By Linda Hoeksma ITWPA Member Just a stone’s throw away from the Kruger National Park lies the secret meeting place of the giants. Where the Tshipise koppie towers majestically over the little oasis like an ancient watchman. Giant upside-down baobabs dot the surrounding bushveld like lone pilgrims en route to a solemn meeting place. As you enter Tshipise, A Forever Resort, … [Read more...] about Tshipise koppie – Where Ancient Giants Meet
Destinations
Hagia Sophia, Icon of Istanbul
By Ann Jamieson An icon of Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) combines famed architecture and art with an atmosphere of intense spirituality. Built by Emperor Justinian as a cathedral, the Hagia Sophia was converted into an imperial mosque by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, and in 1935 under Mustafa Attaturk’s orders became a museum. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one … [Read more...] about Hagia Sophia, Icon of Istanbul
The Island Next Door — Escape with a Galiano Island Getaway
By Colleen Bessel ITWPA Member Just a short ferry ride and you’re there, surrounded by rocky shoreline, towering Douglas firs, and majestic twisted Arbutus trees. You won’t find a single high-rise tower or trendy condo complex. The only traffic you will encounter is the lineup of cars departing the ferry with kayaks and Thule racks on top. You can smell and taste the salty … [Read more...] about The Island Next Door — Escape with a Galiano Island Getaway
Enchanting Cinque Terre: Picture Perfect
By Colleen Bessel ITWPA Member A three-week ultimate sister getaway, just the two of us, lucky to be at that wonderful time of our lives when kids are grown and independent and we can tackle that very long list of “somedays.” Like so many, at the top of that list was Italy, three glorious weeks to explore all those magical places you see in movies, travel magazines, and … [Read more...] about Enchanting Cinque Terre: Picture Perfect
Sailing the Turquoise Coast
By Stephanie Wolden ITWPA Member Waking up slowly with the sunrise on the deck of a small gulet anchored in a quiet, ancient bay of the Aegean Sea. “Günaydın,” says a smiling sun-scorched sailor as he hands me a glass of Turkish tea. Its precisely brewed golden-auburn hue shimmers in the early morning light. A few others begin to stir as someone at the stern jumps into the … [Read more...] about Sailing the Turquoise Coast