Home Travels

Most of my travels in the last 10 years have taken me around the world, very often to Europe.  I have experienced incredible people and places and each trip lead to another and another until I felt more at ease away than at home.  I even moved overseas for a short time and thought I would go back to retire. 

Now, I feel the need to be a little closer to home and to my family.  I still love to travel so I thought it would be fun to plan some trips here at home.  There are so many things that I have never seen or done in the US and I can't wait to explore more of my own country. 

Here's a short list to begin the journey -
- Drive Route 66, maybe in a convertible :)
- See the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Visit Yellowstone National Park
- Statue of Liberty
- Lincoln Memorial and Cherry blossoms in Washington DC
- Cruise to Alaska
- Visit all 50 states

Travel to your hearts content

I am so grateful that I have been able to see the world, traveling to distant and far away places that only existed in my dreams.  I have found freedom and joy in places and people that have touched my very soul.

What I appreciate most is that I found the place in the world with a heart.  That place that touched me so deeply I thought I could never leave.  Now I know the meaning of true love, that I can be away from this place and yet carry it with me forever. 

When people ask me for travel advice I tell them simply go until you find your hearts content...

Tipping

I was part of an interesting chat today about tipping while traveling.  I did not realize that I had such strong feelings about this until a couple of the comments really struck a chord with me.

As an American it is customary to tip every service person at least a minimal amount and extra if you are very pleased with the service provided.  One of the comments was - why should you tip someone for just doing their job?  I realize this isn't the case in other countries but in the US the typical wait staff at restaurants or housekeepers at hotels make very little money and tips help give these very hard working people some additional income. 

Anyone who is willing to provide that service should be paid well enough that tips are not an issue but here that is just not the case.  As for the housekeeping staff who have to clean up after strangers (in ways I don't even want to imagine) they cannot be paid enough to make that worthwhile.  Yes, I'm the guest who makes her own bed and picks up before they come in to clean.  I leave money, candy, calling cards or anything else I think might be useful as a sign of my appreciation for work that I could never do.

Close your eyes - where do you want to go?

If I asked you to close your eyes and picture the most beautiful, serene place in the world, what would you see?  Is it a tropical white sand beach with warm waves splashing on your feet, or perhaps a dense rainforest lush and full of life, maybe it's a gorgeous mountain meadow with the sun softly shining down or rolling green hills as far as the eye can see.

If you can see it, smell it and touch it in your mind you can be there.  If you can capture the essence of that place and how you will feel, it will be yours as surely as if you were standing there.