My idea of the perfect vacation often does not consist of palm trees, white sands, and blue waters. I’m a city girl through and through. However, after my recent trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, I might be having a change of heart.

After landing in the newly renovated Punta Cana airport, we hopped on a bus for the 15-minute drive to Cap Cana for some lunch. Cap Cana is a slightly more luxurious area of the Dominican coast with beautiful beaches and lots of adventure. After lunch, we drove an hour or so to La Romana, where we would be staying for the next 2 days. La Romana is much less touristy than Punta Cana since it is located further down the coast, about halfway between Punta Cana and the capital city of Santo Domingo. We met our local guide, Smith, who would be with us for the duration of the week. During the drive, Smith taught us a little bit of the history and culture of the Dominican Republic. We were all excited to learn about their most popular domestic beer, Presidente, and their signature local drink concoction of red wine and rum, aged in wood, with honey and spices, called Mama Juana. I can confirm, it is delicious!

The following day was our fun excursion day at Saona Island. We were dropped off at the port where we were greeted by locals selling everything from waterproof phone cases to photographs with monkeys and iguanas. Then, we boarded our catamaran, complete with an open bar. The weather was a bit cloudy to start with, but the sun came right out as soon as we made our first stop to snorkel. I had never been snorkeling before and was pleasantly surprised by how fun it was to see the variety of fish swimming below me. Once back on the catamaran, drinks were shared, and the staff began to teach us dances to local music. It was a blast! We lost the sun again but conveniently it reappeared when we made our second stop to swim at a sand bar, where we hunted for starfish. The boat ride from the sand bar to Saona Island consisted of a brief rainstorm but many more drinks and a lot more dancing. In true fashion, the sun returned once we reached the island and stayed for the remainder of the day. Saona Island, now a national park, is a mostly deserted island, off the southern tip of the Dominican Republic. There once was a small population living on the island, but the government forced them to move to the mainland in recent years, due to a fear that they would be unable to send help to the remote island should it ever be in the path of a hurricane. Now, a small portion of the beach is utilized for excursion groups, while the remainder of the island is left untouched. The natural beauty of this island is absolutely postcard picture worthy. Once on the island, we were treated to a delicious lunch of grilled lobster and chicken. The rest of the day was spent lounging on the beach with the occasional dip in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The following three days of our trip were spent back in Punta Cana. I had the pleasure of visiting many resorts in the area while there. On the final day of our trip, we ventured back to Cap Cana and visited the Scape Park. Scape Park has everything to offer from zip lining to horseback riding. Zip lining was first on our itinerary. The zip line ends in a pool so swimsuits were proper attire; however, I would recommend wearing shorts overtop your swimsuit as the safety harness is quite tight. We were not prepared for how physical this zipline course would be. There are twelve different lines you zip through and there are various terrains you need to cross in order to get from one line to the next. You will definitely want some type of water shoe, with a sole, to complete this course. After the zip line, we chose to try the Hoyo Azul. The Hoyo Azul is a small natural pool hidden in a cave. The water in this pool is the bluest water I have ever seen in my life. It’s absolutely beautiful. They have a platform you can jump or dive off if you’re adventurous. If heights aren’t your thing, you can take some steps down and get into the pool that way. All in all, Scape Park was pretty awesome.

I now have a much deeper appreciation for the people of the Dominican Republic. Everyone is very kind, the food is delicious, and the weather is always gorgeous. If you get a chance to visit, you definitely won’t regret it!

If I had to use two words to describe my recent trip to Italy, they would be WOW and AMAZING! The history and architecture throughout the country are absolutely breathtaking and I loved how in every city I visited the whole city was filled with charm and history. Not just a building here or there, but the whole city.  Below are some details on each city we visited.

Once we landed in Rome we had to go through the airport and then up to the train station. I was a little worried about this portion of the trip because I’ve heard the train system can be a little overwhelming. We didn’t have any problem finding the station or our train. Although I was tired from our flight, the scenery from Rome to Florence was beautiful. Once we got to Florence, we had a private driver pick us up at the train station and take us to our hotel in Siena, the Grand Hotel Continental. I loved this hotel! The view from our room overlooked the town and was wonderful. Service, food, wine, and location were all perfect!

