Adventures for Anyone

Friday, February 24, 2017

Here We Go Skiers...The Best Place...Switzerland!

Okay skiers. I've done this for you. I have put up links that I found to help you ski almost anywhere in Switzerland. Here's why I love Switzerland. Hands down it's one of the most beautiful countries in the world and every chance I get I go there. From Lake Geneva to the Matterhorn, to the lakes to the eastern border with Liechtenstein. It's gorgeous. So, while I don't care whether Alpine Skiing was born in Murren or in St. Moritz; I guarantee that it was created in Switzerland. And as I always say, why not go to the source? Is skiing better there? I don't know. I don't ski, but they have 154 different ski resorts there in that tiny country. That tells me that the skiing is probably pretty good.

There are several areas famous for their skiing. I already mentioned St. Moritz in the south of the country along the Italian border. There is also Gstaad north of Lake Geneva and all the resorts around there. There is another area around Bern in the center of the country. There is all of the Bernese Oberland deep in the Alps around Interlaken. There is also a huge area of famous ski resorts in the east along the border with Liechtenstein. Face it, whether you're along the Rhone, Lake Geneva or in the Lauterbrunnen Valley; there's some great skiing in Switzerland.

The only thing that I can say for sure is that when you ski in Switzerland, you have to travel there; and for that I have some advice. First, take the train. Especially in the winter driving can be an issue and you will probably have some large gear to take on a car too. You can run around on the trains with a Swiss Pass or a Eurorail Pass and take your skis with you. There may be a baggage charge in some areas, but it's still pretty convenient. They have one of the best train systems in the world. Use it. Then you just have to get a shuttle in most cases to the resort where you are staying or the hotel. Train passes can also be used to help with the cost of cog railways and gondolas to reach the more remote areas, so it's worth the investment.

Other things that you should know about traveling in Switzerland. They still use Swiss Francs. You can spend Euros and they will be happy to accept them, but your change will be in Swiss Francs. Also, there are ATM's all over the country where you can get money with most times a small fee from your bank back at home. Most places take all kinds of credit cards and debit cards. Hopefully you made sure that your credit cards had no fees for international use. Switzerland is extremely convenient for travel and that's only one of the many reasons why I am so fond of traveling there.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Ski New England!

It's February and it's time to ski. It's that simple. A lot of people spend a lot of money to ski in the Rockies, the Sierra Nevadas, the Alps and so on. What a lot of people tend to forget is that New England is full of skiing and the people out here can't get enough of it. Welcome to New England. We don't mind winter at all and we have a lot of great places for you to ski. I didn't really pay much attention to the whole ski thing before, because it's not a particular interest of mine, but my son went to work at Mohawk Mountain Ski Resort in Cornwall, CT this year, and I've gotten a real taste of what that culture is like. Needless to say, this is currently my favorite resort in Connecticut, but it's mroe than just my opinion. It's the largest mountain we have here for skiing and it's a very popular spot for New Yorkers out for the weekend. It's a great place to spend some time with around 20 runs and 3 restaurants. It's a day resort with no hotel, but it's a great place to get away.

Now, that being said; I have some favorites of my own, not because I ski, but because I have friends who ski and because I've still been to most of the resorts even though I don't ski. So, many people favor Killington in Vermont and Sugarloaf in Maine. They are both huge and they are both part of incorporated areas that revolve around the ski resorts. Both have festivals and activities throughout the year as well. They are a great place to get away to even if you don't ski. Killington also has a fabulous view in the fall for the foliage and a gondola ride that is unmatched for that time of year.

Mount Snow is one of ny favorite spots. It's in southern Vermont just outside of Wilmington. Wilmington is one of my favorite small towns no matter what time of year it is. If you ride a motorcycle, southern Vermont is the place to be in the summer or fall. If you stop in to ski at Mount Snow, make sure you get a lunch at Dot's Diner and pick up a little something to read from Bartelby's Books.

Cannon and several other resorts reside in one of my favorite areas on Earth. It's in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There are so many things to do in this area that I couldn't name them all, and once again; it doesn't matter what time of year you go there. Cannon also boasts the best gondola ride in the northeast, so don't miss it.

