The Scents of Christmas

I've always felt it was amazing that just a scent can invoke so many memories from decades ago, even if I hadn't been thinking about that particular point in time. 

Fresh cut grass brings instantly to mind, sitting on the monkey bars with my best friend when we were about 12, eating watermelon. 

Freshly mowed hay will bring back memories of the hours spent in the barn with any of my horses, now long past over the Rainbow Bridge. 

The smell of rising yeast bread from my grandmother's kitchen, or the scent of fresh baked cookies, awaiting eager hands to grab them up to devour them. 

Holidays often have special scents, reserved for just that time of year, and Christmas time is one of the most robust flavors that envelope us and surround us, recalling old memories to the fore front and making new ones every year. 

In December of 2023, I traveled to Germany and visited many of the Christmas markets there and experienced Sensory overload! And I loved every minute. 

In Germany, Christmas takes on a whole new dimension. At the markets you will find stalls of handmade crafts, fresh baked goods, glühwein and sausages!

Glühwein is a warm mulled wine and each market or maker sport various recipes, and all are delicious!  Red wines, White wines, brand or other liquors added, all evoke a warm spicy fragrance sure to warm you in and out. 

Another great thing about indulging in glühwein at the markets, you can choose to keep the mug. These mugs are changed every year and each market has it's own.

If you are not into mulled spiced wine, you can also have hot chocolate and many also serve kinderpunch-a non-alcohol hot drink-And yes I indulged in all! 

Last year I brough home ALL of these! Not all were glühwein, some were hot chocolate and some were kinderpunch. 

I was almost at the end of my tour when I discovered that all I had to do was ask and I could just buy the mug of my choice! 

As I said, there are any number of 'family' recipes to make your own glühwein or kinderpunch so I won't post any here. My suggestion, pick out two or three to try and go for it!

 Of course, another German favorite in our house is stollen. This sweet bread is very heavy and full of various dried fruits but not a fruit cake. 

Dresden is well known for it's stollen and I bought several kinds at the markets there. I also bought stollen at Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Nuremburg! I think I must have brought back 10 pounds of this tasty Christmas treat! 

My grandmother was German and I use her recipe when I make this traditional bread. I admit, the cranberry orange from Dresden was absolutely lovely! 

Christmas cookies? Candy? YES all can be found at the Christmas Markets. At one market there was a baker that had squares of the best brownies right next to the fudge. You can bet I indulged. 

Germany of course is well known for it's various sausages. I had lunch at this corner booth behind the Pied Piper. The smell of the cooking sausages wafting out and around the markets rival that of the glühwein and hot chocolate. The sizzling sausages are so wonderful. I can't tell a knockwurst from a wurst so I just point to the one I want on the girl!  Go to the market on an empty stomach and be ready to eat and drink your way as you shop. 

At the markets in Berlin, they have something that translates into three fingers- this is a sandwich made up of three small sausages, much like the breakfast links we have in the U.S. VERY Tasty. 

Christmas is always a magical time. Being in Germany amplified that special season. The European Christmas markets are an unforgettable adventure. Book now for the 2025 season. You can also book the 2026 season. Consider joining me in England for an English market experience, a Dickens of a time! 

Walk across Ireland

Walking tours, or 'rambles' are gaining more and more in popularity, and with good reason. What a wonderful way to experience the culture and reduce your carbon footprint as you engage with the locals. 

If you are like me though, I'm past the whole backpack everything in and out, (and I do mean EVERYTHING). I'm more of a day tripper, which would seem to limit my rambling around Europe. 

Not so fast!

There are a number of tour operators that offer just this sort of option. Take your day pack, go walkabout and go to your next nights lodging where your luggage will have been transported while you hiked. This opens up so many itineraries for people like me. 

For example, walking across Ireland! It's a fantastic way to experience the country's stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture up close. One popular route is the "Ireland Way," which combines the Beara-Breifne Way and the Ulster Way, stretching from the southern tip in County Cork to the northern coast in County Antrim. This journey covers diverse terrains, from coastal paths to lush countryside and charming villages.

Or hike across place like the Rock of Cashel or the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise along the way. Take in sections of the Wild Atlantic way-or do the entire coast line! 

It's no secret that Ireland is one of my favorite countries to visit. Taking a walking vacation is a much more intimate way to see the country. 

It isn't just Ireland that offers this type of activity. 

Have you thought about walking Hadrian's wall along the boarder between England and Scotland?  Chose how many days you want to take to walk the distance and we can plan an itinerary just for you. 

I don't know about you, but being able to enjoy my day out with just a day pack, knowing I have a nice bed and my luggage at the end of the day with wonderful options for dinner, is truly freeing. You can simply enjoy the day!

Walking out in nature not your thing, more of a city walker? How about walking in the Cotswolds? Walk from village to village and see Upper and Lower Slaughter, Moreton-in-Marsh or Burton-in-the-Water. 

All across Europe there are many options for ramble vacations. A Unique way to see the countryside and experience the local cultures and hospitality. 

The World is waiting. Where will YOU go? 

