Today is a sea day … Phew!
This has been a whirl of a trip so far. Kind of hard to keep up and today is the first day at sea. So far I have been to two lectures, made a collage, had breakfast with mom and Jim, and Jeanette, sent text messages to the travel gals about today’s plans …. Stood in line at Reception, completed my initial feedback questionnaire … And arranged refunds to all the gals travelling for their new tours booked in Cyprus and or Turkey, replacing Egypt. I also gave quick assistance to my mom with Facebook messenger so we can send text messages at sea. I enjoyed art collating with Janet, Gerry, Jeanette and many others who filled the room inspired to learn a new artistic expression. How fun!  
I am back in my room for a quick minute and then for lunch and some pool time.  
Here is my plan for the day …. Hope to see you around! 

945 lecture in lounge

11 collage in artist loft

Pool and lunch noon to 2

2 line dancing

230 artist loft

3 enrichment lecture with Dan

4 tea in Horizons

5 happy hour in Horizons
Dinner 630 polo grill
Show 945 pm

Dancing horizons at 1030-12 midnight to the live band, who are fabulous!
Tomorrow is an early start and a long 12-13 hour tour of Jerusalem.  
Before I get to that, let me say that last nights dining in the main dining room and the show that followed in the lounge were the best on this ship and maybe any ship … In terms of service, food selection and presentation, then entertainment and talent at the show. Amazing really. I am sorry some people missed any of it. Extraordinary!  Maybe the best on any ship of any cruise or even better.  It was a world premiere of their show for singing and the voices, selection and the result brought down a standing ovation and strong applause to a full audience.  WOW!  
I have completed my feedback and discussed with Jim who has a suggestion that staff have a pocket of their name on cards to hand out … So when we give feedback we can give credit to the right person. Great idea Jim and I have walked around today asking people their names so I can respect and recommend them to the feedback survey which gets read in detail.
Giving credit for an exceptional service is my personal responsibility and I think the staff and officers on this ship remember me because I do it freely and often. I don’t wait for the survey, although I always sing praises in any questionnaire, I also try to give immediate feedback of a positive nature in the moment I receive it.  
Hugs, words of affirmation, note cards, tips, and speaking to a supervisor or manager on behalf of a great service are all ways we can honour each other.  
Why not? Don’t we all love to be appreciated? Seen and witnessed as well as celebrated for our efforts. Of course we do and it makes us strive harder to succeed and to love our job even more!  
Join me in the great celebration of these fantastic staff who are so far from home and their loved ones sometimes for six months or more at a time.  
I know how it is to travel and be away from my main supports. Sometimes it looks easy to be me, however, I too appreciate words of kindness from my friends and family who do travel with me on trips. 
 I believe I work hard to cover the details that are background and many people never notice …. Just sayin …… I think we can do more to support each other every day in as many ways as we can.
Off to lunch and then I will write more later, with stories of travel destinations and happy memorable moments of this incredible cruise and stay in the Mediterranean region.
I miss you all, sending big love, 
Thanks for witnessing my journeys and for being my support system. Wish you were here with me!  
Love Pamela 

Argostoli Greece! A lovely piece of Cephalonia!  
Wow! Hot sunny, nice little town we could walk on shore. It was nice to be a large group of tourists today. Most of the group stayed together shopping, walking and snapping pictures of the sights. We made some Greek purchases. It was the first day in Greece for many, ouzo was a hit in the hot. Ha ha.
Wine purchases for some local whites. I sat at the end of the day and had a cold Strongbow Cider. It was refreshing and lovely … The only cider available here. It was nice.  
The flowers are spectacular, bright unusual and everywhere the eye can see. Interesting shaped palm trees line the streets and boardwalk by the sea.  
Back on the ship for a cool down, shower, bevy and chat with friends, preparing for our first specialty dining reservation at Toscano. Many hellos and hugs from the familiar staff.
Deb, the cruise director from Insignia is on this ship and we chatted. The cute young Italian fellow in the Toscana was over to talk to me a few times over the dinner time …. Fausto, Roger, and the girl who taught needlepoint and more …. So many more, smiling wide when they see me and remember my time not so long ago on Riviera. It is fun. I have connected a few times with new friends from Ontario, Jane and Dan. They are lovely and joined us for dinner a few nights ago … I hope tonight as well.
Well, time to post some pics. Some of these posts will be out of order waiting for sea days to catch up with earlier ports …. I hope you are enjoying following along.  
Last night we closed the dance floor and Horizons. Life music, a duo with some great tunes and very dance-able! Woo hooo, the Womens Travel Club having a great time in Greece and on the seas! Tomorrow I think we head for a sea day and toward Israel.  
Catching my breath and sleeping a bit better every day, trying to keep up to the fast pace. Travelling with my mom is great fun!  

