Working for an airline most definitely has many upsides and downsides. Being on the front lines, flight attendants sometimes endure our passenger’s cordiality and sometimes their wrath. There have been days that I have returned from my trips vowing to my husband that I was quitting my job. Why didn’t I, you ask? Simply put…I enjoy seeing the world.
Ever hear the phrase, “Marry me, fly free”? Well, it’s true…or almost true.
Each airline policy regarding employee travel varies. My airline, for example, offers free travel to employees and their families from the very beginning of their career. Domestic travel incurs no charge; however, taxes are paid for international travel, for the specific city. Italy’s taxes tend to be the cheapest, while England’s are some of the most expensive…about $160 difference between the two. That being said, paying the taxes versus buying an international ticket is definitely a plus! Travel, however, is not confirmed. Employees check flights for available seats and place themselves on an employee standby list for that flight. The employees are assigned seats just before departure in order of seniority. No available seats? No go! So, employees definitely must have flexible travel plans and travel in off peak time periods. But, having that ability offers us the chance to go to places on a whim that most people spend months planning.
Travel benefits are also extended to our immediate family. Again, while policies vary between airlines, my husband, parents and children are also offered benefits. Over the years, we have taken many wonderful vacations…some we could have never afforded if we had had to purchase five tickets. Unfortunately, as my children grow older, I realize that this will eventually come to an end. Our benefits are extended to our children until the age of 26, if they are actively enrolled students or in the military. If they graduate at 22 or 23 and do not seek advanced education, they will no longer be covered by my travel benefits. It is no wonder that many airline employees’ children seek airline employment later in life.
When the children were younger, it was much easier to travel when school wasn’t as much of an issue. On many occasions, we packed up on a Thursday night and went to Grand Cayman or some other exotic locale for the weekend. I remember the preschool teachers thinking that our children were making up stories about their travels. Not many people can travel to far flung destinations, just for a weekend.
Last week, my oldest son turned 19. He is currently in college and his benefits will run out in about three and half years, unless he opts to pay for continuing education. Trying to take advantage of his school break, I decided that he and I should try and travel somewhere that he has never been. Checking flight availability, I noticed that the flight to Nice, France had a large number of seats open on Friday and a large number of seats open three days later, returning from Nice. Standing in the doorway of his room, I offered to take him to Nice for the weekend. We would only be there for half a day on Saturday, the whole day on Sunday and would be returning on Monday. Take it from a flight attendant; you can most certainly squeeze in a lot of sightseeing in that time frame. I was shocked when he declined my offer, stating that he had plans with friends.
Nothing I said would change his mind. “You do realize you will lose your benefits in three and a half years?” “Don’t base your decisions in life on others.” “This is your birthday present!” and all the “Mom” things I could muster. His friends said, “Wow, I’d go to France in a heartbeat, if I were you!”
Still, nothing would persuade him.
Frustrated, I realized that an opportunity could pass by. Having been to Nice many times myself, my husband and younger sons had never been. Why couldn’t the four of us go without my oldest son? Secretly though, I was assuming that if my oldest son saw that we were going to go without him, he would alter his plans and come with us after all.
Securing hotel rooms, plans were quickly put into place. We decided to leave on Friday afternoon and travel to New York. Our flight would depart at 9:20 pm and we would be arriving in Nice at 11:10 am the next morning. My oldest, sadly, still refused to travel with us.
After departing New York’s JFK airport and a seven hour flight, we were soon standing outside of Terminal 2 and boarding a bus enroute to Gare de Nice-Ville train station. Arriving a quick 20 minutes later, the walk to our hotel was a quick five minutes.
Having only opened last July, our hotel was modern, clean and perfect for our short stay. The hotel presented us with adjacent rooms and was very helpful in providing us with information on local activities.
After quickly getting settled, we were on our way to explore Nice, Monaco and St. Paul de Vence.
Although, it was a quick weekend, I was so thankful to be able to give the gift of seeing a different city to, at least, most of my family. All too soon we were back on the bus, returning to the airport for our return trip to New York and Richmond.
My oldest held down the fort while we were gone, taking care of the dog and the laundry. He inquired about our trip when we arrived. He even asked to see the pictures from the trip. I thought that maybe he would have regretted his decision a bit and maybe he did…but we will never know. I just hope that he realizes what an amazing opportunity he passed on and doesn’t continue to do so in the future. It would be a terrible shame to be further in life and look back with remorse stating, “I wish I would have taken the opportunity to travel when I had it.”
My two younger boys, however, enjoyed the fact that they benefited from his passing on the trip. They posted pictures of their adventure on Facebook. They had a wonderful time and were eager to share their exploits with their friends. For them, it is thrilling to know that they have been somewhere where many of their friends have not. To quote a friend of theirs, “You went to Nice for the weekend? Who DOES that?”
We do!!!
Me and my family in St. Paul de Vence.Nice, FranceThe Prince’s Palace of MonacoSt. Paul de Vence, France
Delta Airlines provides service to Nice three to four times a week during winter months and daily during the rest of the year.
You want to vacation on a sailboat. To prepare, you will:
A) Read this blog post
B) Watch the movie “Captain Ron”
C) Sing a few verses of the Gilligan’s Island theme song…”Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…”
D) All of the above
For as long as I can remember, my husband and I dreamed of vacationing on a sailboat. Long before surfing the internet was commonplace, I remember browsing ads in the back of magazines and sending away for information on sailboat charters. Sadly, it never seemed to be the right time or there never was anyone that we thought we could spend a week in tight quarters with and that had the money to spend on this type of vacation.
