by Malori

If travel is an art, then my mom was an artist.  And a storyteller.  My Mom was always up for an adventure and never missed an opportunity to travel, be it near or far.  I guess that’s where I get it from.

One of her best travel stories came from the time my Mom took a trip to Europe with a girlfriend when I was in high school.  Her friend had business there and she and my Mom had several trips planned over the next few years.  They were like the “Lucy and Ethel” of travel, or was it “Thelma and Louise”?  Lots of amazing stories came out of those trips. My favorite comes from a trip through Central Europe.  After the business portion of the trip was behind them, my Mom’s friend, Cherina, had wanted to visit the graves of her parents in the former Czechoslovakia.  They had done their research and found that no visas were needed (there was no internet back then, but she made the proper calls).  As the rules were changing often in the 70’s for the countries of Central Europe, by the time the train got to the border of Czechoslovakia,  a border guard with a dog came onboard the train and asked to see their passports and visas.  Cherina explained to them in her best Czech that she had understood no visas were needed.  In two minutes they were off the train and in a local jail at the border, being told they needed to spend the night and that a train would be coming in the other direction tomorrow and they could board then after spending the night in the jail.

With no options in sight, the two quickly went into action.  They took out the little blanket they had stored away in their overnight bag (did I mention it was from KLM, lifted from their flight over to Europe?) and laid it out while taking a huge lunch spread out of their bag (did I also mention that they would embarrassingly pack an entire lunch from the breakfast buffet at the hotel each morning?) and began their “picnic” in the jail cell.

A local man came by to say hello to the local jailer, just as the picnic was getting underway.  My Mom, always the social hostess, offered some delicacies and fun conversation, and before they knew it, the local man had invited my Mom and her friend to his local farmhouse just down the road, to spend the evening with he and his wife for dinner and a good night sleep before the train came back to pick them up the next day.  The jailer agreed and the jailbirds were free!  Just like that!  And just as my Mom had taken the blanket from the airplane and lunch from the breakfast buffet, she had no qualms about taking the key to the jail as a souvenir on her way out.

The key hung proudly in our home as a remarkable testament to how two women traveling through Central Europe on their own in the early 70s could both find their way into and out of trouble, and how travel was always an adventure, whether planned for or not.

That story helped set the stage for me and my travel career, and taught me many lessons including thinking on your feet, always be friendly, check and double check visa requirements, and unlike my Mom, never take lunch from a hotel’s breakfast buffet (you’ve only paid for one meal) or blankets from the airline (I was always embarrassed by both).

My Mom passed away just a few months ago.  Not only do her wonderful stories live on, but the plaque with the key now proudly hangs in my home as a reminder of when things go wrong, find a solution.

by Malori

What do kroner, queens and Carlsberg all have in common?  These are some of the local discoveries we made while in Scandinavia (yes, we even got to see the Royals on their yacht in Copenhagen)!  Amazing Journeys just returned with 111 travelers on a cruise to Scandinavia & Russia, seeing seven countries in 12 days, and for those who stayed on with us and visited Iceland, it was another two days and another country!  There were so many high points, and the experiences we shared touched us all in so many different ways. Here are a few highlights:

Copenhagen, Denmark
Tivoli Gardens is a 170 year old amusement park and is the second oldest in the world!  The oldest one is also in Denmark.  It’s iconic Copenhagen and a magical place and we were all so excited to spend the evening there.  We retraced a rescue route used during the Holocaust to save Jews from the Nazis, and moved them safely to Sweden.  The path was long and it took lots of countrymen and women to risk their lives in order to save hundreds of people from death.  The story is an amazing one, and one we heard over and over again on our journey.  Some went on a food tasting tour of local delicacies.  The mouth watering morsels they sampled were appreciated as was the local beer they experienced.

Oslo, Norway
From Viking ships to Vigeland Park, we explored Oslo like the ancient Vikings.  Some discovered on bikes, while others on foot.  Those on the Jewish tour were taken aback about the history of the Resistance in Norway and visiting the Resistance Museum while learning about the Norwegian resistance while under Nazi occupation was a real eye-opener.

