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“ If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.”
James Michener, Pulitzer prize-winning author

denise Welcome to the Summer Edition of the JustSayGo TraveLetter... Whether you're a long-time reader or a new subscriber, we're glad to have you along as we continue our exploration of the world around us. If you're planning your own voyage — near or far, actual or virtual — we think you'll find just what you're looking for to whet your travel appetite. Every month we highlight more of the wanderings from our peripatetic crew. We hope that we both inform and entertain. And more important, we hope we inspire you to create your own travel memories (for yourself, or if you have a writerly bent, we'd love to hear from you as well). Which brings me to our newest — and youngest — contributors.

An enthusiastic danke to Mr. Joseph Swinea's young students at the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, Germany, for their writing contributions to JustSayGo. In the coming months, we'll be posting the students' essays, based on their travels to such diverse locations as New York, Chicago, and Rome. The youngsters — all of whom are 11 or 12 years old — were asked by Mr. Swinea to describe the trips they took during spring break. We've loved reading the astute observations of these young travelers and we think you will too. They're an important reminder that you're never too young to start seeing — and appreciating — the world beyond your own backyard. So let's take a lesson from these youngsters, and follow the advice of one popular cruise line — "Get out there!" -JSG Managing Editor Carol Sorgen

Pictured: TraveLetter Editor Denise Dube on horseback, Copper Canyon, New Mexico

JUSTSAYGO DESTINATIONS JustSayGo... Again. It’s summer time and the living is easier… and hot. Don’t have the cash for a European jaunt? Look at home base and find some treasures there. Read our archives and see what others have found in your state. Whatever you do, make memories. And take a few pictures while you’re at it and send them to JSG. We want to see too. Go back to school in Cambridge, England… visit Canberra, Australia… Closer to home, Maine offers a bit of R&R to weary souls… and for Francophiles, well, wander over to Bercy Village.

		Cambridge, England Kelly Anne Bushell takes us to an 800-year-old university town in England. Professors walk the street with an autocratic air, while students’ bicycles, a popular mode of transportation, are parked along the cobblestones streets there. Go back — in time and to school. More

		Canberra, Australia Dawnelle Salant takes us down under, up and around Canberra, Australia. It’s only three hours from Sydney, and a few seconds from here. See what our author found. More

		Bercy Village Rather than the usual Left or Right Bank Parisian visit, Mary Gallagher takes us to the ancient site of Bercy Village. Although it’s still considered Paris it didn’t start that way. Learn about Bercy’s more than 6,000-year-old history and find a few other surprises. More

JUSTSAYGO FIESTA Fiesta Editor Vivienne Mackie lists holiday, carnivals and parties all over the world. Visit http://justsaygo.com/fiesta/fiesta.html for Vivienne's favorites.
		Mozart Festival This year, the anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250th birthday, is being celebrated in many places around the world... More

TROUBLE CONTACTING US?
Having trouble getting through to us at TraveLetter? Please do not reply directly to this email, please contact us at denise@justsaygo.com.

TALK TRAVEL by TraveLetter Editor Denise Dube
Always look on the bright side... More

Is there something you'd like to share with us, write to Talk Travel at denise@justsaygo.com.

TRAVEL EASE — TravelSmith
Product review by TraveLetter Editor Denise Dube

Once again I find myself singing the praises of TravelSmith. Sorry, I can’t help it, the company just seems to know what it’s doing. I enjoy other travel products, but they don’t seem to match TravelSmith’s selection or quality.

You may remember that I bought the black slimmer dress a few months ago and was amazed at the way it smoothed out my rough edges and bumps. This time I tried a lightweight women’s floor-length sleeveless crinkle dress ($79). I didn’t wait for a trip, but, on a recent scorcher, wore it to a doctor’s appointment, to lunch and then on errands. Even though the dress was black it was light and comfortable throughout the day. I wore a slip just in case, but you can go without one, as the crinkles prevent see through. This little wonder can be dressed up with jewelry for evening wear or worn plain during the day.

I accompanied the dress with women’s red classic huaraches ($65). These are not flimsy shoes, but instead are made of strong leather and sport a stitched rubber sole. They were comfortable, airy and have already been worn three times. No blisters, no sore feet, and none of the usual complaints with new shoes.