This past summer, while deciding on a vacation locale, I came across a VRBO listing for a 48 foot sailboat. The boat could be rented from St. Lucia, with or without a captain. Being that it was my husband’s 50th birthday and we would be vacationing during this time period, I thought that it would be worth the extra money to surprise him with his dream vacation!
After contacting the owner of the boat, he confirmed that the dates we were requesting were available. Instead of trying to surprise my husband, after all, I decided to include him in the decision making. We discussed the idea of renting the boat and came to the conclusion that taking the boat out for a week would constitute a nice family vacation, especially since my oldest son would be leaving soon for college.
Deposits were paid and plans were begun. Since we had never done this, I solicited advice from coworkers and friends about life on a boat.
The first order of business was securing the captain. Being the responsibility of the owner, we were hoping that whoever was hired was going to be a friendly, outgoing individual…someone we would not mind sharing our vacation with. A few days later, we received an email from the owner informing us that he had two particular individuals in mind to captain the boat. Two individuals…meaning…a captain and his wife. We were taken aback. After all, we were required to pay the captain’s daily rate as well as provide three meals a day. The boat had four cabins and slept 8…quarters were already going to be tight. Would we be responsible for paying and feeding his wife as well?
Thinking about this situation, we did not respond right away to the email. After consulting with my husband, and still having reservations, we sent a response with a few inquiries. The owner assured us that we would only be responsible for paying the captain, although his wife was capable of sailing the boat and would assist. He said that he felt much better about two people being in charge of the boat. Since he seemed pretty adamant about hiring these two individuals, my next question concerned the meal arrangements. He responded with a compromise of sorts. The captain’s wife would be responsible for meals for everyone on the first day. Additionally, the captain would do some fishing and then the fish, if any, could be used for our meals on other days. I was not exactly happy with this arrangement, knowing that I did not want to spend a lot of time cooking and also aware that food on most islands is not cheap. We were also cautious of one additional person using our limited space and resources; however, our departure date was drawing near and we were anxious to have the plans finalized, so we reluctantly agreed.
One question we had for the owner concerned provisioning. We were instructed to purchase some snacks and meal items for 2-3 days however, we were assured that we would have the opportunity to buy meats and vegetables daily. I admit…I am a bit of a planner and do not like to get caught unprepared. I did quite a bit of shopping at my local grocery warehouse prior to the trip and purchased dry goods, snacks and powdered drinks that were packed in a duffle bag and checked as luggage. We have three growing boys who are constantly hungry…ensuring that we had things for them to snack on was a necessity. I planned for an entire weeks’ worth of meals minus the two days which we planned to eat out.
Another question concerned an itinerary. Having no idea of the distances from island to island, we inquired as to what the best places to travel were. We were instructed to consult with the captain when we arrived; however, places that were suggested to me by the owner were Bequia, Tobago Cays, Petit Martinique and Mayreau.
Finally, our departure day arrived. We started our trip with a night in St. Lucia, at a villa near Rodney Bay. We had a great dinner and spent some time completing our grocery shopping.
The next day, we met our captain and his wife at Marigot Bay. They were a very lovely French couple, however, there was a bit of a language barrier. Assured by the owner that they both spoke English very well, we were a little surprised to find that the captain did not speak much English at all. His wife became the communicator and translator; however, there was much that was lost due to the language barrier. This made planning a little more difficult.
After lunch, we sat down with them and were given a basic itinerary. It seemed that they had done this many times and were set on how they approached the trip. Confident that they were aware of the best way to do this trip, we decided to take their suggestions. We began our sail and stopped for the night, about an hour and a half later, between the Piton Mountains on the western coast of St. Lucia. Everyone was excited to be on the boat and it was a beautiful setting, complete with an amazing rainbow!
The next day started early and much to our surprise was an extremely hard and rough eight hour sail from St. Lucia to St. Vincent, Grenadines. We were not really expecting this long of a trip and certainly not the kind of rough seas that we experienced. This is the first time in my entire life that I have ever felt seasick…it was pouring rain the whole time and going up on deck was not much of an option. It was hot and stuffy inside the cabin and we weren’t able to move around much due to the motion of the boat. My vision of lounging on the deck, in the sun, as we glided by the islands was not meant to be.
It was such a relief to finally pull into Cumberland Bay. We were happy to be out of the rough water, but our elation was short lived. Expecting a place that we could get off of the boat and do some shopping or have dinner, this was not quite what we expected. We were told that this was the only place available to dock for the night.
Nestled at the foot of rain-forested mountains, this village reminded me of Africa…quite primitive. It continued to rain and we did not get off of the boat…there really wasn’t anything there except for a few buildings and houses. No stores, no restaurants. Knowing that there was probably no official sewer system, we were very hesitant to allow our children to swim. There really was nothing to do, except recuperate from the long journey, prepare for dinner and combat the swarms of flies that descended upon us. The only bright spot was that our captain used to be a head waiter and chef in Monaco, France. We caught a very large mahi-mahi on the way to Cumberland Bay that day and he cooked it up for us that evening.
The next morning, we headed out of Cumberland Bay and arrived in Bequia about three hours later. Of course, it was still raining and seas were still quite rough. After attending to customs and immigration formalities and paying docking fees, I was finally able to wander around the town. We did some grocery and souvenir shopping and took lots of pictures. After having a nice dinner at a local restaurant, we retired for the evening.
