Lloyds Newsletter October 2014

TRAVEL NEWSLETTER, OCTOBER 2014

lloydstravel & cruises

Books that Inspire Travel

OCTOBER 2014 | www.lloydstravel.com 2

Robinson Crusoe

The story of shipwrecked Robinson Crusoe had a great influence on me as a young boy. First of all, the idea of having to build my own fort from parts salvaged from a shipwreck hit home as both of my grandfathers were carpenters. Growing up in Gordon Head in Victoria we had lots of empty lots with trees and we be-came experts at building both tree and underground forts. Secondly, his stories of climbing to the top of his island and the caves he found also greatly reflected my “backyard” which was Mount Douglas Park complete with a cave near the summit. I also built many a raft at the beach at Mt. Doug Park, and at a very young age, I actually thought about paddling out to Darcy Island about 3 kilometers off shore!

Today however it is the tropical islands with palm trees and warm clear water has really inspires me. It is thought that the fictional Island that Crusoe was shipwrecked on was around Tobago in the Caribbean; oth-ers say that the author was inspired by the shipwrecked story of a Scotsman off of Chile (island now named after Robinson Crusoe). Needless to say, whether I am in the Caribbean in the shade under a palm tree on the beach, or on the deck of the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti I can still conjure up thoughts of being shipwrecked and today must admit I would prefer the luxuries of a good hotel or the great staterooms on board. To this day I don’t understand how Robinson lasted without access to ice cold beer, I just can’t imagine a deck chair or lounge chair under a palm tree without my own “Friday” delivering frosty beverages as required.

by Bruce Fougner


Istanbul: Memories and the City

This book is a study in contrasts as new culture rises out of an ancient civilization. The author, Orhan Pamuk is a Nobel Prize winning writer and this is largely an autobiography of his experience growing up in Istanbul. He intertwines his own memories with essays about writers and artists who were con-nected to Istanbul.

Much of the story centers on Bosphorous, the strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It’s a region of historical and strategic importance through various wars and cultural uprisings.

Istanbul is rich with culture in the form of fine art, architecture, music, dance and literature. Arche-ology buffs will be overwhelmed by the variety of museums and historic sites. However, it’s not all ancient history in Istanbul. The city is modern and bustling, with plenty of luxury hotels and fine restaurants. Turkey even produces some excellent local wines!

by Deborah Charles


To sample Istanbul and the region Pamuk writes about in his book, consider an Adriatic cruise.

A maiden call in Rijeka invites discovery of Croa-tia’s renowned beaches on an enriching voyage ex-ploring the treasures of Turkey and the grandeur of Greece. Roman roots, Gothic churches, a hilltop castle, remnants of Habsburg grandeur, a big and bustling seaport, complete with large ships and cranes, and even an old torpedo factory combine to create a city that is the third-largest in Croatia and quickly becoming a top travel destination. St. Vitus Cathedral boasts a beautiful combination of Baroque and Gothic architectural elements. The element of natural wonder is provided by under-water cliffs and exceptionally clear waters located just offshore, accessible with diving gear and a sense of adventure.

Adriatic Adventure

ITINERARYJune 12-21, 2015

Istanbul to Venice

Fares & Special Offers start at $3,695 Deluxe Staterooms $4,945 Deluxe Staterooms with Verandah $8,110 Penthouse with Verandah

Fares are per person in U.S. dollars, double occu-pancy and do not include cruise port, security and handling charges of $350 per person.

Contact Deborah at 604 872-0136 or [email protected]

by Deborah Charles


Lloyds Travel challenged young writers to tell us about a book that made them dream of travelling

to a faraway place to see amazing sights; or experience something new and exiting. In 400

words or less, they had to tell us about the book, the land and the destinations or experiences they

described; and what they would doif they travelled there.

The winner, Saje Allen received $200 and we arepublishing the article here for you to enjoy!

Writing Contest Winner:Saje Allen


by Saje Allen

The book that inspired me to travel to a faraway place and explore amazing sights was “Gorillas in the Mist”. Gorillas in the Mist is the story of Dian Fossey a zoologist who left her home and family to live in Africa and study the gorillas. Dian was a brave and fearless woman who so desperately loved gorillas and their clever humanlike minds. When Dian was 35 she made a life changing decision to go take a seven-week trip to the Mountains of Rwanda. On her journey Dian went through many struggles that made her want to give up her life long dream and go back home, but she didn’t she kept on pushing through and never gave up because she was strong and very passionate about what she was doing. Dian began watching the gorillas very closely and documenting their actions, but didn’t start to interact with them for weeks because of their shyness. Eventu-ally Dian became friends with the gorillas and wanted to do something more to expand her research. Year after year the gorillas habitats were starting to be destroyed by the humans. Dian wanted to do something about this and save the gorillas. She stood up to the people, but by doing that her and the gorillas were put in great danger. Luckily the gorillas were safe but Dian wasn’t. When Dian was 53 she was found dead in her cabin, cut up into pieces. Dian dedicated 18 years of her life studying and protecting the gorillas, and after her death she was buried in the gorilla’s habitat.

