Travel
Travel Wisdom
(Here we will post the travel wisdoms of the month before moving them to our TRAVEL WISDOM ARCHIVE page.)
| Click HERE to view the "Travel Wisdoms" Archive |
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NOVEMBER 2021
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity." |
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Looking for Your Travel Tribe? 4 Ways to See the World With Other Sisters
| CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR TRAVEL TRIBE |
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best souvenirs are often new friendships. Here’s how to hook up with globe-trotting girlfriends
for cruises, tours and meetups.
| UPCOMING TRIPS |
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| BALI TRIP 2025 |
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| GHANA TRIP 2024 |
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| ASIAN ADVENTURE 2024 |
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2022 TRIP TO GHANA You may watch the videos by clicking on the red box with the arrow or watch them on YouTube
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| PANAMA CITY, PANAMA |
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| Click HERE to view one of our "Travel Photo Gallery" Archives |
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Here is what This...I...Do...For...Me traveler Connie Winfrey had to say about her October 2019 experience in Southeast Asia.
“Whether reviewing good books, enjoying outstanding plays, sampling new restaurants, or trying out different cuisines...the Sister Circle is never more engaging than on a This I Do for Me outing! Meeting new friends or having a fun time with old ones is easy to do when the activity sparks wonder, surprise, good conversation and an appreciation for just being you! Stepping out of your comfort zone can be intimidating...but get the girls together...it's on! Jump on in! You'll love it!”
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~ Constance WInfrey in Bangkok, Thailand, October 2019
I love when I can impact a client and help them design the trip of their dreams! Here is what Tina had to say about my servics.
“I am so thankful for Robin! Here I am ready to take a stab at international travel and already anxiety-ridden, not knowing where to start. Robin is professional, resourceful and friendly. Once I found her on a travel site, she immediately became a friend and we spent nearly an hour talking about the ins and outs of my trip plan. I can say now that I am ready to go and can approach my trip with more ease and ability to ask the right questions. I look forward to having future talks and share with Robin as an expert and as a new friend!”
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| Click HERE to view the "Travel Wisdoms" Archive |
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COMPLETED EVENT - SPAIN MARCH 2019
| Click HERE to see photos from our 2019 trip to SPAIN |
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2018 TRIP TO MOROCCO
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| Click HERE to see photos from our 2018 trip to MOROCCO |
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Riding The Orient Express:
What It’s Really Like On The Iconic Train
by Erika Ebsworth-Goold
Iconic, indulgent, unforgettable: these three words immediately come to mind when one thinks of the Orient Express. The service that began in 1883 exuded elegance and style and inspired writers (including Agatha Christie, of course), filmmakers, and the jet set.
While the original service no longer exists, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express(VSOE) was established in 1982 with a fleet of restored vintage cars and an eye toward impeccable service. It retraces many of the routes run by its predecessor, including the Venice-to-London run.
Now owned and operated by the luxury brand Belmond, the VSOE is still committed to excellent service. Riding the rails on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is an unforgettable experience. Here are a few of the reasons why.
| Click HERE to read more |
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Favorite Places to Eat in Raleigh, North Carolina
BY SHERRY WERNICKE 01-15-2019
Raleigh, North Carolina was a pleasant surprise for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't the young, vibrant city I found. Undergoing gentrification in many areas, wonderful restaurants abound. In fact, Glenwood Avenue is literally blocks of one restaurant after another. You will need a car or Uber to visit most of these restaurants, but the farthest we drove was 10 minutes. If you are staying downtown, your choices of dining experiences within a comfortable walking distance will be a bit more limited.
Caffe Luna
Located in a majestic historic building in downtown Raleigh, Caffé Luna is well known for serving Italian cuisine with a Tuscan flair. It is a seriously cute, homey restaurant with several dining areas. It felt like we were having dinner in someone's house and not a restaurant. Good for that homey feeling, but bad because it can feel a little closed in. (My only negative).
| Click HERE to read more |
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Venice, Italy: Must See and Do in This Magical City
BY DANA ZUCKER (11/10/18)
TRAVELAWAITS.COM
No matter how many times we visit Venice Italy, we approach the city with wonder and awe. Now, it might be because you arrive by water taxi and pull up to your hotel in a boat - a thrill in itself - or it might be because there are a few things we have to see and do every time we visit that just never get old. It is a magical city like none you will ever see. It makes us so sad to know Venice is literally sinking and often prone to flooding. For now, that will not keep us from visiting.