The next day we had a private driver for the day. I would recommend this to all of my clients. You can relax and enjoy the scenery as you travel from point to point. The views of the countryside were like something out of a magazine. The sun was shining and all you could see for miles was rolling hills filled with vineyards and olive orchards. Plus, the drivers know all the neat off-the-beaten-path spots to stop for lunch, or wine, or shopping, or more wine.

We went to San Gimignano first. We saw some of the 14 towers that were built there. It was a lovely town with great views, shopping, wine, Gelato, more shopping and more wine. Our driver Simone then took us to lunch at a vineyard. We toured the grounds and winery after meeting the excited owner. He proudly told us the history of his farm and how this was his passion. We were able to taste different wines and olive oils and his wife made us lunch. She made us lasagna and it was the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted, it practically melted in my mouth. After lunch, our driver took us to a very small hillside town off the beaten path. We visited a winery and heard all about its history before and after the war. We also watched them make olive oil which was a neat process to see. The olive oil there tastes so much better than what we have here.

Next, we were off to Rome from Siena by train. We took a little local train from Siena to Florence, then transferred to Florence to go back to Rome. We didn’t have any issues finding our train. We did business class seating on the trains which were very roomy and comfortable. When we arrived in Rome, we had another private driver pick us up and take us to the Colosseum. I loved having this service. They drive crazy in Rome. It was worth every penny to not have to worry about how to get from point A to B and to know that once we were done with our tour, we just went to our meeting point and off we went. 

The Colosseum was really mind-blowing. Once you are there and you see it in person you can’t help but step back and think WOW! We did a skip the line tour which saved hours of waiting. Our tour included the underground which is extraordinary and we got to see the elevators they used to lift animals and other things up into the Colosseum. We learned that they think that the Romans found a way to flood the Colosseum so they could have battles with ships.

The next day we did a half day tour of the Vatican. Again, a skip the line pass is a must. Early tours like what I did are less crowded than the afternoon tour. As we went on this tour the artwork and interior of the buildings just got better and better. We were able to visit the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peters Basilica. Words can not describe the beauty of each. Then after we were done there, we went to visit the famous Spanish Steps and stunning Trevi Fountain. Of course, we had to take time at the fountain to throw in a coin or 3.

Next, we were off to Florence by way of our sister city Perugia. This city was beautiful. We met Marta Cucchia who is a fourth-generation weaver. She may be one of the last people who weave with the machine she has. It was incredible to watch how she does this with an 18-century loom. The patterns she makes are astonishing.

My trips into Tuscany were filled with astonishing views of hillsides that were filled with vineyards and olive orchards. Some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting. On our way to dinner at a private villa in Tuscany, we stopped at the Piazzale Michelangelo. It's hard to put how fabulous the views of Florence were here. I don’t think words can describe it justly. We could see all of downtown Florence. Once we arrived at the Villa we heard about its history all while sitting on top of a hillside overlooking miles of vineyards at dusk. The ambiance was spectacular. The next day we toured downtown Florence. We saw the Duomo, Piazza Della Signoria, and shopped at the famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio. Florence was a very charming city. The houses right outside the city center are very historical and gorgeous. 

After two nights in Florence, we headed out to Venice with a stop in Bologna on the way. I enjoyed the town of Bologna. We had a city tour which included Quadrilatero and Piazza Maggiore. We then arrived in Venice at 4:00 pm. Our hotel, The Continental Venice, was walking distance from the train station and located directly on the canal. It was a very beautiful hotel located within steps of fabulous shopping with lots of restaurants to choose from as well. As we approached our hotel by water taxi my eyes were could hardly take in all the beautiful buildings on the canal. Everything looked like something you would see in a National Geographic magazine as the water taxis traveled up and down the canals, with historic buildings lining each side of the canal. Due to unexpected large amounts of rain in Venice when we arrived, however, we were unable to take the famed gondola rides, or see St Mark’s Square. The water didn’t dampen our Venice experience though and we had a fabulous rest of our trip. It’s truly an astonishing and romantic city.   

