Planning Christmas decorations begins early, sometimes over a year early! How are we going to set up Mistletoe Village in a new environment? What are we baking? How are we going to decorate the tree? What decorations should we put out this year? All very good questions!

Mistletoe Village – My inspiration for creating the village was from my grandparent’s little cardboard lit village under their tree every year. I always thought it was a nice display. Our village is a work in progress. Every year we seem to add a couple more things to enhance the display. We also have more buildings to paint! Karen and I have combined both our villages into one large display. This display can take up to two weeks to set up! First, locating the area for the display is discussed. Then the tables are set up. Then the blocking and risers are put into place. Next comes the table coverings, which are white sheets. Next we haul out many bins full of decorations. Then it’s time to unwrap the houses and accessories and start placing them in various groupings – the farm, Santa’s Village, downtown shopping area, residential area, the skating/sledding area, the waterfront area, the town park and so on. It’s a task!

This year’s display layout is a bit of a challenge, reaching the top tier to add pieces to create the scene. But it’s a fun and creative task. After the houses and accessories are placed, it’s time to set the lights. Last year we went to individual remote control tea lights. It was getting way too complicated and a bit dangerous to have all the wired lights under the houses. When it’s all set up it’s time for the final touches – snow! We use batting for our snow, but I used to use angel hair years ago. I loved the way it made the village sparkle. All the buildings and most of the accessories are made of plaster and hand-painted by both Karen and myself. Traditionally, we’d add a building and accessory every year. We have a couple very special buildings in our village. One is a Maple Sugar Factory, in honor of my Dad who made maple syrup. The other is a Diner – actually two diners – One named Dad’s Diner and one named Eat at Ed’s Diner, in honor of Karen’s Dad and my late husband, Ed. When we set up the village, it is with a story or two in mind. Years ago, I read a Harlequin book about a village that popped up during a snow storm, the village was named Mistletoe. And since our Christmas village pops up also once a year…Welcome to Mistletoe! I still have the book packed with the village pieces to this day. Our villages have traveled back and forth across the country as we’ve moved around. Setting this village up every year is a labor of love. Fun to put up, sad to put away…until next year when we do it all over again! (For more Mistletoe pictures from a previous year, check out the gallery!)

Patriotic tree – For the past several years, I’ve had what I call my ‘decorator tree’. This tree has a theme, usually based on our location. One year it was covered in white hibiscus blossoms. Another year red poinsettias. Yet another year it was decorated with red bandanas, twine-coiled rope, red handmade Texas-shaped candy ornaments and white cowgirl hats. Another year we decorated a travel tree with all of our ornaments from vacations as well as a paper chain made from maps. Another year we had a smaller tree with seashell ornaments and seashell garland. Karen and I both love our country and are very patriotic – Karen was born on Memorial Day. This year’s theme is Red, White and Blue – Red ornaments, white star ornaments, red wooden bead garland, white snowflake garland, blue Mardi Gras beads, small American flags and individual candles, with a red, white and blue star on top. I think my vision of what it would look like when done is pretty spot on!

Enchant at Nationals Park
Kicking off the holidays with Enchant at Nationals Park, complete with trees, snowflakes, ornaments, snowmen, reindeer scavenger hunt, ice skating, food, music, vendors, Mr. & Mrs. Claus and lots of lights! I love it when Karen gets a complimentary invite to attend an event!

DC’s Downtown Holiday Market
It was a beautiful downtown DC day so we decided to visit the holiday market. Smooth walking on an even sidewalk. Music playing from the stage with chairs to rest and listen. Vendors lined both sides of the sidewalk. A small friendly group of vendors with very nice merchandise. Karen came home with a warm hat for windy winter days and I came home with the perfect scarf to keep my neck warm when it gets wintery here in the DC area.

Christkindlmarkt Philadelphia
It wasn’t until the 11th hour before we knew we could officially go. We decided to drive (road trip!) as it was only 3 hours away. We stayed at the new Philadelphia Four Seasons and were pampered, of course. We visited 2 Christmas markets, across the street from one another as well as a couple of historical sites. (See separate post).

Pacific Coast Christmas Cruise
We have traveled at Christmas time for the past 8 years. We like to experience different locations, their customs and decorations. This year is no different as we will be embarking on a 7-day cruise in mid-December. Watch for the blog post to come out around Christmas.

Christmas Light Displays
Locally, we have a couple of famous – as in Great Holiday Light Fight – holiday light displays. So, a drive-by is in order to round out our 2019 Christmas events.

Baking – A Christmas tradition that I grew up loving…baking! Every year I gravitate towards old favorites – frosted cut-out sugar cookies, colorful Spritz cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies, magic bars, ginger snaps and more. I generally try to incorporate a new recipe each year. You never know if it will become a favorite or not! Since moving around in the past few years, the batches have gotten smaller as there seems to be less people to share them with. Karen’s co-workers always appreciate the home-baked goodness, so a good selection is always sent with her. One year, a co-worker challenged me to 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. I rose to the challenge and delivered! Our apartment’s maintenance team enjoys my treats and is often the recipient. Remember, holiday baking has no calories when shared with friends and family. So enjoy a sweet Christmas treat!

I can’t do a Christmas post without these pictures below. This is Ed, on graduation day from Santa School. And yours truly, more recently, as Mrs. Santa. Merry Christmas wishes to each and every one of you! Click the play button below to hear Burl Ives sing Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, one of our favorites.

Here’s wishing you all a
Holly Jolly Christmas!

