Newsletter : November 2011
Welcome to the second edition for 2011 of the Travel Journeys Newsletter - we hope you enjoy.
A sunny day in lovely Bilbao
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Travelling - and loving it ! At the time of publishing our previous newsletter, we had Spain and Portugal tours ready for departure and other clients looking forward to independent travels in Morocco, Spain, the UK and Italy.
During September we were able to spend time with clients in Spain and Italy, and conduct further research for our planned tours to Portugal, Northern Spain and Sicily. More details of these tours below.
We are very excited about the way the new tours are shaping up and there is already considerable interest in these fascinating destinations and the Travel Journeys approach to friendly travel.
We are currently sourcing tours for the future. Tours within Australia and in other countries in Europe are in the planning stages. New York and the East Coast of America are being considered. Please register your interest if these destinations are in your "bucket" list. We thank you all for your continued support. Happy Travelling,
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Tour Schedule 2012
It is our pleasure to present our tours for 2012.
Coming for September are two new Italy Tours - Le Marche & Puglia plus the Medieval Hilltowns of Umbria. Keep an eye on the website for full itineraries.
Morocco - Fez, Marrakech, Essaouira, Casablanca - April 20, 2012
Weather expectations: 11 - 20 deg C. Up to mid 20s in Marrakech. Maybe 14 min in Essaouira. Rainfall average for April 30-50ml. |
Spain - Andalucia - Barcelona, Madrid - May 3 & September 24, 2012 - Previous members of this wonderful tour were full of praise. The tour includes travel through Girona, Cordoba, Granada, Ronda and Seville. A wondrous 14 day adventure exploring the history and influences of the region's many rulers including the Moors and Romans. The resultant language, food, music, science and art all influenced the development of western Europe and so the world. An unforgetable experience.
Weather expectations: 12 - 26 deg C. Maybe low 20s max in Barcelona. Can be warmer in Seville. Rainfall average for May: 28-55ml. |
Italy - Sicily and the Amalfi Coast- May 4 and September 7, 2012 - There has been strong demand for a Sicily tour; this one will astound. From Rome we fly to Sicily and embark on a journey through time which takes in the ancient influences including Greek, Roman and Arabic. The more recent (11th Century) Norman kingdom has left its own treasures. Spainish, German and french influences abound with rich Baroque architecture being a feature of many towns. The tour takes in a cruise to the aeolian islands and also the Amalfi Coast (Including Positano, Capri, Pompeii, Caserta, Paestum and Hurculaneum). A magnificent 16 days of fun, food, wine, history and culture.
Weather expectations: 15 - 24 deg C. Rainfall average for May: 30-32ml. Palermo average 77ml, Positano 47ml. |
Portugal - May 18, 2012 - 8 days exploring the hidden jewels of Portugal. This tour starts in Lisbon and finishes in Porto after taking in many highlights on the way. Lisbon and the Portugese ruled the seas in the golden "Age of Discovery". The evidence of Portugal's standing are still present and celebrated but today its wonderful beaches, hiltop towns (such as Obidos and Monsaraz), wine, music and history await the eager tourist.
Weather expectations: 12 - 24 deg C. Rainfall average for April 38-52ml. Porto and Braga have 80-90ml average. |
Spain - Northern Spain - May 25, 2012 - This wonderful and often overlooked region of Spain is fully explored in this marvellous new tour. The tours commences in the significant town of Santiago de Compostela. Santiago the capital of Galicea, is the destination of the Camino de Santiago (walk of St James) Pilgrim. The region, offers wonderful history, culture, food, wine (the famous Rioja valley) and medievil townships. Visitors are always suprised at the beauty and attractions of Bilbao (Guggenheim museum) and San Sebastian and their enthusiasm for beaches and Surf.
Weather expectations: 8 - 23 deg C. Rainfall average for May 55-85ml. San Sebastian can get more with average of 104ml. |
Italy - Cinque Terre / Tuscany - September 12, 2012 - This tour has been Travel Journeys Italian favourite for many years. We visit the jewels of Tuscany (Including Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Pisa, Volterra..) plus the Ligurian gems of the Cinque Terre. But each year we have variations and surprises. And within Tuscany the Chianti hills where we learn to cook in Italian style from our Tuscan Mammas. What a wonderful way to see this northern part of Italy.
