Cruising the Caribbean

If you want to visit the Caribbean the best method of travel is to take a cruise.  All of the big cruise lines sail year round in this area and they have short itineraries (4 days) to longer ones lasting up to 14 days.  Jumping off places include Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and various ports in Florida.  Or, many cruises begin and end in Puerto Rico.  I've done both.  The only difference is the islands you will visit.  It is always a good idea to plan on arriving at your embarkation location the day before you sail, just in case there are unexpected delays.  That way you have a chance to explore for an extra day.  Through cruising, I've visited 17 of the islands in the Caribbean and found this a wonderful way to get a snapshot of each.  Some I have visited more than once and others I have no desire to see again.  

There are small ships and those that are like an entire city.  But do not think there is nothing to do.  There is something for everyone.  If you want to gamble, there are casinos in the evenings; horse racing and bingo during the daytime.  If you want to swim and spend time in the sun, there are often multiple pools, some that prohibit anyone under 18.  There are art auctions and wine tastings.  There are shops where you can spend a few dollars on trinkets to several thousand dollars on beautiful jewelry.  The entertainment at night is fabulous!  And of course, there are the port days.  

The advantage to cruising through the Caribbean is that the ships offer a huge variety of shore options that will satisfy every taste.  If all you want is to swim and go to the beach, that is always available.  There are party boats that will take you snorkeling and provide you with food and beverages following your snorkeling.  There are cultural tours that will allow you to see some of the history of the island.  There are shopping tours for those whose sole desire is to spend money!  And, there is much more.  Of course, you can also hire a taxi or a driver, or even rent a car, yourself, to explore the island.  The one challenge there is to make sure you are back by the time the ship sails.  The ship waits for you if you are on one of their shore excursions, but if you go off on your own, you are "on your own!"  If you miss the ship, it is VERY costly to get you to either the next destination or to the ship.  Of course, there are tour companies who book cruises, but then you are tied to the tour company's itinerary which may not always be appealing to you.  Cruising should be done independently!

Never Again!

Upon my return from a trip to Morocco a couple of years ago, I said to my daughter and son-in-law that I was finished with tours!  I loved Morocco and all that we saw, but the tour itself was a challenge.  There were 39 of us after being guaranteed no more than 20, all very experienced travelers.  Yet our guide chose to treat us as if we were all novices at the travel game.

This short description is typical of what happens on many tours.  But, there is more that one can expect if traveling on a tour.  Seats will be assigned and you must move to a different seat everyday.  It doesn't matter that you really enjoyed talking with the people across from you yesterday.  Sorry.  Move on!  Also, you may be assigned an aisle seat as a person who likes to take lots of photos and the person by the window doesn't even own a camera!  Bathroom breaks are planned for 20-30 minutes, yet they nearly always turn into a 45 minute stop at some out-of-the-way location with expensive curios that no one wants and snacks that are over-priced.  Of course there is always the couple who are no where to be found when the bus is ready to leave and so you end up waiting a little longer while the guide hunts them down.  When they return to the bus, they smile sweetly and make no excuses for being late.  I would at least have the courtesy to say something like, "I lost track of time,." or "My watch stopped," or some other inane comment.  And, I would be so embarrassed that I'd make sure to be the first one back in the future.  But not this type of person.  They don't realize that there is anyone but them on this tour and the guide does little or nothing about them.

Then there is the guide who decides to change the itinerary for his/her own reasons and doesn't share it with the members of the tour.  When traveling in Africa we were scheduled to take a sunrise camel ride into the Sahara. This didn't fit the guide's desires, so it became a sunset ride.  Big difference!  When we complained, it was met with a shrug of the shoulders.  In addition, there are the guides who don't want you to wander during your free time.  They want to control all that you do and where you go.

For the experienced traveler, this kind of regimentation takes away from the enjoyment of travel.  However, if you are not very experienced, especially at international travel, then find the best tour company you can afford, and understand going in that your time and sightseeing will be somewhat regimented.  But do travel!  It is the most wonderful thing in the world, no matter how you go.  

The Bottom of the World

Many people have asked me what country/location was my favorite.  That is a tough question as every locale is different.  There are a few that stand out as being sensational.  One of those is Antarctica.  On December 27, 2007 my daughter and I flew to Ushuaia, Argentina, by way of Santiago, Chile.  Flight time was about 14 hours with a couple of hours in the Santiago airport.  Even though we were international transit passengers, we were required to go through customs/immigration and pay a $100 fee to "enter" the country!  Apparently this fee was payback for fees that the USA charges Chileans to enter our country. The good news is that the fee is good for 10 years, so guess we need to return before 2017 in order to get our money's worth.

When we finally arrived in Ushuaia, and checked into our hotel for the night, it was late afternoon.  Since we had but 24 hours there, we set out to investigate this quaint town at the end of the world.  Signs throughout the town read, "Fin del mundo."  And, it was true, there is nothing once you leave land for miles and miles.  Ushuaia reminded me of the Alpine villages one sees throughout Switzerland and Austria.  The houses and buildings look like chalets and the town is built on hills.  It was very colorful and charming.