If this is your first time, here are several quick FYIs. Venice is made up of 117 small islands connected by bridges, mainly that are over fabulous canals. A few of these islands are only accessible via boat or water taxi. A great portion of Venice is listed as a World Heritage Site. Sitting between the Po and the Piave Rivers and in the Venetian Lagoon, it is the architecture that makes the city so unusual as well.
Whether you are in port for the day with a cruise or sending a few nights, here is our list of what you must see and do in Venice, Italy.
Tips for Visiting Venice Italy
Day and Night...Seeing Venice both during the day and at night is a must. This is truly a city that becomes completely different at night. Between the lights, sounds and people, it's like you've been transported to a wonderland.
| Click HERE to read more |
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TIDFM™ UPCOMING TRIP TO ITALY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 IS "CLOSED"
For Pricing And To Reserve Your Slot, Call Robin at 773/759-1374
JOIN ROBIN AND OTHER THIS...I...DO...FOR...ME TRAVELERS
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Even the Men are Getting in On It! |
These TIDFM™ Ladies have
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| Click HERE to see photos fron our 2018 trip to GREECE |
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FEBRUARY 2018 TRIP TO PUERTO VALLARTA
| Click HERE to see MORE photos from our trip to PUERTO VALLARTA |
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G’day Mates!
We had an absolute blast in Sydney, Australia – all nine of us! Here’s what we found out about Sydney:
- It’s a Food Haven! We ate phenomenal Italian, Greek, Thai, German, Seafood and Spanish!
- It’s a city that loves theater! We saw “Muriel’s Wedding”; it’s as Aussie as it gets.
- It has to be the most beautiful coastal city on earth! We spend time at Darling Harbour, Manley Beach, The Royal Botanical Gardens, The Royal National Park and Circular Quay!
- It’s full of historic landmarks! We took the back stage tour of the famed Sydney Opera House; we admired from a distance The Sydney Harbour Bridge (none of us had the courage to climb it.
- It’s a shopper’s paradise! Ugg Stores, Bondi Junction, Mimco, and lovely boutiques.
- It’s a walking city with outstanding public transportation! I’ve never walked so much in my life!
- Sydney Siders are very friendly! From answering questions about directions to striking up a random conversation, Siders are a lot of fun!
- It takes some getting used to the 17 hour time difference! But we did it. We made up in our minds that we could sleep when we returned to the states.
This was my second time in Sydney, but it was the first time for the rest of the group. It was amazing watching the women age 50+ navigate not only a new city, but another continent. Their growth is phenomenal, and I feel honored to have witnessed it.
Here are some pics from the group in Sydney – November 16-28, 2017.
(click the photo to view the photo albums)
My trip to Seattle, WA &
Reykjavik, Iceland
Recently, I spent 8 glorious days in Seattle, Washington! It is a city that I fell in love with immediately! From the cool weather, the dynamite cuisine representing a variety of cultures and ethnicities, the cultural scene (theater, art, science) and time spent with family, Seattle is a city that I could visit regularly!
(click the photo to view the photo albums)
I didn’t know quite what to expect by traveling to Iceland! Through the years whenever I heard the word Iceland, my mind conjured up extreme cold, boring food, and an unexciting existence. Reykjavik is an absolutely stunning city -- fresh air, the best drinking water I’ve had, super fresh seafood and a variety of Iceland beers! Known for its famous Blue Lagoon, Whale Watching, Northern Lights, The Golden Circle and The Perlan Museum, this city is fun and the hospitality that its citizens provide is exceptional!
