Grandeur Holidays: Fairytales Do Come True!

Chateau Du Guerinet

Experience the grandeur of living in a luxury French castle in the spectacular Loire Valley for your fairytale castle wedding or for a fantastic castle holiday with your friends and family. Many Chateau are situated in the center of several acres of forest with breath-taking views.

French castles were constructed for the purpose of holding uber parties and for entertaining the wealthy and elite of France and Europe. All of the must see historic Chateaux are within 15 – 40 minutes drive in the Loire Valley area.

The castles are filled with spectacular French architectural details. The grand reception rooms have five meter high ceilings and double vistas. The sunlight pours into these luxury castles through pairs of floor to ceiling windows front and back.

The Chateau Du Guerinet is furnished with antiques and modern conveniences, a large HD television in the TV salon with SKY cable service, flat screen televisions with DVD players in every suite, a 300 piece DVD collection, a three-quarter size vintage billiard table, free Wi-Fi access from all rooms, table tennis, trampoline and more!  This private castle makes for a spectacular venue for weddings, birthdays, renewal of wows, family reunions and holidays.  This fairytale vacation is much more affordable than you would think.   Call me today for more details!

For your next Grandeur Holiday contact:

Erika Gal, Manager, Maritime Travel Burlington
Email: egal@maritimetravel.ca 
Phone: (905) 639 4575

Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong River

In 2000, UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay as the World Heritage Site for its geological and geomorphological values. Situated in the North East of Vietnam as a part of the Tonkin Gulf, Ha Long Bay covers a total area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands of various sizes tectonically aged 250 to 280 million years. The site is strewn with stone islands and famous grottoes.  Ha Long Bay looks like a huge vivid painting that embraces stone islands and breath-taking caves. It boasts such typical eco-systems as mangroves, corals, lagoons and tropical forests, and thousands of various animals and plants, including species that are unique to Ha Long Bay.

Where the Old and New World Collide
Hanoi is the social, cultural, and economic center of Vietnam.  The city of  Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1042), the Temple of Literature (built in 1070) and over 600 pagodas. 

Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon ) is the commercial and economic center of Vietnam. Stately pagodas stand beside gleaming skyscrapers, trendy sidewalk cafes and  centuries-old traditional market stalls. Once known as the “ Paris of the East’

If Cambodia is a treasure trove, its jewel box is Angkor.  UNESCO has designated a particularly rich concentration of temples near the city Siem Reap as the Angkor Archaeological Park.  This World Heritage Site is known for its spectacular temple remnants and rebuilt structures. The most legendary is  Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

Often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam, the fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers.  Cruising along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors.

Our cruise ship is the brand-new 92 passenger MS La Marguerite. It was specifically built to provide the most luxurious and immersive experience on South East Asia’s  legendary Mekong River. With a design that combines colonial elegance with local artifacts and regional Mekong touches , MS La Marguerite is the perfect setting for an unforgettable river odyssey. 

Join us on this incredible holiday.  Contact Erika Gal,  Branch Manager, at egal@maritimetravel.ca .

Reserve Your Place in the Sun

Take advantage of the Early Booking Bonus – Now On!

Picture it…Halifax, Nova Scotia , March 2010…you are finishing up the second round of shoveling from the previous nights record snowfall.  As you make your way back to your home, you suddenly slip on a patch of ice on the front steps.  Finally, you make it inside and turn on the television to hear the weatherman report the temperature has dropped to minus 20.  Your frigid body agrees.  This is winter in Canada.

Wouldn’t you rather picture this…Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March 2010…you roll out of your king size bed and make your way to the large picture window to draw the curtains and welcome the glorious sight of the Caribbean sun.  You step out onto your oceanfront patio to smell the warm, crisp ocean air.  You pause for a moment to relish this incredible feeling of bliss.  Immediately you think to yourself “Breakfast.”  The hot new swimsuit and cover up you purchased special for this trip is an easy clothing choice.  As you dress you begin to plan your day.  First, enjoy the all you can eat buffet breakfast.  Then read and lounge on the white sandy beach.  Next, take a dip in the serene, turquoise waters of the Dominican.  And perhaps share a special cocktail with a special someone.  Wow this is going to be a difficult day.

