Amalfi Coast of Italy

The Amalfi coast is absolutely beautiful.  The mountains are dotted with hotels, charming homes and sprawling villas and the lush vegetation colours the slope side. This area is known for it's lemon and olive trees which seem to be everywhere. Lemoncello is the drink of the area and is a very lovely treat after a big meal.
Our first day here we took a private bus tour to visit the towns of Positano and Amalfi.

Positano is situated on a very steep side of the mountain and is a quaint seaside village with narrow streets lined with lovely shops. Amalfi is equally as charming with exquisite shops and quaint restaurants.  Fresh fish is the most popular dish on the menu.  Some of the ladies took a boat ride along the coast to view the magnificent towns from the water. This area has many villas which are owned by famous people, such as   Sophia Lauren, Roger Moore and Gina Lola Bridgida to name a few.

Everyone seemed to come away with a few purchases of momentos from these towns. Our bags are starting to get a little heavy.  On the way back to Sorrento we took the high road to the top of the mountain.  The view was breathtaking.  Our guide suggested we stop at a local shop to tast the famous monk cheese. Mmmm Mmmm good.  We purchased cheeses, pastas and wine.  It was a great day enjoyed by all.  This evening we walked into town for a lovely dinner.  The people all seem to be so nice in these seaside towns.

Pompei and the Amafli Coast

This morning we left the busy city of Rome and began our drive to the Amafli coast.  It was a quiet drive as the ladies caught up on their sleep.  Monday morning traffic in the city and on the highway made the journey a little longer than expected.  On the way we stopped for a tour of Pompei.  This is one of the largest and best preserved archealogical site.  Pompei is a city dating back over 2,000 years.  Unfortunately it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  The city looks as though it has been frozen in time. The homes and shops are in tact, the grand avenues and chariot roadways are expansive. Colorful frescoes are still visible on the walls and great history has been uncovered here.  The city was preserved by thick layers of ash.  It was an incredible site to see.  The ladies enjoyed their tour and were delighted with the information supplied by our tour guide Dario, who was both entertaining and knowledgeable. 

After our tour we continued our drive to the town of Sorrento. The Hotel Mediterrano is our home for the next 5 nights.  It's a charming seaside hotel with a fabulous pool area and stunning views of the sea of Napoli. Everyone is delighted with their rooms and are looking forward to the relaxed pace of the Amalfi coast.

Rome Sept. 2011

Rome is such a wonderful city.  Vibrant, bustling and art everywhere. From the fountains, to the statutes.   The coloseum, the Vatican and the Sistine chapel. After checking into to the quaint and charming Hotel Columbia, we met our guide to begin a tour of the Vatican museum.  The works of art are absolutely beautiful.  Statues, frescoes, tapestries and of course the Sistine Chapel.  When you look at this ceiling it's hard to believe one man created such a master piece. Michelangelo was a true genius and master of the art of painting.  Our visit to St. Peters Basilica was delightful.  Not only did we have the opporunity to  admire this beautiful church, we were treated to the sound of a choir performing for the Saturday afternoon mass. 
On Sunday we set out on foot to explore every corner of the ancient city.  The last Sunday of the month is a treat in Rome. The museums are a fraction of the cost and the main avenue is closed off from traffice and becomes a pedestrian way.  It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for strolling about the city.  Our first stop was at the Coloseum for a guided tour of this magnificent structure.
After our tour we walked along the main Avenue to the Panthenon, another architectural marvel and continued on to the Piazza Navona.  The square was bustling with tourists and locals on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.  A brief stop for lunch (pizza and lasagna) and then continued walking to the Trevi Fountain.  In spite of the crowds, this is a must see.  This is one of the most beautiful fountains I have ever seen.  The gals we thrilled to throw a coin in the fountain. They say if you do this, it will bring you good luck and you will return to Rome one day. The rest of the afternoon the ladies were free to do as they pleased.  Browse in the numerous shops, enjoy a glass of wine near the Spanish steps or sip a cappuccino and people watch.  Some were brave enough to walk all the way back to the hotel, others managed to find their way back on the subway . Inspite of the city being so large, it is quite easy to find your way around and there is an excellent transit system.
Dinner this evening was at Maccharoni's, a charming restaurant situated downtown. The food was fabulous. Our last evening in Rome was enjoyed by all. Tomorrow we are off to the Amali coast.

