Cruise Now, Pay Later on the Playboy Jazz Cruise!

Come aboard Holland America’s m/s Westerdam on January 25th for a 7 day and night Caribbean cruise and experience the Jazz festival at sea and… CRUISE NOW and PAY LATER! You will get to experience all the shows, entertainment, activities and events and the same top quality of cabin, service, meals and ports of call as everyone else onboard, BUT without having to pay everything at once!
Join Grammy® Award Winning Marcus Miller and Playboy Jazz Cruise Special Guest, 2008 Grammy® Album of the Year winner Herbie Hancock - along with vocalist Dianne Reeves, considered one of the pre-eminent female jazz vocalists in the world. Festival favorite, blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Keb' Mo', will bring his distinct brand of blues to the mix. Sure to spice up the onboard party is Poncho Sanchez, leader of one of the most popular Latin jazz groups in the world. One of the most enduring figures in modern jazz, master saxophonist James Moody will also perform, as will premier trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophone virtuoso James Carter, and dazzling young jazz pianist Eldar. Rounding out the lineup are vocalist Roberta Gambarini, New Orleans' famous New Birth Brass Band, Last Comic Standing Alonzo Bodden and many more musicians onboard.
The ports of call are San Juan, Nevis, St. Barths and Half Moon Cay leaving from Fort Lauderdale. I can help you get onboard, just email me!

Traveling by Air? Ways to avoid baggage fees!

The holiday travel season is coming upon us and many will travel by land this year(gas here is as low as $1.69 per gallon). Others will be rushing to airports, where they will be faced with new airline fees for checked baggage. Many travelers are striving to pack more efficiently and fly with only a carry-on. The goal is simple: you want to visit your destination without running out of clean socks or overstuffing your suitcase. Packing for a trip is often a struggle of distinguishing what we want to bring from what we need to bring. Here are 5 tips from IndependentTraveler.com, a leader in online travel information, to help achieve this goal:
1. Rethink the wardrobe
Stick to wardrobe essentials. Choose clothes in neutral colors that can be mixed and matched and pack a travel-size packet of laundry detergent to wash clothes while traveling. Bring no more than two pairs of shoes one to be packed and one to be worn on the plane.
2. Simplify the beauty regimen
Don't lug an army of beauty products across the globe. Instead, use hotel toiletries or pack products with multiple uses, such as a moisturizer with SPF or a combination shampoo/conditioner. To meet security requirements, make sure that liquid products in containers of 3 ounces or less are in a quart-size zip-top, clear plastic bag.
3. Pick 1 favorite book
Don't weigh a suitcase down with books. Pack one comprehensive guidebook and use Internet cafes as necessary to look up additional information on the road.
4. Leave the crown jewels at home
Leave all valuable at home. Fancy watches and jewelry are targets for thieves and can prevent travelers from fitting into the local culture.
5. Forget the gizmos
Pack only indispensable electronic gadgets. Skip the toothbrush sanitizer, ocean sound machine and other extraneous items.
If you would like help with packing more efficiently, check out www.independenttraveler.com/packing. You can get an interactive packing list featuring more than 100 commonly packed items. This online tool lets travelers create a personalized packing list to save, print or e-mail to oneself or a friend.
Happy traveling!

Greens, Blues and a Dixie Peach

I had to go back to Philly 2 weeks ago and had to stop by a club that I hadn't gone to in May. It is called North by Northwest and is located on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. I was in for a pleasant surprise. They had a wonderful buffet for their dinner entree and I thought that I was back in Nashville. It consisted of country style ribs, collard greens, mac & cheese, mixed vegetables, catfish, fried chicken, jambalaya, salad and waffles. They had a live band with a white woman from Macon, Georgia singing the blues and she was coming correct! I knew that Mt. Airy was returning to it earlier days of diversity, but, I wasn't aware of this change. If you are in the neighborhood, stop in. The atmosphere was great and the people were gracious!
Check out this video to get a feel of North by Northwest and other businesses in Mt. Airy.

The Hunt for Semi Precious Stones!

I am the Queen of traveling on a budget, while continuing to have a vacation that brings great value and satisfaction. I also love trendy jewelry and usually shop for semi precious stones on our Caribbean family vacations. On the second day of our vacation cruise, the Shopping Director had a seminar on the legalities of duty free shopping in Nassau and told us about special deals and gifts that merchants were offering to cruise vacationers. To take advantage of the deals we just needed to present coupons, which were distributed during this meeting.


So off my girls and I went. Our first stop was at the Straw Market or what we would call the Swap Meet. It was just too intense for us. The aisle way between the stalls was narrow and the prices of some of the knockoffs were higher than here in the states. We then proceeded to check our map, examined our notes and were off to the air-conditioned stores.
The first store that we visited Diamonds International, which is supposed to have the largest selection of diamonds and diamond jewelry in the Caribbean. They will allow you to trade in your diamond for a bigger or brighter diamond and you can create your dream piece with the help of the master jewelers that are on staff. My girls received a free 14kt electroplated charm bracelet with a DI charm on it. They will be able to get a free charm when they visit a Diamond International in another country.


Next, we visited Del Sol, which is known as the world’s largest color-change retailer. They have all types of shirts, sunglasses, head coverings and fingernail polish that changes color when exposed to UV rays. They received free lanyards, which were great for carrying their passport. We also purchased some fun nail polish.
Our next stop was at Venetian Jewelers. This store is known as the only place for purchasing Sophia Fiori’s blues diamonds. Sophia Fiori’s style is trendy and eclectic and the girls received a free 1-carat midnight sapphire. This gemstone is appraised at $100 and can be used to get $100 off a 5-carat sapphire or jewelry piece.

I love emeralds and had to oh and ahh at settings which contained my birthstone at Colombian Emeralds International. Whenever I visit, I find another piece that I will get.