It can happen.  You can have a luxurious 7 or even 14 day holiday in the sunny Caribbean.  Winter getaways are the best way to escape and beat the winter blues. 

Just think of it as an affordable alternative to therapy. 

At Maritime Travel we’re here to give you your much deserved sun time. Book now and take advantage of Maritime Travel’s Early Booking Bonus.  With our Best Price, Better Service policy your Maritime Travel Counsellor will help you find your place in the sun at the best possible price. 

Plus you’ll receive $100 off per couple,
two free drawstring knapsacks and a free matching beach towel.

Call your Maritime Travel Counsellor today to book your winter getaway and ask about our early booking bonus!

www.maritimetravel.ca

Thinking Outside the Seven-day Vacation Box

When we told our friends that we were stealing away to Jamaica for a romantic rendezvous they congratulated us. When we said it was for three nights, they said we were crazy. 

Turns out, that little jaunt was of the most enjoyable trips we had ever taken together. In a short space of time we managed to enjoy the anticipation and excitement of hopping on a plane to the sunny south. We also got to swan around a five-star resort and sail on a royal yacht. In short, all the benefits of longer, more expensive holidays.

Like many of our friends, who are all hysterically juggling the demands of busy jobs, regimented children and needy pets (like our black lab, Chomper ), we have often found salvation in the weekend getaway.

These are trips or mini-vacations that can pack a punch as pleasurable as a traditional one-week holiday – and make you a better person in the process.

In my experience, the less you think you have time for this kind of luxury, the more you really need it. This is the argument I use to justify our bi-annual getaways. “Just think,” I plead to my skeptical husband. “We can have actual conversations, rather than our daily information exchanges. We might even discover that we enjoy each other’s company.” The fact that we’re still married is testament enough.

The good news for all you harried individuals is that the travel industry has really hopped on board the mini-getaway bandwagon and is thinking outside the seven-day-vacation box. Looking to mark a special anniversary? How about a weekend in Paris or Venice to keep the bloom on the romance. A few steamy days in New York or Toronto can equally do wonders for a jaded relationship. Whether you want to actually run a marathon (there’s one in practically every major city in the world) or just enjoy a weekend marathon of retail therapy, there’s a customizable package just for you. Just ask your travel agent.

Best of all, weekend getaways allow you to travel on a budget without missing any important tasks like (God forbid) the kids’ activities. Bon voyage!

Call your Maritime Travel agent today and visit  www.maritimetravel.ca for the latest in weekend getaways!

Exploring Southern Tuscany

Sommelier and Taste of Tuscany Host, Mark DeWolf

After almost ten tours to Italy, I’ve come to have a sense of the real Tuscany. Far away from the hustle and bustle of Florence, Siena and Pisa the small towns and rolling countryside of Southern Tuscany offers a taste of what I think is the true Tuscany. Life moves at a different pace here amongst the chamomile, vine and poppy decorated hills south of Siena. In the villages of Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza there is a sense, despite their fame, that little has changed. Elderly couples walk the same cobbled streets they have for decades while shop owners sell the same wares they have been for generations. Here are some quick tips for visiting Southern Tuscany’s famous little towns.

Montalcino – Tuscany’s most famous wine town is surprisingly sleepy given its illustrious name in the wine world. This is thanks in part to Banfi; a winery some twenty minutes outside the town towards the coast that sucks in North American tourists in search of the comfort of an Americanized wine experience. For those willing to travel the road less travelled take a drive towards Sant’Antimo. On this winding road you’ll find Biondi Santi; the first winery to produce Brunello di Montalcino. Don’t expect to just drop in, as Italian wineries unlike those in North America are rarely open to the public. Biondi Santi conducts tours by reservation. On our tour we were greeted by Franco Biondi Santi himself, who at the youthful age of 87 continues in his role as chief winemaker at the property – connections has its privileges. On the same road, is Frattoria Barbi which is more easily accessible than Biondi Santi and shares almost as long a history. A tour through its cellars is well worth taking. In the town itself, head to the fortress at the top of the hill. Here you can sample on a wide range of Brunello and few euro extra you can climb to the top of the fortress for some spectacular views of the Tuscan countryside far below. Montalcino has a number of dining options but the best is Boccon Divino where the view, wine list and cuisine are nothing less than spectacular. Be sure to ask host Marianna to recommend one of her husband Roberto’s wines. Roberto Cipresso is one of Montalcino’s most sought after winemakers.

