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Author: Mary Corcoran

Making Our Way Through the Chilean Fjords 2022 Style

Written on . Posted in South America, Stories.

On Board Silversea’s Silver Moon

Anyone who has ventured out of their home country in the last 2 years can attest to the need for flexibility and openness to change.  Bill and I are no exceptions – our trip through the Chilean fjords in January was our 2nd venture out of the USA since COVID-19 made its presence known.

While this trip presented some logistical challenges, it rewarded us with spectacular sea life, scenery, and a pampered lifestyle.  Our original 3-week itinerary was scheduled to begin in Lima, Peru and disembark in Buenos Aires.  Due to closures of Peru and Argentina to cruise ships, however, our trip began in Guayaquil, Ecuador and ended in Montevideo, Uruguay.   Travel tip #1:  book your air with the cruise line – Silversea rebooked us with no hassles and no extra fees.

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The Joy of Traveling in Crazy Times

Written on . Posted in Caribbean, Stories.

Mary and Bill on Board the Royal Clipper 2021 Barbados to Panama

This is a real-life snapshot of the world of travel these days.  If you are willing to be open to change, flexible and can endure a few  nasal swabs, you will experience an uncrowded world and welcoming and warm  people everywhere you go.

Though our original group of eight travelers decided to bow out of the trip, Bill and I forged ahead to do a 2-week sail onboard the Royal Clipper from Barbados to Panama.    We knew local government regulations could change at any time and that it would take willingness on our part to just roll with it.  Doris Day said it best many years ago when she sang Que Sera, Sera – Whatever will be, will be …. The future’s not ours to see.

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Arizona Highways

Written on . Posted in North America, Stories.

In the year of COVID-19, the open road beckoned when at last I could no longer stay inside.  And the perfect road trip for quiet miles of nearly empty roads is Arizona.  When I was growing up my parents had a subscription to the magazine Arizona Highways, and I could spend hours looking at the gorgeous photos of canyons, cactus, deserts, mountains and enormous skies.  No wonder that Arizona beckoned!

Bill and I decided to take a few days in July to continue our travel on the famous Mother Road  – Route 66.  In the past we’ve also spent time traveling on the historic US Highway 89 known as the Highway of National Parks, traversing from the Mexico border to the Canadian border.

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Beautiful Places Aboard Rocky Mountaineer

Written on . Posted in North America, Stories.

I had the privilege of taking my parents – at the time both in their early 80’s – for their last vacation together aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.  And I’ll never forget my father standing overlooking Banff and commenting, “I believe this is the most beautiful place on earth.”  My Dad was a world traveler as an Air Force officer and he and my mother had enjoyed several fantastic journeys together to Europe, Hawaii and Alaska.  He was also a quiet man, so this was high praise coming from him!

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The 3 C’s of Southeast Asia: Culinary, Culture and Crafts

Written on . Posted in Asia, Stories.

I recently had the privilege of traveling to Thailand and Laos with Kay Tran, founder of V’Explore Tours and expert in Southeast Asia destinations, on a small group tour.  Our group was also hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.   With an emphasis on visiting emerging destinations, this was a very special opportunity to see things few Americans do through the eyes of locals.

What an experience!  This tour immersed our group in food, culture and customs, and even hands on crafting.   Our 11-day exotic adventure took us from Bangkok to the northeast Thailand cities of Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom – from whence we traveled into small villages; then over the Friendship Bridge 2 to Savannakhet, Laos and on to its capital city of Vientiane and finally to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang.

Thai-beef

Culinary

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