A Lifetime of History

My dad, Jack Shepherd, turned 84 on July 17. Wow!!! 84 years old!! Daddy is part of the Greatest Generation and served in the Navy during World War II on Guadalcanal. Here's some historical things that have occurred during his lifetime:

• In 1925, Maurice Jackson Shepherd was born on July 17 to Pauline McNabb Shepherd and Voodhies Granville Shepherd.
• In 1927, Charles Lindbergh makes the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight.
• In 1929, stock market prices plummet (Nov.-Dec.). U.S. securities lose $26 billion, marking the first financial disaster of the Great Depression.
• In 1931, the Star Spangled Banner officially becomes national anthem.
• In 1932, Charles A. Lindbergh 's baby son kidnapped, killed.
• In 1933, Hitler becomes German chancellor (Jan. 30) and Roosevelt inaugurated ("the only thing we have to fear is fear itself").
• In 1937, the dirigible "Hindenburg" explodes at Lakehurst, N.J., killing 36 (May 6).
• In 1938, Orson Welles broadcasts his adaptation of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds, creating a nationwide panic as listeners believe that aliens have landed in New Jersey (Oct. 30).
• In 1939, World War II begins.
• In 1940, the first Social Security benefit checks are paid out (Jan 30).
• In 1941, Japanese surprise attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor brings U.S. into World War II; U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan.
• In 1942, Nazi leaders attend the Wannsee Conference to coordinate the "final solution to the Jewish question," the systematic genocide of Jews known as the Holocaust.
• In 1943, Jack Shepherd graduated from North High School in Nashville, TN.
• In 1944, Jack Shepherd and Billie Jean Shearon were married on March 4 and he leaves the next day for World War II not to return for 18 months; the Allies invade Normandy on D-Day (June 6).
• In 1945, FDR dies (April 12) and Harry S. Truman becomes president; Hitler commits suicide (April 30); Germany surrenders (May 7); May 8 is declared V-E Day; Japan signs official surrender on V-J Day (Sept. 2). World War II ends!!
• In 1947, Jack and Billie's first child, Sharon Lea Shepherd (Sherrie), was born on March 20.
• In 1949, Jack and Billie's second child, Gary Stephen Shepherd (Steve), was born on March 14.
• In 1950, the Korean War begins when North Korean Communist forces invade South Korea.
• In 1955, Jack and Billie's third child, David Scott Shepherd (Scott), was born on September 25.
• In 1957, Russia launches Sputnik I, first earth-orbiting satellite; the Space Age begins (Oct. 4).
• In 1959, Cuban President Batista resigns and flees (Jan. 1). Fidel Castro assumes power (Feb. 16) and Alaska (Jan. 3) and Hawaii (Aug. 21) become the 49th and 50th states.
• In 1961, East Germany erects the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin to halt flood of refugees (Aug. 13)
• In 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis: USSR to build missile bases in Cuba; Kennedy orders Cuban blockade, lifts blockade after Russia backs down (Aug.-Nov.).
• In 1963, President Kennedy shot and killed in Dallas, Tex. Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President same day (Nov. 22).
• In 1965, the first US combat troops arrive in Vietnam. By the end of the year, 190,000 American soldiers are in Vietnam.
• In 1966, Medicare begins (July 1).
• In 1968, Jack and Billie's first grandchild, Angela Sharon Haglund (Angela) is born on May 2.
• In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts—Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., —take first walk on the Moon (July 20).
• 1972, five men are apprehended by police in attempt to bug Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.'s Watergate complex�start of the Watergate scandal (June 17).
• In 1974, Richard M. Nixon announces he will resign, the first President to do so (Aug. 8).
• In 1975, the city of Saigon is surrendered and remaining Americans are evacuated, ending the Vietnam War (April 30).
• In 1979, Jack and Billie's second and third grandchildren, Matt Stephen Shepherd (Matt - July 5) and Katherine Elizabeth Shepherd (Katie -Dec. 12) are born.
• In 1982, Jack and Billie's fourth grandchild, Mary Lauren (Lauren) Shepherd is born on August 10.
• In 1984, Jack and Billie's fifth grandchild, Andrew Hartman Shepherd is born on May 24.
• In 1986. space shuttle Challenger explodes after launch at Cape Canaveral, Fla., killing all seven aboard (Jan. 28).
• In 1988, Jack Shepherd retires from Cumberland Swan.
• In 1989, after 28 years, Berlin Wall is open to West (Nov. 11).
• In 1990, Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, setting off the Persian Gulf War (Aug. 2).
• In 1991, cease-fire ends Persian Gulf War (April 3); UN forces are victorious.
• In 1993, five arrested, sixth sought in bombing of World Trade Center in New York (March 29).
• In 2001, Jack and Billie's first great-grandchild, Maeve Virginia Graham is born on April 5; terrorists attack United States. Hijackers ram jetliners into twin towers of New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane crashes 80 mi outside of Pittsburgh (Sept. 11).
  In 2003. Jack and Billie's second great-grandchild, Jackson Truman Graham is born on May 2, his mother's birthday.
• In 2003, U.S. and Britain launch war against Iraq (March 19).
• In 2005, Hurricane Katrina wreaks catastrophic damage on the Gulf coast; more than 1,000 die and millions are left homeless. (Aug. 25-30).
• In 2006, Jack and Billie's third great-grandchild, Elizabeth Lauren Parks (Ellie)is born on January 16.
• In 2008, Jack and Billie's fourth and fifth great-grandchildren, Emma Kate Shepherd on February 21, and Brody James Parks on December 29 are born.
• In 2009, Jack Shepherd turned 84 years old on July 17.

A lot has happened in the world and our nation in my dad's lifetime. Fifteen presidents have served in office in the United States since he was born. He has seen the invention of television and computers; has witnessed space travel and men walking on the moon; has experienced the civil rights movement and numerous wars. But all of these pale in comparison to the most significant dates in his life - the day he married my mom and the days his children and grandchildren were born.

Daddy only attended college for a couple of years. However, education was not as important as his ability to relate to people. As kids, we would go out to dinner, and invariably, Daddy would see someone he knew. He never met a stranger. After numerous jobs in sales, he ended his career as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cumberland Swan. This is when he and mom actually started enjoying life. They have traveled all over the world - to Scandinavia and the Baltic, to the Mediterranean, to the British Isles, to the Holy Land twice, to the Far East, to Australia and New Zealand, to Alaska and Hawaii, to Canada and New England, and all over the Caribbean. They have truly enjoyed their retirement years.

Dad was the minister of music at Woodbine Baptist Church for a number of years and loved his time directing our youth choirs and the Christmas programs we always had. We could always depend on Dad to attend any school activity in which any of us were involved, whether it was Scott acting in numerous plays at the Nashville Children's Theater, or Steve playing football, basketball or baseball, or me as a cheerleader or in an All-State Chorus concert.