Berlin, Germany
The Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site of the 1936 Olympic Stadium, and the train tracks from which thousands of Jews were deported were but a few of the amazing sites we saw in and around Berlin.  Some went on a Cold War tour and saw a piece of the Berlin Wall, learned about the Stasi (secret police) and heard stories about time of Communist Rule in Berlin.  Those on the Jewish tour saw synagogues, the Old Jewish Quarter and heard stories of hardship, heartbreak and harrowing experiences.  We learned about the Jews who came to Berlin in search of a better life, only to find that life was not good for Jews anywhere in Europe.  Those who explored the Third Reich learned about Hitler and his home in Berlin, his rise to power and his fall as the Communists moved in.  We all learned about modern Berlin and the “eat, drink and be merry” approach of Berliners.  We dined on local fare as well as yummy pretzels and beer.

Tallinn, Estonia
In Tallinn, we were surprised by this gem of a Medieval town that most were not familiar with.  We began at the Synagogue and a discussion with the Rabbi which was a highlight for us.  He was charming and enthusiastic and began a community where there was none.  He has made a difference in this small town.  We walked through the Upper and Lower towns, and experienced all the charm of this little town.

St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia
This was the favorite stop by far for our Amazing Journeyers, and the one many took this trip to see.  We had two days to explore Russia and while the majority of our group spent all of their time in St. Petersburg, some spent one day in Moscow and the other in St. Petersburg.  There were so many highlights, it’s hard to name just a few!  In Moscow, we saw the impressive St. Basil’s Cathedral, toured the Kremlin, walked in Red Square, had tea at the famous Metropole Hotel, GUM Department Store (where once this was the only place to shop) and the Armory.

Those who visited St. Petersburg were treated to the opulent architecture which defined the era of the Czars with palace after palace, each trying to outdo their predecessors in France, Austria and others throughout Europe. We saw the impressive Catherine’s Summer Palace, with its defining blue and white exterior, highlighted by gold leaf.  It was a sight to be seen.  Inside, we viewed the lavish lifestyle of the time including the Amber Room, if you can imagine an entire room made from amber!  We got to visit the Throne Room, the Photo Gallery and more.  The grounds were just as impressive as the home itself and we got to view the lake, the French and English Gardens.  This fairytale-like palace was amazing!  After, we visited the Great Choral Synagogue, a spectacular building constructed between 1880-1893.  We were so happy to see this refurbished shul and after a kosher lunch at L’Chaim Restaurant, we listened to stories of growing up Jewish in St. Petersburg during the time of communism and the great suffering and hunger of the people during the time of Stalin. We were then treated to a private violin concert.

The next day we saw an overview of St. Petersburg complete with all of the highlights, followed by a walk through the famous Hermitage Museum,  also known as the Winter Palace.  This amazing structure was filled to the brim with renowned artwork from the European masters as well as other famous artists and styles from around the world.  Because the museum is normally closed on Mondays, it opened just for us – what a treat to be able to walk through without the crowds!  We stopped for a traditional lunch including Russian caviar, vodka shots, borsht and live music.  We completed our visit to Russia with a visit to my favorite palace, Peterhof, also known as Peter the Great’s Summer Palace.  Amazingly beautiful on the inside, but it’s the outside, facing the Gulf of Finland that captures the fun and flavor Peter had in mind for the place, with over 250 fountains adorning the “backyard.”

Helsinki, Finland
Our visit to Helsinki was a gentle stroll through a city where “old meets new.”  We saw classic Russian influenced architecture, paired with a growing modern city filled with architectural gems which is defining the new look of the city.  Some saw by bike, others walked and still some in our group saw the city through the eyes of the Jewish world with a visit to a local synagogue and a talk with someone from the Jewish community. With free time in the afternoon, we loved having some playtime to relax and enjoy whether shopping, walking, photographing or stopping for a local meal.

Stockholm, Sweden
The last stop on our cruise was highlighted by an entrance into the city through the archipelago of Sweden, where 4,000 islands make up this land mass.  We watched our arrival as the sun rose on the Baltic Sea and we welcomed a new day.  We saw the changing of the guards at the palace, enjoyed the old city of Gamla Stan and saw the beautiful mosaics which adorn the City Hall, and home to the Nobel Peace Prize inductions ceremony.  We ended our day with some free time to take it all in.