Florence, day 2.

 Florence is such a beautiful city and so are the ladies in this photo.  They are willingly posing in front of the Ponte Vecchio, along the Arno River.  This evening we took a leisurely stroll to the restaurant for our first authentic Italian dinner.  Exquisite pasta, delicious Florentine beef, salad and free flowing wine. It was a wonderful meal.  On our way home we stopped to listen to a wonderful entertainer playing his guitar in the Senioria Square.  A magical way to end a wonderful day.

Jenny and Terry enjoyed the view from the Ponte Vecchio bridge on our walking tour of this ancient city.

Italy - 2011

We've arrived in Florence, Italy. The weather is wonderful, summer  like temperatures and blue skies. We have a great group of women who are ready to see the sites, explore the city, shop and have fun. Our first day we got our bearings, wandered through the local market. Anne seems to be quite happy with her purchase .

Gellato is always a favourite on warm summer like day. Today seemed to be that perfect day for a taste of the cool, refreshing dessert. Marilyn and Elizabeth seem to be quite eager to taste the delicious desserts.

Healthy Travel - Hydration, by Carol Little

India From a Womens Perspective Tour - tips on healthy travels. 
For tour details Click here.

In preparation for my upcoming trip to India I am working with a herbologist.  Carol Little from Studio Botanica is helping me to get healthy prior to my trip, keep healthy during the flight and while on tour.  She has written a great article about hydration and why it is so important during your travels. Read on for more information .......

Healthy Travel - Hydration

When traveling, perhaps more than ever, it’s important to be conscious of pure water intake. 

One’s appearance, energy level, immune system as well as brain function – are all negatively impacted by dehydration. Symptoms, which signal that more hydration is needed, usually start with dry or chapped lips. Other indications include, but are not limited to: headaches, dry skin, constipation or infrequent urination.  It has been estimated that more than 75% of North Americans are living with chronic dehydration.

Pure water is truly the best choice.  All other options, from coffee or tea (caffeine) to alcohol to sweetened sodas trigger chemical responses within the body, which in turn require extra (even more!) fluids to process & filter.

The dry atmosphere & lack of fresh air on board an aircraft combine to increase dehydration. One actually needs to drink more water than usual to keep hydrated. Although tempting to enjoy in flight amenities from the roaming “bar trolley”, on a lengthy flight, it may be advantageous to limit the mile high fiesta of drinkies & high fat salty snacks. 

Research & experience indicate that, that ol’ enemy of time-zone crossing globetrotters, “Jet Lag”, is adversely affected by our water intake before & during the flight.  Sufficient good quality water will make a huge difference in your first day at your destination.  If not a fan of simple H20, add some sliced lemons or limes from that bar cart or bring some electrolyte powder or crystals to ‘change it up’.

Bring herbal teabags along with you and ask for a cup of hot water – presto! You are prepared!  My favourites are Ginger, Peppermint & Chamomile.  No caffeine here and all offer the benefit of being digestive aids to facilitate better ‘movement’ of your in flight meal (important due to lack of physical movement after eating) Chamomile is a delightful relaxing herb which, as a bonus, promotes calm & can be used an hour before plans to sleep on an overnight flight.  What are your favourites?

The single most important, and ultimately simple thing that you can do to improve your health while traveling?  

INCREASE your water intake.  Your body will thank you.

