Masada: A Blog First

I've been editing the photos of Israel recently. Today it was time for the Masada images. There is so much to convey about Masada. This is the first time in my blogging history that I know words and photos will not be enough. What to say? I'll try.

World Heritage Sites are chosen for their special significance to the nations of the world. Masada's historic, cultural & archaelogical significance made it one of the earlier additions to the prestigous list from the United Nations. Masada is more; it is:

• A breathtaking location high above the Dead Sea on a plateau in the Judean desert
  


• An archaelogical treasure with ancient buildings from different eras (starting with two Herodian palaces built of the Roman Empire and a Byzantine Church built several hundred years later)

• A symbol of freedom & Jewish independence from slavery
  


• The last refuge for a small group of Jews who fled Jerusalem after the Roman Empire took the city and destroyed the Second Temple
  


• The site of tragic end to the Roman siege in the spring of 73 AD in which the Jews choose mass suicide over Roman rule and slavery
  


• Personally, Masada became the first travel destination of my dreams, after my father's postcard from Masada arrived many, many years ago. At the time, I didn't know it would be the first step in my journey to TPI - Janus Travel as well as one of the last postcards from my well-travelled, scientist father.

Random Thoughts After Day 1 in Israel

The Montifiore Hotel, Schatz 7, Jerusalem

Shalom. Here I am in Jerusalem! I'll be travelling, blogging and adding photos to a new Israel folder in the Photo Gallery as often as possible during my trip. I return to Canada on July 8th.

Here are my random thoughts at the end of my first day in Israel:

• Israel is much smaller in size than Canada. Almost all international travel to & from the country is through the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv
  

• Even the drive between the airport in Lod, just outside of Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem was a treat!
  

• The Montifiore Hotel is a boutique hotel with 47 rooms in a perfect location in central Jerusalem; it is on Schatz, just two blocks from the intersection of King George Street and Ben Yehuda
  

• Other highlights near the hotel are a pedestrian promenade, a terrific coffee shop on the corner, The Old Book Gallery across the street, and plenty of other great shopping and restaurants in the central area of Jerusalem

• "Downtown" Jerusalem is a triangular shaped area with Ben Yehuda Avenue, Jaffa Road and King George Street as its boundaries.
  

• As a bonus, the Angelica Fine Grill at the Montifiore Hotel is reknowned in its own right and has superb gourmet food
  

• In fact, Jerusalem is a foodie's paradise... every meal starts with a selection of antipasto-style vegetables and salads
  

• My photos do not do the food at the Angelica Fine Grill justice... my dinner there was so excellent, I plan to return... soon I hope.
  

Mixed green salad with summer fruit and mustard vinaigrette at the Angelica Fine Grill

The calendars are coming! The calendars are coming!

Yes indeed, here come our much-anticipated calendars with the travel photos. We are busy making labels. preparing the envelopes and sending packages with the TPI - Janus Travel calendars to our clients. As our business grows, so does the mailing. If you're wondering where your calendar is, that's the reason this year's delivery is a bit overdue.

The calendars are arriving for the festive season. It's our way of sending our best wishes to you & yours for Christmas, Chanukah, & the New Year! Look for them in your mailboxes starting on Monday, December 21, 2009.

Light Your Way to Israel

Chanukah, also known as the "Festival of Lights," begins this evening, Friday, December 11th. To mark the upcoming holiday, the Israel Ministry of Tourism announced the launch of a dedicated Chanukah microsite, where travelers** can log on and light virtual candles for each night of the eight-day holiday. The site was developed in New York in cooperation with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and will "go live" today at "Light Your Way to Israel" site.

With each candle "lit," visitors to the Chanukah website will be able to access more information about travel to Israel. And at the end of the holiday, site visitors who have lit all eight candles will be entered to win a free trip to Israel aboard El Al Israel Airlines to experience the country's many areas.

** The promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry.

Seasons Greetings

We wish you a season of happiness, peace & joy

Happy New Year. Have a terrific 2010!

Cindy Hurtig, Ron Burrow & Beth McColl
TPI - Janus Travel

TPI - Janus Travel in the News with Karisma, Signature & TPI

The article below appeared in "Travel Hot News" on Friday, November 27, 2009. Look for your excellent TPI - Janus Travel agent, Ron Burrow, in the back row of the photo. Thank you to Beth McColl, another excellent TPI - Janus Travel agent, for forwarding the article.

Karisma & Signature Cook with TPI

From November 6 to 13, 2009, Karisma Hotels and Resorts and Signature Vacations hosted a FAM for TPI agents from across Canada to Maya Riviera, Mexico. Agents were hosted at the El Dorado Seaside Suites and the Sensatori Azul and highlights included suites, meals, wine tastings, demonstration cooking sessions and the Gourmet Inclusive (GI) University course. Escorting the 26 agents was: Christal Bauer, TPI’s Regional Manager for Western Canada; Corwin Kostenchuk, Signature’s Business Development Manager Central Canada; and Mike Hagan, Signature’s Business Development Manager BC/Yukon.

