TRIP-O-PHO-BI-A

TRIPOPHOBIA - WHAT?

What the heck is Tripophobia?

This past week I participated, virtually of course, in one of the travel industry's big events - CruiseWorld. The term "tripophobia" was coined by one of the speakers, defined as "fear of not having a trip planned." Does that resonate with you?

There was quite a bit covered during the conference - and despite our ongoing struggles with flattening the COVID curve, the past couple of weeks have had some news that is encouraging for the travel industry - first, the CDC lifted its No-Sail Order for ships cruising in US waters, effective November 1st, and second, Pfizer announced promising results in its vaccine trials.

For me, improved accuracy and availability of rapid screening tests is a critical element to a return to travel as it was - but I'm very hopeful, given the rapidly improving test sensitivity and production.

As cruising is gradually reintroduced, there will be several changes to the experience, for example:

• Buffets, if available, will no longer be self-service. Guests will indicate to a server what they want and it will be plated for them.
• Shore excursions may have fewer choices and guests will be limited to offerings from the cruise line, to ensure guest and crew safety through rigorous vetting.
• The number of passengers sailing is likely to be limited to a certain percentage of a ship's capacity - to ensure space for social distancing.
• For ships with large theatres and production shows, reservations will likely be required and seating capacity will be reduced. On the flip side there may be additional performances scheduled.
• Muster Drills will be completed from the passenger's cabin (rather than all passengers reporting to their muster station before sail away)
• For cruises visiting US ports, the length of the voyage will be 7 days or fewer.
• Expect to see shorter cruises - perhaps from US Southern ports to a cruise line's private island and back.
• There will be more medical personnel onboard going forward
• The ships themselves are being retrofitted with advanced air filtration systems and HEPA filters to minimize the risk of the ventilation system spreading germs and viruses

Cruise industry executives predicted a few trends, specifically:

• Increased demand for cruises on smaller ships with fewer passengers
• Interest in destinations that are more nature-focused
• Booking well into the future, e.g. 2022-2023
• A shift from the notion of having a bucket "checklist" to having a Life List with destinations and experiences that may have more personal meaning to the traveler

On this last point one of my colleagues used the phrase "Putting Hope on the Calendar" which gets back to "Tripophobia" - studies show that one of the happiest parts of the travel experience is when travel is booked, as well as the anticipation of that travel. I've got hope on my calendar - and when you are ready to schedule your hope, I'll be here to help.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Today we pause and reflect on the fathers in our lives. Pictured above is my dad with me and my sisters. As the firstborn of my dad's 4 daughters, on Father's Day, my dad always thanks me for making him a dad.

My passion for travel was inherited from my parents. As a child and young man, my dad's travel experiences were limited to visits to his family - traveling from Chicago to Milwaukee to visit his mom's relatives, or to Richmond, Indiana to visit his grandfather. (He did participate in a historical American event - his family hitchhiked from Chicago to Washington, D.C. as part of the "Bonus Army" when he was a toddler.) Drafted during the Korean Conflict - my father was deployed to France, serving as a clerk-typist to a unit of architects and engineers. Being stationed in Europe was a life-changing experience for him, and he took advantage of every day of furlough to explore the continent. After his discharge, he returned home to Chicago and met my mom while they both worked for Lions International. At the time, my mother was planning to enter the convent; she was visiting relatives in Mexico on what she called her farewell tour when she ran into my dad on a Guadalajara sidewalk. "What are you doing here?" she asked him - and he responded that he had been moved by her descriptions of Mexico's beauty, and wanted to see it for himself. The rest, as they say, is history - and I can honestly say that I owe my very existence to my father's curiosity about the world, sparked by his travel experiences.

As we continue to navigate these unique times, I for one am hopeful that by Father's Day next year, we will once again be able to enrich our lives by exploring more of the world.

Happy Father's Day!

Save The Dates

During July, I'll be hosting three virtual wine and travel nights, featuring wines from South Africa, France, and Italy. I'll be partnering with a bay area wine merchant, from whom you can order the wines we'll be tasting - as well as travel partners with expertise in each of those countries. The ZOOM calls will be at 5 PM Pacific, 8 PM Eastern, on three Thursdays - July 8, July 15 and July 22 - details will be released shortly. I hope you will join us for these physically distanced but very social events.