I honestly enjoyed every minute of this whirlwind Italian adventure. We were in Italy for 8 nights where we stayed in 4 fabulous cities for 2 nights each. All of the cities we stayed in and visited along the way were unique, each filled with amazing stories, stunning beauty, and immense history. I can’t wait to go back for more stunning scenery, wine, and the gondola ride I missed!

I dedicate this to all who travel to Italy with a passion for experiencing a new culture, history, art, wines, fine dining, sightseeing, adventure and unique accommodations and location.

Before you go, know..

A few Italian words will take you through Italy like a pro.

In the Italian culture it is important to greet people in stores,

restaurants and market places.  A smile and a pleasant greeting

will make a great first impression.

Buongiorno = Good day – used morning and afternoon

Buonasera    = Good evening – used in the evening

Prego      = You are welcome – try to respond with this when someone bids you Buongiorno or             

Grazia     = Thank you (much like Spanish)

Scusi      =  Excuse me

Ciao          = Hello or Good-bye of a friend using their name-

                        like Ciao Maria

                      This is normally used with a name or sometimes

Just as we say “Good-Bye Good-Bye” they say

“Ciao Ciao”

Money - One of my clients gave me a good suggestion-

that couples should carry different credit cards just in case one is lost or stolen.  ATM machines are everywhere (well almost everywhere)

Many of my clients use them on a regular basis in Europe, others

prefer to carry additional US dollars in a money belt.  Travelers checks are seen less and less and may not be accepted everywhere, but banks and larger stores still accept them.  Take a few personal checks.  You will be surprised at the places that will take a check.  Purchase some Euros before you leave the US. You will need money right away for taxi, tipping and small purchases.  In Grand Rapids you can walk into the Fifth Third Bank on the corner of 44th and Patterson and purchase Euros.   If your bank is Fifth Third, this is a good choice, but may be pricey if you are not a bank member.

Always call ahead to verify the charges for exchanging dollars for Euros.  Your own local bank will also order Euros for you.  The location that I also use is in the international airports.

You will find a currency exchange booth selling currency for anywhere in the world.  All sellers of Euros make money on the sale of currency one way or the other.  Either they charge a fee for the exchange or the rate or exchange is a little higher because it included the extra money.  Another place that I use to exchange money is in hotels and if you are in the Plaza by the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the hotel Fountaina usually has a good rate.  Please don’t spend all your time looking for best rate; you have more important adventures to participate in than Euro searching.  The worst rate that I have seen is in the Rome airport.

Security of passports, credit cards, travelers checks and money You will hear me say over and over again “wear a money belt”

The best are the light mesh, with a light waist belt and zipper pocket.  If the zipper pocket has a little plastic lining, all the better.

You can purchase these in most luggage stores, some book stores, airports or in Grand Rapids in the Woodland Mall. Many of your hotels will have a room safe and can be trusted, but I like to have things with me and a money belt meets that need.

 Make a copy of your passport and put the copy in your luggage or anywhere separate from your real passport.  If you lose your passport this will not get you back into the US, but it will help you reduce the time of getting proper papers from the US Consulate.  It is also a good idea to give me your passport information so I can record it in your personal travel record.

Before leaving the US contact each provider of your credit card and bank card and let them know you will be using your card in Europe.  In the case of your ATM card, verify that it will be usable in Europe.  Also ask what, if anything, they are charging for the currency conversion or the number of times you use it.  Know what your daily withdrawal limit is for your ATM card.

Airline, Airport, Security, Luggage- go figure – these change everyday. Please talk to me about the latest situations or browse our website for the latest information.

Day Tours – If we have not completed your daily tour selection you may see many good ideas and make reservations by visiting the sightseeing section of our website.

Rome – This exciting ancient metropolitan city has so much to offer that one visit is never enough. 

