Although we have lived in the same house in Phoenix, Arizona for 50 years, I found myself in a New York state of mind during my recent 10-day trip ‘back home’. Hiking up and down the NYC subway staircases was good training for our hiking days / years here in Arizona. We reached great heights: Flatiron Superstition Mountains, Humphreys Peak, Camelback, Piestewa, Grand Canyon R2R in 13 hours and many other awesome hikes. Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA) - Little Dancer by Edgar

Our awesome trip was made so memorable by the warm welcome shown to us by Servas members in Poland, Finland, and Estonia. Gdansk, an important player in the Hanseatic League, was our first stop in Poland. Servas members Ola and Wlod Serwinski met us at the airport in Gdansk, Poland and invited us to spend a few nights in their beautiful home in Kielno. During the next two days, Ola gave us a tour of the area: visits to Wiezyca, the forested area in the Kashubian region, and t

By Paula G. Cullison Copenhagen Denmark Copenhagen Denmark Stockholm Sweden Stockholm Sweden Jevnaker Norway Bergen Norway Before our trip, I sent out an email (with my Letter of Introduction) to several SERVAS members in each of the cities on our itinerary. As luck would have it, quite a number responded that they would enjoy meeting us. Our trip to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen and then to Iceland was AWESOME. The highlight of our trip was meeting the SERVAS members

By Paula G. Cullison This was my first time in Korea, so I was up for a brand-new adventure. Also, the Korean language was new to me. All I could master was: gamsa hamnida (thank you) and annyeog haseyo (hello). While planning our trip, I reached out to Servas members. I've been a member since 1996. Before our arrival, NamHee, Former President, contacted Choi Byungwan, the current President of the Servas Seoul group, who invited us to his PowerPoint presentation on their 28-d

The call to travel and revisit certain key cities in Europe tugged at me, especially since it was coupled with visions of French pastries, Dutch Masters, Belgian lace and chocolate, and German wine. Booking a flight and finding centrally located international hotels is such a snap with the Internet. Travel light in luggage and heavy in pocket was my mother's advice to me ... many moons ago. Now, debit and credit cards make for smooth travel. With careful planning, a small whe

The Head (Eros Bendato) by sculptor Igor Mitoraj - Art in Main Square Krakow, Poland Photography by Paula G. Cullison Our AWESOME travel adventure was to Finland, Estonia, Poland, and Italy. It does take a great deal of time and effort to plan international trips, especially to countries where you have not been. And so, I set out to plan our latest 5-week international adventure with a few travel quotes in mind: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go. Oh, the People You’ll Meet”, noted Dr

Bon Voyage - Buon Viaggio - Gute Reise - Travel Tips from a Seasoned Traveler by Paula G. Cullison As a long-time independent traveler, people always ask me for advice. The best travel advice I can give is to PACK LIGHT. I started traveling when I was in college. My first European adventure (12 countries) was during the Summer of 1963. Since then, I have been traveling nationally and internationally (over 50 countries).

Iceland - the Glacier Lagoon - photograph by Paula G. Cullison Our most recent Trip of a Lifetime was conceived about 9 months ago. The question was: where to go during the hottest months in Phoenix when the temperatures skyrocket to a daily average of 112*F. Due to climate change the summers are much longer than they were 50 years ago when we moved to Phoenix from NYC. Finding cool spots for a summer break is becoming more difficult, especially since most of Europe and Asia

To Cuba with Love Originally published in Frontdoors News on April 5, 2016 article and photography By: Paula Cullison Wanderlust is great, traveling is better. With the upcoming lift of the embargo to end the blockade and the possibility of direct flights, more US tourists will seek to experience Cuba. But be prepared, keep an open mind and brush up on your Spanish. The flight from Miami is only one hour; the distance from the Flo

Himeji Castle by Paula G. Cullison Enchanting Japan and Korea by Paula (Giangreco) Cullison 'The Journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.' Lao Tzu And so, it went. Our journey to Japan and Korea began with the AA/JAP flight from Phoenix to LAX to Osaka. Flying First Class (FREE with frequent flyer miles) on Japan Airlines was heavenly. I had cancelled this trip twice due to the pandemic. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to have been able to

SWITZERLAND: Beyond Cheese Fondue by Paula G. Cullison (Summer 2022) I first visited Switzerland in 1963, as part of a 3-month student European tour group; we visited 12 countries. I was determined to return one day. Upon graduating from college in 1965, I was awarded an AIESEC traineeship to work in Zurich. My international travels continued over the years and I have visited 50 countries. It took a while, but I returned to Switzerland in 2004 with our daughter, Pamela. We

My trip to the United Arab Emirates was filled with unexpected surprises. To say that this trip was a magical experience is an understatement. It was such an honor to have been invited to submit for an international art exhibition in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah - RAK. Being selected was so exciting, and attending the event was absolutely awesome. The entire trip was incredible. I was able to snag a last-minute Business Class upgrade on Emirates for a nominal amount. I got l

Japan Airlines - Welcome This my report on the WYVEA (World Youth Visit Exchange Association) trip to Japan. When Flight 069 on Japan...

Feria de los Mataderos_Buenos Aires, Argentina Let's Dance - Vamos a Bailar Photography by Paula G. Cullison ‘Oh the Places You’ll Go … Oh the People You’ll Meet’, notes Dr Seuss in one of his books. I decided on another trip to South America, since I felt a need to experience more of the people and the cultures of this continent and while I still remember some of my Spanish. Our South American Adventure was focused on Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, as I had been to Peru and B

La Posada Resort - Winslow, AZ The Land of Enchantment beckoned us, since it had been quite some time since our last trip there. After...

Paula in Sicily with her new found family and in front of her father's home There is no greater thrill when traveling than that of...

Like many others, I too have had the desire to visit Peru and experience Machu Picchu. You could say it was on my ‘Bucket List’, but I really don’t have one. As a solo traveler who relies on the internet to make my own arrangements and reservations, I was eager for another travel challenge. After two months of reading, searching and speaking with others who had recently been to Peru, I planned my trip around dates using a UNITED Airlines frequent flyer ticket. Fortunately, I

Remains of the old fortress at the top of the hill, you can catch a view of the Black Sea, which is guarded by the Turkish military. Take time to enjoy a leisurely seafood lunch at one of the outdo or restaurants here before the ferry heads back to Istanbul. TURKEY TRAVEL TIPS Hotel prices are about $350 per night for high-end hotels. Guided van tours are most popular with tourists. Taxis are the best way to get around town, as the public transit system is overcrowded. Most o