In the past couple of years, Dad's memory has been waning, but he can still sing every song in the old Baptist Hymnal, and remember his time serving in World War II like it was yesterday. He may ask us the same question four times in thirty minutes, but he can tell us stories of growing up in North Nashville and attending North High School all day long. Recently I was with Mom and Dad when they had their annual physicals. Their doctor did a memory test on Daddy. He asked him to write a complete sentence. My dad wrote, "I love my wife." I think that about sums up how my dad feels about his wife and family. He loves each of us unashamedly.

Not only is he a member of the Greatest Generation, he is the greatest dad to all of us. By the way, the picture is of my mom and dad in 1967 at a Valentine banquet at their church. So, to Daddy I say good health and long life!!! Happy Birthday, Gran! We love you.

The Tudors & London

I admit it. I'm addicted to HBO and Showtime series. It started with The Sopranos, migrated to Six Feet Under, then to Deadwood, and now to Nurse Jackie and The Tudors.

A couple of years ago nine of us took a British Isles cruise. Out of the nine, I was the only one whe had never been to London, so I absolutely had to take in all the sights I had read about.

London is located on the Thames River in southeast England, and, as we found out on our double-decker step-on, step-off tour bus, has suffered many trials over the centuries: it has been burned, sacked, invaded from the ground and bombed from the air, yet it still stands in all her grandeur. The city may seem overwhelming at first. However the Tube (train) is easy to use to get around the city. We stayed out in Kensington, and just a short walk down the street from our hotel was a Tube stop. It made it easy to go into London for one of those necessary shopping trips to Harrod's, where there is absolutely nothing that you can't buy. This was one shopping experience that could have taken days to take in every department there.

You can spend days visiting the historic sites of London. The Tower of London was built in 1066 and draws large crowds during the summer. We were there in August, and there were lines and people everywhere.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is a gorgeous old church, designed by Christopher Wren, that offers tours. This is also the cathedral where Charles and Diana were married. You can also visit Westminster Abby (where royalty are crowned), and Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. The Queen and royal family were at Balmoral while we were there, and 20 of state rooms in Buckingham Palace were open and we actually got to tour them. We saw the throne room and state dining room. It was all very impressive, but surprisingly smaller than I had envisioned. By the way, the picture of Charlie and me is outside Buckingham Palace. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside this beautiful structure.

London has many beautiful parks that are great get-aways from the busy city. Hyde Park Corner, Green Park and St. James’ Park are all connected by a 7-mile path called The Princess Diana Memorial Walk. The journey passes by Kensington Palace, Horse Guards, and Buckingham Palace.

London began to develop in the 11th century, when Edward the Confessor commissioned Westminster Abbey. In 1066, William the Conqueror seized the English throne and built the Tower of London as his fortress. And, this, my friends is where The Tudors comes into play. I'm sure sets have been built for this series, but they truly capture the reality of how these places looked in their day. To walk into Westminster Abbey, and know this is where Henry VIII mourned for his Jane Seymour and married many of his wives, or to recognize the very place that Princess Diana's funeral was held was awe-inspiring. At the Tower of London, it was a chilling experience to see where Anne Boleyn was beheaded because Henry had tired of her and was moving on to his third wife.

Pubs are on every corner in London. Even if you don’t drink, you should stop by a pub during your visit just for the experience. You’ll find plenty of beer, pie, music and roaring fireplaces set among old architecture and culture. And, because the English aren't particularly well known for their cuisine, "Pub Grub" became our staple fare - fish and chips (with mushy peas), shepherd's pie, and bangers and squee were all typical menu items.

After our visit to London, when The Tudors came on Showtime, I was drawn watching this series. To see the history in the places we visited has kept me coming back to this series. Now, I just want to know if the series will continue after we go through all of Henry's wives. Will we get to see what transpires with Elizabeth and Mary, Henry's daughters? Or, will there be a series on the Windsors to follow? Showtime, I need answers!!

Ooh, La, La!!! Paris, the City of Light

A few years ago we took a river cruise through Burgundy and Provence in France with four of our best friends. Before we began our river cruise, we spent three days in Paris. What an incredible city with so much to see!

This is a city that is perhaps one of the most filmed and photographed cities in the world. The "City of Light" is inundated with romance, intrigue and elegance. Recently I found out that the nickname, "City of Light", has nothing to do with the city's actual light. Instead, the name refers to intellects and artists who came to the city, making it a place of "enlightment".

There are enough museums in Paris that you could easily spend your entire visit admiring the art of artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, and collections from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Etruscan history. Some of the museums in the link have free admission. Of course, the main museum is the Louvre. If you saw or read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, you know a little about the Louvre. Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is probably the most famous of all the paintings that hang in the Louvre. I was shocked when we saw it because it is really a very small painting, maybe no larger than 11" x 14". Like the Smithsonian here in the U.S., you could literally spend days in the Louvre.

You'll definitely want to take time to relax at a sidewalk cafe and enjoy the French cuisine. There was a little mini-mall across the street from our hotel that had a coffee shop, a bakery, a cheese shop, a wine shop - all the necessities for making a trip to Paris enjoyable.

The Eiffel Tower was unveiled in 1889 at the Paris Exhibition, despite many protests. Today, more than 2 million people climb the tower's stairs each year to take in the breathtaking panoramic view of the city. There is an elevator (that we rode) for those who don't want to walk up the 747 steps to the top. You can even have lunch or dinner at a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.

Although our friend, Jim, was disappointed that he didn't see Knute Rockne's statue at Notre Dame, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a "don't miss" on a trip to Paris. Of course, Jim had his Notre Dames confused. It took over 180 years to complete Notre Dame Cathedral. The bulding was cleaned in the 1990s with lasers that burned off the grime. Parisian officials decided to leave a portion of the cathedral dirty to remind people what it used to look like.

The Champs Elysees is the most famous avenue in Paris. Stretching from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, this street is known around the world for its chic stores. We were fortunate to find a little restaurant on a side street off the Champs Elysees where we had one of our favorite meals during our stay in Paris.

As one of the most popular destinations in the world, Paris has over 45 million tourists a year. Sixty percent of the visitors live outside France. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Paris, you'll find magnificent buildings and monuments which provide a beautiful setting for sightseeing, shopping or relaxing at quaint Parisian bistros. But, don't go looking for Knute Rockne. That statue is in Indiana!!!

