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Spring Travel News and Tips, Part 2
March 13, 2010 |
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Greetings!
I am excited to announce the launching of my newest division of specialty tours: Wine and Culinary Travel. Just as Joyful Catholic Journeys brings together Catholics who enjoy traveling with like-minded persons, Travel Overtures' Wine and Food Tours bring together people who enjoy good food, good wine, cooking, gardening and socializing while learning about the cultures, regions, and histories of those who prepare and produce the foods and wines we enjoy so dearly. My Oklahoma Wine and Culinary Tours will give you a chance to experience our Sooner state's varied cultural history from European to Native American celebrations, museums, and fairs. Depending upon group size, transportation could be by motorcoach, limousine, or luxury vans. Tours will range from small groups of 6-10 to large group tours. Culinary Tours will include sampling or tasting of delectable and interesting dishes and often include opportunities to visit with the chefs at unique area restaurants, participate in a hands-on cooking class, food & wine pairing class, and "Wine 101" or "Cheese 101" talks, etc. Some tours will include an agritour to see where the ingredients originate, and more. Wine Tours will visit wineries and sometimes their vineyards, too. Naturally, we'll visit their tasting rooms to sample various vintages and signature varieties. Tastings may be accompanied with canapes or hors d'oevres, or even a brunch, luncheon, or dinner. Some wineries will let us "bottle our own" for a fun souvenir. In addition to our scheduled tours, I can arrange individual or group customized Wine and Culinary Trail excursions for you - whether in Oklahoma, across the US or in Europe, Canada, or to Mexico. You'll come away with more than just a full belly, satiated taste buds, and a few bottles of wine; you'll have gained a deeper cultural appreciation of foods and wine, their proper pairings, and the people who make them. For more information on upcoming regional Wine and Food Tours, give me a ring at 405.642.8139 or 405.225.8510, or send me an e-mail.
I look forward to sharing and exploring good food, good wine, good culture, and camaraderie! Sincerely,  |
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Creamy Scallops Parisienne |
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Perfect for a Lenten Supper is this recipe courtesy of The Tidal School winery in Drumright, OK. Daughter and I enjoyed Super Saturday touring the winery, sampling the wares and of course the free chocolates and live music! The Tidal School will be featured in an upcoming WIne and Culinary Tour. Meanwhile, try your hand at this delectable dish.
Creamy Scallops Parisienne
1 cup clam juice
1 cup Tidal School Chardonnay
2 T. minced green onions
1 ½ pounds bay scallops
¼ cup + 1 T. butter, divided
¼ cup flour
¾ cup whipping cream
2 egg yokes, lightly beaten
2 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground white pepper
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese
1. Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in large saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat and add scallops; simmer 1 minute or until scallops are opaque and slightly firm. Strain mixture, reserve liquid; set aside scallops and onions. Return liquid to cook, uncovered 15 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 1 cup.
2. Melt ¼ cup butter in small saucepan over medium heat; add flour. Cook 1 minute stirring constantly with whisk. Gradually add reduced liquid and whipping cream, stirring constantly. Cook 2 more minutes until thickened and bubbly. Gradually stir ¼ of hot mixture into beaten egg yolks; add to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat. Add lemon juice, salt & pepper
3. Combine scallop mixture and 1 cup sauce; Spoon evenly into 6 lightly greased gratin dishes. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over top. Sprinkle with cheese. Dot tops with dab of butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until bubbly
Serves 6 |
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"A Touch of Provence" in Oklahoma Inaugural Wine and Culinary Tour |
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This Ladies-Only Tour Would Make a Fine Mother's Day Gift!
Friday, May 7 - Saturday, May 8, 2010
Limited Spaces Available--Reserve Yours Today!
Deadline for Registration is April 20
Reserve by March 20 and Save $10!
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This fun getaway just for the gals is limited to the first 28 participants.
