One of the greatest joys of travel is the people we meet along the way. There are the wonderful folks we meet in a destination, the talented people who plan or guide our adventures and but also the fellow travelers we’ve met along the journey. Whether folks are in our lives for an hour or forever, each person we’ve meet along the way has made all of our travels so much richer! Here a few of the people who made our travels extra special this year!
An Incredible Fixer
Our driver (L) and “fixer” Pablo (R) had us covered when the governments in the US and Chile warned against our planned destinations due to wild fires. Pablo helped us make alternate plans!
January and February we spent weeks exploring Antarctica, Chile and Argentina. On the recommendation of our AirBNB owner, I contacted her local driver to arrange transfers and local tours during our extended stay in Santiago. Not only did Pablo get us everywhere we needed to go, but he also coordinated last minute plans to visit a Chilean Winery for us when wildfires prevented us from visiting the places we’d originally planned. His warm hospitality and insider connections made our trip perfect and we remain friendly still, messaging opposite weather reports to each other regularly from opposite hemispheres.
Winery in Chile
The Laugh We Will Never Stop Hearing
Smiling and laughing, “a wealth of Silver Sea passengers” explore around the Southern Ocean
Before we even met Angus we heard his laugh…a New Castle UK native, his booming laugh was infectious to all who heard it, and we all heard it! We met Angus aboard the Silver Sea Cloud in January to visit Antarctica with his gracious and stylish wife, Dwina, who were members of our excursion group, and they made our experience was vastly improved by sharing the most amazing adventures together, laughing all the way!
Penguins in Antarctica
An Eclectic Collection of Humans to Witness a Once in a Lifetime Eclipse
Family and new friends gathered to experience the eclipse
Our daughter’s home was on the path of totality for the April 2024 Eclipse. A once in a lifetime event, her home quickly became a hostel full of unrelated people bonding over an incredible celestial event. As I whipped up vats of chili and pans of lasagna, sharing the stunning moment with complete strangers, bonded us all in that moment forever.
Total Eclipse
A Family That Comes with a Car
Minis lakeside in Vermont
In October, we direct our tiny car north to Vermont to meet our Mini Cooper Family. No two are the same, and that can be said for the cars (with their unique colors, mods and wraps) and also for the people who cross the spectrum from all places and all walks of life. The happy family reunion is better every year, as we zip around Vermont with a different group each year, bonding over a love of a car and driving and exploring new things and meeting new people on the road ahead!
A diverse group of Mini Ralliers gather at the Vermont/Canada border, shown by a granite marker
The Travel Agent Who Got Us Home When We Had To Be Home
After years of planning trips virtually, I got to meet my travel agent, Jay Paul, when we visited Las Vegas last year.
A year ago, we traveled to las Vegas to meet the man who has planned our trips for years now. No request is too much for Jay Paul (crusieplanners) and nearly every trip goes off without a hitch. Having dinner and getting to meet and thank the man in person was a highlight of the past year, but it was his assistance at the worst of times that really made me grateful for Jay.
When a family emergency required us to return from Dubai immediately, one call, and he made sure when we arrived in Montreal, flying 24 hours in the last 36 hours, there was someone ready with a town car to take us immediately to our loved ones. We couldn’t think straight after that many hours on a plane and out of our mind with worry, and thanks to Jay, we didn’t have to!
Freemont St Las Vegas Nevada
2025
What’s next, where will we go? This is what’s ahead and we look forward to seeing who we meet on all of these adventures! Keep an eye out for our photos and stories about these places and let us know where you are headed!
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Eco Camp on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, on the Pacific Ocean
A birthday safari with my daughter, we will travel to the Osa Peninsula to explore the Corcovado National Park and Pacific Ocean from a remote eco camp.
Art Museums in Western MA
Several interesting art museums are located within a days drive of our home. The Norman Rockwell Museum, Eric Carle Museum of Children’s book Art and the Mass Museum of Contemporary Art. An off season getaway will let us stay at a popular historic hotel as a base for exploring.
Broadway Shows in NYC
My third trip with CTI travel (Custom Travel Insider) to NYC for Broadway, this time with a friend, we keep coming back to this tour group because of their ability to get great tickets to the hottest Broadway shows, but also for the unique “behind the scenes” access to meet performers and visit backstage at historic theaters.
Lakes District, Great Britain
An overdue visit to a British family member is turning into a family reunion “hen party” for a group of relatives in the pretty Lakes District in the north of the UK.
Uganda, Africa
Uganda will be our 5th trip with Natural Habitat Adventures. Their expertly guided trips focus on wildlife and nature. This photo is from our trip to Patagonia with them.
A make up trip to Africa (interrupted due to a family emergency) to trek to see gorillas and also safari both in the Rift Valley and along the shores of the upper Nile River. Our trip is planned with Natural Habitat Adventures, who always curate amazing wildlife trips and attract people with a shared love of animals.
Athens Greece and Greek Islands
Our travel crew has been to Hawaii (pictured) the Caribbean and Vancouver, next up- Greece!
A more than 10 year friendship with a fellow travel planner always results in a trip filled with friends, excel spread sheets full of exciting adventures and more belly laughs than anyone can count. 2025 send us to Athens Greece, a huge Airbnb booked for our group of 9 and a nine night cruise aboard Celebrity Infinity to the Greek Islands will be our next adventure.
Bucket List Adventures Ahead…
Because everyone is traveling again and hotels and tours at popular destinations fill fast, we’ve already booked these bucket list destinations in 2026 and 2027. What’s on your “book it” list?
Milan, Italy- Winter Olympics with Road Trips Sports
Trekking and kayaking in New Zealand with New Zealand Trails
UnCruise Adventure trip to Dutch Harbor and the Aleutian Islands
Haines AK in 2018, after 2 trips to AK and 3 trips on an UnCruise Adventures vessel, with guided kayak, hiking, and wildlife adventures, we are excited to be booked on one of their newest adventures, which includes the Aleutian islands