Just down the road from Cannon is Loon Mountain. The two together round out my favorite resorts around Lincoln, New Hampshire. This area is great all year round. The foliage in the fall is spectacular. In the summer there are ice caves on the top of this mountain. There is Clark's Trading Post for the kids. There are scenic train rides and local car racing. There is even a little car museum in the back of a local souvenir shop in Woodstock. The hiking is amazing with Franconia Notch and Lost River. The Appalachian Trail makes an appearance in the area. There is also Mount Washington with it's cog railway and famous moutain road. Don't count on Mount Washington in the winter though. That mountain is famous for having some of the worst weather on Earth.

On the other side of Mount Washington you will find the resort of Attitash. This place is huge and has great conditions all through the winter and into spring. The elevation is high there and the skiing is amazing I hear. Now, that being said, they have a great summer resort as well with alpine slides, mountain coasters and water slides. I should probably mention here that Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts also has these things in the summer minus the water slides plus and adventure park, zip lines and Segway tours.

But let's not forget Maine. It's always winter up there unless it's summer. They really only have two seasons. In between they just have moose. Big Squaw Mountain is one of my favorite spots. They don't do much in summer, but the simple fact is that this place is in my favorite places in the country. It's in Greenville, Maine which is the coolest town in the United States. The people are special and friendly, the place is laid back, and you cannot be in a bad mood when you're there. They have more moose than people around there. The best part about Greenville is that not only can you ski there in the winter, but they have festivals. They have a chocolate festival and a memorial snowmachine ride up to the crash site of the B-52 airplane that crashed on Elephant Mountain in the 1960's. They also have one thing that you won't get just up the road from any other ski resort. In the winter, they race cars on Moosehead Lake by Kelly's Landing. You can't miss that.

So, enjoy winter. Come to New England. We love winter. We know how to have fun. And trust me, people here love to ski. Enjoy!

Connecticut

http://www.mohawkmtn.com/
http://mountsouthington.com/
http://powderridgepark.com/
http://skisundown.com/
http://www.woodburyskiarea.com/

Massachusetts

http://berkshireeast.com/
http://skiblandford.org/
https://www.bluehillsboston.com/
http://www.bousquets.com/
http://skibradford.com/
http://jiminypeak.com/
https://www.skinashoba.com/
http://www.otisridge.com/
http://skibutternut.com/
https://www.skiward.com/
http://www.wachusett.com/

Vermont

http://skivermont.com/suicide-six-ski-area
http://www.sugarbush.com/
https://www.stratton.com/
https://www.stowe.com/
http://www.smuggs.com/
https://www.bromley.com/
http://www.boltonvalley.com/
http://skiburke.com/
http://jaypeakresort.com/
https://www.okemo.com/
https://www.magicmtn.com/
http://www.madriverglen.com/
http://www.killington.com/site/index.html
http://www.mountsnow.com/
http://www.picomountain.com/site/index.html

New Hampshire

https://www.kingpine.com/
http://www.gunstock.com/
http://www.mountsunapee.com/
http://www.granitegorge.com/
http://www.cranmore.com/
http://www.blackmt.com/
http://www.attitash.com/
http://brettonwoods.com/
http://www.cannonmt.com/index.html
http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Eskiway/
https://www.patspeak.com/
http://raggedmountainresort.com/
http://www.loonmtn.com/
http://www.crotchedmountain.org/
https://www.facebook.com/skiTENNEY
http://www.waterville.com/
https://www.whaleback.com/
http://www.skiwildcat.com/

Maine

http://www.sundayriver.com/
http://www.shawneepeak.com/
http://skihermonmountain.com/
http://www.lostvalleyski.com/
http://www.camdensnowbowl.com/
http://skibigsquaw.com/
http://www.mtabram.com/
http://skimtjefferson.com/
http://www.saddlebackmaine.com/
http://www.sugarloaf.com/