With the winter Polar Coaster holding off, we decided to drive to Philadelphia with the express purposes of checking out the new Four Seasons Philadelphia hotel and the Philadelphia Christmas Village. The weather was overcast and chilly with rain coming as we left the market. There was fog in the morning. While we only saw a little bit of the area, we spent time shopping at the Christmas Village. “Philadelphia Christmas Village will once again bring the charm of an authentic German Christmas market to Center City Philadelphia. It will be officially opened by the original Christkind from Nuremberg, Germany!”*

Christmas Market History*
The History of Christmas markets in Germany roots in the late Middle Ages. One of the oldest and most famous ones is held each year in Nuremberg in the state of Bavaria. It has been passed down from generation to generation, that the farmers of the Nuremberg area started selling their crops in a farmers market during the Advent time in the mid 16th century. Out of this, the world known Nuremberg Christkindlsmarket developed. Check out their website to learn more about their history, event and the city of Nuremberg!

Christmas Village in Philadelphia is modeled after traditional German Christmas Markets. The most famous is the Christkindlmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. The goods presented in wooden booths include a rich variety of holiday gifts including Christmas ornaments, arts and crafts, toys, sweets, as well as German food and drinks. People stroll around, meet friends, and enjoy live performances of Christmas music.

History of Christkind
Since 1969 and every other year thereafter, the Nuremberg Christkind is selected to represent the spirit of Christmas in Germany. She wears a long white dress with golden stars, a golden crown, and has long blonde curls. She is the German equivalent to the American children’s Santa Claus.

Each year, the Christkind recites a prologue to open the Nuremberg Christmas Market. The Christkind also makes appearances at over 150 charitable institutions. She brings joy to those in nursing homes, hospitals, and kindergartens. However, the Christkind isn’t restricted to just Nuremberg and visits a lot of Christmas markets abroad. In the US, Christmas Village in Philadelphia and its sister market in Baltimore are the only two stops she makes, so make sure to swing by!

Karen and I have visited many Christkindlemarkts in Germany, including the wonderfully fabulous Nuremberg. We also visited the market in Baltimore. We enjoyed our visit to Philadelphia Christmas Village. We had hot cocoa, brats with sauerkraut, soft pretzels with a cheesy beer dip and mulled wine. We met Carl, from Germany at his booth. We’ve apparently seen his wares at previous markets, visited in Germany. Carl was rubbing his hands, and I asked him if his hand were cold. He said no, but I pulled out one of my hand warmers from my glove and gave it to him anyway. Just like the vendor in Germany that I gave one to a couple of years ago, Carl was excited and wanted to know where he could get some. I ended up giving him my other hand warmer before we left. Such a nice man! We spent some time chatting with him and was sad to hear that he would not be returning next year, due to slow business and being away from family and Germany at Christmastime each year for the past 20+ years. We went on our way and shopped other vendors. We have so many Christmas decorations already, but we, of course, added more to the collection!

Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market at Dilworth Park features festively lit tents topped with original Herrnhut Stars. After spending most of the day at the Philadelphia Christmas Village, we headed across the street to a corner bar for a drink, bathroom break and to warm up. We did not stay for the tree lighting as we were getting tired and hungry for a more complete dinner. After a quick walk through the vendors, we hailed a Lyft and headed back to the Italian restaurant where we had eaten lunch the day before.

Besides the Christmas Village, we took a couple of side trips to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, and Elfreth Street. There is definitely some beautiful architecture in Philadelphia. Love old buildings! Inside the Liberty Bell hall, we even spied some Carnival Glass! A Marigold Liberty Bell Bank, which I had but gave to my great-nephew and a commemorative convention plate, which I sold with many other Carnival Glass commemoratives in an auction many years ago. I also had a large Liberty Bell Cookie Jar. (Check out my book on Carnival Glass Commemoratives!) Ever played Monopoly? Take a ride on the Reading RR? This is the place. Some of the colder venues, Karen braved the cold and winds for the photo ops while I stayed warm or rested.

Our complimentary stay at the new Four Seasons Philadelphia was very nice. The staff was friendly and wonderful and we were well taken care of. The hotel decorations were very well done. Each of the white urns in the reindeer picture hold 150 white roses! We enjoyed the amenity which consisted of two tarts and a chocolate bar with a picture on it. It’s amazing what can be done with chocolate! Karen had the beautiful boxwood tree added to the room. Since we drove, we brought it home to enjoy and it sits on our kitchen island adding more festive-ness to the house! A special shout out to Emily and Fernando. We enjoyed a couple light bites and dessert in the lounge – one was a Philly spring roll. The desserts were a poached pear with caramel sauce and carrot cake. I’ve never had cream cheese frosting that silky smooth before! Wish it had some fruit and nuts in the cake though. The view from the lounge and pool areas is amazing! We were told that when it snows, it’s like being inside a snow globe! It was interesting to go to the lobby on the 60th floor! Our room was on the 52nd floor – what a view! We waved to the window washers outside – wouldn’t want their job – and they waved back! We had a slow drive home due to traffic and were very tired from our busy, but short and wonderful 2-1/2 days in Philly. Time to re-pack the suitcases for our upcoming holiday cruise!

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.
– Saint Augustine

*Information obtained from PhiladelphiaChristmas.com

I think one of the bigger questions guests must answer when cruising is if having internet access is necessary. As usual, this is a personal question with a different answer for everyone. Some folks take a working vacation. Others like to stay in touch with folks back home. Still others are addicted to surfing the net for social media, news, sports and other interests.

