More adventures from our President Terri Jo in France!

December, 8 2011

I left Cannes this morning at 10AM by train and rode past vineyards in Dijon and Avignon through the French countryside into Paris!

I had one last evening on the French Riviera last night and had dinner at a wonderful restaurant with new friends met at ILTM conference.  We walked up a winding cobblestone street to Auberge Provencale.  We were served unnbelievable lobster ravioli and bruscheta with fresh tomato, artichoke and parmesan - and of course more champagne!

I finished off the evening at a local wine bar - yes more champagne! - visiting with the locals standing on the street sharing stories about Canada, rodeos and yachting!  I discovered a curious custom; when you are served champagne at the local bars they provide you with a small platter of 'penny candy' - sweet and sour gummy bears, sugary candy and gumdrops to melt in your mouth as you sip bubbly!  Really very delightful!

The train trip from Cannes was uneventful and it was so wonderful to be met by the driver at the end of the platform and terrific that he spoke English and on the drive to the hotel he pointed out the sites, shared the history of Paris and great places to shop and eat. It was so much better than trying to find your own way in the city especially with all the phony "taxi drivers", the crowds and chaos all around the train station.

My hotel - Le Burgundy - is just fabulous. It is very lovely, discreet and in such a great location!  With a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa - a cognac bar and Michelin star restaurant all on site.  Easy walking distance to shops, sites and many lovely bistros.  The rooms are simply beautiful - great furnishings and amenites - a real gem!

I walked the Champs Elysees tonight all the way to the Arc de Triomphe.  It was all lit up with Christmas lights with a terrific Christmas Market lining both sides of the street. The smells of mulled wine, strong cheese, tartiere and sausage filling the air.  Families strolling everywhere - even a mini ice rink with young and old renting skates and trying their best to stay upright - and Christmas caroles playing everywhere.  I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming! 

Tomorrow I have a guide and a half day walking tour of the city - I look forward to learning and seeing more...

Further updates from Terri Jo as she travels from Italy to France!

December 5th 2011

The last 2 days in Italy have been busy!

I awoke Sunday morning to church bells ringing and left the city by 10AM to head to an Olive Farm.  It was rainy and cool this morning so the visit was not quite as pleasant as it could be. Despite this we had a terrific tasting of new olive oil with fresh bread, cheese and assorted nuts.

We then visited 2 Tuscan Villas that are true gems and definitely worth adding to our list of options. I look forward to sharing them with all of you! I also had a wonderful late lunch with a local red wine, veal, pasta and another great dessert!  We also had a great local guitar player / singer that seranaded us throughout lunch and then we all joined in singing the Italian songs we knew.

Late afternoon we headed for the coast of Tuscany. It was cold, rainy and very windy!  It would have been very lovely on a warm sunny day and we sure had to use our imaginations. we followed that with a late dinner at a Michelin Star restaurant and then it was early to bed as we needed to be on the bus by 8AM for our transfer to Cannes.

On December 5th after a very pleasant ride from the coast of Tuscany to Cannes we arrived by 2PM and immediately registered for the ILTM and checked into hotel.

I am staying at the Majestic Hotel - across from the Palais where the Cannes Film Festival is held.  Everywhere is glamour, wealth and movie star wonder!

During opening session last evening I met up with the other Ensemble members and we had a crazy evening of four cocktail parties - a whirlwind of meet and greets, each assortment of appetizers and drinks out doing the other.  There were people from every country and every imaginable type of agency, hotel, tour company, etc.  I am going to run out of business cards I am sure!

Tomorrow morning we start our series of appointments and connections and then the grand opening party at 8PM! I am like a kid in a candy store trying to take it all in and absorb it all.

My balcony overlooks the sea and the streets are still packed with guests heading to the casinos and nightclubs. Oh, to be 20 years younger - or at least to have more energy - 6AM comes much to early for me!

- Terri Jo

Another exciting update from our President in Italy!

December 3rd 2011

My final day in Florence was spectacular. I started off the morning with a walking tour of the city centre and had a wonderful guide who made the history come alive.  The museums, churches and buildings all tell a story of ancient times --- and the David by Michealangolo! Everyone should see it in person just once.  He has made the marble come alive it looks almost like real flesh and bone when you see it!

I had a great lunch at the Four Seasons Florence and visited many of the rooms and strolled the 11 acre park that is a part of this restored palazzo now a luxury hotel.  The lobby was magical with a forest of Christmas trees all decorated like a winter wonderland!

Then I spent the afternoon shopping; the leather goods are beautiful! Many wonderful stores like Prada, Louis Vitton, Gucci, Ferragamo and many outdoor Christmas markets at this time of year and I found not one, not two but three amazing gelato shops that I can highly recommend!

Tonight was an unbelievable experience - dinner arranged dinner in the private palace (palazzo) of a local nobleman and his family.  We were received by the family in their salon and had aperitifs and cocktails - wonderful parmagano cheese, proccuito and fruit.  Once the family excused themselves we were shown to their dining room with a baccarat crystal chandelier and a table set for 20 all in white with crystal, silver and china - it was breathtaking!

We had an amazing dinner served by white gloved waiters with wine pairings for each course - the food was so delicious and the desert tonight was even better than last nights - served with a terrific rose dessert wine.  After dinner we had coffees and cognac in the drawing room before saying goodbye.