(click the photo to view the photo albums)
10 Tips for Airline Travel
by Charla L. Draper
With the upcoming This...I...Do...For...Me™ trip to Australia it is good to remember that planning is everything. The proactive travel plan can ease frustrations and minimize stress, both of which are at odds with optimum well-being. Whether jetting off for rest and relaxation or the next client meeting, you want to be at your best, so that you can get full benefits from the experience.
Once you know you are going to fly somewhere, think about the trip from the time you leave your home. You will want to plan to leave in ample time to navigate any unexpected road blocks beyond your control. You’ll feel much better sitting at the departure gate watching people than having people watching you arrive at the gate in panic because you were short on time. Though there can be number of obstacles that can creating havoc with the best laid plans, here are ten tips that can aid in enjoying a drama-free flight.
1. Adhere to the recommended arrival timeline that the airline suggests.
2. Wear loose comfortable clothing and shoes. If you are using an employee benefit pass, check with the employee to make sure your clothing choices are on point with airline employee travel dress codes.
3. Check-out the travel guidelines from the Transportation Safety Agency (TSA). Though the guidelines may change due to threat levels, generally speaking any liquids, lotions or other toiletries in sizes larger than 3-ounces should be packed in checked bags.
4. If you use knives, sharp objects or firearms in your work, make sure you check that you’ve removed them from your carry-on bags. These items should be in checked bags or left at home.
5. As you prepare to go through the security checkpoint, stop, look and listen.
- Stop to make sure your boarding pass and identification are in order to hand to the TSA screener.
- Look around to make sure you are in the correct line and that you are aware of your surroundings.
- Listen for any announcements or last minute instructions from the TSA screeners.
6. Stay hydrated. Try to drink about 8-ounces of water every few hours. Freeze a plastic bottle of water solid before your flight and drink any water that has melted before you go through the security checkpoint. If the water is frozen, you most likely will be able to take it through to the secure side of the airport. You can easily add water if there is space in the bottle from a water fountain.
7. Pack two to three pocket-size bottles of hand sanitizer to aid in keeping your hands germ-free.
8. Skip the caffeinated beverages, alcohol, salty snacks and high sugar foods—they will work against your ability to stay hydrated.
9. During the flight, try to contract the muscles in your calves, lift your feet off the floor and rotate your ankles to keep the blood flowing. If you can, a stroll down the aisle is a good too. Get your body moving as you can, to avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots developing during the flight.
10. And last but not least, smile. I won’t fall back on that cliché about smiling, but do know that smiling relieves stress, generates “feel-good” emotions and smiling is contagious!
Atlanta, Georgia Trip
I have not been to Atlanta, Georgia since 1984, and to be able to return after all of these years on a weekend dedicated to honoring the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was surreal.
From Friday, January 13-16, 2017, I and seven cousins spent a lovely weekend visiting a cousin and her spouse. We sampled some good restaurants (Soul Kitchen), took in a performance by Roy Ayers at The City Winery, viewed the movie "Hidden Figures" at CineBistro, which included a great dining experience while watching the movie and attended church services at Open Word Christian Ministries.
The most poignant and powerful aspect of this visit was being able to spend time on the MLK, Jr. Memorial Campus. We spent time at Dr. King's Ebenezer Church where we heard a recording of one of his most moving sermons; we were also able to view a lot of His memorabilia, visit The Freedom Center's exhibits and gift shop and visit Dr. And Mrs. King's grave site which sits on a beautiful reflecting pool and near the Eternal Flame.
To be in Atlanta during this period was humbling. Thanks to my cousins for an enjoyable weekend! Thank you Dr. and Mrs. King for your sacrifice.
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 Pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church Atlanta, GA |
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 Following Church Services at Open Word Christian Ministries |
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 Cousins at City Winery, Atlanta, GA |
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 I am with the Cousins at the grave site of Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King Jr., |
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2018 TRAVEL OUTING SCHEDULE TO GREECE
2017 TRAVEL OUTING SCHEDULE
Click the Link on the Menu Bar to SignUp for the trip.
Travelling is critical to my well being! I can’t imagine my life without travel.
