My New Friend in Chapala

Usually I'm the one striking up conversations with strangers on trips, but I got caught slipping trying to decide on my favorite ice cream flavor.  Strolling through the market along the malecon someone tapped me on the back and asked if I was American.  I laughed and said "How'd you guess?"  

La Buena Nieve de Garrafa in Chapala
I think I sampled nearly every flavor!

He replied, "Because there are around six Black people here and I know all them."  Just my kind of humor! He of course wanted to know what I was doing there with the motley crew of a group I was with.  When I told him we were travel professionals, he was surprised.  

"Great more people should come down. I love it here!"  Let's call my new buddy 'Charles'.  I chatted with him for the entire time it took me to finish my Nieve de garrafa ( a sorbet-y cup of deliciousness we got at the market).  

My inquisitive little buddy

It turns out 'Charles' has lived in Lake Chapala for 25 years.  He had retired to Mexico from Michigan 25 years ago and hasn't looked back.  After trying a few cities, he settled in Chapala because of the perfect climate and close-knit community of expats.  There are so many Americans and Canadians here and in nearby Ajijic that many of the signs and menus are in English. There was a free English newspaper, every other guest in our hotel spoke English and there was even mashed potatoes and chicken-fried steak on the menu there. Lake Chapala is a haven for American and Canadian retirees, just about an hour from Guadalajara. It's well known for retirees, but still off the beaten path for tourists.  I'm hoping to change that so next time 'Charles' will have a harder time picking me out of the crowd. =)

The End of Summer- Did you Actually Enjoy Yours?

The beginning of August marks the back to school frenzy and the sad realization summer is coming to an end.  The season summons so much childhood nostalgia for all of us.  Have you ever stopped to think what exactly makes that time seem so magical in retrospect?
I ran across an article from a teacher that has some great tips on how to Relax and lose yourself in the wonder of summer- 

 "I hear the comment about how lucky teachers are to have summers off, and I think I know what that person is really saying. I suspect the individual is wanting to get back the elusive feeling of “summer” —no responsibilities and no stress. "

So we can recreate that feeling anytime you make up your mind to do it. The hard part is making up your mind to JUST BE! Our culture has bought into the cult of busy so much that is induces all sorts of guilt and 'monkey mind' to try to relax without an agenda.  Even on vacation when it's time to recharge our mental batteries far too many are trying to pack days with endless activities that have no meaning to anyone other than checking off a box.  Before the end of the summer, try to take some time to bring back that feeling.  If you can't do it till winter, of course I have some places of eternal summer to send you.  =)

So 

Throwback Thursday Memories

Have you checked out Throwback Thursday or Flashback Friday? These are some of my 

favorite social media hashtags. Digging up old pictures to 

laugh and reminisce reminds me of how quickly time slides by.  (Also how much my hair changes!)  This week I posted this pic on Instagram of me in 2006 aboard the Norwegian Jewel.  Some people decorate nurseries and nest before the baby comes, we travel!  There's nothing like endless food to a pregnant lady.  There were lots of reasons not to take this trip though.  It really wasn't in the budget, I was a little past the cruise line cutoff and lots of other reasons...but wow did we have an incredible time!    I don't remember how much it cost and the room category, all the details that sometimes take over the planning convo, but  we have some indelible memories. (like me trying to get in and out of that bamboo raft in Jamaica!) Are you waiting for a milestone or occasion to take a trip?  Waiting for the kids to get older, work to slow  down, more money etc.?  Remember your journey is about collecting those dear memories.  Never miss an opportunity to seize those moments.  Perhaps it's time to begin where you are and just go!

Travel Professionals, Peacekeepers in Consultant Clothing

The President of Costa Rica mentioned during a recent conference that those of us in the travel industry are the peacekeepers of the world.  When I saw a friend post that to Facebook it made a big light bulb go off above my head.  That makes so much sense!  No, I don't have diplomatic responsibilities for the State Department or put myself in harm's way on the battle field, but we do send millions of people each year to foreign lands on journeys of discovery.
Whether it is for relaxation, adventure, or a celebration travel can lead people to question their assumptions about other cultures, recognize the common thread of humanity in people around the world and appreciate home a bit more. Once you have taken the chance to fully immerse yourself in conversation with someone new you're bound to take away some new knowledge.  Armed with that knowledge, I'd like to believe people are more likely to think before disparaging another group or question how a family might be dealing with the ravages of a natural disaster that they may have glossed over before meeting someone from there.
If you've read my blog or known me any amount of time you'll know one of my passions is talking to people just about everywhere I go on a trip.  I still remember the dining room waiter from India on my first cruise and the taxi driver who engaged in deep discussions about economic policy and racism driving from hotel to hotel in Riviera Maya.  Whether on vacation or business, each one of these strangers made an impression.
I'd been doing lots of deep thinking about how to use my talents in a way that impact the world in a more meaningful way.  What a revelation, I already do!  Every time one of you pulls out that passport, heads out on a cool excursion or lingers at the lido buffet talking to the cook, I am spreading a little peace.
My challenge going forward is to remind you that your trips are about way more than budgets and room categories; it's about expanding your mind in the way that best suits you and spreads that spark around the world.
 I went through some of my recent pics to see where I looked the most alive.  It looks like it really is when I'm traveling and spending time with family. Whether we were in another country or just down the Georgia coast, we were learning something about the world around us and the impact of the unique people around us. So here are a few of my favorite memories.  I'd love to hear about yours!