Reykjavik, Iceland
But wait, there’s more!  Those who ventured with us to Iceland for a post-cruise adventure were so happy they had chosen to do so.  Upon our arrival, we began with the iconic Icelandic experience and went for a dip in the Blue Lagoon.   We slathered ourselves with masks and enjoyed soaking in the warm waters as steam rose from the pools.  We enjoyed saunas, a waterfall and getting treats from the bar, located in the water!  The next day in Iceland was filled with a tour of the Golden Circle where we saw erupting geysers, the enormous and powerful Gulfoss Waterfall and a walk through Thingvellar National Park.  Our nights were filled with the sights and sounds of the busy and fun-loving people of Reykjavik.  We were there for the largest festival of the year – the Cultural Festival.

Our trip was an amazing bounty of cruising, culture, locally defined architecture and Jewish spirituality.  Our travelers happily took it all in and shared the myriad of experiences with their fellow travelers, bonding one to another sharing memories to last a lifetime.

by Malori

Wow!  That is the word heard by our group of 9 travelers over and over again on our heli-hiking adventure with CMH.  Since 1967, Canadian Mountain Holidays has been using helicopters to transport their guests up into the 9,000 feet elevations first for skiing, and then realizing they could fill their off-season, they invented heli-hiking as well.

After a two-hour bus ride from Banff, we arrived at a field, surrounded by local farms.  We were given a briefing on helicopter safely, including how to properly load a helicopter, buckle in and a few other safety notes.

Hearing the distant sounds of helicopter blades in the background, we became more and more excited.  The sounds became more prevalent as they moved closer to us.  Now in complete view, we realized this is our transportation for the next three days.  Excitement grew as we climbed onboard and smiles radiated from our faces.  We would soon be off!

Up in the air, climbing higher and higher over rivers, trees and then granite, glacier-filed mountains, the smiles didn’t leave our faces.  We knew we were in for the most special three days anyone can experience.

Once at our remote lodge, situated in front of a beautiful glacier, we were outfitted with jackets and pants, boots and poles.  With our equipment and a few instructions, we checked into our rooms, had a bite for lunch, packed a snack, met our guides and off we went – onto our helicopter for the first drop off point.

We spent the next two and a half days playing and hiking in the mountains.  Each morning we began our day with a stretch class for those who wanted, followed by a hearty breakfast, a packed lunch (we packed it from a variety of options set out for us each morning).  And then we were off!  One-by-one, the groups were gathered and off we’d fly, towards a different adventure spot each day.  Building on the skills we had learned the day prior, we felt ourselves becoming more confident on the mountains, participating in more technical climbs, and bring dropped off on higher and higher mountaintops, sometimes along the edges or cliffs!  But the guides were skilled, patient and friendly, and could help us through any situation.

Seeing meadows, wildflowers, streams, granite spires, lakes, snow covered mountains and some wildlife, the scenery was varied and each view amazing.  We didn’t want to leave!

The food and service at our lodge were amazing!  Our meals were creative and yummy. Prepared and shared by professionals, the quality was there in every sense of the word.

Too soon, our held-hiking adventure was coming to an end. Saying we wanted to stay was an understatement.  Most of us were already making plans for our next visit, whether with family, friends or another group of Amazing Journeys travelers in the future.  Let us know if you’d be up for a trip like this in the future – we can’t wait to share it with you!

 by Malori

 by Malori

 by Malori

Europe has chosen diplomacy over reciprocity.

For those of us who are starting to look forward to a big trip, but maybe dreading the long flight to get there, allow us to share some travel tricks. A clinical sleep educator shares the best tips in her arsenal for successful in-flight snoozing.

It is the bane of travelers getting on a plane for both business and pleasure – difficulty falling asleep in a seat, especially in coach, and the attendant horrors of jet lag after landing. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can decrease brain performance by 20 percent, so it’s crucial to anyone crossing time zones to rest as much as possible during the flight. Washington, D.C.–based clinical sleep educator and RN Terry Cralle shared her tips for powering down (and getting at least a power nap) on a flight.

