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Five unusual things to see in London-



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I am lucky to travel a lot as an agent of Totem Travel and when I do travel London is one of my favorite cities to visit. Since I’ve been a few times already I was looking for new and unusual things to see and do and I’ve listed them below.

From London Bridge to just past Tower Bridge, the Pool of London offers some of the more unusual and intriguing things to see and you don’t have to travel far to find them. This fascinating destination is one of London’s oldest neighborhoods with many maritime, historical, architectural and bloody connections with London’s history.

1. All Hallows, situated next to the Tower of London, is the oldest church in the City of London, with parts of the building dating from 675 AD. Beneath an original Saxon arch, a Roman pavement was discovered, evidence of city life on this site for over 2000 years. Open all year round, this wonderful church is steeped in history and continues to minister to a community of workers and visitors.

2. Join actors dressed in period costume aboard the Golden Hinde, berthed at St Mary Overie Dock to discover what life might have been like sailing around the world in a boat slightly bigger than a double-decker bus. The Golden Hinde is an exact scale, operational reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s 16th century galleon that sailed around the world 1577-80. This floating museum is open all year round.

3. If you thought you would have to travel to Arizona to see the original London Bridge, look no further than the magnificent church of St Magnus the Martyr. Inside, you can see a wooden model of the old London Bridge as well as the remnants of the foundation stones in the quiet churchyard outside.

4. Walk over the uniquely designed footbridge to see the unusual garden barges moored near St Saviours Dock, just downriver from the Design Museum on Shad Thames.

5. The yacht marina at St Katharine Docks, located beside the Tower of London and Tower Bridge offers visitors a haven from the frantic pace of the city. Once a working dock, it now boasts an attractive waterside retreat with a mixture of shops, restaurants, offices and luxury apartments as well as yachts and motorboats. When the sun is shining, you could be mistaken for thinking you aren’t in London.

If you’re ready to start planning your time in London, contact Jennefer at jennefer@totemtravel.com, I am the Europe Expert at Totem Travel and would love to help you make the most of your time in London.

My favorite things in Scotland- Whisky, Golf, Castles and scenery



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When visiting Scotland there are so many choices on where to focus your attention, as a Scotland expert I will help you plan your time accordingly to make the most of your time away. A few of my favorite Scottish subjects’ are-

Whisky- What a great focus for a trip to Scotland, there are no less than 100 whisky distilleries dotting the countryside and May is considered Whisky Month with many a festival and tasting available for all to partake of, however whisky is available all year long, so don’t limit your time to only May in such a wonderful country.

Golf- Where would be better to spend a morning on the course than the home of golf itself? St. Andrews is probably one of the most well know courses and Gleneagles, Carnoustie, Royal Troon or Royal Dornoch also have sought after tee times. Being the home of the game though, you needn’t miss out on a game of golf if you can’t get on one of those courses as there are many others available throughout the country.

Castles- are too numerous to mention, I can start with Urquhart or Culzean and keep going by listing Fraser Castle, Eileen Donan, Huntly, Kildrummy, Dunotter, Brodie, Balmoral, Fyvie, Armadale, Inverary and Kilchurn. Those are just a few, some are ruins, some are lived in and some are hotels where you can stay while sightseeing, golfing and whisky tasting.

Scenery- Rolling hills filled with heather and bracken, green pastures dotted with sheep, Highland Loch’s as still as a mirror, need I say more?

In Scotland there is so much to see and do and the people are all friendly and always there with a smile and a hello.  If you are interested in traveling to Scotland or anywhere in Europe, call Jennefer at Totem Travel, 800-321-7907, as a SCOTSmaster for the last 8 years I can help you to plan your time in Scotland or shoot me an email at jennefer@totemtravel.com and we’ll get started with your dream getaway.

Chambord Castle- one of the Loire Valleys favorite Chateaus



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Last fall I was in France completing my travel agent France Specialist Certification. While there I was lucky enough to be ale to visit Chambord Castle in the Loire Valley. A favorite Chateau of many, it’s one of the most ornate and architecturally interesting castles I’ve seen, topped with all the spires and towers. 

Started in the early 1500’s it has been added to over and over by different owners, some using the Gothic theme others adding with a more Classical theme, some Romanesque others French or Italian. With some 32 apartments, life at Chambord consisted of periods of intense activity followed by long periods of total abandon. When occupied the whole court was installed with the Royal caravan bringing trunks, beds, tables and chairs, tapestries, works of art, book and trestles and all that was necessary for the comfort of the king, actually a whole village. While in residence one of the favorite activities was the royal hunts on the vast estate and then when the court departed again the immense castle would be abandoned until next time. 

