Kenya - 2023

I would like for you to imagine the following scenes:

• Tens of thousands of zebras and wildebeest forming a moving river of animals migrating on the Serengeti

• A lioness in the tall grass with three cubs who are playing with each other

• Thousands of pink flamingos along the shoreline

• A black rhino with its long horn, one of the most endagered animals on the planet, roaming freely

• Giraffes standing over 16 feet tall, gracefully walking through the savanna grass

• Elephants with their imposing stature, using their trunks to rip grass and splash water

• Cheetahs with their beautiful markings stalking prey in the high grass

• The Lilac Breasted Roller (Kenya’s national bird), with its amazing colors of blues and pinks alighted on a branch

• Hippos with their huge bodies at home in the water

• Majestic lions who walk the plains, knowing that they are the “baddest boys in the savanna”

• A gorgeous sunset over soaring hills and plains with their flat top acadia trees

I could go on and on, but I think you will get an understanding of why I love to go to Africa on safari. It is an experience which is truly moving as you see all the elements come together - ecosystems, animals, and birds existing alongside man. It is a spiritual experience!

In one day in Maasai Mara, we were able to see the “Big Five” (black rhino, cape buffalo, leopard, elephant, and lion) and witness the migration of over one million zebras and wildebeest. On our trip, we stay in wonderful lodges and the food is outstanding. By the way, because Nairobi and Maasai Mara are located at 5,000 feet above sea level, the temps are in the high 70’s and low 80’s.

If any of this has resonated with you, NOW is the time to sign up for the GVG Tour to Kenya 2024!

Spectacular Scandinavia - 2023

I am traveling with a group through Scandinavia and it is truly spectacular! We started out in Copenhagen Denmark, then traveled to Stockholm Sweden, and am now in the famous fjord village of Fram. In these northern latitudes, the amount of daylight is almost 24 hours and I am writing this on the summer solstice so you know that the moon will not be appearing.

I would like to share with you some highlights of our trip thus far:

Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen is a vibrant city which has the feel of Amsterdam- activity, bicycles, many different languages, and a feeling of acceptance. We took a canal cruise which really showed off the various sections of the city and of course saw the backside of the world’s most famous mermaid. A highlight for me was to see the rock group Deep Purple (famous for, among others, their song Smoke on the Water) in concert at Tivoli Gardens, a place which combines garden and amusement park. There are so many great places to visit in Copenhagen, including the Round Tower, Rosenborg Castle, the King’s Garden, Nyhavn Harbor (the location of the richly painted iconic buildings along the canal), and of course several museums to choose from. 

Danish/Swedish Countryside: We went to an organic farm where they grow ancient grains and raise old Danish livestock breeds. We boarded a ferry which took us in only 25 minutes to travel from Denmark into Sweden. At the Toftaholm Manor we heard a story teller, ate a great meal, and stayed in rooms that date back to the 1700’s (all recently updated). 

Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm is a most unusual city as it is located on 14 islands which are connected by 57 bridges. There we visited the Vasa Museum, which was a double decked warship launched in 1628. On its maiden voyage leaving Stockholm harbor, a gust of wind came up which tilted the ship, allowing water to flood through the gun ports and the ship sank. The total lifetime mileage traveled by the ship was less than a mile. The ship was raised in the early 1960’s after being submerged for over 300 years and is now on display at the world class Vasa Museum. The other notable experience during our time in Stockholm was visiting the City Hall. There, the Nobel laureates are recognized with an elaborate dinner for 1,400 people and all the pomp that goes with this most prestigious event. Trust me, the City Hall of Stockholm is like no other city hall in the world for grandeur.

Oslo, Norway: Oslo is an amazing city in every way, from the unique architecture of the Opera House (where you can walk up to the roof) to Vigeland Park which features perhaps the world’s greatest array of sculptures that capture the many phases of life. Next, the Fram Museum offers a look at a ship which is the complete opposite of the Vasa in terms of distance traveled. The Vasa traveled from the North Pole to the South Pole, in the spirit of Norwegian exploration. The Norwegians are most proud of their early explorers, including Thor Heyerdahl and Roald Amundsen. At one end of Oslo’s famous esplanade is the Royal Palace and at the other is Parliament. In between are fountains, green space, and numerous outdoor restaurants. 

I will always continue to share more about Scandinavia and all that it has to offer!

Mystery Tour - 2023

The Mystery Tour is always one of my favorite tours because of the freedom we have in setting the itinerary and the element of surprise. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked the destinations of the Mystery Tour. People use every method such as “Gene, so where will you be tomorrow?” hoping to catch me off guard. All the efforts at prying the destinations were in vain however, as my training as a CIA operative kicked in. I had a GREAT group of 29 people on the tour, and I had so much fun with them. Our motor coach operator was Jeff Hageman who drove the first tour I ever did back in 2009. We had several great guides who brought the Amana Colonies, Pella Historical Park, Bridges of Madison County, and the Strategic Air/Space Museum to life. In addition, there were several great meals - one of the highlights was the family style meal with incredible pie at the Ox Yoke Restaurant in Amana. We played several games on the bus and prizes of gold were distributed to winners – OK “gold” dollar U.S. coins. The Broadway show featured great singing and humorous dialogue.