Some ships provide complimentary internet. It is usually slow, especially on sea days and sometime it is next to non-existent depending on location. Cruise lines are starting to step up their game by offering hi-speed internet access. Other cruise lines charge an arm and a leg and your first-born to have internet access. So again, the big decision is: to connect or not to connect.

We like to sail with cruise lines that provide complimentary on-board internet. It allows us to post our daily postcard of our travels for our family and friends back home. However, keep in mind that on-board internet access doesn’t do you a heck of a lot of good on shore! For that service, you need to check with your cell phone carrier for coverage costs. Why do you need internet service on shore, you ask? Well, we use it for walking maps and directions when in port. Our phone carrier charges $10/day for this service. We typically only use this on the excursion days, and not on sea days, as we enjoy the complimentary service on board. We also use it while taking an Uber or Lyft car to make sure we are heading in the right direction. Recently, we had to ‘encourage’ our Uber driver to go the way the app said to go, instead of his ‘short-cut’. That was definitely an interesting ride!

“Cellular rates at sea vary by wireless company but generally reflect international roaming rates, which can be breathtakingly pricy. When the ship reaches port, pricing will switch to the country-specific roaming rate — also not cheap unless you’ve signed up for an international calling plan.”*

Not only do you have to evaluate your needs on a cruise ship, but also when traveling by airplane. Terminals provide access near gates with the airline’s app. While in the air, there is a fee that the handy credit card machine on the back of the seat in front of you gladly accepts. But again, be aware of the cost!

TIP: Always update all your phone’s files before departing as you may need to access various information when the internet access is less that favorable. Another lesson learned the hard way as we went through customs in a foreign country with connecting flights. I was being questioned as to our connections and was unable to access the information. I failed to print the information before leaving home as I knew I had it on my phone, in my travel folder. Thankfully, the customs agent finally let us pass through with a frown and a stamp on our passport.

Here’s a short list of cruise lines and their internet access/packages. Keep in mind that there are relatively few computers on the ship for public use. Most people have smart phones, iPads or laptop computers for personal, private access.

• Viking – offers complimentary on-board internet access included in your fare.
• Oceania – offers complimentary on-board internet access included in your fare.
• Royal Caribbean – offers two packages from $15-$20 per day.
• NCL – offers four packages from $15-$35 or pay by minutes.
• Holland America – offers three packages from $15-$30 per day or special 7-day pricing.
• Carnival – offers three packages to choose from ranging for $8-$25 per day.
• Disney – Pay as you go for 25 cents per minute or choose from three packages from $19-$89.
• Celebrity – offers two packages ranging from $15-$35 per day.
  
  NOTE:
  – Many times, the cruise lines will also offer special, limited time incentives to pre-purchase internet access prior to embarkation. Watch your emails for updates.
  – Depending on your cruise ship passenger status, you may receive complimentary onboard internet with every sailing. Check with your cruise line.
  – Basic cruise line internet information obtained from individual online cruise sites. As you can see by the above information, enjoying the internet onboard can become a rather costly option.

*Cruise Critic

Work, travel, save, repeat.
– Anonymous

Years ago, after my first international river cruise, I knew I wanted to visit Christmas markets or Christkindlmarkt in Europe. As life sometimes has a habit of getting in the way of plans, I never was able to fulfill that dream. That is, until one day two years ago, my daughter, Karen, asked me if there was anything on the calendar for specific dates. The next thing I know, we are jetting off to Germany for a whirlwind Christmas Market tour! Fröhliche Weihnachten! If you love Christmas, you have to experience a European Christmas Market. One year ago today, we embarked on a river cruise down the Danube, specifically to visit Christmas Markets. So many beautiful items, most of which are locally made. Everything from glass ornaments to cuckoo clocks, to nutcrackers, miniature Christmas villages and accessories, to elaborately decorated cookies, wooden toys and so much more! And, be sure to have a ‘brat’ with sauerkraut! Delicious! Don’t forget to get your souvenir mug with either beer or Glühwein! The mugs are collectible as each year they change. Just be sure that you have the correct year on your mug! We had to go back to the vendor as they had given us a previous year!

Be prepared. Plan on plenty of walking. Plenty of people. Plenty of uneven surfaces. Colder weather – so be prepared with winter wear and dress in layers. No place to sit – they want you up and shopping! And limited restroom facilities. (We usually take a break and head to a nearby restaurant to get warm, order a hot drink or have a snack and use their facilities.) Locally, we’ve visited Christmas Markets in Florida, Maryland and New York City, with plans to visit Philadelphia’s and Washington D.C’s markets this year.

Many Christkindlmarkt are located near a prominent square or in the shadows of a church, government building or other historical setting. I think the most notable European market that we have visited so far is Nuremberg (Nurnberg). We have also visited and enjoyed Wurzburg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, Vienna, Budapest, Passau, Lintz and Bratislava.

A few of our favorite purchases are hand-painted ornaments, holiday linens and assorted table-top decorations. For us, hand-made is an important criteria. And, it has to ‘speak’ to us ‘asking’ us to bring it home!

The more I travel with my challenges, the more prepared I am to deal with them. Hands cold? Bring disposable hand warmers to put inside your gloves. No clean place to sit? I fashioned an insulated seat pad that folds up small to protect me from dirt and cold surfaces such as low walls. If you use a walker, you hopefully have a ready place to sit. Wheelchair or scooter use could be problematic due to crowds and uneven surfaces. It is sometimes difficult to get up close to the vendor’s booth to shop their wares. Patience is needed here; just move in as the crowd moves out. Generally speaking, you should be prepared to use local currency as many vendors do not accept credit cards. Buying a cuckoo clock? You can have it shipped for a fee, but be prepared to wait for it to be delivered to the United States and go through Customs. Bring some bubble wrap with you for fragile items. Use your clothes to cushion other items. We generally save room in our carry-on luggage for our purchases. I’m still learning as I travel but I’m getting smarter all the time!

