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

“If It sounds too good to be true…….”

Just today I opened an official looking envelope with an official looking travel agency return address and discovered yet another way for the traveling public to be duped.  Inside the envelope was a very authentic looking “boarding pass” declaring that I had won the right to board a “cruise of my choosing”.  All I could do was roll my eyes.  For more than 30 years,  I’ve seen this kind of promotion over and over again…maybe a fax offering you the last remaining seats on a trip, or like this mailing, the announcement that you’d won a place on a cruise.

May I make it easy for you to decide whether or not you’ve a travel scam invitation?  Pick up the phone, call me and READ me what you received.  I can tell you horror stories, if you’re interested, about folks who invested their honeymoon dollars or travel budget dollars on one of these supposedly great deals.  Deals that never actually materialized; or at least, not in the way the buyer planned for them to.

We are so fortunate in this area to have many, many good travel agents and tour companies who will serve you with integrity and honesty.   And there ARE good deals out there in the legimate travel industry.  Keep your travel dollars in our community by using someone you know and trust.  And remember, if it sounds too good to be true……it’s not for you!

But, boy…does that boarding pass look official.

Having a great time.  Wish you were here.

Vickie

Gum on the sidewalk and other casualties of summer.

Yesterday afternoon I stepped on a piece of chewed gum on the sidewalk. It was my 3rd time this summer to get this stuff on my flip-flops and white slacks as I strung it along for my next few steps.   People, please toss your gum in the nearest trash recepticle, or at least do what my grandmother did and wrap it in a tissue. Please.

Melted gum on the sidewalk is a casualty of a hot Texas summer.   Other casualties include lipstick left in your car (actually, anything left in your car) and spring blooming plants.  Surviving the summer are folks heading to Alaska  and the snow-cone vendor on Taylor Street.

If you’re like many of my clients, you’re already thinking about cooler days (and those crisp nights!) that await us in the next few weeks.  Fall destinations and tours which visit popular “leaf-peeping” spots are filling rapidly, so don’t wait for our first football weather to decide you want to see the leaves change this year! 

Speaking of football, our first two trips to tour the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium were incredibly exciting and successful.  We’re offering a cooler-weather option for those who missed out on our earlier trips on Tuesday October 6.  Go with me again and let me show you this incredible entertainment venue.  It’s the most beautiful large structure I’ve ever seen.  By the time we go, the season will be in full swing, so we’ll get to actually see the names on the locker-room spaces and the football turf surface will be installed.  Same price of $80 will get you motorcoach transportation, tour ticket, snacks and refreshments on our coach and a full lunch.  Sign up now and impress your friends! 

I’ve been busy this August planning for great getaways for the remainder of 2009 and for exciting departures for 2010.   Give me a call if you’re looking for something to do for Labor Day, or if you want to be on the list for our upcoming fall and holiday motorcoach tours.      For you individual travelers, there are lots of bargains out there in the travel industry.  Give me a call if you need to finish up your summer with a trip!

Having a great time, Wish you were here,

Vickie

You just gotta see this stadium…

Well, I went. And I gawked. And craned my neck. It’s just unbelievable, this billion dollar Dallas Cowboys Stadium. It’s amazingly elegant and beautiful in its all-new-shiny-ness. But it’s not cheesy, in any way. If you’re going with me on one of my Dallas Cowboy Tours, you are in for SUCH a treat! (And, you’re gonna love your choices for lunch…..) If you’ve not yet signed up yet, now’s the time. My ad is going to hit the paper on Wednesday, so get your name on the list before then. Only my August 6th trip has seats left, but I can put you on a waitlist for the 4th trip if that’s the only date you can get away. Just plan to go…and soon. I would hate for that “new stadium” smell to go away before you get there!

Having a great time.
Wish you were here.
Vickie

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