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Vernazza, Italy

10/11/2015

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​I’m finally getting around to organizing my photos from my Vacation in Italy.  Since Monday is approaching, it’s also a welcome distraction.  I’ve been asked what my favorite part of my two-week trip through Rome, Florence and all the little hill towns of Tuscany and I would have to say it was the day trip to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre.   Vernazza is actually in the Liguria region of Italy, which is in Northwest Italy along the Mediterranean.  It’s also known as the Italian Riviera.  We thought it would be a quick two-hour drive from our morning stop in Lucca.  Well, leave it to GPS to take us on the old route with especially worn, crumbling, narrow, winding roads.  It took us over three hours.  Once we reached the main parking lot, we were told it was another 20 minute walk down another steep hill into the village.  It was well worth the journey.  The first stop was to get water and a little bite to eat.   We were getting used to eating six times a day at this point, so we were ready for the owner of the restaurant to offer us the best cannoli in all of Italy.  It’s true.  They are the best.  He has won several awards for his cannoli.  I have to say, it was the best cannoli I have ever had in my life.  We washed our giant cannoli down with iced-cappuccinos.  Era delizioso!  So if you find yourself in Vernazza, the first place you need to stop is Il Pirata delle!
Next, we continued downhill, through the village.  It’s a gorgeous little fishing village and the views looking up at the vineyards on the steep mountains above and the ocean below are stunning.   There are many shops to buy leather goods and other trinkets to take home.  The water is so blue and the buildings are so colorful against the sky.  I think all of us were so happy we made the trek.  We found out through the owner of the parking lot that there was a better, more modern road that we could take back to San Casicano in Tuscany.  There were still some crazy hills and hairpin turns, but the roads were slightly wider and not crumbling…which is always good! #ItalianRiviera #CinqueTerre #Italy #vernazza

~Dawn​
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Behind the Scenes in Athens, Greece

3/17/2015

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​Final preparations are underway for the welcome reception! ‪#‎greece‬‪#‎athens‬ ‪#‎letthegamesbegin‬
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Hello Greece

3/13/2015

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I'm feeling very lucky to be going right from my meeting in California to Greece.  I'll be in Greece the next few weeks for a meeting followed by some R&R in Santorini.  #Greece #meetingsinAthens
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California

3/9/2015

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It has been another brutal winter here in Wisconsin.  I was SO happy to plan a meeting in Orange County and escape the arctic!  There is nothing like spending time on the beach and a few fantastic sunsets when it's below zero back home.  #OrangeCounty  #LagunaBeach #CaliforniaMeetings #latitudetravelgroup

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Crystal Cove Beach State Park
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Laguna Beach
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Laguna Beach

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Favorite Travel Memories

10/6/2014

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Travel has always been a huge part of my adult life and also of my childhood (if you count day dreaming about all the places I planned to go). Younger me would be pleased to know that I have made it to 35 countries. People often ask for my favorite destination and I simply cannot choose. However, I can pick a trip that has completely rejuvenated my sense of wanderlust, awe and put me a state of prolonged sensory overload… India.
I was invited to India by a local Destination Management Company partner to spend two weeks getting to know the destination and its venues. My first taste of this exotic country was in route to the hotel around 2:00 a.m. when I saw my first elephant walking down the road. That was the first of many interesting wildlife encounters on the roads of India.
Our itinerary included many of the top tourist destinations in the largest of India’s twenty-nine states, Rajasthan. During our time there, we saw the beautiful Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, Humayun's Tomb, Temple of the Wind and the Amber Fort in Jaipur and more. Each day was packed with adventures from riding elephants and camels, rickshaw rides in Old Delhi, going to markets and touring historical sites. For the “business” side of things we did some high-end hotel inspections, which were spectacular on all fronts.
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The part of the trip that really left a lasting impression on me was the time we spent in the village of Samode, located about 3 hours from Jaipur. Our accommodations were at the 475 year-old Samode Palace, which was in complete darkness when we arrived at night. Initially, I thought the power was out as is common occurrence in many parts of the country. Once we stepped through the gates, the entire palace light up. Our grand reception included the throwing of rose petals, music and traditional dancers, and having necklaces of jasmine placed around our necks as we climbed the stairs. What an entrance!
The next day we did a village jeep tour. Our first stop was an elementary school, and when we arrived, we were greeted by what seemed like the entire town and its mayor – and, of course, goats. The humble school building was open air and had dirt floors, and inside the children were learning advanced math and English. The kids were so excited to practice their English, and they were fascinated by our smart phones and cameras.
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Our next stop just outside Samode Village was a local family’s farm. The conditions of the home were completely different from anything that I had witnessed in my travels – bare rooms with beds made of rope with little-to-no bedding. The kitchen was the only room in the house with running (cold) water. Even with their minimalist living conditions, the kind farmer and his family were quite proud of their property and showed it off while posing for pictures in front of it.
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It’s so touching to view the world of the Samode people. From our Western perspective, it was hard to see the conditions of the school and house, but it is clear that they are so full of life and “rich” with pride and happiness. While I did see some amazing architecture and luxurious five-star accommodations, I definitely came home with a new appreciation of space and the quality of life we are fortunate to have in the U.S. Even though India can be a challenging place at times, it operates with an orchestrated chaos. I would definitely recommend traveling there for the right type of person, and look forward to going back there myself someday to explore more of it!
– Dawn
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Favorite Travel Memories

