UP FOR ANYTHING

by GLORIA GEANNETTE

Sometimes a gift of travel will change the life of the recipient. That happened to me a few years ago when my grown daughter surprised me with a mystery proposition. One November she told me to be ready to fly somewhere hot or cold on Christmas Day. All I was to do was be sure my passport was up-to-date and pack warm and cold weather clothes in two different suitcases.

The mysterious aspect of the trip intrigued everyone around me. My office mates made me promise that I would email them Christmas Eve, as soon as I learned where I was going. I started dreaming about scuba diving in the Caribbean and snorkeling in Hawaii. Since my daughter loves the tropics as much as I do, I was sure that the destination would be a sunny beach, so I didn’t pay much attention to a winter wardrobe. I stocked up on suntan lotion, however, and bought a new bathing suit. Just to be true to the game rules, I haphazardly threw a couple of sweaters into a suitcase.

On Christmas Eve, I was completely shocked to open a gift box of ski goggles and heavy socks. I

hadn’t been skiing in years, so it was a little intimidating to learn that the next day we would be flying to Geneva, the first stop on our journey into the Alps to a picturesque Swiss village, where I had spent a winter working as a tour guide in my single days.

Through the years, I had regaled my daughter with stories about my fairytale adventures in Chateau d’Oex. It had been a time full of skiing and making new international friends against the backdrop of some of the most spectacular winter scenery imaginable. Returning there to ski was both exciting and terrifying. I was a little afraid that the reality wouldn’t match my wonderful memories and also that I wouldn’t remember how to ski.

I hadn’t been in Geneva for years, so it was immediately reassuring to see how much the city remained true to my memory of it. The lake and its signature attraction, the Jet d’Eau, a more than 400-foot high water spout in the harbor, were still as dazzling as I remembered. We immersed

ourselves in the city for two days surrounded by chocolate shops, fondue restaurants, and high-end shopping in the new and ancient parts of town.

Much as we loved Geneva, it was exhilarating to leave town via train to travel to Montreux, another picture-perfect city on Lake Leman. There, we switched to the tiny rail line that winds its way through the snowy mountains on its way to Chateau d’Oex in the Bernese Oberland, just a few stops shy of its much more famous neighbor, Gstaad. We were glued to the train windows snapping photos of the snowy chalets tucked into the mountainside. We went over bridges that seemed made for the toy Thomas the Tank Engine. When we arrived in Chateau d’Oex, I felt as if I’d entered a time warp. The town looked virtually the same as I remembered it, and more importantly I felt just like I had in my early 20s—ready to ski, meet new people and experience a week of adventure.

After checking into a familyrun auberge, we ventured out in the light snowfall to rent our “It was exhilarating to leave town via train to travel to Montreux, another picture-perfect city on Lake Leman. There, we switched to the tiny rail line that winds its way through the snowy mountains.”

ski equipment. In the old days, the shop had been owned by the family of one of my ski instructor friends. Seeing the familiar name still on the signage made me feel more and more at ease with the prospect of skiing.

With skis, boots, and passes in hand we walked to the gondola just up the street and took our first trip up the mountain. After a moment of nervous excitement, I schussed down my first blue run and felt like I was indeed in a time machine. The muscle memory took over and it really was like riding a bike—you don’t forget.

Against the background of deep blue sky and snowy peaks, the fairytale continued. That surprise travel gift a few years ago really opened my mind to always saying ‘yes’ to spontaneous travel and new challenges.

Contact your trusted travel advisor to wrap up a gift of travel for someone you love.

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Love language: Receiving and giving gifts Whether in colorful

street bazaars or Parisian boutiques, searching for the perfect gift is part of the magic of travel. How else could a mere thing transport us to enchanted days in distant lands?

Venus ET Fleur

Eternity® Roses I Love that Lasts These long lasting and oh-so chic social media darlings come with a recommendation from jet-set supermodel Gigi Hadid. And who are we to argue with that? Sourced from the vibrant rose fields of Ecuador, they are sure to inspire dreams of lush vacations in sumptuous Central American resorts.

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Ca’Macana

Traditional Venetian Mask I Venice, Italy Lovingly crafted and personally signed by expert artisans in one of Venice’s oldest workshops, these evocative masks are the perfect way to say, “Let’s run away to northern Italy and immerse ourselves in the magic and mystery of Renaissance cathedrals, Gothic palaces, and the excesses of Carnevale.”

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Jet Set Candy

Wanderlust Pills Bundle I Global Longing for adventure?

Wanderlust Pills are just what the doctor ordered. Each bottle contains 60+ “pills” stacked in a smile-inducing rainbow. From Fiji Palm Fronds to Eiffel Tower Treats, these satisfying sweets just might inspire you to book that trip you’ve been mulling over for way too long now.

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NAADAM

Cashmere I Mongolia Perfect for chilly adventures in faraway lands, NAADAM cashmere is sourced in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. The weavers work directly with local herders to produce beautiful, sustainable knits at prices that are fair for them, and us.

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Glassimo

Bohemian Contemporary Crystal I Prague, Czech Republic While some of us cherish fond memories of Czech vacations gone by, others are dreaming of meandering the streets and squares of Prague with a favorite loved one. And all of us are swooning over the one-ofa-kind glassworks found in this pristine gallery in the heart of Bohemia.

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Rimowa

Essential Cabin S Luggage I Germany Maybe this is the year we splurge on that over-the-top suitcase in a color that says, “Look at me, I’m traveling!”

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Grand Turkish Bazaar

Coffee Sets I Turkey Imagine feeling the warmth of the sun on your face as you wake up in an imperial palace overlooking the Bosporus straight … and breathe in the unmistakable aroma of Turkish coffee. In 2013, Turkish coffee was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This year, we’re adding the deep and meaningful elixir to ours.

Vosges

Exotic Truffle Collection I The origin of Travel the World through Chocolate™ lies within the Vosges’ Exotic Truffle Collection.

After you unravel the purple bow, the wanderlust begins… where do you want to go?

Nagaland is vibrant with curry, macadamia nuts beckon to Australia. Relish in Chinese star anise, reminiscent of the forbidden green absinthe of days long past. Open your senses and experience the culture, take a bite and imagine what it is like to stand on the streets of Shanghai. Each truffle collection includes an enclosure book with guided tasting notes, ingredient sourcing details, and experiential truffle stories and pairings.

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Beats

Noise Cancelling Studio Buds I Apple Nothing makes a long haul flight go faster than a great pair of Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) ear buds with transparency mode—so we can hear the flight attendant ask if we would like a glass of wine or Champagne with our first-class vegan meal.

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Blissy

Red Sleep Mask I Okay, maybe we’re the last people on earth to discover these skin-protecting sleep inducers. All the modern self-care gods and goddesses are getting them. Of all the colors, we think red says, “Let me sleep” best.

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The Book

The 5 Love Languages I by Gary Chapman Even those of us who aren’t “touchy feely” might admit that different personalities give and receive love … well, differently. After taking the quiz, we’re fully convinced that we travel differently too. Wouldn’t it be neat if we all understood each other better before we boarded that next plane? Asking for a flight attendant friend.

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Uguisu

Natsuko Kozue Wrapping Paper I Japan Every time we travel to Japan, we come home with fresh awe for the smallest details in life. This store somehow manages to ship that sense of wonder all over the world.

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