I hope that this newsletter finds you well and enjoying autumn delights, whether you're picking apples or carving pumpkins, strolling through the changing foliage or curled up with a maple latte, or perhaps you've managed to extend your summer and you're reading this from a beach chair. Wherever you are, we hope you're in good health and spirits, and looking forward to new adventures in 2020. While the European hot spots are always fun, we find that some of the most treasured and unexpected travel memories are made when wandering off the beaten path. In that vein, we invite you to explore one of our most intriguing destinations: the mystical splendor of Australia.
From tropical rain forests to fiery red deserts in the vast Outback; from scenic vineyards producing excellent Shiraz to gleaming modern, funky cities; from the idyllic underwater paradise of the Great Barrier Reef to the culture and art of the Aboriginal population, Australia dazzles with its contrasting landscapes and its extraordinary diversity. Unifying these contrasts are the people renowned for their friendliness and an easy sense of humor. The breathtaking scenery and cultural achievements combined with the indigenous Aboriginal heritage stretching back for tens of thousands of years are in the heart of the Aussie essence of this vast, pristine land which is affluent, multicultural and laced with natural splendor.
Whether you're one of the women who are going with us to Australia next spring, thinking about joining us, or you are already familiar with the enchantments "down under", we hope that you'll enjoy reading more about this spectacular country.
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Ringed by a huge harbor, Sydney, the
capital of New South Wales is Australia's oldest and largest city. I
t is not only architecturally breathtaking with a modern skyline featuring the famous Sydney Opera House, but it also boasts breathtaking beaches with the world-famous Bondi Beach, bewitching bays, and stunning national parks.
Captain James Cook and Joseph Banks first visited the area in 1770. After finding the Botany Bay undesirable, they sailed north, landing at what today is Sydney Harbour. Originally named 'New Albion', the name was later changed to 'Sydney', after the British Home Secretary, Lord Sydney.
The city's style has experienced many influences throughout the years. Aboriginal sites and engravings made by the Eora Tribe are still visible. There is also a noticeable presence of Anglo-Mediterranean style and increasing influences from Chinese and Asian cultures.
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The Great Barrier Reef is the world's most extensive coral reef ecosystem. It is wide and vast, and consists of extensive cross-shelf diversity, stretching from the low water mark nearest the mainland, and along the coast, up to 130 miles offshore.
Encompassing a globally unique array of ecological communities, habitats, and species, the Great Barrier Reef's diversity is due to its latitudinal and cross-shelf location, making it one of the richest and most complex ecosystems on earth. The Reef is home to over 15,000 species of fish, 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusk, 240 species of birds, and a notable variety of sponges, anemones, marine worms, and crustaceans. Some of the most spectacular scenery on earth is on display underwater in the Great Barrier reef, and it is one of only a few living structures visible from space.
Viewed from the air, the panorama of mosaic patterns of reefs, islands and coral cays is truly breathtaking in its diversity of shapes and size.
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There is nothing in Australia as identifiable as Uluru.
Located close to the geographic center of Australia, it is a true monolith, a giant chunk of sandstone reaching towards the sky in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Rising up 1,148 feet high above its barren surroundings, it's a striking site. Amazingly, two thirds the length of the rock is actually buried beneath the sands. There are other similar rock formations in Australia, but Uluru stands alone as the only whole rock of its size, and the
land surrounding Ayers Rock is owned by the Pitjantatjara Aboriginals.
At the setting of the sun, the
terracotta tint
changes to a burnished orange, slowly darkening and deepening to reds, then a
violet-blue hue,
before fading to a charcoal black. At the dawn of the morning, the colors begin their dance again.
Adding to Uluru's mystery, there are sacred sites at the base of it, although the knowledge of their particular significance and entry is restricted by Anangu Law.
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In October we bid a fond goodbye to summer destinations. Since the last time we wrote to you, we have visited
Iceland
,
Greece
,
Venice and the Italian Lakes
, and
Tuscany
. Now, one group of ladies is exploring the Amalfi Coast and another Lebanon, and then, tours of Sicily and Rome are starting in a few days.
W
e are posting daily updates from our tours on our
Facebook
page, so you can always see what we're up to and see who you recognize from your previous adventures with us.
Over the last few weeks, we have announced several tours for summer 2020: the brand new tour to
Switzerland, the
Summer Norway tour, the Baltics tour of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the August 2020 tour to France, the September tour to Greece and the October tour to Greece, and the totally redesigned tour to Russia to now include both St. Petersburg and Moscow. We have also added a tour extension to visit Highclere Castle of the Downton Abbey movie fame, as an optional extension to July 2020 England tour. We know that many of you are awaiting the announcements of more 2020 tours, and within the next couple of weeks, we'll be opening registrations for the 2020 Italian tours: Venice, Tuscany,
two tours to the spectacular Amalfi Coast and two tours to Sicily as well as the September tour to Scotland.
We highly recommend that you fill out the
pre-reservation
form if you have a particular trip in mind, as our tours tend to fill up very quickly, sometimes within a few days. This is especially true if it is a new tour or if you are planning on getting one of the few available single rooms.
As we continue to meet amazing women during our journeys, we cherish each friendship and each connection we make. We want to thank all of you for your friendship and your continued support. If you're a new subscriber, we welcome you with open arms, and we look forward to hearing from you. We answer each email within a day and answer each phone call in person. We love chatting about travel and helping you with turning your travel dreams into reality. So until we meet, enjoy browsing our (continually updated) travel calendar
, and have another pumpkin latte!
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| About Sights and Soul Travels |
Sights & Soul Travels is a boutique, women-only tour operator specializing in small-group luxury tours for women, who love to be pampered. For over 14 years, the exclusive women-only tours have been offering high-end travel in a fun and supportive environment. With destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America, our distinctive tours take women to exotic destinations with spectacular sights, exhilarating activities,
world-class cuisine,
fine wine, and luxury accommodations. We welcome all women, whether single, married, partnered, or widowed, ages 16-99.
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We'll return next month with a feature on Portugal, and we're thrilled to share with you some of the inside information on this historic country, filled with ancient history and medieval experiences. Meanwhile, don't forget to forward this newsletter (the forwarding link is below) to your friends and family who enjoy travel.
Warmly,
Yolanta |
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