Hi from Rick: Give Me the Shutters
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| Jump out of bed, leap to the window...and say good morning to Europe! (Photo by Anne Steves) |
Dear Traveler,
As I traveled through Europe last summer, I had a wonderful series of hotel rooms with heavy wooden shutters on the windows. And I made a point to use them.
To close a classic European shutter at the end of a day, you need to get physical. You reach way out, struggle with the clunky hardware, and pull them one at a time. They lumber slowly around, shutting the outside world away with a prison-door clank.
With shutters shut, I never know what a new day will bring. I don't even know the weather. But each morning I enjoy the ritual. I swing the shutters open…and with sunlight filling my room comes the promise of another day, carbonated with people and learning.
Whether you're opening a rustic shutter or a set of drapes, that first sight of Europe when you wake up is a "magic moment" on our tours, too. Each morning begins with the promise of an authentically European adventure, in the company of a small, enthusiastic group and a gifted guide.
In this month's Tour News we're featuring our trips that cover Eastern Europe, with my new "what's new" article for that exciting region, links to free podcasts featuring our Eastern European guides, and more. Have a look. Whether your travel dreams are flirting with Prague, Poland, Hungary, or the Adriatic, we have a tour this year that can turn those dreams into affordable reality.
Don't fear the euro — especially if you're thinking of taking one of our tours. Your 2008 tour deposit locks in your price with a no-surcharge guarantee. In addition, since a tour covers the lion's share of your European expenses, it makes traveling this year (and why would you want to wait?) a surprisingly good value.
Come along as we open the shutters to embrace unforgettable mornings in Europe.
Happy travels,
Rick