Below is a recap of the destinations that we toured:

Day 1: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque

The Amana Colonies

Hotel: Amana, IA

Day 2: Pella Iowa – Historical Village and Vermeer Windmill

The Bridges of Madison County

Dinner at Henry Wallace Farm (FDR’s VP)

Hotel: Omaha, NE

Day 3: Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha Neb.

Strategic Air and Space Museum

Hotel: Topeka, KS

Day 4: Kansas State Capitol

Brown v. Board of Education Historical Park

Evel Knievel Museum

Quality Hill Playhouse: Broadway Duets

Hotel: Kansas City, MO

Day 5 Hallmark Visitor’s Center and Crown Center

World War I Museum

Hotel: St. Louis, MO.

Day 6 Gateway Arch

Riverboat Cruise

There were so many great sights and experiences- please take a look at my photos! The 2024 Mystery Tour is planned, and it will feature an amazing array of destinations. Please sign up early as this tour sells out! I look forward to your efforts to get me to divulge the destinations…

Ireland - 2023

I, along with 22 wonderful people just returned from a fabulous tour of the Emerald Isle. The tour started in Dublin and went all around the edge of the island, providing great views of rural areas with their 40 shades of green. We also become immersed in Irish culture, listening to traditional Irish music and watching Irish dancers. Our guide was the indomitable Mickey - Irish historian and comedian: He brought Ireland alive with his commentary. We only had one rainy day- believe it or not!! I would like to share some of the images of Ireland. 

• St Patrick’s Cathedral (Dublin): The building dates back to 1191 AD and was constructed over the course of several centuries. It was originally a Catholic church but is now the Church of Ireland (Anglican). The choir has performed since 1432. 

• The Long Room (Dublin): It is located at Trinity University and is seen in conjunction with the Book of Kells, a manuscript which dates back to the 9th Century AD. The Long Room is the longest single chamber library in the world and houses over 200,000 books and manuscripts. 

• Titanic Museum (Belfast): The picture is of the side of the museum which was built to match the exact dimensions of the ship. It is a unique museum that holds the world’s largest Titanic experience. 

• Giant’s Causeway: It is amazing to see 40,000 interlocking basalt columns- the result of an ancient volcanic fissure. The stones look like they were produced at a factory and placed one on top of another. It is a World Heritage Site. 

• Derry, Northern Ireland: Mural of Annette McGavigan, a 14 year old school girl who was a victim of sectarian violence in 1971. Derry (Londonderry) was ground zero for such violence, including the Bloody Sunday massacre. Thankfully Derry is now a city at peace. 

• Kilronan Castle: The castle was built in the 1800’s, and we were able to spend a night inside! A great experience and beautiful views of the 40 acres of scenery all around.

• Cliffs of Moher: These sea walls are located in southwestern Ireland and extend for nine miles. They rise an awe-inspiring 390 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The cliffs are known as the home of many species of birds including puffins, and for their appearance in movies such as Harry Potter. 

• Three Sisters in Dingle Bay: Dingle Bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, boasting soaring hills, rich shades of green pasture, and the striking blues of the ocean. 

• Glendalough: It is a monastic settlement dating back to the sixth century. The Round Tour soars ninety feet into the air and is surrounded by headstones. It is a very spiritual place. 

If you are motivated to visit Ireland, GVG Tours is offering a tour of Ireland and Scotland (September 3-14, 2024) and the Irish Explorer in 2025. Join us to visit the magical island of Ireland!

Getting Your Kicks on Route 66 - Trip 2 of 3

I am currently on Part 2 of the Route 66 Tour and I am writing this from beautiful Amarillo, TX. The group flew into Tulsa, OK but we ran into a problem - there were no vans available in the Tulsa area! Since there’s no problem we can’t solve at GVG Tours, I drove a 15 passenger van down to meet the group at the airport in Tulsa.

This stretch of our Route 66 tour goes from Tulsa to Albuquerque, NM, and we make stops at numerous iconic sites associated with Route 66. From 1926 until the construction of the Interstate System in the 1980’s, Route 66 was the Mother Road to the West. Running from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA, Route 66 totals a whopping 2,448 miles! It was immortalized in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath in which the Joad family traveled west along the Route during the Dust Bowl. This trip is Americana at its best, and for many of us it evokes memories from the times of our youth. I would like to share some of the stops we made on this leg of the tour:

• Commerce, OK - The home of Mickey Mantle: Mantle was the greatest baseball player of his era, and to see the humble home he grew up in highlights just how far he started from New York City.

• Catoosa, OK - The Blue Whale: A man built the whale for his wife and the neighborhood kids. It has been welcoming many generations over the years.