Friday, May 7
Depart Edmond 8:30 am for Haskell, OK We will tour Stone Bluff Cellars and Vineyard and Lavender Hill Farms & Winery, enjoy a catered luncheon, wine tastings and then, after checking in and freshening up at our Tulsa hotel, we head out to The Savory Chef for a lesson in French cooking and a gourmet French dinner with appropriate wine by one of the state's renowned top chefs! Saturday, May 8
After breakfast, we head to Tulsa's Woodward Park Complex. There we will tour the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens, the Anne Hathaway Herb Garden, Renaissance Rose Garden, Victorian Conservatory and Rock Garden. Then we'll enjoy some free time at Utica Square for lunch on your own and more glorious shopping! We depart Tulsa at 4:00-ish pm, returning to Edmond by 6:00 pm. Included in the price:
Transportation in comfortable motorcoach Luggage Tags and Name Tags Services of a Certified Tour Manager Hotel porterage, taxes, and tips Bottled Water on the Coach Coffee & refreshments first morning's departure One night lodging Three meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Two Winery Tours and Vineyard Tours Wine Tastings at each winery French Demonstration Cooking Class with Top Chef Five Garden Tours and a little surprise or two... Limited to 28 participants; guaranteed departure with 16 participants.$ 325.00 by credit card; $ 320.00 by check or money order $ 50.00 deposit to reserve space; Balance due April 20.
Download flyer and registration form here. |
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Packing Tips and Tricks, Part Two |
If you missed last issue, you'll find the first part of this article as well as an article on using your personal electrical appliances overseas with information on converters, adaptors, and heat vs. non-heat appliances. All of my e-news issues are archived here. Be sure to check out the last issue, especially if you have a trip abroad planned anytime soon
Access money through ATM machines for best currency exchange rate. Also, the bank tellers really don't want to exchange your money. They will direct you back to the ATM.
Charge large ticket items on credit cards to eliminate carrying large amounts of cash. You will also receive the best currency exchange rate.
Exchange U.S. dollars to Foreign Currency, a couple of hundred dollars before you leave the U.S., to provide local currency for tips, cabs, etc. More can be exchanged in country, as needed. Note: Traveler's Checks accepted in most major cities at large, well-established businesses; however, fewer places will accept them anymore as they are too easy to forge.
Pack pens and a small note book in your carryons and purses or man-bags to jot down things to remember; a folder for brochures of sites you've seen is nice to keep things organized.
An address book or pre-addressed labels for post cards to send to friends and relatives is a very good idea.
Water bottle/Spray bottle - can spray yourself to cool off on hot days or to dampen wrinkles in clothing. A small 3 or 4 oz. size should suffice.
Ladies: Combine and compress your toiletries and cosmetics as much as possible: Use a tinted moisturizer instead of separate foundation and moisturizer. Get a compact that can hold blush and eyeshadows all in one. Manicure your nails in a natural shade; scuffs and chips will be less noticeable. Buy empty travel containers and fill with your own favorite shampoo and conditioner. C'mon--why pay 89 cents for a 2.5 oz "trial" size when you can buy a 12-16 oz bottle full for .30 cents an ounce? Every penny counts! Buy scarves and jewelry as souvenirs; leave yours safely at home.
Pack two days of clothes in your partner's luggage and vice-versa. That way if one bag is delayed, you still have some clothes to wear.
Pack a copy of your passport inside your checked bag, but never, ever, ever pack the following in the checked bag:
medicines and prescriptions, passport, other travel documents (visas, boarding passes, return flight tickets, checkbooks, eyeglasses, fine jewelry (or any jewelry that you are quite fond of); cell phones, cameras, ipods or any other electrical device including laptops and netbooks.
Call your cell phone provider and tell them when and where you are going. Ask about their rate plans.
Let your credit card company know when and where you are going and when you will be returning so they don't mistake activity you place on the card as fraudulent. |
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| Fun Day Trips |
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Ask me about these great Day Trips from Friends International Tours:
March 23 - Military Pride. Trip #10-0323 $79 per person Tour Altus Air Force Base, experience Life Support Training with night vision goggles; K9 demonstration, tour of the C17 aircraft and air traffic control tower; lunch at Quartz Mountain Lodge and visit to the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum.
April 9- Belle Plains Tulip Festival Trip # 10-0409 $69 per person.
Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plains, KS hosts the Tulip Festival that includes beautiful spring flowers...tulips...tulips...tulips...plus fine art exhibits, arts and crafts, and entertainment. Lunch included.
