MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A WONDERFUL 2011

I hope that everyone of my friends and travelers will have a wonderful holiday trip. I, for one, will not be going anywhere. My family from Bozeman, Mt., came to visit a week ago and now my family from NYC is here for Christmas. My 92 year old Mom is in Hospice and my 93 year old Dad is trying to keep up with the changes and the family. Quite a chore when you are that age.

I wish I was departing with clients...some to Easter Island....other to the Galapagos Islands....even those departing for the Panama Canal and the Caribbean and even some for Italy. Anywhere would be great.

I guess I am just to used to being independent and foot loose and fancy free. I have planned a trip to Israel in February and Peru in March. I am excited about both trips
and already getting ready to travel. For those of us who are constant travelers, a month without going anywhere can be frustrating.

Don't get me wrong...I love my home and my husband.....but getting on those big 747's or any big jet...gets my energy going. I can't wait to get going again. I absolutely love to explore new places and of course visit friends in so many places that I have been to multiple times.

Although I have been all over the Middle East (even married the Sheik of Wadi Rum in a mock ceremony)..I am psyched about going to Israel. So many places that I have studied about in religion classes and learning new things that I had not known about in the past. I have been to the Red Sea and many Judeo/Christian sites in Turkey and Jordan. But now I am going to the mother land....where the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem beckon with the wailing wall and the place where Jesus was born. Jerusalem is the center of the religious world for Christians, Jews and Muslims alike and I am totally excited about learning about each of the sites that are so important to these peoples.

Peru, my home for many years, offers me some new opportunities in March. I am consulting on a new hotel project that will be a wonderful and restful site in a part of the Andes that is green and beautiful. Located near a historic ruin with a museum on site...I am really excited about contributing my knowledge of tourism marketing to this venture.

So as I sit in a very cold Florida (hope this is no another below normal winter)....I can only wait till my upcoming adventures. For now, my adventures consist of going to he beach in frigid 50 degree temps (frigid for me at least) and taking care of my parents who have turned into children once again.

So I hope that everyone who reads this blog has a wonderful holiday season and a very successful new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS...AND HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!