Now for something different...

Last night, I went to a "Goway Travel Expo."  If you don't know, Goway Travel  is "The Way to go Globetrotting."  And that's the truth!  Besides that, this year, they are celebrating 40 years in the travel business.  What a great accomplishment.  And they get better every year.

I had the opportunity to listen to an hour-and-a-half presentation about Australia & New Zealand and a 45-minute presentation on Latin America.  Absolutely fascinating!  There are so many excellent things to do in either area:

Australia/New Zealand:

• Visit "The Rocks" in Sydney
• Go hot-air ballooning over Melbourne
• Enjoy one of the many restaurants in Adelaide, which has more restaurants per capita than any other city in Australia
• Visit Kangaroo Island to get a close look at Australian wildlife
• Make it a "Stay of Distinction" and stay in special hotels/resorts/lodges
• Go "Zorbing" in New Zealand
• Visit the locations where Lord of the Rings was filmed

Latin America:

• Quito - the jump-off point to the Galapagos Islands
• From Cusco, hike to Machu Picchu
• Visit Lake Titicaca's floating reed islands
• Take a cable car over Santiago, Chile
• Visit the many wineries of Chile
• Cruise the Chilean fjords
• Enjoy tango dancing in Argentia

The list goes on and on and on.  Talk to me about many more options!

Wendy VanderMeulen
TPI Travel
613-282-0575
http://www.tpiwendy.ca/

January 2011 - Forget the snowsuit - get into your swimsuit!

I am excited to confirm that space has been blocked on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas for a 7-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in January 2011.  Starting with a pre-cruise night in Miami, we will then visit the islands of St. Maarten/St. Martin, Puerto Rico (San Juan), and Labadee (Haiti). 

If you haven't seen Royal Caribbean's "Freedom Class" ships, you are missing something!  With a rock-climbing wall, surf simulator pool, ice skating rink, miniature golf, Water Park, WI-Fi connectivity - it has everything you need.  Of course, you also can't forget the Royal Promenade - it's like they hollowed out the middle of the ship and turned it into Bourbon Street (that was my immediate thought, when I first saw a picture of the Promenade) with cafés, bars, shops, and access to the casino.  A great place for people watching!

Great prices for balcony cabins - $1675.33 INCLUDES all taxes and fees, gratuities, and pre-cruise night in Miami.  All you need is your airfare (and insurance, of course, because no one ever travels without appropriate coverage!  :-)

Call for other prices or check my website for details.

Wendy VanderMeulen
TPI Travel
613-282-0575
http://www.tpiwendy.ca/

Is it winter or spring?

Today has been an interesting day.  I have hardly been away from my desk, so I've been able to watch the weather all day.  I look up - it's snowing like crazy.  I work....  I look up - it's snowing lightly, almost rain.  I work....  I look up - is it doing anything?  Hard to tell....  I work....  I look up - it's snowing like crazy.  I work....  I look up - it appears to be snowing, but the icicle hanging outside my window is dripping like crazy.  I work....  I look up - it's snowing.  I work....  I look up - hmmm, looks like rain.  Etc..... Get the picture?

This is the time of year when people get sick with colds.  No wonder!  Can't decide if I should wear boots or shoes, heavy coat or lighter coat, take a hant or an umbrella.  What to do?  I mean, I know we needed the snow - so let it snow, not this "it is/it isn't" stuff.  Makes me think that THIS would be a perfect time of year to get away.  Then, at least when you get back home, it's spring!  :-)

Coincidentally, I was just on a Carnival Cruise Lines Webinar.  Ahhhh, brings back memories of Caribbean-blue water, heat, sun, lazy days.  I've cruised with Carnival 5 times.  It's been a few years, though.  And they are coming out with bigger ships.  Must look into that....

Oh - I'm pretty sure it's raining right now.

It's a great day to be alive

Happy Monday!  And yes, why not be happy?!

This morning, after my workout at the Orleans YMCA, I had a doctor's appointment.  Now, my doctor's office is very close to where I used to work at my bookkeeping job.  And close to that, there is an ESSO station that I would go to, occasionally, when I had to do some banking for that job.  I started going there because of the Subway that was inside, then I would go there to get some coffee and one of the oatmeal cookies that they had for sale up by the cash.  Eventually, the coffee and cookie was just an excuse to go and get cheered up because the owner/manager of the station was so pleasant.  I'm not sure of his nationality, but he was always happy and very pleasant. 

So, today, after I left my doctor's office, I decided to gas up at that station, get a coffee and cookie, and just say hello to the owner.  Well, he didn't appear to recognize me (it HAS been almost 2 months since I've been there!), but he was such a joy.  He was obviously very happy, humming a tune, and doing his best to make all his customers smile, with his favourite phrase "It's a beautiful day; it's a great day to be alive."

Yes, Mr. ESSO station man, it IS a great day to be alive!

Wendy VanderMeulen
TPI Travel
613-282-0575
wendyv@tpi.ca

My first blog post

It's a cool, damp day in Ottawa, Canada. Can't help but think of some of my clients - 2 flew to the Dominican Republic for a week in Punta Cana, and 2 boarded a ship for an 8-day cruise on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. Even though I have only been home for 4 weeks from my own cruise holiday, I sure wouldn't mind being where they are right now!

But I'm here, and that's okay, because it's Olympics time and tonight, Canada play the US in men's hockey. Gotta see that. Go Canada Go!

So, bear with me as I get used to blogging, and if there are any subjects you want me to expound on, let me know. I'll be happy to do that.

Wendy VanderMeulen
Travel Professionals International
http://www.tpiwendy.ca/
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