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.