April 20 - Azaleas & Amish Trip
#10-0420 $59 per person
Annual spring tour featuring Muskogee's Honor Heights Park and Mrs. Miller's lunch.
April 22 and/or May 13 - Church Basement Ladies Two
Trip #10-0322 or #10-0513 $79 per person. Two dates to choose from for this popular comedy. Crown Uptown Dinner Theater in Wichita, KS.
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Madrid, Spain will host World Youth Day from August 15-21, 2011. For Catholics, it is one of the world's most exciting events and, this time, it is even more exciting since it is being held in
one of the world's most beautiful & vibrant cities.
Unitours, a world leader in Catholic travel, and Joyful Catholic Journeys invite you to be part of this memorable event. Take
advantage of their experience that has helped make them one of the leading tour operators at the past six World Youth Days in Manila; Paris; Rome; Toronto; Cologne; and Sydney.
Initial space sold out very early, already, but Unitours has succeeded in securing triple the space starting at only $2299.00 per person.
Call Melani, today, for details on how your parish Youth Group can participate in World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. Call (405) 642-8139 or (405) 225-8510 or write melani@travelovertures.com
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| Attention All You Gutsy Gals |
Ladies, do you need to satisfy your inner longings to experience Italy? Well, I can suggest the perfect solution with the Montecatini: Super Tuscany & Cinque Terre tour that begins on October 24th. This 8-day/ 7-night trip has something for everyone!
You'll unpack only once, staying 7 nights in the heart of Montecatini taking daily trips to explore the surrounding areas. Included is a day in Florence, where you visit the Academy of Fine Arts and see Michelangelo's Statue of David. You will then be treated to a memorable lunch at the renowned Hotel Brunelleschi, strategically positioned next to the Duomo. Finally, you will visit the San Lorenzo Market, where the best leather and clothes are sold -- at a bargain -- in all of Florence.
You will also travel to Cinque Terre, a beautiful area along the Ligurian Coast named for the five small villages suspended between the earth and the sea. Nestled in cliffs overlooking the hills and seas, these villages create a beautiful photo opportunity and memories that will last a lifetime. Some of Italy's finest wines are from this region, making it one of Italy's hidden gems.
On your day at leisure, you can enjoy a funicular ride to Montecatini Alto and marvel at the city's ambiance, or perhaps you will choose to visit one of the town's renowned spas, famous for their spring waters, thermal mud baths and treatments.
Whether you're looking to experience food, culture, or satisfy your wanderlust craving for anything Italian- Montecatini is it. This trip sells out every year and at the moment there are only 5 rooms left, so book now! Call me at 405-642-8139 or 405-225-8150! | |
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Keep Track Of Trip Photos |
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Tips for Traveling Shutterbugs
Sort and Discard - Get your film developed, or download your photos to your computer. Start by sorting the photos by day, time and location.
Discard photos that you instantly know you will not want to keep.
Edit - Throw out or delete any photos that are too dark, fuzzy, off center or unflattering. For shots of the same thing, pick a few that really sum up moment or landmark and discard the rest.
Label Your Memories - While your trip is still fresh in your mind, write a caption on the back of each photo or put into the photo's filename on your computer. Describe where the picture was taken, what people were doing and any good quotes.
File Your Memories - Keep the winners in a photo box, download the images onto a CD, store your photos on your computer, or store your photos on a website. Label boxes, CDs, folders and album names with the date and event.
Show off your Snapshots - Choose a group of your favorite photos and put them into a mini photo album, or, download your photos onto a website and share the link with your family and friends.
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Cruise Alert! |
Fare Increase Slated!
Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line are increasing cruise fare rates across the board. Carnival's rates increase March 22 and NCL rates increase by 7% April 2. It is a safe bet that the other cruise lines will follow suit. If you are planning to cruise in 2010 and 2011, this would be a really good time to book your future cruise at the current rates.
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Travel Concierge Services for All of Your Personal and Group Travel Needs!
 Want a seamless travel experience? Need tee times? Transfers? Advance table reservations? Spa treatments scheduled and excursions booked for you? Then let me provide you with professional, personalized travel concierge services. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy your vacation! Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you'd like assistance with your personal or group travel plans, give me a call at 405.642.8139.
I am here to help you!
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