Our last stop was Effy Jewelers, which is reported to be the discount store for Diamonds International. The girls were given a silver necklace with an amethyst pendant and were able to purchase a matching pair of earrings for $10. We were ecstatic over the gifts and walked past Starbucks and Subway to get back onboard, so that we could have lunch!

Your Cheatin' Heart

I did not realize that the main reason people do not cruise is that they have a fear that the ship will sink or that the trip will be so turbulent that they will spend most of their time in the bathroom. I want to assure you that today’s cruise ships have stabilizers that take the jolt out of your trip. In fact, I never know when the ship has left the port.

You will find me somewhere onboard getting my party started! For example, I won a medal for knowing that Hank William’s wrote Your Cheatin’ Heart in response to problems that he was having with wife. Living in Music City, USA, made the answer to that trivia question a no brainer.
I know that I told you earlier that I had to leave the ship wearing my sarongs. Well, the prelude to that action was on our first evening.
We had traveled all night to get to the ship and so to relax, my girls and I went to the sauna and steam room. The steam room was also on hyper drive because it was so hot, that we could not breathe. In fact, our eyeballs were burning! The sauna was relaxing. We made it back to our room and prepared for dinner. However, a piece of my luggage did not arrive by 8 pm. I put on a sarong as a skirt and one as a shawl, found my luggage in the lobby of the information booth (the tag had fallen off) and went to dinner. I need to keep a sarong with me at all times.

What happened on the day that you took your passport picture!

I am still euphoric! I have cruised before and that experience is what fuels my passion for travel. I was so excited about our cruise that I did not mind the 13-hour road trip that my family had before us. We finally get everything into the van one hour after the predetermined departure time and then we have to remove everything because Lady Sai has misplaced her cell phone. The phone is on vibrate and is somewhere beneath the back seat. We do not find it until we can locate a flashlight that has batteries in it because it is evening. Now, why is there such panic for this phone? Well, Sai is a teenager and my teens have been have been told that they cannot text or make calls once the ship leaves the port at 4 pm the next day. What will they do for three nights with no cell service? We find the phone, repack the car and we’re off to our next stop, Birmingham Alabama. Two and a half hours later, we have additional passengers, my niece and cousin. And we’re off again. We make it to Atlanta, where my husband and I tease our son. We tell him that he should call his girlfriend and tell her to wave at us as we pass near her house. He didn’t think that we were so funny!
We noticed that there were fewer 18-wheelers on the road. I am told that the high cost of fuel has affected how distributors are shipping their goods. At daylight, I take over the drive and get us to Port Canaveral, where our ship, Carnival’s Sensation is docked. Porters assist us with our checked luggage and we then proceed to Customs and Immigration. The boarding process was a lot less chaotic than I remember it to be in Miami and would have been even more convenient, if I had known that I could take advantage of my VIP check-in status. We continue the boarding process with another check of credentials and the establishment of on board accounts. You really know that you are getting closer to entering the ship when you take those first two pictures, one that you never see, but security does and the one everyone will see later in the photo gallery. My niece, Tia said on our last evening that she could finally have a meal without having to pose. I will tell you more later!

Sarong Song

If I haven’t told you before, I helped to sponsor the inaugural annual Dream Achievers “Friend and Family Cruise”. It was too short, only 3 nights with an overnight stay in Nassau, Bahamas. The day prior to debarkation, Carnival’s Cruise Director asks that at least one member from every stateroom attend a program where he tells you what you need to do to make leaving the ship and getting back into the States easier. I attended this meeting and found out that adults 21 and older could bring in two bottles of liquors, one from the ship’s store and 1 from the Bahamas duty free. Now, this bit of information was important to me because this is how we restock our bar at home! Mr. Director also explains how many cigars are duty free (100 but cannot be from Cuba) and how much money you could spend without making a declaration ($800 per person). Lastly, he explains how non-carry on luggage should be tagged and that the number will correspond to when you will be called to leave the ship and visit our great Immigration officers. This was the most entertaining part of his talk because he says that someone, usually a man, will invariably forget to lay out what he is going to wear the next day. We laughed about this at dinner and talked about how silly my husband would look in my dress.
Well I am glad that I can laugh at myself because I forgot to lay out my outer clothing for the next day! What did I do? I did not panic. I just coolly and calmly pulled out two sarongs that I had brought with me for gifts and resell and had a colorful outfit! Once I got through customs I sashayed to our van in Port Canaveral’s parking lot and as discreetly as one can in a parking lot, changed into my clothing! I am glad that God has granted me the wisdom to be able to think my way out of a paper bag or in this matter a potentially embarrassing situation. Enjoy and laugh out loud, LOL!

Cruising with the Mouse

Multigenerational Cruising with the Mouse

The Disney Wonder sails 3 and 4 night Caribbean cruises throughout the year and is great for a multi-generational stress free vacation. Children are awed as they get onto the boat with its enormous mouse ears and its horn that play “When You Wish Upon A Star”. Many of the staterooms are designed for families. They are a comfortable size and feature a split bathroom so that the kids and adults can be happy.
While the kids are at one of the age appropriate clubs, where they will learn how to hula with Lilo and Stitch, or perform science experiments. The children’s programs are safe as once they are registered, they receive a security wristband and the adults receive a pager, so that parents can be reached if an emergency arises. While the children are at play, the grown folks can slip away and have a romantic couples massage or other treatment for two at the ship’s vista Spa and Salon. Other adult-only activities are relaxing at the adult’s only pool or enjoying a quiet evening in Palo, the adult’s only restaurant.
Entertainment on the Disney Wonder is a hit with all age groups. Stage shows and outdoor Pirates in the Caribbean deck party provide Broadway-caliber fun. Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay also provides age appropriate and age exclusive activities. Disney Cruises are wonderful for our blended families and provide a wonderful adventure for the entire family. If you need assistance booking a Disney cruise, please email me at yourimanitravel@comcast.net.
I am your faithful Disney specialist.
P.S. I'll be letting you know how we are enjoying ourselves! Happy traveling!