• Miami, OK - The Coleman Theater: A wealthy mine owner decided to build this theater in 1929 at a cost of $600,00 (over $10.5 million in today’s money!) to bring in Vaudeville acts and famous singers. There was a plan at one point to tear it down, but citizens came together to save the theater and it is magnificent.

• Tulsa, OK - The Desert Hills Motel: This motel is a step back in time. Located in this spot since the 1930’s, its neon sign beckons you to stop in and experience the vintage-style rooms - complete with a rotary phone.

• Arcadia, OK - The Arcadia Round Barn: The barn was built in 1898 and its construction included planks which were soaked in the nearby river and bent to fit the structure of the building. The round construction proved sturdy and helped the barn survive the winds and storms for which Oklahoma is famous. The upstairs of the barn also served as a community center and held dances.

• Elk City, OK - The Moveable Diner: During the 1930’s one could purchase a complete diner for $5,000 (just over $100,000 today), or monthly rent of $40 (about $875 today). The diner would be transported to the site and once you hook up utilities you are in business! It even had a secure lock box outside for you to leave your $40 monthly rent.

• Shamrock, TX - Conoco Gas Station: This gas station was built in 1936 using the popular Art Deco style at a cost of $23,000 (around $500,000 today). It was the vision of a man named John Nunn who supposedly sketched the design with a nail in the dirt. In its heyday the attached diner, the U-Drop Inn Café, was reportedly the only restaurant around for 100 miles. It was such a big hit that even Elvis ate there in 1960. This structure has been dubbed the '“Taj Mahal of Texas”, and I have to say that having just been to the real one in India I don’t know how accurate this moniker is. Do you think that the architects of this building would have believed that in present day there are Tesla charging stations behind the building?

• Amarillo, TX - Cadillac Ranch: In the 1970’s, some hippies from San Francisco came out to Amarillo and decided to create a unique art installation in a farmer’s field with the help of some funding from an Amarillo-based billionaire. A line of partially-buried cars sit in the field, ready for a fresh coat of paint. Even today, people are bringing cans of spray paint out to give the cars a new look.

There is so much more I could share with you from this trip. Why don’t you join us for part 3 of our Route 66 Tour, which takes us from Albuquerque, NM to Santa Monica, CA? I guarantee that you will love it!

Gene's Flying Tips

Navigating Airports: It is always a good idea to look at an airport map to see the general layout and to see how you get from one terminal to another. It is usually just a case of following signs, and many international airports will have English translations on their signs. If you have questions, never be afraid to ask for help.

Gate Designation: When ticketed you normally get a gate location on your boarding pass, but it is important to note that gates often change. You should always look at a monitor found throughout the gates and terminal to be sure that your gate and departure information has not changed.

Trackers: Apple, Google, and several other vendors sell GPS trackers that you can place in your luggage so that you can keep track of its location. When you arrive at your destination airport, you can just look at your phone to determine if your luggage made it. If someone takes your luggage or it becomes lost in transport, you can see the exact location of it. The trackers are relatively cheap and can also be used to track keys, your car, backpack, etc.

Long Flight Travel Hacks:

•  I divide up my flight with entertainment such as movies, a book to read, and sleep. I download the episodes or movies I want to watch on my iPad, so that regardless of the in-flight entertainment, I have something that I like to watch. I also always have a book to read (bonus when that book has the location I am traveling to as its theme). 

• Sleep is vital on an international flight while crossing time zones, and the more sleep you can get on the plane the less you will feel the effects of jet lag on your trip. You may even want to consider getting some prescription or over-the-counter pills such as melatonin to help you fall asleep, but be sure to check with your doctor first as some of these pills can have side effects or even be unsafe for certain people. If you do decide to take medication, I strongly recommend trying it out at home first so you know how your body will react before using it on a flight.

• In most planes, the back galley has a variety of drink options and treats. Just walk to the back and help yourself, or ask a flight attendant to hook you up!

• Noise cancelling headphones are great to eliminate the drone of the engines, crying children, and conversation with a talkative neighbor. 

Passport: On international trips, it is the magic document that makes everything happen, so it is most important that we pay special attention to it. The key is to develop a routine with your passport, so you always know where it is. Personally, I wear travel pants that have several pockets with zippers. I place my passport in my front right pocket because it is a convenient location to take it out at ticketing, TSA, and immigration. Some people like to use a holder that goes on a lanyard around their neck. When I arrive at a hotel, I place it in a travel document holder and often place it in the safe. Most important is that you follow a pattern that allows you to know where it is all the time.

Passport Copy: It is vital that you always carry a scanned copy of your passport and share it with the person you are traveling with. In the event that your passport is lost in another country, the copy will expediate getting a new one at an embassy.

Health Advice:

• Wear compression socks which prevent swelling in your feet.

• Stay hydrated even if it means going to the bathroom more often.

• Be sure to get up periodically to stretch and walk around.

• Wear a mask to reduce the chance of catching any illness.

• Be sure that you take any of your regular medications at the scheduled times.

Easy Travel: Go with GVG Tours because everything is taken care of - just relax!!