Visiting Scotland

A couple of years ago, we took a British Isles cruise. My only requirement was to visit Scotland. Scotland is, after all, my heritage – my roots. My dad’s family was from the McNabb clan, and my mother’s family were Nicholsons. I felt drawn to Scotland, and seeing it for the first time, I understood why so many Scottish families settled in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Our terrain is much like Scotland, except much hotter in the summertime. The rolling hills of Middle Tennessee look so much like the highlands in Scotland. It was paradise. Traveling to Scotland is traveling to a land of mountains and hills, of poets and warriors, where a drive to remain free from domination by others never failed its people. Even our bluegrass music and “clogging” are similar to that we heard and saw in Scotland.

It’s kilts and clans, bagpipes and Braveheart. You go to the United Kingdom the first time for England, but then return for Scotland. More than two-thirds of Scotland is mountainous and the Highlands remain a rural setting for unspoiled lakes and valleys.

Scotland’s national drink, whiskey, is uisge beatha, meaning “water of life” in Gaelic. Distilleries abound, and one which we visited reminded us of the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg.

Homecoming Scotland is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland in 2009.

For the golfers, we can’t forget the national sport of Scotland. Even if you don’t get to play St. Andrews, a visit there is worth the time. Golf courses are everywhere, but must be booked in advance.

The freshwater lakes in Scotland, or “lochs” as they are known, are major attractions scattered throughout the country, with ancient castles overlooking the mysterious deeps. You will definitely want to search for the “Nessie”, the monster, at Loch Ness.

You can walk Edinburgh’s fashionable Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, the royal family’s residence in Scotland. The Royal Yacht Britannia is there as well.
Throughout the summer season, the Highland Games take place. Historic and modern track and field events, piping and Highland dancing competitions are the major attractions for visitors from around the world.

There are five times more people of Scottish descent in other countries than there are in Scotland itself. Genealogy is one of the most often cited reasons for travel to Scotland. You can learn more at Ancestral Scotland

By the way, the picture is of Holyrood House, Queen Elizabeth's residence in Edinburgh. So, crank up the bagpipes, put on your kilt and head on over to Scotland. But, tell them to keep the haggis.

Celebrations and More

As I write this, I'm thinking back 28 years ago to what I was doing on June 29. It was hot here in Nashville - very, very hot. And we had just moved into our first home together the weekend prior. The entire week was spent getting our house in order for the big day - July 4th!!!

You see on July 4, 1981, Charlie Funk and Sherrie Shepherd Haglund were married - in the front yard - of my parents home - with just family and a couple of friends present. What a day that was!!! My dad told Charlie that there was just something wrong with getting married on "Independence Day", but I thought it was a great way for my new husband to never forget our anniversary.

We woke up bright and early to a house full of kids - literally. Two of Charlie's daughters, Karen and Angel, had come over the night before, and my daughter Angela, lived with us. In a small house with 1 1/2 baths and four girls (I'm including myself in the "girl" thing"), there was a lot of scurrying around getting ready for the wedding.

The ceremony actually took place at 11:00 am, but the celebration began at 1:00. About 50 of our closest friends and family came to our house to celebrate this union. Neither of us knew the ride we would be on for the next 28 years, but it's been great!!!

Then, 17 years after we married, my daughter, Angela Haglund and Jim T. Graham, got married on July 3rd - another hot, humid Tennessee day. Their wedding was a true celebration in every aspect of the word. All of their singer/songwriter friends came and "entertained" at the wedding and the dinner to follow. There was lots of barbeque, watermelon, dancing, singing and guitar-playing. Now 11 years and two kids later, Angela and Jim T will celebrate their 11th anniversary on July 3.

On July 17, my dad will be 84. He and my mom have been married 65 years!!! That's hard for anyone to wrap their head around. Hope they can make it to # 75!!! By the way, the picture is of Jim T, Charlie, my dad (Jack Shepherd), and my favorite 6-year-old grandson, Truman.

But, we have another celebration coming up. Angel, Charlie's daughter, is expecting another grandson for us on July 18. This will be her second child, and we are anxiously awaiting meeting this new little guy.

Yep, July is a month for celebrating at our house. One of the biggest fireworks displays in the country is in Nashville. And, while cities all over the country have fireworks displays, we just celebrate! Not only do we celebrate the independence of this great country we live in, but we say Happy Birthday, Gran!!! Happy Anniversary, Angela and Jim T!!! Happy new life, little one to come!!! And especially, Happy Anniversary to the LOML, to my best friend and to my business partner!!! I love you more today than 28 years ago.

Viva Las Vegas!!!

We just returned from the Vacation.com 11th Annual Conference held in Las Vegas. Believe it or not, it wasn't as hot in Vegas as it has been in Nashville. The temperature hovered around 90 or so while we were there, but there was little, if any, humidity. Although we were there for 5-nights, we were very busy with the Conference. Charlie and I spoke at two sessions on Tuesday afternoon. I had an advisory board meeting, and we both had sub-committee meetings and other meetings to attend. But we did get some time to attend some great sessions from Globus, Travel Bound, Central Holidays, Travel Impressions and one Nolan Burris did on social media.

This city - a desert-situated spectacle of neon and non-stop activity - is one of the most unique tourist draws in the country. It's almost impossible to count the number of casino-hotels that line the "Strip" and "Downtown" areas. Vegas is a mecca for gamblers. Ironically, we didn't even put a quarter into a slot machine the whole time we were there.

We stayed at Caesar's Palace, probably our favorite hotel in Las Vegas. This mammoth hotel houses the Colosseum, where Bette Midler and Cher perform. The Forum Shoppes at Caesar's are something else. From Gucci to Versace to FAO Schwartz, there's something for everyone in these magnificent stores.

Our room was in the Palace Tower. Although this is not the newest addition to Caesar's, it is the most convenient if you are attending a Conference, like we were. We could literally ride the elevator down to the meeting rooms and trade show area within our tower. The pool area is easily accessible from the Palace Tower (and we saw many of the guys at our Conference staring out the windows in the hallway onto the topless pool), as are the Forum Shops and restaurants. We have stayed in the new Augustus Tower, and loved our room there. But, for convenience, we'll take the Palace Tower any day.

There are so many incredible restaurants in the Forum Shops and we indulged in Wolfgang Puck's Chinois as well as his Spago's Restaurants. Of course, buffets abound in Vegas, but the inexpensive buffets of the past have given way to more gourmet buffets today.

Dramatic hotels are a trademark of Las Vegas, and several mega-hotels are attractions unto themselves: The Mirage (where you can see the amazing Cirque de Soleil Beatles Love), Treasure Island, the MGM Grand, The Luxor, The Bellagio, and The Venetian, just to name a few.

You can even take a side trip to Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon, and there's even winter snow skiing close-by.

We worked very hard last week during the Conference, but were fortunate to be in a wonderful hotel with every amenity we could possibly want. If you're interested in a trip to Las Vegas, this is the year to travel there. Hotel rates are at their lowest, and we have some great packages available through Funjet Vacations.