 

Chianti Vineyard

Montepulciano

– This quintessential hilltop town is well worth a couple hour stroll but be sure to bring your good walking shoes as it is impossible to avoid steep climbs here. Wine shops abound in this town famous for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; the more approachable and fragrant cousin of Brunello. While wine abounds here, the greatest treasure doesn’t come in liquid form. Bottega del Rame on Via dell’Opio nel Corso is home to Tuscany’s best kitchen wares. Cesare Mazzetti, the 72 year old owner of the shop uses 150 year old tools to craft one of a kind copper pots and other kitchen ware that Saveur magazine described as “As good as gold”. When in Tuscany, I don’t save room in my luggage for wine. I save it for Mr. Mazzetti’s copper pots – as a sommelier, that is a strong statement. If you have a car and are inclined to travel, head outside of town to Avignonesi winery on the outskirts of the Montepulciano appellation. Here within the vine covered walls is one of the regions oldest and most respected wineries. Be sure to arrange a tour of their Vin Santo cellar and if your pocket book allows, buy one for a celebratory meal as Avignonesi’s dessert wines are world renowned.

Pienza – take one whiff of Pienza and there is no question that this is Tuscany’s cheese capital. From fresh to aged, peppered and walnut and chestnut leaf wrapped versions, it is impossible to get away from cheese in this town. When it tastes as good as it does, why would you want to? Don’t plan on a long visit to Pienza as there is essentially a single street with all the shops and many of the restaurants. I recommend using Pienza as convenient mid-point of the day. Plan on arriving around 12:00, touring the town for an hour and then heading for a lunch at one of the many trattoria. Most shops in Southern Tuscany close between 1:00 and 3:00 so visiting the town and then having lunch at 1:00 will allow you to ensure you arrive at the next town when the shops have reopened. Be sure to head behind the church on the main street for some wonderful pictures of the Italian countryside.

Join Mark DeWolfe on the Taste of Tuscany, Italy Tour
October 2-10, 2009. 
*Only 2 rooms remaining.

Contact your Maritime Travel Counsellor today for more information.
For trip details please visit:  www.maritimetravel.ca/contentpage.asp?PageID=50 

Why Iceland?

That’s the question everybody asks when I say where I went on my latest trip.

After spending some time in a land that was an amazing combination of European sophistication and other-worldly landscapes, all I can say in response is “Why didn’t I go sooner?” (And how soon can I go back?)

Let’s start with Reykjavik, the capital city. In many ways, it reminded me of Paris with its twisty-turny narrow downtown streets lined with interesting shops, cafes and restaurants. It even has its own “Eiffel Tower” thanks to the Hallgrimskirkja. This church’s tall, finger-like tower made a perfect landmark – it was easily seen no matter where we went, making it impossible to get lost whether we were exploring the downtown or roaming through the parks.

The funky shopping area in Reykjavik is the 101 district. Just follow Laugavagur Street and you’ll discover little shops that sell hand-knit Icelandic sweaters; unusual jewelry made out of silver and volcanic pearls; loads of book stores (Iceland has a 100% literacy rate); and the “world’s smallest watch manufacturer,” whose gorgeous pieces grace the wrists of rock musicians, movie stars and the Dali Llama.

When hunger hits, head for the waterfront. Fishing is still a major industry in Iceland and you’ll have your choice of seafood restaurants – all serving up the freshest catches with a view of the distant snowcapped mountains and the sea. For lunch one day we chose Icelandic Fish & Chips, which specializes in organic foods. This is not your typical fish and chip shop – you can have your fish fried, baked or poached, and the choices of chips took up a full side of the menu. And then there were the dips – all made with Iceland’s greatest secret: skyr! (Skyr is like a thick, yummy yogurt that has no fat. Eat as much of it as you can.) By the way, vegetarians aren’t left out in Reykjavik. There are several veggie-only places to eat.