Other Information

http://www.onthesnow.com/maine/ski-resorts.html
http://www.visitconnecticut.com/state
http://www.ctvisit.com/
http://www.massvacation.com/skilocal/
http://www.skicentral.com/massachusetts.html
http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/state
http://www.vermont.org/
https://vermontvacation.com/
http://www.vermont.com/
http://www.visitwhitemountains.com/
http://www.visitnh.gov/
http://www.mainetourism.com/
https://visitmaine.com/
https://www.vacationrentals.com/?k_clickid=CKjU_KWEk9ICFYKgNwodn2ED6g&ds_kids=p15538314535&ds_kid=43700015538314535&ksprof_id=700000001518927&ksaffcode=itsds3&ksdevice=c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand%7CPure%7Cnull%7C_Exact&utm_term=vacationrentals+com&utm_content=URL&ktarget=kwd-15574848914&kloct=&klocf=&gclid=CKjU_KWEk9ICFYKgNwodn2ED6g&gclsrc=ds
http://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=811688&label=yahoog-C4PNb5e1qdML9cfE71v3jg&utm_campaign=Booking_Name&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_term=booking.com
https://www.homeaway.com/?k_clickid=1c2762f7-e1f1-45cf-8fcd-378fffb0ef05&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand%7cPure_Exact&utm_term=homeaway.&utm_content=Pure%2520Brand&ksid=1c2762f7-e1f1-45cf-8fcd-378fffb0ef05&ksprof_id=217&ksaffcode=3596518&ksdevice=c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand%7cPure%7cnull%7c_Exact&utm_term=homeaway.&utm_content=Pure%2520Brand
https://www.airbnb.com/?af=43888734&c=brdsearch_d_engus_na_na_p2_txt&dclid=CIaB-5eEk9ICFcYGNwodOCQHqA
http://www.visitnewengland.com/all
http://www.discovernewengland.org/
https://www.kayak.com/horizon/sem/brand/general?lang=en&skipapp=true&utm_campaign=geminisearch&utm_content=31986798408&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=yahoo&utm_term=299479851239
http://www.trivago.com/
https://www.hotels.com/?pos=HCOM_US&locale=en_US&PSRC=G21&rffrid=sem.hcom.US.yahgem.003.00.01..kwrd%3DZzZz.sVothcgKC.0.29362261049.10200p829340
https://www.cheapoair.com/flights/booknow/cheap-airfares?fpaffiliate=MSN&fpsub=113643705_v2&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brandcamp&utm_term=CheapOair&utm_content=v2
https://www.orbitz.com/?semcid=orbitz-us.b.yahoo.search.generic&kword=e.|orbitz|.401.227891.89.10486.29855907701&epi=1c2762f7-e1f1-45cf-8fcd-378fffb0ef05
https://www.travelocity.com/?utm_term=travelocity&utm_campaign=bra_bra_main-Old&utm_medium=cpc&semcid=travelocity-us.b.yahoo.search.generic&kword=e.%7Ctravelocity%7C.1c2762f7-e1f1-45cf-8fcd-378fffb0ef05.27887298960p6&utm_source=adcenter&
https://www.expedia.com/?semcid=US.B.GEMINI.SEARCH.GENERIC&kword=expedia.com!e.ZzZz.5060000000470.0.32566139563.expedia.com.expedia.com
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Liguria...The Sea, The Shore, The Beach, The Cinque Terre

We should all know by now how much I adore Europe, and it's time to start looking into vacations for the year if you intend to go to any of the best spots. So, I'm starting my information early this year. And I'm starting with Italy and the Liguria Sea. What is this you ask? Have you ever heard of the Italian Riviera? Well, there you go. Along these dramatic seas you will find villages and cities that tumble down gargantuan cliffs into the sea. There are many wonderful stops along this piece of coast that they call Amalfi, but one of the most popular, most beautiful, most traditional, and most colorful areas is the National Park and World Heritage Site called Cinque Terre. Is Cinque Terre a village? Is it a park? Is it a province? Well, as the name would suggest, it is five villages. Each one has it's own flair, but they are all staggeringly beautiful with cliff buildings, beaches, and some of the best views in the world.

