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		Ask The Experts - Part One Reprinted from May 2006 Issue -by SONDRA WILSON I try to excite you each month with a favorite travel destination. I thought it would be fun to “Ask the Experts”, those fabulous people at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, about their favorite travel destinations and why they love them. If a travel agent who can go anywhere in the world has a special love for a terrific place then it must be great. Here’s a few of the responses from those marvelous ladies at Carlson Wagonlit Travel: Pam Baldwin is a real pro at the art of planning complicated independent travel. I never hesitate to recommend her to my friends because I know she will never disappoint. She is so wonderful at finding those wonderful out of the way inns or the special restaurant down the road. I know we are lucky to have her. Here’s Pam’s response: “My favorite travel destination in the world is Venice, Italy (it was Walt Disney’s also - you can understand the “magic” in Venice he foresaw for his theme parks. Second favorite would be Salzburg, Austria and surrounding area (looks exactly like Sound of Music scenes) My favorite cruise destination would be Bermuda (although I have only been to the island on land). The ship sails from New York and you get two days on one side and two days on the other. It is more port intensive. Second favorite would be the Mediterranean and then Mexico. Pam Judy Rusk joined our staff with 18 years of experience in the travel industry and can be found working diligently in our Columbia Center Mall office near the food court. She loves planning vacations and here’s her picks: “Sondra, my favorite destination is probably Disneyland California Adventure. I guess there is always part of us that is still a kid. My daughter and I try to go every year. Maui would have to be my second favorite destination. As for cruising, my favorite is Alaska and I absolutely loved it. The entire experience and the scenery just can’t be beat. I would do it again and again.” Judy, you are right! Disney has something to stir everyone’s heart. I will always remember taking my granddaughter to Disneyland and we can’t wait to go again. I just can’t say enough about Teresa Arendt. She has been a part of our Carlson family for the past 24 years. She is currently our Chief Financial Officer and calls the Richland office home. Of course after 24 years in the travel business, she certainly knows how to spend her free time. Here are her comments: “Of the places I have visited, I enjoyed my trip to Cancun. It’s easy to see why this remains Mexico’s most popular resort destination. It has everything. Its history, beauty, and international feel make Cancun the best. And the water really is that blue! As for cruising, I think we are seeing a trend of more families taking Alaska Cruises. Alaska departures are close by so flying is not a requirement and before you know it everyone is instantly on vacation. And regardless of age there is something special for everyone to do. Alaska used to be reserved for the older group, but now with more adventurous shore excursions, it’s the perfect choice for families. My favorite cruise destination has to be Bermuda. I felt safe there, and I appreciated its cleanliness and beauty. We rented mopeds to explore the island and I enjoyed all the pastel colored homes. The best part is that cruises to Bermuda depart from New York City so the pre and post cruise options are unlimited. I loved the theatre, shopping, and museum options. Combining a cruise with a stay in New York is wonderful. We cruised New England last year from New York and we thought our time in New York was just as wonderful as our cruise. Of course all of our travel experts at Carlson were a huge help with arrangements and even got us great seats at the Broadway show Wicked. Last November we purchased our affiliated Carlson office in Walla Walla and expanded our horizons. We felt for some time that Walla Walla will continue to grow and we wanted to be a part of that. One of the best parts of the Walla Walla office is Petra who has worked in that agency for the past 15 years. Petra comes from Holland so some of her responses won’t surprise you, but she has some great travel information that you will enjoy reading. “Dear Sondra, Petra here. My favorite destination has to be Holland as that is my homeland. It’s a very small country but there are many nooks and crannies to discover. The people are friendly, speak English, and the food is wonderful. The Netherlands has such a history. A little known fact is that the Mennonites from Minnesota sent quilts to the Dutch during WWII as a way of thanking them for their help in leaving Europe for America during a time of persecution. My favorite city is Istanbul. East meets West and again such history! The people are friendly and the food is wonderful. The exotic Turkish culture surrounds you everywhere in Istanbul. The sights and smells are like nothing else. If you want to see ruins still in a natural setting Turkey is the place to go. Nothing beats Kushadasi. Of course, if you go to Istanbul you will want to see more of Turkey! My last adventure was a trip to Maui with Liz who works in our Richland office. I did a “SNUBA” trip. It is a scuba dive but you are attached to an air line instead of tanks on your back. I was surprised how easy it was without any prior training. Anyone can do it! Regards,Petra” Thanks Petra. I love the Netherlands and specifically Amsterdam also. It really is one of Europe’s best places. And I have been fortunate enough to visit Istanbul many times. That is also a fantastic place. One of my favorite places is in Turkey. If anyone gets a chance to go to Bodrum take it. This resort city is such fun and you can hire a gullet and sail the coastline. Please see the June issue of The Entertainer Newspaper for the continuation of “Ask The Experts”.