Stunningly beautiful

The flight to Calgary while short and partially interrupted by my quick nap (lol) was breathtaking.

Tiny plane, window seat, very back row. We soar over the water with sunshine sparkling on the sea water below, with what looked like toy boats playing to some distant song that I could not hear. White streaks giving evidence to how fast each was going. Are they in chase, organized or in random patterns? And the sails up on cousin boats, catching the movement of the ocean air with effortless movement through the rocky shores. Still close enough to see sea birds frolicking.

I watched with curiosity as the terrain below came alive with change. Mountains, windy rivers meandering through and distinguishing sides. Small mountain lakes bleeding, with streams down down and sometimes disappearing from view.

Grey, gold, red, browns and black hard edges carved from what once was the flat earth below. Looking to be new and freshly cut from a flat surface that must have once covered the area. Visually I can imagine the large flows of slow moving ice that would have covered the surface and made round some of the ground.

Beautiful and awe inspiring.

And then as if wrapped carefully for gift giving, the carved prairies. How did they create such uniform and straight lines of division? Who was in charge of this visual creation of perfection from the sky. And who lives in those beautiful farm houses there now standing? I can see the fall harvest has taken place and carefully manicured fields of various colours greet my sights.

And arrival, in to Calgary.

Wow!

Hello all dear ones,

Sitting on the other side of security, having dropped our bags and sighed relief. We are here on time and within luggage weight limit.

Does everyone stress about such things? I brought a small checked suitcase…. It seems to be the only way (weigh) I can stay under limit. And so I “shared” some of my items with my travel partner with the little bit of room he had left over. Ha ha.

How will I get home? Scarlett O’Hara would say ….”I will think about that later …” Smile.

A few weeks ago in preparation for this world travel, I purchased a lovely little light weight bag to carry as an international purse. I thought it was so cute. So this morning as I was trying to find a way to bring my gluten free travel convenience food, I found the new cute bag to be lacking in size. While it still wants to come, it just will not do the trick. I ran out of space.

Items of discard gently set aside. I was noticing still small voices of pleading … “Take me, find a way ….. Don’t leave me behind on this very important trip”.

A light bulb moment as I am putting rejected shoes back in their spots …. A bigger bag! Put the small cute one inside a bigger lightweight lulu bag! Yes! Call it a purse! Plenty of room.

Happy with my packing choices, although I can barely remember what went in to the checked suitcase when I closed it almost a week ago, it seems. I don’t have time to review the selection. Just stuff it all in.

Happily we do the last minute sparkle to our condo, leaving it clean and fresh for showing while we are away.

I sent a few texts as we pull out of the underground garage, top down in convertible, stopped of course, for use of cell phone. And away we go … Few selfie pics posted to Facebook.

An hour to craft the first travel blog and enjoy the anticipation of all that is to come in the next five weeks before I arrive back to this spot.

Off to London UK via a stopover in Calgary to visit my friend. Nice.

Stay with me, it is going to be a great trip!

Pamela

Good morning dear ones. The days are passing and I am completing some tasks needed to do before I leave on my great Europe adventure.

1. Pack a lot of appropriate clothes and items of convenience in small carry on size suitcase, to satisfy 5 weeks of various romantic and formal dinners, shared accommodations and walking adventure travel with a group of women.

2. Finish up last minute details for travel clients, friends and womens travel club members for trips upcoming for them

3. Keep my condo in good showing shape as it is on the market for sale

4. Enjoy this first month of my retirement from government service, letting go of almost 30 years in social service sector as a probation officer

5. Keep practicing mindfulness, gratitude, inspiration, peaceful communications and love.

6. Write, write and write.

7. Gather up my artist supplies for creative expression

8. Practice speaking Italian. Mondo facile! Grazie and Ti Amo!

I am excited about this adventure … So much I can hardly sleep. And I love to sleep! Packing lists and visualizations of the days to come are dancing in my head.

An exchange is happening between me and my clothes. “Take me, you know I am your favorite! You took that thing last trip, now it is my turn. I can squeeze up small and fit in”. I love to dress up.

I have a wonderful abundant wardrobe of some of the very best clothes gathered from designers and voyages with shopping all around the world. I am not intending to look like a tourist!

How do I want to feel? What is the journey all about? If this is the day my world changes and it is photographed, how will I be portrayed? On this epic world stage, what is my intention? Who am I with and how do I want to inspire them? Who will catch my eye and how will I feel that I showed up dressed as my authentic self? How does my authentic self dress? What to leave behind?