Viva Las Vegas!!! We'll be back again next year. And, by the way, the Elvises (or is it Elvi for the plural?) are alive and well and living in Las Vegas (all 2000 of them)!!!

Old Things Become New

My husband, Charlie, was raised in Greenville, SC. He went to elementary school, junior high and high school through his junior year. And, then, he, his mom and dad moved two weeks after he completed his junior year to Charlotte, NC. Major trauma for a 16-year-old. New school, new friends to make, little connection with the city or the school.

Although I've attended every high school reunion from my class of '65 at Antioch High School, Charlie has never attended any of his at either school. He lost contact with all of his friends with whom he had grown up in Greenville, and didn't have connection with those he graduated with in Charlotte.

However, last year, he began connecting with friends from Greenville on Facebook, and found out that a 50th reunion was being planned for last weekend. He was invited to attend.

As the time grew nearer, he pulled out his yearbook from his junior year and started studying faces and names and relating stories to me about who all of these people were. I felt as if I already knew many of them, especially some of the guys who lived near him. These were kids with whom he had camped out in their back yards and rode bicycles with, girls he had had secret crushes on.

So, last Friday morning, we began our trek to Greenville, SC. I had only been there twice - both times to attend funerals, one for Charlie's cousin's wife, and one for his dad. We were just there for a short time and, of course, had no time to really see the city where he had grown up. This time was for a celebration, and I intended to enjoy finding out more about my husband's childhood.

This is a great link to a story that appeared in the Miami Herald a couple of weeks before we left that will give you an idea of what this wonderful small city, that would remind one of Mayberry on steroids, is like. I had no idea what to expect, but came away absolutely in love with Greenville.

We got to Greenville mid-afternoon and attended the first function for those coming in early at Smoke on the Water, a local restaurant and watering hole. Charlie instantly knew so many of the people there although he had not seen them in 51 years. He constantly had a huge smile on his face. After the late afternoon function, we invited all those staying at the Hyatt with us to come up to our suite for wine and cheese and just to have more time to talk and renew friendships. About 30 people showed up and at 11:30, the last ones left. Lots of memories were shared and friendships were picked up just as if it were 1958 again.

On Saturday morning, we had a tour of Greenville High School. The city has just completed a restoration of this beautiful campus to the tune of $44 million. I was so impressed with the sheer size of the grounds and how beautiful they were. There is a magnolia tree out in front of the school that must be 150 years old. The auditorium has been restored exactly as it was, complete with the same seats that were all taken out and refurbished. Charlie even showed me the stairway where he and his girlfriend and stood and "made out" between classes. This was such an incredible experience for him.

Lunch that day brought back even more memories. One of his friend's family had owned the Pickwick Pharmacy, which was a local hang out. Charlie had worked as a "soda jerk" there while he was in high school. He had told me so many times about the chili dogs they served and how good they were. Well, Annabelle is no longer there to make the chili, but her recipe lives on long after her and is still made every day. I have to say, that was probably the best hot dog I've ever had anywhere. Charlie's friend, Dwight Odom, took over the pharmacy when his dad retired, and now Dwight's sons have taken it over from him. There was even a banner outside welcoming the Greenville Red Raiders, Class of '59, when we drove up.

After lunch, we drove around Greenville and I finally saw the apartments where Charlie first remembered living. We drove from there to his elementary school, Augusta Circle Elementary, just to see how far he actually walked to school. It's hard to comprehend today that a parent would allow a 6-year-old to walk a mile twice a day and cross a main street. But the Greenville then, was much smaller than the Greenville today.

When we drove down into the subdivision where they moved and he lived the rest of his time there, he began immediately pointing out houses and who had lived here. There was Bobby Campbell's house and in his backyard, they would camp out at night. We saw Mary Ellen Simon's house, and Mickey Brown's house. There was Vanda Outlaw's house, where Charlie went to borrow her typewriter to type a term paper. He truly had a trip down memory lane.

On Saturday evening, we attended the BIG function at the Poinsett Club, Greenville's most prestigious private club. There was a memory room with lots of pictures and memorabilia. The music was all 50/60s and everyone danced and just had a wonderful time.

Just watching Charlie was enough for me. To see him relive some wonderful memories with old friends he hadn't seen in half a century, and to watch him continually smile the entire weekend made the trip worthwhile. To see the pictures of this wonderful weekend, click here Greenville High School 50th Reunion.
Because we had such a great time, I've gotten the bug to begin planning my 45th reunion for next year!!! Anyone what to help?

Grand Travel

For those of you who know me, you know that some of my most incredible trips have included our grandchildren. A few years ago, we were at my brother's house for his 50th birthday. My granddaughter, Maeve who was four at the time, climbed up into my lap and told me she was going to Disney World. "Oh!", I exclaimed, "With Mommy and Daddy?" "No.", she said. "With you and Pa." Well, this was the first that Grammy and Pa had heard about this.

But after much deliberation, we decided that maybe we should take the grandchildren to Disney World for their fifth birthdays, the absolute perfect age to experience Disney for the first time. No parents, no siblings, just one child and us for four whole days of magical fun.

We've learned that it pays to stay at one of the resort properties on the Monorail, so we stayed in the Contemporary Hotel. We could be at the Magic Kingdom in 7 or 8 minutes. And, we also stayed on the Club floor where there was food served pretty much all day. Didn't have to worry about getting breakfast at a restaurant. We just went down the hall and had cereal, fruit, and other breakfast items.


When we took Maeve three years ago on her fifth birthday, this was something new for all of us. She had never traveled without her parents. But, this was the trip of her life. She packed her Minnie Mouse and all of her Disney princess dolls to take with us. All Maeve wanted to do was collect pins and get autographs. She wasn't a big "rides" kid, but we spent hours waiting to get autographs from the characters. Her BIG thing was to have dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming. It was fantastic!! Maeve also loved the Animal Kingdom and we spent a day and evening there.


Last year, we took her brother, Truman, for his fifth birthday. Taking a boy is sure different than a girl. Truman liked the characters but wouldn't wait in line to see them. He didn't want to get autographs. He loved pin-swapping, and I can't tell you how many times we rode the racecars in Tomorrowland and climbed the Swiss Robinson Family Treehouse. Truman had no interest in the Animal Kingdom, but focused on Epcot. He loved the character "Figment" and all of the hands-on computers. He was fascinated with Nemo and being able to talk with the characters from that movie as they swam in their tank. I have to admit, we were impressed with this also.


Next year, we will take Ian for his fifth birthday. I'm sure that it will be just as different, but just as much fun. The key to a trip like this is no parents, no siblings, and doing whatever the child wants when they want to. If it means going back to the hotel pool at 2:00 in the afternoon, that's what we do. If it means eating hot dogs for two meals a day, that's what they get to do. Grammy and Pa are there to only keep up with the grandchildren. It's their trip, but is magical for us as well.