Cruising 102

I want to share with you information on how to find the cruise for you!
1. Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.
2. Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, in suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available.
3. Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery.
4. Choose to cruise for VARIETY. With over 150 distinctive ships, 1800 ports-of-call and an unbelievable array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour.
5. Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES. Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, musical revues, gaming or a quiet evening gazing at the stars.
6. Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don't come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; a CLIA-affiliated travel agent like myself can handle all of the details. Once you're on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid... talk about hassle-free.
7. Choose to cruise for NEW HORIZONS. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new horizon... and you only have to pack and unpack once!
8. Choose to cruise for FAMILY. Families love cruising. Children's programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone.
9. Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock.
10. Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.
Choose to cruise for YOU. You can have the vacation of a lifetime, see the world, completely unwind, take a walk on the wild side, dance the night away, feast on fabulous cuisine, learn something new, make friends, bond with your family, steal quiet moments with your spouse. Whatever your heart desires, is yours, when you choose to cruise.

Cruisin' With You

The clock on my page for Carnival Cruise Line says that I have less than 2 days before I will be cruising. Every day, more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. More singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends are sailing away on the vacation of their lives. Last year alone approximately seven million people enjoyed a cruise vacation. When you add it all up, it's easy to see why.
The price of your ticket includes all of your meals and in-between snacks on-board; your stateroom, activities, parties and entertainment; plus, an exciting voyage to some of the most enchanting and culturally-enriching places in the world.
You'll find that a cruise ship is a floating resort, with all the things a fine resort has to offer and more! You'll meet new friends who share the same tastes and interests as you.
The hassles of an ordinary vacation are completely eliminated. A cruise is one convenient package. You don't have to worry about making dinner or nightclub reservations, running to make flight connections as you travel from one destination to another, or packing and unpacking.
You can lie back and be completely pampered. Or, go non-stop. Dine like never before. Enjoy one great show after another. Let your cares float away!
It's no wonder that more people are taking cruise vacations than ever before. And once they get a taste of cruising, they come back for more, again and again.
FACT - Cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience. Ask a CLIA-affiliated travel agent like myself about cruising. Chances are, he or she will recommend a cruise vacation from personal experience

Counting down! A dream vacation

I can’t say this too many times, but, get a passport. I am going on a Friend and Family cruise next week and since January, I have said that we will need passports for this trip! Well, my friend, I just love her to death, got spanked horribly with additional fees, because she had to go to the Philadelphia office to expedite her family's passport application.
What is going on with the passport issue? You WILL need a passport if you are flying internationally, and this includes the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada or Mexico. If you plan on sailing from a U.S. port to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada or Mexico, you WILL NOT have to bring along a passport right now (maybe—Homeland Security is still tinkering with the rules). However, the cruise lines are asking that their clients have a passport, because if something happens such that one would have to enter a foreign country or have to fly internationally, you could have difficulties re-entering the country.
I'll let you know about our trip! Bon voyage!

Dreams and roses!

I've been having a few bluesy days and as I was cleaning I found something that I was challenged to write to myself and share. It was written on 4/11/07 and I know that I am not in the place I was in then, but, I haven't arrived to the place of my dreams. I am still working on it. I would like to share my writings and challenge you to examine yourself and do the same. You may find again at that time when you need it.

Dear Divine Self,
I am so proud of your travels and journies as you find your true wonderfulness. Cast fear and doubt aside. They are but thorns in the garden and can be circumvented. One does not have to be in pain, to smell the roses.
Allow yourself to dream, for it is through your dreams that your creativity can be expressed. Learn to breathe deeply for that adds more to your life and health. I thank you for your divine self.

Have a great day!

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Moorea

I guess the island of Moorea got jealous yesterday, because today I have a video about Intercontinental Moorea. What a wonderful way to get ready for a travel party! I'll have to tell you how it turns out, but, I wanted to share the video!
Enjoy.
P.S. For Melinda Doolittle fans, check out website, www.mdstreetteam.com and see comment on 6/27/2008!

I cried ....Bora Bora!

Sometimes I get a little caught up! I was watching that beautiful wedding on the Today show on Wednesday. The vows were just so heartfelt and they just seemed to be so much in love! Melinda Doolittle sang for them and the family did the "electric slide". And everything for the wedding was planned by the viewers. The last surprise for the couple was their honeymoon trip and through my tears, (told you that I got caught up), I was hollering Bora Bora! And guess what, most of the viewers on the Today show thought the same. That is where they are today!
I have been working on my continuing education for my travel services and I will soon be a destination specialist for Tahiti. One of the criteria for the completion of the course is that I spend about 9 days in Tahiti. Boy, I can't wait until this class starts!
I want to share some information from the Travel partner that I have chosen for further study, The Intercontinental Hotels of Tahiti. Enjoy their video, which is supposed to make a client stay an additional day!

Flying on the cheap!

