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NEWSLETTER
ARCHIVES
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Street Performer in Acapulco
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Acapulco's Famous Cliff Divers
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Turtle on beach in Ixtapa
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Oasis Pool on Norwegian Star
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Beach at Puerto Vallarta
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Cabo San Lucas Arches
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Acapulco
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Beach at Zihuatanejo
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Shoe Shine in Puerto Vallarta
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
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Guincho, Portugal
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See the world with Sights & Soul
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Sunset Yoga
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Joanie in Fatima
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Fireworks over the Cathedral in
Santiago
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Hike with L'Esprit des
Montagnes
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Explore Malbork with Sights &
Soul
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Kayak in Alaska with WWT
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Where Are We?
Viv and Jill wish you a Happy Holiday Season and Peace, Love and Prosperity for
2007.
Recently we enjoyed a five week trip to California and a Mexican Riviera cruise on NCL's
Norwegian Star. View some of the photos from this trip by clicking here.
A Relaxing Escape to the Mexican Riviera ~by Viv
Jill and I sailed the Mexican Riviera onboard NCL's Norwegian Star for eight days in the middle
of November. This was our second cruise this year on the Star, our first being a few months
previously, to Alaska. The itinerary: Depart from The Port of Los Angeles, spend two days at
sea before arriving in Acapulco, Mexico; then take in the beaches, scenery, sights and shopping
at Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas before sailing back to LA.
After our Alaska cruise we were hooked on cruising. We find it to be great value for money,
interesting itineraries, so much to do that there's lots of activities to keep everyone busy and
happy, and a stressfree way to travel.
The Norwegian Star is 90,000 tons and one of the largest cruise ships sailing the seas. She
carries almost 3000 passengers when filled to the gills and both times we've sailed on her she's
been sold out. With many restaurants, buffets and bars, there's no excuse to be hungry or
thirsty while on board. We tried the French restaurant twice, Le Bistro, and loved the cuisine
and service. The lobster and scallop martini was delicious, the goat cheese tart ensured we'd
return another evening, the duck confit exquisite, and the chocolate mousse and creme brulee
were a fine finish to a wonderful meal. Although there is a small fee for the specialty
restaurants ($12-$20), next time we take an NCL cruise we'll be making reservations for dinner
only in the specialty restaurants and skipping the main dining rooms.
Our first port of call on the Mexican cruise was Acapulco, arriving on an overcast but very hot
and humid day. It was touch and go the day before as to whether or not we'd be able to dock in
Acapulco as hurricane Sergio was also heading there. Luckily, Sergio lingered 235 miles south
and was eventually downgraded to a tropical storm and the only sign that a hurricane had
been enroute was some choppy seas with windy conditions. Upon arriving in Acapulco and
disembarking from the ship, all passengers were bombarded by taxi drivers and tour guides.
When the cruise ships arrive in any port, prices go up and there's no bartering to be done.
Other passengers paid $20 for a five minute taxi ride to where the cliff divers are. We were able
to join up with 5 other people and get a four hour tour in a Suburban taxi for $25 each. Not
inexpensive, but the best deal to be had at the time. Our driver, Victor, was very
knowledgeable as he showed us the highlights of Acapulco. The highlight for us, and one we
highly recommend, was going to see the cliff divers.
Next the Star anchored in the harbor off Zihuatanejo and we were able to experience our first
tender into shore. We wandered around the markets in Zihua and explored the town before
finding a local bus to take us on the twenty minute bus ride to Ixtapa. A cab ride would have
cost $50 return for the seven mile trip, but the local bus only cost .60 cents each way. It was
much more interesting to ride the bus and see the locals going about their lives. We spent time
walking the beach in Ixtapa, watched other passengers and Mexican families on vacation play
in the surf and catch small turtles that were trying to get to the water.
Puerto Vallarta was our third stop and had the usual taxi cabs lined up at the dock to charge
exhorbitant prices to travel only a few miles ($25 for 3 miles into the main area). Again, we
walked a couple of blocks and jumped on the local bus that took us right into town for .45 cents
each. Lots of shops, markets, tour guides, restaurants and bars, all trying to persuade the
tourists into their business. We didn't book any excursions for our ports of call, but some
passengers that we spoke with who had booked excursions from the cruise line felt that they
would have been better off making their own plans when they arrived in port. They felt the
ship's excursions were very expensive and not as interesting as they had hoped.