If you have grandchildren, I can't recommend taking a trip like this with each one individually. The bonding that takes place and the fun and laughter shared makes it all worthwhile

A Few Words of Advice Before Booking a Cruise

We held our 22nd Annual Cruise & Vacation Supermarket on Jan. 25. There were over 3000 people who attended. I did three Europe and one Alaska seminar during the day.

At the end of one of my seminars, a 55+ gentleman approached me and told me a very familiar tale. It seems he was talked into a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise to the Caribbean. Much to his surprise, it included toga parties and nude beaches, which was, shall we say, an epic mismatch.

Not surprisingly, being sure you and your ship are a good fit lands at the top of a cruise expert’s tips list. Here’s some advice, whether you are a novice or a veteran cruiser:

Match your ship to your personality and your expectations. Looking for lots of nightlife and singing waiters? Or are string quartets and serenity your cup of tea? There’s a ships for every taste. Do you want new and flashy? As a rule, the cruise lines are now utilizing the older ships in their fleet in the short cruise market – those that do 3- or 4-night cruises. To sail on one of the newer, flashier ships, you need to invest a minimum of seven nights. The ideal length depends on the destination. Seven nights in the Caribbean is plenty, but plan on at least 10 to 14-nights in Europe or on an Alaskan cruise-tour.

Decide whether you want a ship experience or a destination experience. If it’s the ship experience – that is, long stretches of days at sea – consider an Atlantic or Pacific crossing or a repositioning cruise. Otherwise, think about the Caribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean or Mexico. Some of the cruise lines have more port-intensive itineraries than others, while some are more experiential.

Don’t expect the expenses to end when you pay your final payment. Cruising is not all-inclusive. Extras include alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, gambling, shore excursions, spa treatments, alternative restaurants, fitness classes, Internet access and gratuities, which are sometimes automatically added to your shipboard account. Especially on the new ships with lots of bells and whistles, you’ll have to pay to play, and extras can equal your cruise fare in some instances.

When you’re budgeting, factor in the cost of shore excursions. Shore excursions can be expensive, anywhere from $30 to $150 per person. You can arrange your own, but be cautious, especially about hiring a taxi in port. Remember: a taxi driver is not a guide. Your travel agent should know reputable shore excursion companies that offer alternative excursions at reduced rates.

Ask for incentives for booking early, which can defray some of the cost of your trip. The best way to get the best discounts and the cabin you want is to book as far ahead as possible – six to twelve months. In today’s economy, cruise lines are offering lots of incentives for people to book ahead. And, if the rate should go down, a good travel agent can get it adjusted to the lower rate.

Think repositioning cruises. A seasonal repositioning cruise, in which a ship is “moved”, or sailed, to another location, can be a good value. Most are offered in the spring and fall, with most days at sea, for as little as $50 per person per day. Back-to-back cruises also can be a good deal if you’re got the time and you want to save money.

Don’t judge a line by its sister ships. Not all ships in a line’s fleet offer the same experience. Only your travel agent can know for sure, so talk with her before investing in your cruise vacation.

Use a travel agent to book your cruise. Going to a specialized travel agent will save you a lot of heartaches. Your agent should be able to get your deals that are not advertised on the Internet because of group space their agency is holding, or special senior, military, resident fares that they can book for you. The expertise a travel agent who specializes in cruises can offer will keep you from ending up surrounded by cruises chanting “To-ga! To-ga!”

Angels and Demons, and Italy!! Oh, My!!

Well, we did it. We went to see Angels & Demons on Saturday. Both of us had read Dan Brown's book and loved it. We wanted to see the movie just to revisit one of our favorite places on Earth, Rome. I had read that Ron Howard was not allowed to film inside St. Peter's Basilica or the Sistine Chapel, and couldn't imagine how he could possibly recreate sets that would even come close to seeing these two historic places in person. But, he did!!! We've been to Rome four times, and would go back year after year if we could. It is magnificent!!! Here are things I love about Italy:

Twelve years ago in April, I fell in love. Not with Charlie. That happened thirty years ago. I fell in love with Italy. You know, when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…. That kind of love!!

It has been said that you cannot be all things to all people. Perhaps that is not true about Italy. To some, Italy means sunshine, music, food and romance. To others it is history, art, culture or religion. Italy has inspired generations of writers, painters and musicians. At one time, Italy was the focal point of the “Grand Tour” – the rite of passage for young, wealthy Europeans and Americans to experience the culture of Europe. Today, Italy is one of the top five destinations for Americans. Whether it is a seaside holiday, summer lakes and mountains in the Italian Alps, winter-skiing, fashion shopping or religious pilgrimages, Italy remains the wellspring for la dolce vita – the good life.

Separated from Northern Europe by the Alps and surrounded by the waters of the Mediterranean, the fertile land of Italy is one of the finest and most important agricultural settings in the world.

In one of my previous lives, I must have lived in Italy. Just stepping off a plane into this wonderful country feels like coming home. The Italian lifestyle is a huge attraction, unlike the more reserved attitudes of Northern Europe. I remember driving from the Black Forest in Germany, through Switzerland, into Italy on one of our trips. We had to literally go through an 11-mile long tunnel – the Gotthard Pass – which was dug out through one of the mountains in the Alps. As we entered the tunnel on the northern side, all of the people looked Germanic, spoke German, the food was German. When we came out on the southern side, everyone looked Italian, spoke Italian, and the food – well, what can I say about the food? It was fantastic.

Italy became a unified country only in the 19th century and still today great regional differences in cuisine, dialects and culture are evident. Italy has an excellent rail and road system and is easily accessible from the rest of Europe. The rail fares are some of the lowest in Europe and a terrific way to travel the country. But, beware. The trains can and do go on strike at the drop of a hat. This happened to us three times on a 10-day trip.

Italian ports have become important to the cruise industry and represent major ports-of-call on Mediterranean itineraries. Many Italian hotels are small, family run operations. Italian villas, some costing many thousands of dollars a night, are in high demand.

It is easiest to think of this country as broken into three regions: The North, which includes the Alps and Northern Italian Plain; Central Italy, encompassing Tuscany, Rome and Umbria; and Southern Italy. To the north, the Italian Alps are a favorite destination for world-class skiers from Europe and elsewhere. Large lakes dot the area and provide a summer resort setting.

Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. Built on a lagoon, there is no vehicular traffic in the city. The canal system is not for tourists only – it is an important transportation option. At times, the city floods as merchants and hotels calmly pick up furniture and rugs, moving them to a higher floor until the ground level water recedes.