  Ti Amo to all …thanks for following the blog, 
Pamela-J in Greece! Ola!
Xoxoxo

i have much to write, and many stories to tell.  So busy catching up on sleep and touring this fantastic voyage … Need to find time to write!  In the meantime, here is some pics of our fantastic day yesterday in Sicily…. We started with a great tour around Milazzo and then through the countryside around Messina, the beautiful breathtaking drive to Taoromina and a few hours to enjoy that stop.  Followed by a visit to the lava River …. Amazing sight!  Walking on the crunchy black volcanic soil.  And then to a winery for tastings and purchases after a great tour from the hosts.  Fabulous day … More to follow 

En route to Roma
I started out early this morning, picking up gals and heading to the airport in Victoria.  
I had packed a few days ago and collected some last minute toiletry items this morning. I also completed some last minute emails and sales. Yes, right up to the last minute I was contacted for future travels by past loyal customers and friends. I love my “job”. Although it is difficult to imagine this is actually work, compared to what I used to do for government. Ah well …..
Now, on the long nine hour second leg of this journey to Rome. It is about 6-7 hours in to the flight. I must have slept some. 
 I had a lovely gluten free meal and now I have just replenished my water …. The airline concierge has left a cart of beverages in the section right in front of where I am sitting. Free to help ourselves, on Air France.
Just as we arrived in Vancouver at the airport, we found the departure gate, D66, and I was able to get leg room, bulkhead seats for no charge. On this airline they do charge for selecting the exit rows. The plane is lovely and spacious from here and I am very grateful they had this seat available for me.  
Eight of our travelling pack of women met at the Milestones restaurant in the departure wing very close to our departure gate and had a wee lunch. The ninth gal, Sherry, my roommate is still in hospital in Vancouver. She went in a few days ago with severe pain and discomfort and she is still waiting for diagnosis and treatment. She is very sad to be missing this trip of a lifetime. I am going to miss her wonderful company.
Alas I will have no roommate for the full 21 travel days that I am on vacation. I will send her posts on Facebook and hope she enjoys the trip, as well as possible, for her recovery bed.
In total twelve of us were booked to travel together, alas we are now 11. Two are flying in from Nova Scotia and one went to New York over a week ago to start her vacation. We will collect all together in Rome, drop our bags at the carefully selected airport hotel and head in to Roma for sightseeing. Perhaps the hop on bus for this afternoon and an early evening to try to adjust our sleeping pattern for the nine or so hour change in to the future.  
It will be lovely to sleep and let time catch up with us! And in the morning we have a shuttle arranged to pick us up and take us to the pier in Civitaveccia. Then boarding the stunningly beautiful Oceania Riviera ship. I will be on deck 11 nestled nicely between the Penthouse Suites in my solo concierge veranda stateroom, alone, and next door to my wonderful mother and her friend. It will be great to see her and share this travel journey. We love to travel together!  
Well for now, I think I might listen to an audible book and wait for the last few hours to pass. I suppose we will have breakfast soon and then touch down in Paris before we head out on the last leg to our destination.
Very excited and anticipating a wonderful cruise. Travelling with friends and family is one of my favourite things and Italy one of my favourite destinations.  
Ciao ciao tutti, Ti amo
Xoxoxoxo

Pamelllllllla
Il vostro agente di viaggio. 

Random thoughts on travel this week

I am excited yet experiencing a sense of calm and like everything is as it is supposed to be. Lists have been made, consulted and marked off. Last minute purchases have been made. Foreign currency purchased, exchanged for Canadian dollars.

New packing ritual of setting out the small carry on size suitcase, making piles of things I might want to take, then sorting as to what fits in the luggage. Finally, one half of suitcase for day time wear and one half for evening or more dressy wear. I found it helpful this time to make a paper and pen list of what goes in to the suitcase as I place it in.

By the time I have filled the suitcase, I know what I have in there and approximately where I can find it (on the top side or bottom side of suitcase – day or night. And then as my items have auditioned for this specific trip, some don’t make the cut and are taken out of the bag and crossed off the list.  

This provides several purposes, I can more accurately select the items I need to take, versus what would be preferred but not absolutely necessary and also it gives me an up to date list so when I travel again, I can use the list as a place to start again with the packing planning.