While in Ushuaia we were treated to a tour of Tierra del Fuego, a group of islands at the very tip of the Argentine peninsula.  It was a gorgeous lush, green area with beautiful flowers as far as the eye could see.  By 4:00 that afternoon we boarded our ship, the Lyubov Orlova, along with about 100 other passengers.  This was going to be a phenomenal trip and we were excited.  We set sail and prepared for rocky seas, but the travel gods were smiling on us and the Drake Passage was as calm as ever going in both directions.  The 1st morning we  saw birds:  petrels, albatross and skuas flying along to keep us company.  There were several lectures about Antarctica, its exploration, and what we would see once we arrived.

Because of the calm seas, we were ahead of schedule and were treated to a spectacular sight on New Year's Eve.  We had our first landing in Antarctica!  And it was fantastic!  We jumped around and took it all in as raced up and down the hillsides taking photos of the seals and penguins as well as each other.  What a great ending to 2007 and a fabulous beginning to 2008.  Each day for five days we made landings in Antarctica and each was different and better than the previous one.  The highlight was when we actually set foot on the Antarctic continent.  There were approximately 25% of the passengers who had achieved their 7th continent on this trip and we were thrilled to be a part of that group.

It was snowing as we made landfall, but we didn't care.  We had achieved a long held dream of visiting all 7 continents!  This was an exciting moment for everyone.  There was a peacefulness about visiting Antarctica that one does not often find in traveling.  Because there are no humans who live there permanently, only birds, seals and penguins, it is a pristine environment.  There is no trash or litter of any kind as everyone is admonished to not leave anything, no matter how small.  We saw three different kinds of penguins:  Chinstrap, Adelie and Gentoo.  They are all fun to watch and waddle as they walk.  But, they are all business.  As I was walking along on one of our landings, a Gentoo penguin walked right up to me, looked up as if to say, "You are in my way.  Please move."  I stood perfectly still and took his picture.  He finally got tired of waiting for me to move and went around me.

We saw several different kinds of seals at our various landing sites:  Elephant, Crabeater, Leopard and Weddell.  Most were sleeping and not terribly interested in the human beings around.  This Weddell seal was snoozing in the sun one morning as we visited Port Lockroy, a British Museum and Post Office that is open for six months a year.  

The most amazing day was our last landing before starting our return trip across the Drake Passage and returning to Argentina.  The sky was crystal clear and very blue with puffy white clouds and the sun shone brightly on the glaciers.  The water sparkled and was serene and calm.  The temperature was balmy and it was a perfect last landing.  We climbed the hills that were laden with snow, watched some of the glaciers calve and enjoyed the penguins running up and down their "penguin highway."

That same day we were treated to a great display put on by some humpback whales we encountered.  Our ship's captain let the ship drift in the water for over an hour as we enjoyed watching the whales play and entertain us.  It was truly a fantastic last day in Antarctica!

Choosing a Brand

Several years ago while traveling I was offered a Starwood Rewards Card.  It cost me nothing, but the promise of free hotel nights was enticing.  Over the years, I have always tried to book a Starwood hotel (Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, Element, W and the Loft) anywhere I travel, whether in the US or abroad.  What a difference this has made in my comfort while traveling!

The Starwood group understands customer service and they strive to provide the very best possible.  Whenever I've had an issue or concern, they have addressed it promptly and corrected the situation when possible.  I am always warmly greeted when I check in and frequently receive upgrades of room and/or amenities.  True, I'm a Gold member, which helps, but even while traveling in foreign countries, they treat me as someone special.

I've stayed at other hotels and not had the same type of service.  Often the personnel at check-in are indifferent, display an attitude of annoyance, could care less that they are making a negative impression and seldom do anything to correct problems.

Each stay at a Starwood hotel allows you to accrue points toward future hotel nights.  Also, anything you pay for while at a Starwood property also accrues points for you.  Therefore, it is wise to choose a single brand and stick to it.  You never know when you will be rewarded with very special treatment.    Plus, traveling for "free" is always nice!

Incredible India

One of the most interesting places I have visited is a recent trip to India.  The Taj Mahal has been on my "bucket" list for many years.  I have a watercolor painting my mother did after she visited there many years ago that hangs in my office and serves as a constant reminder to me that this is a place I want to visit.  In the spring of 2012, this desire became a reality!

As I planned my trip, there were many who told me to expect the worst poverty imaginable.  There were others who wondered why I would want to go there.  And there were still others who applauded my decision and desire to visit India.  Because my time was limited, I opted to visit the Golden Triangle:  Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.  Since I have traveled so much, I set about making my hotel and plane reservations, and contacted a driver that some friends recommended to me.  Making my own arrangements allows me to go where I want and see the things I want to see, and not have to be bound by others.  