The airlines are fighting to stay in business and deeply discounted air fares are about on their way out. However, there are some ways to get a cheap flight so that your vacation does not become a staycation! Aaron Smith, a writer with CNNMoney.com presented five ways to fly on the cheap.
1. Fly during the slowest days of the week.
Tuesday and Wednesday are the slowest flying days of the week for business travel so demand is low, and so are the fares.
2. Fly during the slowest time of the year.Fall is the best time for cheap flights. This ranges from Labor Day until Thanksgiving.
3. Fly to popular destinations at unpopular times.
My husband and I went to Orlando in September and Disney World wasn't crowded at all!
4. Buy during the cheapest times of the day.
Airfares change three times a day as airlines periodically lower prices to fill up flights, after midnight and early mornings are the best time to purchase a flight. On the weekend, the best time to check is early Saturday morning and again at 5 p.m., when the industry is most aggressively trying to fill seats.
5. Buy a travel package, even if you don't need it.
Packages are sometimes cheaper than the airfare alone, especially for last -minute sales, where the airline is just trying to fill seats. I was able to get 2 airline tickets to San Diego and a car using "lastminute.com". This was a super bargain because, though I didn't really need the car and didn't use it much, the price of this package was less than the fare offered for 2 tickets on Southwest. Last minute.com is a featured site on my online travel booking site, Your Imani Travel.
So, be creative with your options for now, because believe me, airlines are going to raise their prices and discount fares may become a thing of the past.

Big Brother Will Be Watching Us!

I have been trying to get my friend and her family to get their passport since March because we will be traveling together next month on a friend and family cruise to the Bahamas www.yourimanitravel.com. Anyway, we will probably be ok because my son was able to get his passport back within 13 days. Another option to the passport will be a REAL ID. Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver’s licenses as proposed by The Homeland Security Department. The REAL ID Act is scheduled to be phased in by 2011, when federal authorities hope that all will be in compliance. Right now there are 17 states that have indicated that the measures are too costly, and the great state of Tennessee (my state) is one of those 17. The American Civil Liberties Union is opposed to the measure, because they feel that information will be shared among government agencies and that this would amount to “the first-ever national identity card system, which would irreparably damage the fabric of American life.”
Why will we need a REAL ID?
The hi-jacker pilot who flew into the Pentagon on 9/11 had 4 drivers’ licenses and ID cards from 3 states. The REAL ID is supposed to ensure that there is “one driver, one license. If driver’s licenses are to be used for identification, then the proposed layers of security measures would make it less likely for them to be counterfeited or tampered with.”
By 2014, people under 50 will have to present a REAL ID compliant driver’s license to board a plane or enter a federal building. The over-50 exemption was created to give states more time to get everyone new licenses, and the risk of someone in this age group being a terrorist, illegal immigrant or con artist is much less. By 2017, even those over 50 will have to have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license to board a plane. How will residents of states like Tennessee be affected if the state chooses to be non compliant? Residents of such states will have to use a passport for air travel within the United States.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want my ability to travel within the States to be compromised. I have my passport ready and will lobby officials in my state to comply with the new Homeland Security guidelines.

Did I meet my challenge - Philly on $10 per day?

The last event I attended while I was in Philadelphia was the Odunde Festival, one of the largest community- based street festivals held in the country. Odunde is a celebration, which comes from the Yoruba tradition, and it celebrates the coming of the New Year. It was hot, both temperature wise and culturally. I recognized several traditional dances, which were celebratory and reflective.
Now, did I meet my challenge to see Philly on $10 per day? Well…
I was in Philly for 13 days and I spent $25 on public transportation. Now, I cheated a little because I used my sister’s trail pass for 2 days, which allowed unlimited travel throughout the city and the ‘burbs. However, I could have purchased my own weekly pass for $20.75.
Entrance fees to museums were $17; however, if I had gone to the Philadelphia Museum on Sunday, it would have been a love donation. I spent $106.27 on food, however, $54.60 of that was for travel prepared cheese steaks and tastykakes from Superfresh (they were on sale for $1.89 per family pack with a member card, Sharon’s). My daughters texted or called me everyday to remind me to bring them! I spent another $10 on donations. So, if I looked at my daily cost over 13 days, my average cost per day is $12.40 per day, still not bad!
If I delete the cost of the food that I brought home for my family then my average cost per day was $7.84.Of course, it would be hard for someone who did not know a city, or who was not public transportation savvy to be able to do as I did. I had free lodging and was taken to dinner several times and I walked a lot, partly to prove that I could walk! Walking helped my perspective and allowed me to see this beautiful city. I can help you see such a city on a budget.

People who have never had a Philly Cheese Steak do not understand all of the hoopla. Once bitten you are hooked. Ask my husband, who is from Birmingham, Alabama. He will go to Pagano’s before he goes to the place that he is staying! I have loaded a video about this Philly staple.

Religion Class Assignment

I graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School and for my religion class, I did a report on the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I used an encyclopedia for my source of information (we weren't online back then)! I knew that the church arose because freed blacks attending St. George Methodist Church in Philadelphia did not want to be relegated to discrimination as they worshipped. The church that they founded is affectionately called "Mother Bethel" and I took the time many years later to visit this historic and holy place. Richard Allen, a freedman, was the principal organizer of the AME denomination, whose tenets were based upon the Methodists. Richard Allen built the 1 of the 4 churches on property that he owned in July 29, 1794, with the assistance some of his contemporaries, Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Benjamin Rush. The bottom floor of the present church is a museum and it was quite awe inspiring. I examined the bishops of the AME church and immediately realized that I had heard some of their names before. It was easy to recognize Vashti McKenzie, the first female bishop ordained in 2004. However, names like Morris Brown and Daniel Payne rang a bell because they are also the names of HBCUs.
There is a crypt in the museum and it contains the remains of Allen, his wife Sarah and Morris Brown and their presence was palpable as they seemed to say, "Remember, humble yourself and do good works! I finally completed that religion assignment from so long ago! I have a video that I would like to share with Denzel Washington greeting the AME Church. I hope that you enjoy this snippet

We all are a little Irish, aren't we?