I have been blessed to see a lot of this glorious world that we live in -- China! Italy!, England! France!Tunisia! Spain! Canada! and the USA! These places have nurtured my soul, and I look forward to traveling to more destinations, particularly South America and Australia. I have found that when I travel, my entire outlook, no matter how open minded I think I am, expands even more. From the time I step off of a plane, train, cruise liner or bus, I become excited about the people I will meet, the new foods I will be introduced to and yes, the iconic monuments that are to be found in these locations. I always return home a more enlightened person ready to plan the next adventure.
(pictured - Robin at the African
Burial Ground Monument, NYC)
Whether traveling with a group, a sister friend or solo, I have not let money and time be a barrier to traveling. Discount fares, inexpensive accommodations and reasonably priced food abound. The only thing that you don’t want to lack is the DESIRE to see the world.
Somehow no matter what my finances looked liked, the minute the desire hit me to travel to a particular locale, that trip began to manifest. Learning about the region, its weather, its historical sites, where I planned to eat has always been the fun part.
Some of my favorite travel excursions have been ones where I had to walk a great deal. Take Barcelona – to really experience the flavor of this city, you must walk. On my walk to the famed The Familia Sagrada, I met a group of young people from Milan who were studying in Barcelona. Their English was superb, so it was easy for me to grab on to their excitement about night life in Barcelona, its architectural treasures and the authentic tapas.
(pictured - NYC Skyline from Rockefeller Center)
I joined them at a street café where we dined al fresco and drank plenty of wine. They asked me questions about Chicago, and I got a first hand education on why fashion is so important in Milan.
I would not have had that experience had I not been walking and of course, being open to meeting new people. (pictured - The Iconic San Francisco Trolley Car - click photo to enlarge)
If you are waiting for some magical time in your life to travel, wait no more! Now is the appointed time. See this world, meet its people and enjoy the process of becoming a global citizen.
My Past Travels and Travel Bucket List
PAST TRAVELS – TRAVEL BUCKET LIST - Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland; Vancouver, British Columbia, Cork, Galway, Ireland, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russia, Prague, Croatia, South Africa, Barbados, Senegal, Puerto Rico |
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Spain is Life! Spain is Beautiful! Spain is Everything!
I spent 13 glorious days is Espana! Every time I visit a new city, it becomes my favorite. Madrid is everything I imagined -- sophisticated, vibrant and cultured. I was blessed to experience multiple facets of this great city.
Madrid was also not everything I expected. My imagination has not evolved enough to hold all that this beautiful city and country has to offer. Although I only scratched the surface of Spain (I've also been to Barcelona and Mallorca in the past), Madrid convinced me that I must return several more times to fall in love with other cities there. So in advance I want to thank Seville, Bilbao, Granada and Toledo! I look forward to meeting you.
While in Madrid, I visited The Prado, where I saw the work of the Spanish Master Francisco Goya (his Black Paintings were something to behold), and I visited The Reina Sofia. Here I saw the work of Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso's Guernica! It's one thing to see these works in a book, but to view them in living color is nothing less than amazing.
What is Spain without Flamenco, along with a tasty selection of Tapas? At Torres Bermejas, we were entertained by seven Flamenco artists. The costumes were phenomenal, and the art form, itself, will have you mesmerized. Flamenco is both sexy and powerful.
What would a visit to Spain be without seeing some of he places that famed American writer Ernest Hemingway frequented?
The bodega Sofrino de Botin is one such place! Acclaimed as the oldest restaurant in the world (in 2025, it will be 300 years old), Botin is mentioned in Hemingway's Classic "The Sun Also Rises." It was his favorite restaurant, and who could blame him. The Roast Suckling Pig and Roast Lamb are their signature dishes and will make you salute the chef. Their Sangria was classic, as well.
When you visit Botin, ask to see and/or be seated at The Hemingway Table.
My favorite experience in Madrid had to be the Paella class I took with four other people visiting from Australia, Poland and Arizona. I have always wanted to take a cooking class abroad, and I got to fulfill that dream. We were also prepared a Spanish Omelet and a Cod and Orange Salad. We had a blast! Our instructor is co-owner of the school name.
