Imagine Going There Travel - September 2022

PATTI AND JOHN: THE TRAVELING VIKING POWER COUPLE Tales From Our Sails

Patti and John are so grateful they had the opportunity to hear Carol speak a few years ago because it has led them to memories that will last a lifetime! Patti and John recently returned from Viking’s British Isles Explorer , a 15- day trip from Bergen to London, and completed it in conjunction with a hike on the Camino De Santiago. After the hike, when they boarded, all they had were their backpacks — talk about packing light! In 2019, they took an Alaskan cruise, and in 2015, they enjoyed the Grand European Tour . This time, after the cruise docked at its final destination, Patti and John left all of their clothing behind on board for the cruise line to keep in lost and found for those whose luggage may be delayed, and they grabbed their backpacking bags and embarked on part of a 75-day backpacking trip across 11 countries, hiking another three weeks.

“One tip we have for anyone choosing to travel on Viking is to pack light! While we were a bit forced to bring the bare minimum, we still noticed that all you really need are a few pairs of slacks, T-shirts, and a pair of walking shoes and dress shoes,” Patti explains. “You don’t need that much!” In June 2023, Patti and John are looking forward to Viking’s Empires of the Mediterranean — John even has a countdown set in his phone! The couple loves Viking and always find themselves recommending it to everyone they meet — even strangers in the airport! “We love the service, the smaller crowds, and the fact that there aren’t any casinos on board,” John says. “The only gambling we ever do is getting there on time!” “If you’re anything like us, you’ll be sure to love the smaller size of the crowds on both the ocean and river cruises. We love meeting new people

and we’ve found that doing so is actually easier with fewer people aboard,” Patti explains. Another tip this Viking couple has to offer is to make a photo album of some sort for each excursion you take, for they are all so different and exciting in varying ways! They love to use Shutterfly to help them capture their memories for years to come. Patti and John also co-write travel books — they’ve written three so far. Patti writes the reflection piece and John focuses on the who, what, where, when, and why. They’re a fabulous duo! Patti and John, thank you so much for sharing your travels, tips, and experiences with us! You have less than a year until your next adventure and we couldn’t be more excited for you! Bon voyage!

Team Spotlight: Lynn Johnson

If you have ever met anyone and thought: “I wish I were as quick-witted as she is,” that’s what it’s like to meet Lynn Johnson, our CPA and Finance Manager. She always has a quick quip to keep us laughing and lighten the atmosphere. Her love of numbers started in a high school accounting class. “Debits and credits totaling at the bottom were such a relief to my teenage mind when socially, not a whole lot made ‘cents.’” It was also there that she met her future husband, Keith, who is still her favorite person to spend time with. Lynn’s hidden talent is playing the pump organ, and her favorite food is anything that includes chocolate. A highlight each week is preparing activities and crafts for the Wednesday night lessons for her Stars 1 class, which is similar to Girl Scouts. The Johnsons are a family of readers, and Lynn says they get a lot of leadership books at their house. She chooses what to read after everyone else has finished and picks her selection based on their reviews.

When asked what she liked best about her role with IGT, she said, “Working with Carol. I marvel at everything from

the knowledge that goes into

seminars, writing The Compass, answering questions/helping with a problem, and bringing the best possible experience to clients (Editor’s note: she deserves a raise!). Another best is being the test market for client gift ideas. Finally, celebrating each client’s trip before hitting ‘send’ for a final payment receipt is the greatest.” Lynn has been on two Viking river cruises and will be doing the Iconic Western Mediterranean in November. If you are lucky enough to travel with Keith and Lynn, I know it will elevate your vacation to the next level of fun!

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