I am still at the Art Museum and I had a pleasant suprise. Friday evening is meet, greet and be entertained and I was by the music of Scythian and a glass of chardonnay! Scythian is described as a "unique hodgepodge of Irish, Celtic, klezmer, and gypsy influences". And since I am from Nashville, I could hear the bluegrass influences. Believe me, the Art Museum was not a stuffy quiet place, because people were clapping, stamping and dancing, children were off their ADHD meds and the flow of alchohol made you think that you were in a pub, instead of place of high culture.
The day was one of emotional highs and lows. I loved the granduer and architecture of the buildings along the Parkway, but was brought back to reality when I saw a homeless camp on the back side of the Youth Study Center. I had to reflect about homelessness because this building is scheduled to be torn down and in its place will go the Barnes Museum. The homeless will have to find another place to go. Some of the rooms in the Art Museum caused me to be reflective and pray, because they were so peaceful. One such room was The Indian Temple.
So, in all, I had a great day, but, my ankles were so swollen from all of the walking. My sister laughed when I had to bounce down the steps on my bottom!

Doing the Rocky!

The most memorable scene in Rocky 3 is when Rocky Balboa runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and raises his hands in victory to the backdrop of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. I did the Rocky thing, well, sorta! I walked up all of those steps and for the first time, I did not just stand on those stairs, I went inside of the building.
A statue of Rocky Balboa remains at the bottom of the stairs and he looks the worst for wear! There has been some controversy as to whether he should stand in front of such a beautiful building.
The Museum is the backdrop for many citywide functions and special events. I have seen musical groups such as Manhattan Transfer and Boys II Men on or near those stairs. In addition, a little known fact about the Greek inspired building is that Julian Abele was the chief designer of the building. Abele was the first African-American graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's architecture school.
There were so many rooms with famous paintings such as Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and Degas’s ballet dancers. I sat with a painting entitled “The Moorish Chief” by Viennese painter, Eduard Charlemont. A print hangs in my home and the strength of this prince. Not only is the painting much larger than my print, the colors are richer. I also have a copy of Benjamin Tanner’s “Banjo Lesson” and wanted to see if an original of this painting hangs in the museum. This was not at the museum, but other of Tanner’s work was.
There was a live cinema exhibit of the works of Carlos Amorales. Now, I like to look at art and decide for myself what it evokes, so I don’t usually read the guide to tell me what the artist is trying to portray. I was open minded, as I viewed Amorales’s work art and I have come to the conclusion, that I did not understand it. It is done primarily in black and white and is described as fantasy worlds, which depicts the coexistence of humans and animals in an ambiguous but invariably hostile surrounding. One animation is called "Faces". I saw an eye every now and then but never saw a face. The animation that I spent the most time trying to understand was “Rorschach Test Animation”. This work is supposed to bring into focus the artist’s interest in abstraction and its potential for free association. Well, either everything looked like a cross section of a brain or a clown face created on the toy with the magnetic shavings. I wonder what that says about me?
I’ll continue telling you about this adventure later and please remember to submit your comments. I can assist you in your dream vacation plans.

Bringing Sculpture to Life!

I was first introduced to the works of Auguste Rodin on television. It was not an arts appreciation program on PBS, but the Dobie Gillis Show. For non baby boomers, Dobie was a college student and narrator of the comedy show. His pose as he introduces the program was that of “The Thinker”, Rodin’s most famous and recognizable sculpture.
Auguste Rodin was born in France in 1840 and he had a hard time learning to read and write because he was very nearsighted. He showed great promise as an artist. He loved making drawings of famous sculpture and paintings and because of his poor eyesight, he would stand as close as he could to his favorite works and draw for hours. At the age of 15, he was given his first piece of clay to sculpt and from this point onward, he was hooked on sculpture. Rodin’s sculptures were thought to be ugly and in fact, because they were so life like, he was accused of using molds to cast his figures instead of using live models.
Jules E. Mastbaum, Philadelphia's great movie theater magnate and one of its best-known philanthropists, founded the Rodin Museum to ”enrich the lives of his fellow citizens.” He began collecting the works of Rodin in 1923 and assembled a complete view, acquiring not only finished bronzes, but plaster studies as well as drawings, prints, letters, and books. By the time of his death in 1926, Mastbaum had brought together the greatest Rodin collection outside of Paris
The Rodin Museum, which opened to the public in 1929, houses 124 sculptures, including bronze casts of the artist's greatest works: The Thinker, perhaps the most famous sculpture in the world; The Burghers of Calais, his most heroic and moving historical tribute. As you walk up the stairs to the interior of the museum, The Gates of Hell, an unfinished work which menaces you and almost stops you from entering.
Over 60,000 visitors annually make the trip to see this spectacular Museum and the gardens, which surround it. The gardens are supposed to heighten an appreciation of the works of art. I was disappointed with the gardens because the walkway was of gravel; there were no flowers, but an ample amount of trees. There is supposed to be a reflecting pool, which is to evoke calm and echoes the cool beauty that one will experience within the building. The fountain was not working and seemed to need repair. This was in such contrast to the interior of the building and to the sister museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Arts.
You could get very close to the sculptures and take all of the pictures that your heart desired. It was well worth the suggested admission price of $3.00
I found a video that is hilarious. It is a compilation of dancers on "Soul Train", whose theme music was played by TSOP or The Sound of Philadelphia. That sound was very popular during the 70s and check out the shoes - platforms! Oh yes, try to find Rosie Perez.

A Little Bit of Paris

Benjamin Franklin Parkway is Philadelphia's Champs Elysees. Fountains, small parks, statues, monuments and flags from every nation lend a formality that gives the Parkway its own special aura. The Parkway is a place of parades. In September there is "Super Sunday," with all the public institutions participating and Philadelphians, usually a quarter-million or more of them, joining in. In recent years, the Parkway has been the starting point for a bicycle race which is part of the international racing circuit. In fact, the race was on held on the June 8th this year.
In the beginning, the Parkway was an architect's and a planner's dream — something breathtakingly bold for the staid old city. Then it became a cultural mecca — a center for museums and educational institutions. Today the Parkway stands as a triumph in urban planning.

