China

I'm considered a Transplant in Florida since I moved here as a teenager. I married young and raised 3 great children at a young age. My husband and I didn't do any traveling during these years and I do have the travel bug. Our first big trip was a cruise to Alaska with 50 friends- that was in 1999 and where we formed great friendships that are still going strong! Every year since, we have tried to travel somewhere since I am strong believer that the major trips should be done while young and mobile!!

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with an eye disease in 2011 that has triggered my need to see more places on a faster time schedule. A few days after being diagnosed, I received my +AAA magazine that included a trip to China in 2012.  I called my local +AAA  office to reserve 2 places and found that it was sold out but they were adding more trips. We ended up getting signed up for the 3rd Tour which was going to be the first Group slated at an earlier date. Even though China was never on my "to go to list", I booked it with my daughter, +Erin Jenkins, and it was the most amazing trip into Culture that I had ever experienced!  I handled our air fare in order to use miles and fly first class with +Delta, which was the only way to go on a 13 hr. flight. I coordinated the departure date with +AAA  so they could arrange our transfer to the hotel since we were arriving a day earlier than the Group. The country was just beginning to open up to Tourists so we still experienced what life has been like without the conveniences of mass fast food or shopping.  There are so many relics in China to see, along with the stories of the people, that really makes America feel like an infant. Lunch and dinner were served Family style with dishes brought out one at a time and set on the Lazy Susan at a table for 10. This wasn't a fast process so once you saw the Watermelon coming out, you knew that was the last dish to taste. Our meals during the group trip were consistently twice fried dishes, with or without breading. We are talking fried fish, eggplant, broccoli, carrots, beef, pork, chicken, etc. Let's just say the cheese, jelly fish and watermelon were pretty much the only items not fried! The only reason I didn't gain weight was because it became so "not again" that I could only eat enough to not starve. It was a great trip and I recommend it to anyone with any interest in history and/or culture.  We met new people and everyone made the trip that much richer with their friendliness and knowledge. This was my first Group Tour and +AAA  does a great job! They hire local guides who really love what they are doing and know their stuff. The only time I picked up my luggage was to put it outside the hotel rooms upon check out. They met us at the airport and brought us to the airport. If you travel to China, you do need a translator - unless you love a Great Challenge!

Next year is a big year for trips!  We are traveling to Zurich with several others in the spring and our group of 8 will cruise the Rhine with +Avalon Waterways with an arrival in Amsterdam. Then in July, +Erin Jenkins, her new husband, my husband and another family are traveling to Africa with arrangements made by +Gavin Ford. Africa has always been my dream trip and I am researching flights and immunizations at this time. But these trips are another day of blogging.

I am a person who likes to know the details. I do a lot, and I mean a lot, of internet research prior to my trips. Since I rely on what I find, I feel it's time to give back and share my experiences in the hope of making someone else's trip that much easier or encouraging them to take the trip!