Getting around Rome – Walking is the very best way to experience every moment of your journey, however when time is limited or you just want to go somewhere more quickly, you do have choices.

The bus system is very good and you can buy a bus ticket at the little news stands along the street.  When you get on the bus there

is a machine for you to insert your ticket.  They also have a metro system that stops at the main points in the city.  If you use this option, purchase a day or multiple day pass at the metro station and insert it in the turn style machine on your first entrance to the metro. On each time after this you don’t need to go through the turnstile, just walk through the open gate.  Don’t be worried if they ask to see your pass while you are on the platform, sometimes they do a random check.  This is an area where pickpockets seem to work. Keep an eye on everything.  Pickpockets are everywhere in Europe.  Italy seems to have more than their share.  I have never known of anyone getting mugged (as you might be in New York).

Don’t have anything in back pockets, and ladies if you must carry a purse, put it under your arm and have another hand on it.  If you put money in your front pocket and you are in a close crowed area or you just sense something is just not right, put your hand in your pocket.

To take a taxi from one area to another is often a good idea.  There are taxi stands along the street.  Look for the signs on the poles along the street.  You cannot hail a taxi, you must go to a taxi stand and the next taxi available will stop for you.  I have had some success in hailing a taxi, but I had to just about jump in front of him and he was not happy with me when he stopped.  Only use a taxi that is metered and always ask the cost before you ride.  The Italians seldom tip a taxi driver, however a 5% tip is always appreciated.

A good night walk is from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain down the Via Corso or to the Piazza Navona, where the artists can be found.  There is a special magic to Rome at night with the fountains lit.  Most of shops are open until 7pm.

For a full list of very good day tours including the Coliseum and Vatican see the Sightseeing section of our website.

Tipping –About 10% in restaurants is ok for tipping.  In many places they include a service fee (tip).

If this is the case your server gets very little of this, so leave an additional small amount if the services are good.    Luggage handling should be taken care of with a tip.  Tour guides do expect 3 Euros for short tours or full day guide is 5 euros per person.  Tour bus driver are tipped 3 euros per day per person.  Much of their income is from tips. 

Public Restrooms (Toilettes)- Many have a small dish for tips or a person at the door, or even someone selling toilet paper. Have a few coins in your pocket for this.  However remember that 1 euro is a coin, so watch what you leave.  It is also a good idea to have a few tissues with you just in case…

Have a few tissues in your pocket for possible use in restrooms.

Hotels in Italy- Due to the age of most of the buildings, your hotel room may be too large or really, really small.  In hotels the rooms are not all the same size.  You should expect clean and neat rooms, but please be understanding of size and décor.  Some will be wonderful old European décor and others will be plain and simple.

This is all part of the enjoyment of being in a different culture.

At each hotel ask for a street map from the front desk and ask them

to mark their hotel on the map for you.  I also recommend that you take business card from the front desk (if they have one).  If I have provided you with the hotel business card, please have it with you. This is a big help if you want to ask directions or to show to a taxi driver.  Even if the person speaks some English, you may not pronounce the name clearly enough for them.

Contact your Italy specialist at Breton Village Travel for planning your escorted or personal custom tour.

Watch for later additions of Lou’s Clues for other areas and cities.

Start your Amalfi Coast experience by staying in Sorrento as your base if you only have a few days.  To get to Sorrento from Rome you can take the fast train to Naples.  You will need to take the local train to Sorrento by purchasing tickets at the Naples train station.  Ask for directions to the ticket booth of the train to Sorrento.  It is located downstairs.   We can also arrange a private transfer from Naples train station to your hotel.  As the local train stops very often and can be crowded, you may want the private transfer or take a taxi from Naples train station to your hotel.  As with all taxi service be sure to negotiate the full rate before getting into the taxi. 

Enjoy the best of Sorrento and go to the Tasso Square area in the historic part of Sorrento.  This is the place to try Lemongello.  Some of the stores give samples.  Visit the small shops that make handcrafted wood inlaid products.  These craftsmen are some of the best in the world.   The market area is very interesting and has much to offer. The very best Pizza in all of Italy is made in Sorrento at Aurora Pizzaria.  Eat your pizza as the locals do with a little olive oil on top and don’t forget to consider something from their antipasto buffet.  This Pizzeria is located in the Tasso Square. 