Still need some convincing?
Check out this article,
“8 Reasons to Take a Christmas Markets Cruise” from Cruise Critic:
https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles

Fröhliche Weihnachten

Currently on one of the travel groups I follow, there’s a huge discussion on cruise wear. It always amazes me to read some of the comments that people post! I believe there is a time and place for everything. And that includes proper attire, whether heading to the local store or cruising the seven seas. Gone are the days of tuxedos and ball gowns in the main dining room! Or is it?

Please acquaint yourself with the following terminology, as described on the website from each cruise lines listed below:

• Cruise Casual
• Smart Casual
• Informal
• Cruise Elegant
• Formal
• Evening Chic
• Gala
• Country Club Casual
• Resort Casual
  Who knew there were so many types of attire?

Carnival – undoubtedly the most specific!
Cruise Casual for Men – polo/sport shirts with sport slacks (dockers, khakis), jeans (cut-offs are not permitted), pressed long dress shorts with collared sport shirts and proper footwear (you’re likely to be in the minority), jackets.
Cruise Casual for Women – casual dresses and skirts (including summer dresses), pantsuits, Capri pants, pants and blouses, dress shorts, and again jeans (but no cut-offs or rips). Cardigans and blazers are also OK.
Cruise Elegant for Men – dress slacks and shirts, a sport coat and a jacket is suggested (but not required), same goes with the business suit (tie or no tie).
Cruise Elegant for Women – cocktail dresses, pantsuit, elegant skirts with blouses. Although this level of dress is not required, on elegant nights guests may choose to dress more formally (suit and tie, tuxedo, and the evening gown).

Princess
During your cruise, you should dress the same way you would do ashore. (Well, that could be interpreted many ways!) Leisure wear such as shorts and t-shirts is appropriate on board and on shore excursions in a warm climate. Depending on your itinerary, we advise you to bring sweaters and jackets for chilly evenings. Keep in mind that it could rain and that you need correct clothing for visits to religious sites. On deck, sandals with rubber soles and sneakers are ideal.

There are two recommendations for evenings and dinners:

• Smart casual:
  Dress the same way you would do for a visit to a restaurant at home. Skirts, dresses or trousers with t-shirt or blouse for ladies, trousers and shirt or poloshirt for gentlemen. Shorts and swimwear are not allowed in the restaurant.
• Formal:
  Evening gown, cocktail dress or pantsuits for ladies, suit, combination or dinner jackets for gentlemen. Princess Cruises offers formal wear rental on all cruises.

Celebrity
Evening Chic attire has replaced Formal attire. While dressier than Smart Casual, Evening Chic is intended to be less dressy than Formal attire. Women may feel comfortable wearing a cocktail dress or skirt, pants or designer jeans with an elegant top. Men may feel comfortable wearing pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt or sweater, Sport coat or blazer are optional. If you would like to still wear a tuxedo or formal gown on Evening Chic nights, you absolutely should.

Holland America
Holland America has formal optional and smart casual evenings. The line calls its formal nights “Gala Nights” and its formal dress “Gala Attire.”. This attire includes collared shirts and slacks for men in all fine dining restaurants, and dresses, skirts or slacks for women.

Royal Caribbean
Casual: You’re on vacation – relax! Jeans, polos, sundresses and blouses are all the right amount of laid back. Please keep swimwear to the Pool Deck. Shorts are welcomed for breakfast and lunch.

Smart Casual: Think of this as a step up from your typical dinner wear. Dress to impress with collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits. Jackets, sports coats and blazers are snazzy and welcomed. 

Formal: Make it a night out in your best black-tie look – suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion.

Viking
Dress during the day is casual including shorts (if the season is warm), pants or jeans and comfortable shoes for walking tours. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Center, pool areas and Sports Deck. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues after 6:00 PM, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional.

Oceania
Recommended onboard clothing is resort or country club casual. For evening dining, elegant casual resort wear is suggested. Oceania requests that jeans, shorts, t-shirts or tennis shoes not be worn at dinner.

MSC

Gala – Dressy outfits, formal gowns or cocktail dress for women and tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit and tie for gentlemen. Informal – More casual dress or trousers and blouse for women and jacket and trousers for men. Jeans are not to be worn.

Silversea
Evenings rotate among casual, informal and formal dress codes. On casual nights, open-neck shirts and slacks are appropriate for men, while women wear casual dresses, blouses and skirts or pantsuits. On informal nights, dresses or trouser suits for women and jackets (ties optional) for men are recommended.

Disney
In general, most onboard dining locations are “cruise casual,” so casual attire, such as shorts and T-shirts, is permitted, with the exception of swimwear and tank tops. Most cruises have special theme nights that provide opportunities to dress up for a one-of-a-kind family photo. See website for special breakdown.

As you can see by the above information, the wearing of bathing suits, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, flip flops and assorted beach-type clothing is not allowed in the dining room or specialty restaurants during dinner. Should you wish to dress and dine more casually, there is the buffet, lido deck eateries and room service available. While it is your vacation and you paid good hard-earned money for it, please respect other passengers and crew by dressing and behaving appropriately.