The Tobago Cays were next on our agenda…again, about a three hour sail.
The Tobago Cays were beautiful, but again, quite primitive. No town to walk around…there was one island right near us that had a restaurant, but, the captain’s wife insisted that because it was slow season, it would be closed. We were nowhere near enough to see whether this was true. The waters were a vibrant, clear, turquoise and we swam to a small island where we walked around and saw iguanas and tortoises. There were lots of starfish and sea turtles swimming all around us.
The highlight for the boys was that in the distance, they spotted Captain Jack’s island (where he and Elizabeth got drunk on rum), from the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean…Petit Tabac. The low point for us all was that we were informed that our main water tank was empty and that our reserve was either not working or empty (language barrier) and that we would have no water for showering until we arrived back in Bequia the next day. And I thought that the only thing I was going to have to worry about was drying and curling my hair!
We left early the next morning and arrived back in Bequia around ten o’clock. Again, a visit to the immigration and customs office was in order as well as a quick trip to the grocery store for much needed supplies. We spent most of the day swimming and enjoying the sunshine. A couple of times, I headed to shore for some souvenir shopping and to go to their fabulous bakery…there is nothing like fresh bread!!!
That evening, a couple of locals recommended the restaurant L’Auberge to us. As we had already eaten a lot of fish, we were really craving something different and we were told they had a varied and inexpensive menu. When we walked in, I should have been clued in to the fact that there was a chair marked with Anthony Bourdain’s name and another with Robert DeNiro’s! My sons and I arrived first and after a quick glance at the menu, realized that it was really, fish, fish and more fish…and quite expensive! With a quick exit and a trip across the harbor, we arrived at Mac’s Pizzeria! Surly waitress, but amazing pizza!
Sadly, the next day, we had to leave beautiful Bequia and head back to Cumberland Bay, again being told that it was the only mooring point available. Although we knew that we had to arrive before sunset, we insisted that we leave later in the morning so that I could run a couple of errands in town before leaving and to not have so much time in the wilds!
Cumberland Bay was as we left it…rainy. We had hoped we could go ashore to a waterfall that was about a 20 minute hike from the bay, but with the rain, we decided that it would probably not be enjoyable. We did get to do some souvenir shopping when some of the locals brought their wares to the boat.
An early departure was definitely a must the next day… I even paid someone extra to arise early and unmoor us at 5 o’clock, the next morning. We wanted to get the eight hour sail out of the way and get back to civilization!
When we arrived at Marigot Bay later that day, we docked at the marina. Since we were guests of the marina, moored on the dock, we able to freely leave the boat and enjoy the Capella resort. The resort’s pool was beautiful and it was nice to be away from the boat and have some private family time.
Our last night was spent having a nice dinner and trying to get some sleep.
Early the next morning, we were up and dressed and headed into Castries to complete some errands and grab lunch. We then headed out towards the airport, an hour and a half drive from Castries. Since we made better time and arrived a little early, we drove around Vieux Fort and Laborie and checked out the sights and beaches in this area, before taking out flight back to Atlanta.
There were many things that we enjoyed about this vacation, but there were many more things that we would have changed.
This rental was done through VRBO and although we have used VRBO many times previously for apartments, condos and villas, we have never sailed and never rented a boat for a week…a very long time to be in such a confined space. More research should have been done on the subject rather than jumping right in, such as, what ports of call there would be and how long of a sail between dockings. Not realizing that an eight hour sail was would we would endure to get to the first point in the Grenadines, maybe we would have opted for a shorter stay on the boat and stayed nearer to St. Lucia, or maybe gone over to Martinique, which was only a four hour sail. Bequia and the Tobago Cays were certainly worth visiting, however, I think sailing to these destinations from Grenada would be a more suitable alternative. Better yet, for our first foray into sailing, we probably should have booked through a charter company.
Mildew and mold on my son’s pillow
The boat was not in the best condition. There was no way of knowing this ahead of time because there were no reviews on VRBO. The gaskets on some of the portholes were not in great condition and leaked. The dinghy was secured right over the overhead portholes over our cabin, so when it was not in the water, we could not open those portholes for ventilation. Our beds were always damp and after my oldest son awakened with a swollen face, we discovered that the pillows were moldy and mildewed and he was having a reaction (the captain’s wife had the same thing happen to her a couple of days later). We quit sleeping on the pillows, but there was never a way to get our bedding completely dry, especially when it seemed to be always raining outside. There appeared to be miscellaneous leaks throughout the boat. We even noticed that some of our clothing hanging in the closet was damp, even when we had never worn them.
Additionally, there should have been spare bedding and more towels for drying off after showers. One towel for each of us for an entire week did not seem very sanitary. Thankfully, I had to foresight to bring loofahs and body wash for each of us for bathing. I expected the beach towels that I brought to be smelly after a few days of drying off salt water and indeed they were. The only opportunity to do laundry was in Bequia and we definitely did not want to spend our limited time there doing laundry. We didn’t go into this thinking that this was going to be a luxury cruise, but I do not think that with the amount of money that was spent, that it was going to be more like glorified camping.