Another fun thing to do is the go the Tarantella show.  It is not the best entertainment that you have seen but is interesting and can be fun to see the 17th-century Neapolitan folk dance that looks very much like the Spanish Castanet dance that you see in Spain.           

For more adventuresome travelers take the SITA bus (check the schedules) to Ravello enjoy all the great vistas along the way. Then take a bus to back to Amalfi, then back to Positano, see Positano on foot and take a ferry back to Sorrento from Positano at days end.  Know the ferry schedule ahead so you do not miss it.  It is fairly easy to just take the bus and ferry back. I think it is effortless and so memorable.  The only downside to this is if the buses are very busy or in bad weather the boats may not be going.  Be sure and get a seat on the right-hand side of the bus when leaving Sorrento if possible, for the best view. Each of the towns I am recommending here are walking villages.  The farthest away is Ravello, but this is my favorite small village with great restaurants and the very best views.  As you enter the village, turn left and walk all the way to the end of the road ending in gardens that just seem to hang over the cliffs of the Amalfi coast.  If you have the time this is also a wonderful place to overnight and perhaps treat yourself to a summer evening concert.  There are also some hiking trails in this area.

Refer to http://wikitravel.org/en/Ravello for additional information- summer concerts also

For a nice 1 day private tour of the Amalfi coast hirer a car and driver or taxi. Rick Steves recommends Monetti taxi service and they are located in Sorrento. The following is their website. http://www.monettitaxi17.it/English.htm.  Breton Village Travel can also make arrangements for you.

  
Another great one day trip from Sorrento is to take the train to Pompeii which is very easy to do.  When you get off the train in Pompeii just follow the signs and people to the entrance which is only a couple of blocks away.  I do recommend that you join a group for a guided tour.  There are plenty of guides waiting by the ticket booth.  The official guides all have ID cards on, so you will know them.   After the tour if you want to stay a little longer on your own it is just fine, take your time and absorb the history and culture of this town that was destroyed by a Volcano in 79AD.  

One more day trip from Sorrento is to Capri and Blue Grotto.  While this is a lovely trip if you have the time,  I wouldn’t do this over the Amalfi coast trip.  The highspeed ferry leaves from Sorrento on a regular schedule.   Again, check the local schedule to plan when to go and when to come back. After arriving at the port in Capri  I would recommend taking the local bus to AntiCapri and then the chairlift to the top of the island.  If you like to hike a bit, take one of the trails and walk back down, or take a bottle of wine and cheese and just sit and enjoy the view.  Don’t miss going to the village of Capri by either taking the vehicular from the port or the local bus from AntiCapri.  The rich and famous people watching is the best here.  Window shopping is equally as interesting.  Many travelers have heard of the Blue Grotto.  While it may be a little overrated, the experience of taking a short boat ride around the island to the entrance and then in rowboats entering the caves is nice.  Once in the cave, the sight is remarkable, everything is blue. Watch your time on the island the last ferry back to the mainland leaves early evening depending on the time of year you are visiting. 

Refer to www.amalficoastweb.com for bus and ferry schedules

I hope the following 2 websites help http://www.costadiamalfi.it/english/timetable_ferries.htm    http://www.coopsantandrea.com/index_en.asp   

Happy Travels

I just returned from a wonderful vacation on Avalon Waterways. I was able to go on a European river cruise that was a trip different from any I have done in the past. We flew into Budapest and spent 2 days exploring that fascinating eastern European city. It was an interesting mix of today’s world with that of a medieval town. Once we boarded the boat, we left for a scenic trip along the Danube. The great thing about river cruising is that the boat usually stops near the center of town to allow easy access to either explore on your own, or take one of the offered excursions. Since the boat is considered full at 170 passengers, there is plenty of opportunity to get to know your fellow cruisers. I also learned that the Danube operates with the help of many locks along the way. After the boat docked in Nuremburg, we traveled to Prague to spend 3 days before flying home. If this sounds like a trip you would like to experience, I would love to be able to talk to you about river cruising.