Weather expectations: 15 - 27 deg C. Rainfall average for September 53-76ml. Lucca can get more with Average of 120ml. |
Contact us if you are interested in any of these tours.... OR suggest to us any variations or options which you would be keen to explore. We pride ourselves on being flexible enough to change or develop tour options quickly to suit our clients. And of course we can personalise your itinerary with top guides, transport options and accommodation. |
May SPAIN Tour reunion It was with great excitement that Gary and I recently travelled to Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria to meet up with members of our Spain May 2011 group.
Some of the tour members travelled from Adelaide and Canberra as well as Melbourne to accept the wonderful hospitality of our favourite Jan who graciously offered her beach house for the reunion.
Much fun was had by all – so – thanks to each and every one of you for a great weekend!
Geraldine |
Our May Spain tour members get together again for more dining |
Sicily is Spectacular
For 2012 we have introduced a new destination - Sicily and what a surprising destination. Perhaps I should rephrase that – this is definitely a destination which will surprise you!
Living in Melbourne we know many people whose families originally came to Australia from Southern Italy and Sicily after World War II. We have learnt the art of Pizza making, growing olives and tomatoes and the culture of “family” from this wonderful group of people. However – we were ignorant of so much more Sicily and southern Italy has to offer.
Sicily is an island of contrasts – from the dark and foreboding Mt. Etna which provides a majestic backdrop for the beautiful seaside town of Taormina to the inspiring Valley of the Temples dotted along the coastline at Agrigento. To learn that the Greek temple before you dates back to 500BC is indeed a humbling experience.
Because of its strategic position in the Mediterranean, Sicily has been in the eye of the invader for thousands of years. If you conquered Sicily you had a footing to launch into present day Europe, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It all depended on which direction you were heading. Consequently Sicily has been invaded by the Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Goths Spaniads, Arabs, Phoenicians, Cartheginians and Italians to name but a few. Each of these left a piece of their culture behind.
We see Doric columns melded with later styles to form the present cathedral of Syracuse. This site originally housed a Greek temple built in 480 BC by the Greek settlers to thank goddess Athena for helping them defeat the Cartheginians at sea. It became the Cathedral of Syracuse in 640 AD before being a mosque for 100 years under arab rule. The Normans recaptured it from the Saracens in the 10th century AD and it again became a Christian Church.
Sicily is an island of history but it is also an island of experiences. Sitting at a table outside Caffè Sicilia in Noto with our order of granita – lemon, coffee and almond accompanied by the essential brioche – perfetto! Eating cous cous in an outdoor café in Marsala - a dish original introduced to this area by the arabs. Ordering a coffee In the stunning town of Erice just so we could have an excuse to taste their pastries. Do you see a theme here?
Erice is perched precariously atop a rocky outcrop in the west of Sicily. We went there to taste the pastries but found so much more. The history of Sicilian pastry making is full of many local legends including Maria Grammatico, the Erice born pastry chef who entered the convent at 11 and devoutely cooked with the nuns following their age old recipes. Eventually Maria decided the convent was not for her and put her skills learned in the convent to work by opening her first pastry shop. Of all the sweet morsels made in Erice, the Mustaccioli delle Monache, bonbons, made with sugar, almonds and cloves, are those that will most easily slip into your luggage and onto your hips. Don’t you love travelling?
I haven’t even starting on the shopping! Come with us next year to experience all this and more! |
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Northern Spain looks GREAT
Another new destination for 2012 is Northern Spain. In September we spent some time there and were rewarded with beautiful sunshine and perfect temperatures.
We first visited Spain in the 1970’s when the dictator General Franco ruled Spain and we had beautiful black long curls (Gary) and a waist (Geraldine). History tells us how Northern Spain and the Basque country in particular did not take to this idea and many years of dissent followed. Visiting cities like Bilbao and San Sebastian today is so much different to those years. Although there are remnants of the past difficulties, these cities are now vibrant, exciting and confident with what they are today.
There is no doubt that the arrival of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao has transformed the city. It has brought its artistic heart to the fore and everyone has lifted to meet the new standard. We now see a beautiful old city which has lost none of its character melded with the Bilbao of today.
