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Interests & Specialties
Cruises, Tours, World Cruise Specialist
Expert Bio
My interest in geography and travel developed in childhood as daughter of a Scottish-born Mother who grew up in Shanghai, China, and a Southern Father.
Relatives on the maternal side of my family have also lived in Egypt and India, all part of the British Foreign Service. Thus China, Egypt and India were on top of my list of places to see. As well as Macau, Marrakech, Manaus and Moscow, because these sound so exotic.
I have visited all these destinations and many more - traveling on 6 of the 7 continents. Antarctia being as yet unvisited. I have lived in Atlanta, GA, Washington, DC. and New York City and have worked in travel over 30 years.
I love helping people who like to travel and am happy working and making cruise, tour or package plans for clients - so, please let me know what trips I can arrange for you.
My most recent international trip was to Asiatic Turkey. Asia and Europe meet in Turkey
both physically and culturally and are separated by the Bosporus. Istanbul - founded as
Byzantium, renamed Constantinople when Constantine the Great chose it to be capital of
the Romas Empire, eventually became Istanbul - so named by the Ottomans.
Leaving the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Museum and Grand Bazaar of Istanbul behind, I was off
to the Asian side of Turkey - to Ankara, the capital since 1923 when Kemal Ataturk moved
the capital here from Istanbul. Museums in Ankara memoralize Ataturk and his efforts in
curbing the influence of Islam and westernizing aspects of daily life; off with the fez and veil!
Next we proceeded toward the plateau of Cappadocia and visited the walled 13th c. Seljuk
Caravansary. The square fortress-like caravansaries were the "hotels" along caravan routes
in ancient days and were designed to protect travelers on their journies.
Now the country is really getting interesting: First the village of Kaymakli and its underground
cities which can be visited by waddling through tunnels which extend 170' below the earth's
surface. The caves of Cappadocia became safe havens against onsloughts from invading
armies. The Troglodyte village of Goreme has churches built inside rocks with frescos dating
from the 6th c.
Many other fascinating spots are in Asia Minor and I will particularly mention the town of Konya
and the Mevlana Monastery of the (whirling) Dervishes. Dervishes are a religious order and
dance a spiritual journey. This is where they trained and are buried.
Pamkkale-Denizli has specacular white lime cascades formed by its hot outdoor mineral spring -
a relaxing thermal resort.
What is more impressive than Ephesus?! A fantastic archaeological site! At one time capital
of Roman Asia Minor and once one of the greatest cities of the Ancient World. Here is one of
the best preserved ancient ampitheaters still used today...Diana Ross performed here.
Construction just isn't built to last this long anymore.
Then Troy: celebrated city of Homer's "Iliad and the Odyssey". As many as 7 cities of Troy may
have been built and rebuilt over the same site here.
From Canakkale we ferried the Dardanelles across to the Gallipoli Peninsula to pay tribute at the ANZAC cemeteries of WW I renown. I am now back in Europe.
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