As with the climb of My Everest, it is a dance …. of waves …. What to take and what to leave behind? Decisions … decisions….. To give my self time to reconsider? Be inspired? Second guesses are often helpful in reducing impulsive decisions.

I have the basic formal items, dresses, and sequins all packed, one half of the small carry on suitcase. Scarves are selected and rolled, with air removed, sealed in large plastic reusable freezer bags.

Next is the dance of the shoes and hats! There was a time a few short years ago that I would fill a small carry on suitcase with just shoes! Lol. I have come home from a vacation with four hats stacked one on the other on top of my head for the flight, so none would be crushed in my luggage.

My goals are different now and I have intention to be more selective, de clutter and simplify my choices. The wardrobe options are many as I have perfected the art of shopping for dresses for probably in excess of fifty years! And my mother, a great teacher, is famous in our family for her shopping expertise. She encouraged me to dress with flare and style. She would say “humour me” and send me to the change room with items that I would have overlooked and then subsequently fell madly in love with.

Having witness to our wardrobe is a glimpse into our soul. Welcome to my world of packing and travel!

Just a few more days and I will be scribing with you of my exotic travels in the Baltic region of Europe. Where old places hold ancient and modern energy of women from the past. I will be there soon walking among them and enjoying, and to be forever influenced and inspired by their musings.

Ciao for now!

Bella Pamela
Xoxo

Feb 17 2013

Do you remember the day it all began? The day all the questions came at you at once and you were able to see with crystal clarity your life purpose?

I am so inspired and touched by the journey of my life. Today I can visualize the top, my highest and best, my ultimate happy place, my top 1% of my very best day of the best year of the best decade of this life.

My friend interviewed me this morning. We get together by phone and in person several times a week to talk about life and our respective journeys. We share our muses and the latest books we read and the experiences we have had. The ah-hah moments that rock our world.

Today , in the interview, I said with clarity my priorities of livelihood, travel, health, family and to improve the lives of women around the world. I explored verbally in detail how I came to have these priorities and what I do every single day to take steps toward my highest and best: how I visualize and what practices I personally maintain to ensure I am taking daily steps toward the top of my Mt Everest.

I talked about my craft and what I do to log my 10,000 hours of brilliance toward my genius; becoming world class. I honored and witnessed my own journey and then that of my friend. I celebrate my steps in the direction of my desires and dreams: fine tuning and yahoo-ing as I go; singing my song in my own voice. I recorded the words, the message and the dream so I can reflect and review this day, this moment and this step on my life journey.

I have goosebumps and a few tears of emotion as I tell the story I once heard from the first woman, Canadian, who climbed Mt Everest and the lesson of that adventure. I see with some more clarity what I must do for my own journey. I must have witnesses and I surround myself with support and talent and love.

I ask my friend if she is closer to seeing her purpose in this life. She responds with careful thought and I witness the spark. And I wonder, out loud, what if I was there that day Bill Gates or Mother Theresa or Madonna found their song? What if I am witnessing such a global life changing moment right now?

What if this is THAT day?

Sent from my iPad
Pamela MacDonald, your “travelling” cruise, flight and land vacation specialist
Cell 250-857-5518
http://www.meetup.com/Womens-Travel-Club/
Www.PamelaTravelBlog.com

Packing stress …. Again

Hi there my faithful followers. Time for some packing tips …. Do you have some? Lol

I am heading out in a little over a week for a five week trip to Europe. I have two weeks on a luxury Cunard cruise in the Baltic followed by about four days in the vibrant historic city of London, UK. There are formal evenings for dining almost every second night … And we will be doing day time excursions to Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany and more.

Then I fly to Naples where I will spend a few days exploring the Amalfi coast, perhaps a quick train ride to Rome, with four additional fabulous women from the Womens Travel Club. Herein after referred to as WTC!

We have been taking Italian lessons and getting to know one another with the assistance of appies, gluten free Mediterranean pizza from The Joint, a gifted bottle of limoncello and more than one bottle of cold sparkling Prosecco from Italian region where we will be visiting.

And then a week on an adventure land tour out of Sorrento with seven women from the WTC, visiting the ruins of Pompeii, eating more gluten free pizza and pasta, and checking out the island of Capri as well as one day Walk of the Gods.

And subsequently we have a car rented for a week even further south of Italy about three hours drive from Naples, around Maratea marina area. Walking, relaxing, and some hot sunny beach time.

The reason I give you all these details, other than I LOVE to talk about my trips …. Is you can imagine my challenge for packing all these various venues, clothes for five weeks in one or two small carry on suitcases.

