CHRISTMAS IN THE ISLANDS, EUROPE & US…what Christmas means to me.

When I was a child growing up in Trinidad, I remember looking forward to Christmas each year, especially to see what Santa Claus brought for me (yes, Santa came to Trinidad too). It was the most special time for me and Christmas grew to be my favorite time of year. Then as I grew older, it began to lose some of its meaning. The excitement had gone away and I did not look forward to Christmas so much.

When I moved to the United States, I was excited about Christmas again but this was short-lived when I would see parents arguing about the most popular toys and fighting to get the last one on the shelves for their children. Or, I would see people camping outside of toy stores or malls waiting to be first in line for a particular toy. Or, Christmas carols were played at the last moment on the radio and not enough snow had fallen. This was not my idea of Christmas in the US.

After years of this, I decided I was ready to experience Christmas somewhere else and I packed my bags and went to France for 2 weeks in December. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in Cannes. I arrived in time to go to the Christmas market a few times which was a special treat for me. They sell the best crepes there and Christmas ornaments and chestnuts. The streets were all lit with Christmas lights and people were full of Christmas spirit and cheer. I really enjoyed my Christmas that year in the south of France.

Shortly after that, I met my husband who also enjoys celebrating Christmas and he helped to bring back even more of the meaning of Christmas for me. We both like giving and receiving gifts, but mostly just being together is enough joy for us. This year (2008), I will spend Christmas in Germany with him and I am looking forward to it. Although the Christmas markets in Germany will be closed by the time I arrive there, he has already decorated the apartment with Christmas ornaments.

On the Saturday before Christmas day (2008), I invited seven of my nieces and nephews (2-8 years) over to my house for a Christmas pizza party. I bought presents for them and wanted to spend some time with them instead of just giving them the gifts and leaving right away. We planned to have pizza and watch a movie (Kung Fu Panda). A few minutes after they all arrived I had the "what was I thinking?" moment! (: There were children everywhere, screaming, laughing, crying, running, but none sleeping. We ate pizza, and then settled down to watch the movie. (Well, we made it through most of the movie anyway.)

The movie was finally over and the children became restless! They started having their kind of fun bouncing around! I sat there with my mother and sister and enjoyed every minute of it. The most touching moments of the day, which filled me with enough Christmas spirit to last a long time were, first, when they all piled on top of me hugging and kissing me over and over again! I will never forget this moment for as long as I live. Another moment was when one of my nieces bumped my nose with her head (ouch!). She kept coming back to me, hold both my cheeks with her tiny hands to kiss my nose. I was happy when their parents picked them up but these were the best reminders of what Christmas is truly about!

So for me, Christmas is a time of different kinds of gift giving. Young children (and some older ones too) enjoy opening their presents to see what Santa brought for them, or complaining about what Santa did not bring. During the Christmas season, I would be happy to receive the gift of a hug from a long lost friend, or a phone call from someone I haven't spoken to in a while, or a Christmas card that says "thinking of you," and especially the hugs and kisses I received while being smothered by my nieces and nephews. These are truly the most precious gifts of all and I've come full circle to truly appreciate them. I have also realized that it's not about where you are or what you get or even when you get it, but it's more about who you are with at Christmas time that truly makes it Christmas.

To all my family and friends, I send you a big hug and lots of kisses at Christmas time all year long. MERRY CHRISTMAS and PEACE AND LOVE ALWAYS!

Check Travel Postcards for more on my trip to Germany. FROHE WEIHNACHTEN!!

WELCOME! Travel for fun!

I often get calls or emails from some of my friends saying that they have not received a postcard from me in a while, so I created this site to share my travel adventures in a more elaborate way. (My list of postcard recipients grows with each trip and postcards and stamps can be very expensive.) For those of you who know me, you know that I can be a travel adventurer, wandering off to places sometimes with friends or solo where I don't even speak the language. But that's all part of the adventure.

I started traveling many years ago when I realized I did not want to wait until I retired to start doing "retirement things." Why wait until you retire, when there's so much to see and do right NOW! So I started my retirement very early and travel is one of the activities I enjoy very much. From the very moment it becomes an idea in my head, the excitement lingers until the very end of the trip. I love travel even when flights are delayed, when baggage is lost or items are damaged, and even when, as in more recent times, you have to pay for everything including the peanuts. (:

To date, my love of travel has taken me to many countries (some more than once) around the world, from my beloved Trinidad & Tobago to the United States where I live and work, to Japan, Europe and Mexico, and back to the Caribbean.

I've been crammed onto trains in Tokyo, been seasick on a catamaran from St. Martin to St. Barth's in the Caribbean, been on a bus that almost over turned in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I've gotten on the wrong fast train from the Cannes in the French Riviera to Paris. (At least I have the memories). (:

But, I've also been on a great sunset booze cruise in Montego Bay, Jamaica, woke up eight mornings in a row to an awesome view of the Italian Alps in northern Italy, hung out with members of Ziggy Marley's band in Jamaica, cruised from Florida to the Bahamas, sat on a bench on La Croisette and watched the sunset over the Mediteranean in Cannes, and taken my picture on famous Red Carpet steps at the Palais du Festival (site of the Cannes film festival).

I enjoy meeting and getting to know new people and places, and make every attempt to absorb the environment completely. For me, it is the only way to truly experience the culture. When I travel, I try act more like a local than a tourist. But sometimes it's hard not to be a tourist. (:

I recently got married and my husband is also a bit of a travel adventurer. So my goal is to continue to travel to as many of the major cities in the world with him and to experience as many of the festivals around the world as possible. So, if you are like-minded, then spread your wings and soar at 37,000 feet with me to a new destination.

In the near future you will be able to read some of my past recaps and see some pictures. I look forward to your comments and COME BACK OFTEN! For my travel tips, check out my TravelPostcards.


I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous and rewarding New Year! God bless. Be safe and pray for peace!

NEXT STOP. . .Christmas and New Year's 2008 in Germany (check back in mid January 2009 for my recap from this trip). AUF WIEDERSEHEN!