A trip to the famous Rose Bowl Parade
My trip to see the Rose Bowl Parade may not be my last trip, but this may be the last trip I take with the travel company I have used for more than 10 years.
When I started my travels in 2004, overseas and in the United States, I had no idea that I would be making so many trips and see so much. I am very pleased that I started when I did. So far I have made 10 trips overseas and been in 24 countries including Morocco and Russia and nine in the United States and Canada.
With this trip, it will be 10 in the States. The saying “travel when you can” is so true. I could not go back and do these trips over again. Starting at age 63 was late enough and making two trips a year worked out good. I travel alone and that is why I decided to write travel articles for the Active Age section of the Gazette. I have found that many people would like to travel but do not have a travel partner. If you are traveling with a good travel company, you do not need to worry. They will take care of you and if you have the money, they will take you any place in the world you would like to travel.
The trip this year is another short trip in the States to the Rose Bowl Parade. With this trip, I traveled from Texarkana to Los Angeles. I ended up getting a good deal on the flight ticket and a good deal on the trip to the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
When I arrived in Los Angeles for the Rose Bowl Parade, the travel group met for a welcome reception at the hotel. During this reception, the travel guide explains what is planned for us on this tour and answers questions concerning the tour. If you travel to Europe with this company, the tour guide or a representative meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel and sees that you get checked in. In the States, the tour company makes arrangements for you to have a pass to ride a “check out” bus to the hotel, where the tour guide greets
you and helps you get checked in. During most of the tours I have made in the past, we would have 40 to 45 on a bus with one guide and a driver. We would travel to destinations outlined in our book while on the trip. With my tour last year to the Balloon Festival in New Mexico, we had four buses full of tourists scheduled to see the festival. We all stayed in the same hotel and each bus had a guide and a driver to take us to the festival. This year, we had seven buses full of tourist with a guide and driver assigned to each bus. We all stayed at same hotel. The buses were numbered and you were given all the information from your guide assigned to your bus.
The first morning, we departed on a Los Angeles tour, followed by a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, celebrating the life of the 40th president. The library is very large and one of the most interesting parts is the building housing Air Force One. This plane was used by seven presidents and the building was built around the plane when it was added to the library. During the evening at the hotel, we joined with traveling companions at a special Globus New Years’ Eve dinner and dance gala. This was complete with hats, party favors, live music and champagne and other drinks.
The next morning, we were scheduled to leave the hotel at 6 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel started at 4:45 a.m. so as to give each person time to dress and eat and make the bus on time. We were on our way to view one of the world’s most popular parades. We sat in a reserved grandstand seating area only minutes from the end of the parade. The floats are truly lovely and all made of live flowers. The theme is planned a year in advance of the parade. A lot of work goes into making each float. During the parade, we were able to see the spectacular floral floats, marching bands from around the world and celebrities. And we were also given an official program to take home as a souvenir.
After the parade, we returned to the hotel for an elaborate New Year’s Day brunch. Later we made a side trip to Santa Monica, where we walked the
famous Santa Monica pier, shopped at the Third Street Promenade and walked along the beach area of the ocean. Then we visited the Star Walk , Beverly Hills area, Hollywood Street and Rodeo Drive. We also shopped in the “market area” in Los Angeles that is located next to the Clock Tower. The next morning we were driven to the area where all floats were on display. It is hard to imagine that each float is decorated with live flowers of some description. It was so much fun to really see them up close and learn more about the float designs. After checking out all the floats, we visited the Getty Museum with its collection of western art from the Middle Ages to the present time.
We then returned to the hotel to get ready for our farewell dinner, which was held onboard the historic RMS Queen Mary. The area around the large ship was still decorated for Christmas, which made this event even more enjoyable. After a funfilled weekend at the Rose Parade and other wonderful sites, the travel company makes arrangement for you to get to your terminal for your flight home. As I have said in many other travel stories, I travel alone but travel with a well-known international travel group. When in Europe, the first night at a welcome dinner is when we meet the ones we will be traveling with for two or more weeks. When sitting across from them the first night, you do not know them, but by the time the trip is over, you feel like they are now good friends. Many keep in contact after the trip is over.
As I have said before, travel when your health is still good. Anyone with questions, can call Marilou Nelson at 870-774-4792 for more information.
I would also like to go back over a few travel tips that I wrote about.
Wear comfortable clothes. Also wear comfortable walking shoes and break them in before you leave home.
There are no washcloths in Europe, so take some if you need them.
I have taken articles of clothing that were old and left them, so I would have more room in my suitcase for souvenirs.
Use a lightweight suitcase. You are allowed 50 pounds on the plane. I also use a carry-on and a fanny pack for money, ID, passport and credit cards. I never unpack my suitcase. I roll my clothes and replace the worn clothes with a new outfit to wear each day.
If you need a visa for a country, it must have the exact day you enter that country and the exact day you leave that country.
Also use small 3-ounce bottles placed in clear bags in your carry-on. I have three or four clear bags for medication, makeup and snacks that I place in my carry on.
I have never had problems with the travel company I use, but you might expect some problems with the airline.
Happy travels.