From Joan's Kitchen

If you missed my live demo of how to make my mother's non-traditional Gazpacho, never fear - here's the link for the video. To request the recipe, click the link below the video. And on Monday, June 22 at 2 PM Pacific, 5 PM Eastern and 4 PM Central, I'll be in the kitchen again - this time, making a Mexican Shrimp Cocktail! tune in to my personal page on Facebook, to follow along.

Request the Recipe HERE: 

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

What's a Wanderlist?

I am very fortunate to be affiliated with Virtuso, which describes themselves like this: "Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with more than 20,000 advisors. We partner with over 1,800 of the world’s best companies such as hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more. Our advisors use their personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke trips for clients, including unique experiences, special values, complimentary perks, VIP treatment and rare access." Since mid-March, Virtuoso has been incredibly supportive to its membership community of travel entrepreneurs, and they've recently announced the rollout of the Virtuoso Wanderlist - a digital tool to explore destinations around the world, as well as unique and specialized things to do in those destinations. I've linked a PDF with more information - and it would be my pleasure to share a complimentary link to this tool with you! -If you're interested, just reply to this email to let me know. We will be able to travel again - and creating your own Wanderlist will encourage you to learn and dream about -and anticipate - where you may want to travel when we can.

Click HERE for More Information on Wanderlist

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Thoughts About The Future of Travel

MUSINGS:  THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL

A very wise and thoughtful colleague, Kathleen Sullivan of Anthology Travel, recently published this article. It's so well done that I'm sharing almost verbatim (with permission, of course!) I hope that you'll find this helpful.

A few thoughts on travel for the summer/fall of 2020:

I know we all just want to get the heck out of Dodge, but there are some things to keep in mind.

• In general, domestic travel is going to be easier than international.
• Some international locations, notably the Caribbean, have announced opening dates - take those with a large grain of salt, as those dates have been shifting a lot lately.
• Countries are imposing varying restrictions on entry - some require a specific type of negative COVID-19 test within 48 prior to entry, for instance. And it's not just enough for a government to declare the borders are open. In order for tourism to begin again, the hotels will need a little bit of time to do things like re-hire staff and ensure their supply chains are well-functioning. We'll also need the airlines to start running routes to those destinations.
• Speaking of the airlines, the flight schedules currently posted aren't terribly accurate, so you could be looking at schedule changes, long layovers, multiple layovers, etc...not ideal conditions, especially when traveling with kids or anyone who is differently-abled. Driving trips will be much easier than flying.
• Don't forget that we're still under a Level 4 State Department travel warning globally, which means all non-essential travel should be very carefully considered.
• Domestically, hotels on farms, ranches, etc. are going to be your best bet for social distancing. Lots of people are considering a visit to National and State Parks, but they can get crowded very quickly, so you'll want to have some alternate activities in your back pocket. For instance, when I was in Zion last spring, the traditionally-visited portion of the park was packed, but the northern part of the park, where we went hiking, was deserted...I think we saw maybe ten other people over six hours.
• If you're considering a visit to smaller, rural communities - make sure that you're not going to be stressing their resources and that they want tourism right now. Good ways to figure that out are to read local news sources and check out the local destination marketing organizations (tourism boards).
• I'm not really looking at international travel until 2021. Personally, I don't think a lot of borders will be open to citizens and residents of the US until we have our situation better controlled. I'd love to be wrong on that, and maybe I will be. It's definitely something I spend a lot of time reviewing with European travel companies. I will continue to share with you what I'm learning.
• Everyone in tourism is super stressed right now - we were the first industry affected by COVID and arguably one of the hardest-hit. So I know you're all lovely humans - just be extra-specially flexible and friendly and for the love of God, TIP HEAVILY, please.
• There is less availability for 2021 than you might think; many trips scheduled for this year have moved to next year, and those travelers will have first priority for available inventory, which may have fewer scheduled offerings. If you're contemplating something for next year, I'd consider at a minimum making refundable hotel reservations while we wait to see how the year plays out.
• Please, for the love of all that's good and holy, if you're not going to book through me or another travel advisor, book directly with the hotel. Online Travel Agencies (e.g., Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz) take a huge cut from hotels for booking. These companies don't need your dollars as much as the hotels themselves do (and one of the dirty secrets of the hotel business is that travelers who book through OTAs are assigned to less desirable rooms.) If you are brand-loyal to a large hotel chain, consider staying at smaller properties. One of the reasons I love and support and push boutique hotels is because you're supporting small business owners, actual humans, rather than large corporations.