Our last port of call was Cabo San Lucas and probably the one which we liked the most. The
ocean here was cleaner, the sand whiter and the beaches more inviting. Luckily the hurricane
season this year didn't do much damage and so it was business as usual.
We had one more sea day on the way back up to Los Angeles. Whales and dolphins could be
spotted frequently alongside the ship and we were able to enjoy the pool and decks for most of
the day until we encountered dense fog. We love sea days as they are so relaxing. We would get
up early and head up to the Oasis Pool Deck for a breakfast of freshly made waffles and omelets,
take a long walk on the top deck, take a class or lecture, have lunch in either the Versailles
Main Dining Room or Market Cafe, take another walk around the ship, enjoy a cooking or wine
tasting class, sit by the pool and read or nap, quickly dress for dinner, go to the evening theater
performance, walk around the lower outside deck, listen to music or a comedy show in the
Spinnaker Lounge, go to bed.
This was a great vacation and one we'd do again. If we decided to do the same itinerary, we'd
either stay onboard the ship while she's in port or just go to the beach. We're not sure where or
when our next cruise will be, but we're enjoying the anticipation.
Email us your travel tips and let us know what's not to be missed - activities, towns,
where to get great food and anything else you can think of. We want the inside scoop
and you're the best resource!
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Travellers' Tips
Now is the time to plan that perfect vacation for 2007. Make note
of the travellers' tips below:
San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
Carol from British Columbia recommends Rosita's International Restaurant and Chua's Cafe in
the main area of San Felipe.
Coachella Valley, California
WJ recommends Thai Smile for the finest Thai food outside of Thailand. WJ recently visited all
three Thai Smile locations and enjoyed fabulous meals, prompt friendly service and reasonable
prices. You can't go wrong with a visit to Thai Smile in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage or La
Quinta.
Grand Circle Travel
Candy from Redmond, Oregon recommends Grand Circle Travel ~ They have been absolutely
marvelous and a real value for both of the tours we've taken with them. This Italy trip was the
Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. We went from Rome to Sorrento. Out of Sorrento we took day trips
to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabia, Isle of Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello. Then bussed to
Montecatini in the Tuscany area. Out of Montecatini we went to Montecatini Alto, Lucca, Pisa,
San Gimignano, Castle Oliveto, Florence and David, Siena, and back to Rome. Wonderful!
Favorite Fall Festival
Karen Jettmar from British Columbia recommends: My favorite fall festival is the Vancouver
International Festival, held for 2 full weeks each October. Incredible films from around the
world!
Bangkok's Markets
Andrea from England recommends checking out Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. You
may need a map to explore this market as it is so large. Expect to be part of an estimated
200,000 people each Saturday and Sunday as you wander around the market, spread across 35
acres, and containing over 15,000 shops and stalls.
Dessert Wine
WJ recommends: Yalumba Antique Tawny Museum Reserve Dessert Wine. With an average
age of over fifteen years, this "antique tawny" is rich and concentrated. We picked up a 375ml
bottle for US$11.00 (Costco treasure fine) and found it to be exceptional and much smoother
than other tawnys we've tried for three times the price.
Great Book
Mike and Lynda in Washington recommend: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hossein. A novel that
packs a powerful message and gives great insight into the lives of the people of Afghanistan. A
must read for all.
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Paris Things To Do
Boutique Personal Shopping Paris
Looking for that special purchase but don’t know where to start ?
With Boutique personal shopping, discover Paris’s best-kept shopping secrets with a leading
fashion journalist as your guide. Their tailor-made tours promise to make the most of your stay
in the French capital, guaranteeing you leave with a bag full of goodies and
a truly memorable experience.
As correspondent for the world’s top news outlets, Joelle Diderich has been covering
the Paris fashion shows since 2000. An expert shopper with an eye for unusual finds,
she will help you track down that chic evening dress or rare perfume and give you a head start
on next season’s trends. Find out where Gwyneth Paltrow buys her high heels,
which skincare brand Madonna swears by and what hot French brands
are being snapped up by Hollywood stylists.