Logan Circle is one of Penn's original five squares, and it, was once used as a burying ground. Whether William was also buried in the square we don't know, but in 1825 it was renamed for James Logan. Eventually the graves, mounds and hillocks were removed or leveled. And now it is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. The square has become a circle with the waters of the Swann Memorial Fountain by Alexander Stirling Calder providing a graceful aerial water ballet.
My favorite and one of the great libraries of the country is main branch of The Free Library of Philadelphia. I remember visiting the library one spring break from Lincoln University to see if I could examine the book the "Kama Sutra". I had learned about the text in Philosophy of Eastern Civilizations class. I couldn't check the book out and in fact, I don't remember learning anything from examining the book.
There are always exhibits of interest in the entrance hall, concerts, lectures and films throughout the year. There is a cafeteria on the roof, and during the summer you can eat alfresco and enjoy the panorama of Philadelphia.
Let me give you another taste of Philly with a video tour as I continue to make my way to my final destinations. Enjoy!

The curse of William Penn

When I moved from Philly in the late '70s, the city was the midst of urban decay. Industrial jobs were leaving the city, inner city homes were being boarded up and police brutality went unabated. My city has risen like the phoenix and I have been enjoying its beauty. I had a destination in mind. I decided to visit the Rodin Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and I will eventually get to a description of my visit, but, I have to get there first. I walked from the Suburban Regional Train Station onto 18th and JFK Boulevard and was in the midst of sky rise buildings. Philadelphia's newest skyscraper, the Comcast Tower, is a 57 floor glass building and in fact, later that evening they had an opening ceremony and reception. This building is especially significant to me because I looked at its beauty and thought "thanks for the health care benefits". If you looked over toward Market Street, you can see City Hall, the setting for many television shows and movies. On the top of the building stands a statue of William Penn, one of the founders of the city. Under a gentleman's agreement, no building in the city was to rise above this statue. This ended in March 1987, when a modern steel-and-glass skyscraper called One Liberty Place opened three blocks away. One Liberty Place dwarfed City Hall by 397 feet, soaring 945 feet in height compared to City Hall's actual height of 547' 11-3/4" to the top of Penn's hat.
Prior to 1987,Philadelphia sports teams enjoyed an enviable run of success: The Phillie's won the 1980 World Series and the 1983 National League pennant; and the Flyers had won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. The Eagles had appeared in Super Bowl XV, losing to the Oakland Raiders; and the 76ers had won the championship in 1983, as well as making the finals in 1977, 1980, 1982 and 2001. Construction on One Liberty Place began in 1985, two years after the last championship season in Philadelphia. In a coincidence, the ground was broken on the same day as the MOVE tragedy that left numerous members of a group dead, and burned down several blocks of West Philadelphia neighborhood.
It is believed that the city cannot win a sports championship because of the curse of William Penn. In an attempt to end the curse, workers John Joyce and Dan Ginion attached a small figurine of Billy Penn to the beam of the Comcast building, along with an American flag and a small tree. I hope that it breaks the curse. Philly knew how to throw a great celebration party!

Life is a lark, at Willow Grove Park

My main purpose for coming to Philadelphia at this particular time is personal, but, I am glad that I have been able to enjoy the city and the surrounding suburbs. I went to the mall earlier in the week - Willow Grove Park Mall! This mall sits on grounds that used to house contraptions for fear and pleasure! This land once had an amusement park on it - Willow Grove Park. We had many wonderful family reunions and teenage excursions visiting and picnicking at the park, which had a wooden roller coaster. Willow Grove Park opened in 1896 as a trolley park to encourage weekend ridership on the trolley line. Willow Grove Park was one of the premier amusement parks until it it was eclipsed by parks such as Six Flags, Great Adventures and Disneyland. One of the biggest attractions in the park was the music pavilion, at which John Philip Sousa and his band played all but one year between 1901 and 1926. The pavilion was demolished in March 1959.
After its closure in 1976, the park sat vacant until the land was cleared for a large shopping mall, now known as Willow Grove Park Mall, which opened in August 1982. The mall pays homage to its predecessor by displaying banners and other objects which looks back to the land's days as an amusement park; a merry-go-round built and installed in 2001 also operates within the mall.
I am not much of a shopper, but the strawberry cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory is to die for!

God is in this place!

I had the pleasure of attending Enon Baptist Tabernacle Church (Enon East), this past Sunday and it was filled with all of the pomp and circumstance that you would expect in a mega Baptist Church. Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church was founded on September 21, 1876 and became the first African-American Baptist Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. It is named for the place where people came to be baptized by John the Baptist and for more than a century, Enon has been guided by its foundational mission of reaching people for the cause of Christ. This location, which is on Coulter Street is called Enon West.
Enon East, which has a sanctuary for 5,000 worshippers is located on Cheltenham Avenue in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia, on property that was previously owned by Temple University. The irony in this that this is only place that Temple has given up land, because they have encroached on quite a bit of property in North Philadelphia. The church is committed to developing effective strategies to deter youth violence and to positively impact their local, national, and international community. Enon-East is really a big back yard for the community to come and play and for youth to engage in competitive athletics. As an advocate of for community programming, I applaud the member for "being their brother's keeper".

I have another video for you about a section of Philadelphia called Manayunk. Enjoy!

My Prince Will Be Here, Eventually!