Riomaggiore is the first village that you will reach if you start in the south of the chain. Cinque Terre is known for it's colorful houses and cliffs all the way along, but each village has it's own speciality or flair. Riomaggiore is famous for it's wine and it's harbor. There are vineyards in the hills and dolphins along the shore. The night life is good there and there is no escaping the fabulous scenery anywhere in the area. This is not the village that is big on resorts, but there are trails that lead to fabulous botanical gardens and Nazi bunkers as well as on to the next village up the coast. Cinque Terre is one of the best summer hiking spots in Italy with hundreds of hiking trails throughout the area around and between the villages.

Manarola is the smallest village of the five and will be the next one you find going north from Riomaggiore. It still has the pastel houses on the cliff and great views of the sea from it's cliffs and harbors. The best view here is from the bar if you climb up Punta Bonfiglio. There is also an old cemetery up there to look at. Remember though that this is a cemetery and the people of the area have friends and relatives buried there. Be respectful. Manarola is one of the oldest villages in the region dating from the 14th century.

Still heading north you will find the village of Corneglia. This is the only cliff town that doesn't sit directly on the water. It is also a wine producing area and this village is the highest elevation of all the villages in Cinque Terre. You can take the train to the villages if you like, but the best way to see the area is to walk. The cliff trails provide unmatched views of the Amalfi Coast. The town was supposedly named by a Roman farmer after his mother Cornelia. If you do decide to take the train to this town, you will have to climb 400 stairs to get from the train station to the village on the top of the cliff.

Next up the coast heading north is Vernazza and this is one of my favorite spots. It's like a step back in time. There are no cars. It's the land of the pedestrian with shops and bars and restaurants and amazing views. There are ruins of an old castle there, world famous olive oil and the Santa Margherita d’Antichia church. If you are looking for that old world charm and truly feeling like you've traveled in a time machine; this is the spot for you. It has an amazing harbor as well and as the rest of the area, a great view from above. You won't find much in the way of beaches here, however, so if you have to have them; this is not your stop.

As you reach the north end of the national park, you will come to Monterroso. This is the touristy town in the park. This is the resort town with the bars and nightlife. This is the place with the most beaches and the best shopping. This is the place where you can show off your fancy Italian sports car. This is where you will find the who's who of people traveling along the Amalfi Coast. It's the largest of the five towns and the most modern. Not to say that it lacks old world charm, because of course it has old world charm. The whole area is old world and gorgeous. If you're looking to stay along this coast park, however, this may be the spot for you to look for a hotel. Once again the hiking is spectacular and the views are amazing. The beaches are to die for around there too.

So, Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe or the world for that matter. The Amalfi Coast is a cliff area of the Riviera that leaves you breathless from it's cliffs and beauty. There is no place else on Earth like it and this is the time to start looking into it if you would like to see it in the summer. The area is a National Park. The villages are not large, so finding a place to stay even in Monterroso takes some planning ahead. So, start looking into it. Get a better camera, because there are no cameras good enough to do this place justice anyway. Check Air BnB, check Home Away, check Booking.com. Find the best place. Plan a train or rent a car to get there. Go out and get a little in shape so that you can do some walking, because it's the best way to see this amazing World Heritage Site. Take a step back in time and take time to smell the roses. Cinque Terre awaits with memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss this. Enjoy!

