WEEKLY NEWS|TRAVEL

Stories 27 November — 3 December

Summer in the Southern Hemisphere

Please scroll to the end to give all writers a chance to be seen. It’s random who winds up at the end so please don’t think I’m choosing favourites! So many wonderful stories this week! If you want to read a funny, almost tragic story about me, scroll down to Keeley Schroder’s story. Now that’s favouritism! 😆

A sad goodbye

Sam Millichap has to downsize her backpack and the laptop has to go! I hope you have some great adventures! You’ve inspired so many of us Globetrotters to write about our favourite places so I’ll personally be indebted to you for that. A — Z stories are still flowing in each week — right at the bottom of this collection.

November Monthly Challenge — Gratitude

Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages shares a wonderful tale of all the lovely people they’ve met and befriended in their travels. One of the pluses of hostel living.

Other writers inspired me to write this one. Do you get inspiration from other stories like I do?

This is a lovely story of gratitude inspired by Stephanie Tolk’s daughter. Kids can make great travel companions.

New writer Nicholas Patten writes about his gratitude for a particular restaurant after a week in a cabin with no electricity, no TV and no wifi.

And here Anne Bonfert wraps up the November challenge and announces the winners!

December Monthly Challenge — Christmas and Other Celebrations

Only a couple of days into December and we already have Christmas stories! Keep ’em coming!

Anne Bonfert announces the challenge for this month and outlines the guidelines and gives us some prompts. Get writing, Globetrotters! There’s no limit on the number of stories you can submit!

And here’s our first story for the December writing challenge from none other than our very own Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages.

Aarti Tailor writes about her Christmastime visit to Brussels — just 2 hours from London on the Eurostar!

Anne Bonfert writes about Esslingen Christmas market which she visited recently — I’m so jealous! The combination of Christmas and history and food and mulled wine is too much temptation.

Janice Macdonald tempts our tastebuds with this delectable story (and history) of some famous European chocolates. If the story isn’t enough to tempt you, try the pictures. Mmmm!

Akemi Sagawa writes about a reunion with a friend in Vienna’s Christmas market. I love how she apologises to the stallholders for not buying anything except a warm wine and a bag of roasted chestnuts. How lovely!

Bell KS is flying home for Christmas and dealing with the stress of flying for the holidays. Are you flying home from Christmas? Share your story for the December challenge.

Editor’s News

Chedck out the new writers! Thanks, JoAnn Ryan — I don’t know how you keep up with all of them!

Stories of the Week

Paul Gardner’s story really resonated with me — I have to realize that it’s simply not possible to go everywhere and see everything in a single lifetime. I’m hoping reincarnation is a thing so I can continue to travel in my next life!

Robert Knight writes about the wonderful windjammer S/V Mandalay. It’s a gorgeous old ship still sailing the Caribbean and she’s 100 years old next year! They don’t make them like this anymore. Robert’s article was first published in the Denver Post in 1987. If I were ever to go cruising again, this is how I’d like to travel.

And I just loved Jesse R. Barker’s story of his visit to Gdansk. His photos and story are enticing me to add it to my itinerary. I may never get back to Australia at this rate!

Africa

Oscar Rhea is keeping us in suspense with his climb of Kilimanjaro. Does he reach the summit? But don’t worry — this is normal!

AlibsWrites writes about a 25km hike when the plan was to do a 10km one! That’s a big difference! You captured some great photos!

Asia

Linda Ng shares her recent visit to the farmers’ market in Malaysia. I don’t even know what some of those vegetables are! Great photos, Linda!

D J Hopkins writes about Thai cultural experience he found way off the beaten track. How special!

Here’s another story from Thailand from D J Hopkins. DJ has truly immersed himself in Thai culture. Great to see this!

Jona Branzuela Bering brings us an exciting surfing story from The Philippines, at one of the best surfing beaches in the world.

B.R. Shenoy Recently visited Bahrain and the UAE. Here she writes about the awe-inspiring views from the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It’s crazy but all those buildings you are looking down on are skyscrapers as well. They are dwarfed by the Burj. An amazing experience well-told!

Jay Davidson writes about travelling by train in India… you learn from experience!

Jordhan Robinson answers her own question I was surprised by the answer. Thanks for sharing some history of Vietnam, Jordhan.

New writer Rochelle Deans writes about her son’s head trauma in Vietnam — scary when it’s your child and you’re far from home. This a timely reminder of why health insurance is a must when travelling.

Anupa Jayakody writes a real adventure as a person who is not terribly adventurous. I can identify with her. Well done for pushing through, Anupa.

Here’s another adventure from Anupa about Sri Lanka’s beautiful beaches. Who knew?

Shameem Anwar shares a lovely family story from Saudi Arabia. We don’t often hear stories from this country.

Abby tells some cold hard truths about life in Bali. If you move here or anywhere, in fact, you can’t expect it to cure all of your woes. The lesson from this is don’t believe everything you see and hear on social media. Most only show the fun things.