This was a most enchanting and memorable evening - one that can be shared with friends and family or even fellow 'foodies' when visiting Florence.

Tomorrow I am off to the sea coast of Tuscany. I personally never knew this existed and I am excited to make this new discovery!

- Terri Jo

More from our President in Italy!

December 2nd 2011

Today we had an early morning with a 7AM train departure but there was a wonderful buffet breakfast at the Via Veneto before gathering luggage and checking out. I took the train from Rome to Florence - the easist and quickest way to travel - only one and a half hours in relative comfort!

Florence is so beautiful; a Rennaisance city of historical significance with so many beautiful buildings, many museums and wonderful cobblestone streets all lit with beautiful Christmas lights at this time of year.

I met with 22 hoteliers throughout the morning and afternoon - discovered many wonderful properties throughout Tuscany.  Little gems of 10 to 30 room villas to larger hotels with 60 or 70 rooms.  All have a special charm or character about them - whether they be in Florence or near Lucca, Siena, in Chianti - near Pisa or closer to Milan - they all have wonderful achitecture, amenities and offer impeccable service.  Many are seasonal properties that are open April to November and afford their guests the option of truly living the Tuscan lifestyle - from cooking classes, wine tasting, olive oil sampling, etc - guests can live, eat and breathe the Tuscan way of life.

I had dinner this evening in a wonderful restaruant about 10 minutes from our hotel - the Borgo San Jacopo has a female chef that created very simple but amazing food - 3 courses paired with wonderful white and then red wines and culminating with a warm chocolate cake and pistachio ice cream desert that was to die for!  A walk back through the lighted cobblestone streets has made for an enchanting evening in the city of Florence.

Tomorrow I have a guided walking tour around this amazing city and then an afternoon aperitif at one of the local hotels.

- Terri Jo 

Terri Jo Lennox, our president, is currently overseas soaking in the sights and sounds of Italy! Keep up with her adventures here and read along as she continues on to France next week!

December 1st 2011

Rome is amazing!  No matter how many times I have been here it still takes my breath away!  The beautiful buildings, the architecture, museums, ruins - all the smells, noise, motorbikes speeding everywhere - it is just so alive!  I can hardly wait to get out on the streets and live it once more!

I am staying at the Via Veneto for the one night; a glamourous, stylish and modern hotel (less than 3 years old) but with old world charm and immpecable service.  Located in an excellent area within walking distance of almost all the major sites - Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese Park, Harry's Bar - and lots of shopping on very stylish streets!

Tonight we had cocktails at the Hassler Hotel, a really beautiful hotel that is family owned for 5 generations. It is built on one of the 7 hills in Rome just above the Spanish Steps with a view from its terraces of the whole city.  I can hardly believe I was standing on the terrace, drinking champagne and eating exotic nibbles with the whole city spread out below me.  The glow of the lights is magnificent! 

I met the Owner and his young son who is being groomed to take over the family business and they were absolutely charming - so proud of their hotel and very gracious and welcoming to show me around.  Insisted I see the Presidential Suite where Tom Cruise and his family stayed during the summer - wow!!  The Owner - Mr Hassler was born deaf but he reads lips in both English and Italian - just amazing when you consider, I can barely speak a few `garbled Italian phrases`!

Tomorrow will be an early morning as we take the 7AM train to Florence ...  I cannot wait to see what Tuscany holds in store!

Lana Schuring, Travel Time Consultant and her husband Ed are currently sailing with Oceania ... read more below.

May 11, 2011

Hello from Zakynthos, Greece ...

We are having an amazing time on the Oceania Marina.  What a fabulous ship!!  It is everything I imagined and more.  The service and crew are unbelievable and the food - OMG!!!  Thank god there is a  running track on the top deck and an exercise room.  Of course all the walking on the excursions is an asset too.  We are trying to taste as much as we can, without over doing it - although it is so hard to resist!!  The shore excursions are very well organized and the guides so far have been incredible.  We have met a lot of people, who have sailed previously on Oceania and like this newest ship the best. 
Well we are off to cocktails at Horizons Lounge.  I make a toast to all of you.  Take care and we'll see you soon.

Lana and Ed :)

Natasha, our Whitecourt Administrator is currently travelling in Australia - click on the title to read about her travels.  Check back often for updates! 

 

Kay Jones, Travel Time Consultant and her husband David spent 8 nights relaxing and touring the islands of Fiji, which they describe as fantastic!   Click here for stories and pictures about their travels and why they say "Fiji impressed us with its’ warm people, blue water and sandy beaches and will always hold a special place in our hearts!"

Bev Cockle, Travel Time Manager for our Whitecourt office spent time in Greece and Egypt during the 2008 summer.  Read more about her adventures ...

Read more about Penny & Harvey's Silverseas cruise as they travelled from Jeddah, to Egypt, then Jordan and towards the Suez Canal ...

 

Penny and Harvey Gamble are currently cruising on the Silversea "Silver Cloud" (Dubai to Athens).  Read more about the wonderful journey they have experienced so far ...   

 

Enjoy reading about Donna Schellenberg's experience onboard the Diamond Princess, as she sailed roundtrip from Los Angeles to Hawaii on Feb. 1/08.  ...