I had the pleasure of attending a Philadelphia phenomenon, the Prom send-off! A Prom Send Off is sort of like Sweet 16 birthday meets the Cotillion. Our Prom Queen had invited family and friends and almost everyone has a role. Several women are assigned cooking duties, cleaning responsibilities, hospitality and production and they are good in their respective roles. Our Cinderella awaits in a closed room where she is dressed and comforted until her date arrives. Not only does she impatiently awaits his arrival, so does the neighbors up and down the block, because it is now dark and they want to go in and watch television. And the Prince was at home waiting for that call which said, "it's time to go". And, so down the stairs she glides, in the mist of fog (provided by a machine), which allows her gorgeous form fitting gold dress with train to billow. Oh, and I forgot that she had a dedicated song playing for her entrance. And girlfriend knew how to work it for the cameras. You move, then stop, pose, smile, move and pose again. Her entrance onto the streets of Philadelphia was on a red cloth. They were finally allowed to leave from their adoring crowd and finally made it that memorable dance, The High School Prom. The adoring fans re-entered the house and we celebrated this event with food and great conversation. That's where we heard that someone else would arrive to the prom by a horse drawn carriage. Another Philly tradition, like the Mummers!

Meet me on South Street

"Meet me on South Street" is the name of a popular song of the 1960's that I heard on the local radio and TV dance shows. In fact, by 1969 and the early 70's I was dancing every Sunday afternoon at Wagner's Ballroom with the tunes spun by Jerry Blavet. Now Jerry is a phenom of that era with specials on PBS! I took it easy on Thursday and in fact I don't know if I am going to make my plan of seeing Philly on $10 per day. I spent $16.35 on day 1 for lunch and transportation, didn't spend anything walking the neighborhood on 2ND day, but spent $18.10 on day 3! I was to meet a friend for lunch at Essene Natural Food Store. He addresses the issue of poor nutrition through holistic health strategies and has wonderful ideas concerning the optimization of the body's energy systems. Check out his website at www.HealingMothersSpirit.com I had to catch a bus and then transfer to the Broad Street Subway to South Street and walk from Broad Street to 4TH Avenue and then over 1 block to Bainbridge. The last time I was on South Street, it was filled with visitors and clubs. I am told that some of the clubs have moved and on closer to the river. You can get some information about South Street on the video below. After a leisurely lunch, we walked through Independence Square, which was full of tourists and school groups. It was more crowded than I remember and in fact, streets were closed to accommodate the tour groups. We caught the subway back to North Philly by cutting through The Gallery, one of the 1st malls in Philly. I will be back to Center City because there are still so many sights that I haven't seen and plan on visiting.

I'm in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection

I made it! Now, my roundtrip airplane ticket to Philly from Nashville was just $154.00 on my online website, www.yourimanitravel.com. I had go really north (Detroit) to get to the Philly, but, you have to be flexible if you want to get a discounted ticket. Things went well, I arrived in Philadelphia on time and my luggage was there. My only mishap was that I just missed the last train that would take me from the airport to Glenside, which is a suburb of Philly. I had to take another train, which meant that I had to transfer in center city, but that wasn’t really a problem. It is wonderful to be in a city that has so many mass transit choices. When I left Philly over 30 years ago, I was glad to go. There was infrastructure decay and a heavy handed police presence that was oppressive. But having to take the train, made me have to look at the city with new eyes and I was surprised and pleased. A lot of the old buildings have been renovated and streets don’t look as if a bomb has been dropped onto it. My city has grown and is gaining some of the old ambience it once had. So, I’m here and already off budget because it cost me $10.00 for the train ride! The video below gives you a historical perspective of the city.

Can I do Philly at $10 per day?

I am on my way to Philadelphia, Pa in a couple of hours and would you believe that I am hoping to get two more loads of clothes washed and dried before I head out! I am not stressed (repeat this mantra as needed). I am also challenging myself to visit the city as a tourist, and I plan to do that on – get this - $10.00 per day! Now, I will have free food and lodging, (thanks Sharon), but I usually visit my old home in style. I usually have a luxury car and if I wanted to escape my children, I would just check in at the Embassy Suites. However, if I want to talk about how to vacation on a budget, I must know what I am talking about, so, I invite you to take this ride with me.
Philadelphia, the second largest city in the British Empire, was the original capital of the nation and it served in this capacity until 1800, while Washington, D.C. was being built. We have all learned that the city provided a backdrop to the creation and execution of the Revolutionary ideas that lead to the establishment of the United States of America. Philadelphia, which translated from the Greek means “City of Brotherly Love” also embraces “Sisterly Affection”, and is one of the most ethnically mixed US cities, with substantial communities of Italians, Irish, Eastern Europeans and Asians living side by side among the majority black population. Once known as “Filthydelphia”, the city underwent a remarkable resurgence preparing the nation’s bicentennial celebrations in 1976. There is a new energy in the city and history, strong cultural institutions, and a new influx of income due to the new downtown convention center fuel this. I will travel this city with new eyes. I won’t be driving to the city and parking in the lot adjacent to the Academy of Music as I go to see a play. I will get there by bus.

Cruising fits my criteria as being a dream vacation that we can take during these depressed economic times. In fact, I am counting down the days until I go on my friend and family cruise in July. Here are 1o good reasons for choosing to go cruising!
1. Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.
2. Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, en suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available.
3. Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery.
4. Choose to cruise for VARIETY. With over 150 distinctive ships,1800 ports-of-call and an unbelievable array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour.
5. Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES. Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, musical revues, gaming or a quiet evening gazing at the stars.
6. Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don't come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; your CLIA-affiliated travel agency (like myself) can handle all of the details. Once you're on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid... talk about hassle-free.
7. Choose to cruise for NEW HORIZONS. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new horizon... and you only have to pack and unpack once!
8. Choose to cruise for FAMILY. Families love cruising. Children's programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone.
9. Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock.
10. Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience. Choose to cruise for YOU. You can have the vacation of a lifetime, see the world, completely unwind, take a walk on the wild side, dance the night away, feast on fabulous cuisine, learn something new, make friends, bond with your family, steal quiet moments with your spouse. Whatever your heart desires, is yours, when you choose to cruise.

It's Gone!

I told you 3 weeks ago about the 2 fly free program and I'm sorry, but the program is now gone. I will let you know about other programs that will help you to go on your dream vacation. I want to hear your comments and if you need information about a destination, please let me know and I will accommodate you!