Happy Travels!    Carol Little R.H.  www.studiobotanica.com    

  For more an overall look at hydration:   
  http://studiobotanica.com/hydration-vs-dehydration/

    For more healthy ideas, one at a time,
 Join me ~ Healthy alternatives for your LIFE – at home and away!
 

For more information on The Womens Travel Network please visit our website.

www.womenstravelnetwork.ca

Single Parent Travel

Most of my blogs are written while touring with a group of women. Today I'm going to change gears and talk about Single Parent's travelling with your children.
A few years ago I took my first family vacation as a single parent. I was a bit nervous at first and wondered if I would feel comfortable travelling outside of the country.

Questions in my mind were:
1. Is it safe?
2. Are the children going to be bored?
3. Am I going to feel uncomfortable on my own?
4. Will I have to pay a single supplement?

I'm sure many of you have asked these same questions and probably hesitated in taking that vacation because you just weren't sure. Following are some tips on how to make your single parent trip enjoyable and fun.

1. Choose a resort that caters to families.
We chose a fabulous all inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The resort had large comfortable rooms, numerous pools (one catering to families with small children), a beautiful beach and room service (the teens love this option). There are many family friendly resorts in Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Mayan Riviera, Mexico to name a few.
Club Med, Beaches and Superclubs have excellent family friendly resorts in each of these locations.
2. Make sure there's plenty of activities.
The resort we stayed at had something for everyone. Water aerobics for Mom, beach and pool volleyball for my son and Spanish lessons for my daughter. The nightly entertainment was early enough to entertain the young ones and they involved the children in the show. The children had a blast and it was was great fun to watch. Various activities were planned throughout the day. Many resorts offer mini and kid clubs to keep the little ones occupied while you enjoy some down time.
3. Are they going to like the food?
Most resorts offer a variety of dining experiences: buffet restaurants, beachside BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza (kid friendly), specialty restaurants. Our favourite was the Tepanyaki restaurant as they entertained us with their knife wielding stunts while preparing our dinner.
4. Day trips. Check out the options available off the resort. There are many exciting day trips available which give you the opportunity to see the country and meet the locals. Our family highlight was visiting the dolphin sanctuary and interacting with the Dolphins. These experiences create wonderful memories which you and your children will talk about for years to come.
5. Will I have to pay a single supplement? Typically the resorts will charge for 1 single adult and 1 child. Have your travel agent check to see if the cost for 2 adult fares is lower, sometimes it is.
6. Watch for single parent specials. Some resorts offer single parent weeks which makes it easy and affordable for single parents to plan a trip with their kids.

Beaches Resorts offers Single Parent Family Fun weeks:
Sept. 5 - 11, Sept. 19-25 and Oct. 1-7, 2011.
During these weeks they offer special Single Parent Family activities, including: a beach bonfire and movie and Beach Olympics; serve as special guests in the weekly Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street Parade; enjoy Beaches Family Night with Kinect for Xbox 360, and a complimentary Martha Stewart Crafts Studio Postcard class. Programmes are specially designed to encourage bonding time for single parents and their children while mingling with other families.

SuperClubs Resorts periodically waives the single supplement at some of their popular family resorts.
Breezes Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino caters to families with a variety of age-specific programs at its Kids Club. A circus workshop with flying trapeze and trampoline clinics, as well as a selection of land and waters sports provides ample excitement for kids and parents alike.
Breezes Trelawny Resort & Spa offers a wide range of activities for kids and adults alike. Supervised activities are available for kids of all ages including water sports, pool games, contests and theme parties, as well as babysitting services for up to two children. This watery wonderland boasts an enormous kids pool complete with splashing waterspouts, fountains and an incredible 124-foot water slide winding its way through. Meanwhile, the seashell pool, swim-up bar and 84-foot winding water slide is sure to keep the grown-ups afloat.

My children still remind me of the wonderful family vacation we spent together in Punta Cana. I'm so happy we had that time together and look forward to many more.

Debbie Ross, founder of the Womens Travel Network.ca