The French government bought Chambord in 1930 and has fully renovated it, filing the moats and landscaping the grounds. The castle conservation organization keeps the building furnished and even carries on the tradition of the hunt. Today the crowds of tourists have replaced that of the court and Chambord is a place to stroll the grounds on a beautiful day, you can walk for hours on trails or spend your time exploring the inside the apartments for a glimpse of the early life at the castle and beautiful and unexpected views from the many towers and keeps. 

Chambord is also known for its famous Black Raspberry Liqueur and other culinary treats available from around the region.  

The Loire Valley is dotted with Chateaus such as Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Cheverny and Chateau de Blois to name a few.  If you’d like more information on traveling in France and the Loire Valley call or email Jennefer our France Specialist at Totem Travel.

Tallinn, Estonia – the unexplored Europe


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Already seen London, Paris and Rome? Have you stretched yourself to see Prague and Budapest and wonder what’s next? Try Tallinn, Estonia, USA Today calls it one of the 10 up and coming cities of Europe where there is still a deals to be had.

I traveled there and fell in love with the Old Town. Lastly occupied by Russia, is still has some of the Eastern feel and is just waking up form it’s communist past. The Old Town is a World Heritage Site due to the fact that it has been invaded numerous times but has never been bombed and the Old Town stands today much as it has for centuries, of course the city has built up around it and things are modernized but the old world charm can be felt as you enter the city gates and walk the cobbles streets winding their way past stone churches and private residences dating back to the 13th century. The walled city has something like 31 towers that are still fully intact, starting with at Margaret at one end and Tall Hermann at the other. Some house museums others are under repair simply from age.

Being part of the Soviet Union for many years left it’s influence on Tallinn, there are many Russian style churches with the onion top spires as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, you can visit Alexander the Greats cottage where he stayed until he built his palace or you can visit the cities infamous KGB headquarters. You still hear Russian spoken frequently, in fact they only gained independence from Russia in the 1990’s.

While dropping in for refreshment at a local bar we met a boy named Pritt, I believe he was about 10 years old but he spoke Estonian, Russian and Finnish as well as English. We bumped into him over and over in the old town and he finally took us to meet his father who owned a shop where he imported goods from all over the world. I am always amazed by young people in Europe who can speak so many languages and seem much older than their years.

If you’d like more information about traveling to Tallinn, call Jennefer the Europe Expert at Totem Travel, or shoot an email to jennefer@totemtravel.com.

Young adults save bank on vacation travel in Europe and the world



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If you’re a student, a young couple or a professional between the ages of 18 and 35 I can help you with a tour that’s made just for you, you can choose your own adventure, get some culture, party with people your own age and save bank while doing it!

Hey honeymooners, you’re married, not old, get out there and see the world!

If you are a parent or grandparent, make your kids day by sending them away……. On a Contiki tour with people their own age! Great for a graduation present from high school or college.

What’s different about Contiki is that not only do you have to be between 18-35 years of age to travel and believe me there are lots of you from all over the world traveling,  but also because of the experiences offered at each stop along the way. You certainly won’t fit into the old adage that ‘it’s Thursday, it must be Munich’. All you 18-35 year olds want to explore and see the world in a new way and with a new perspective; with Contiki you can do that.

Let’s start with the planning… and the question is… what planning? Contiki does it for you! They have tours starting at just 9 days long and stretching up to 35 days. You could focus on a single country, like Italy, explore a region such as Scandinavia or go for the 35 day tour and see 18 countries, including all of Western Europe and adding in Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, Montenegro and a Greek Island cruise and of course there are all kinds of options in between. Contiki also offers itineraries to see and explore Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Egypt, Canada and the USA.

As an experienced Contiki agent, they call us their Rock Stars, I am here to help you choose the tour that’s best for you. Once on tour you will meet other people in your own age group from all over the world, how cool is that? Kick it with some Aussies or check out the local scene with your new friends from Canada. Even your guides will be 18-35 years old, so they’ll really ‘get you’. You could dance until dawn in Barcelona, climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, toast in the beer halls of Munich, island hop in Greece or skydive in New Zealand, it’s not just the destination, its all about what you do once you’re there.

I can help you choose a tour that will include some of the legendary festivals in Europe such as Germany’s Oktoberfest, Scotland‘s Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, the Cannes Film Festival in France or the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

The Superior tours start at just $108 per day. You’ll sleep in comfy hotels that are centrally located with easy access to all the sights you want to see. And since you paid in advance for your tour, saving bank at such great rates with no currency exchange, you’ll have more money for shopping and spending on your holiday!

Whether you’re bringing your best friend, traveling as a couple or heading out solo, you’ll undoubtedly make friends with people from around the world; travel connections you’ll have long after the trip has ended, so call Jennefer at Totem Travel, remember, I’m a Rock Star and I’ll hook you up to the best Contiki tour for you, you’ll save money AND see the world!!