Some of the finest art collections in the world are housed in Italy and the architecture of its major monuments are immediately recognizable. From the Uffizzi Museum to Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia in Florence, from the Pantheon to the Colosseum in Rome, from the Rialto Bridge to St. Mark’s Piazza in Venice and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy has some of the most beautiful sites in the world.

Did you know that the cab drivers in New York City train in Rome? Rome is a big city with more history than you can ever remember. The tour guides must go to university for four years and study the history of this great country so the information they impart to tourists is accurate. Rome, the “Eternal City”, has been a center of Western civilization for more than 3000 years. Enveloped in the city is a country – Vatican City – home of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. Of course, Rome is the setting for Angels & Demons, and the reason for my writing this blog today.

So, the next time the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, think Italy!!!

Without a Travel Agent, You're on Your Own

We once had a friend who was wrongly accused of committing a crime. He talked with numerous attorneys and found the rates they would charge to defend him would be higher than he wanted to pay. He realized that he could go to the Internet, learn what he needed to know about defending himself in court, and save a tremendous amount of money. He’ll be out of jail in eleven months and twenty-nine days.

Sound silly? It’s no sillier than thinking you can save money in doing your own dental work, or removing your own appendix, or even in booking a vacation or cruise that will make memories for the rest of your life. In today’s cyber-space world, it’s easy to sit down at your computer and book a round-trip airline ticket to go visit your family in Pittsburgh. But, when it comes to booking a tour of Australia and New Zealand, finding the documents you must have to enter these countries, arranging complex air itineraries and finding guides in each city to show you what you don’t want to miss, you can easily become overwhelmed.

You need a travel agent.

Here are some things you may not know about travel agents:

* Travel agents earn commissions from the tour operators, hotels, and cruise lines.
* Travel agents do NOT earn commissions from the airlines. In other words, we make zero on air tickets and have been forced to charge service fees to issue tickets.
* Travel agents cannot visit every hotel, sail on every cruise ship, visit every destination and fly on every air carrier. We do, however, have access to information on everything we sell.

Here’s what a good, reputable travel agent can do for you:
* A good travel agent is in the “custom-tailoring” business. We’ll fit the right cruise ship, resort, tour or hotel to your desires.
* A good travel agent can handle every aspect of your trip from airline tickets to lodging, ground transportation, activities, event tickets, tours and more.
* A good travel agent will use their time to find the right vacation instead of using yours. Our reservation systems will allow us to look at multiple airlines, cruise lines, hotels and rental car companies, comparing rates and itineraries, instead of going from one website to another.
* A good travel agent will take the time to learn about you and your lifestyle so that your vacation exceeds your expectations.
* A good travel agent will be your advocate if the need arises. Should you have a problem during your trip, good travel agents can act on your behalf to see that proper restitutions are made.
* A good travel agent will use our expertise, knowledge and access to the latest promotions to be sure you get the best value for your budget.
* A good travel agent is an expert in helping travelers get where they need to go and in helping to create possibilities most people never would have dreamed were possible.
* A good travel agent will help you understand supplier policies and rules associated with your reservation.
* A good travel agent will help you prepare and organize any necessary documents that you may need in order to travel outside the country. They can direct you to your local passport office, and they know where you need a visa, as well as any other documentation that you might need to along the way.
* A good travel agent will offer that “personal” touch” to your travel planning experience, offering help and advice that a website cannot provide.

In the past few years, we’ve heard that travel agents are a thing of the past. People will only book online. However, travel agents must be doing something right. Did you know that travel agents still sell 51% of all airline tickets, 87 % of all cruises, 81 % of all tours and land packages, 45% of all car rentals and about 47% of all hotels.

It just makes sense to use a travel, because without a travel agent, you’re on your own.

Holy Land Cruising

My parents are in their 80s. They have been very fortunate because my dad was able to retire at 63, the same year that we opened Just Cruisin’ Plus. They have been fortunate because they have traveled all over the world. If you were to ask either of them where they’ve traveled to that was their favorite, you would get a definite vote for a Holy Land cruise. In fact, it was such a favorite, that they took two of them in less than five years.

There are numerous cruise lines that go to the Holy Land each year – Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and others. Holy Land cruises go to sites of three of the world’s great religions - Christian, Muslim and Jewish. These cruises usually sail in the spring or fall because temperatures can be so extreme during the summer months. Some will sail round-trip from Rome; some will begin in Rome or Venice and sail to Istanbul or Athens or even Dubai.

Cruising is a great way to see this part of the world because of the distances between ports is somewhat lengthy. Itineraries can go to Haifa (Galilee and Nazareth) where attractions of Biblical proportion await you. You can explore the old market and the Church of the Annunciation. You may go to Istanbul, truly one of the world’s great cities. This metropolis is spread across two continents and boasts famous landmarks like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.

A cruise to the Holy Land would be incomplete without a stop in Ashdod (Jerusalem). You’ll spend time exploring the renowned Old City – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the first order – and revel in the sights of a city holy to three of the world’s great religions. You may stop in Kusadasi and visit Ephesus. From the quaint shops and markets at the port of Kusadasi, you’re bound for one of the world’s greatest ancient sites – the ruins of the city of Ephesus. Some shore excursions even take you to the home of the Virgin Mary where John took Mary after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

If your ship docks in Port Said, it is worthy of a day of exploration, or you can choose instead to head for the other worldly wonders of Egyptian civilization in Cairo and Giza. You may also port in Alexandria where you would step out for Egypt’s greatest city and most fabled sight – Cairo and the magnificent Great Pyramids of Giza.

You may stop in Rhodes, once watched over by the legendary Colossus of the ancient world. Modern Rhodes is an island of many treats including the Old Town and Palace of the Grand Masters. Of course, Athens played a vital role in the Holy Land’s history. Few destinations can claim the 7,000 years of history that Athens can. You’ll find it on display everywhere you walk from the renowned Acropolis to the historic Plaka. Did you know that the Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial Park is an exact replica of the Parthenon on Acropolis Hill? You can see Mars Hill where Paul preached to the Athenians from the Acropolis also.

Most Holy Land cruises make several stops in Italy including Rome, Venice, and possibly Naples. Rome, the Eternal City, is a treasure of incredible landmarks. Beside visiting Vatican City, where you’ll see St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel as well as the Vatican museums, you won’t want to miss the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colesseum and Forum and incredible ruins throughout Rome. One of the out-of-the-way sites that we like to send our passengers to is St. Peter’s in Chains. This is another basilica (cathedral) in Rome near the Colesseum where Michelangelo’s statue of Moses is housed as are the Peter’s chains from when he was imprisoned there.

An interesting tidbit of information is that the tour guides in Rome and Athens must attend university for four years to become a guide to make sure that their history is exact. Cruises to the Holy Land are usually ten to fourteen days in length. If you have questions on the Holy Land, we will be happy to answer them for you.