9/30/2014

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People often ask, “What is the best place you have ever traveled to?” I have traveled extensively around the U.S. and to 15 countries across the globe – so with all of those experiences I must have a favorite.
It’s a tough choice! I love so many cities and my travels have all been wonderful and very impactful, but if I HAVE to pick one destination, it would be Costa Rica. It was March 2004, and I was about to enjoy my final spring break as a college student before receiving my hard-earned bachelor’s degree. At the time, I was 26 and working nearly full-time as a group specialist selling corporate getaways and group vacations to Europe and Costa Rica. I had two other good friends/co-workers who were also interested in traveling there, so we purchased tickets on a whim when fares were low. 
I contacted a colleague from one of the tour companies that I worked closely with and asked if she could recommend an itinerary for our visit. Rather than writing back with some ideas of things to see and do, she told us not to worry at all about the trip; we would be well taken care of. “Just send your airline itinerary and we’ll handle the rest.”
Two days before the trip, we received an itinerary that was mind blowing - and all of it was hosted by our business partners. In the travel industry, these Familiarization (FAM) trips are somewhat standard. You have to be able to sell, and in order to sell, you must see!
We were supposed to be picked up by our driver for the week and spend our first night in San Jose checking out the nightlife. However, we wound up getting delayed and instead spent our first night in the U.S. After some upgrades from an apologetic American Airlines and a free change to a flight coming home a day later, we departed one day later than expected. Here’s a rundown of our week in Costa Rica…
Day One – We met our driver and drove to the Arenal area of the country to an active volcano, where we had an amazing dinner at the foot of the volcano. With happy and full bellies, travel exhaustion set in and we turned in at 8:30 that evening… after seeing the slightest trickle of lava roll down the side of the mountain. 
Day Two - We went on a Costa Rican wildlife refuge boat tour called Caño Negro. This tour was unbelievable. I saw monkeys, crocs, sloths, rare birds, and so many creatures that I rarely get to view in the wild.   
Day Three – We were driven to a town called Monteverde, located deep in the heart of a Cloud Forest. It took about 2.5 hours to ride the 10.5 mi./7 km up the side of the mountain with our driver. The town was misty, but the bars were warm and dry, and the fellow travelers we met kept us up and talking until the wee hours of the morning. 
Day Four – We visited a hummingbird farm in Monteverde, and it was beautiful. We also walked on a series of suspension bridges where we got a bird’s eye view from the top of the canopy of the rich forest. Later that day, we had our first run at zip lining. Despite a very minor burn I got on my arm from the rope, I had a blast!
Day Five – On our way to a town called Guanacaste for some R&R, we stopped to do some light rafting along another nature preserve. It was quiet and beautiful, and our sweet and shy guides paddled us around and pointed out various wildlife, including monkeys, birds, alligators, bats and other amazing creatures. 
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Day Six – In the midst of all of the running around and chaotic fun, it was time for a day of rest. We checked in at an all-inclusive resort in Guanacaste the evening before, and woke up to a beautiful beach and pool area. We lazed around by the pool, reading and sipping tropical drinks. 
Day Seven – We decided to do another canopy tour that included zip lining because we had so much fun the first time. This one was much more lax from a safety equipment stand point, but the guides were great and made us feel safe. Afterwards we went horseback riding along the side of a mountain up to a waterfall. It was a scene right out of a travel magazine. After a natural rock water slide, a mud bath and a hot springs soak, we had permanent grins on our faces and headed back to the hotel to get ready for an evening out. We ventured into a town called Coco Beach and checked out the nightclub scene. We met some more locals and tourists there and danced ’til the wee hours of the morning. 
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Day Eight – Our trip was coming to an end, but luckily we had one more night to check out San Jose before leaving this amazing country. We left Guanacaste and drove to San Jose, stopping at an orchid farm along the way to check out greenhouses full of the beautiful, delicate plants. After checking in to the hotel and saying farewell to our driver for the entire trip, Alvin, of whom we had grown quite fond, we were left alone to enjoy our last night in Costa Rica. We spent it getting to know the locals, tasting fantastic food, and doing loads of bar hopping and dancing until the sun came up the next morning. (Ah, to be in my twenties again! ☺)
So there you have it! Eight glorious days of traveling around Costa Rica in a private vehicle with two of my closest friends on a very inexpensive - yet incredibly luxurious - trip of a lifetime! Remembering our adventures in Costa Rica will always bring a huge smile to my face.
– Keri
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