Dear travelers, 

Bonjour. We just completed a food and fashion tour of Paris with award winning plus size model, Terri Murray. It was sweet for us to have a whole week of sharing the finer things in life with this group of ladies from all over the country. 

The week before Paris we had a record breaking 22 ladies at Red Mountain Resort for our annual ‘ahhhhh” time. The weather was warm, the activities were fun, the food was great as always, and the ladies were a good mix of personalities. 

I am busily readying the 2023 calendar for you before I leave on August 13 for an extended string of personal and business travels.  

Enjoy the summer, wherever it takes you. See you soon on the road to somewhere. 

Travel well-

Marcia 

STATE OF THE SPACE

Act now for fall fun

MY REPORT FROM PARIS

It was unseasonably warm in Paris with temperatures reaching 80. Women were wearing a lot of long flowery flowy maxi dresses with their newest fashion accessory – WHITE TENNIS SHOES. Yep – that is the sound of me eating my words. The Europeans have seen the light and are wearing sneakers with skirts and dresses, as well as pants. Those pants are leaning toward wider legs, but straight and skinny legs are still there too.  

We indulged fully in food and fashion with this group. The Chanel Walk, The Fashion History Walk, and the trip to the flea market bursting with fabulous vintage finds supported our fashion focus. The Chocolate Walk, visit to Maille Mustard Flagship store, the Maison du Miel (House of Honey), a wine and cheese tasting, and a lunch at Angelina’s fed our food focus. We were like rock stars taking photos as we toured the city by antique Citroen cars. Pedestrians and drivers honked and waved as we paraded through the streets of the City of Lights. 

This was my first glimpse of Notre Dame since the tragic fire. It felt like seeing a skeleton of a beauty ravaged by violence. It took my breath away. The entire area is fenced off so that were robbed of the usual meeting of the peoples of the world in front of that magnificent edifice. It was quite sobering to think that in my lifetime I will probably not see it restored to its previous grandeur. The repairs will take decades.

But on a lighter note, cruising the Seine is still one of my favorite diversions. I did the entire loop twice and it has not changed. The crowds were not bad, and we could stroll the Champs in relative comfort. The usual crush of flaneurs was light.  Summer will bring massive numbers of tourists and crowding. We felt very fortunate to be there when we were. Summer of 2024 the Olympics will invade Paris. As much as I have enjoyed attending the Olympic Games in the past, I would certainly not want to try to navigate Paris in an Olympic summer. Keep that in mind as you plan future European travel. 

Masks are almost a thing of the past in France for now. They were required on the Metro, but that mandate is now lifted. 

All in all, Paris remains the same. I always feel very at home there and it was a joy to share it with some women who had never experienced it and some who were veteran visitors. 

THE REAL NITTY GRITTY ON

CROATIA AND MOROCCO

I am hearing some reluctance about travel to these to wonderful destinations this fall. Please allow me to answer what may be some of your concerns. Most of all, rest assured that I will never take you to a place that would put you in harm’s way. Why would I do that? That would not serve either of us well. Both these countries have so much to teach us if we are open to learning.

Let’s tackle Croatia first. It is a member of the EU, the United Nations, NATO, and the World Trade Organization. It is extremely safe and in fact, statistics show it to be safer than the US. Please do not project what is happening in Ukraine to Croatia. The US State Department classifies travel to Croatia as Level 1 – exercise normal cautions. There is also no requirement for COVID testing to enter. To miss this largely unspoiled gem is a shame. Much of its tourism infrastructure is new and very nice. We are staying in lovely places with a guide that I have hand chosen for you. 

Morocco is one of the oldest and closest allies of the US in North Africa. It is a Muslim state with zero tolerance for terrorist groups and its constitution protects religious freedoms. The State Department currently classifies it in the same category at France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, Level 2 – exercise increased caution. You also do not need to COVID test to enter.  This exotic and interesting country offers a safe place to explore a unique part of the world. We are traveling with Yalla Tours which some of you know from our experiences in Cuba, Israel, and Egypt. There is no company on earth that I trust more than I trust them. They are the people I want by my side to show you a good time in a protected environment.  

Let me prove to you what special places these are. I promise you will go home with wonderful memories and some great souvenirs. Let’s go!

COVID TESTING TO ENTER THE US

Currently, a negative COVID test is required to re-enter the US. Hopefully, that will soon be a thing of the past. For now, let me help you through the process as I have experienced it.  

Your test must be done not more that 1 day before you get on the plane home. It may be more than 24 hours, but it cannot more than one calendar day. For example, if you are boarding a flight home on Monday, you test anytime Sunday or Monday before you embark. 

Some homework is required to find a testing location with days and hours that comply with your itinerary. I STRONGLY suggest you do this in a city and NOT at the airport. Here is why – if you are still in your hotel or other accommodation, you have more options than if you have repacked and are standing in the airport with ticket in hand, ready to go home. You need to buy some time to formulate a plan of where you will spend your quarantine. The best scenario is to be able to remain in a hotel that can provide room service and laundry. A private rental could be problematic as you require services. 

In Italy and France, in the cities there is an abundance of pharmacies where you can walk in and get your test without an appointment for $25-35 euros. However, in Belfast, it was not so easy. They have closed their public test sites. It took visits to 3 pharmacies and an email to our Airbnb hostess to find a test center found in the downtown mall. It was one of the pharmacists who took pity on us and did a Google search to find what we needed. Even with that, we had a very sketchy address to work with. We did a reconnaissance trip the day before to confirm the location.  

The testing requirement is a thorn in your side and a stressor. To be worried that you may not be able to get home in a timely manner is unsettling. But it is the current price we pay for the privilege of international travel. For me, it is worth the hassle to be out in the world. 

Let it also be a reminder to you to purchase travel insurance that will cover a quarantine.

TRAVEL TIP

Be sure to pack enough extra medications to get you through a possible COVID quarantine. 
 

COMING IN 2023

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