Call me at (425) 821-4100 or email Linda and we’ll be your new Rock Star travel agents!

Tartans and bagpipes are coming to Edmonds April 11


Totem Travel and Savvy Traveler are sponsoring Tartan Day on Saturday April 11 in Edmonds.  In past years the festivities have drawn a big crowd and this year should be even bigger with Homecoming Scotland events scheduled throughout 2009.

Savvy Traveler is known for its full range of travel products and accessories with everything from money belts to drip dry in an hour underwear to lightweight luggage.  The store is located in downtown Edmonds and open six days a week for your convenience.

Jennefer at Totem Travel has been a certified Scotsmaster since 2001 and will be naming her top 10 things to see and do in Scotland.  She’ll also review some of the best escorted tours available and provide tips and tricks for planning independent travel throughout Europe.  Totem Travel has been a top travel agency in the Seattle area for more than 20 years.

Call or email jennefer@totemtravel.com for more details on Tartan Day activities and brush off your plaid.  The bagpipes are coming!

Homecoming Scotland 2009- celebrations, festivals, whisky, golf, gatherings and more


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That’s what travel to Scotland in the year of 2009 in will bring. As a SCOTSmaster and Scots agent I hope to visit in April, but the festivities start in January with the Robert Burns’ 250th Anniversary weekend and don’t stop until end of November and the Finale Weekend packed with all kinds of celebrations across the country.

March starts with the International Comedy Festival in Glasgow or you can travel to Stanza for Scotland’s Poetry festival. We also have Aye Write! It’s The Bank of Scotland Book Festival.

In April throughout East Lothian is a new festival celebrating the life and legacy of John Muir, he is the ‘father of modern conservation’ and one of the most influential people in the worlds environmental movement.

May is Whisky Month and throughout Scotland distilleries open their doors to visitors and locals alike. You could choose a short tasting session or opt for a 3 day whisky course. The Spirit of Speyside Whisky festival starts off May 1-10 and Islay’s annual Malt and Music Festival will close out the month.

June is meet your ancestors month in Clackmannanshire, the Royal Highland Show west of Edinburgh and it’s the beginning of the world renowned Edinburgh Film Festival.

July brings The Gathering 2009! Join with clan members and witness Scotland’s largest ever Highland Games! They are taking place in Holyrood Park, along the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. Visit the clan tents, listen to live music, watch the hill runners, the Highland Dancers and the Clan Parade on the Royal Mile.

August brings the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle; over 12 million people have experienced this event and 40 countries have been represented over the years, so get your tickets early! August also brings Piping Live- Music of the Clans in Glasgow and the Johnnie Walker Golf Championship at Gleneagles.

September brings the International Youth Tattoo, the Cowal Highland Gathering, the Angus & Dundee Roots Festival, the ‘Clan Scott’ Society gathering and the Isle of Bara Whisky Galore festival.

October brings ‘Beautiful Journey’ that is focusing on Glasgow’s future by launching a new ship every night along the River Clyde and a celebration across the highlands for a fortnight with a series that explores and celebrates the way the Scots have shaped countries and communities around the world.

November brings another whisky week throughout Scotland along with St. Andrews festival 2009, the Scots Music awards in Dumfries and celebrations galore across the country during the Finale Weekend. In December all Scots will be resting!

If you’d like to attend any of the events above or find out about traveling to Scotland call Totem Travel and ask for Jennefer, 800-321-7907 or email Jennefer@totemtravel.com. I have been a SCOTSmaster for over 7 years, traveled there multiple times and can help make your trip to Scotland all you dreamed and more.

Berlin- Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, Check Point Charlie and more…


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My first trip to Berlin was in 1990, it was summer and the ‘Wall’ had just come down the winter before. I remember peeking through the wall between the pieces of rebar and cement and I even brought home a few pieces.

I grabbed a postcard with a colorful guy that had a purple Mohawk; he was standing under a street sign with the wall behind him. I found that same street sign and took a picture of me standing under the same sign, but in my picture the wall was broken and only pieces of it could be seen. I remember thinking I was lucky to be there at such an historic time.

Of course we also saw the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdam and another vivid memory is the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island where they have a 2nd century BC altar from Greece as well as the Ishtar Gate from Babylon among other gigantic ruins from Asia Minor. I was overwhelmed with the sheer size of them and to this day remember it with awe. Today Museum Island is a World heritage Site.

As an agent at Totem Travel I returned to Berlin as part of an escorted tour with Trafalgar and so much has changed. That street sign I have a picture of me under, now has a through street with no wall behind it at all. A little further away is the Check Point Charlie Museum and the left over sign saying “You are now leaving the American Sector” in English, French, German and Russian. The museum is a must see and a bit chilling when you realize the extent to which people will go to better their lives when oppressed.

