Every year I plan trips to parts of the world
I have always wanted to explore. I love to see new and unusual places and, most
importantly, I love to share my findings when I return home. This past year
lived up to my expectations with two very different adventures.
Last July, my husband, Art, and I were
delighted to be Virtuoso Hosts on Seabourn’s newest ship, the Quest. Prior to
boarding the ship for a seven-night sailing of the Black Sea, we spent a few
days discovering the dynamic and modern city of Istanbul with its rich historic
sights, delicious food and bustling bazaars. We stayed at the beautiful
Ciragrin Palace Hotel where the high level of service and exquisite rooms were
quite impressive.
The Quest is an elegant and intimate ship
with 225 ocean view luxurious suites. 90% of them have private verandas. They
were gorgeous, equipped with the latest amenities and staffed by a personal
suite stewardess that handles all requests one may have. The ship interior is
accented with wood and light colors, very warm and inviting. With award-winning dining venues, a large
spa facility and unparalleled service, we could not have been more comfortable.
Our round-trip itinerary included the ports
of Nessebur, Bulgaria; Constanta, Romania; and Odessa, Yalta and Sevastopol,
Ukraine. The Virtuoso shore excursion was held in Odessa with a detailed tour
of the city and a festive lunch complete with traditional Ukraine dancing and
singing. Exeter did a superb job of handling the daily private tours. In each
port, one of their experienced guides picked us up and showed us the highlights
of the city. This area of the world is truly fascinating.
An additional treat was in store for the
Gateway Travel contingent onboard the ship one evening. Our fellow traveler,
Dr. Sanford Finkel, entertained us to our very own private piano concert. It
was a wonderful, lively night.
After saying our goodbyes to the group in
Istanbul, Art and I continued on for two days to Cappadocia. I had never been
to this central Turkey location and was curious to visit the “fairy chimneys”
that dot the region. Over the years, the people here have carved houses, churches
and even hotels into these cave-like rock formations. We took a gorgeous hot
air balloon ride over this dramatic landscape. What an experience! I will definitely add this unique stop
to future itineraries.
In November, with long underwear, fleece and
camera in tow, I hosted an exciting four-day trip to Churchill, Manitoba, a
small, hospitable Canadian hamlet on the shore of the Hudson Bay. Adventure
seekers and photographers, this is the place for you! Churchill served as our
base to view the beautiful white polar bears. Natural Habitat Adventures did an
excellent job of organizing our transportation as well as our accommodations.
From our very knowledgeable guides, we learned about the ways of the bears, how
they live and even about the people that live in this part of the world. It was
a great learning experience.
Each day we set out in special vehicles
called Tundra Buggies. They were roomy; complete with bathrooms, heat and
comfortable seats. As we roamed the tundra we were able to get up close to these
fantastic animals while taking in the rugged beauty of the land. It was
thrilling to see the bears in their natural environment. They were quite
playful and came right up to our vehicle. I know we all enjoyed taking many
pictures and showing them to each other each evening as we reconvened at
dinner.
This trip was definitely an animal lover and
photographer’s dream. I know it was one our group will long remember.
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