Have you ever wondered what the midnight sun looks like? In late spring/summer Iceland really does enjoy 24-hours of daylight. Imagine 8:00pm on a summer’s night that just never ends; that’s what the light was like. The Icelandic people take full advantage of this and start hitting the bars and clubs at midnight to party until the morning.

Discovering the geographic and historic wonders just outside the city is easy thanks to Iceland’s highly organized bus tour system. We signed up for the Golden Circle tour at our hotel and were picked up the next morning by a very comfy coach. It’s hard to describe the lunar-landscape just outside the city. They don’t call this the land of ice and fire for nothing – we watched mile after mile of volcanic rock roll by as we headed out to adventure.

Our first stop was Gullfoss, The Golden Falls. These are Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, crashing down a three-step staircase before plunging into a crevice so deep, you can’t see where the water goes. Even if it’s sunny on the day you take this tour, bring a raincoat. You can get quite close to the falls and the mist will have you soaked.

After that it was on to the geyser fields. I cannot imagine what it was like for the Vikings who first saw this phenomenon. Ghostly mist floats just above the ground, while puddles of boiling water bubble and burp away. Then one of them explodes, sending a rocket of water high into the air. No wonder the Vikings had so many gods.

Our last stop was Thingvellir National Park, site of Iceland’s first parliament in 930AD as well as the mid-Atlantic rift. This is the place where the European and Atlantic tectonic plates meet and are slowly pulling apart at the rate of two centimeters a year. You don’t have to be a geologist to see that the land is literally splitting apart, but, as our guide explained, that doesn’t mean that Iceland is going to become two islands. Each tug of the plates results in a volcanic reaction, filling in the void with lava that soon turns to rock. So Iceland is actually growing bigger with each shift.

Of course, Iceland is most famous for the Blue Lagoon – and now I must tell you a deep dark secret: we didn’t go. Instead, we opted to hang out with the locals at Laugardalslaug, one of Reykjavik’s many outdoor geothermal pools. It wasn’t as fancy as the Blue Lagoon, but it did give us a full morning to meet some more friendly folks and get into the groove of Icelandic living. The waters are plenty warm and the locals told us they jump in several times a week, year round, even in winter. They feel that’s one of the reasons they live so long – and they have one of the longest life spans in the world to show for it. Funny observation: you have to shower up completely before getting in the pool because they don’t bleach the water – but every Icelandic woman kept her lipstick on!

I’m already thinking of going back to see the southern parts of Iceland with its mighty glaciers. And since Iceland is just a 4-hour direct flight away from Halifax, you know it won’t be long before I head that way again. A big TAKK to Icelandair, the Hilton Nordica, Reykyavik Excursions and Maritime Travel for making this trip so easy, affordable and memorable!

Margaret MacQuarrie
Very happy Maritime Travel customer

Iceland tips:
• You can fly direct from Halifax to Iceland with Iceland Air. Call your Maritime Travel agent for details.

• If you learn only one word in Icelandic, make it “snyrting.” That means bathroom. But don’t worry if you don’t remember – every person we met spoke excellent English. All signs and menus are bi- or multi-lingual, too.

• Iceland moves at a slower pace. Stores close up between 5 – 6 p.m. on Saturday and most don’t open on Sunday. Use Sunday as a touring day, not a shopping day.

• The local currency is the kroner. You can’t buy kroner in Canada before you leave, nor can you exchange it once you get back. There are plenty of ATMs and a bank at the airport so just withdraw some cash when you get there and exchange it before you come back. Credit cards are readily accepted for everything, so you really don’t need to carry much money. Also, Icelandic people do not expect tips.

• Shopping tip: tourists get their tax back– so save your receipts!

From Amsterdam to St. Petersburg

Charlene Walker manages a Maritime Travel office in Digby, and her clients the Smars are on a world cruise. Charlene has been posting updates on her blog. Visit http://www.maritimetravel.ca/1168/CharleneWalker the entries are in reverse order.