The most important aspect of this vacation that I would have changed was that I would have insisted that the captain speak excellent English. The owner of the boat really wanted to use this particular captain and his wife for this week of sailing. Although he claimed that their English was very good, we found otherwise. I understand that he was more comfortable having two people skippering the boat and after watching them work together to sail this boat in the rough seas for eight hours straight, I can understand the helpfulness of having an additional pair of hands on deck. The reality was that although they were very nice, his English was almost nonexistent. The wife’s English was much better; however, I discovered that I had to interact with the customs and immigrations officials because much of the time, she did not understand them and they would get very upset with her. After reading up on this procedure once we returned, I found that paperwork is usually completed by the captain, alone. Instead of swimming or relaxing after the long sail, I was accompanying the wife to attend to the formalities, thus taking valuable time away from my vacation.
There were many things that were not communicated with us…it may have been because they just didn’t have the words or maybe because in their culture, they just didn’t deem it necessary. Or…maybe they felt that they were in charge. We were too new to the game and frankly too inexperienced to realize that there were more options available than were given to us. It never felt like our opinions were solicited on where we wanted to go or what we wanted to do…granted, we left a lot to them because we felt that they were the experts and would do what we requested and what was in our best interests. It was very frustrating when I mentioned Tobago Cays to the captain’s wife and she kept insisting that it would be too far and that we should stay in Bequia. I do understand a bit of French and overheard the captain and his wife arguing about Tobago Cay a couple of times. The captain was in favor of Tobago Cays, she wasn’t…I guess he won that argument, because we ended up in Tobago Cays. Later, while reading a tourism book for the Grenadines, I also found that there were other ports that we could have docked at rather than Cumberland Bay. We are not sure if they were just comfortable with this location, but we really wish that we would have been given other choices.
Another important miscommunication…being told that we would be able to purchase meats and vegetables daily. Obviously, the owner knows nothing of Cumberland Bay and its lack of modern conveniences. Thankfully, we had purchased more than we were told while in St. Lucia.
There was also much hesitation about there being an additional person on the boat…on our vacation…but in the end, there were two. We should have not relented to the owner. We came to resent having to prepare additional meals every day, in a very hot and stuffy galley. Fixing breakfast is not something that is important to us…usually a breakfast bar or a banana is sufficient. Having to arise very early, before setting sail, since it was too hard to cook when the boat was moving was not much fun, but we felt we had to do it for them.
We also were very upset about the water situation. Since my children are notorious for extremely long showers at home, they were given detailed instructions on how to wet down their bodies, shut off the water, lather up and then rinse quickly. However, we soon noticed that every time the captain and his wife exited the water, they were rinsing off extensively. After arriving in Tobago Cays, we were informed of the water situation. Due to the language barrier (once again), we were never certain whether the spare tank was not working or whether both tanks had been used. I did overhear the wife saying to the captain, in French, that because there were seven people on board, that was the reason that we had run short of water. It would seem that the captain would keep abreast of the water levels onboard. Certainly, if there are more people than usual, shouldn’t the tanks have been checked prior to leaving Bequia? And, to add insult to injury, because we arrived back in Bequia on a Sunday, we were required to pay quite a bit extra to resupply the tanks.
Overall, we accept it for the adventure that it was. We visited some places in the world that we had never been, got some cool stamps in our passports, met some lovely people and marked one more thing off of our bucket list…vacationing on a sailboat.
Our advice to anyone who had never sailed before…whether looking to rent a privately owned sailboat or from a charter company…do your homework.
“Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?”-King Henry II
Archbishop Thomas Beckett engaged in conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the church. In 1170, four knights set off for Canterbury on the orders of the King and murdered Archbishop Thomas Beckett in his cathedral. The murder was extremely violent. Two years later, the archbishop was canonized by Pope Alexander III on February 21, 1173 after a series of miracles, depicted in the miracle windows of the Trinity Chapel, were attached to his martyrdom. Soon after, pilgrims by the thousands, as told in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, began to flock to the Cathedral to worship at Becket’s tomb, among them, Henry, clothed in sackcloth and barefoot.
Today, the Cathedral is one of the most visited in the country. Visitors come to experience the Cathedral which is set within its own walled Precincts. Surrounded by medieval buildings and ruins, there is much to experience. St. Martin’s Church, the building in which St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury and his followers first worshipped, is the oldest working church in England. Together with Canterbury Cathedral, and St. Augustine’s Abbey, where his monks lived and worshipped and where Kentish Kings and the first Archbishops were buried, they make up one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Located right in the middle of the city center, visitors can access the Cathedral through the Christ Church Gate.
The church and Cathedral have stood on the site for over 1,400 years and boasts some of the finest church architecture in the country. Built from stone imported from Normandy, it houses the 17th century bell which is still rung every day to open and close the Cathedral. A large display of stained glass windows, some surviving from the 12th and 13th centuries can be seen in the Cathedral, especially in the Trinity Chapel, which was built specifically for the Shrine of St. Thomas.
Time should also be allotted to explore the massive crypt beneath the east end of the Cathedral. Built under Archbishop Anselm in the early 1100’s, it still contains extensive Romanesque murals and exquisitely carved columns and capitals. One of the things that stood out was the sculpture by Antony Gormley. Suspended over the site of Thomas Becket’s vestry place in the Eastern Crypt of the Cathedral, it immediately caught our attention upon entering. Speaking with one of the Cathedral’s guides, who noticed our interest, he informed us that the sculpture, entitled Transport, was created using antique nails taken from the roof from the Cathedral’s repaired south east transept roof. A notable fact…due to the magnetization of the nails, the sculpture always points north-south.