Typically, Karen will wear a cute cruise worthy dress and I will wear black slacks with a sweater, blouse or jacket in the MDR. While we choose not to dress formally for dinner, we do love to see those passengers that do ‘deck’ themselves out. And we applaud them for doing so! Whatever you do, make your cruise experience memorable – in a good way – for you!

NOTE:
All cruise dress code information provided by the online website for each cruise line.
MDR is the abbreviation for Main Dining Room.

A beautiful ocean sunrise is a wonderful way to start the day.
And another beautiful ocean sunset is a great way to end the day.

Ever wonder what the best time of the year it is to travel to certain places? Is it Summer? Is it Fall? Is it Winter? Is it Spring? The answer is, of course…YES! All of them! You just need to consider your itinerary. Are you driving? Are you flying? Are you taking the train? Are you on a cruise?

Spring
The temperatures are usually tolerable. Not too hot…not too cold. A good time to explore and enjoy the rebirth of the earth after the winter months. The trees are sprouting their new green colors and buds. The flowers are blooming. The grass is green. The rivers are flowing. The waterfalls are overflowing. It’s a magical time of year.

So, where do you want to go in the Spring? If you are interested in traveling internationally, then may I suggest Amsterdam, Netherlands? April and May may be my most favorite time of the year to visit Amsterdam. Why, you ask? One word – tulips! Visiting the beautiful countryside and seeing the multi-colored tulip fields is breathtaking. Visiting Keukenhof Gardens is amazing. The canals are busy with water traffic and lined with interesting houseboats. And the windmills at Kinderdijk! Definitely a must see! Love cheese? Visit a farm and help make some. Want a bouquet of tulips? Head to the canal for boat loads of fresh cut tulips in all the colors of the rainbow. We bought a bunch and put them in our stateroom on the ship to enjoy during the week.

Can’t make it to Amsterdam? Try Holland, Michigan instead! Tulips, windmills, Dutch girls and boys in traditional dress, wooden shoes, shops and more await.

Plan for the weather. As we all know, April showers bring May flowers!

Summer
Best place to head in the summer is somewhere to escape the heat and humidity. A nice drive up the Atlantic coast will have you eating fresh seafood, enjoying small town ambiance, lighthouses and lots more. Road trip? Take a circular route back home through the New England states for more small town cuteness.

Personally, I don’t care overly much for traveling during the summer months as school is out and it’s high or peak season. We generally prefer to travel in the ‘shoulder’ months – those that fall before or after high demand times. There’s generally less people, shorter lines, better deals and more tolerable temperatures.

Cruising to the Caribbean is very popular. If you long for a sandy beach, sunshine, waves crashing nearby or love to explore under the sea, the Caribbean is very popular. Or heading to Florida (unless you are a snowbird!) or other toasty climates for various amusement parks and attractions is also popular. Keep in mind, however, that it is hurricane season from May-November.

Fall
Fall used to be our favorite time to travel. Cooler temperatures, less people. The trouble with some destinations is that they close after Labor Day. So, before you plan that road trip, do your homework so there’s no disappointments. We recently took a fall foliage cruise in the beginning of October. Our hope was to see the beautiful fall colors along the Atlantic shore. Unfortunately, Mother Nature wasn’t dressed for our visit even though the ‘leaf peepers’ website said she was. So, perhaps plan to go a bit later in October if leaf peeping is of interest.

Fall is also a great time to travel abroad. Whether taking a cruise or simply flying over for a visit, the weather is likely to be cool and tolerable. Keeping in mind, however, that it is hurricane season from May-November.

Winter
One of our favorite trips during the winter is Christmas Markets, both here in the states and abroad. I will be posting another blog post in a couple weeks about these wonderful markets.

If you’re a snowbird, you head south for the winter. Or cruise to an island paradise for a visit. Or perhaps you enjoy the cold and head to Vail or another ski area for your get-away. If you are heading into snow country, please use caution as road conditions may be dangerous, especially if passing through mountain areas. If the signs indicate tire chains, be sure to use them!

A fun family-type activity to do year-round is Geocaching. This sport engages everyone from young to old. Take a road trip! Log in to http://www.geocaching.com to locate caches in the area you are planning to visit. Enter the coordinates into a hand-held GPS and you’re off on an adventure! Geocaching has taken us to areas that we always just drove by or to areas that we wanted to visit. Pack some swag to swap and a writing instrument to sign the cache log. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors and see new sites at the same time. We’ve geocached both here in the states and abroad. Finding a travel bug was always exciting then sending it on its way again. Over the years, we also hid a few caches ourselves. If you log on to the website, I bet you’ll even find a few geocaches near you!

Timing is everything – make sure you are aware of holiday dates/closures, weather conditions, and other important-to-you factors, such as special events like birthdays at home that you don’t want to miss. Or celebrate a special event during your trip! It will usually net you a complimentary dessert and a song!

Each of the four seasons presents different opportunities to get away, whether you are active or just need some R&R and pampering for a few days. So, start making some plans! Go! Seek! Explore!

Travel adventurously
– Josh Gates

Trick or Treat!

It’s Throw Back Thursday – Back quite a few years ago, to more recent memories of Halloween.

