Your first visit is never your last Visit

Jokes about showing your vacation slides are legion; offer to show your friends pictures of your last trip and you’ll probably get a polite response followed by glazed over eyes, right?   My experience has shown me, though, that once you visit a place, you go back again and again in your memories.  The sensation of returning to that favorite place is renewed every time you see a picture in a magazine, or spot a familiar landmark in a movie or in a brochure.  This little-advertised fact is, in my opinion, one of the greatest values in travel today; because those return visits in your mind cost absolutely nothing.  For me, just seeing a familiar setting in a movie, (Paris and French scenes are among my preferred memories) or even reading through the myriad travel magazines I subscribe to always generates a feeling of “when I was there.” 

I suggest that you start making visits now, while you can.  While you can generate those travel memories that will transport you back to the places you loved every time you see a photograph of that place.  Take pictures and watch for photos of places you’ve already visited in movies and print.  While “a picture is worth a thousand words,” I say that it’s even more than that.  It’s the magic-carpet return visit to all the wonderful places in the world that you’ve journeyed to.    You know where they are.  You were just there.

Having a wonderful time.  Wish you were here,

Vickie

Flat Stanley, Ambassador to the world

Do you know Flat Stanley? Did you know that many, many people in Scotland and England know him? He traveled in the backpack of one of my recent tour participants and was photographed in many scenic and iconic spots all over the U.K.
Flat Stanley (his close friends call him “flat”) is a small cut-out character (the brilliant parents of his student creators had him laminated for survival) who apparently is known to many elementary students, parents and educators. He provides an on-the-scene report to his owners back home and helps them to learn more about visiting places all over the world. From what I witnessed, even London “Bobbies” know him; they were more than willing to have their picture made holding this little character. It was entertaining to see the way everyone entered into the spirit of including him in the pictures, finding the perfect spot for him, and even holding his little paper hands so he was in the group shots.

I think Flat serves as a great ambassador. And the folks who travel with him and document his journeys for their young friends should be commended for their efforts and kindnesses to the students. Travel enriches all our lives, even those who experience it through pictures and stories.

The next time you travel somewhere, ask your teacher friends if they have Flat Stanley in their classrooms. If they do, volunteer to take him in your suitcase and share your trip with a classroom of students. I promise you’ll have a good time doing it!

Meanwhile, Flat Stanley has lots of stories about some amazing places he’s visited. But he’s keeping quiet.

Having a great time. Wish you were here.

There’s no place like Sherman

Thank you, good and honest people of Sherman…and thanks to any out-of-town residents also, who happened to be in the parking lot of a large warehouse store this morning. For you all were the ones who completely ignored my large black handbag, which I inadvertently left in the basket of my shopping cart. Which was parked in the cart corral in full view of the entire parking lot. I had time to drive home, discover the loss, panic, jump back in my car and drive frantically back to said parking lot, praying all the way that some honest person had discovered it and turned it in. Imagine my thankful relief when I saw it sitting in the basket right where I had mistakenly left it when I was fighting the wind to get something loaded in my car.

I ask you, where else in the world but here would my story be told with such a happy ending. Nowhere else but the busy, hardworking, honest town of Sherman, Texas. Thank you friends, for not taking my purse. Thank you God for watching over all your harried children.

Having a great time,
Wish you were here.

One whiff…and I’m there again

We can get places faster than ever these days. As rapid as travel has become during my career, though, nothing can transport me to a favorite place faster than a remembered fragrance. Sometimes it’s the smell of spices in a restaurant, conjuring up visions of that wonderful sidewalk cafe in Athen’s famous Plaka market, or even just the smell of early morning outside. When the temperature is just right, I’m back on a sidewalk in Paris, heading for morning lattes and croissants at the Patisserie.

Today’s journey was delivered in the form of spring blooms. I was perusing the colorful aisles of a garden center when my nose was assailed by the incomparable fragrance of blooming Hyacinths. Then, just like that, I was back in that little antique shop in Windsor, outside of London. It was still cool and grey outside, but inside there was coffee brewing and a friendly shopkeeper ready to visit and show his wares. I smelled the flowers as soon as I walked in the door;on the counter of that jumble-filled, dusty shop was this beautiful old pot filled with blooming hyacinths. I leaned down to take a sniff and fell in love. That particular fragrance is like nothing else. It’s rare, coming only once a year to our Texas climate, and it quickly leaves us as the flower fades. But every time I smell it again, I am back in Windsor, in that wonderful shop. And I’m happy. It’s the cheapest vacation known to man.

Travel enriches our lives in so many ways. Not much is said about enriching your nose, but I’m telling you today. Get your nose out there in the world. Smell the food and the spices and the weather and the greenery and the flowers and sometimes, the people! You’ll be transported back each time you experience that fragrance again.