Dian was a courageous woman who accomplished so much in her life, and I want to be like her and have that bravery in my own life. When I am older, I would love to travel to Rwanda, Africa and follow Dian’s steps and study the gorillas just like her. The gorillas are still in great danger and their homes are still being destroyed to this day so, I would love to help the gorillas like Dian and protect their homes. Seeing the goril-las would be such a fascinating sight to study, because I love gorillas so much, and I think they are absolutely the most amazing animals ever. Dian is a huge inspiration in my life and I hope to be like her and have the courage she did.

Gorillas in the Mist

Congratulations to Saje Allenfor the featured winning article!


Here are the runner-ups for the Writing Contest!


by Barbara BroadbentDid you Know?

LONDON HEATHROW’S AIRPORTLondon Heathrow’s Terminal 2: “The Queen’s Terminal”, is the new home for 23 Star Alliance Airlines. It was officially opened June 4, 2014, and all members should be in place by November 2014.

It will provide customers with an improved travel experience, including faster customs and immi-gration border control upon arrival, and check-in and security clearance on departure. It also provides a wide variety of shopping, dining and seating options.

NEXUS RENEWALNEXUS: Just a word of caution, if you have a Nexus Card coming up for renewal, they suggest you start the procedure at least 3 months ahead of time. We just did this, only to find that, once the conditional approval was granted, the wait for an appointment for final approval is now ap-proximately 3 ½ months! The positive side is that with your conditional approval, you can still use your present card for driving across the border (we haven’t tried that yet). However, you cannot use it for airport purposes.

WOMEN TRAVELERS GUIDE“Her Own Way – A Woman’s Safe-Travel Guide” is a practical booklet published by the Canadian Government, offering a preventive, female-friendly approach to tackling the security, cultural, health and social concerns of women travelers. You can download a copy from travel.gc.ca (Pub-lications Catalogue), contact Foreign Affairs at 1 800 267 6788, or e-mail [email protected]

UNIWORLD’S NEW DESTINATION: INDIA Starting in January 2016, Uniworld will be offer-ing a new luxury river itinerary in India. This 12-night itinerary, “India’s Golden Triangle & the Sacred Ganges,” will feature a 5-night land tour (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur) followed by a 7-night river cruise, roundtrip Kolkata. An optional excursion to Varanasi will be offered.

The all-suite ship, Ganges Voyager II, will carry a maximum of 56 passengers in 20 Standard Suites, 2 Viceroy Suites, 2 Heritage Suites and a Maharaja Suite. Bookings are expected to open 15 October 2014.


CUNARD 175th ANNIVERSARY CRUISES 2015Cunard will celebrate 175 years of timeless elegance as the Three Queens come together throughout their journeys for special commemorative events. Some special cruises planned are: Lusitania Re-membered (03 May); The Original Transatlantic Crossing (02 July); Three Queens Rendezvous in Liverpool (27 May).

THE IBEROSTAR GRAND COLLECTIONIberostar has placed one of the crown jewels of its Grand Collection group: The Grand Hotel-Ship Amazon, in the city of Manaus. On this entirely “all-inclusive”, super luxury, floating hotel, you can jour-ney deep into nature’s remotest places to experience a totally different kind of adventure. There are 3 itin-eraries: Solimoes River-Amazonas (3 nts); Negro River Tour (4 nts); or a 7 nt combination of the two. You can go bird-watching, take a photo safari, visit pink dolphins, watch the “meeting of the waters,” see a local folklore show, go trekking, fish for piranhas, watch alligators, enjoy music and dance, or visit a lo-cal village; among a wide range of activities.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE3rd largest US cruise company, is moving into the high-end segment of the market with its 3+billion dollar offer to buy Prestige Cruises International, Parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The deal is expected to close by year-end.