I grew up in a rural town in western New York State. To go trick or treating was not for those kids that wanted easy treats! To go trick or treating was tiring! Lots of walking. Back in the day, we respected people’s property and were not allowed to cut across lawns. Besides, you never knew if there were any dangers crossing yards, like uneven ground or ‘land mines’. Driveways in rural areas could mean some long walks up and down instead of across and through yards. We’d head out for the night with our pillowcases, ‘crank’ noise makers, flashlights and homemade costumes for some pretty great treats – full-sized candy bars, popcorn balls, apples, cider. donuts and more. Up one side of the road and down the other. There were no sidewalks on my road. No street lamps to light the way. When we went on vacation, we’d always bring back small bars of hotel soap. We’d ring the doorbells, yell “Trick or Treat”, ‘crank’ the noisemaker, showing them the bar of soap! Of course we never soaped any windows; it was all in good fun. And, it was always cold on Halloween too! Nothing like having your winter coat, boots, gloves on under your costume! Some years it even snowed!

I think one of my favorite costumes as a child was an Indian. The costume was an old southwestern-style striped blanket with fringe, fashioned into a dress – large enough to wear my winter coat underneath! I even had a wig of braids, made from old stockings. On my back was a papoose, with one of my dolls in it. People would call me back to the door after seeing me walk away to exclaim with delight about the papoose! I made headbands for both my doll and me. As a much younger girl, I was a monkey, complete with stocking-stuffed tail, Shriner’s cap and a soft rubber, hot monkey mask. I’m not sure I was ever a princess, unless you want to count the Indian costume as an Indian princess. Growing up, we had a ‘costume barrel’ in the basement, full of ideas, accessories, ‘crank’ noisemakers and more. I continued the ‘costume barrel’ tradition as my children grew up. Full of dance costumes, clown costumes, witch costumes, princess costumes and more. Many costumes also continued the tradition of being homemade.

Pumpkins. Oh the fun of choosing just the right pumpkin, drawing the face on the side, cutting into the flesh of the pumpkin, removing the gross and gooey seeds and making it a traditional Jack-o’Lantern! Back in the day, we put candles inside to illuminate the face that we had carved.

As the children grew up, we were still in a pretty rural area, no sidewalks, no streetlights. Many of our neighbors were surprised to receive trick or treaters ringing their bell, even with their lights on! By that time, parents were taking their children into the housing tracts and developments for easier, ‘safer’ trick or treating. I remember doing that one year and being constantly asked if we lived in the neighborhood. We only had our door bell rung a very few times each year we lived there – mostly a couple neighbor children and a few friends stopping by to show us their children’s costumes. No more full sized candy bars. No more homemade popcorn balls. No more invitations inside for cider and donuts. Times change.

We like to decorate the house for all the holidays and Halloween is no different. Fall decorations abound inside and out. Fall baking leaves the house smelling wonderfully delicious.

As we’ve moved around the country, different neighborhoods celebrate Halloween in different ways. There’s safe trick or treating at malls and shopping centers. There’s organized Halloween parties for kids. When we lived in Florida, the tradition was to sit at the road-side of your driveway to give out candy to the kids. It had been a few years since we participated in giving out candy, and not thinking, we bought chocolate. In Florida! What were we thinking? Yes, it melted! Lesson learned that first year!

Where we currently live, I was surprised to get a few knocks on my door the first year. I had not signed up to participate in giving out treats. I scrambled and came up with small bags of chips and other items. My new neighbor knocked on my door and handed me her huge bowl of candy! She heard people knocking on my door, but not on hers! It seems the office put the wrong apartment number on the map! Mystery solved! I’m all signed up for tonight’s visitors. Since the hallways are inside and climate controlled, I am once again giving out chocolate – Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins. My Vegas desert cactus Jack o’Lantern will be lit up outside my door (see picture above).

Going back, once again to my children’s growing up years, I threw a few Halloween parties for their friends. It was fun watching them bob for apples — hung with string from the ceiling! And the squeals from the dark as they touched ‘devil’s brains’ and ‘eye of Newt’, which of course were spaghetti and olives! Cider and donuts, games, costumes and of course treat bags were the norm.

Want to take Halloween to the next level? Visit a Disney park or take a Disney cruise during the Halloween season! You know Disney knows how to celebrate the holidays! Venture out in your neighborhood or surrounding area for a haunted hay ride, haunted house, ghost tour or corn maze! Check out the neighbor’s Halloween and Fall decorations. Attend a Halloween party! My most current – a few years ago – Halloween parties were with Red Hatters, at work for our Corporate Halloween Throwdown and at a senior apartment complex. Yes, I confused a few seniors with my Mrs. Claus costume in October! But they loved the home-baked Spritz cookies in red poinsettia and green tree shapes. Working for a gaming company, one year I dressed up as a slot machine and included a gaming table with chocolate gaming chips on my desk. Another year my department won for our overall Luau theme. Lots of fun. Candy. Great costumes. Candy. Food. Candy. Prizes. Candy. Pumpkin decorating contests. Candy. Did I mention candy?!

Speaking of candy – just one question: Do you like candy corn? The question seems to be popular right about now and very divided with the answers! I used to use it to decorate cupcakes or sugar cookies to look like pumpkins. In truth, I don’t mind candy corn! But then, I have a sweet tooth. Leave me a comment with your preference for or against this confection. Who knows, I may have another contest brewing in my bubbling cauldron!

Happy Halloween everyone! Be safe out there!