The oldest son of King Edward III, Edward, was a brave leader in the wars against France. Called the Black Prince by the French, as they feared his bravery, he asked to be buried in the Crypt, but it was decided that he was too important and his tomb was placed close to Thomas’ shrine. His tomb consists of a bronze effigy beneath a tester depicting the HolyTrinity. The only English monarch to be buried at Canterbury, lies opposite the Black Prince; King Henry IV and his Queen, Joan of Navarre.
Much time should be allowed to explore the Cathedral in full. An audio guide can be rented, in seven languages, from the kiosk in the Nave or a guided tour can be joined at various times of the day, where expert guides can not only inform you of the Cathedral’s history, but answer your questions. The main tour lasts 40 minutes with an optional section lasting another 20 minutes which covers the Great Cloister and Chapter House.
After exploration of the Cathedral is complete, time can be spent roaming the pedestrian friendly streets in the city of Canterbury and its many shops and restaurants.
Getting There
Car-Several car parks are located in the center of Canterbury and a park and ride system operating with buses running every 7- 8 minutes from designated areas on the outskirts of the city right into the city center. For more information, visit http://www.canterbury.co.uk
Train-Southeastern High Speed rail service from London St. Pancras to Canterbury West station. Journey time, under one hour. For information, visit http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk
Southeastern also runs regular train service from London Victoria and London Charing Cross to Canterbury East station and Canterbury West station. The Cathedral is a short walk into the city from either station. For information, visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk
Bus-National Express offers regular bus service from London Victoria Coach Station. For timetables, visit http://nationalexpress.com
Canterbury Cathedral is also offered as part of many organized tours in the area
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see
The chalk white cliffs facing the Straight of Dover and France were the subject of the popular World War II tune. Although it was written before America had joined the war, it was penned to lift the spirits of the Allies at a time when Nazi Germany had conquered much of Europe and were bombing England.
Looking forward to visiting the White Cliffs of Dover, I had imagined what I would observe would be stark white cliffs falling away to the water. This is what one sees in pictures, after all. English weather, however, was not cooperating on the day that we were touring this part of Britain. The misty, rainy day did not assist in observing the natural beauty as when wet, the cliffs become much darker.
Our first glimpses of the Cliffs were from the Battle of Britain Memorial. Walking to the edge of the cliffs looking out over the Straights of Dover, it was as beautiful as it could have been considering the poor weather. And we could, however, vaguely make out the French coastline in the distance. After spending some time at the brink of the precipice, it was time to acknowledge the Memorial.
The Battle of Britain Memorial (BOB Memorial) at Capel-le-Ferne, was also worthy of our short visit. This site is dedicated to Churchill’s famous “Few” who fought in the skies overhead to keep this country free from invasion.
The site hosts the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall which lists the names of all those who took park in the Battle of Britain as well as replica aircraft, which stand nearby as a reminder of their victory.
Leaving the BOB Memorial, we headed to the town of Dover which is a major port for ferries traveling to Calais, France. Overlooked by the medieval Dover Castle which was built to repel invasions from across the English Channel, the town has a welcoming beachfront from which the Pharos lighthouse can be seen as well as the Cliffs.
Again, the poor conditions did nothing to allow proper viewing. Protecting cameras from the rain, we did out best to capture the beauty that we knew existed on this waterfront area. Soon it was time to head on…but, maybe the weather will be better tomorrow…just you wait and see.
I’ll never forget the people I met
braving those angry sky’s
I remember well as the shadows fell
the light of hope in their eyes
and though I’m far away
I still can hear them say
Sun’s up
for when the dawn comes up
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
There’ll be love and laughter
And peace ever after.
Tomorrow, when the world is free
The shepherd will tend his sheep.
The valley will bloom again.
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again.
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
Written in 1941 by Walter Kent with lyrics by Nat Burton.
For more pictures, check out my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, Snapping the Globe.
Set on two islands within the River Len and surrounded by a moat, Leeds Castle is a spectacle to behold.
Described at the “loveliest castle in the world” by Lord Conway, a trip to Kent is not complete without a visit to this historical castle which has served multiple purposes; a Norman stronghold, the property of six medieval queens, a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, a Jacobean country house, a Georgian mansion and an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous. Today, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in England.
Reading the history behind this castle before visiting, what I personally found most interesting was that the castle was transformed from fortified stronghold to magnificent royal palace for the use of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. After visiting, what I personally found most interesting was its connection to Virginia, where I live.
After entering the castle and admiring the family portraits, I noticed one of the portraits of Lord Fairfax. Since my son attends George Mason university in Fairfax, the name caught my eye and I photographed the portrait to show my son. One of the attendants in the room caught my attention and engaged me in conversation. After telling him about my son and that I lived south of Fairfax in Richmond, Virginia, he took me over to a map and explained how the castle had been the property of both Sir Thomas Culpeper and Sir Cheney Culpeper. Recognizing the Culpeper name (Culpeper, Virginia is 78 miles from where I live), I was enthralled by the history lesson that he began to give me.
Thomas, Second Lord Culpeper, suceeded his father in the title and later purchased Leeds Castle from the creditors of Sir Cheney’s estate. In 1680, Lord Culpeper was Appointed Governor of Virginia. His daughter, Catherine, married Thomas, Fifth Lord Fairfax in 1690. On the death of Lady Culpeper in 1710, the castle was passed to the Fairfax family.