http://www.liguriaguide.com/liguria-italy.html
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/tourism/liguria
http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/liguria.html
https://www.travelocity.com/Cheap-Flights-To-Cinque-Terre-La-Spezia.d6055039.Travel-Guide-Flights
https://www.onetravel.com/booknow/flights/v5/generics/flights-v3?fpaffiliate=MSN&fpsub=MS82-v3
https://www.expedia.com/Flights?utm_term=+flights&utm_campaign=USA%3AENG%3A%40%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AM%3AX%3A%3A&utm_medium=cpc&semcid=US.MULTILOB.BING.SEARCH.FLIGHT&kword=+flights%21p.ZzZz.4850000022915.0.14356333576.cinque+terre+flights.+flights&utm_source=bing&utm_content=USA%3AENG%3A%40%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AXX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AM%3AX%3Aflights%3A
https://www.oyster.com/q/cinque-terre-italian-riviera-hotels-1551/
http://www.cinqueterrehotels.com/en/index.php
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Cinque-Terre--Italy?af=2404406&c=A_TC%3Dpshmet5294%26G_MT%3De%26G_CR%3D13807444671%26G_N%3Do%26G_K%3Dcinque%20terre%20hotels&dclid=CPvHi73YktICFc-9swodNt8IRw&page=1&s_tag=uLRsZQ2A&allow_override%5B%5D=
https://www.audleytravel.com/us/italy/amalfi-coast-region?audcmp=286018280&audadg=1251244237519384&audkey=amalfi%20coast&auddev=c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=31-505%20Italy&utm_term=amalfi%20coast&utm_content=Italy%20-%20Place%20-%20Amalfi%20Coast%20-%20Exact
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/amalfi-coast-italy-road-trip/
http://www.travel2italy.com/Travel/Italy/Vacation/index.html
https://www.vbt.com/tours/the-amalfi-coast-capri/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Walking%20-%20Italy%20%5BUS%5D%20(S)%20%5EKW%20*AD%20%5ERLSA&utm_term=walking%20vacation%20packages%20amalfi%20coast&utm_content=Amalfi%20Coast
https://www.luxuryretreats.com/vacation-rentals/italy/amalfi-coast/?src=paid_msnt_italy-amalfi_beachbmm&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ITALY%20-%20AMALFI%20-%20GINT&utm_term=%2Bamalfi%20%2Bcoastal&utm_content=Amalfi%20Beach%20-%20BMM
http://famouswonders.com/cinque-terre/
http://www.vernazza.fr/en/history/
http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/content/history
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/01/travel/what-to-do-36-hours-in-the-cinque-terre-italy.html?_r=0
http://www.lecinqueterre.org/eng/
https://www.rentbyowner.com/listing/?q=cinque+terre&sqs=hotels&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Italy%20%20Vacation%20Rentals%20(hotel)&utm_term=Hotels%20in%20Cinque%20Terre&utm_content=Cinque%20Terre%20(hotel)
https://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/europe/cinque-terre-hiking.html
https://cinqueterre.a-turist.com/index
http://www.italylogue.com/cinque-terre
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/the-enchanting-cinque-terre-fiatfree-italy
http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-02-17/italys-cinque-terre-to-begin-limiting-tourists
https://www.city-discovery.com/florence/attraction-2584-cinque-terre-from-florence?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BOld%20Campaigns%5DItaly%20%2F%20Florence%20TMDT%20%3A%20Cinque%20Terre%20%5BIn%20the%20City%5DXHPauseJanuary2017&utm_term=Cinque%20Terre%20Tours&utm_content=Florence%20TMDT%20%3A%20Cinque%20Terre%20%5BTours%20%26%20Excursions%5D
http://www.booking.com/region/it/lecinqueterre.en.html?aid=804982;label=yahoog-lecinqueterre-FZ6sab83ZXY2_QgXrF9rGg&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=region-italy-1754-lecinqueterre&utm_term=cinque%20terre-e
http://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
http://www.cinqueterrevillages.com/
http://cinqueterre.it/en
https://www.incinqueterre.com/en/
https://www.backroads.com/trips/WQTQ/cinque-terre-tuscany-italy-hiking-tour?p=D450&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=europe%20walking%20hiking
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Thursday, January 19, 2017

2017 Celebrates Lutheranism in Europe!

Travel guides and television hosts everywhere are gearing up to follow the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and the men who were at the head of it. Martin Luther mostly, but also John Calvin. There will be celebrations for several years, beginning this year throughout Germany and Switzerland.

If you ever wondered what the Reformation was, it was quite simply reforming Catholicism to make the scriptures and practices more available and comfortable to the masses. Until this time, all scriptures were in Latin and the clergy of the church were quite often the only ones who could read them. The clergy were also the ones who received communion during the services most of the time.