Each time I am back in Berlin I also visit Kurfurstendamm, or better know as ‘Kudamm’, which is Berlin’s liveliest shopping street. At one ends stands the Kaiser-Wilhelm church, it was almost completely destroyed in a bomb during the War but a new belfry and church were erected around the shell of the old tower as a reminder.

Along Kudamm are shops and galleries as well as parks and squares to stop and shop or eat or simply watch people. At the other end or Kudamm you find the Tiergarten park which leads you onto the Brandenburg Gate that today is free to walk through. The avenue of Linden trees leading away on either side is stunning and the Soviet War Memorial is also nearby.

Berlinhas many parks and green space too. It’s a young city that is re-inventing itself and is always changing so you can go back again and again and always have a new experience. If you’d like help planning your time in Berlin, call Jennefer our expert in Europe group tours at (800) 321-7907or email her at jennefer@totemtravel.com.

Chenonceau, another Chateau in the Loire Valley of France-


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On my last trip to France I was excited that I would be visiting the Loire Valley, a region I had not seen on previous visits. My time was to be spent visiting the Chateau’s and I had no idea I would love it so much, I should have, knowing how I love visiting the castles of England and Scotland.

One of my favorite was Chateau de Chenonceau, it’s the stuff fairy tale’s are made of. Starting with the long tree lined drive, walking in was like walking through a tunnel of trees, I can only imagine arriving by a horse drawn carriage back in the 13th century when the Chateau was built. As you come to the end of the tree lined drive you get your first glimpse of the beautiful Chateau. It’s built along and actually above the Cher River and is boarded by deep moats on the other sides.

The Chateau has had many owners and guests come and go over the years including Francois I, Henry VII and VIII, Catherine de Medici, Francis II and Mary Stuart to name but a few, giving the Chateau a rich and varied history. The architecture shows not only the influence of those in the Loire Valley but also Italian Renaissance as well.

Inside the Chateau you can visit the chapel, the drawing rooms where the kings received their guests, the Gallery over the river where great dances and parties were held, the kitchens that fed all the inhabitants and guests as well as the bedrooms of the famous owners and we haven’t even mentioned the art collections. The Chateau has a great IPod guided tour that is definitely worth the time to take, it’ll be a few hours long.

Before leaving be sure to stroll through the gardens and marvel at this beautiful Chateau and the stories it could tell if walls could talk.

If you’d like to book a trip to France that includes Chenonceau or other Chateau’s of the Loire Valley contact Jennefer the France Certified Specialist at Totem Travel by calling 800-321-7907 or shoot me an e-mail at jennefer@totemtravel.com.

Ireland- Irish Pubs, the Ring of Kerry, the Blarney Stone and more….


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I have just returned from a 2 week trip to Ireland and yes, it is that green, take a peek at my slide show for proof! It’s been a while since I was in Ireland and boy has it changed! The growth is amazing but the things that haven’t changed are the fun people and the stunning scenery.

I started my journey in Dublin, from there my friend and I picked up a car for a few days of roaming the country roads on our own and yes, even I drove on the other side of the road and only hit one curb! We headed west for a castle stay and a couple nights B&B inland then picked up a tour with Trafalgar Tours.

On our Trafalgar Tour we went north to Belfast and Derry/Londonderry and onto the Northern most tip of Ireland called Malinhead. From there we headed down the west coast for Castlebar, Galway, Limerick and Killarney before heading east towards Waterford and then north back towards Dublin.

All along the way we encountered the famous Irish charm in pubs and restaurants, we saw lots of sheep and rolling green hills with splashes of yellow gorse and stone walls crisscrossing as far as the eye could see. Golf courses were aplenty as were Castles and castle ruins, special monuments to all the Saints and those the Irish would make saints if given the chance. We saw the famous graffiti in Northern Ireland from the times of the ‘Troubles’. We went to the National Stud Farm (Slide Show) in Kildare and the Giants Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher, the Belleek and Waterford Crystal factories (Slide show) and Craggounowen, the discovery park where we learned about life in Ireland in BC, just to name a few of the places and sights.

I am in the process of completing my Shamrock training which will give me the distinction of being an Ireland Expert to go along with my other Destination Specialist certifications such as BritAgent, SCOTSmaster, Bavaria Expert, Spain Specialist, Holland Expert and Certified France Agent. As a travel agent it’s important to see new places and explore the places people are asking about, this year Ireland has been highly requested and it was time for me to return and see all the things Ireland has to offer as a destination and believe me it wasn’t lacking at all!

Keep checking back at TotemTravelBlog.com and you’ll hear all about the sights listed above and more in detail. If you’re interested in help planning your trip to Ireland contact Totem Travel and ask for Jennefer, the Europe Expert or shoot me an email at jennefer@totemtravel.com and I’ll give you the up to date news on travel in Ireland.




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