From top left:
1. In Veracruz with the shaman who evidently thinks I'm squeezably soft.  Talk of Brujas (witch)  would definitely not happen in my everyday life, but  it was fascinating to see the mingling of strong Catholic faith with Pagan beliefs.  The discussion with colleagues that followed about the experience sparked a discussion about the benefits of meditation that made me seek out some classes back in Atlanta.  (Actually, it's the same person whose post inspired this topic!)

2 & 5. At Sea World with my son.  Even in the land of theme parks (Orlando), we still found some consciousness expanding activities.  My son loves anything to do with animals, but has definitely thought critically about the balance of educational value and fun versus questionable practices of zoos.  (Have you seen Blackfish on Netflix? If you're curious about the back lash against Sea World it's a good conversation starter.)

3. Cruising - With crew from dozens of countries and a good passenger mix you're bound to interact with folks with a different background.  I've become Facebook friends with a few people I've found I have more in common with than anyone at home.  The kids also meet new friends in the kid's club away from the social pressures of school.

4. In Nassau with my host in the People to People program. Instead of another beach trip, we opted to see the island  through the eyes of a local we were matched with through the Bahamas tourism office free program. My son seemed quite disappointed to realize kids who live on an island aren't really on vacation every day.  Our host's friends even welcomed us into their home where we discussed their affection for Duck Dynasty.  Can you imagine how other people are judging us by these reality shows? LOL

6. On a shrimp boat in south Georgia.  One of the crew members could tell you anything about the health of the coastal region and the price trends of local shrimp with the acumen of a stock trader though he had a basic education by most standards.

Real Housewives Head to Riviera Maya

Big confession for those who don't know me well.  I am a reality TV junkie.  It's mindless, degrading, negative and my biggest guilty pleasure.  So this month I have been like a kid at Christmas watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta in Mexico.  The ladies headed to El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya for some more fighting R&R.  Inspired by the ladies squeamish behavior at the cenote and Kenya's ignorance of mariachi I came up with a few side trips I would have scheduled for them and posted them to Facebook.  They did an excellent job of showcasing the wonders of Riviera Maya outside of the stereotypical Cancun binge drinking, but we could definitely use some more positive exposure for this destination.
Rio Secreto - Close to the resorts and an easy cruise ship excursion if you're in Cozumel for the day.  This underground river is an experience you won't find many places.

Isla Holbox - An slice of paradise with few cars so people get around the sandy streets on golf carts.  This is the jumping off point for wildlife excursions like whale shark swimming and bird watching.

Mayan Ruins - Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza and several smaller archaeological sites are a short drive from the glitz of the resorts.

Xcaret- An eco theme park that combines native wildlife, culture, history and water activities in a family friendly attraction.

Dos Ojos Cenote - I've written about the cenotes before tight after my introduction to these natural wonders.  They can be found all over Quintana Roo and Yucatan states.

Why You Get More Value Not Booking Vacations Direct

This month I had the rare pleasure of speaking with a cruise line reservations agent to about my own anniversary trip.  As we talked about the ship, she said "Wow you're going to have a good time the Breakaway looks like a great ship."  The way she said 'look' made me ask, "Don't you guys get discounts to sail?"  Her response, "Yes, but I NEVER have."  Wow. I felt bad for her and thought, if you have never experienced a product how can you possibly be of value to the customer?  Well since they are responsible for one singular cruise line, she knew lots of technical details.  If someone is willing to do lots of research, read reviews and make objective decisions about what's best for their particular trip, that reservations agent is valuable.  To the vast majority of customers who just pick the place their neighbor/co-workers/family just went to and posted fabulous Facebook pictures of; the value is next to zero.

 It's easy for me to forget doing the same thing for a while that everyone doesn't know what you know.  Especially in the age of instant internet experts.  Fast forward to the ship and we run into a couple at dinner that is upset that their youngest child can't participate in the kids club. They thought both kids would get to, but the youngest was only two and needed to be three to go to the supervised activities without a parent.   Guess what, they made a decision based solely on price.  Now for a week, those leisurely romantic dinners they had been planning include a stroller.  Had they used a travel consultant surely they would have found a vacation that fit the needs of their family.  The first time I kept all this as internal dialogue ( I can't start talking shop on the FIRST day of vacation!), but later in the week when we ran into them again I did share a couple of suggestions and asked that they contact a local travel professional next time.  Not in a salesy way, because I never told them my business name or handed them a card, it was just my PSA for the profession that week.  Turns out they were planning a family reunion cruise and the relief on their face told me they would definitely take my advice once they got home.