Over the next 50 years, ownership of the castle was never secure and continually challenged. The Sixth Lord Fairfax finally achieved confirmation of the family’s sole rights in 1745. He sailed for Virginia and Leed’s Castle was given to his brother Robert Fairfax.
Fairfax settled on the banks of the Potomac at Belvoir and became the friend and patron of a young George Washington. Later, moving to the frontier, he assigned himself 150,000 acres which he called “The Manor of Leeds.”
Walking along the drive in front of the castle, I had noticed a sundial. The attendant, asked if I had noticed it on my walk to the entrance. Having glanced in its direction, I had not, however, stopped to inspect it more closely. He suggested that on my exit, I take a look, although the cloudy day would not lend itself to seeing its operation. Much to my astonishment, the sundial is set to Virginia time. He also informed me that there was a rumored sundial in Virginia at one time that was set to Leed’s Castle time.
Taking a quick walk on the premises, I realized that there were many other activities and attractions available. Being that I was on an organized tour, however, I was unable to see much of the grounds. If time is available, one should see and experience the Maze, along with its underground grotto as well as the Falconry.
An exhibition within the ancient Gatehouse details the fascinating journey through 900 years of the Castle’s history. The story is recreated through original artifacts, expert historical detail, illustration and film. Additionally, a Dog Collar museum is available near the Fairfax restaurant. It contains a unique collection of over 130 rare and valuable collars dating from the 15th century.
For nicer days, Punting on the Moat is available from April to October, weather permitting. The Wood Garden, the Culpeper Garden and the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terrace are also available for a nice walk.
Younger visitors can check out the Knights’ Realm Playground and the Squires’ Courtyard Playground.
There are many food venues on the Castle premises serving casual dining, coffee, afternoon tea and elegant evening dining.
Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.
In Amsterdam, many years ago, on December 5, the hotel staff advised my crew to leave our shoes in the hall that night.
“Why?” we asked. “Because Sinterklaas is coming tonight and he will leave treats in your shoes,” they replied.
I learned two lessons that night. First, leaving your shoes in the hall can result in one or both missing in the morning…probably another spiteful flight attendant…definitely not Sinterklaas. The other, is that some of the Netherlands’ Christmas traditions are a bit different than ours.
Over the years, I acquired much knowledge on Dutch traditions while visiting Amsterdam during the Christmas holidays. Children leave out their shoes on December 5, the night before the feast of Saint Nicholas, in anticipation of Sinterklaas’ arrival. He rides on the roofs of their houses on his horse and his helper, Black Peter, shimmies down the chimney, leaving presents and candy in their shoes.
On one of my first trips, while shopping for a unique piece to add to my Santa Claus collection, I was introduced to Black Peter, by a Christmas Shop owner in the Flower Market. Black Peter, or Zwarte Piet, is the companion of Saint Nicholas. He is attired in colorful Renaissance attire and is portrayed as a blackamoor, a Moor from Spain. He is the helper of Sinterklaas and children are told that he keeps a book of all of the things that the children have done all year, good and bad. Good children receive presents from Sinterklaas. Bad children are put into Black Peter’s sack and taken back to Spain in order to be taught lessons on how to behave.
I loved the idea of adding something different to my collection and purchased him immediately. This has become one of my favorite pieces…one that I share the story of with my children each year. Additionally, I have visited de Bijenkorf’s department store many times to see the mechanical Zwarte Piets climb festive ropes up and down in the main hall and to take pictures with Zwarte Piet!
Dutch tradition dictates, I later learned, that Sinterklaas arrives on the second Saturday of November. Hailing from Madrid, Spain, every year he chooses a different harbor to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him. He arrives on a steam boat with many Zwarte Piet and dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding his white horse, Amerigo.
In Amsterdam, which hosts one of the largest parades in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas’ entrance into the city is by sailing down the Amstel River. The route through the city is past the Nieuwe Amstelbrug, Torontobrug, the Hoge Sluis by the Royal Theatre Carré and the Magere Brug. The waterborne parade ends at the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) where he is welcomed by the Mayor of Amsterdam. Here, his boat is traded for his white horse, Amerigo and the parade continues through the streets. After arriving at Dam Square, a special musical program is kicked off for kids of all ages. When the musical progam is complete, he continues on through the Rokin, Muntplein, Rembrandtplein, Utrechtsestraat and Weteringcircuit until he reaches the last stop on his tour, the Leidseplein. Here, Sinterklaas delivers a special message to his smallest fans from the balcony of the Stadsschouwburg.
Last year, I was present for Turn on the Lights in Dam Square…the lighting of the facade of de Bijenkorf, followed by a magical theatrical show, but somehow, for all the time I have spent in Amsterdam, I had never managed to be there for Sinterklaas’ arrival.
For the first two weekends of November, this year, I was happily in Amsterdam. I always prepare, beforehand, what I will do on my layovers. None of the activities I had researched alluded to anything special occurring in Amsterdam on the second weekend, although I had realized that I was going to miss the Turn on the Lights celebration after seeing workers set up some of the equipment in Dam Square.
On our first day, we had ventured into the city, but we had set aside our second day for plans to introduce our newest co-pilot to a good old fashioned bike ride into the countryside, followed by lunch. The wind and blowing rain that morning dictated otherwise.
Grabbing our umbrellas and abandoning our bikes, we decided to try and salvage the day. My friend, Jeana, and I jumped on the hotel van to head into the city. Our tentative plan was to head to the train station and see if any trains were heading to cities that we may have been interested in visiting.