As Australians we felt welcome and comfortable with the beautiful beaches and surf of San Sebastian – not to mention the Pixtos (Tapas) Bars which served THE most amazing seafood. A city where the locals and tourists together stroll the streets of the old town and sit in beautiful squares watching others do exactly the same! We could go on forever about the wonderful wine areas, the stunning coastline from Santiago to San Sebastian and the history of the Pilgrimage walk of St. James which ends in Santiago. Come and see for yourselves in May 2012. Or allow us to design an independent tour just for you. |
| There are Deals to be done! |
Cruises European River Cruises - Uniworld Cruises are offering some great discounts for some of their European River Cruises for 2012. River Cruising in Winter - Uniworld Cruises
Russian River Cruises - APT Cruises Fly free and save up to $5400.00 per couple valid to 30 Nov 11 Mediterranean Cruising - Holland American Magic of the Mediterranean 24 night Cruise Barcelona to Venice. Voyages of Antiquity – Mediterranean and Far East Cruises - valid to 30 Nov 11 Orion Cruises – up to 40% off Orion II – valid to 30 Nov 11 Swan Hellenic – Fly for free on selected Swan Hellenic Grand Voyages – Valid to 30 Nov 11. Indochina Cruising - Huge savings on November 2011 to January 2012 departures! 2nd passenger free / no single supplement on selected departures!
INDOCHINA PANDAW Cruise the Mekong River between Angkor and Saigon - between Nov 11 & Jan 12 and experience rich history, friendly people and amazing countryside! Silversea – On board credit of USD1000.00 per suite aboard Silver Shadow – Auckland to Melbourne. – HURRY valid limited time only Kimberley Coral Princess Cruises – Early Bird Special on Kimberley 2012 Itineraries – Save 15% on selected sailings during the “Waterfall Season” of April 12. |
Airfares Cathay Pacific – Hong Kong – Economy Class If you are thinking of a shopping excursion to Hong Kong before Christmas or – this is a great fare starting at $632.00 (plus taxes) return per person. – departures to 26 December
Emirates – Economy
To celebrate their inaugural flight to Dublin (scheduled for 09 Jan 12) Emirates are offering a special fare to Dublin from $ 1630.00 pp. plus tax for sales 31 Oct 11-05 Dec 11 and travel 08 Jan 12-31 Jan 12 – conditions apply.
There are also fares from $1630.00 (plus tax) to other European destinations which are subject to flight and date restrictions – conditions apply
Emirates have also extended their Seniors Business class fare (you must be over 60) This is valid until 31 March but has a blackout period mid December to mid January. From $6990.00 per person plus taxes. Conditions apply
Malaysian Airlines – Business Class Malaysian has a special offer for Business class fares across its network – Asia, Middle East, USA and Europe. The cost to European destinations is $4900.00 for departures to 29 February and $5300.00 from 01 March plus taxes. This is one of the lowest Business class fares you will find and compares favourably with many premium economy fares. Of course these fares are always subject to conditions and availability and must be ticketed by 30 November 11.
Round World with Finnair If you are looking for a competitive round world airfare consider Finnair via Helsinki into Europe. From Australia, Finnair connects with oneworld partners Qantas/ British Airways/ Cathay Pacific & JAL in a choice of 10 Asian gateways: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Delhi, Beijing, Shanghai, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul plus New York in USA to over 50 major European cities plus approximately 14 destinations in Finland. |
Tours Floriade - Netherlands Will you be in Europe next year? Think about visiting the Netherlands for their Floriade. This only occurs once every 10 years and goes from April to October. Bookings are getting busy for May but April and September still seem OK. We can put together 2 and 3 day tours starting from Amsterdam. Why not combine it with some time in Amsterdam and visit some of the wonderful museums and galleries in this vibrant city.
River Cruises and Floriade Alternatively some of the River Cruises next year are incorporating Floriade in their Cruise. Ask us for more details. |
Rail Passes Eurail Select Pass FREE Day Promotion. 20% off France Rail Pass. 20% off BritRail Passes. |
Remember we are a Travel Agency too.
As part of Voyager Travel Corporation Group we are a licensed Travel Agent. As such we have access to may opportunites and selected offers not available to many agents or the general public. If you are looking to travel please give us the opportunity to assist with airfares, tours, accommodation, unique adventures and cruises. As with our tours we like to add our personal touch to make sure your needs are met and exceeded. Communication is all important and we appreciate your feedback so we can improve and expand our service to you. So use our Contact page on the website ... or Facebook... or phone ... or ....
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Website observations
The Travel Journeys Website is our shopfront. It is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The website is intended to be that place where visitors can obtain information regarding our tours and services or contact us with queries or ideas. We have received considerable positive feedback regarding our new "shopfront: You are finding it fresh, informative and easy to use. We are very excited to see the hits on the website increasing monthly and are always delighted when we receive enquiries from Australia, the US, New Zealand, the UK, Italy, Spain and Morocco. The connection with Facebook has also enabled many other visitors to enjoy the stories of our travels and the photos. |
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The beautiful Surfcoast, Victoria, Australia |