This is the most recent post! enjoy!

World Cruise – Tahitian Princess – Karen Smar / May 10
Posted: May 21, 2009
Posted By: Charlene Walker

Amsterdam was quite the day. Ken, Gary, Debbie and I headed into town and started walking around that beautiful city. We had hoped to meet a couple crew members who had to wait till later to get off the ship but it wasn’t meant to be. We waited at the town square and had our first beer and just watched the street performers and all the tourists. We then walked to the canal and strolled along the streets and through many of the little stores stopping occasionally to take pictures of very strange buildings. It’s hard to tell if they were built crooked or if they have all just leaned over the centuries. It is amazing that these buildings are still standing but it is so good to see that they are kept in good shape and not just knocked down.
For all you have been to Amsterdam you know how much there is to experience and we experienced all that city has to offer.

Walking through the Red Light District was something you have to experience. We have all heard about it for many years but to see the women/supposed women on display in their little cubicles is really something. Some of them don’t even look human.

Amsterdam was the first and only place on this trip that I have paid to pee in a public toilet. I figured we were safe going into a McDonald’s but there was a guy waiting at the bathroom entrance to collect our 50 cents.

We saw amazing tulips – mostly in bloom but I couldn’t find any bulbs that were certified for transporting to Canada. I would have loved to have purchased some of the amazing colors we don’t see normally but I’ll just have to look at the pictures.

Once back on the ship it was time to warm up and have a quick nap. We then all met at the Tahitian Lounge for sail off. The Netherland’s coastline is beautiful and we easily sat for two hours watching us go through the lock system and look at the little villages.

We then had a day at sea and I spent a good part of the day getting mostly packed. I was getting a little worried about everything fitting in the suitcases allowed but eased the anxiety once I got mostly packed. The weather has been really cold so all I left out was cold weather clothing and hopefully that will all fit in the carry on when the time comes.

We hit some rougher seas and Debbie was a little sea sick so she took drugs and spent a good portion of the day in bed. At 6 p.m. she woke up and said she was hungry so we headed up to the Bistro for a pizza for dinner. We then went to the Tahitian Lounge and visited with some of the other world cruisers. It’s amazing how people we only kind of knew on the world cruise are now our best friends as all the newbies are grumpy and full of attitude. I really feel sorry for a lot of the crew as the newbies are dishing out a lot of unnecessary shit to them and they can’t say a word.

We arrived the next morning in Copenhagen to another cold and breezy day. Ken, Becky, Nancy, Daniella, Debbie and I all headed off the ship and caught the local bus to the downtown area. We walked around for awhile taking in all the sights and stopped across the street from Tivoli for the first refreshment and mull over whether we were going to spend the $30. admission to see the gardens. We decided against it and just spent the day walking around. We spent quite a bit of time looking at churches, statutes, the palace and more canals and made our way back on foot to the statute of the Little Mermaid. We got back on the ship in lots of time and all got warm and then again met up at the Tahitian Lounge for sail away.

We spent the evening taking in Tom and Greg’s show and then headed back up to the lounge for the usual evening visit.

Another sea day. The waters were much calmer so Debbie was able to get by without taking any drugs. Most of us laid low for the day and just vegged the day away. I did some reorganization of the packing when we realized that Debbie was allowed another carry on bag. Now I have no qualms about getting stuff home and none of the bags will be overweight for sure.

Becky, Nancy, Ken, Gary, Debbie and I all enjoyed a Bistro dinner together and then called it an early evening since the clocks were being turned ahead again. Debbie and I got into watching Sex in the City so we didn’t go to sleep as early as planned but she hadn’t seen the movie and enjoyed it.

We got up yesterday morning in Helsinki to pouring rain. Some of the rain looked like it had some color and it was 6C outside. We all mulled over walking ashore and decided we’d head to the terminal for the necessary port souvenirs and then wait a couple hours to see if it got any nicer. Deb and I headed back to our room and were quickly sound asleep and woke up 2 hours later to the rain still coming down.