VIRGIN ATLANTICVirgin Atlantic airline will cease flying to Canada as of October 11. The airline annual summer flights between Vancouver and London will not be re-sumed next summer. Started in 2012, after a 3-year trial, they were considered to be unprofitable.


by Deborah Charles

Mykonos Greece Cruise

Mykonos Island is a picturesque destination in Greece. It was Jacqueline Kennedy’s favorite Greek Island. I was inspired to visit by the story of Shirley Valentine.

Shirley Valentine is a comedic play written by Willy Russell. The movie version of this story showcases the beautiful scenery of Mykonos Island. In the story, Shirley’s family is constantly ignoring her. In an act of rebellion, she accepts a trip to Greece with her wild friend Jane. During the trip, she is forced to fend for herself when Jane leaves to chase a man she met on the plane. Shirley meets a charming taverna owner who flatters her, but he is not what he seems. The whole situation causes Shirley to rethink her life back home in England. I won’t spoil the end for you, but I assure you she makes some big changes!

If you are considering a trip to Mykonos, prepare yourself for golden sand and turquoise waters. It’s a cosmopolitan location, where you can enjoy simple pleasures. Popular attractions include 16th century Windmills, Little Venice and Pertos the Pelican (the island mascot!).

Mykonos is also a popular destination for cruise travel. It’s easy to explore independently, or you can book guided tours through the city or off to the Island of Delos. The Island of Delos is a must-see for lovers of Greek Mythology as it is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis!

However you get there, you are sure to be blown away by the striking landscape. It will be easy to see why Shirley Valentine dreamed of sipping wine near the seaside of this Greek paradise.


by Barbara Broadbent

In Flander’s Fields

In World War I, during the Second Battle of Ypres, on 03 May 1915, a Canadian physician John McCrae sat down behind an ambulance still parked near a dressing station a few hundred yards north of Ypres, mourning the death of a close friend the day before. As the weather had warmed up that spring, the dev-astation of the battlefields in the area was suddenly highlighted by the appearance of clusters of red field poppies. The sight of these delicate, vibrant flowers growing on the shattered ground, indeed blowing in the gentle winds, was the inspiration for this epic poem which has become celebrated worldwide.

My father was in World War I, and took part in many of the battles here.

Vimy Ridge was the one that haunted him for the rest of his life. After hearing his tales, and trying to imagine how it had been, we decided to go and see the area for ourselves. We flew to Amsterdam, rented a car and headed into Belgium. We had offered to take him with us and, although he had always said he wanted to go back; when it came down to decision time, he just could not go.

So, off we went to find “Flanders Fields” and particularly the cemetery associated with it. Although we had found the name of the nearest town, we spent hours driving around the countryside, past miles and miles of cemeteries, trying to find that special one with no luck. Finally we went back to the town, to try and get better directions. After going into a police station where no one spoke English, in desperation, we drove into a large car dealership nearby. Imagine our surprise when the man who greeted us (as soon as we spoke English) signaled us to follow him into the back office where we found a man who was actually a Canadian. I think he was as glad to see us, as we were to see him! He explained that “Flanders Fields” is commonly considered to be the incredibly large area of Belgium associated with many of the battles of World War I such as Ypres, Vimy and Passchendaele.

His directions took us quickly to our goal and as we walked through the simple gates, we were immedi-ately awestruck by the beauty and tranquility of the site.

Almost hidden in the serene countryside, the immaculately groomed lawns with the simple white head-stones were sparkling in the sunshine. The crosses were perfectly aligned in four symmetrical areas around a white stone chapel where, on the side walls, are inscribed the names of 43 missing American servicemen who had no known graves. There was a small, simple museum at one end, with a plethora of photos, letters and documents. And there WERE masses of poppies blowing in the wind!

We stood, silently, remembering those who had fought and died for our freedom, and thanked them for their sacrifices. 650,000 Canadians served in this terrible war and 66,000 did not return.

The symbolism of the poppy has continued to spread around the world by those wanting “to keep the faith”. After the war, artificial poppies were made and sold, with proceeds going to help needy veterans and to fund restoration of war-torn regions. Today, they are still the universal symbol of remembrance, and worn with pride (and sorrow, for many) on Remembrance Day each year.


In Flanders Fields, the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow;Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders Fields.

Take up your quarrel with the foe;To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders Fields

“IN FLANDERS FIELDS”by John McCrae


Beaches and Bunkers is a trip of a lifetime – for individuals, couples, your foursome, your family, your friends. This is an opportunity for every Ca-nadian to honour our country’s past, our fathers and grandfathers… and play the game we love.