While traveling to the city center, the van driver suddenly made an announcement that the streets were being closed and it was now not possible to make it to our drop off point. After turning around, he began heading back towards our hotel and the nearby ferry so that we could cross over to the train station.
Before exiting the van, we asked the driver why the roads were closed and we were informed that Sinterklaas was arriving!
Making our way from the ferry, through the train station to the main road, we headed down the barricaded avenue of Damrak. Not knowing when the parade would begin, we decided to have a quick lunch. Here, the owners of the restaurant, informed us that Sinterklaas usually arrived, at this location, just after one o’clock. After our lunch, we ventured over to the avenue and staked our claim against the barricade. It was raining and windy and we began questioning if it was worth braving the abhorrent weather. We decided “yes”, each time the rain tapered off, only to have it start again with huge wind gusts that flipped our umbrellas inside out!
Photo by Jeana Sager
Eventually, we noticed a few of the locals pointing down the street toward Dam Square. From the nearby clock tower, four Zwarte Pieten were rappeling down the side, just over Damrak. We left our prime spots and luckily found positions that were equal in ease of viewing the parade. Watching the Zwarte Pieten jump around on the walls of the tower mitigated the misery of the steady drizzle that continued to fall. Finally, two Black Peters rollerbladed on by! We knew the parade was going to begin soon!
The parade, like many others, consisted of many floats, marching bands and dancers. This one, however, contained many Black Peters! Black Peters riding on and driving the floats. Black Peters marching and playing in the band. Black Peters dancing, rollerblading and riding bikes. Black Peters handing out flags and kruidnoten, gingersnap-like cookies. I have never seen so many Black Peters!
OK, I admit…I was so elated that I pretty much reverted to being a hyperactive, enthusiastic child, all but demanding that one kindly Black Peter give me a flag…which they were mainly handing out to children. I accepted lots of kruidnoten…and ate every last bit. And, I coerced more than one Black Peter to take a picture with me!
When Sinterklaas was spotted coming down the street, I was excited and eager to wave and take his picture, but his appearance was so fleeting, that I was once again distracted by my favorites, the Zwarte Pieten.
Sadly, the parade was over as quickly as it had begun. Officials promptly removed the barricades and people, cars, bicycles and trams, once again, filled the streets. Spilled kruidnoten and a few discarded “Welkom Sinterklaas” littered the sidewalks until city workers shuffled in cleaning behind the procession. The most important thing that was left, however, was excitement! Sinterklaas had arrived! He had been greeted by the mayor of Amsterdam and officially been welcomed into the city by the Dutch and the many visitors to the city. The Christmas season had begun!
Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.
Heading to London, for a four day trip is always exciting! There are so many things to see and do in London and in the surrounding areas.
After a little internet surfing, I soon discovered that the ultimate Christmas destination, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, had just opened.
Last year, I headed over to Hyde Park after a long day of touring Warwick Castle, Stratford Upon Avon, the Cotswolds and Oxford. Needless to say, I was exhausted, but the urge to experience this huge Christmas attraction, kept me going. However, after less than an hour of checking out the Christmas market, my sore feet decided to call it quits and I headed over to my favorite Indian restaurant for some much needed nourishment…and then to bed for some much needed sleep!
This year, I planned my first day around the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. After doing some shopping on Kensington High Street, I continued my walk down to Hyde Park. What I first noticed was that although it was crowded for a Monday night, there was nowhere near the amount of people that I experienced last year on a Friday night. It was nice to be able to browse each booth for Christmas presents without the onslaught of people.
There was a wide assortment of gifts for purchase as well as many food venues. Deciding to have dinner here, I grabbed a beer, a bratwurst and chips and secured a seat in one of the heated seating areas in the Bavarian Village, listening to the live music being performed nearby.
Many attractions were available including the Magical Ice Kingdom, Bar Ice, Ski Zillertal Ice Rink, Santa Land and Circus Shows and could be booked by reservation. Although I walked throughout the entire venue and was tempted, I never did try out any of the rides, such as the Giant Wheel, deciding that it would have been much more fun to return and enjoy with some of my crew members.
But, after smelling the delicious aroma wafting from the Schmalzkuchen House, I finally decided to try some mini donuts, smothered in powder sugar for dessert!
After leaving Hyde Park and feeling extremely festive, I decided to take a detour so that I could walk near Harrods, which was lighted and decorated for the Christmas season. All in all, the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland was worth the visit. I boarded the metro, en route to my hotel, with some Christmas shopping completed and a joyous holiday spirit!
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Open 10am to 10pm daily, until January 3. Closed Christmas Day.
Free Admission
Rides and attraction prices vary
Transportation to Hyde Park via Underground Stations Green Park (Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines) Victoria (Victoria line and National Rail) Paddington (Bakerloo, Metropolitan, Circle & District lines and National Rail)
Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.
Recently, I praised the value of possessing the Museumkaart if you are a frequent visitor of the Netherlands. Once again, it proved its worthiness when looking to fill my afternoon with culture!
Using the card to visit a museum that I may have not chosen while just out touring on my own, the Museum Van Loon was not only a welcome respite to the cold, drizzly afternoon but a place that transported me back many centuries. Beautifully decorated, the many visitors that walk thru its doors are taken back to a time of untold grandeur.
