Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
Imagine Going There Travel
770.421.9627
www.ImagineGoingThere.com
For Culture-Collecting Clients & Friends of Imagine Going There Travel THE COMPASS
FEBRUARY 2024
DID YOU KNOW ...
Viking has a new itinerary, called the Rhine & Main Explorer, which is an 11-day journey from Nuremberg, Germany, to
Basel, Switzerland. There are new cities
Private dinner at Manfredi’s
you’ll see along the way, such as Marktheidenfeld, Karlsruhe, and Frankfurt, as well as long-standing favorites like Nuremberg, Wurzburg, and the Black Forest region in Breisach.
New Year’s on the High Seas
We’ve never left home on Christmas Day before — at least not for a vacation — but this year was different. Two of our three girls were in Australia, and the third one was available to join us on our vacation, so we booked a trip to Italy instead. Several years ago, we did Viking’s Southern Mediterranean Discovery, which started in Rome, then traveled south, going to ports such as Sardinia, Tunisia, Algiers, Valencia, and ending in Barcelona. At the end of that eight-day cruise, we were seriously regretting not completing the loop with the Iconic Western Mediterranean, which would have taken us from Barcelona back to Rome, visiting all the northern coastal ports in between. So, this was the year we completed the journey. On our last trip, we went early on our own and spent a few days in Rome. This time, we decided to add the Viking extensions: Ultimate Italy —
Tuscany and Madrid. We planned this trip with our dear friends, which made the experience even better. The Tuscany extension has been highly recommended by so many of our clients, and includes a three-night stay in the beautiful Villa Il Poggiale, a historic home that dates back to the 15th century. It is situated on a hill overlooking the Tuscan Valley and is a short drive to the beautiful cities of Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano, which were all included on our tour. The excellent food, tours, and accommodations made it a delightful way to start our trip. We were seamlessly transferred to the ship and started our cruise, where we were joined by some of our family members as well as some of our wonderful clients. In fact, we were able CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
• 1 770.421.9627
Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
Last month’s article on travel protection didn’t leave room for an aspect of insurance through Tripmate (which Viking uses) that might be helpful as you consider your insurance options. An Insurance Safety Net A good travel insurance policy covers medical issues that would prevent you from traveling (including those in your immediate family, such as your spouse, parents, siblings, children and grandchildren). However, there is another benefit that Tripmate includes called cancel-for-any-reason. This benefit is in the form of a voucher and provides protection for uncovered reasons, such as:
• You don’t feel comfortable traveling • Your pet is sick • Your best friend is getting married (or in the hospital) • There is a water leak in the basement • Acts of terrorism
You can exercise this option up to the day before your departure, and Tripmate will give you a voucher for everything you’ve paid to Viking, less the cost of insurance. The voucher can be used for any future Viking cruise but has to be applied within 12 months (you don’t have to sail by then, just apply the voucher within that time frame.) We all know that filing an insurance claim is not for the faint-hearted and can be like giving a pint of blood to get reimbursed. But at least you are armed with more information so you can choose which plan is best for you.
The Stray Dog Who Captured the World’s Heart KUPATA’S ROAD TO FAME
We often think dogs live the good life, as they seem to do nothing but play, eat, and sleep. Yet, some dogs are busy at work, some without being asked to do so! Take Kupata, the stray dog in the Republic of Georgia, for example. This street-roaming pup takes it upon himself to guard a crosswalk all day, every day . In the town of Batumi, this stray stays by a single crosswalk and forces traffic to stop to allow pedestrians to cross the street. He’s especially protective of children! If Kupata sees a car isn’t slowing down, he’ll bark at the driver as they drive away and run to protect the person crossing the street. One local even shared that Kupata will cross the road with children and stay at the park to protect the youngsters. Kupata, which in English means “sausage,” has become a staple in the community due to his hard work, and locals all pitch in to care for and feed the stray dog. His consistently
round belly shows just how loved he is. You’ll even see a massive painting of the beloved animal on a nearby building.
Now, after tireless days of guarding his street, Kupata has his own doghouse provided by the city with an accompanying star on the road with his name on it. Kupata’s dedication made him go viral on social media, and now travelers from all over the world come to see Kupata. Don’t distract him, though. He’s busy at work! Sadly, even though Kupata remains cherished by his community, thousands of stray dogs in the country need shelter, food, and companionship. According to activists, around 500,000 stray dogs and cats roam the streets of the Republic of Georgia. While stray animals may get a bad reputation for being dangerous or unfriendly, Kupata proves that even these furry friends deserve love and recognition.
2 • www.ImagineGoingThere.com
... CONTINUED FROM COVER
“Time is the coin of your life. You spend it. Do not allow others to spend it for you.” —CARL SANDBURG
to get Manfredi’s private dining room for our group and had a delightful evening together!
There are a lot of great ports along this itinerary, which is what makes this a perennial favorite for those in need of a shorter cruise. One of the optional shore excursions offered in the port of Sete was the medieval village of Carcassonne. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 13th century. It has double-walled fortifications, 48 towers, and a charming town nestled inside the walls. We were served a wonderful lunch as part of the tour and then had free time to explore. Though it was a full day, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Our cruise ended in Barcelona, and since we had been there before, we opted to extend our stay in Madrid. The Viking team escorted us to the station where we boarded the high-speed train.
Carnation Famous Fudge
VIP car on TGV train to Madrid
Since we were there early, we had access to the private lounge where we could relax with drinks and snacks before they took us to our VIP car. Our Viking hosts traveled with us to Madrid, then transferred us to the Intercontinental Hotel, where two new Viking hosts were there to assist us for the remainder of our trip. The next day we had a wonderful tour of Madrid, followed by a visit to the Prado Museum. This is a 200-year-old gallery that not only contains paintings and sculptures of many Spanish artists but also works by many international ones, such as Dürer, Rembrandt, and Raphael. I expected to have a couple of hours there wandering around on our own. Instead, our guide walked with us through the museum, giving insight into the significant pieces in a rich and entertaining way. We all agreed it was a highlight of our time in Madrid and a great way to wrap up a wonderful vacation.
I have been making this for many years, and it’s an easy and delicious dessert!
Ingredients • 2 tbsp butter • 2/3 cup undiluted Carnation evaporated milk • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar • 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups (4 oz) miniature marshmallows • 1 1/2 cups (9 oz) semi- sweet chocolate chips • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts • 1 tsp vanilla extract
A client recently told me, “We’ll probably never have more money or be in better health than we are right now, so we should travel while we can.” Sage insight and advice I intend to follow! —Carol Shaddix
Directions Combine butter, evaporated milk, sugar, and salt in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows, chocolate, nuts, and vanilla. Stir vigorously for 1 minute or until smooth. Pour into foil-lined 8x8-inch baking pan. Chill until firm. Cut into squares and serve.
• 3 770.421.9627
Great Vacations Matter Because Great Memories Matter Most
A Platinum Circle Agency for:
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
770.421.9627 | www.ImagineGoingThere.com 3600 Dallas Hwy, Suite 230-215, Marietta, GA 30064
Everything you love about Viking, only better! A great destination is just one part of an amazing vacation. Just like having a master chef prepare your meal at your favorite restaurant, as one of Viking’s largest representatives, we’ve booked these vacations countless times. We intuitively know how to enhance the outcome of your experience so it consistently delivers above and beyond your expectations (and know when those special promotions such as extra shipboard credit or free airfare are available that you might not know about). Whether you are interested in an individual reservation or want to travel together as a group, call 770.421.9627 for your free consultation on how to make your next vacation even better than you expected!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. 2.
NEW YEAR’S ON THE HIGH SEAS
POLICY FOR ‘UNCOVERED’ SITUATIONS
MEET KUPATA, GEORGIA’S STREET- ROAMING PUP HERO
3. 4.
CARNATION FAMOUS FUDGE
PAULA AND JERRY’S VIKING JOURNEY
PAULA AND JERRY’S FIRST ADVENTURE ON THE RHINE Setting Sail With Viking
Paula and Jerry recently returned from their very first Viking adventure, Christmas on the Rhine . Along with many fantastic memories and photographs, they came back with great stories to share with other Viking travelers. Plus, their Christmas cruise will help them plan for their next Viking adventure: In Search of the Northern Lights next January.
with Viking’s crew. From the captain down, it was a family atmosphere. They cater to the little things. They quickly learned that Paula liked Diet Coke, or as they called it, Coke Light, and every time we entered the dining room, they had a glass of ice and a can waiting. We traveled with our friends and requested a table for four, and because they didn’t have a table for four, they turned a table for six into one and held it for us every night. Viking truly cares.” Paula and Jerry highly recommend going to visit the captain in the wheelhouse if the opportunity is offered! Paula took the captain up on his offer, and she was so glad she did — he was a wealth of information. The adventurous couple enjoyed touring the Christmas
markets blanketed in snow and exploring all of the excursions offered — especially cruising the Middle Rhine while taking in the beautiful scenery and castles along the way. Paula and Jerry, we are so glad you had a wonderful experience with Viking and look forward to hearing an update on your next expedition this January! Bon voyage!
“We had a fabulous time,” Paula and Jerry tell us. “We were really impressed
4 • www.ImagineGoingThere.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator