2 Warrior Women Documentary Grace O'Malley (Granuaile)

PART 3 Warrior Women Documentary Grace O'Malley (Granuaile)

PART 4 Warrior Women Documentary Grace O'Malley (Granuaile)

Please share the story of this virtually forgotten Irish Queen with friends!  And joins us on our adventure In Search of Grace O'Malley with special Guest author Anne Chambers! Arrrgh!
Live, Laugh & Travel to Ireland this year!

www.wanderwoman.com

St Patrick's Day Savings on Ireland Adventure!

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/

The ultimate travel clothes and accessories for women...

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!

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!

Women-only Grace O'Malley tour to Ireland!

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

Mother's Day Special to Ireland and Summer Sale!

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!

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!

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

IRELAND on SALE!

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.

New Year’s Traditions

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

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