First stop:  Delhi.  My driver met me at the airport and we headed for my hotel.  As we drove, he offered me a soda, thinking that all Americans love sodas.  I do not drink sodas, but graciously accepted and nursed it until we got to the hotel where I was able to dispose of it.  I did let him know that I preferred water and everyday after that he always had water for me!  Communication is so important, wherever you are.  What a fabulous hotel I had in Delhi:  The ITC Maurya is absolutely 5 Star at its best!  They made me feel like I was their only guest and took a personal interest in me from the time I arrived until the morning I checked out.  Since my room was not ready when I arrived, Sofia escorted me to the 28th floor of their Tower and served me tea and cookies.  She discovered I really liked the chocolate cookies.  The result was that I had cookies, brownies, tea and fresh fruit in my room the entire time I was there.  

Delhi turned out to be a thriving, cosmopolitan city of over 16 million people.  Traffic is bad, but no worse than it is in Southern California!  Just over 80% of the people are Hindu, 13.4% are Muslim and just over 2% are Christian.  Although the country is overwhelmingly Hindu, many of the Muslim customs are alive and well here.  For example, many of the women are veiled and covered up completely, despite very warm weather.  When my driver picked up the local guides who would show me around, they each seemed to be surprised when they found me sitting in the front seat, as it is not normal for women to ride in the front.  How else was I to get the photos I wanted if I was in the back seat???  Also, many of the older women do not work and the men do not want them to work.  However, the younger women do work and have studied for careers.  One of the Hindu customs that is still practiced even by the young, more modern Indians is that of arranged marriages and the giving of a dowry.  

Visits to Humayan's Tomb, the India Gate, Mahatma Gandhi's home and Memorial, and Indira Gandhi's home brought much of the history of this country to life.  Driving through the diplomatic enclave and around the city was fascinating.  Yes, there is poverty, but it is no worse than in other countries I've visited.  I think the big difference is  that the very young children are out begging right along side their parents.  

After two very full days of sights and sounds, wonderful food and lots of photos, it was time to drive to Agra.  While the roads are good, there is a lot of traffic, so the drive took about 4 1/2 hours to go 130 miles.  But it was an interesting drive with little villages along the way, lots of animals and farms along the roadside and bright colors everywhere.  We arrived in Agra about 2:00 in the afternoon on a Friday and checked into the hotel.  The Taj was closed that day for Friday prayers, but by climbing on the roof of my hotel, the ITC Mughal, I was able to get an incredible view of the Taj Mahal!   A visit to the Agra Fort that afternoon was amazing and provided much information on the Mughal empires of earlier times in India.  

Saturday morning I was the first in line to enter the gates of the Taj Mahal.  What an incredible sight as I walked through the opening and got my first look at this gorgeous memorial!  The massiveness and the beauty of the Taj are beyond description!  It was absolutely breathtaking to behold.  As we walked through the grounds to the Taj there was a reverence and a respect that everyone seemed to feel.  Up close the marble is simply magnificent!  It is lustrous and pure white with beautiful inlay work of carnelian, lapis, malachite, jasper, agate, quartz, amber and other semi-precious stones.  The architecture is amazing and beautiful!  The entire trip to India was worth standing on the grounds of the Taj Mahal!  Over 125 photos provided me with many choices as I put together my photo album of this trip.  I just could not get enough of the Taj.  But, as with all good things, we finally had to move on.

Next stop:  Jaipur.  This trip took about 4 hours to travel 145 miles.  The road was less congested and wider.  Arriving in Jaipur, it was obvious why it is known as the "pink" city.  Many of the buildings have a pinkish hue to them.  This is a city of over 6 million population and very much a tourist mecca.  The Amber Fort outside the city is fascinating and beautiful.  The Jantar Mantar Outdoor Observatory is extremely educational and appropriate for all ages.  Of all three cities I visited, while I enjoyed my time here, this was my least favorite.  

India lived up to my expectations in every way!  I would love to visit again and see other parts of this amazing country and, of course, once more to see the Taj!  

It All Began.....

From the time I was very young I heard about relatives who had traveled to exotic places around the world.  A trip on the Queen Mary by a great Aunt. An uncle who had worked in Peru in the copper mines.  Relatives attending the World's Fair in Chicago.  My parent's visit to the Statue of Liberty.  And the list goes on.  But it made an impact.  My parents took me traveling from the time I was very young.  While it wasn't world travel....yet.....it was fun to visit new places and see new things.  And, I started taking pictures!  My first out-of-country travel was to Mexicali, Mexico when I was probably 8 or 9.  A fairly inauspicious start to what would become a life's passion.  While growing up we spent many vacations traveling throughout California, Nevada, Montana and Utah.

After completing my 2nd year of teaching, I took my first cruise:  a trip on the SS Lurline to Hawaii.  I was hooked forever!  This was followed by more trips to the Islands and into Canada.  My state visits began to increase:  Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and more.

My first trip to another continent was to Europe.  Six weeks and 12 countries opened a whole new world to me that whet my appetite to continue these wonderful experiences.  History came alive for me!  I took hundreds of photos, tried different kinds of food, used my Spanish and limited French to navigate new languages and soaked up the culture of these wonderful countries.  I knew, in my heart, that this would be the beginning of a lifetime of travel to foreign and sometimes exotic countries.  To date I have traveled to all 7 continents, 76 countries and 42 states.  And there is much of the world still to be seen and explored.