What's the Connection between Halloween and Ireland?

With Halloween soon to be here I thought it would interesting to share a bit about this fun holiday and explore it's Irish roots. 

Many believe that Halloween is rooted in the Irish folk lore of Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival (pronounced "SAH-win or "SOW-win") which was a pagan religious celebration to welcome the harvest at the end of summer. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. It also marks the transition from the light of harvest to the darkness of winter, symbolizing the thin veil between the living and the spirit world. Celtic people believed that during the festival, spirits walked the Earth. 

After the harvest work was complete, celebrants joined with Druid priests to light a community fire using a wheel that would cause friction and spark flames. The wheel was considered a representation of the sun and used along with prayers. Cattle were sacrificed, and participants took a flame from the communal bonfire back to their home to relight the hearth.

Early texts present Samhain as a mandatory celebration lasting three days and three nights where the community was required to show themselves to local kings or chieftains. Failure to participate was believed to result in punishment from the gods, usually illness or death.

There was also a military aspect to Samhain in Ireland, with holiday thrones prepared for commanders of soldiers. Anyone who committed a crime or used their weapons during the celebration faced a death sentence.

Later on, Christian missionaries introduced All Souls Day on November 2 which perpetuated the idea of the living coming into contact with the dead at the same time of year.

Jack O' Lanterns are also part of the Irish folklore that we have incorporated into modern day Halloween celebrations. 

Legend is that a man named Stingy Jack who repeatedly trapped the Devil, only to let him go on condition that Jack would never go to Hell. When Jack died, he learned that Heaven didn't want his soul so he was forced to wander the Earth as a ghost for eternity. The Devil gave Jack a burning lump of coal in a carved out turnip to light his way. Locals started to carve scary faces into their own turnips to frighten away evil spirits.  

One of the most popular Samhain stories told during the festival was of “The Second Battle of Mag Tuired,” which portrays the final conflict between the Celtic pantheon known as the Tuatha de Danann and evil oppressors known as the Fomor. The myths state that the battle unfolded over the period of Samhain.

One of the most famous Samhain-related stories is “The Adventures of Nera,” in which the hero Nera encounters a corpse and fairies, and enters into the Otherworld.

Samhain figured into the adventures of mythological Celtic hero Fionn mac Cumhaill when he faced the fire-breathing underworld dweller Aillen, who would burn down the Hall of Tara every Samhain.

Samhain also figures into another Fionn mac Cumhaill legend, where the hero is sent to the Land Beneath the Wave. As well as taking place on Samhain, it features descriptions of the hero’s holiday gatherings.

As Christianity gained a foothold in pagan communities, church leaders attempted to reframe Samhain as a Christian celebration.

The first attempt was by Pope Boniface in the 5th century. He moved the celebration to May 13 and specified it as a day celebrating saints and martyrs. The fire festivals of October and November, however, did not end with this decree.

In the 9th century, Pope Gregory moved the celebration back to the time of the fire festivals, but declared it All Saints’ Day, on November 1. All Souls’ Day would follow on November 2.

Neither new holiday did away with the pagan aspects of the celebration. October 31 became known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, and contained much of the traditional pagan practices before being adopted in 19th-century America through Irish immigrants bringing their traditions across the ocean.

Trick-or-treating is said to have been derived from ancient Irish and Scottish practices in the nights leading up to Samhain. In Ireland, mumming was the practice of putting on costumes, going door-to-door and singing songs to the dead. Cakes were given as payment.

Halloween pranks also have a tradition in Samhain, though in the ancient celebration, tricks were typically blamed on fairies.

 Just think, all of these wonderful traditions came from the mystical island of Ireland. Ready for more? Join me in a trip to the Emerald Isle in September of 2025! More information on the tour can be found on the website, www.tripalongtravel.com, or on Trip Along Travel's facebook page. There is a link to a short video about the tour. Or you can find more information here: 

https://tripalongtravel.com/mbg/2025-fall-ireland-escape/

Happy Hauntings!

How do Travel Agents get paid?

There are so many misconceptions about what a travel agent does and how they are paid, so I thought I would try and answer some of those questions.

First, not all travel agents are created equal. All agents will strive to get the best value for the money, but in all honesty if you are comparing a travel agent quote to the rock bottom price at Costco, the travel agent will tell you to book Costco.

Why? One, the travel agent can’t compete with the pricing Costco has. That said, Costco cannot compete with the service a Travel Agent will provide.

For example, you booked your trip with Costco. You have a connecting flight but your first was delayed and you missed the second flight. You are now stuck at the airport with no support from Costco to get another flight to catch, say your cruise in time.

Now, that same scenario but you booked with a travel agent. You contact your agent, and they immediately provide you support and start working to get you booked on the next flight or make arrangements to connect with your cruise should you be unable to make the embarkation port in time. This is just part of the service a travel agent provides.

Another example for those of you that love to cruise. A travel agent is able to find options for you such as free upgrades and onboard spending credits.

A travel agent will spend hours looking for the best lodging options, resorts or put together a road trip that you ask for. They will follow up with each reservation and confirm everything to make sure your vacation goes a smoothly as possible.