A perfect match for the dress is the women’s crinkle cotton mandarin collar shirt ($59). It can be used as a cover for the dress or simply as a shirt to accompany a pair of pants or a skirt. This too can be dressed up or down. All of my TravelSmith items will be rolled into a ball, packed and taken on my next few trips. My only question is, who comes up with these products and why do they work so well? For more information visit: www.travelsmith.com

Is there something you'd like reviewed? Let us know before buying a new travel item. We'll let you know if it meets JSG's standards.

PHANTASTIC PHOTOS

"Fourth of July" by Ron Stern

"Fourth of July" by Ron Stern

Do you have a photo that deserves a spot on this page? Send it to denise@ justsaygo.com. We'll post it here and send you a JustSayGo.Com TraveLetter prize.

TRAVEL TIP
by JSG Managing Editor Carol Sorgen
Summer’s here and the weather is…changeable. So, the packing word of the day for weather is “layers.” No matter how cold or hot you think you're going to be, you can wind up with a freak hot or cold spell; overheated or overchilled rooms; or full sun to day-long downpours. Try traveling with a microfiber raincoat, one with both a detachable wool lining and hood. Even if you anticipate cool weather stick to cotton tees that can be worn under a lightweight sweater or alone, if there is an unexpected heatwave. Try to wear slacks that are roomy enough to accommodate tights if needed for unexpected cold days. A final word of advice...just remember that, unless you're going to be in the middle of nowhere with nary a shop in sight, you can always fill in your wardrobe blanks, no matter what the weather.

All right, so, you’re packed and ready to roll, leaving the house empty and untended. Police in every state suggest having the newspaper and mail stopped to avoid telling the world you’re gone. Have a neighbor keep an eye on your house. As added protection, put a light or two on a timer so it looks as though someone’s home.

For added financial protection call your credit card company and tell them you’ll be traveling. Do this especially if you are going to Europe. Companies will freeze accounts thinking the card is stolen and you could be left with an unusable card. If you forget to do this and find yourself card- and money-less, call the number on the back. Officials there will ask a lot of security questions and then unlock the card.

Remember to check archived stories for more information. You can reach us at denise@justsaygo.com.

BOOK REVIEW by TraveLetter Editor Denise Dube
There is Room at the Inn,
Inns and B&Bs for wheelers and slow walkers
by Candy B.Harrington, photographs by Charles Pannell

book Ever have a hard time getting up a flight of stairs or just making your way into a shower? Well, some travelers do and Candy Harrington doesn’t just know that, she tells the world in her newest book, There is Room at the Inn; Inns and B&B’s for wheelers and slow walkers.

Harrington and husband and photographer Charles Pannell have scoured the country finding spots that take all travelers needs into consideration. Candy and Charles own and publish Emerging Horizons Magazine, but the new book is the result of continued dedication to those with special needs.

“I'm pretty proud of the book,” Candy said when asked. “It took a lot of work and I was ready to throw in the towel more than a few times.”

Those who require accessible rooms, elevators and other means of travel are glad she didn’t. Some who have never traveled before do now because of the magazine and a previous book on the same subject.

Harrington said she’s pleased with the book’s quality and content.

“Hopefully it will also motivate other writers to give people detailed and meaningful access information. There's really a huge need for this type of resource. I'm reminded of that all the time when readers write and tell me that my books or articles encouraged them to give travel a try for the first time.

Reader responses are already starting to filter back to the author. The general consensus, she said, is that most people never realized inns and B&Bs were accessible.

Harrington, who also wrote Barrier-Free Travel a few years ago, has helped educate the public. “I’m pretty pleased when an innkeeper calls me and wants to be included in the next edition, because it just shows they realize how very large this market is and how important it is to provide accessible options for travelers." “That's a huge change from 12 years ago.” There is Room at the Inn has made a difference. Whether you have special needs or not, this is an important read for every traveler. For more information visit: www.emerginghorizons.com.

TRAVEL Q&A
Have any travel or security questions that need answering? Chances are we've “been there, done that.” Email us with questions and we'll get the answers. Remember to check archived stories too for more information. Email us at denise@justsaygo.com.

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PLEASE DO NOT REPLY DIRECTLY TO THIS EMAIL. To contact us at TraveLetter, email Denise Dube at denise@justsaygo.com.