It is good to have a few weeks to lay out items, audition and try on outfits, ensure they resemble the look I am going for, the comfort given the weather expected and the fit in case I have lost or gained weight or redistributed it since the last time I had the item on my body.

Enjoying my packing this time, I feel confident I am ready to proceed to the last and final audition and repacking and hopefully, again, simplifying the items that will make the final selection and be taken on the next trip of a lifetime!

When I travel I love to shop for the latest fashion, unique items that I likely can’t find at home. When I travel, I like to take those special purchases with me.

For me, travel is about stepping out of my ordinary life and routines and into the glamorous world of exotic destinations and meeting new people, enjoying new experiences. I want to dress up for the occasions! I want to feel like each day is special and I showed up in the best outfit I could find.
Accessories can make the ordinary seem extraordinary. The bright and colourful scarf or hat, the clunky metal shape hanging on a black leather string and or my lovely new long string of fresh water pearls take me to beautiful. Whether day or night, day one or the last day of vacation, I want to feel like I made a statement.  

I also always like to leave room for the new purchases I might make on this next trip. New bracelets, bangles, neck decorations, hats for style or fabric flowers of bright colors. And I suppose my famous advice is, you can always wear it home if it won’t fit in the bag!

I have been known to wear three hats nestled neatly inside each other, on top of my head on a trip home from Europe. Hats are critical to my shopping and travel experience. I love hat shops and I love how they offer a sense of occasion to every outfit. Hat shopping is always a good idea, especially if you are not looking for anything in particular. A hat finds me, I don’t have to search for a hat.

Sometimes if I shop with a friend, we try on hats and take pictures of each other and then decide we did not need that purchase anyway. What fun awaits me on this next trip ??

Stay tuned as I prepare for a fabulous cruise and land stay in the Mediterranean area with stops in Italy, Sicily, Greece, Malta, Egypt, Israel and more. I am travelling with 12 friends and including my mother on this trip. I plan on enjoying my gluten free and almost vegetarian cuisine every where we go. We will have great escorted tours and plan to have a fabulous time exploring new places and feeling pampered on the way staying on the stunningly beautiful and boutique Oceania Riviera ship.  

Upgraded, again, to Concierge level service with a full veranda stateroom, we will enjoy the spa extras and amazing service not to mention the best food EVER. The beds are made especially for Oceania and sleep aboard an Oceania ship while being rocked by the subtle movement of the sea is one of my favourite things. This being my fifth Oceania adventure, it feels almost like home.

Follow me and enjoy the journey as we set sail from Rome in just a few short days. Pictures and blog notes will be shared.

Ciao ciao
Pamela

My intentions for the next vacation starting in just a few days:
Calm seas

Incredible memorable moments of bliss

Fantastic views and vistas every day finding me (almost) speechless!

New and renewed friendships with the fabulous women with whom I share the journey

Abundance, enough money for the exciting and unique purchases

Sunshine and warmth every day and clear skies with stars and moon beams at night

Safety, good news and good health for all travellers 

Fun and laughter, great times together dancing, singing, eating, sharing the joy

New ship connections … Captain, ambassador, lecturer, artist in residence, director

Grateful, graceful, inspired, brilliant, exuberant, womenholdinghandsaroundtheworld

Fantastic blogs, mindful moments and words of wisdom, spoken and written

Artistic and creative expression through photography, painting and language

Todays Blog intention: Reconnect to my WHY
What defines my Journey and What is the fuel that drives my purpose driven life?
Da Vinci said: “Fix your course to a star then you can navigate any storm.” 

Mike Dooley affirms that indeed my thoughts become the things of my life.
My intention is to move ahead the status and safety of women all over the globe.  
I take action daily toward this movement.  
 I inspire and travel with women to discover and enjoy that which matters most to them.
My actions support health and love in my life and the world around me. I listen to my heart and I feed my soul so that I make decisions in life that propel my unique journey. 
 I focus my attention on kindness, ethical eating, mindful meditation, creativity and world travel in my conversations with myself and others.
I believe that every person of all ages, backgrounds and orientations, will benefit from women holding hands around the world.
Inspiration is my vision, the Universe my partner. I practice and play at being focused, productive, creative, graceful, grateful, inspired and inspirational. I attract abundance, opportunities and experiences that fill my heart with positivity and joy.
I am moved by and so grateful for my Sweet Life full of spectacular heart touching moments, precious family and friends who support and witness my Easy World climb of My Everest and the circle of fabulous inspiriting influences who have planted seeds and nourished my growth.  
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
My life is a work in progress.  Thanks for standing by …
Onward …..

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