Signature Vacations and Karisma Hotels and Resorts host FAM for TPI agents from across Canada. Fam highlights included demonstration cooking sessions

Where are you? It's calendar season again.

Where did the year go? It's almost December again. That means our annual TPI - Janus Travel calendars are going in the mail soon. This year we ordered 450 calendars. I'm working on the mailout & data for labels now. The calendar above is the one on my laptop. Your will have the usual superb photos of international travel destinations & travel tips.

Our website's email link is perfect for clients sending a new address or phone number. So please... Let me know where you are! Send me your updated contact information if you've moved. Then we'll send you your calendar!!!

Ron's "Gourmet Inclusive" Mayan Riviera Tour

The first batch of Ron's photos from the Mayan Riviera are ready. Ron and a group of TPI associates toured 13 hotels in one week. Most were part of the Karisma "Gourmet Inclusive" group which includes the Azul & El Dorado properties. Ron even took pictures of some of the food. I'm uploading them today. Yummy!

Let me know if you'd like information about any of the photos or locations. This album will have captions on some photos but most are uncaptioned. Just send me a note with the photo number.

Beth McColl, our business partner, went on a different fam trip in the Mayan Riviera last month. She saw 13 hotels in just one day. So we've got the Mayan Riviera! We'll take you there!

Tidbits & Cydbits

One year at university I lived on a dormitory floor with two other Cindys. Two of us were in the same room. We were given nicknames for ease of reference. I became Cyd. She became Bic. But if this becomes the first post in a series of tidbits, I think I'll use a simpler title. What do you prefer: "Cydbits" or "Tidbits" or ...? P.S. If Bic is reading this... Hi there!

Going to Edmonton!

In this final installment of things to do in Edmonton during fall & winter let's focus on the arts & culture.

Edmonton is home to not just one but two reknowned productions of the Christmas Carol during the festive season.

Treat your ears to the Christmas Carol Project with Edmonton's finest singer songwriters' at the Winspear Centre. Acoustically excellent, architecturally elegant, the Francis Winspear Centre for Music is a stunning, world-class concert hall, ideally situated in the Arts District in the heart of downtown Edmonton.

The Christmas Carol is an equally spectacular production held at the The Citadel Theatre. The Citadel Theatre is a premiere venue for stage productions in Western Canada and is a hot choice for theatre lovers with its five performance venues.

Another great choice is the Alberta Ballet's The Nutcracker set to Tchaikovsky's eternal score. Share in Klara's revelry as she travels to The Palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy in a wintery wonderland.

Explore Edmonton's wealth of visual art on display in over 60 galleries and public exhibits including the Gallery Walk, the first of its kind in Canada. Don't miss the Lando Gallery in downtown Edmonton.

Going to Edmonton!

Today our series of great things to do during Edmonton's fall & winter continues. This third post is a mixed bag of highlights.

See the herds of free roaming plains bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk at Elk Island National Park. With the exception of the Serengeti Plains of Africa, Elk Island National Park has higher densities of hoofed mammals per square kilometer than any other wild area in the world! Also boasting over 250 species of birds, the park is a bird watcher's paradise.

Eat out. Greater Edmonton is home to a wide dining selection with more than 3,500 eating establishments. Many of these restaurants mirror the diversity of more than 50 ethnic groups and feature regionally inspired menus while Alberta's world famous beef is a star attraction for restaurant-goers.

Go where the west turns wild during Canadian Finals Rodeo! Cheer on professional athletes as they compete for the title of Canadian Champion. Each performance features seven pro-rodeo events, including bull riding, steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding.

Go back in time with Christmas Reflections at Fort Edmonton Park. The enchanting evening includes a horse-drawn ride, Christmas caroling, crafts, a visit with Father Christmas, and more. See Fort Edmonton Park twinkling with old-fashioned Christmas nostalgia. A great night out!

Stay in and play! Where else can you experience the thrills of an amusement park, explore the depths of the sea, make a splash in a giant wave pool, glide on an NHL-sized skating rink, play a round of golf, stay in a themed hotel room, and shop till you drop.... all under one roof? At the world's largest shopping and entertainment experience and the greatest indoor show on earth - West Edmonton Mall!

Going to Edmonton!

Let's continue with our list of fall & winter's top things to do in Edmonton.

Think Global. The Global Visions Film Festival began 26 years ago and has carved out a niche in Edmonton by providing access for Canadian and international documentary films that offer quality and relevance.

Explore Old Strathcona Historic Area, voted one of the Top 10 Coolest Neighbourhoods in Canada and also recently named a Provincial Historic Area. Amid many historic buildings, businesses are 90 per cent owner-operated, offering art and antiques, sports and wellness, bold and daring fashions, music supplies, home accessories, fair trade and organic products and more.

Visit the Royal Alberta Museum, one of Canada's most popular museums. The Royal Alberta Museum offers a range of exhibitions and activities for every age level and interest. Behind the scenes, 13 curatorial programs are responsible for building and making accessible some of the finest cultural and natural history collections in the country.