by Erin

Have you ever been to a party and found out too late that you were not dressed appropriately?  You are either dressed up too much or are not fancy enough… it’s enough to throw you off your game for the entire night.  Sometimes, just dressing the part makes you feel more comfortable and makes you feel like you fit in.

We have found that one of the most fun parts of travel is donning the garb of the locals!   And not just grabbing a hat for a picture, but really dressing the part!  Like each of the four times we have brought a group to India, one evening is spent dining at a local home wearing sarees, bangles and henna.  We are dressed by experts so we are sure to wrap them the right way, and it is just such a fun experience to look truly local.  Also, you get an instant souvenir (but have to figure out when you get home just how to wrap it correctly on your own).

If the opportunity doesn’t always present itself on land, you make your own party on a ship and dress local.  Each time we are in Greece, we strip the bed, wrap ourselves up in sheets and host a toga party!  The cabin stewards may not appreciate the party as much as we do, but we sure know how to make an entrance into the dining room with a crowd clothed in sheets!

And if all else fails and you don’t have the time to match your outfit to the locals, just figure out what it is that makes them unique and copy them in any way that you can!

Are you ready for a trip around the world?  Are you?  Really??

Sadly, the majority of Americans will rarely see any geography beyond their own borders.  The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries published a finding that only about 10% of of US residents have ever traveled to overseas destinations (Canada and Mexico excluded – they’re not overseas. )  Leisure travel is more than a vacation. Its an activity that makes you more worldly, knowledgeable and tolerant of the differences in cultures that make our planet so special.  Its an adventure.  Its a means to experience “Life” with a capital “L” – a chance to break from the routine…the norm…the grind…the familiararity…the common.  Its a purpose, not just an experience.  Humans are born to travel; we’ve been given the mobility and dexterity to do so and as Americans we’ve also been given the “land of opportunity’; a means to earn, spend and have plentiful of what most other nations around the world don’t.

Get Out There, America! Whether you’re single or married…Jewish or Christian….in your 30s or in your 60s; don’t do what the regretful elderly do when they say for decades “I’ll travel when I retire” or “I’ll get there someday”.  Go now, while you’re able-bodied, healthy and capable! You never know when you might not be, and denying yourself the greatest of life’s givings is a regret of unfathomable proportions.  Trust me, the world is an incredible place.  America is wonderful…but the world is, well, an Amazing Journey for all to see.

IF NOT NOW….WHEN?

Why do so many people feel drawn to Greece?  Perhaps its the history of the land that has given us the Acropolis and Delphi and Olympia;  places that have been attracting tourists for 200 years since the days of Lord Elgin. Could it be the lure of the Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos and Rhodes, with their beautiful beaches, restaurants, nightlife and archaeological sites? Or, the lesser known islands like Sifnos, Lesvos, Kea that have always been attractive to those looking for a more quiet escape. Maybe it is the call of the Peloponessos with its high mountains and beautiful coast, its rich history and the seaports of Gythion and Napflionwhich have sent sailors all over the world for centuries. Could it be the Greek food (where, by the way, they just call it a “Salad”)? Or, could it be the weather in Greecewhere there are 300 days of sunshine per year…or the spiritual quality of places like Meteora where centuries old monasteries crown giant rocks.

As Amazing Journeys embarks next week on our Jewish singles cruise through the Greek Islands, as well as Turkey, Cyprus and Israel…we would like to share a wonderful resource with you on Greece.   Our friend Matt Barrett is a self taught (and totally indulgent) Greece Travel Consultant who writes about what he knows and enjoys. He has written and published many articles and guides on Greece including:  Athens Survival Guide, Greece Travel Guide, Greek Island Guide, History of Greece, Lesvos: More Than Just Another Greek Island, and Greek Food Guide.

His website is www.greecetravel.com and here you can find a layman’s collection of everything about Greece you’d like know but were afraid (or didn’t know) to ask.  For those of you heading to Greece, either with Amazing Journeys or otherwise, Matt’s website can provide you with a head start on finding the perfect restaurant or to decide on what genre of cuisine you will allow yourself to be tantalized by. There are even some hints on what to eat and how to order it. (exerpt: “Fish and meats are fresh for grilling . It’s not like Mexican. Nothing is so spicy you can’t eat it and the seasonings they use are the very same ones you have on the spice shelf in your kitchen. And unlike the crappy oil that terrorizes the hearts of many Americans, the Greeks use Olive oil is which is good for you…”)

From Matt’s website you can even view some video clips, learn a little history, and read some stories about holidays & festivals, places to go hiking, and even Rembetika music -the music of the Greek Underground. 

 Matt can be e-mailed directly at matt@greecetravel.com