Should an emergency arise while you are on vacation, your travel agent will be there to help you make arrangements to get home as quickly as possible.

If there are a group of people that wish to travel together, a travel agent can also make arrangements to provide additional ‘perks’ and secure group rates.

So, how does a travel agent get paid? Charging fees are left up to the individual agent and is something that you should ask about at your initial meeting with your agent. Many agents do not charge a planning fee.

As for myself, I do not charge a fee for vacation planning. I do charge a fee for destination weddings. This is what many travel agents do.

So, how do agents get paid? By commission. Each reputable supplier that an agent uses to book your vacation pays the agent a commission. These commissions vary from supplier and type of service. Agents are paid AFTER their client travels.

Commission rates do not impact the price you pay. For example, if you booked a cruise directly with your favorite cruise line, the price is exactly the same as if you booked through a travel agent. The supplier does not discount the rate.

So, please remember, when you ask a travel agent to look up some options for you, it is time they spend working for you. They get paid ONLY after you have not only booked, but after you have traveled. If you decided to go elsewhere or think you have found a better price and book elsewhere, the agent gets nothing for their time.  Many times, if you have found a better price AND you are comparing apples to apples, bring the same offer to your agent and they might be able to price match it.

Remember, using a travel agent isn’t just about getting the best deal, but about the service an agent can give you.

That said, I would be remiss if I didn’t plug a few hosted tours I have coming up in 2025

In January, I am hosting an 8-night Caribbean cruise! This cruise is almost sold out! Hurry to secure your stateroom. 

In July of 2025 I am hosting a 11-day Alaska cruise/tour. I have just a few slots left so if you are interested please reach out. This cruise will also sell out. 

September 2025 join me in Ireland! One of my favorite countries to visit. 

Join myself and my mom (My travel buddy) on either or both of these tours and stay tuned for planned trips for 2025!

Destination: Aruba

Discover the Caribbean charm of Aruba, a distinctive jewel nestled amidst the sapphire splendor of the azure waters.

Drawn by the allure of its white sandy beaches, Aruba's Eagle Beach has been voted the best in the Caribbean!

But Aruba offers so much more. 

This small island, just 70 square miles, boasts an average balmy 82 degrees and is packed with stunning beaches and remnants of gold mining, the many museums showcase the diverse cultures that have influenced the island. Not to mention the impact on local foods, traditions and festivals.  

Delve into Aruba's rich past, filled with riveting tales woven together to create a tapestry of cultural heritage. Treat your tastebuds to the island's legendary rum, a local secret known for its smooth and flavorful experience. 

"Aruba has a vibrant art scene, influenced by the indigenous cultures, European colonialism and Africa Heritage. Regional artistic traditions continue to be deeply intertwined with social and political history that reflects the struggles and triumphs of it's diverse communities."-- Aruba Tourism Board

As a friendly professional travel consultant that has visited this lovely island paradise, I guarantee that your journey to Aruba will leave you with not just memories, but stories that will persist long after the tan fades. 

Ready to pack your bags and let’s dive into the enticing and adventurous world of Aruba? 

The World is waiting. Where will YOU go? 

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Catch the Wave Season!

Wave season is upon us! Are you ready? 

What is wave season? This is one of the best times to book a cruise. Cruise lines are actively working on filling ships across the board and this is the time you'll find some great offers. This is the cruise line industry 'black Friday deals'. 

While the 'season' typically is January to March, you don't want to wait to book. Prime options, cabin locations and more will sell out quickly. Moreover, the earlier you book, the better the offering. 

With so many choices, cruise lines, itineraries, it call be a bit daunting trying to find the perfect match. 

This is where your travel advisor can really help you. 

Looking for a winter get away cruise? The Caribbean offers a number of exciting itineraries. 

What about Italy or Greece? Yes! These and so much more are available in the Mediterranean. 

Perhaps you wish to see some Norwegian fjords or visit Iceland-Yep, those too.

From small ships to ocean liners, eco adventures to party time, wave season is some of the very best time to book. 

Contact me today and we can talk about your cruise plans!

The World is waiting. Where will YOU go? 

Spotlight on Aruba!

 Aruba is located in the Caribbean sea near the cost of Columbia. This 69 square mile island belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is also part of the ABC islands along with Bonaire and Curacao. 

Aruba is unique in the Caribbean in that it is a dry climate and an arid cactus strewn landscape. It is relatively warm and sunny year round. This arid climate made it unsuitable for slave based plantations so the type of large scale slavery that was so common on other Caribbean islands never became established on Aruba. 

The weather and temperature is moderated by the trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. Tempurature typically stays between 80 and 85 degrees year round. 

Aruba is home to some of the best white sandy beaches of the world. 

While mostly flat, compared to other islands in the Caribbean, you can clearly identify the volcano that is situated on this island. The volcano, Hooiberg, rises 541 feet above sea level and is in the center of the island. 

Interested in visiting this wonderful island? I'm hosting a cruise in January 2024 that will be stopping in at this wonderful island.