I have travelled this light before … (See previous blog about going to Greece for two week Cunard luxury cruise and followed by one week more casual cruise where I had to take my luggage on commuter train as I crossed Italy). I intend to use the same luggage pieces. I intend to not expand my suitcase and I intend to take the appropriate clothes suitable for all the venues and possible weather possibilities.

It can be very hot, still in August in the Baltic and even in to October in the very south of Italy. I need to figure this all out. Pictures to follow ….

Ciao for now

Love ….
Pamela

Ps. I am seriously waiting for your packing tips … Bring it on!

“Women Wanted: to travel and explore the world as part of a successful fun supportive club”

That would be the advertisement. Here is the “why”.

My vision is world peace. My mission is to advance world peace by supporting women to hold hands around the world. To look eye to eye, to speak kind and supportive words to each other, to share the common exquisite experience of daughter hood, womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood.

I value fun, authenticity, exploration as a form of curiosity, support, peaceful intention and love.

I am a facilitator of change. I have been on a mission of change all of my life. I am just now clarifying the words to describe my journey.

I am dedicating my life’s work to my mission and I have formed this Womens Travel Club to offer a sense of belonging and acceptance in the global community that supports and values women. Women matter. How we show up, each of us, in our daily experiences matters. Stating a clear intention is key and followed up by steps in the direction of our stated purpose.

Thank you for stepping in to my journey. Thank you for holding hands with me and lending your support to women everywhere. Thanks for your contribution to world peace.

I live in easy world where a river of love and support flows through me.

Pamela

I was reborn Italian

Piacere “…….pleasure

Per piacerie … Please …. Per favore

Grazie ….. Thank you
Prego. …… Your welcome

Banio …. Wc

Ciao ciao
Ciao tutti …. Everyone at once

Buon giorno
Buona sera
Buona notte

Arrivaderci or arrivaderla

Andiamo … Let’s go

Permesso … Can I come in? Someone’s house

Allora … Ok, alrighty then

Va bene … It’s all good
Tutto e bene …. Everything is good

A presto …. I will see you soon

Aspetto …. I wait

Basta ….. Enough, I have had enough

Com e va? ….. How are you doing?
E tu? “…..and you?

Pronounce every vowel, / i is pronounced e / E is pronounced a
If talking about yourself, word ends in o

Sono di? …. Where?

Sono Pamela ….. My name is …. Mi chiamo Pamela
Come ti chiama? ….. What is your name?

Sono Canadese
Sono Pensionate
Sono l’agente di viaggi ….. I am a travel agent

Mi piace … I like … Musica, viaggi,

Questa e Mia amica …. This is my friend, …

Parla inglese?
Non parlo Italiano bene
Parlo poco Italiano

Capisce? Capisco! Non capisco

Scusi … Excuse me, I need to get past you

Mi dispiace ….. I am really sorry

Parli lentamente …….. Speak slowly

Anche …. Also

Niente …. None, nothing

112= polizia …… 117= ambulanza

Mannaggia …. Dam, darn, drat or mannag

Cin Cin or Salute

Brava!

Sent from my iPad
Pamela MacDonald, your “travelling” Cruise, & Land Vacation Specialist
Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Victoria BC Canada
Cell 250-857-5518
Www.PamelaMacDonald.CruiseShipCenters.com
http://www.meetup.com/Womens-Travel-Club/
Www.PamelaTravelBlog.com

“I want what she’s having!”

My new slogan, my brand.

Welcome to my life! World travel, great friends and wonderful days! Optimism, positivity and strong sense of belonging.

I have enjoyed being part of the Womens Travel Club in Victoria. Some great friends and lots of fun conversations. I love the sharing of stories, meaningful and warm experiences that feel rich in the re-telling. We get together and bare witness to each other’s life and adventures.

I find a similar sentiment that some women who are less travelled than me, and they seem to look up to what I have to offer. I am intrigued and so curious about other womens’ stories and hear their travel tales.

Let the Womens Travel Club be the collection of wonderful stories quilted together as a rich tapestry.

Thanks so much for showing up and bringing your contribution.

No matter where you live, you are welcome to join in the fun!

http://www.meetup.com/Womens-Travel-Club
Please be in touch,

Xo
Pamela

https://www.facebook.com/pmacdonaldtravel

Www.PamelaMacDonald.cruiseshipcenters.com

Your Travelling Companion

Hi folks and dear blog,

Would you prefer to be traveling the world? Would you like to remember the moments, be more mindful and stretch out of your comfort zone?

I imagine places from books I have read and pictures and paintings I have seen. I have attraction to certain places, and am also open to new experiences.