BOUTIQUE PERSONAL SHOPPING PARIS - 74 rue Orfila - 75020 Paris - France
Mobile : (33 6) 70 27 95 20 - Email : modegirl@boutiquepersonalshopping.com
webite: www.boutiquepersonalshopping.com
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Recommended Tour Companies
WJ would like to introduce you to Sights & Soul Travels and Woman's
World Travel, and suggest you check out their websites for exciting trips in
2007.
Sights & Soul Travels ~ European Vacations for Women
*Small Group European Travel
*Outdoor Adventures
*Luxury Retreats
*History
*Art
*Adventure
*Spas
*Shopping
Discover Europe the way "drive by" tourists never do: very small groups, knowledgeable
and enthusiastic guides, cultural immersion, relaxed pace, women- centered activities,
carefully selected accommodations, a la carte gourmet dining, personal touch and
attention to detail.
It's like a private tour of Europe...
Sights and Soul Travels helps women fulfill their dreams of traveling and experiencing
the world.
They provide exclusive, activity driven, small group tours that blend unique European
destinations with exciting outdoor adventures and luxury resorts.
The locations they choose are carefully selected to inspire you with their history, beauty
and uniqueness.
Their tours are exciting, rewarding, and fun.
Sights & Soul Travels
WEBSITE: www.sightsandsoul.com
TOLL FREE: 866-737-9602 | FROM OUTSIDE THE US: 240-350-5643
EMAIL: info@sightsandsoul.com
MAIL: 13610 Chrisbar Ct., Germantown, MD 20874, USA
Woman's World Travel
It's time for a real vacation. Have you dreamed of traveling exactly where you want to
go, without worrying about reserving hotels, reading the map, or deciding where to go
next?
Welcome to Woman's World Travel. They believe vacations are precious. That's why
they specialize in women-only travel. They've discovered that when women travel
together, they unwind and focus on experiencing the world. On their tours you'll have the
freedom to do as you wish - explore, learn new cultures, and be yourself. They offer the
opportunity to break out of your routine and travel with the support and encouragement
of like-minded adventurers.
Take a real vacation. At Woman's World Travel, your only responsibility is yourself.
Woman's World Travel
WEBSITE: www.womansworldtravel.com
EMAIL: info@womansworldtravel.com
PHONE: 1-800-651-5008 or 1-760-635-3587
FAX: 1-760-635-9187
MAIL: 1042 N. El Camino Real Suite B-356, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
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Travellers' Tales
Joanie's 2006 Portugese Camino Adventure ~ Photos ~
I want to thank everyone on the Confraternity of St. James board (CSJ) for their
assistance with planning my first camino. I originally had intended to walk on the French
route, but I began to realize that, while do-able, it would have required several
connections to get to the Lugo-Sarria area. I walked the camino on the foot-heels of a
three-week+ excursion through Iberia that included touring in Madrid, Cordoba,
Granada, Malaga, Marbella, Ronda, Gibraltar, Seville, and Portimao/Lagos/Sao Vicente
in the Algarve area of Portugal. I ended the vacation portion of this trip in Lisbon with a
day trip to Fatima, which was a wonderful precursor to doing the camino.
It was suggested by board contributors that I do the Portuguese route instead and the
timing worked out the best for me. My husband, Jim, returned to the US from Lisbon.
He did not plan on going because he has a bad right knee and found that he couldn't train
with me in the months prior to leaving for Europe. Well, it was my idea anyway! So, on
the morning of July 19th I left Lisbon on the high-speed CP train to Famalicao and
changed to a regional train to Valenca on the northern Portuguese border. I simply left
the train station and started walking through the town of Valenca, and found a tourist
office which granted me my first sello for my pilgrim credential. Then over the bridge
across the Minho River that separates Portugal from Spain and into the town of Tuy on
the Spanish border. I solicited the help of the good staff at the TI office in Tuy for a B&B
to spend the night. I stayed at a beautifully renovated place, a suite with a kitchen and
living room. It was called Casa Rural O Rozo and located northwest of Tuy, near Parque
Natural Monte Aloia. Cost = about 70 Euros. The hostess pointed out that there was a
restaurant and a grocery store aways down the road. I enjoyed a plate of tapas for
supper and had a good night's rest at the B&B.