Our travel agency is all about helping people creating great memories.  Well, when we recommend Beaches Resort in the Turks and Caicos we really deliver on our objective. 

As you approach the islands you look out the airplane window to see one of the most beautiful sights in the Caribbean.  White sand beaches, clear waters to turquoise waters leading to deeper blue waters.  The first time you see this view will blow your mind away.

Only 15 minutes from the airport and you are on the resort.  Once you arrive you will not want to leave, nor will you have any reason to want to leave.  Everything is provided right at your resort for the whole family. We were traveling with two families one of my husband and myself in our 60’s and our son’s family of his wife and their two younger children, one 4 and one 15-year-old. 

The biggest hit with the four-year-old was the water park area for little ones and the pool just for his size people.  This pool is not hidden away from everything, it is part of the larger pool so the whole family can be together and enjoy the swim-up bar, kiddie pool and floating around on a pool floaties or just relaxing by the pool.  They also have Sesame Street Characters who walk through the resort from time to time and the kids really like them.  There is a great young children’s program that includes the Sesame Characters.

The 15-year-old was very happy with the water toys.  He learned how to sail a Hobie cat, went snorkeling on the snorkeling boat, and used the kayaks and water bikes.  In the evening he could go to the teen-only club or to the Xbox room or the sports room.  He also enjoyed along with his father the water surf rider and drifting on the lazy river as well as the water slide.  His father was also very happy that all of these things are included in the cost of their trip and he didn’t have to pay for anything as they used them.

We were all very pleased with the food and the service.  The service quality is very noticeable, especially with the working people that you see walking around the resort.  They never pass you without a smile and a friendly hello.  If you ask for something they do anything to help you even if it clearly is not part of their normal job.  With something like 15 dining options, you can always find something that you will really love to eat.  For the children, it was the Pizza served in two locations at the resort and it was really really good.  Our daughter-in-law and I really liked the restaurants down by the beach that overlooked the ocean and had white glove service.

Like many things in life, you will pay more for this Beaches experience than some of your other vacations. However no matter where you stay on this resort you can use the full resort and all the restaurants, pools, toys and water park, sports area, Xbox, all meals, food anytime, drinks of any kind.

When you check out of the resort you could really not have any additional costs.

Beaches does have special sales pricing from time to time.  Recently they have been running some 50% and 65% specials.  If you have any questions, call me or your favorite Breton Travel agent.

Call your favorite travel experience specialist at Breton Travel to book your next Sandals or Beaches Vacation.

Happy Traveling

If you want to see the rickshaw, bang-bang-stick man, bicycle riding China, you better hurry.

Ann and I arrived in Beijing China at a very modern large new airport.   We had heard about the government concern about people entering who may be ill.  As you pass through the immigration and customs area you also pass through what looks like a security gate, but it really is taking your temperature.  You hardly notice it but they verify every person entering the country.  You have to be impressed with how quickly you are through their entrance process if you have all your paperwork in order.

The best advice I can give every traveler to China is talk to the person at the front desk in your hotel and request a list of the places you want to visit on your own, written in English and Chinese.  While most people in the hotels do speak English and most street signs are in Chinese and English, most of the people on the street don’t speak English and it is very rare that a taxi driver understands any English.  With your handy list and a card from your hotel also in English and Chinese, you are free to

go everywhere on your list and be able to get back to your hotel.  The other advice I would like to share with potential China travelers is to travel with the highest quality tour company you can afford.

This once-in-a-lifetime trip can be less than you may expect if you are in hotels that are not convenient or if the food doesn’t agree with you.  Ladies, it is true, you do need to take tissues for possible use in the bathrooms.  Speaking of bathrooms… in almost every location there are what we call foot print restrooms.  Many locations do have our style of toilet but you may need to look for them in the handicap bathroom stall.  Before you go make a list/chart of what the current exchange is, such as

100 Yuan is $15 US so you will know that 300 Yuan is $45 or a taxi of 40 Yuan is $6.  This little list will make it so much easier when you are there.