Built in 1672 by architect Adriaen Dortsman, the Museum Van Loon lies in the heart of Amsterdam’s canal district. It’s first resident, Ferdinand Bol, was a pupil of Rembrandt and the home was later owned by Willem Van Loon, a co-founder of the Dutch East-India Company and founder of the museum.
A magnificent private residence, it houses a large collection of paintings, some dating back to the 16th century, fine furniture, precious silvery and porcelain from different centuries.
Behind the house, stepping onto a parcel of land, hidden from the hustle and bustle of the city, one could be envious of the life that the Van Loon’s led in this beautiful oasis. The formal-styled garden, is bordered to one side by the coach house which regularly displays historic coaches, sledges and harnesses once owned by the Van Loon family. The coach house now also provides room for the museum’s educational programs, exhibitions and events.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm daily and is located at Keizersgracht 672. The museum can be reached by foot, bicycle, car or tram (16 and 24 Stop at Keizersgracht).
Adults: € 9
Students: € 7
Groups of 10 persons and more: € 7 pp
Children 6 to 18 years: € 5
Children under 6 years: free
Museumkaart, Stadspas, IAmsterdam City Card, ICOM: free
Smack dab in the middle of Amsterdam’s Chinatown is the Fo Guang Shan He Hua Buddhist temple.
Many times, I have walked past this temple, however, as I returned from Muiderslot castle, I noticed for the first time, that the temple was open.
He Hua Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Built in the traditional Chinese style, the entrance has a large central opening usually reserved for monks and nuns. There are two side entrances for laymen.
Once inside, the temple is an open-plan room with a central shrine to Avalokitesvara, a female deity know as Kwan Yin in the Chinese tradition. Visitors can purchase and offer incense or a piece of fruit at the shrine.
A small museum of Buddha images and other artifacts line the right side wall, while the walls are covered in plaques with reliefs of Kwan Yin and inscriptions naming the donors who funded the construction of the temple.
A level below, houses a Jade Buddha Shrine. Also within the complex, there is a meditation hall, a hall for honoring ancestors, a meeting room, classrooms, a library, a dining room and bedrooms.
If you, like me, love temples…take the time to stop and see He Hua Temple in Amsterdam. You can check the box off of seeing the largest Buddhist temple in Europe and then grab some dim sum for dinner!
He Hua Temple
http://ibps.nl/home-2/
Tue- Sat 12.00-17.00
Sun 10.00-17.00
Closed on Mondays and January 1
Check out more pictures of He Hua Temple on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.
Visiting Muiderslot Castle has been on my “Things To Do in Amsterdam” list for quite some time.
Unfortunately, visiting Muiderslot Castle during the late fall and winter, when I have had extra time on my trips, was never possible as the castle is only open on weekends and I had only been there on weekdays. Two weeks ago, however, I finally got my chance!
Waking up on Sunday morning, I ventured over to the Amsterdam Central Station and hopped on the subway line to Amstel Station (direction Westwijk). Exiting the rear of the station to the bus stops, I waited for bus 322 (direction Almere Parkwijk via Muiden P&R). Bus 320 can also be taken from this location depending on your arrival time at Amstel Station and both are about a 20 minute ride to the bus stop P+R Terrein.
Arriving in Muiden, take your time during the 10-15 minute picturesque walk thru the town towards the castle. Admire the locks and boats parked in the River Vecht and the typical Dutch homes that line the route. The course is well marked, however, if you find yourself distracted and make a wrong turn, the Dutch locals will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
Once you have arrived at Muiderslot and purchased your ticket to the castle, first take in the stronghold’s beauty and then proceed to the booking terminal near the bridge. Scanning your ticket, you will receive a coupon with an admittance time for the next guided tour.
Walk across the bridge, taking time for a few selfies (of course) and proceed through the entryway into the courtyard. Here, you will meet your guide for the tour, which lasts approximately one hour. If you have time before the tour begins, you can visit the dungeon, walk along the ramparts or grab a snack in the tavern.
Disappointingly, tours are conducted in Dutch only, although our tour guide also spoke English. We were given printed guides with which we were instructed to follow along as we entered each room. Most information was very straightforward, however, there were some things that we did not understand and had to wait until the tour guide had a minute to answer our questions. That being said, the main benefit of taking the tour is that you are allowed in parts of the castle, only accessible while on the tour.
After, the tour is complete, there are many parts of the castle that you can visit as well as many static and interactive displays. Especially entertaining are the displays that you can stand behind with only your face showing. Ever wanted to be a jester? Here’s your chance!
Most impressive was the multitude of things that are strictly for children’s enjoyment. If you’ve ever hauled your children somewhere on vacation, thinking the history would be good for them, only to have them tell you that “this is boring!”, this will not be the case here! With all of the fun activities available, your children will be begging you not to leave!
Surrounding the castle are beautiful gardens and views. Time should be set aside to walk around and enjoy the outside of the castle after your exit.
For your return to Amsterdam, return to the area in which you were dropped off and backtrack one block. Here, you can catch one of the buses on their return to Amstel Station.
Muiderslot Castle
Adults € 13,50
Children 4-11 € 9,00
Children under 4 Free
Museumkaart Free
http://www.muiderslot.nl
Note: When purchasing an OV chip card (€ 7,50+additional cash loaded onto the card), and using this card for travel, the fares will be lower than mentioned above.
Travel
Subway fare (one way) € 2,90
Bus fare (one way) € 5,00
Check out more pictures on my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.