One of those hyacinths came home with me to sit on my desk. No passport required for this journey.

Having a great time, wish you were here.
Vickie

Will they charge for the bags under my eyes?

The major US airlines have discovered an unending stream of revenue with their baggage fees. They’ve figured out that we have developed a need for our ’stuff’ and we want to take it with us. So that’s gonna cost us. A lot. American Airlines has just responded to this trend by raising their first-bag fee to $25, with the second bag (you know, the one with your shoes) costing $35. That’s right. Sixty bucks to carry your stuff one way. Do the math. $120 round trip for your luggage!

This makes me tired. Which now makes me worried that they’ll charge me for the bags under my eyes. Ssh. Don’t give them any ideas.

Having a great time,
Wish you were here,
Vickie

Say it ain’t so

I’ve been in mourning all day long….the iconic Tavern On The Green Restaurant located in New York’s Central Park is closing. That’s right. That beautiful restaurant filled with the chandeliers dripping with colored crystals, the one that I always included in my many group trips to New York, the restaurant that was in both “Ghostbusters” and “When Harry Met Sally” is closing. Tomorrow. Apparently they, like so many other places like them, just ran out of money.

I’ll get over this, I’m sure. But for now, I’m feeling nostalgic pain, knowing that they’re auctioning off all the mirrors and aforementioned chandeliers and other kitschy stuff that made it so unique. And now I fear that the former Crystal Dining Room will become a Wendy’s or another Subway. Sniff. Farewell, Tavern On the Green.

I wonder if the Christmas ornament I bought there in 1982 is now valuable?

Your memories of New York welcome here.

Completed projects

I know, I know, this season calls for lots of projects in the works. But, really, does anything feel as good as getting that long-delayed project completed? Even if you get up in the middle of the night to finish it? Well, this morning I’m experiencing that too-rare feeling. I’m finished with a long-overdue project! Aah. Satisfaction. Completeness. Resolution. Absolution. Thankfulness for tenacity. I’m there.

Now, what was I doing when I started this?

Having a great time, wish you were here.
Vickie

After all these years…..

For more than 30 years, I’ve been “doing” travel. Planning it. Dreaming about it. Traveling with group tours and making other people’s travel dreams come true. It’s truly my life’s work, for which I’m extremely thankful.

And even after all this time, and all the places and all the wonderful people (and okay, some not-so-wonderful, too) I can honestly tell you that I still love this job! I can tell I still love it because as I was feverishly working on getting the updated Scotland itinerary on this site, I actually started grinning at what I describing to potential travelers. It was so wonderful to relive some of my favorite spots in the U.K.; describing them in detail only made me remember them even more fondly…like looking at pictures.

Anyway, today is another opportunity for me to serve my clients in a business I love. Thank you for letting me be part of your travel memories in this way. It’s been a great ride!

Having a great time,
Wish you were here.
Vickie

I can’t get that song out of my head!

Don’t you just hate it when you can’t get a song out of your head? (Or is it just me?)  Anyway, ever since I set the date for our upcoming day trip to the great State Fair of Texas on October 15th, I’ve had the words and music in my head.  You know the one. It’s the song from the movie, “State Fair”. (Warning….the following song may become lodged in your brain…)    “Our state fair is a GREAT state fair…don’t MISS it, don’t EVEN be late…It’s dollars to donuts that our state fair…is the best state FAIR in the state.”  Okay now you have it in your head, too.    You’re welcome.

What’s funny about the song is that it wasn’t referring to our state fair….the original 1945 movie was about the Iowa State Fair, though the later version starring Pat Boone was filmed at our own fair.  Anyway, it’s all about romance and fun.   And for me, it’s about the food.  I’m looking for the fried butter at this year’s food booths.

Romance and fun included in our upcoming day trip to Dallas on Thursday, October 15.  It’s $30 for the day, if you’re 60 or over…$10 more if you’re under 60.  It’s a great deal to one of our state’s most popular annual events.  Join me, won’t you?  I promise not to sing on the bus.

Having a great time. Wish you were here.

Vickie

It’s not fall until Uncle Dave says it’s fall.

If spring in Texoma means blue bonnets in the median of Hwy 75 and a blanket of red clover at the entrance to Denison, then autumn in Sherman MUST mean that Uncle Dave is open for business!   Yep, it’s fall.  Uncle Dave’s Plant store is located in the parking lot of Goodwill’s store on Texoma Parkway and he’s loaded with beautiful pumpkins and d gourds of all sizes and colors (including my favorite white pumpkins),  great pots of fall blooming mums, and cornstalks and bales of hay for your seasonal decorating.  Get out there while the pickin’ is good!

First cool morning.  Check.  Calendar says fall is here.  Check.  State Fair opens this weekend. Check.

Put away your white shoes.  It’s autumn!

Having a great time.  Wish you were here,

Vickie

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