I had always seen on TV the Beijing with thousands of people on bicycles.  All of this changed when

this country was exposed to the Olympics.  They now have 1000 new cars a day on their highways.  The changes are continuing at such a pace that if you want to see the old China that you have in your mind, you must go soon.  Beijing is a major world city in transition. For those of us who love history Beijing has much to offer- the intriguing Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Confucius’ Palace and of course the not far away Great Wall of China.  The size of the Forbidden City is amazing, and it is interesting to learn about the thousands who lived there in the service of one Emperor and all the protocol and symbols involved.  On tours you learn important details such as the number of little ceramic characters sitting on the edge of the roof line indicate the importance of the building.

Our first night we walked a few blocks from our very centrally located hotel to a pedestrian shopping street and the most unusual nightly food market you have ever seen.  For two or three city blocks little booths sell “foods”.  Anything you can imagine will be deep fried for you.  One kind vendor poked a SNAKE on a stick in my direction saying, “Lady I cook for you?”  Most of the children were walking around with beautiful crystallized fruit on a stick like a kabob dipped in a sugar glaze.  Others had small

dishes boiled “delicacies” consisting of the insides of an animal that probably should have been thrown away.

The Great Wall of China is worth the whole trip and should never be missed.  There are several places to go to see the Great Wall. Luckily for us we were traveling with Abercrombie and Kent, one of the finest luxury operators, and they took us to part of the Wall not visited by most tourists.  It was a bit of a drive, and when we arrived we had to walk (as with all trips to the Great Wall) what seems like straight up hill on a cobble path between many vendor booths selling all kinds of tourist items.  Of course I stopped and bought a tee shirt that says something about “I climbed the Wall”.  Ann was smarter than the rest of us and hired a rickshaw to take her up to the lift.  The lift is a gondola that takes you up the last and very steepest portion of the trip to the top.  Once you arrive, you are impressed with view of the near by mountains (they are not real high, more like our Smoky Mountains, but without as many trees). As you look both ways, you see how the Great Wall twists and curves along the mountain tops for as far as you can see.  Later we learned that the twists and turns were by design because the original builders believed evil spirits could only travel in straight lines.  It was built by different groups without any real single design and later put together to make one wall that spanned China for about 4,000 miles. Of all the places I have visited around the world, this was one of the most extraordinary things I have ever experienced. 

On our trip we also took a 3 day Yangzi River Cruise through the Three Gorges.  Unlike European river cruise boats these boats are six levels high and much larger.  Most of them look pretty rough on the outside. Because of runoff, the water in the river during the summer is very brown, they call it the chocolate season, and it seems to have lot debris floating by.  When you arrive at the river to board your boat, it can be very confusing as the buses can’t drive right up to the entrance area.  You need to make your way through about a crowded block, then you enter a large platform that lowers to the river level and then you walk along the port docks to your boat.  The cabins on these vessels can be much larger than normal cruise boats of any kind.  The food and service are excellent.   You will see some very new cities along the shore as beneath your boat are the original towns that were flooded to damn this river to protect the area from huge floods.  The people in these old towns were moved to these new cities or to one quarter acre of farm land.  At one point we left the main river and took small sampan like boats with boatmen using poles and paddles to move us down a smaller river. The views on this cruise are beautiful.  We learned that while we think of China as being very large with many forests, in reality they have very few trees.  It is against the law to cut down any tree in China because there was no reforestation until Mao started a program.  There is green ground cover, but very few big trees.

Again I encourage you to travel soon if you have China on your list of places to visit as it is changing quickly and you may enjoy the feel of old China.  We also are seeing very good airline deals going to China and dollar to Yuan is very good at the time of writing this report. 

Please read Ann’s trip report for the rest of our trip to China.  Ask us about our shopping trip in China.

Happy Traveling

Lou