In sum, domestic now; international maybe in the fall but probably next year; be kind to yourself and to others. 

My very best,

Joan

My Kind of Town, Chicago Is

Do you know the symbolism behind the design of Chicago's City Flag? The two sky blue stripes represent Lake Michigan/North Branch of the Chicago River, and the South Branch of the Chicago River/and the "Great Canal." The four red stars represent events from Chicago's rich history, namely The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, The Century of Progress Exhibition of 1933, and Fort Dearborn. Even the white bands are significant; they represent the North, West and South sides of the city. (There's really no East Side - that would be Lake Michigan.)

Chicago is my birthplace and my hometown. I lived there until I was 14, when my family moved to the San Diego area. At 22 I moved back, and lived in Chicago for the next 30 years before moving back to San Diego.

I still love Chicago, for so many reason - especially for family members and dear friends still living there. For those of you who've never been, I highly encourage planning a visit. Time after time visitors to Chicago are shocked (in a very good way!) by the beauty of the city, the friendliness of the residents, the world-class activities and of course, the food. In fact Chicago has become such a foodie-town that the NYC-based James Beard Foundation holds its annual awards gala and ceremony in Chicago!

If you were to visit, here are a few things I would highly recommend:

• Chicago has a rich architectural history. Take an architecture cruise on the Chicago River - tours last about 90 minutes and travel up the river, with a knowledgeable docent describing notable buildings and their histories. Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in nearby Oak Park; while in Oak Park stop by to see the gorgeous Unity Temple, also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Chicago Architecture Center, located downtown, is a great resource finding architecture-related tours and activities.
• See a play! Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Victory Gardens and The Goodman are among the best known companies, but Chicago is a great theatre city and there are so many choices! And don't forget that Chicago is home to The Second City - go to the late show and stay for the improv. Who knows, you may see the next huge comedy star!
• Visiting in Summer? Go to a baseball game! The Cubs play at Wrigley Field on the North Side; the park was built in 1914 and is as famous for its loyal fans as its ivy-covered bricks. The White Sox play at Guaranteed Rate Field; in my unbiased opinion, Sox fans are among the most knowledgeable anywhere. Not Baseball Season? The Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls and Fire all have loyal fan bases - it's fun to catch a game with any of these teams.
• Museums, Museums, Museums! The Art Institute of Chicago is probably the best known, and rightly so with their world class collection. It's the only museum to be listed in TripAdvisor's "World's Best" four years running; if you visit you are sure have an "I know that painting! moment. The Museum of Contemporary Art on the Magnificent Mile also has a wonderful collection, and is well worth a visit. Family friendly, The Field Museum of Natural History anchors the South End of Grant Park - kids really enjoy it - and it's within walking distance of The Adler Planetarium and The Shedd Aquarium. Kids also love The Museum of Science and Industry, located in Hyde Park, which is housed in the only remaining structure from the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Popular exhibits include a WWII-Era German submarine, a coal mine, and a gigantic walk through heart. Nearby, on the Campus of The University of Chicago, you'll find The Oriental Institute, a hidden gem with a collection of items from Egypt, Persia, Syria and Anatolia. The National Museum of Mexican Art, in the heart of Pilsen, is another gem; in October they have a wonderful display of ofrendas to celebrate the traditions of The Day of The Dead (Dia de los Muertos.)
• Chicago has a ton of landmarks, including Cloud Gate (better known as The Bean,) and Buckingham Fountain, both located in Grant Park. Navy Pier is a mile-long pier extending into Lake Michigan, with a vintage ballroom at the end; it's home to restaurants, attractions, The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and lots of room for taking a lakeside stroll. The Garfield Park Conservatory provides a respite from city life - especially during the winter, with its warm, humid plant-filled rooms, all under a glass roof. And north of the city, in Wilmette, you'll find the beautiful Baha'i House of Worship - well worth the drive.
• Chicago is home to a myriad of festivals; during the summer months, there's a free open air music festival almost every weekend in Grant Park. Taste of Chicago is a summertime food festival featuring restaurants from the area, offering a "taste" of their menu items. Lollapalooza, held annually in Grant Park, is a (paid) festival attracting musical superstars and thousands of fans.
• 25 Michelin Star Restaurants call Chicago home, including 3-Star Alinea, considered by some to be the best restaurant in the world. But Chicago is also home to great food served in much less formal settings. You may have heard of the Chicago Hot Dog - why not try one at the source? The Vienna Beef Factory Store and Cafe is open to the public! Italian Beef sandwiches are another Chicago tradition - thinly sliced roast beef piled on a french roll - served with sweet or hot peppers and dipped in au jus sauce. Al's Beef in Little Italy lays claim to inventing the beef; and if it's summertime, don't miss nearby Mario's Italian Lemonade. Chicago Deep-dish pizza is the epitome of the "Pizza Pie" - it's baked in a cake pan, with crust up the sides, and layers of cheese, tomatoes and topping. My go-to is Lou Malnati's - the original restaurant is in Lincolnwood, with additional locations all over the city. Pro tip: their frozen pizzas travel well and reheat beautifully. Garrett Popcorn Shops offer the Chicago Mix - a blend of cheese popcorn and caramel corn. Sounds odd but it's delicious!

