On board our October Tahiti cruise
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As another year winds down to its close, we reflect on all that we have experienced and seen: revolution started in Egypt and the Arab world shortly after we left Cairo last December, and has been underway for almost a year to secure democratic opportunities that we take for granted; world economic woes broadened with the inclusion of the euro community’s foretelling of a potential new monetary design; unemployment south of us continues to provoke mass protest as citizens become more unable to settle their political differences to their country’s benefit; glaciers continue to melt at an alarming rate warning of future environmental upheaval. Yet through all of these difficulties, we here live in freedom, safety and prosperity. How clever of us to have been born where and when we did enabling us now to escape from these woes - if only temporarily.

These continued and increasing world crises cause us to pursue our travels more ardently than we normally would since they signal the time to do so may not be limitless. 

Suzy & Gord visiting in Palm Desert

So, after our relaxing annual month of February in Palm Desert, California, with Vancouver friends George and Margaret, we delighted ourselves for April in our Hilton Head, South Carolina, house which we offer as a vacation rental for all the months we are not there.

  Carrie (& Graham) biking with us in Hilton Head

Friends locally, from home, and from elsewhere, kept us company for fun in the sun. If you haven’t seen Hilton Head, we suggest you treat yourselves.

It is a maritime forest with bylaws preventing the intrusion of noise and commercial

Another of the glorious Hilton Head sunsets

ugliness characteristic of so many Oceanside resort communities, and is surrounded by soft sand beaches, quality stores, restaurants, golf, recreational activities, and culture.

Meeting up with Ilene & Steve in the Azores

Our Spring transatlantic cruise on Celebrity’s refurbished Constellation, with New Jersey cruise pals Cheryl and Lee, had its first stop in Ponto Delgado, capital of the Azores Islands and a mid Atlantic autonomous region of Portugal, which allowed us to catch up with Florida friends, Ilene and Steve, who were on a different cruise ship but in Ponta Delgado on the same day. 



We introduce Ilene to her cousin!

We had been unable to be on the same ship, but met up for the day and introduced Ilene to a cousin she had never met but was on our ship - a really fun day!

Among other port days on this excellent cruise, we stopped in Cherbourg and drove through the Cotentin Peninsula, new areas for us in France – a country in which we are always happy no matter where we are.

Now THIS is France...

The cruise terminated in Amsterdam, whereupon we flew to Zurich and had our first experience with the startling beauty of Switzerland.

... and THIS is Switzerland! A cheese fondue in Murren

For 2 weeks, we traversed the country making the quick transitions into the diverse geography, culture and language of this tiny piece of paradise. Europe’s highest mountain village inhabited year round is Murren, where from our hotel balcony, we could witness parasailers launching themselves off the cliff face opposite us and drifting down on air currents to the valley floor far below. 

  The village of Gimmelwald FAR below our Murren balcony

A further gondola ride delivered us up the Schilthorn Mountain, where James Bond’s Her Majesty’s Secret Service was filmed well above the clouds. Swiss engineering, determination and ingenuity was impressive in the Alps.

  Lake Geneva from our hotel above Montreux

From the Alps, we then drove west to the Montreux area at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, gorgeous beyond words from our perch at the very special Hotel Victoria, high up in the village of Glion overlooking the lake far below- so dreamy we stayed for 3 days instead of the single night planned. 

  Lake Lucerne from our Weggis hotel patio

Finally, the picturesque village of Weggis - where Colleen’s family had stayed for a month in 1961 - overlooking Lake Lucerne - such beauty! We even found the house she had lived in, and were welcomed in by the 1961 owner’s granddaughter who now occupied the house with her family! The charming city of Lucerne, just down the lake, was magnificent with its perfectly preserved, picture-painted buildings. Everywhere places were exceptionally clean, yet the majority of the Swiss smoked on their scenic outdoor restaurant patios as we drank in the views until their smoke chased us away.

  Our island cottage basks in the sun
 

And what a summer we had! Cottage life was excellent for months with our perfect, extended summer weather. Lots of company, lots of gardening, lots of exterior painting, lots of fun - and new docks.

The Giffin Gang - with Ed in the kitchen

During the summer, we also attended the semi annual get-together of the Giffin Gang of 10, convened by our LONG-time friends, Ed and Shirley - for 30 years our hosts for our group weekends and boat trips - which only emphasises how old we now are!

Gord & Suzy's enchanting eating porch

In early September, we joined recent-time travel buddies, Suzy and Gord Kerr, in their Vermont waterfront palace where the company, food and accommodation was so terrific that they had a difficult time ridding themselves of us. We had met them in 2009 on a Japan to Thailand flight where we ended up all staying in the same Thai condo resort on the Indian Ocean. Since then we continue to meet up in the Californian desert in our timeshare condos, and in Hilton Head in April.

  Rowers & aquabuses pass our balcony in Victoria

October saw us in Victoria for a quick visit to, and some upgrading in, the vacation condo we rent out to guests by the week or month there, before we met up with London, England friends, Dave and Elly (whom we had also initially met in Thailand!), in Newport Beach, California for a week’s fun and exploration. 

   Lynn & Steve, Elly & Dave dining in La Jolla, CA

We even reconnoitered at a restaurant down the coast at La Jolla to introduce them to our San Diego-based two-time Asia tour travel buddies, Steve and Lynn. 

   North shore of Oahu, Hawaii

From LA, we embarked on a long awaited 28 day cruise to multiple Hawaiian islands, and the exotic South Seas islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea. None of these destinations had we visited before, so it was all a new adventure. Three time cruise companions and fellow Canadians, Steph and Peter, showed us the way at several stops.  The expanses of turquoise water, the islands with sand slivered surrounds, and pretty Polynesians welcoming us were all very exotic.



Sapphire Princess decked out for Halloween

   Colleen on a tiring day in Bora Bora

But as in so many places we have visited, there were too many churches versus not enough decent accommodation for locals, and burgeoning stray animal populations – all aspects that prevented it from being more than a physical representation of paradise. Give us life here in Canada any day - well, except January and February.







As we write this, we are in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California for 10 days split between here and San Francisco where we will meet up with various friends we are looking forward to seeing again, in one of our favourite areas of the world.  


We close with our wishes for a Merry Christmas, and want to share with you a touching Christmas poem by poet, Robinson Jeffers, who lived in Carmel during his life. Amid the commercial whirlwind that now typifies Christmas, do pause and reflect on this poem for a moment. 

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"Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

With our fond wishes for a happy, healthy 2012,

Colleen and Don