Beaches and Bunkers is for those who want to learn the story of our vets’ experience in 1944-45. And it’s for those who want to enjoy the company of others who are learning too… while we play the game our fathers and grandfathers loved.

ITINERARYTravel Dates: June 21 – July 1, 2015

Price is $3795.00 per person, double occupancy.

Those wishing a single room, add $825.00.

Non-golfers subtract $325.00.

Additional information: http://www.beachesandbunkers.ca/

Beaches and Bunkers


ITINERARY8 Days

2015 Prices From $2,990

Additional information: http://www.tauck.com

Tauck World DiscoveryScenic landscapes, savory lobster, whale watching and private Tauck evenings highlight this P.E.I. and Nova Scotia travel adventure. Whale-watch at Digby Neck on the Bay of Fundy. Attend a Tauck Exclusive private dinner and tour at the Halifax Citadel, and a private reception and dinner at Pier 21 National Historic Site. Choose a walking tour of historic Lunenburg or a visit to a fisheries museum. Learn all about the Digby Scallop and its harvesting during a special presentation in Digby, watch history come alive at the Habitation at Port-Royal, and tour the P.E.I. farmhouse where the popular novel Anne of Green Gables was set.


Anne of Green Gables

As a child I vividly remember my mother reading me the many adventures of Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s timeless heroine. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Canada’s Mari-times; Montgomery’s words painted a moving pic-ture of the serenity of island life, an experience that I was able to take in first hand on a recent trip to the island of Nova Scotia. While there I found myself continually inspired by the famous author’s words and felt at times as if I had stepped into the pages of her beloved books, in particular Anne of the Island.

Published in 1915, the book is the third in the Anne of Green Gables series and picks up with Anne at-tending Redmond College in Kingsport and finding herself, and her true sense of home, in her original birthplace of Nova Scotia. I quickly understood why Anne would find herself at home in Nova Scotia. During my travels, which saw us fly into Sydney and then embark on a road trip from Halifax throughout the island; I was continually amazed by the friendli-ness and kindness of the locals. Stumbling upon a glass blower in Cape Breton who was busy closing up shop, I inquired about the process of blowing glass. In a clear illustration of the laid back attitude of the island; the owner took the time to create a vase from scratch in order to show me his craft, even though closing time was near. It struck me as gener-ous, a feeling that continued as we took in the laid back atmosphere of the many towns along our route. Coming from the bustling metropolis of Vancouver, it was nice to stop and slow down and refreshing to have the locals genuinely interested in us and not at all bothered by our touristy nature.

It was also enjoyable to try out the many local res-taurants and satisfy our craving for local, fresh lob-

by Wendy Fougner

ster (a must in Nova Scotia!). My husband Bruce, an avid golfer, couldn’t get enough of the amazing golf and enjoyed it so much that he’s planning a boy’s golf week away as soon as next September. The hiking was equally impressive. We did the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton’s Highlands National Park where we enjoyed a beautiful picnic overlooking the water. We also got to see a rare sight, two bulls and one cow moose engaging in calm and communal behavior. Typically these animals are aggressive, so it was un-usual to see two of them lying on the grass and one wandering casually around. Usually, they would be fighting. We also got to take a step back in time with a visit to the Fortress Louisbourg, which affords visi-tors the opportunity to experience the 18th century. The staff was decked out in red and blue coats in keeping true to the period costumes.

With craft beers aplenty, fishing, historic churches, quaint houses, whale watching, tidal bore rafting, wineries, musical festivals, and more; Nova Scotia has a little something for every type of traveller. It’s an ideal travel destination if you are like Anne, look-ing for a change of pace and a chance to experience a new type of home, even if it’s only temporary.

“It was November--the month of crimson sun-sets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.”

– L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables


World’s Coolest Bookstores!

Someday there may be a generation of kids who think bookstores are fictional creations found only in novels that come in the mail. Understandable, since many of the world’s most beautiful indepen-dent bookstores have closed in recent years. But not all is lost!

Old or new, the bookstores below serve as historic sites, sanctuaries and must-visits on any travel itin-erary.

Librairie Avant-Garde (Nanjing, China)

China’s most beautiful bookstore is located inside a massive underground parking lot once used as a bomb shelter. The 4,000-square-meter store’s un-usual features include large crosses, a copy of Ro-din’s “The Thinker” and a checkout counter built out of thousands of old books.

The store also functions as a sort of public library, with more than 300 reading chairs.

