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We recently came home to Texas from Europe but we’re already
thinking ahead to next year’s travels. The hunger for the next
adventure in an unknown place is what keeps us racking up
frequent flyer miles. The places are often breathtaking and of
course Bob takes thousands of photos to remember them. But it’s
more than just the landscapes that keep us coming back.
This year in China we took a group of alumni and friends to
scout a new trip for 2008. The Great Wall and the Forbidden City
were just as majestic and ancient as you’d expect. Our guide was
from the far reaches of Western China. She came to Beijing to go
to university but told us she would eventually return to her
home village to have the local matchmaker find a husband for
her. She said that the size of the gate to her family home would
be matched to the size of the gate of her future husband. Her
parents had this traditional marriage and they’d worked hard and
raised children and gotten along well enough. On the other hand
the amazing modern skyscrapers in Shanghai and the mind blowing
bird’s nest Olympic stadium showed us how some parts of China
are coming into the modern age at warp speed.
During some time off in August we stayed in the old El Born area
of Barcelona in Lali’s apartment. Lali is a quirky but loveable
actress with red curly hair and good friends that kept us
entertained while she was away in New York.. We met Eva who is a
true foodie and makes an impressive olive oil. She gave me a
list of her favorite restaurants on our first meeting. We had
the best meals when we were invited to someone’s kitchen or
terrace. We had a four course Sunday dinner in a vineyard, a
dinner featuring cold gazpacho soup on a terrace in the middle
of the city, and homemade tortilla (a flat omelet) in a tiny hip
apartment kitchen overlooking the rooftops.
We were in Sicily in October and were taken on a wild off road
ride in a Land Rover by a turban wearing Sicilian we called
“Guy”. He came by to have a drink a few nights later. He told us
about his off season work in Tunisia (just a ferry ride away in
Africa) to provide clean water for struggling villages. Then he
asked what our favorite travel memories were. We didn’t hesitate
– the people. The memories of the people and the interesting
tapestry of our common bonds and cultural differences keep us
traveling. We’ve been the recipients of unexpected generosity
and been objects of curiosity to people from Beijing to
Barcelona. We enjoy sharing our stories and lives with those we
meet but what we get in return keeps enriching our lives.
We’ve just released our 2008 schedule so whether you feel the
pull of hip
Barcelona, exotic
Sicily,
or the stunning
Italian Riviera (or anywhere else in Europe) we're
here to help you get ready for your next great adventure. Join
us and bring home the longest lasting souvenirs. Memories… |
