Sea 'n Tell - Manotick Travel

Peru – A Trip of a Lifetime

Upon completion of the Gap Adventures Club I had the opportunity to travel to Peru. I had sold Gap Adventures but had never taken one of their tours so I thought this would be a great opportunity to experience one of their tours firsthand.

In getting ready for the trip I had visions in my head of what it would be like but when I arrived and had time to explore it was more than I expected. I had the opportunity to travel to Lima, Cuzco, Aguas Calientes, Ollantaymbo and Machu Picchu.

The evening before heading to Machu Picchu I could not sleep I don’t know whether I was very excited or it was just my restless legs. Fortunately the women I was rooming with could not sleep so there were a lot of giggles coming from our room. We had to rise at 4:30am to be there before sunset and I have to say it was well worth it. Upon arrival at Machu Picchu it was breathtaking. It was nice to have a moment to just take it all in and to think of what had transpired hundreds of years before.

When I first thought of an active holiday I did think I would be roughing it and it would be very busy but that wasn’t the case. We had time to explore, the accommodations were very nice and the food was true to the area. Depending on your activity level, age or budget Gap Adventures definitely has something to offer everyone.

Carol-Ann Decker

cruise3sixty

At the beginning of June I attended cruise3sixty which is the official travel agency conference of the cruise line industry. It is also the leader in educational training and networking opportunities for cruise industry travel professionals. I had the opportunity to preview the Alaskan cruise fleet that sails from the world-class port at Canada Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

I was able to tour three cruise ships: Holland America’s MS Volendam, Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas and Princess Cruise Line’s Diamond Princess. All three ships are very impressive and each caters to a different demographic. They were all in Vancouver for the Alaska cruising season.

There were also lectures on cruise line updates and booking demonstrations as well as product and destination workshops.

All in all, it was a very worthwhile, educational and enjoyable week in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.

Jill Fotheringham

SPAIN – Olé!

I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled to Spain where vineyards and olive trees span the horizon as far as the eye can see. Between the bustling cities and quaint countryside, are old towns that hold secrets of local heroes and exiled desperados. Where ever you go, there is always something to see. The medieval ruins really impressed me and I found myself asking what the walls would say if they could talk.

Madrid was surprisingly easy to navigate with a decent map and a comprehensive subway system. Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Madrid, was where I had my first bona fide Sangria.

Toledo, where the winding streets could surely get a person lost for weeks, is the home of beautiful Damascene jewellery. This is an ancient Moorish art of tapping gold or silver thread into a black steel backdrop…beautiful! Grenada boasts a unique combination of Moorish, Roman and Jewish architecture as well as the extraordinary Alhambra and its stunning gardens. Did you know some people still live in caves in Granada? I had the privilege of experiencing Zambra dancing (similar to flamenco) in one of these caves; an experience that shouldn’t be missed! Seville is a busy but welcoming city where the best views are seen from the top of “la Giralda”; a tower at one end of the 3rd largest church in the world. Segovia is a tiny town north of Madrid which boasts a cathedral, a mosque and a castle. The rolling streets, mountain views and the largest, oldest and best-preserved working aqueduct are some of what made Segovia memorable for me.

There are too many wonderful experiences to list here. You will have to go to Spain for yourself to really get a taste of all there is to offer. I didn’t mention the food! That will have to be for another time.

Suzie Baril

Fam Trip to Bali and Taiwan October 2010

I was lucky enough to be able to participate in a Fam trip to Bali and Taiwan to check out a part of the world that I have never been to before. It was a very long flight from Ottawa to Toronto to Taipei, Taiwan and then on to Bali. But Bali was worth every hour on the long journey to get there. The temple at Tanah Lot was spectacular as well as Mount Batur, an active volcano near Kintamani. Bali is home to some animals named civets that make the world’s most expensive coffee (Kopi Luwak). We toured some magnificent resorts but I think my two favourites were the Nikko Bali Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua and the Furama Villas and Spa and the FuramaXclusive Villas and Spa in Ubud. Nusa Dua is in the southern part of Bali on the Indian Ocean while Ubud is further north, inland. If I had my choice I would spend at least ten days (two weeks would be even better) and I would spend a few days inland near Ubud and the rest of the holiday on the coast in southern Bali enjoying the beautiful beaches.
Taiwan was an interesting country to visit but, unfortunately, our trip coincided with Typhoon Megi so quite a bit of our sightseeing was curtailed due to the awful weather. I guess I will just have to plan another trip when the weather is better!

Jill Fotheringham