READ MORE...
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Hot Travel Deals for 2007
Check out the latest terrific travel deals and more...
- L'Esprit des Montagnes/The Spirit of the Mountains
Le Queyras ~Wildflower Tour
Saturday June 23 – Tuesday July 3 $2,495
A hill-walkers dream! This day-hike tour provides it all: four culturally rich authentic
villages, beautiful lodging in private rooms and bathrooms, a light day pack is all you
need, the full range of hiking choice, some swimming pools and view balconies,
incredible cuisine, an active, relaxing and stunningly beautiful vacation all rolled into
one! Did I mention the wildflowers?
*Appropriate for most hiking levels
*11 days of day-hikes
*Private rooms and baths in hotels
*Breakfast and dinners
*Ground transportation during tour.
Wildlife Tour
Saturday August 25 – Thursday September 6 $2,595
If you love hiking this is your tour. We spend 13 amazing days in early September
wandering among the waterfalls, glaciers, peaks and valleys. This is the largest
bouquetin preserve in the world, with rich viewing opportunities of chamois, eagles,
golden bearded vultures & marmots. Our tour ventures around the large protected
glaciated mass of La Vanoise, often venturing up scenic valleys and high lookouts along
the way. This one is for those of you who truly love wild places.
*Lodging is in mountain huts ranging from 2-6 per room
*Bathrooms are mostly in a common area with some private rooms/baths
*Breakfast and dinner included featuring regional cuisine & wines
*Daily hikes vary from hut to hut wearing a 20-30# pack to optional light pack hikes
*Appropriate for intermediate to advanced hikers with some mountain experience.
The Magic Of Monte Bianco
Saturday July 7- July 14 $1,695
At some point in every mountain lover’s life, they must visit Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco
as it is called in Italy. Personally I fell in love with the Italian side of Mont Blanc the first
time I visited it and have now found the perfect place from which to base a magical day-
hike tour. If you’re looking for a trip that offers greater comfort, fabulous cuisine and
extraordinary views, this is your trip of a lifetime!
*Private rooms and bathrooms
*Family room available for up to 4 people
*Includes a full breakfast buffet and dinner featuring regional cuisine/wines
*Includes ground transportation during the tour
*Easily accessible from Geneva, Milan, Nice
*Enjoy the comfort of the same beautiful hotel for the duration of the week
*visit different vistas daily of your choice
*appropriate for all hiking levels as well as non-hikers
For more information on any of the above tours visit:
http://www.hilloah.com
- Sights & Soul Travels ~ European Vacations for Women
Receive $200 off reservations received prior to 12/31/2006:
Lisbon and the Silver Coast ( Portugal ), Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast ( Croatia ),
Krakow and the Tatra Mountains ( Poland ), Budapest and the Transdanubia ( Hungary ).
Sights and Soul Travels also offers 5 day luxury tours to the golden city of Prague.
Sights and Soul Travels: the perfect blend of history, outdoor adventure and luxury spa
resorts.
More information at www.sightsand soul.com
Woman's World Travel Year-End Discount
For a limited time only! Reserve any trip before December 31, 2006 and receive a 5%
discount on the total price of the trip.
Just think of the savings! That's extra money for your airfare, souvenirs, shopping etc.
To qualify all you have to do is (1) Complete the reservation form online or in your
catalog and mail it to WWT before December 31, 2006 or (2) Give them a call and they'll
take your reservation over the telephone.
Note: Trips must be reserved directly through WWT. All reservations must be received
on or before December 31, 2006 in order to qualify.
More information at www.womansworldtravel.com
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Write An Article For WAVE Journey
If you love to travel, enjoy writing and want to share your thoughts with others, take action
and write an article for WAVE Journey and we'll publish it on the site. You may include up to
eight photos.
Send your submissions to editor@wavejourney.com
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Do You Want To Meet Other Women Travellers?
If you would be interested in meeting other women travellers either in your own hometown or
visiting them in their own hometown, send us an email and we'll help you connect. Whether
it's for coffee, dinner, sightseeing or if you have an extra room or couch to offer for a night or
two...
Email WJ at: tips@wavejourney.com
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We would love to hear from you for any reason. Contact us at:
info@wavejourney.com
www.wavejourney.com
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