My second week in Spain was spent in The Salamancan village of La Alberca! Stayed tuned for a blog post about my volunteer experience with The Diverbo Program.
The people of Spain are Diamonds, and if you really need a crash course in living well, just emulate them.
Enjoy my photos!
| FLAMENCO DANCERS IN MADRID, SPAIN | ||
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| Click HERE to see photos from our trip to Madrid, Spain |
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Southside to Switzerland
I had the honor of interviewing Carolyn Davenport Moncel, who is an African American woman living in Lausanne, Switzerland. Carolyn grew up on the Southside of Chicago, and she has great memories of growing up there. She works as a Communications Officer and Social Media Manager with the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva, Switzerland and enjoys her work immensely.
Carolyn has written three collections of short stories — “Encounter in Paris,” “Railway Confessions” and “5 Reasons to Leave a Lover.”
When I asked her if she would be willing to share her journey of living abroad with our readers, Carolyn, without hesitancy, agreed! I learned so much from her, and I hope you do, also.
Carolyn, please share with our readers what it was like growing up in Chicago’s Pullman area.
I grew up in Maple Park, which is a community that borders the Morgan Park, Roseland, Pullman and West Pullman neighborhoods; between 115th to 119th streets (north to south) and from Halsted to Ashland streets (east to west). I know these days, people talk a lot about violence on the South side, but for us, that really wasn’t the case; primarily because most people had no clue that the numbered streets could actually go that high and still be within the city limits.
In a lot of ways, that neighborhood will always be home for me. It’s where I learned how to ride my bike, and roller skate. It’s the place where I jumped through backyard sprinklers and built snowmen. It’s where I learned how to cross the “big street” (115th) to get candy and pop. It is where I played sidewalk games, jumped rope and caught lightening bugs during the summertime. Everyone knew everyone else; heck, sometimes your classroom teacher was also your neighbor! Any adult at any time could and would reprimand you for wrong doing. It was a working-class neighborhood, but it was a quiet and safe one. Whenever I am home in Chicago, I have to stop and visit the people who still live on that street because they also are a part of my extended family.
You were very specific in stating that your neighborhood was called “Maple Park.” Why?
I think my need to be specific comes from both my parents and their neighbors. They took such great pride in that neighborhood from a historical point of view, and they never let us kids forget it. Given Chicago’s history of racial segregation, it wasn’t rare that a neighborhood would be comprised of all African American residents. However, it was a rare thing that a neighborhood would be constructed – from the ground up – specifically for African American homeowners and their families. My parents were among those original residents from 1962, and most (if not all) of the original male homeowners were also World War II veterans. Regrettably, my father passed away only after ten years of living in our house, but my mother lived in our house for nearly 45 years until her death in 2006. My brothers and I still own that house, and a good number of . . .
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| Click HERE to see photos from our trip to Australia |
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Sydney is an exciting city, and I went in November 2015, when Spring was just about to make its exodus. It rained a lot while I was there, but the wonderful thing about Sydney is that not even the rain can interfere with enjoying the beauty and liveliness of this Down Under City. The sun always came out, eventually.
In my collage of photos, you will see the magnificent exterior and interior of the famed Sydney Opera House and its Promenade, The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, The Sydney Wild Life Center, Darling Harbour, Various Street Scenes, The Central Transportation Center, The Iconic Queen Victoria Building (QVB) and even Chef Jaime Oliver's Restaurant.
On my next trip, I'd like to see more of Sydney, but next time I want to see Melbourne and Tasmania. Can't wait to go back! Thank you, Allison Smith (The Sydney Fashion Hunter Blog) for your kindness and hospitality.
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| Click HERE to see photos from our trip to 11 cities in France |
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| Click HERE to see more of the New York City photos |
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| Click HERE to see photos from our Puerto Vallarta Villas, Mexico trip |
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| Click HERE to see California photos (Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco & Sausalito) |
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