I did the Bossa Nova

When most people think of Brazil, Rio de Janiero and Carnival comes to mind. However, did you know that Brazil is one the largest geographically diverse countries, with a cosmopolitan area along with rainforests and jungles. Rio is the 2nd largest city in Brazil and is the home of the Bossa Nova, the Samba, cuisine and unique jewelry.

I was able to visit Rio last night, from the comfort of a church. I was fortunate and blessed to see and hear “Baby Consuelo” aka “Baby do Brasil” sing. “Baby” is a phenomenon in Brazil for over 20 years, and she sings several genre of music, but all forms are done enthusiastically. I was one of approximately 50 people in the room, who did not speak Portuguese, but she directed a young lady to translate for me. Have you ever had one of those experiences when you know that God is trying to tell you something and that you were led to that place at that time to hear it? Well, my love for culture led me to be in that place at that time, and for “Baby” to be there!
I would like to share a video with you. She is on a TV show in Brazil, singing a Bossa Nova song and Amazing Grace. Enjoy!

I have all the facts for 2 Fly Free

The YTB Fly Free Program is an exclusive product fulfilled by the Thomas Cook Group, who have taken an average of 18.7 million customers on vacation and employs over 32,700 staff worldwide. It is one of the oldest and largest travel companies in the world and this allows them to use their buying power to offer this incredible travel program.

So how does it work? Well, you will enroll in the program, which costs just a one time cost of $300. (I’m having trouble finding an air ticket for $300 for my trip to Philadelphia next month). What you get is the ability to have 14 month of usage and check this out it can be used as many times as you want during that 14-month period!

Just click the link above and get ready to travel!!!!

P.S. I want to give you 3 gifts for enrolling in the program.

The e-book, “How to budget for a family vacation” valued at $14.95

Colorful brochure of all inclusives of the Caribbean

3 day, 2 night Free hotel stay at 1 of 20 destinations valued at up to $560

Don't procrastinate and let's get traveling!

Do you believe this, 2 can fly for free!!!!

Your Imani Travel, a YTB franchise, now presents one of the most exciting and innovative vacation package available today. The YTB 2 Fly Free program allows you to take your dream vacation, during these times of economic downturn. You will be able to fly round-trip for two at no cost whenever you decide to book a minimal hotel stay at designated properties. You may choose to vacation in Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Palm Springs, San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Mexico, Jamaica, Paris, London, Rome and more.
Moreover, you can vacation any time you desire and as often as you wish, and the airfare is free! I'll give you further information this afternoon, keep looking out!

I've been busy!!

Yeah!!! I have been busting at the seams trying to keep this information contained until I could make an appropriate announcement and now I can spill the beans!

If you had all the money you needed, what’s the first thing you would want to do? The correct answer is travel!

I told members of my travel newsletter to mark their calendar for a wonderful and exclusive solution for taking their dream vacation at reduced rate. I hinted that you would be able to take a 7 – 10 day vacation at a 4 -5 star resort at a discount with reduced airfare. Well later this afternoon, I will share information on how you can join an exclusive savvy travel program, which will allow you take a dream vacation at a reduced rate. Watch out for this exciting information later today!

Cancun and the Mayan Rivieria, 3 vacations in one

The Rivieria Maya is beautiful and a wonderful place to have a dream vacation! Check out this video which will inform you about the area!

Watch now!

Please do me a favor, take my travel survey

I have created a survey and would like your input. I need this information, so that I can better meet your needs. When you complete the survey, you will be entered to win a 3-day 2-night hotel stay in one of 20 destinations. As an added gift, I will send you an exclusive brochure of the all-inclusives located in the Caribbean. So, let’s take a survey! Just click the take survey link in the header of this page.

The 7 New Wonders of the World

Last year New7Wonders announced that there were 7 new wonders of the world. New7Wonders is the non profit organization which conducted a global poll, which generated over 100 million votes that were cast on the internet by cell phone text messages. The campaign to name the new wonders was launched in 1999 by Bernard Weber, who is a Swiss adventurer. Close to 200 nominations came in, and the list was narrowed to 21 by the start of 2006. The new 7 wonders of the are The Great Wall of China, Rome's Coliseum, India's Taj Mahal, Peru's Machu Picchu, Brazil's Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid and Jordan's Petra. We probably know the least about Petra. Petra is a city located about 250 miles from Amman, Jordan and this ancient city was built the Nabetheans. This city was carved in the rock of the red-rose mountains. This city is hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountain that has no comparison in the world. This city was "designed to strike wonder into all who entered it".
The Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower were nominated and did not make the cut. And politics did make a play in some of the selections. Portugal was widely opposed to the Statue of Liberty as a nominee because of our invasion of Iraq. Also, Egypt had to be assured that the pyramids of Giza, the only surviving structure from the original 7 wonders, would retain their status in addition to the new 7 wonders. This is one of my long dream vacations. I want to go from one location to another. I will also see remnants of any of the remaining wonders. I hope that you can join me!

Don't Worry

Watch Now!

Historic Times Square

Watch Now!

I know that you want to become a more selective and savvy traveler!
Again, you
don't want to miss my travel suggestions, which will make "cents" of
your Dream Vacation.
Do you know how to make an international telephone call when in
Europe? Well,
watch this video clip which will show you how. Do you have a clue?
You can find out. Watch now!

Staying Connected in Europe

Watch now!

How To Take a Dream Vacation During a Bad Economy!

Americans consider travel to be a "birthright" and essential tolife and though we are in the midst of a recession, guess what isrecession proof. You guessed it, TRAVEL. How will we continue to travel when GAS PRICES are reaching a new high?!!! Well, you don't want to miss some of the tips that I will give so that your next trip is recession proof!