What is my preferred story of my travel adventures? Luxury, ancient, beautiful views, great gluten free food, exotic fragrances and florals, quality, memorable moments, personal service, sunshiny warm days and glorious sunsets, blue cloudless skies, birdsong, flowy white linen clothing, colourful accents, fashionable hats, fresh juicy fruits, spiced vegetarian entrees, clean modern facilities, cobblestones, high buildings and lazy days.

Traveling in a group of adventurous independent women, we go our separate ways mostly, and get together for evening meals and a glass of local wine to reminisce about the days events and activities.

Sometimes cruising, sometimes organized tours, and always fantastic boutique accommodations.

I am very much looking forward to the next travel event. I invite you to join in the fun and fantastic travel adventures, and live your life to the fullest.

Your travelling companion,

Pamela
http://www.meetup.com/Womens-Travel-Club/

Anticipation and saying Yes, Hell YES!

I am approaching retirement from my government job. The date has been decided and the planning begun. It is no doubt a significant life style change. I have been doing this work as a probation officer for a very very long time. Time now to enjoy a lighter side of life.

Certainly being a travel consultant brings with it many perks. All fun, and very exciting. Contact and meaningful connections with family and new travel friendships. I feel like I am living my dream!

As for my bucket list: The menu of possibilities is endless. I have been part of a Travel Club and am often on the look out for trips that others will enjoy. Cruising is one such option, however, land vacations and terrific excursions, flights and boutique hotels also intrigue me. How to decide? What are the best dates for ultimate travel experiences? Who wants to come with me?

I started out this calendar year with no trips planned. I met and spent some time with an amazing group who started making selections. Turkey and Greece, by cruise, planned for September 2015. Hell yes! I have been before and always wanting to expand the growing list of different Greek Islands. This cruise offers my favourites as well as a few not yet explored by me previously. Special and dear friends, and family joining me on this trip. Check.

So excited, have now also added another 9 day cruise for more Greek sailing after the cruise mentioned above. Planning a week or so on land in a villa in France for the dates in between. Reconnecting with travel buddies I met on Azamara cruise in Italy last year, Barb and Anne. I anticipate some Prosecco to be consumed!

Then the Amazon was suggested as an exotic destination, bucket list dream, by a wonderful world travelling member of the WomensTravelClub here in Victoria, BC. On board the luxurious yet casual Oceania cruise line, Regatta for 21 days repositioning from Rio de Janeiro Brazil to Miami, with a full 6 days touring on the Amazon River. Hell Yes again. Another deposit …. Sailing March 2015.

In April 2015 I am booked for a ten day Pacific Coastal round trip Vancouver, cruise on Princess (of love boat fame) with an overnight in San Francisco, ports of call of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Catalina island and more. Hoping to host a group of wonderful friends and family on this closer-to-Home vacation cruise! Hell yes!

Intrigued always by the Baltic, I have also committed to two week son board the fabulous Cunard ship departing end of August this year, 2014. Followed by 4 nits in London to see Tower of London, London Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Portabello Road, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace, the artist area of Bloomsbury and to take a stroll in Notting Hill. Places made famous in my mind from movies. I can hardly wait!

I then fly to Naples Italy, to spend a few days exploring that area, followed by a week at an Agritourismo outside Sorrento with seven women members of the WomensTravel Club. We will make pizza, pasta sauce and learn about making and possibly consuming the local product, Limoncello! Oh yah!

Five of us leave there, and in have now acquired my International Drivers License so have rented a car for a week, staying in a time share condo suitable for five Canadian women on the move. We will explore the south south coast of Italy. I have not yet been to this area of the Italy and the world and am already in love as I make plans and research the local lifestyle.

After five weeks in Europe I will come home to rest for a bit, adjust to retirement …and prepare for a fabulous ten day Caribbean cruise aboard Oceania Insignia (small boutique ship that I have spent three weeks on crossing the Atlantic and equator on about four years ago). Ports of call include Martinique, St Kitts, St Bart’s, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and the Grenadines! Awesome. Lots of extra perks and I have some group space, inviting friends and family to join me as I celebrate my new traveling life and not returning to public service government work.

In April 2016, I am hoping to again enjoy the Princess ship cruising the Pacific coast, 10 days round trip Vancouver. I hope to return to England that year and walk some of Hadrians Wall … Perhaps travel to Asia with my life time friend Penny… And I am open to more ideas and travel bucket list destinations.

Thankful for every opportunity presented and for all of you for joining me. Please contact me if any or all of these trips entice you to join me.

I love my life and I am truly saying yes, Hell YES, to travel whenever I can.

How about you?