Kirsten Oakes The Travel Agent Next Door

Leaving the Dead Sea of to a beautiful hotel in Petra. The houses were more ornate and the Hotel was once a residence for one family. Gorgeous sunsets with a wonderful atmosphere. Then quickly to bed ( for some of us) to be ready for the next day.

Emirates are not the only ones , where you could sleep. Breakfast in bed…… say no more

On a post I did the other day about airline travel in the 1940s, a common question was “Why weren’t there any overhead bins?” Here is why.
After passengers indulged in decadent meals of beef roast and cocktails, they retired in the couchette above their seats. Instead of storing baggage in the overhead compartment, passengers used it to drift off to sleep.
Airplanes such as Martin M-130, Lockheed Constellations and Douglas DC-6s operated by airlines such as KLM and the now-defunct Trans World Airline (TWA) had beds in both the upper and lower berths. They came with mattresses, Pullman-style curtains for privacy, windows, reading lights, and even breakfast in bed. A round-trip coach ticket from New York to London in a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser cost approximately $580 in those days (around $12,000 today).
Overhead bins as we know them today were gradually introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In the photo: A KLM flight attendant serves breakfast in bed. (ca. 1950s)

Starting day 1 of our conference; but at the end of the afternoon, made it into the Dead Sea. Yes I could not swim but the floating was great!!
And …….a little mud bath to soften and nourish our skin.
The next couple of days we spent at the hotel in conference all day and on day 2, Bedouin night on the beach with everyone decked out. I liked our outfits.
Day 3 we had our gala night at the Kempinski hotel celebrating our colleagues having great achievements in their businesses.
End of night to return to Kempinskis terrace glimpses the lights from Jericho and Jerusalem only just across the Dead Sea
The most gorgeous sunsets from here too.

Arriving early morning in Amman Queen Alia Airport, we first went two hours north of Amman to one of Planeterra (a G Adventures foundation)help local organizations and communities use tourism as a catalyst to improve people's lives, protect their natural environments, and celebrate their culture.)
Beit Khayrat Souf Café is a women run kitchen and also sells local ware supporting their families.
Then on to The Crowne Plaza for a swim and white night themed dinner hosted by Royal Jordanian airlines, was served on terrace overlooking the Dead Sea.

This Year The Travel Agent Next Door is celebrating its 10 anniversary and our annual conference is in Jordan.
300 excited agents left Toronto on Sunday on a specially chartered Royal Jordanian aircraft.
It was wonderful to catch up with fellow colleagues and friends and despite having a middle seat, the seats were spacious and with plenty room for my long legs.
The crew was friendly and attentive, which made for a good albeit 11 hour flight!!.

SAS - Scandinavian Airlines’ ‘smørrebrød’ service in Economy Class aboard a Douglas DC-8. (1969)

Good and interesting facts about Portugal.

𝟮𝟭 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄: 🇵🇹
1. Portugal is the oldest nation-state in Europe, having established its current borders in 1139 AD.
2. The Portuguese language is the official language of 9 countries, including Portugal itself, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and others.
3. Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer, responsible for over half of the world’s cork supply.
4. The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is the longest bridge in Europe, spanning over 10 miles (17.2 kilometers).
5. Portugal is one of the world’s top producers of quality wine, known for its Port wine, Vinho Verde, and Douro wines.
6. The University of Coimbra in Portugal is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, founded in 1290.
7. The Portuguese island of Madeira is famous for its New Year’s Eve celebrations, featuring one of the largest fireworks displays in the world.
8. Portugal is home to Europe’s westernmost point, Cabo da Roca, which offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
9. The Portuguese town of Óbidos is known for its annual chocolate festival, attracting visitors from around the world.
10. Portugal’s Algarve region is renowned for its stunning beaches, dramatic cliffs, and picturesque fishing villages.
11. The Azulejo, traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles, are used to decorate buildings, churches, and even train stations throughout the country.
12. The famous Portuguese pastry, Pastel de Nata, was created by Catholic monks in the 18th century.
13. Portugal’s national symbol is the Rooster of Barcelos, which symbolizes luck, honesty, and integrity.
14. Lisbon’s São Jorge Castle offers panoramic views of the city and has a history dating back over 2,000 years.
15. The Vasco da Gama Tower in Lisbon is shaped like a sailboat mast and is one of the tallest buildings in Portugal.
16. Portugal has a long history of exploration, with explorers like Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Bartolomeu Dias leading expeditions during the Age of Discovery.
17. The city of Porto is known for its historic center, UNESCO-listed port wine cellars, and iconic Dom Luís I Bridge.
18. Portugal is home to one of the world’s oldest bookshops, Livraria Bertrand, which opened in Lisbon in 1732.
19. The Portuguese island of Porto Santo is believed to be the first landing site of Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the Americas in 1492.
20. Portuguese cuisine features a variety of seafood dishes, including bacalhau (salted cod), grilled sardines, and seafood rice.
21. Portugal abolished the death penalty for all crimes, including wartime crimes, in 1867, making it one of the earliest countries to do so.

Merry Christmas and Best wishes for 2024!

Please join me in hearing more about this great river cruise line, I sampled in March this year.

DISCOVER RIVER CRUISING WITH AMAWATERWAYS | Virtual Consumer Evening DISCOVER RIVER CRUISING WITH AMAWATERWAYS | Virtual Consumer Evening

Happy Easter
The Lord is Risen

Longer stay in Lyon, the city famous for being the culinary capital of France as well as having cool “traboules” which were passageways into several buildings once used by silk merchants to reach the bustling markets of Lyon without damaging their wares, the city's traboules, or passageways, hark back to a bygone era. Here's how to escape the city streets and explore these hidden, secret alleyways.
Now serving as entrances to several apartment buildings.

After an easy journey to Lyon on the TGV, we arrived to our lovely cabin on the AMAKristina

This last week I have been in France. First in Paris for four days and then took the TGV train to Lyon to board the beautiful AmaKristina for a Rhone cruise.
Here’s a nice selection of pics showing parts of my journey so far


delicious food
Paris

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023.

A month early, but love my Christmas cactus

Flying again.......

Happy thanksgiving!

A walk along the Thames today, gorgeous sunny day.

6 new items by Kirsten Oakes

Being in London today is both sad and the atmosphere here is one of grief and anxiety for a future without this important person, who saw so much change and remained rock solid and dependable throughout it all.

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