If you find you're cooking at home more these days, and would like to prepare your own "Taste of Chicago," please check out the recipes I've included below for two additional classics - Shrimp Dejonghe and Chicken Vesuvio. And when we are able to travel again, I do hope you'll consider a visit to Chicago.

Dream Now, Travel Later -

Joan

Shrimp Dejonghe

This treasured relic is a cocktail napkin from the late, great Binyon's, with the Shrimp Dejonghe recipe as told to me by their chef, Stanley. This was probably in the 1980s...I've transcribed the recipe and encourage you to try it - it's absolutely delicious!

Recipe: Shrimp Dejonghe

Chicken Vesuvio

Chicken Vesuvio is a staple in Chicago's Italian Restaurants. It's a roast chicken and potato dish featuring lots of olive oil, garlic, lemon, and oregano - plus peas added at the end. Chicago spots I like: Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, The Italian Village, Rosebud, or Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse. But do try it at home!

Photo Credit: Serious Eats

Recipe: Chicken Vesuvio

🍆🍅🧄Food for Thought 🧄🍅🍆

I planned to publish recommendations for things to binge-watch on the various streaming services - but I'm feeling inspired instead to write about food.

In my family, during lunch, we would discuss what we were having for dinner - or if eating out, which restaurant we'd visit next. You could say we are a family of foodies. I've had the good fortune to take many cooking classes over the years, including some in lovely destinations. The photo above was taken during our last visit to the little hill town in Abruzzo that's home to Abruzzo Cibus (my happy place!) and I'm looking forward to a return visit once we are able to get out in the world beyond our front door.

During this time when we are staying in, I'm seeing lots of posts about cooking and food - it seems like folks are taking up baking bread, or making homemade soup; last week for St. Patrick's day my feed was filled with images of corned beef and cabbage. I've attached a couple of video cooking demonstrations below, which I hope will inspire you - and this Sunday I'm participating in a Zoom cooking class. Please let me know what's cooking in your place!

Finally, please support your local restaurants - they really need our carryout and delivery orders. Many have set up virtual tip jars for laid-off staff members - if you have a favorite restaurant that you're missing, and are in a position to do so, please consider making a gift.

Keep calm and make it from scratch,

Joan

Involtini di Melanzane - From Abruzzo, Italy

(Click white arrow below to watch video featuring Massimo and Chef Dino -(trust me, it's awesome!)   Recipe follows video.

