TIME TO ROME

EVEN THE MOST MENACING circumstances didn’t quell Bill Boyd’s wanderlust.

By 22 years old, Boyd led tour groups throughout the Caribbean, South America and Europe for the travel incentive company Top Value Enterprises.

“I stayed on the road for a year and eight months,” the Hillcrest Forest neighbor says. “If I was home for a month, that’d be unusual.”

Boyd never left the country, much less owned a passport, before he was hired. Guiding hundreds of people through unfamiliar cities was daunting, but the mishaps are some of Boyd’s favorite tales to tell.

On a trip to Jamaica, he was in charge of 250 tourists, who piled into busses headed from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios. A torrential downpour trapped the vehicles on a flooding road during the two-hour ride. The bridge they needed to cross was submerged underwater.

Boyd panicked.

“It’s supposed to be their holiday,” Boyd says. “It’s supposed to be their bright, sunshine-y vacation.”

Boyd jumped out of the bus and waved a $100 bill at a passing beer truck. He bribed the driver to chain the busses together and pull them to the nearest hotel.

No one had their luggage, and some went without necessary medications until the weather improved.

“I had nightmares about it for months,” he says.

The high-stress environment wasn’t a deterrent for Boyd, who later opened his own agency and incentive company, Sunbelt Motivation and Travel. He retired from the business in 2016.

Now Boyd and his partner, Joe Cortina, meander across continents on their own terms. Their upcoming itinerary includes trips to Rome, Athens and New Zealand. When they’re not overseas, the couple escapes the Texas heat at their vacation house in beach-front San Diego.

“Now I can see the world the way I want to see it,” he says.

Boyd documents every place he’s explored in a 6-inch binder, but there’s still a few on his to-see list, like Bhutan and Nepal. He’s contemplated taking the Trans-Siberian Express from Moscow through eastern Russia, but he “never built up the courage to go on an eight-day train ride,” he says.

The couple has favorites they return to constantly, too. Cortina visits Paris yearly, while Boyd’s heart belongs to Rome.

“It’s the antiquity of Rome combined with the flare of the people,” he says. “They exude class. They’re not strutting. They’re not arrogant. They’re stylish.”

Dutch Art Gallery

52 Years of Fine Art & Custom Framing

COME MEET THE ARTISTS

10233 E. Northwest Hwy. Dallas, TX 75238 214.348.7350 dutchartgallery.net

Juried Show Reception & Awards, Sat. Dec. 2 l 11am-6pm l Awards at 2pm

Sneak Peek & 52nd Anniversary Cake l Fri. Dec. 1 l 4-8pm

Show Runs Dec. 2-Jan. 19

Time to place your holiday framing orders.

City View Antique Mall

One of Dallas’ oldest antique malls

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE - DEC. 5TH, 6-9:30! Join us for Great Food & Special Sales! Unique gifts, vintage Christmas decor & more...Happy Holidays from our 65 dealers!

6830 Walling Ln. (off Skillman/Abrams) 214.752.3071 cityviewantiques.com

4 East Dallas Locations Spanish Immersion School

JACK F. LEWIS JR., CPA

TAX TIP: Attention: Late filers — Dallas is in the Hurricane Harvey disaster area... Some penalty relief is available.

Tax Preparation · IRS Audit Representation

IRS Notice Resolution · 30 + years

214-821-0829 jlewis@jlewiscpa.com

OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN School of Dallas 7611 Park Lane, Dallas, TX 75225 214.368.1371 / ORDallas. org

On a beautiful campus just across from NorthPark Center, Our Redeemer encourages working above level, but without the atmosphere of anxiety and pressure. We’re nationally accredited through NLSA with our students historically scoring 2.5 years above level in nationally normed testing. PK 2 – 6th graders are provided a faithbased education of co-curricular Fine Arts and Language enrichment, strong academics, daily PE and recess and interscholastic athletics. Before and aftercare options are offered for PK3 and up. Private tours by request.

JOIN

December 6, 9:30 a.m. (Pre-k-8th)

Or schedule a private tour. p.214.328.9131 www.stjohnsschool.org www.facebook.com/sjesdallas

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 ziondallas. org

Yesterday, Today, Forever.

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas/ 214.348.7410 WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

Hebrews 13:8

Open House January 18 5:30-7:00pm

Zion Lutheran School provides a quality Christ-centered education.

Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 100 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman. 6121 E. Lovers Ln. (@ Skillman) Dallas, TX 75214 214-363-1630/ ziondallas.org

6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Character-building and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and stateof-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

A one of a kind school In the Lake Highlands area! Awesome After School Program!

6TH GRADE TO INFANTS - APPLY TODAY!

Now offering specialized services for students with: ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, & Speech/Language challenges

COME TO OUR OPEN HOUSE!

THURSDAY,