SUNRISE TOURS:  Creme de la Creme Tour - May, 2018

NOTE:  For additional trip pictures, go to Facebook and ask to join the group Sunrise-Canada Creme, created for this trip.

DAY 1 - Travel to Marshall, MI. 
               The bus travelers departed St. Louis on their journey to Toronto, Canada spending the night in Marshall, MI known for its world famous Schuler’s Restaurant.  The guests were quite pleased with the tasty menu offerings and raved about the delicious bread pudding.  

                Sunrise Tours is extremely accommodating to its guests as travelers can choose to take a scenic bus ride to their destination or for those who prefer the fastest route, for an additional fee, they have the option of flying.

DAY 2 - Travel to Toronto, CA

               This was a very busy day for the “Wanderlusters”, my nickname for our tour group as the bus riders and flyers all rendezvoused at the conveniently located Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre.   I thought the hotel lobby area was stunning, especially for a Holiday Inn.

          While several of us flyers, including me, had some harrowing airline adventures en route to Toronto, ranging from cancelled flights to mechanical issues, we all managed to make it to the hotel in time for a flavorful Italian dinner at The Badali Bar and Cucina, located right in the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District.  The service was prompt, the food choices quite appetizing and the scrumptious tiramisu was the best ever.

               From there it was a quick ride to our evening’s entertainment, the play ‘Annie’ shown at the historic Ed Mirvish Theater.  While Annie is the named star of the show, the true highlight of the evening was the renowned actress Lesley Nicol, famous for her role in Downton Abbey, playing the deceiving Miss Hannigan.  The show was quite entertaining with stunning stage sets, well-designed era costumes and exciting dance numbers.  We all enjoyed a fun-filled evening.

Sunrise Tours -

Hi fellow Wanderlusters
      Wanderlust can be defined as “a deep, almost uncontrollable desire to hit the road and travel, by whatever means possible, to explore and enjoy the world.

Wanderluster so aptly describes me because in my 50 plus years of traveling all over the world I’ve been to 27 countries, 45 states and hundreds of cities. I truly have ‘wanderust’ in my heart because I love the entire process of traveling.......from the research and planning stage, to actually taking the trip and then coming home to tell all my friends and family about it.

      That’s why I’m excited to announce that I’ll once again be traveling with Sunrise Tours and Blogging about my adventures on their upcoming Creme de la Creme tour which will take us to Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal and Niagara Falls.  Check out the trip details at:  https://travelsunrise.com/saint-louis/tours/destinations/1401-2/

        On a Sunrise trip, you can be assured all your travel needs will be anticipated and met.  Each tour will cover not only the highlights of the area, but in addition, there will be ‘surpise’ treat for the tour group......like in San Francisco when we  went on an unscheduled cable car ride.

To view their complete schedule for the rest of 2018, visit their website at https://travelsunrise.com/saint-louis/tours/winter2018/

NVFF -Day 2

The screenings at the Napa Valley Film Fest (NVFF) are too numerous to mention with movies being shown in 4 cities - Napa, Yountville, St.Helena and Calistoga - and at more than 12 venues.  I watched the documentary, ONE CHANCE, about Paul Potts, the first winner of the Britain's got Talent Show.   It was quite inspirational as he had to overcome so many obstacles just to get on the show.    

It was such fun working the Fesitval Gala and with NAPA Valley being so well-known for its many fine vineyards, well, the wine flowed like water.   The former COPIA Center was resplendent with Hollywood like decorations and rocking with several bands spread throughout the venue.

At The Movies!

I'm so excited as I love working Film Festivals and I'm in NAPA right now working this event.  In the past I've worked both the Denver Film Fest and the biggest and the best, Sundance.   I've done everything from arrange transportation to cooking for the starving artists to working the Red Carpet.   At this one I'm a concierge for the the VIP patrons.

I just love the ambiance and the environment which makes me feel like I'm inhaling creativity everywhere I go.

Today I set a new record, 2 movies and 5 short films in 8.5 hours plus worked 3 events.

The Fabulous Ice Age is an interesting documentary exploring the popularity of the old skating stars like Sonja Heine and the extravagant shows -- like Ice Follies and Holiday on Ice.  I loved the movie as it reminded me of all the Saturday afternoons I've spent with my mom watching ice skating competitions.

Old Stock was a quirky picture about a young man who decides to hide out and live

in an assisted living home after a car accident.......so he starts acting as if he's 65 instead of 20.