INVOLTINI DI MELANZANE (EGGPLANT ROLLUPS)

Today we cook one of our favourite dishes: involtini di melanzane, eggplant rolls with Parmesan and ricotta cheese. Simply delicious!

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Pepper
• Salt
• Fresh ricotta
• Parmigiano
• Raisins
• Onions
• Pecorino
• Eggplants 

Cooking time:

15 minutes

Directions:

Fry a little bit the red onions in a hot pan with small amout of olive oil. Cut the eggplant in thin slices, pass them in the flour, then fry in sunflower oil (which has a lighter taste than extra virgin olive oil).

To make the stuffing for the involtini di melanzane, we need fresh ricotta. Add the caramelized onions, a bit of pepper, salt, raisins, pecorino and parmigiano. Mix together the ingredients. Add just a little bit of salt and pepper to the eggplant. Now put the stuffing on the eggplant slice and then roll it. Put the eggplant rolls in a terracotta pan, add more pecorino to create a little crost.

Cook the eggplant in the oven at 375 F for 15 minutes.

Empanadas from Barcelona

On a trip to Barcelona with Rich's daughters, we had a great food outing with Chef Yves. He met us at the market, gave us a tour, and together we decided what we would prepare. We then went to his home, set on a Barcelona hill with a sweeping view, for a lesson in preparing food, Barcelona Style. These days Yves has shared a virtual lesson in making empanadas. He makes the dough from scratch, using duck fat (!) and a pasta machine to roll it - if you don't have either duck fat or a pasta machine handy, you can use pie crust or even wonton skins for the dough. Cheers!

It's Time to Plan for Vacation!

Did you know that the US Travel Association has designated January 28th as National Plan for Vacation Day? Here's why this is important:

• Americans get less vacation time than any industrialized nation
• Despite getting the least amount of paid time off, in 2018 we let 768 million vacation days go unused!
• Planning for vacation increases the likelihood that it will happen - but only 54% of American households actually plan an annual vacation
• Vacation improves every aspect of an individual's life - including their productivity at work!

So, what are you waiting for? And why plan with me? Let me tell you...

Last year my company partnered with Virtuoso - to quote them:

"Virtuoso is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with more than 20,000 advisors. We partner with over 1,800 of the world’s best companies such as hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more. Our advisors use their personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke trips for clients, including unique experiences, special values, complimentary perks, VIP treatment and rare access."

And how does this benefit you? Here are five ways:

First, A great travel advisor...takes it from ordinary to extraordinary. A Virtuoso travel advisor can secure special benefits that you can’t get on your own, such as complimentary breakfast, spa credits, and upgrades at hotels. But they also see the nuances in every trip. From big-picture aspects (where to go – and when) to the details that matter (booking the hotel rooms with the best views, where to get the most authentic pizza on the Amalfi Coast), your travel advisor knows how to plan a memorable trip.

Second, a great travel advisor knows the world. Just as you might use a financial planner, an interior designer, or personal shopper, it makes sense to entrust your most valuable asset – your time – to an experienced travel advisor. The best advisors spend a lot of time on the road themselves – scouting out hotels, deepening relationships with tour guides, and finding the best restaurants and things to do. 

Third, a great travel advisor knows your travel style. A Virtuoso travel advisor understands what’s most important to you and your traveling companions. You may want to take a cooking class or a private tour, or you may not want to leave the resort pool! Perhaps you want to use travel to educate your kids, plan an unforgettable anniversary trip, or celebrate a milestone birthday with friends and family. Your Virtuoso travel advisor will have plenty of suggestions on what might work best for you.

Fourth, a great travel advisor expands your horizons. A great travel advisor will help you think creatively about where to go and what to do. Italy, France, and Hawaii will always be popular. But your advisor also knows the best ways, say, to see Chile, Portugal, New Zealand, and many other hot destinations – plus new ways to experience the places you’ve already visited. Together, you can plan your next dream trip or weekend getaway. 