Martin Luther had a calling and joined the clergy, but what he did was unprecedented at the time. He translated the Holy Scriptures into his vernacular, German so that everyone could read them for themselves. It started a spiritual revolution across central Europe and changed the landscape forever. It was only the start, but it was Earth shattering and by the time that Martin Luther passed, a whole new sect of religion had come to be.

This will be a great year to plan a trip and follow the Lutheran Trail and the lives of Martin Luther and his like minded revolutionary, John Calvin. There are tons of tour companies that will take you on the whole trail or part of it. You can also check out several television shows, like Rick Steve's. There are many ways to learn and enjoy a trip through Germany and Switzerland, but this is the one that will stand out this year and probably for some years to come.

Wurtemburg, Germany is where it started and where Luther Ended his life. It's a great little German town that has all of the wonders of Germany to offer, and it has a top spot on the Luther and Reformation Trails. It's one of the spots that you will have to check out and they have festivals planned for the celebration as well.

Hamburg was another hotspot during the Reformation. It was ground zero for a lot of conflicts between the Catholic Church and those who were challenging their ways. Hamburg is still noted today for being a modern town with new thinking and cutting edge technologies. They will be having celebrations during the Reformation Anniversary and are part of the tours along the Reformation Trail.

Zurich, Switzerland was home to more of the Calvinist Movement, but nevertheless are an important stop on the Reformation Trail. While the city is noted for it's banking and high standards of living, they are part of the Protestant Reformation and will be celebrating the anniversary this year with festivals.

So, I have a lot going on. I won't say a whole lot about this years long event. I will be out for a while with a surgery. I will be back, but in the meantime, check out the plethora of links that I have shared for you to learn about the Reformation and possibly plan an amazing trip to experience it and celebrate it's 500th anniversary. There are many towns along the trail. I've only mentioned some of the more prominent ones. Check out the city and area schedules for festival dates and times. Get a hold of a tour operator that is offering a guided tour. I don't take them often, but this is one of those times. Make your arrangements now, because the anniversary actually starts later this year, but it will be hard to make arrangements if you wait too late. So, come and see Germany and Switzerland through the eyes of the reformers that made them who they are today. Come and celebrate this year's 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and the works of Martin Luther and John Calvin. Come and be a part of history and enjoy!

http://www.hamburg.com/
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/?utm_id=sem:Upper-Funnel-Europe-Search-USA-BMM&gclid=CLrjos6Lz9ECFRdYDQodyYwP0Q&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLCh3s6Lz9ECFam5swodj7YHAA
https://www.luther2017.de/en/experience/travel-routes/travel-routes/
http://www.uncommon-travel-germany.com/wittenberg.html
http://selecttravel.com/tour_reformation_trail.asp
http://www.mygermancity.com/luther-trail
http://www.gocollette.com/en/tours/europe/germany/on-the-trail-of-martin-luther
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther
http://www.eurorailways.com/index.html
http://www.mygermancity.com/luther-trail
http://www.slideshare.net/LWFWeb/evangelical-lutheran-church-in-wrttemberg
http://www.booking.com/city/de/hamburg.html?aid=801942;label=yahoogemini-city-hamburg-QFQcwwLOUVBPkFiVjdiP0w&utm_source=yahoo-gemini&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Germany-Hamburg---UFI--1785434&utm_term=hamburg-germany-e
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/germany-hamburg
https://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm
https://www.raileurope.com/index.html
http://www.lutherantravel.com/index.html
http://lutheranreformation.org/
http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283
http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses
http://tourism-bw.com/
http://www.germany.travel/en/index.html
https://www.swiss.com/us/EN/Book/Flight?WT.mc_id=SEA_US&WT.srch=1&tmad=c&tmcampid=94
https://www.zuerich.com/en
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/zurich.html
https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/en
http://reformationtours.com/package/reformation-heritage-trail/
http://religioustravelplanningguide.com/relive-the-reformation-on-collettes-martin-luther-tour/
https://www.luther2017.de/en
https://www.lutheranworld.org/program/reformation-anniversary-2017
http://www.visit-luther.com/explore-luthercountry/events/2017-500th-anniversary-of-the-reformation/
http://reformationtours.com/reformation-jubilee-2017/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