Years ago, I knew a family that had never been farther down the road than the town’s boundaries. They didn’t think they wanted to spend money ‘needlessly’ and that vacations were too expensive. On the other hand, however, I grew up always going on vacations every year. My parents planned and saved to give us the luxury of seeing the United States and Canada, a little bit at a time. These were always road trips. As my own small family grew up, we continued that tradition of traveling the United States and Canada by camping – one of the greatest ways to see the USA! As the children got older, we started cruising to the Caribbean and beyond as well as flying to our vacation destinations.
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To this day, my daughter, Karen, and I plan many get-aways each year. Some way in advance and some are more spontaneous. But each involves planning. Planning where to go. Planning how to get from here to there. Planning what to do once we get there. Planning how much to spend on hotels, transportation, excursions and food. It’s essential to plan to have an enjoyable vacation. Granted, there may be emergencies or other situations that crop up that you just can’t plan for. Those you will figure out as you go.

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The title of this blog post is “Can You Afford a Vacation?”. The answer to that question may mean many different things to many different people. Each has their own threshold and expectations. Some may only take day trips. Some enjoy staycations. Some take road trips. Some fly. Some travel by train. Some stay at resorts. Some camp. Some cruise. There’s something for everyone. Just engage your own individual sense of adventure and go! Enjoy! But plan, first!

• Travel where you live. For years, I lived in Rochester, New York. But until I participated in a ‘passport’ program, had never been to several of our local historic places of interest. It brought on a much greater appreciation for the architecture and people that built and served Rochester in the early days, and through the years.
• If you decide to fly to your destination, you may wish to use a travel agent (TA). They can search for the best deals and flights. While non-stop flights are not plentiful, they are much preferred, rather than layovers and changing planes along the way. If you are internet savvy, check out the airline sites on your own. I like to use Expedia AARP to get started and also have a few other sites, such as AirFareWatchDog, as well as the main carrier sites. You can have certain websites notify you when rates change or become available. Don’t forget to plan in advance how you are going to get to and from the airport! And be sure to budget for parking off-site near the airport or cruise terminal.
• If you are flexible with your travel dates, you may get a great deal money-wise. But not only that, if you can book on ‘shoulder’ dates of a busy season, the crowds will be less than during peak season. Just be mindful of the weather where you plan to go as that could impact your vacation.
• Not fussy about where you hang your hat? There are a plethora of hotels in every dollar bracket in just about every city near and far. Not a hotel person? What about an AirBnB? Or a more traditional Bed and Breakfast? Really adventurous? What about a hostel? Again, there’s something for everyone and their travel budget. Just be sure to totally read the descriptions for various amenities, fees, taxes and more, as these can and do add up!
• No need to exceed your daily food budget when traveling, unless of course, you plan only to eat at the best restaurants. There are always options nearby, whether it is a local restaurant, chain/brand restaurant, fast food restaurant, food trucks, street vendors etc. Or, order in! Many restaurants and drivers will deliver to just about anywhere! Growing up on our vacations, we had a big breakfast, then fruit and snacks in the car for lunch, then a decent dinner. When we travel now, we basically plan on one really nice meal during our time away. And yes, it’s usually Italian as we enjoy Chicken Parmigiana! The rest are less expensive options. Many hotels offer a complimentary breakfast for guests to start their day. This usually includes a couple of hot items such as scrambled eggs or waffles, fruit, cereal, pastries, juices and coffee/tea.
• If you decide to venture outside the United States, it’s best to have a credit card that does not charge foreign exchange fees. Most businesses large and small will accept a credit card. Some will accept US Dollars, but your change will be in the local currency. Many travel credit cards also offer travel insurance and rental car insurance as part of their program. But note, you need to use that card for the booking process to be covered. I’ve found that Capital One’s Venture card has worked well for us over the years.
• If you are cruising, often you will have to reserve and pay for your cruise well in advance. Some cruise lines expect final payment a year in advance of travel. This can be done in installment payments, making it easier than paying one large lump sum. Deposits are almost always required to hold a cabin. Once onboard, a sail & sign card that’s billed to your credit card is your cashless system for everything from beverages to shop purchases to excursions. Gratuities are automatically calculated and added to your account. Just be aware of your thirst as those bar bills add up fast and may put you over your budgeted vacation costs. Also, many of today’s large cruise ships offer a floating casino experience. Again, this can put you over your allotted budget, so be sure to plan accordingly.
• By doing your homework before traveling, you can get a good feel for what your vacation will cost you, again, barring any emergencies. Try to stick within that budget for an enjoyable and memorable vacation for all.
• Belonging to reward programs for airlines, hotels, credit cards, etc. can definitely help to make vacations affordable. Many have a cash-back system based on purchases.
• Some cruise lines, airlines and hotels have a system in place where you can purchase gift cards/certificates or buy miles. This may help with future vacation plans.
• As you complete your different vacation homework assignments, gather them all in one spot. I create spreadsheets. Not a big computer person? No worries! I used to use a notebook, and of course there were many hi-lighted entries in the AAA TourBooks.
• Want to know how much you actually spent on your vacation? Keep track of your expenses. Take an envelope or two along to keep receipts in, or one for each day’s receipts. Or write them down by the day in a notebook. It will be interesting to see how well you planned when all was said and done! And it will give you insight into future travel budgets and help you plan better for your next vacation. It’s also helpful for filling out customs forms if you’ve traveled overseas and made purchases that need to be declared.
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  For years, when my late husband worked at Kodak, we had to have our entire year’s vacation requests in by March. I truly believe that this is what makes me the planner that I am today. We’d talk about what we wanted to see or do and I’d research it by delving into AAA TourBooks and maps. We truly had some great, memorable vacations over the years. I dreamed about going to Hawaii and Alaska. I put a ‘time’ on when I wanted to go and we made it happen. I wanted to see each state in the United States. So far so good, with the exception of North Dakota — still on my bucket list! Anything is possible! As Walt Disney said, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Make your dreams of traveling come true!
  Go! Seek! Explore the world around you!