And Finally, a great travel advisor can handle anything. Have you ever been on a trip where everything went exactly as planned? Right – this almost never happens. Issues are bound to pop up, and your Virtuoso travel advisor is your personal help line and “fixer” who knows how to quickly turn things around for the better. When they follow up after your trip, you’ll surely have an answer to this question: “Where do you want to go next?”

Cheers,

Joan

Dreaming of Alaska

What's it Like to Cruise Alaska?

Many Alaska cruises start in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We arrived a few days before boarding and explored Vancouver, including a day trip to Butchart Gardens in Victoria.

Vancouver has a beautiful and efficient cruise terminal. This was our first glimpse of our ship as we prepared to board.

Once onboard, I always like to explore the ship. This is the Sea View Pool at the stern (rear) of the ship.

Soon after boarding, all passengers are required to report to muster stations for a mandatory safety drill.

Sail Away! I like to find a cozy spot to watch while the ship leaves port - the outer decks were crowded but the Crow's Nest Observation Lounge was wide open!

Next up - we headed to the Main Stage where Cruise Director Stephanie provided an overview of our itinerary.

We chose to have our first dinner in one of the specialty dining venues - The Pinnacle Grill - featuring recipes by Chef David Burke. On the right is his Candied Bacon - amazing!

Alaska cruise itineraries typically include a couple of sea days - cruising the scenic Inside Passage and sailing among glaciers. There are plenty of things to do on board - we took a tour of the kitchen!

Ketchikan was our first port of call - it's a beautifully scenic spot.

Alaska offers many unique onshore experiences; in Ketchikan we went out on one of the Crab Fishing Boats featured on The Deadliest Catch.

Our captain stopped for a bit and our boat was surrounded by eagles. Wow!

Alaska is a very popular destination with lots of cruise ships. We were tag-teaming these Princess ships during our week on the water.

Next port of call was Juneau. We headed for a whale watching cruise followed by a visit to the Alaskan Brewing Company...

Here's a quick video of our Whale Adventure!

That same day our daughter and her husband visited with sled dogs!

Next day we docked in Skagway. We took a beautiful drive into the Yukon Territory, then boarded the White Pass Railway back to Skagway - deemed one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world.

We went a bit farther than required - our driver wanted us to see this gorgeous spot! Photos or it didn't happen, Right? On board the White Pass Railway - tracing the route of prospectors during the gold rush

Our next "stop" was actually a spectacular day at sea, cruising Glacier Bay National Park. A couple of honest to goodness Park Rangers boarded the ship early in the morning and were on hand all day for lectures and narration of this magnificent spot.

My favorite photo of the trip, of Margerie Glacier. This view was from our Verandah!

We sailed out of Skagway during the Violet Hour - this was our final port of call. Last day on board was a sea day, headed for Seward and disembarkation.

Holland America is known for its food. We really enjoyed our onboard dining - which featured Alaskan fare nightly. Here is our party of 6, captured by one of the professional photographers onboard.

That last day on the Westerdam, we spent a lot of time on the observation deck - our favorite spot on board.

Many northbound cruises end either at Whittier or Seward, Alaska, and passengers are transported either by coach or rail back to Anchorage. It's a 3-hour drive filled with scenery.

We extended our Alaska stay with a visit to Kodiak Island, where the daughter of our travel companions lives. We stayed at a lovely B&B; this was the sunrise view from our room.

We really enjoyed our time in Kodiak; it was beautiful and restful and fascinating. and we saw lots of wildlife, including the pink salmon running and the beginning of the silver salmon run.

Sea Lions! Puffins!

Eagles! Sea Otters!

Many flights leave Anchorage fairly late in the evening; that left time for one last adventure before heading home - flightseeing to Denali National Park. There's a flight service which will transfer passengers between Anchorage's airport and their float plane docks - and they will store luggage if necessary. Highly recommended!

Our pilot landed our 10-seater on a glacial lake... We were fortunate to glimpse Mt. Denali in the distance - it's frequently shrouded in clouds.

I hope you've enjoyed this photo-journal and I welcome your feedback. Just comment on this blog - I look forward to hearing from you!