South America

I wanted to put this story of Hannah Visser Pavez into my stories of the week but I already have three, but it’s definitely one I love, love, love! I held my breath while reading… I hope you do too!

North America

Michael Rhodes shares one of his Cookie Jar stories. Check this one out if you haven’t read any of his others. It’s a wonderful idea! It’s one of the few places in the US I’ve visited, and loved!

Maggie Gigandet writes about the local foods you may or may not find when you pull over for gas. I’ve never eaten any of these so I can’t give an opinion.

Charisse Tyson tells us it’s definitely not all rainbows and lollipops travelling around the US in a motorhome. It’s bigger than our buses!

Charisse continues her tale of woes and it’s not over yet! If you’re fortunate enough to have an RV, you’ll probably sympathise with her. It’s been one thing after another!

Janin Lyndovsky continues her motorhome trek across Canada. Beautiful descriptions and photographs, despite her feelings of loneliness!

kat. says “ I’m not a rock climber,” but you wouldn’t know it if you read her story! Amazing photographs too!

Kathryn Lee writes a funny story about her clash with a clown — and not just any clown! Only in America!

This is a very different story Anupa Jayakody tells. Her earlier story about the beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka was just so different I didn’t recognise her as the writer!

I have to say Shashank Iyer’s story is one of the best I’ve ever read of the Grand Canyon. Thank you so much!

Australia and New Zealand

Charles Black M.D. takes his family to Auckland and discovers some pretty cool things. What attractions have you visited in Auckland? I’ve seen none of these and I’ve been to Auckland a few times. (only for the day on a cruise and many years ago.) Thanks for telling us about the Auk, Charles. I just figured that’s where Auckland must have got its name!

Shawn Tucker writes about one of my favourite places on earth and it’s a movie set!

Europe

Manali Mitra writes lovingly about Lisbon as seen through author Jose Saramago’s eyes. Beautiful!

And who doesn’t want to be travelling with Michael Burg, MD (Satire Sommelier) around Croatia? No crowds, I love it!

Gareth Willey gives us the low-down on the cheapest train tickets in the UK. I’ll take his advice. I paid £138 for two return tickets to Bath from London bought at the ticket office on our day of travel. I thought she said £38. I almost died when I checked the receipt!

Gareth who dare I say is a bit of a train aficionado reviews the Caledonian Sleeper and it’s not all good.

Simon Whaley “walks with reindeer” in Scotland — what a wonderful experience!

If you think this story is about me, you’d be right. My daughter Keeley Schroder has written it and I wasn’t allowed to change anything! Of course, now I have to write my side of the story!

Nathaniel Mellor gives some timely advice on staying warm through the winter in Europe although he’s in the south of Italy which I imagine is warmer than the more northerly counties.

I’m so pleased Elvie Lins gives Annecy a second chance. Her camera was stolen on the road to Barcelona. Such a terrible story of highway robbery. Her photographs are gorgeous.

TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE writes about his first 7 months in Ireland — the good, the bad and the ugly…well not so much the ugly. Ireland is beautiful!

Jacques Dexteri has written about this special place respectfully and with thanks. A must-read!

Ophélie Quillier takes her cute dog Ginny on adventures to the beach and she enjoys some of the local “colour” too.

Belcairn writes a story of her recent visit to Fife, a beautiful part of Scotland. And beautiful photos too!

Travel Stories

We are looking forward to Barb Dalton’s travels Down Under. She has to get through the gruelling flights first!

Aarti Tailor has expressed what so many of us feel in so many beautiful words. Thank you, Aarti.

Jacqueline Jannotta poses a question and attempts to answer it here. As Jill says, “travel can be a much deeper experience than just breezing by the tourist sights along the way.” I think we can all agree with this.

Another wonderful story from Brett Jenae Tomlin on how she has grown through her anxiety by travelling— she can see herself in the way the California Redwoods grow.

Aarti Tailor writes about the wonderful waterfalls she’s experienced in her travels. I agree there’s something special about waterfalls.

Philip Ogley presents an interesting question and attempts to answer it too! Some interesting history here too!

Here’s a fantastic travel story from Anne Bonfert. She’s writing while on a flight to Namibia via Doha! Exciting times ahead for Anne and her husband!

This photo came up as a memory on Facebook. I had to have a closer look to remember that day onbelcairn the train going to Santa’s Grotto!

My Favourite Travel Destinations A -Z

My latest in the series… lots of photos…too long to publish in Globetrotters…rules is rules… but I’ve included it here just ‘cos I can.

Darren Weir shares his hammam and other memorable experiences in Istanbul.

Robert G. Longpré - [he/him] - Canadian métis walks the entire length of Juno Beach as a tribute to those Canadian soldiers who lost their lives here in the Second World War.

Robert G. Longpré - [he/him] - Canadian métis continues A-Z with his K story of Krong Siem Reap. Interesting why it’s Krong!

Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturists writes about his (mostly naked) visit to Byron Bay and its hinterland. It’s a lovely area — pity about the tourists!

Thank you, readers and writers, for making Globetrotters such a fun and educational place to be!