May 2nd

Six years ago today at about 7:30 am, I called my daughter, Angela, and she told me that I should be on-hold for the day. You see, Angela was pregnant and due on May 9 with my first grandson. When she told me that she was having another baby and gave me the due date, I commented that there was the possibility that the baby would come on her birthday, May 2nd. She wasn't happy about this because she wanted this baby to have its own birthday.


But, as fate would have it, Jackson Truman Graham (presidential name, don't you think) was born on his mother's birthday - May 2, 2003 at 10:30 pm. Truman is named after my dad (Jackson), and has his father's and great-grandfather's middle names (Truman).


The day started off rather mundane. I called Angela to see how she was feeling and that's when she said she might need me during the day. I was the designated Grammy to look after her two-year-old, Maeve, while she was busy giving birth to Truman. Maeve was my first grandchild and the love of my life. That is, until her brother was born.


As I was driving into the office, Angela called me and said that I should come on over. Her labor was getting stronger, and she needed to concentrate on the task at hand, and not worry about Maeve. However, when I got to their house, Angela's labor had all but stopped, Jim T had taken Maeve out for awhile, and Angela was alone. As soon as I walked into the house, she was in tears. I thought something was terribly wrong, but her tears were for her beautiful daughter and the fact that she wouldn't be her "baby" any longer. Later that day, those tears would turn to tears of joy.


When Jim T and Maeve returned, we went to the Warner Park Nature Center for a walk to help speed things along. We had planned to have lunch out and then I would take Maeve with me. But, God had other plans, and just as we got to the car to go have lunch after our walk, Angela's water broke and she was in full-blown labor.


I left them with the understanding that I wouldn't call them and interrupt, but they were to call me when they left for the hospital. We got a call about 6:00 pm and Charlie, Maeve, my parents, and me all packed up and headed out. Maeve was wonderful and let all of us walk her up and down the halls of Vanderbilt Hospital. We just kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.


Finally, shortly after 10:30, Jim T came out shaking all over. Truman was born! However, he didn't breathe for a period of time after his birth and Jim was visibly upset. Unlike at Maeve's birth where we got to hold her as soon as Angela had given birth, this time we only got to see Tru for about two minutes before he was whisked off to the nursery. When we saw him for the first time, his lips and hands were blue and his skin was very white. However, by the next morning, he was pink and beautiful, just as a newborn should be.


Angela is an only child. I couldn't figure out how a mother (or a grandmother) could love another child as much as the first one. But it's amazing how God just opens your heart to love this new little person in a totally different way than the first child. Truman and Maeve are perfect, beautiful little people to me. Each is unique in their own way.


So, on May 2, 2009, to two of the loves of my life, I say Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter, Angela!!! And Happy Birthday to my favorite six-year-old grandson, Truman!!! I love you both very, very much.

My Love Affair with the Mediterranean

A couple of years ago, Charlie and I and thirteen of our really good friends sailed on Oceania Cruise Lines' Insignia from Barcelona to Athens. What an incredible cruise!!! We have put passengers on Oceania since their beginning, and have had nothing but rave reviews from our passengers, but because we had never sailed with them, we wanted first-hand knowledge.

We all arrived in Barcelona the day prior to sailing because most of our group had not been there and wanted to do a sightseeing tour of the city the following morning before we boarded the ship. We stayed at the Rivoli Ramblas Hotel. This is a great little art-deco Spanish hotel and is right in the middle of Las Ramblas. Location was fantastic. We couldn't check in until noon, but the hotel allowed us to check our luggage until our rooms were ready. We all headed next door to a little cafe for espresso and cafe latte just to keep us awake for a few more hours. This is a perfect hotel for those going in early or staying after their cruise. I had set up all of our shore excursions through Port Promotions, a company we use that does private shore excursions. Because there were fifteen of us total, we had private buses and mini-buses everywhere we went.

When we checked out of the hotel the following morning, we had a full-size motorcoach to take us on a half-day sightseeing tour with a drop-off at the ship. We needed this size bus because of all the luggage that we had to store under the bus. One of the women in our group had her purse stolen the previous night at an outdoor cafe next to our hotel. In Barcelona, apparently this is quite normal if you are staying in the Las Ramblas area. She did have her passport in her pocket, but all of her documents, money and credit cards were in her purse. What a way to begin a vacation!!! Lots of stress. However, when we arrived at the ship, we immediately were greeted by one of the entertainers, who was also from the South, and understood our Southern drawls. We explained about her not having her documents, and he immediately got the concierge, took her and her husband aside, and processed them through without a hitch. In fact, they were onboard before the rest of us. He also helped her in getting in touch with her daughter to stop her credit cards and to have a new one sent to the ship in a couple of days. Service is truly one of Oceania's assets. The staff bends over backward to assist with anything they can.

The ship is beautiful. Of course, we like small ships, and 660 passengers is the perfect size - not too small, but large enough to have plenty to do. The crew to passenger ratio is phenomenal. The ship is decorated in dark woods and lots of brass. There are fireplaces in some of the lounges which give you the feeling of being in someone's living room instead of on a ship. Unlike some ships that we have been on that have a lot of dark wood on the walls, this ship is bright and airy. There are lots of couches and comfortable chairs everywhere. The casino is small, but that should be expected on a ship this size. We all went up to Tapas on the Terrace for lunch after boarding the ship. There are just little things that I love about the service in this buffet restaurant. Instead of large industrial spoons sticking out for you to serve yourself, the staff serves your plate for you. Food selection was good and more European in style. Tapas is open seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they do actually have a tapas menu like you would find in restaurants in Spain. Also, you will always have a staff member who will take your plate and escort you to a table. Don't see this often on ships any longer.

There are four restaurants on this ship - Tapas on the Terrace, the Grand Dining Room, the Polo Grill, and Toscano's. All four restaurants are open seating. You must have reservations for both the Polo Grill and Toscano's. The food in the Grand Dining Room was excellent. Menus were diverse and presentation was wonderful. Often on ships, we have found that presentation is great but the food is bland. Not so on this ship. I cannot say that I had one thing that wasn't excellent. Apollo Catering which did Celebrity's catering when they were just starting out is the caterer for Oceania. One thing to note is that Creme Brulee was served every night on every menu on the ship except in Tapas. If you book a concierge (Cat A) level or above stateroom, you can make reservations for two nights each in the Polo and Toscano's. All other cabins can book one night at each restaurant. Make sure to book either of these restaurants on the first or second day of their cruise, or you may have difficulty getting reservations.