We headed up to the Tahitian Lounge to meet everyone and decided it was better that it as raining in Helsinki that in St. Petersburg so we just got comfy in the lounge and watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show – which even though is 30+ years old I had never seen.

Once we left Helsinki the waters were rougher again so Deb took a pill and hit the pit and I visited the evening away with Ken, Joyce, Gary, Beth and some crew members in the lounge.

I headed back to the room at 11 and woke Deb up as I was afraid that she’d wake up at 3 a.m. and not get back to sleep. She had gotten an e-mail from Bob saying her cell phone should be working so we spent almost an hour trying to get calls put through. We finally gave up and spent $4.95/min to call Bob and he called us back. It worked well. It was good to know that all is okay at home and that the guys miss us.

We are now in St. Petersburg. Because of Russian law we can’t go ashore unless we are on a ship’s tour without the proper visa. So we have booked a tour of the Hermitage and an evening canal cruise. We don’t leave here till 9 p.m. so we are hoping that the weather stays nice and we have a great tour.

A Table for One

Upon speaking with our good Friend Mary Thyme, she shared one of her favorite stories!….

A Table for One by Mary Thyme

The joys of travelling alone

There was a time when I was hesitant to do things on my own. I thought if I so much as went to a movie alone, people would think I had no friends. I travelled on my own for business back in those days, but would never have considered taking a pleasure trip alone.

Then one weekend in Denver, I found my courage to go it alone. I was at a conference and my flight home got cancelled. I had a choice: sit in my hotel room alone with take-out, or take myself out. I decided it was time I took a table for one.

And guess what happened? Nobody stared. The maitre’d didn’t drop dead of fright when I requested solo seating. Nor was I given a table by the toilet. Nobody tut-tutted about that ‘poor young woman with no friends.’ I had a lovely, quiet evening and a great meal. So the next time I had the urge to travel and my husband and friends were too busy to come with me, I booked a single ticket and the rest is herstory.

It turns out I’m not alone. Lots of women (and men) are travelling alone. So many, in fact, that resorts, cruise lines, hotels and tour operators are getting in on the act.

With the help of a travel counsellor you can find many enlightened operators and resorts that have a special “singles” price that won’t break the bank. I’ve also had great luck asking about “singles sharing” plans – many operators will pair you up with a roommate of the same gender and around the same age, so you’ll get the price advantage of travelling double, but by day you’re on your own.

Before you go “ewwww” at that idea, let me tell you that I really have had wonderful luck with this type of travel. The other women I’ve met have been mature in spirit and interested in the world.

I shared a tent in Tanzania with a lovely young woman who had been into banking in New York. The ‘rat race’ was burning her out, she needed time to rethink her career and was taking a year off to just travel the world and think.

I shared a hotel room in Paris with a woman who, at 70, wanted to indulge her love of photography and art deco architecture.

The great thing about all of these “roommates” is that I wasn’t paired up with them for my full trip. I had my space, and someone to share the ‘rent.’

So don’t be afraid to try the sharing route.

If you’ve never travelled alone before and are a little worried about things like getting lost, not knowing the language or just staying safe, I recommend taking a tour or a cruise. That way, you’ll have structure, an agenda, and a guide – but still plenty of alone time. Many resorts cater to singles, too. At a resort, you’ll feel safe and surrounded by staff whose job is to make sure you have a good time.

All right – now I can hear some of you thinking: “are these resorts going to be like singles bars – pick up joints?” In a word: no. Some resorts are known for their romantic singles vacations, but you don’t have to go those, unless that’s what you want.

My kids are long grown, but if you’ve got little ones and want to bring them with you, some resorts even have special Single Parent promotions.

Let me tell you something else I’ve discovered on my travels – you can always find someone to talk to. I meet more people while travelling alone than I do when I’m with friends. And the best thing is, it’s a new friend for a day or an hour, then I’m on my way. And when I want some quiet time, I’ve got it. (How else would I get these stories written?)

Until next time,
Mary Thyme

PS: if you’re ready to go it alone, contact your nearest Maritime Travel counsellor to get their help and recommendations. There are lots of options for singles of all ages!