Shakespeare and Company (Paris)

Opened in 1951, this Paris Left Bank fixture looks like something straight out of a Hemingway book.

It’s the spiritual successor and namesake of the first Shakespeare and Company, run by expat Ameri-can bookseller Sylvia Beach and immortalized in Hemingway’s memoir, “A Moveable Feast.”

Assouline Venezia (Venice, Italy)

Located on the ground floor of the Bauer Hotel, a restored 18th-century palazzo. The store stocks many of the label’s most expensive books, such as handcrafted volumes from its Ultimate Collection -- priced from $500 to $7,000 -- which range in sub-ject matter from fashion and architecture to travel and lifestyle.


Foyles flagship (London)

In June 2014, the century-old London bookseller moved into its spacious new digs -- the size of 13 tennis courts -- just a step away from its former home.

Foyles’ new space has its own interesting history as the former Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design building, where Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney once studied.

Strand (New York)

Back in the 1920s, six blocks of Manhattan’s Fourth Avenue were known as “Book Row.”

Of the 48 bookstores that gave the district its name, Strand is the only survivor.

After moving to its current location on Broadway and 12th Street, the beloved NYC store built up a staggering catalog that now includes 2.5 million new, used and rare books. The coolest section is the Rare Book Room. “Our most expensive title in store right now is a copy of James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ illustrated by Henri Matisse,” says marketing man-ager Brianne Sperber.

The book is priced at $45,000.

Powell’s City of Books (Portland, Oregon)

Visitors should set aside a good two to three days to get lost in this iconic Portland landmark.

The largest used and new bookstore in the world is housed inside a modest, multi-level building that takes up a full city block and is often crowded. New and used editions are shelved side by side, giving customers a handy choice of price options. The big-gest names in publishing show up here to do read-ings and book signings.


by Donald JohannessonUnder the Tuscan SunIn 1996, American poet, travel and food writer, and cookbook author Frances Mayes published an autobio-graphical account of her relocation to Italy just outside Florence (Firenze), capital of the region of Tuscany, purchasing and restoring an old villa to escape from it all and experience a different way of living after a painful divorce. It was romantic, dramatic, and comedic – incorporating all the highs and lows people experience throughout their growing process – and it captured the hearts of the world (and resulted in an amazing cookbook to tempt our palates as well!). In 2003 it was transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful film starring Diane Lane (who received a Golden Globe nomination for her efforts), which remains much loved to this day. Aside from the poignant story, the film particularly hit an accord with its audience for its portrayal of life in Tuscany, with magnificent vistas and awesomely gentle local characters, making it a jus-tifiably high-ranking addition to many dream travel lists.

Over the years, return travellers have insatiably ventured further afield to get more of Italy, using Tuscany as a beloved home base while exploring to the North (Lake Como and Bellagio), Northwest (incredible Porto-fino, unforgettable Cinque Terre), East into Umbria (Assisi, Deruta for its amazing ceramics, and Orvieto’s white wines), and further South past Rome and Naples to the unforgettable Amalfi Coast region (Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, and cliff-hugging Positano … actually featured in the film). In fact, “Under the Tuscan Sun” could be considered as an entrance to the whole of Italy for a lot of very grateful tourists. People opened their hearts to it while it, in turn, opened their eyes … to a unique region, to a unique country, to a unique way of life … to La Dolce Vita!


by Blair ToddHitchhiker’s Guide to the GalaxyIf you’ve ever woken up to the sounds of construction outside your house and thought it was the end of the world, then you and Arthur Dent have something in common. In Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s Guide the Galaxy, protagonist Arthur Dent is rapidly and unceremoniously kicked out of his house and barely escapes Earth on time before the Volgon race tears it down to put up a bypass. From then on, he’s stuck traveling through space with a motley crew of other-worlders, solving life’s mysteries as they sail through the galaxy.

Now you may not exactly have that in common with Arthur, but leisure space travel is not as far off into the future as you might expect. Virgin Galactic, a division of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin trade-mark, has already designed and is testing commercial spacecraft. They are already taking names for the waitlist for their first trip into space! According to their website, Virgin Galactic’s goal is to end the exclusivity attached to manned space travel. This requires designing a vehicle, which can fly almost anyone to space and back safely, without the need for special expertise or exhaustive and time consum-ing training.

They’re still a few years off, but tickets are already selling - just imagine adding a suborbital trip through space on your bucket list! Arthur Dent never saw it coming, but we can help prepare you for the trip of a lifetime!

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Lloyds Newsletter October 2014

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