I will be back soon and will have more to tell you about out there in the world and more reasons why you should go out and see it. See you soon, Enjoy!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Value of Travel

What do you picture as the meaning of life? As I face some serious health problems, I find myself asking this question. I've spent most of my life trying to get by. My hard work and perseverance sometimes seems to be for nought. I'm surrounded by people who put a lot of value on material things, and I worry that we've all lost sight of what's really important in life. I won't argue the value of love and family, but I have to argue the value of fancy cars and big houses; Iphones and designer clothes. I feel that the most important things that we can accumulate are memories and for the first time in my life, I can argue why.

I've been many things in my life. I've been both rich and poor. I chose to live my life as a middle class person. I walked away from rich. My friends, acquaintances, family and others around me are always talking about things. Everyone talks about buying a big house, a fancy car, a great phone, a big TV, and so on. All I ever wanted to do was see the world. I've had a chance to see a bit of it, and the more I see, the more I want to see. I always wanted to know if I was crazy because going places and doing things and having experiences was more important to me than who made my purse. I wanted to be like people I know that spend their lives content with never leaving their country, their state, or even their city. I thought I was wrong. I don't feel that way anymore.

There's an old saying that you can't take it with you. I've always liked that. Most of us believe in some kind of spiritual life. Whether you think that you're going to heaven, hell, purgatory, limbo or whatever; whether you believe in karma, reincarnation, or whatever; you cannot take material things with you. In ancient times, they buried people with what they would need for the afterlife or for when they returned. We're digging up the items that were buried with these people today. You can't take it with you folks. What do you get to keep? Your memories.

My travels are some of the best memories of my life. I never questioned that. I love to share my stories of sitting on the Berlin Wall, going to church in Russia with the Pope, hiking in Iceland, walking in the Alps and many more. I also love my house, my car, my new oven and many other things. But, today I learned the value of memories.

I was talking to my mom. That's right, just talking to my mom. This is the time of year that makes her a little sad. Two years ago today, my dad died suddenly. My mom is still recovering. My parents lived comfortably. My parents also liked to travel. I talked to my mom today, as I always do on days that I'm afraid may upset her about my dad's death. She told me three stories that were adorable anecdotes from trips that she took with my dad. She told me about a time that she got drunk in Cancun with him and how much trouble he had getting her back to the hotel room and putting her in bed. She told me about the time that they were part of the crew on a schooner in the Caribbean. She told me about the time that they went to Flagstaff and it snowed in the summer on top of the mountains there. Her voice sounded happy when she was telling me the stories.

I realized that every time my mom talked about the house or the car it was a story of something that stressed her out. She had something that broke and she had to get it fixed. She had something that was just there that she didn't seem to want to think about. Since my dad died, the house has given her no comfort. The car has given her no comfort. His gigantic clock collection has given her no comfort. The only time that she sounds comforted when she talks about my dad is when she talks about their memories. Most of their memories involve travel. I thought about that today as I prepare to take care of some serious problems myself. I wondered if I was losing my mind, or was it really more important to have great memories than to have a lot of money and stuff.

Life is a journey and travel is journeying. It's pretty simple. Explorers never seemed to talk of regret. I have never regretted a single journey that I've taken. I've been told that travel is a waste of money, but I argue that you cannot put a monetary value on irreplaceable experiences and the memories that they create. Do I want to look back on my life and judge it on my possessions? No. I would rather look back on my life as a story of amazing experiences. I would call that money well spent. You can't get time back, so spend it well. Don't tie yourself to a house and make that your life. Go out and experience life. A house can be a prison. An experience can set you free. Think about it.