Toscano's is a wonderful Italian restaurant. The food was outstanding and the service was impeccable. The ship has a wonderful wine list, and the sommeliers are knowledgeable and keep your glasses filled. Eat a very light lunch if you are going to Toscano's because there are so many courses, and you just can't turn any of them down. The Polo Grill is probably the finest restaurant on ANY ship that we have ever sailed. Everyone at our table (and there were 10 of us that night) could not believe that their steak, prime rib, etc. was cooked exactly as they had ordered them. There is a wonderful selection of side dishes including creamed spinach and sauteed mushrooms. For any of you hearty eaters, there is even a 32 oz. prime rib. This restaurant was fabulous. And, again, the service was superb.

We had a penthouse and had a butler. What a wonderful experience. Our butler made all of our reservations for the Polo Grill and Toscano's. That's one of the perks for having a penthouse or above. This stateroom (and I won't call it cabin) was great. The beds on this ship are called "tranquility beds". We have a Novaform memory mattress at home, and have really become spoiled to it. However, the tranquility beds are the same type of mattress we have. There are very plush duvets and comforters on the beds. In the penthouses, each stateroom has a DVD player, and there is an extensive library of DVDs that you can check out at no charge. The balconies for these staterooms are considerably larger than the standard A & B category cabins.

Entertainment is good. The cruise director and his staff are friendly and you see them around the ship constantly. However, on a cruise like this one, by the time you have been on shore excursions all day, you're too tired to even go to the shows at night.

Our itinerary took us to Marseilles on Tuesday. We did a half-day excursion there and were back at the ship by 1:30. This gave all of us time for a nap because the following day we began some true trekking through Europe. We arrived in Monte Carlo on Wednesday morning where our private bus picked us up and took us to St. Paul de Vence. This little French village is in Provence. We drove along the Cote d'Azur which was beautiful and spent half the day in St. Paul. We came back to Monaco and did a half day tour there as well.

If it's Thursday, it must be Florence. Again, we had our own private 22 passenger bus to take us into Florence. All of us had been there before, and we just wanted a transfer into the city. Port Promotions put a semi-guide on the bus with us to give us maps of the city, and point out how to get everywhere we wanted to go. We walked our little feet off this day, but a visit back to our favorite city in Italy was wonderful.

On Friday, we were in Rome. Our private coach picked us up in Civitivecchia early in the morning, and we arrived in Rome about 9:00 am. Everyone wanted to go to the Sistine Chapel. However, when we got there, there was a line six people across and about a half mile long waiting to get in. We all opted NOT to wait in line, and instead went into St. Peter's Basilica hoping to see where Pope John Paul was buried. However, part of St. Peter's was roped off and we were unable to go there. As we were leaving the basilica, we noticed a cardinal and a couple of men in morning coats coming from a side door. I immediately thought that something was about to happen, perhaps a wedding. We went on outside into St. Peter's Square, and the bells started ringing. Now, we have been to St. Peter's four times, and this was the first time that we had ever heard the bells. All of our group had family radios with them, and as we got back on our bus, one of the members of the group radioed back that they had just seen the Holy Father. Of course, none of us believed him. But two of the women in the group got on the bus with digital pictures of Pope Benedict as he was coming out of the door that Charlie and had seen the cardinal coming from. Little did we know that there was a convocation of the cardinals and Pope Benedict was holding mass. What an incredible treat for some of our group.

Again, because we had our private bus, we were able to go to the Colosseum and Forum, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. There was a propulsion problem on the ship when we returned, and we had to stay in Rome an extra day, dropping Malta from the itinerary. We were sitting outside at Tapas on the Terrace for dinner on Friday night and realized that the ship didn't sail at 8:00 pm. The Captain came on the intercom, and announced that we had a propulsion problem that would be repaired and we would be leaving during the night and he didn't want to wake anyone with another announcement. I woke up a couple of times during the night and realized that we had not moved and knew that we were not going to be leaving for Naples anytime soon. Instead of going back into Rome, we ventured out into the tiny village of Civitivecchia for a few hours. Very interesting little Italian village, and we were there on Saturday when all of the locals were shopping at the open market. This was really a welcome relief for some very tired feet after two full days of walking continuously, and we just napped the afternoon away.

On Sunday, we were in Naples, and had a private tour again of Pompeii and Sorrento. Some of the women in our group wanted to go to a cameo factory. There is one at the entrance to Pompeii, however, our drivers suggested another place that wasn't crowded and was much, much better than the one we had visited previously. We also were one of only 15 groups that got to visit a new part of Pompeii that has only been open to the public in the past year. Charlie and I have been there four times, and as yet, we have not seen the same things twice. This excavation is huge.

After Pompeii, we traveled down the Amalfi coast to Sorrento for lunch and some afternoon shopping. What an incredibly beautiful drive. Of course, we had to buy Limoncello to bring home.

On Monday, we arrived in Sicily. We did a short private tour of Messina and then drove to Taormina. If you go to Messina, skip everything else, but don't miss Taormina. This is a wonderful little Italian town in the mountains. The Colesseum there has an incredible view of Mt. Etna. If you can believe it, the drive up to Taormina is more beautiful than either the Cote d'Azur or the Amalfi Coast. It is truly incredible.

Finally, we had a day at sea on Tuesday, and believe me it was welcomed after such a hectic itinerary. One thing that Oceania is doing very, very right that the other cruise lines could take a hint from is serving brunch in the dining room on a sea day from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. We saw the information in our daily program the night prior and were not rushed to get up to have breakfast in the dining room or at Tapas. And, it was truly a brunch menu. There were activities onboard the ship that day including an art auction that was great.

On Wednesday, we arrived in Athens with an overnight onboard the ship. We again did a private half-day tour of Athens and climbed Acropolis Hill to the Parthenon. We ended up at the Plaka for lunch and shopping all afternoon before returning to the ship. Some of our group left the following morning for home, but eleven of us stayed an extra night in Athens at the Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel. This is a great location if you are leaving on an early flight like we were. We literally walked out of our hotel and crossed the street to the airport the next morning. We did a two hour tour to Cape Sounio to see the Poseidon ruins, but the only day that we had rain was that day, and it was so bad we couldn't even climb up to them.

Oceania is a great cruise line. If you have sailed Celebrity, Holland America, or Princess in the past and want a little more for their money, you will love Oceania. This is just a step above. However, it's not quite six-star. There are a few things that Oceania needs to possibly change. On a ship and a cruise line like this, there is no need to have the 2' X 6' tables outside the gift shops selling costume jewelry and other trinkets. This should be kept to the mass market cruise lines. Also, the dress code needs to be stressed more. Everything says country club or resort casual. Some passengers interpreted this to mean that they could wear jeans in the dining room at night. That needs to be emphasized that it's a big "no no". There were two children on the entire ship. I'm sure the time of year had a lot to do with it. However, I can see families on this cruise line during the summer months.

We loved every minute of this cruise and cruise line. I can't recommend it enough.