Best Job in the World

Have you heard about the best job in the world? According to the Australia Queensland stat it is the chance to be the caretaker of a tiny tropical island in Australia, and it looks pretty appealing. Hundreds of thousands of people have agreed it would be their dream job – the site has crashed several times as people log on to apply or to vote for candidates.

The job offers a salary of US$105,000 to spend six months on the Great Barrier Reef island of Hamilton. Duties for the so-called “best job in the world” include feeding ocean fish, cleaning a pool and collecting deliveries of mail that arrive by plane. Thrown in is a luxury three-bedroom home and transportation to and from the island. No skills, nor experience is needed, and there is no age requirement. The job starts in July.

An official from the state of Queensland, which is offering the position, said the job was created as an antidote to the global economic slump and was being advertised in 18 countries including the United States and China.

Tourism officials from Australia’s Queensland state received nearly 35,000 applications for the job. The finalists who receives the most votes, as well as 10 others chosen by the tourism board, will be flown to Hamilton Island to be interviewed. The winner will be announced next week (May 6th) and starts work on July 1. The finalists are from 22 countries, including Canada, the United States, Germany, Greece and India.

The Final 16 Applicants will be travelling to Hamilton Island from May 3 to 6 for The Best Job in the World’s final selection process. Good luck to the Canadian Finalist. Erik from Vancouver, Canada (Online News Editor) to see details on the job or applicants visit http://www.islandreefjob.com/
And if you like your job, but would like to just experience this wonderful part of the world, contact one of our travel counsellors who can help you start planning today.
Until next time
Melanie Taljaard

Books that will take you there

By now you’ve probably realized that I spend a fair amount of the work day talking travel with colleagues. Now and again I do change it up and talk about travel… books. With only a few weeks of vacation, sometimes I need to escape vicariously. I make a habit of checking in regularly with other passionate travellers to find out what they are reading. I don’t have a lot of time to read, so I am always in search of those stellar books that really take you on an adventure with the turning of each page. You know the books I mean, the ones where you can feel the warmth of the sun on your face or smell the local cuisine. As the author builds the characters she paints vivid images in your mind of the surroundings and you find yourself longing to experience this destination for yourself. Funny it seems my reading time these days if often on planes, don’t you love an airport with a good bookstore? Books and travel just go together so well.

Favorite travel books have defined destinations for me, before I visit the destination and then as I explore the destination the book becomes the frame of reference – this was the case with In a Sun Burnt Country—Bill Bryson’s colourful book about Australia. The book painted such an amazing picture of Australia that in my mind there are some memories that I can’t recall if I experienced the cultural icon or read about them, perhaps that says more about my memory than the quality of the book.

Other books transport me back to those favorite destinations where I longed to linger just a little longer. True escapism is reading somebody else’s vivid tales when their interests and reactions to cultural experiences mirror the exact ones I had in that country, reading such books truly creates mini vacations.

I’ve sorted a few of my favorites by destination and are as follows:

Around the World
Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicholas Sparks
Leaving Microsoft to Save The World by John Woods

Russia
To Russia with Fries by George Cohon

France
A Year in the Merde (and all the sequels to this one all provide ample opportunity for a good laugh) by Stephen Clarke
Weekend in Paris by Robyn Sisman
French Woman Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano – I actually ‘heard’ this book (audio books are such a great way to get through more books on a jammed pack schedule) this one is read by the author with an appropriate and quaint French accent which truly brought the stories to life.

Various Countries
Red White and Drunk All Over by Natalie MacLean – a Native Nova Scotian’s self discovery of wine throughout France and California. I appreciate the back roads overview of France offered in this book, it went well beyond typical portrayals of Paris and Provence and much of book was set in the area of France where I too had lived.
Bill Bryson (anything) and including: In a Sun Burnt Country, Notes from a Small Island, I’m a Stranger Here Myself
Eat Love and Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert

Here are just two on my list that I have not read but that come highly recommended by passionate travellers: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (on Pakistan and Afghanistan) Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy is sure to have you dreaming of a vacation in Greece.

What’s on your list of books that will take you there?

Until next time
Melanie Taljaard