Money spent on travel is money spent on making memories. That's not a waste. My mom has great memories. That's what comforts her. Those are the things that she remembers most. This is a woman who once placed a great deal of importance on material things. Now that she's missing my dad, her point of view has changed. Facing my own problems and looking back at my regrets and my accomplishments I can say that I most fondly remember my travels. I don't have a fancy house or a fancy car. I don't have an Iphone or a designer purse. I do have memories of traveling 17 countries and 37 states. I have memories of romantic getaways with my husband. I have memories of road trips with my son. I have memories of European adventures with my family. I have memories of hiking Iceland with my mom. I'll take my memories. After all, it's the only thing that I have a shot at taking with me.

So, take some time and do some traveling. Spend some quality time on the road with your family and loved ones. Make the memories that will comfort you when your loved ones have gone. Remembering is what we really have after our loved ones leave us, so make the memories that will comfort you later now. See the world and enjoy!

http://greatsafaris.com/
http://www.trans-siberia.com/
http://www.silversea.com/landing-why-silversea-4/?campaign=USA_Bing_Search_Generic_PPC&s_kwcid=AL!843!10!73942175496573!118213009012&ef_id=WHsNwgAAAK6BiTrN:20170115055318:s&website=337dc751&77tadunit=69de49e2&77tadvert=73942175496573&77tkeyword=%5bluxury+cruises%5d&77tentrytype=s&77tentry=USA_22A
http://www.trans-siberian-travel.com/
http://safaris.com/
https://www.virtuoso.com/
http://www.besttravel.com/luxury-travel/
http://www.europeanrivercruises.com/?source=gemini&cn=rivercruises&ag=europe
http://www.trivago.com/?sLanguageLocale=US&iSemThemeId=10626&sem_keyword=luxury%20travel&sem_creativeid=75591433851438&sem_matchtype=be&sem_network=s&sem_device=c&sem_campaignid=180709571&sem_adgroupid=2549572898&sem_targetid=116345476997&cip=1221070201
https://www.adventuresbydisney.com/get-brochure/?CMP=KNC-FY17_ABD_ACT_DOM_General-Family_|NB|B|4176700.AD.AM.01.01|&d_psid=kwd-16671642320|dc|best%20places%20to%20+travel|4784937485|b|5046:10|&s_kwcid=AL!5046!10!4784937485!16671642320&ef_id=WHsNwgAAAK6BiTrN:20170115055058:s
http://www.crystalcruises.com/
https://www.exclusiveresorts.com/travel?cid=70139000001LTtA&rp=/discover39
http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/
https://luxuryescapes.com/subscription
https://www.expedia.com/Vacation-Packages?kword=trip!b.ZzZz.4840000736169.0.10595012132.luxury%20travel.trip&semcid=US.UB.BING.SEARCH.PACKAGE&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA:ENG:%:GT:GLOB:ALL:E:X::&utm_term=trip&utm_content=USA:ENG:%:GT:GLOB:ALL:XX:X:X:X:X:E:X:trip:
http://www.aroundtheworldtours.com/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/how-to-plan-a-trip-around-the-world/2016/04/25/190c8f80-f5d4-11e5-a3ce-f06b5ba21f33_story.html?utm_term=.881971cbc99a
http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/around-the-world-jet-tour/detail
https://www.seabourn.com/
http://www.atwt.net/
http://www.abercrombiekent.com/?did=8568&utm_content=MQXIzpc9-d_pcrid__pkw__pmt_e_&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=A%26K+Brand_General&utm_term=abercrombie%26kent
http://www.statravel.com/top-multi-stop-routes.htm
http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/
https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/antarctica?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=03.%20Antarctica%20%7C%20USA%20%7C%20ENG&utm_term=Antarctic%20cruise&utm_content=Antarctica%20%2B%20cruises%20%2F1
http://www.polarcruises.com/antarctica?mm_campaign=485D87F841FB2962CDAE4DA47CAA0F31&keyword=antarctic%20cruise&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Antarctica%20Cruises%20-%20Exact%20Bing&utm_term=antarctic%20cruise&utm_content=Antarctica%20Cruises
https://www.yampu.com/destinations/antarctica/antarctica/
http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/en/antarctic
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred