CYBER CAFES

I must thank the boys at the little "Au Bon Cafe" at Karpathou and Stoarolkou [tel. 22.41.03.60.75] in Rhodes Town, especially Stamatios, because for the cost of a cappacino you can sit for as long as you want at the cafe's two laptops. It is here that I write my blog posts. Very nice.

Most of the other Internet Cafes on the island of Rodos that are listed in the travel guides have closed down, gone belly-up for various reasons. Some hotels have the coin-operated computers but not many. Seems to be the way of Greece and the world, many closures.

There are demonstrations in Syntagma Square in Athens, although the news is in Greek, of course. The sound of Vespa scooters still resonates in the airwaves, so people can still afford to buy gasoline! The pretty Greek boys still smile at you when you pass their shop; nice for us older gals of a certain age, eh. Make fond memories even in the downturn times! Hey, we're tourists on holiday having fun and spending our hard-earned money, supporting the country's economy, right? So here I go, leaving the cyber cafes behind going out into the sunshine.

[Photo copyright by M. J. Milne 2011]

LOVE IN LINDOS

LINDOS, RHODES -- Beautiful Lindos, the tiny village with white-washed homes, an Acropolis, a wonderful beach, turquoise water, and lots of donkey shit for the tourists to slip on. Ride a donkey to the top of the Acropolis and save your feet for shopping in the tiny shops.

I took The Discovery boat from Mandraki Harbour in Rhodes/Rodos, about a two hour trip with 180 other tourists. Once we arrived in Lindos it started to rain. I was going to be on the beach, but instead walked the little streets---very slippery in the rain because of the little stone walkways. Luckily, being a westcoaster used to living in a rainforest (Vancouver, Canada), to me rain is "liquid sunshine."

I enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Stefano's out of the rain and met a Romanian couple who were obviously on their honeymoon. He was a big guy who was very attentive to his young lover. Very nice to converse with a timeline of centuries passing by in moments and glimpses of past lives together.

On the return journey, I sat with three ladies from Poland who were on an aerobics tour. There were about twenty of them who do aerobics together in Poland. How odd that I never thought that aerobics would be anywhere else but North America, but then I never thought about it before. Everything known to us is everywhere. I forget that the only boundaries between us are in our own minds.

Lindos is a special place and definitely worth a visit. For great views of Lindos, watch the older movie entitled "High Season" starring Jacqueline Bisset.

[Photo copyrights by M. J. Milne 2011]

STOP X STOP

For those of you brave enough to rent a car or scooter in Europe, but particularly  in regard to driving in Greece and Italy, please remember that they DO NOT STOP AT STOP SIGNS. Hear me now. When approaching an intersection that has a STOP sign for the other driver, know that the driver will probably NOT STOP. Instead, YOU be the defensive driver and slow down. Do you hear me now? Good. I learned that lesson on Crete, Greece, and also in a tiny village in Provence, France. Blessings to all intersections!

[Photo copyright by M. J. Milne 2011]

MOSQUITOS & CHICKEN BREASTS

Here on the Greek island of Rhodes the crush of the cruise ship crowds are annoying, sorry but it's true. They swarm the medieval Old Town of Rhodes giving you no chance to hear the ghosts of the Knights of Rhodes, the horse hooves on the cobblestone streets, the flash of a door opening and seeing into a past life, dressed in a knight's armour. Wonderful memories of being here in quieter times. But I will return at night or early morning when the ghosts speak to me.


Now I am immersed in present moments, very present, because I have been eaten alive by mosquitos!!!! My face and eyes swollen up, I resemble Quasimodo the hunchbacked face of Rhodestown. I spent my first night sitting up in the white marble tiled bathroom with a frozen chicken breast on my face! It helped with the swelling and was the only thing in the fridge. So what to do?

My friend Perry whose apartment I am staying at, had to go to Kalymnos Island to get his boat out of drydock and ferry it to Rhodes and then to Lindos for the summer tourist season---I was supposed to go with him but not with swollen eyes.

BTW, if you go to Rhodes, visit Perry at his boats along Mandraki Harbour or moored in Lindos. His two boats are the Free Spirit and the Discovery.

Desperate, I called his mobile. Perry told me to go to the supermarket and buy a little mosquito machine. Huh? I asked his friend Irini about it and she agreed. So I went and the shop owner knew immediately what I meant. For those also suffering with the scourge of European travel in Springtime = mosquitoes, it's a little plug-in thingy with a liquid bottle and it puts the bugs "to sleep" and keeps them away 100%. What it does to your own lungs I have no idea, but I figure it's not for long. Springtime in Rhodes (May) is beautiful only if you use this little machine like all the Greeks do, every household. The next night I slept like a baby all night, and even ate the defrosted chicken breast for dinner!

Here is a restful contemplation to do from my friend back home that helped me to sleep (soulflow.ca):

"Time to take another deep breath and relax. Come into yourself letting everything else go and say, 'Just me'. Sit quietly. Just be with yourself for a few precious seconds letting everything else go. Be there long enough to feel what's going on inside. Are there emotions bubbling up that need to be addressed or is there an emptiness that gives way to a sense of feeling grounded? Just let it be. It is perfect the way it is so just let it be. When you're ready intend to let inner healing carry on inside and come back to the space you're in."

Yasou!

[Photo copyright by M. J. Milne 2011: Free Spirit Boat; Perry Painting His Boat.]

Emergency Articles

BTW, the emergency articles I chose to keep with me and not check with my small wheelie suitcase in case of the ash cloud disruptions consisted of a change of underwear (one to wear, one to wash), simple sleepwear, toiletries (under 100 ml), a change of clothes, vitamins or medicines, and ALL VALUABLES: your camera, iPOD, and chargers; jewelry, etc.. And of course your "primary" which should consist of your wallet with driver's license, medical card, credit card, bank card, and some currency; and your money belt with passport, extra currency, one extra credit card and extra bank card in case of the cards getting ruined in the ATM machines, lost or stolen. And keep this "primary" with you at all times while traveling place to place, and lock it up in the hotel safe, or hide it in your hotel room. The locks of most European hotel rooms are easily picked open. I once lost a camera in Amsterdam. I went out for dinner, leaving my camera in my hotel room, only to return and find it had disappeared. The lock had been picked. Luckily the camera was insured and I replaced it immediately.

I've heard many stories of professional pickpockets quickly fingering a wallet out of your purse or back pocket as quick as a wink. They usually work in pairs and tourists are easy targets. Also beware when getting onto and off trains or buses. A friend told me she allowed a stranger to help her with her bag while getting onto a train and he stole it instead. A helping hand might just help themselves to your belongings.

Yasou!

[Photo copyright by M. J. Milne 2011]

ARRIVAL OKAY

Monday May 23-24 was a very long day and night. The flight Vancouver to Amsterdam was nine grueling hours stuffed into a window seat. Ugh. And then another flight to Athens, and then to the island of Rhodes. Now I remember why I book 4-6 weeks in Europe cause it takes so friggin long to get here.

Sitting next to me was a retired couple returning to Finland after 43 years living and working in Vancouver. They retired and wanted to move back to be with the rest of their family. The husband buildt houses in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver and still spoke with a strnge Finnish accent. The woman was reading a book entitled "Disappearance of the Universe" by Gary Reanrd, it had been translated. I know this book, written by A Course in Miracles follower. It shifted my travel woes and I took it as a sign---sitting beside a spiritually based couple.

Another sign was a flash of blue light on the small TV screen in front of me, and the brilliant blue blankets the cabin stewards handed out. Why did I need these signs to comfort me? Well, I'd been worried about the flight and travelling, what with the Icelandic ash cloud, half thek world under either flood waters, fire, or hurricanes, or war. I was picking up all these negative vibrations of energy circulating the planet. I even took the precaustion of packing a packsack with all the esstentials needed for overnight stays just in case I got stuck anywhere.

You no doubt wonder why the colour blue is important to me? It's always been a special colour and means to pay attention.

Yasou! from Rhodes!

[Photo copyright M. J. Milne 2011: "Arrival in Rhodes"]

All Roads to Rhodes

Rhodes, Greece is my first stop, other than landing in Amsterdam and Athens to get there. It will take an entire day's journey to finally smell the Aegean ocean surrounding this amazing Greek island. I'm hoping my checked suitcase lands with me!

"Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and one of the largest in the Aegean sea. It is situated approximately 17,7 km from the coasts of Turkey. The population is about 130.000 persons , of which approximately 60-70.000 reside in the city of Rhodes. Rhodes called from its local people the Rose of the Aegean and deserves its name because is one of the most beautiful Greek islands." Info from www.rhodestravels.com

Hi,

This 'What To Pack' list is a guideline only, but it is a list that has been methodically thought out after all my years of traveling. But you will have to personalize it. It also may include articles for hotter climates like Greece. So with that in mind, here we go!

WHAT TO PACK

RULE 1: TRAVEL LIGHT!
If you cannot carry your suitcase one city block, you are in trouble! Try it before you go.
- Basically, it's one small pull-along suitcase and one/day bag (or briefcase).
- Try to pack not more than 20-25 pounds in a 9"-by-22"-by-14" bag on wheels or packsack
- Then accessorize, accessorize, accessorize with a few bobbles, scarves or ties. [For business trips, take one all-weather day suit, one dress-up evening suit or dress, and one casual outfit, with two pairs of shoes (a casual pair, and a business pair).

RULE 2: EXPECT EVERYTHING TO GO WRONG, AND LET GO! ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

RULE 3: WEAR & USE A MONEY BELT OR POUCH!

TRAVEL TIPS:
Travel Tip #1: If you know all your arrival dates, a tip for you would be to schedule all your shuttle pickups from the airports to your hotel rooms. It makes it so much easier and smoother. You don't have to worry about how to get to your hotel because you haven't a clue where it is. Unless you have a large expense account and can travel by taxi. But personally, I hate taxi cab drivers in every large city throughout the world (other than London's legalized cabbies who have to pass a two-year test in order to get their license and it includes a customer service test). Taxi cab drivers will rip you off sooner than look at you.

Travel Tip #2: Pack light & wear a money belt underneath your clothes!!! Finito.

Travel Tip #3: Do not take anything you will miss if it's stolen. That includes jewelry. Leave the $500 watch at home and get a fake one that looks like it cost you $500. If you have an expensive camera, get it insured.

Travel Tip #4: When you take less stuff, it means you have to wash your undies more, etc. So bring a round flat Sink Stopper, suds for washing clothes, and a large Ziploc bag. The large Ziploc bag acts as a washing machine: dump in clothes, pour in water & liquid laundry detergent and shake-shake-shake! Take an extra Ziploc. Or use the sink in your room and the rubber sink stopper and soak clothes.

Travel Tip #5: My Favorite Travel Things I always take with me (optional):
- Adaptor plugs for all the countries I'm traveling to.
- Postcards from my hometown to give or show to people; or a Small Talking Book of photos of my home, family, friends, of my art, or activities, etc. Locals in faraway lands love looking at it.
- Pocketknife (in checked baggage only!) e.g. Swiss Knife, great for picnics & eating in your room. Check with your airline first.
- A little water heater prong (220volt), with a metal camp cup, and my favorite tea bags. I always travel with it & make tea in my hotel room. (From your local travel shop; get the correct voltage and follow the directions; in other words, unplug it before you pull it out of the water)
- A small Maglight flashlight & batteries.
- A sarong (basically a large piece of rayon or cotton cloth that the Hawaiians use) which acts as a bathing suit cover-up, dressing gown, shawl, skirt, beach blanket, a curtain, an emergency towel, a sheet on top of the over-bleached and starched bed linen (that I'm allergic to).

Travel Tip #6: Anti-Jetlag Tips:
- Drink lots of bottled/purified water on the flight (bring it with you).
- Consider drinking carrot juice before the flight: carrots offer the best resistance to the oxygen deficiency which can occur at 10,000 feet and above.
- Avoid carbonated drinks, cabbage, beans and cauliflower: these cause gas, which expands with altitude.
- Drink lots of uncarbonated liquids, eat lightly, don't drink coffee or alcohol, eat little or no sugar, and try to cop a two-or three-hour in-flight nap.
- Sounds like a recipe for right living, eh? But maybe that blows your idea of fun.
- There is also an Anti-Jetlag Homeopathic, and Melatonin.

Travel Tip #7: Have fun at a Cybercafe!
- In other words, it's fun to go into an Internet café and receive or send mail home to friends and family while you travel. For those of you with iPod Phones, download the Skype App and use it. However, leave your phone's SIM Card at home and buy one in the country you're visiting at a telephone kiosk. It's cheaper.
- If you don't have an Internet address you can access while traveling, log on to Hotmail.com, Gmail.com, or Yahoo.com and sign-up for a FREE e-mail account. And remember your email address and its password.

SHORT PACKING LIST:
- 9 x 22 x 14" wheelie suitcase
- A small daypack
- Pack no more than 20 or 25 pounds! That's a hard one. Try it!
- Look forward to running out of Toiletries
- Nylon bags for toiletries (in small bottles), shoes, medical & miscellaneous, underwear, camera/film & an extra camera battery
- Color co-ordinate most clothes
- Take clothes that dry quickly
- Take clothes that don't wrinkle or that look good wrinkled
- Wash as you go
- Summer is casual in Europe but do not look like a slob! If you wear blue jeans, look like a student, not a slob.
- Winter is dress up time in Europe but dress warm. Take only one jacket! Layer for warmth.
- Wear a Money Belt!

The Packing Elephant

Who wants to learn how to pack? I began a week ago tossing travel items clothes lotions etc., into an open suitcase. So now I have way too much and it will take an elephant to move it!!! Now I will "unpack"!!! See next post coming soon as the last minute panic subsides. Cheers. I can almost taste the Greek ouzo. --m.j.

Turkish Seaports

My friend Denise has a son who is a pilot out of Istanbul, and soon also in Cesme, Turkey. We just spoke to him using Skype---a fabulous long distance online program to talk to loved ones who live on the other side of the world. Go to Skype.com for the free download.

I remember visiting southern Turkey twice, taking a ferry boat from the Greek Islands of Kos and another year from Rhodes. It's a hop-skip-jump to such places as Marmaris, Bodrum, Selcuk and the amazing ruins of Ephesus.  

Cesme where my friend's pilot son will be stationed is a grand resort town close to Izmir---a tourist hub. These port cities are all vibrant, tourist cities with lively markets, lots of great shopping, and archeological sites galore. For us OWLs it's best to travel in pairs, although I did travel alone in Turkey and found it quite safe. Hmmm, that reminds me of the time I was offered the services of a young boy about age 14. I was staying in a hotel room in Selcuk which is close to Ephesus. One evening there was a knock at my hotel room door. Standing there was a young boy and the hotel owner who offered me the young man for an evenings entertainment. Apparently a North American woman traveling alone in Turkey without a husband is after one thing---young boys.

I didn't know what to say. Not wanting to be impolite, I thanked him and made sure he knew I had come to see the archeological ruins and was not interested in his offer. I wanted him to know that not every older North American woman leaves her husband in Istanbul to do business and comes to Selcuk for certain pleasures, as he thought.

Anyway, that said, the western coast towns of Turkey are marvelous places to visit and a short hydrofoil ride from Greece.

Hi to George in Istanbul!!!

Travel Preparations

Okay, now I'm getting excited about my next trip. I'm returning to Greece and Italy in 2011. Interesting to note that this trip chose me, not the other way around. I had no intention of returning to Greece again, having visited this amazingly beautiful country four times in the 1990s---and many reincarnations in other lifetimes, too. So why again and why now?

I was invited by the Greek Gods. Well, okay, not quite, but almost. I haven't seen my friend who owns Dive Med on the island of Rhodes for many years---it was time. He and his brother run a tourist diving boat; a wonderful experience to learn how to scuba dive and float along the big blue turquoise ocean for a day. Catch up with Dive Med at Mandraki Harbour, or call +30 6932647152 (mobile) for info. Yes, you can learn how to scuba dive in an afternoon!

Greece's economy is failing fast, there are strikes happening, and the people are not happy campers (as we say in Canada). Still, after everything that's happened there, the beauty of the land is a big draw. I love visiting a country where the ancient history impels me to research it and, thus, I am led there. And I am intending to bring a spark of renewal to the Light of Greece.

After Greece I fly to Italy for several days, staying in a Tuscan villa with friends for a momentous birthday celebration—a friend is turning 50. I'm the Elder Wise Woman of the group, the rest of our party is mostly late-40s to mid-50ish. Keeping up to them will be good exercise and lots of fun. Speaking of keeping up, Italy appears stable, with the exception of its President who is "up" to his usual shenanigans with young women. There are earthquakes in southern Italy, another Mafia boss was just arrested, and the pizza dough is rising fast! 

Travel Tip: So how am I preparing for this double-country trip? A month before I leave, I pull out my old suitcase and leave it open on a chair. Whenever I come across something I might want to take I toss it into the suitcase. This usually means I have to "unpack" half the things I've tossed in, but this way I don't forget anything. And so what if I do, there's plenty of opportunity to buy forgotten items in Europe!

Travel Tip: The most important item is my "primary."  What's that you ask? It's my money belt with my tickets (airplane & train tickets are taken out of their packaging and folded up), extra credit card, extra ATM card for the bank machines, my passport, driver's license and International Driver's License for rental cars, medical card, and anything else that fits in my "primary" strap-on money belt. It's my safety deposit box and I wear it while traveling, or lock it away in the hotel safe.

Travel Tip: So I've booked all my flights using my air mile points from my credit card—Yahoo!—so it's almost a free trip. Next comes booking the accommodation. I e-mailed a few pensions and BandBs and waited for a response. In Europe I prefer to stay in the smaller family-run hotels. For listings I usually go to the library and take out my favourite travel books, such as Rick Steves, Foder's, Frommer's, Let's Go, and The Lonely Planet. When I buy books it's usually Rick Steves or The Lonely Planet because they suit my budget and my style of travel. You may prefer the others. All of them are good. For history buffs the Cadogen travel guide series is best. Whatever your choice, going to your local library lets you peruse the books before you buy one. Yes, one!  Bring only one book per country and a few city maps.

More tips later. . .

Si va bene,

M.J. ;O)

MAUI--SO BEAUTIFUL

I love Maui, Hawaii. It's a great place for a quick trip to relax and take in sunshine. And I so needed some sun after a wet winter living in the west coast rain forest. A direct flight took five hours and viola! we were on the beach! We rented a car at the airport and stayed in a condo on the NW coast of Maui near Kaanapali. A few days were spent driving around the island, but mostly we hung out in the area, hopping from one beach to the next. 

It is still my favorite place for a quick trip to the sun in the middle of winter!!!! 

Favorite Maui Picks:

Whale & Dolphin Cruise

Watching turtles at the shoreline

Lahaina for shopping and dinner

Lahaina for a walkabout to find the ancient Hawaiian sites

Watching well-known plein air artists painting at Fleming Beach

Seeing the finished paintings at the Ritz Carlton gallery

Hiking the Napali Bay Trail several times

Sunrise at the top of the volcano (photo)

My friends fav was golfing at Kaanapali Golf Course

Suntanning and having our very own Kabana Boy

Toni's Hawaiian Cooking Class

Aloha! xoxo

This is the perfect Maui Condo that we rented:
http://www.vrbo.com/311859
- Property management company is Quam Properties.
They can be reached at jcambier@quamproperties.com,
or 1-808-665-1315 (Julie Cambier).

Santorini I Love You

Santorini, Greece is one of the most romantic places on Earth. Suffice it to say I have been there four times with four different lovers. Okay, so I'm dreaming, but it did put a smile on your face, didn't it.

Santorini, or Thera, or Thira—why does every Greek word have three spellings?—is a favourite location for European honeymooners, no matter what your age. If you're my age you'd better get those legs in shape for all those steps on the side of the caldera.

The definition of 'caldera' is a large crater formed by volcanic explosion or by collapse of a volcanic cone. But to me, caldera means one friggin steep mountain side. Santorini is reported to be a section of the sunken, mythological Atlantis, thus the resemblance to the sides of a volcano. [Visit Akrotiri's archeological dig.]

I used to be able to romp down the steps to the bottom of the caldera, swim across to the little island off the coast of Oia (Ia), climb up to the little chapel and ring the bell. Then go all the way back, swimming across, huffing and puffing up the steps to the top. There is absolutely no way I would try that now. Only in my dreams as I sit on the hotel's deck overlooking an amazing turquoise sea, grateful to breathe in the winds off the volcano.

My friend Flora and her family own The Flower Hotel in Oia (Finikia) at the northern tip of Santorini. The website says: "The Flower is located in the beautiful village of Ia, with a splendid view of the Aegean Sea and the islands of Ios, Sikinos and Folegandros. The Flower is a family oriented establishment with a warm, peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by a wonderful garden."

I agree. It's a wonderful hotel with clean rooms, a swimming pool, and breakfast included. It's only a five minute walk into the little town of Oia/Ia with its artistic shops, jewellery stores, restaurants and bars, blue-dome churches, marble streets, and white cave homes. I love to walk along the sundrenched streets toward the windmill just before sunset. Buses from all over the island come to Oia to watch sunset. Tourists scramble over the flat roofs of people's cave homes to find their special spot—the Greek owners don't seem to mind and if they do you never hear about it. You see, its tourist season and tourists are their main income. No one wants to rock the boat.

Every year the Greek business taxes go up. Every year I hear how the Greek store owners have to work longer hours, now 24/7 to make ends meet; from May until the end of November when the last of the cruise ships stop arriving. So by the time the autumn winds blows in off the ocean my friends at The Flower Hotel are exhausted, and yet, they will always smile and welcome old friends who return annually.

October is cooler but less touristy. My favourite time of year to visit Santorini or any of the Greek Islands is May-June, springtime. Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines fly all over Greece; or take one of the many ferries and island-hop. But stop long enough in one place to hear the cicadas singing in the evening and watch the sunsets turn brilliant pinks over the turquoise sea.

INFORMATION: The Flower Hotel, Oia, Santorini Island, GREECE - Tel. & Fax +30 2286071130 - Mobile: +30 6944976016 - info@flower-santorini.com; www.flower-santorini.com

—M. J. Milne

(Photo of Santorini by M. J. Milne; Copyright © 2011 M. J. Milne)

TO GO OR LET GO

Traveling is an adventure where the destination is not the journey. It's all about enjoying the journey. But how do we choose our travel destinations? Is it because there's a flight sale, or a particular tour; perhaps it holds a special meaning for us, or you have a preference for a certain area of the world? Or does the place choose us?  

A friend has decided that she wants to travel to all the Wonders of the World. What are they? To my friend's way of thinking they include The Great Pyramid of Giza; Temple of Artemis (Ephesus, Turkey); Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italy); Eiffel Tower (France); Taj Mahal (India); ruins of Petra (Jordan); Alhambra (Spain); stone sculptures of Easter Island; Michelangelo's David (Italy); Mont-Saint-Michel (France); Mayan pyramids (Mexico & Guatemala); and Machu Picchu (Peru). Of course, there are many more.…

Which Wonders of the World are on your Bucket List?

My friend has been to five on her list already. But this year she decided on the Egyptian Pyramids and the Jordanian ruins at Petra, both are World Heritage Sites. So she booked a tour to Egypt/Jordan for September through Peregrine Adventures. And then the country started a revolution! [The two are not related ;o)]

So what should she do? Wait and see what will happen by September and still go? Or cancel her trip altogether? The revolution and riots are in full swing and the Canadian government has told tourists to leave the country immediately. What would you do?

I was in a similar predicament; however, I was already in the country! In 1974 Greece erupted in a coup d'état. I was sitting at a café in Syntagma or Constitution Square when the army from the north drove their tanks and jeeps into Athens and, then, walked up the steps of the Parliament Buildings, and peacefully took over the government.

The citizens of Athens were ecstatic because for twenty years they had lived under a suppressive dictatorship. The President was ousted and the people rejoiced. Syntagma Square exploded into a wild party. Men took off their shirts in public for the first time in 20 years—it had been illegal. Musicians started to play the Bouzouki in public—it had been illegal to play it for 20 years. Melina Mercouri (Μελίνα Μερκούρη), the famous Greek female actor in such films as 'Never on Sunday,' had been a political exile for ten years. Mercouri returned the following day and waved from the balcony of the Hotel Grande Bretagne. The Greeks were ecstatic. She later became the Greek Minister of Culture. For a few moments in history, these modern day Greeks had experienced freedom.

So will the Egyptian military turn and side with the people and perform a coup d'état? Possibly. 

And will my friend get to see the Pyramids?

"Not this year," she said. I think it's a wise choice, don't you?

Traveling is a pilgrimage within to grow the garden of the soul. It stretches us and teaches us great lessons of life. Only we can decide whether to go or to let go.

—M. J. Milne

(Photo of David by M. J. Milne; Copyright© 2011 M. J. Milne)

Travel Tip: Don't wait on 'HOLD' with a portable phone while booking flights.

I've never used air mile points to book flights before. Have you? What a test in patience! I waited forty minutes on the portable phone for someone to answer. As soon as the service rep finally came on, my phone died. Ha. Is this a message? Am I supposed to go on holidays? Yes, but not that flight I was about to book. Ah, the ways of spirit are endless---my inner guides are protecting me.

Where to go on my holidays? Greece or Italy? Couldn't make up my mind, so I'm going to both. Visiting Greece again after 15 years came as a total surprise to me. So I will go to visit my friend Perry in Greece and give the country my tourist dollars--they can use them, or so I'm told. And then off to Italy for a friend's 50th birthday at a villa. 21 days of travel. 

Stay tuned, I'll be blogging about it here: http://olderwiserladies.blogspot.com/

~MJM ;O)

Author of "12 Golden Keys for a New World" at www.12GoldenKeys.com