1. Plan ahead. “Planning ahead, though it sounds simple, can be much harder in practice. However, it can make a huge difference in your ability to sleep well before a flight and on it,” says Cralle. If you take the time to do things like pack, plan your transportation to the airport, and organize the things that need to happen at home while you’re away in the days leading up to a flight—not the night before—you will not be nearly as stressed-out, and sleep will come more easily.

2. Meditate. “Recently, guided-meditation audio apps have been gaining a lot of popularity, and rightly so,” says Cralle. “It has been shown that these gentle talks help the brain to relax quickly, especially so when the listener is prompted to imagine they are using all of their senses. Say, if you are guided to a beach-side scene where you imagine hearing the waves, watching the sky, and smelling flowers and the salt air, it really helps you to disengage and fall asleep.”

3. Pack lavender oil. “I’m a big fan of lavender oil, it’s so calming, and is a great, simple thing to bring along on a trip,” says Cralle. “A small study was recently done that shows that people who inhaled 100 percent lavender oil before and during sleep had decreased blood pressure and deeper sleep patterns than those who didn’t.” Put a few drops onto your travel pillow, apply it to your temples and wrists once you’ve settled into your seat, and prepare to dream.

4. Ignore in-flight entertainment. No matter how much you want to see the latest blockbuster, Cralle says, “Skip the movies and TV—the end result of staring at a screen during much your flight means that light is hitting your retinas, and telling your brain and body that it’s daytime, and sleep will be much tougher to achieve.”

5. Make to-do lists. To train your brain not to race and worry when it’s time for rest, Cralle recommends a simple daily practice. “Write down your to-do list well before bed. You want to get any obligations and important tasks out of your mind and onto paper during the day so that the mind is clear at bedtime.”

6. Bring something comforting. To get great shut-eye on a plane, Cralle says, “You want the environment to be as comfortable and predictable as possible. If you have a travel pillow you love, always pack it when traveling. Its scent and familiarity will give your brain and body a behavioral cue that it’s time to relax and let go.” The same effect can be achieved by a cozy scarf or sweater.

7. Cover your eyes. “Wear a good-quality eye mask on your flight,” says Cralle. “There are many different models, so even if you think you hate them, if you shop around you’ll likely find one that’s comfortable for you. That little bit of light from a fellow passenger’s iPad two rows up can ruin your ability to fall asleep. The blue light from modern devices is very alerting to the brain, and absolute darkness prompts your body to produce melatonin.”

8. Step away from the Scotch. While a relaxing adult beverage may be tempting, Cralle advises, “Avoid alcohol. Having a drink in an airport lounge or on the plane is a reflex for many people, especially those who have anxiety around flying. However, it really messes with the quality of your sleep, so, close to bedtime, be conscious about drinking booze and caffeine, of course. Hydrate as much as possible.”

9. Decrease the decibels. “Though you’ve likely heard this before, earplugs are very important to have for your flight and your hotel stay while you’re traveling,” Cralle explains. “Make sure to pack them in your carry-on, and, again, try different brands and designs until you find the ones that feel good to you.” There is so much ambient noise on a jet—which is something airlines are working on muffling now—that you truly need to block out that sound, as well as screaming babies and unnecessary alerts from the cockpit.

10. Incorporate cardio. “The relationship between exercise and sleep is very exciting—we are finding that the connection between the two is bi-directional; i.e., if you get enough of one, the other comes much more easily to you,” says Cralle. “The reality is that 40 percent of Americans are sleep-deficient. If you work to add an extra hour of sleep at night, you’ll be much more apt to exercise, and, when you do—especially before a flight—you will be able to doze off much more easily.”

11. Bank sleep. If in-flight snoozing is simply not an option, due to your utter inability to rest on a plane or because you simply must work while traveling, Cralle points out that a little bit of prep work can help you stave off jet lag. “You actually can bank sleep,” says Cralle. “Prioritize your sleep before a flight, and spend a little extra time sleeping or napping in the week before you depart. Lack of sleep really effects your immune system—and the last thing you want on an important business trip or a long-awaited vacation is to get sick. Banking sleep beforehand will also mitigate the bad effects of jet lag.”