You’re never too young to start dreaming,
and you’re never too old for your dream to come true.
Follow your dream.
— singer-composer Robert Finley

Canceled 8/2/19
Rebooked for 10/19-22/19

Yes, folks…we are heading to Vegas again, fingers crossed there’s no medical emergencies this time!

Ahhh…Las Vegas…where I hung my hat for 8 great years! My late husband, Ed, retired from Kodak and decided to be a casino dealer. He loved poker! We had visited Vegas for years before packing up 25-some years of accumulation and moving across the country in 2005. I worked at Caesars Entertainment Corporate for 7-1/2 of those years. Unfortunately, and sadly, Ed passed away in 2012 after 40 years of marriage. Shortly afterwards, I retired and Karen and I started our journey together. It is with mixed emotions that I go back to Vegas after a 4 year absence. Once I moved there, I never thought I’d leave. This will be a short trip of 3 nights to honor Ed, but it will be filled with many memories and friends for both Karen and myself.

For the last several vacations, Karen and I have traveled internationally. Requesting wheelchair assistance was always easy – just indicate when purchasing ticket and check in at the airport. However, I was a bit surprised to have American Airlines call and leave a message regarding my request for wheelchair assistance for our flight to Las Vegas. I was interviewed on the phone, basically confirming the information that I provided when booking the ticket. I also told them that I have a handicap parking pass, which seemed to assure them that I needed the assistance that I requested. Just a different procedure from being greeted at the door of Southwest with a wheelchair, for sure!

Hotel – check
Flight – check
Rental car – check
Friends notified – check

We will be enjoying a complimentary stay at the Four Seasons hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, which we are definitely looking forward to! Love being treated like a valued guest! The cutest amenity was sent to our room. A totally chocolate Las Vegas sign and delicious assorted macarons. I’ve always loved the famous Las Vegas sign. Outside our window was a view of the new Raiders stadium being built.

I wasn’t able to walk back to where we memorialized Ed the last time we were in Vegas, four years ago. This time, come hell or high water I’m going to do it! Just pray my sure-footedness is locked in and operational! It’s a great spot, high upon Mt. Charleston, overlooking the Las Vegas valley.

It was a nice sunny day on the mountain, except when the wind blew by. We planted cactus seeds and poppy seeds. We hope they survive the winter and bring some color to the mountain. Even if only 1 seed produces a plant, it will be worth the effort. We decided that we need a bench on the mountain  instead of the small tree stump I rolled off from! More scary than anything besides trying to get back up off the mountain floor! As I looked up at the sky, I thought, well at least the helicopter can drop a basket to get me out of here! Both hips took a beating but thankfully I walked back out off the mountain with Karen’s assistance. It’s always a sad but memorable day when we visit Mt Charleston. We all know that Ed left us way too soon.

Had wonderful visits with friends Bernie, Akira, Mary Lou and Eddie by the pool. Sunshine! Sadly our dinner with Kelley was canceled due to her brother’s accident. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Not a fan of all the new slot machines. Hard on the eyes with all the very bright flashing lights and huge screen displays  Thankfully there were some of my older favorites to play. The Planet Moolah game was kind to me. As was the Craps table for Karen. But being good visitors, we left a nice casino donation behind!

Ate lots of food. From burgers to fish and chips to happy hour selections and more.It was a nice warm, relaxing getaway.

If something good happens, travel to celebrate it.
If something bad happens, travel to forget it.
If nothing happens, travel to make something happen.

Note: As you may have noticed, I begin writing my blog posts in advance of the travel dates. This helps build the excitement of travel for me as well as writing the memories when we return for you all to read, enjoy and live vicariously through us!

Yes, after many voyages on Viking Cruise Line and continued disenchantment with guest services from same, we have decided to experience another small, luxury cruise line – Oceania. It will be the first time we have worked with a travel agent in years. Generally, we prefer to do all our own booking, direct with the vendors. Our new agent is a participant in the Virtuoso program. This program often provides additional perks, such as pre-paid gratuities and on-board credits. It’s been a bit of a tug and pull relationship so far. We prefer to do most of our communications in writing. We’ve asked several questions which have not been answered. We’ve had to repeatedly refer to past emails and re-ask our questions in an attempt to get the answers so we can make decisions. Not exactly the level of guest services we are used to.

But. we are excited to partake of this new experience. We’ve chosen a bow-facing cabin, located on the deck below the bridge, on a concierge level. This level of travel provides us with a few perks, including free WiFi, priority boarding, champagne welcome and more. There is a choice of complimentary beverages, excursions or on-board credits (OBC). We’ve decided to take the complimentary OBC’s. We’ve already looked into what the ship is offering and are excited in a couple excursions that the OBC’s will pay for.

Our itinerary will sail on the Pacific Coast, round-trip Los Angeles. We will be heading out 2 weeks before Christmas and are looking forward to seeing the holiday decorations on the ship and in port.

Watch for our trip review, wrapped in pretty paper and a bow for Christmas!

November 6, 2019 – For more information on whether Oceania is the right choice for your next cruise, check out this article from Cruise Critic – https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2783%3Fsource%3D99360&fbclid=IwAR3NOdBKuy4pSDhLbg_Atc6y0nj3bdiXGq5Ql9tzZtF4fx1_uCWo8kOdeC0