My hubby and I are on our way to the St. Kitts Music Festival the end of this month. Ever since we lived on this beautiful Caribbean island we’ve tried to return for the annual music festival. The festival has brought in great performers like the beautiful voice of Dionne Warwick, R&B beauty, Jully Black, and nostalgic Air Supply. Of course, it wouldn’t be the same if the night air wasn’t mixed with the Calypso and Reggae music from local artists. 

As one of the few approved photographers, we always get to go behind-the-scenes, talk with the artists and see the cool ‘stuff’ (equipment). Many of the Caribbean television and radio stations carry the concert live for all four nights. By now, they all know us and welcome us backstage. It’s interesting, to say the least, to listen to the sounds, see the lights, and hear guys talk about how their patch panels has made the change of artists so much easier and smoother. My favorite part is photographing them as they tell their stories about past concerts.

It’ll be fun going back again to listen to the Reggae music of Morgan Heritage, Socrates, and Beanie Man that the Caribbean is known for and seeing old friends.

~ Diana

Happy Anniversary to Us! It was just 13 years ago, almost to the day, that my hubby and I began our love affair with travel. Like all love affairs, it’s been a bitter-sweet journey that began with passion in San Antonio that continued through our elopement in Las Vegas. Just when we thought our love affair was about to end we were introduced to the Reno hotels that reignited what we thought we’d lost. Suddenly, we caught a rush mixed with a bit of nostalgia when we went to Angel’s Heaven on a little island south of Charleston in South Carolina.

Our travels have always been once-in-a-lifetime events; however, not all our travels have been the best. I remember when we were on our way to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (by car). Driving down the Baja is an amazing journey full of beautiful deserts, mountains, winding roads and, of course, Federales (Mexican federal police). The only hitch to the journey is that it’s a two-day drive because driving is only ‘smart’ during daylight hours. The occasional cow and horse don’t just wander onto the dark roadway…they sleep on the dark roadway, right in the middle of it. We heard about a lot drivers, and even had friends, that took their lives into their own hands by driving at night, but we didn’t; which brought us front-and-center to the bitter part of our affair. Not ever traveling to Mexico before, let alone driving through the country, we didn’t know where to stop to spend the night and staying in the car was not an option. Today, I wish I’d taken a photograph of the hotel we ‘thought’ looked close to one we’d prefer. I have to tell you, it was scary, to say the least, safe – but scary. While we did sleep in the hotel room that night, it was on our sheets that, I think I later burned. But hey, it was a part of the journey and if we don’t experience new situations we never know when a great one will pass us by. Ok, the hotel in the little unknown Mexican town wasn’t a great experience but we’ve had lots of great experiences since that night in the hotel that it was very well worth the night of ick.

Since our drive down the Baja we’ve truly enjoyed our lives as we’ve continued our love affair with travel. We’ve been fortunate enough to go to South America, most of the Caribbean islands, all over the United States from California, the Reno hotels, back to San Antonio, St. Louis, Chicago and all up and down the east coast. Not all our adventures have been perfect but that’s what makes our great travels even greater.

~ Diana

Whether Richard Roth is the first or just the first person I know to sue a major airline, like Delta, for delays, inconvenience, rude behavior, and rebuffing employees…I hope he’s not the last. With what airlines charge (high fuel prices or not) someone needs to get upset. No longer are the skies ‘friendly’. Sure the flight attendants are fairly courteous, depending on their mood.

Sure the pilots are friendly, they’re the ones whose hands our lives are in…but the ground personnel…please.

Over the past 5 years alone, I’ve flown every major carrier that flies through or from the United States. One thing I can always count on is that the service gets worse with each trip.

Baggage handling personnel are the worst. My bags have been lost several times. It doesn’t matter if its in the United States or not. When I try to get information on my bags the people I speak with are rude and unconcerned. Yes, I know they have millions of bags they lose everyday but I don’t care about millions. I care only about mine…and since the baggage handler wouldn’t have a job if we all stopped flying…they should at least have an ounce of concern in their voice. That would at least make me feel a little better, like I counted.

(Story continued below)

I was in the insurance business for more than 20 years. Daily, no, hourly, someone would call and complain about their premium going up $1 or $2. It wasn’t millions, no, but it was complaints and they were all the same. Still, it was my job to be kind, courteous and understanding. I spoke to them with the authority that I would do everything in my power to find out why there premium went up and take the time to find a less expensive rate. Sure, I knew the rate went up because of inflation and I knew I couldn’t find a less expensive rate but…I spoke to my client for those few minutes like he was the only client I had. I was on the telephone with the client anyway…why not speak kindly rather than abrasive and uncaring?

Every single passenger understands that there is a chance their luggage will be lost. It’s the law of average. It happens. But when you are given a phone number to call for the airline baggage people and they never answer their phone except between a specific 15 minute interval, what kind of message does this give a traveler?

My son’s and my bags were lost, all of them, going on a non-stop flight to Mexico. It took them 5 days to get our bags and phone call after phone call after phone call. And, hotels charge for phone calls to parties outside the hotel! Add it up! Yes, I was reimbursed, I think a total of $120 for the delay of getting my bags but that $120 does nothing to make up for all the time I had to spend driving over 30 minutes to the airport and back from the airport four times because they didn’t answer their phones, were rude and totally ruined the 5 days I had to spend looking on my own for the baggage (yes, you can do this). Was I able to go to the beach? How could I? I had to call the airlines. Was I able to go to breakfast, lunch or dinner? How could I? I was traveling to and from the airport.

 I’m not surprised in the least that this man is suing. ? To me, $1million is cheap for Delta to get by paying. Maybe this will knock the airline industry back to the era of the ‘friendly skies’. Maybe not.

~ Diana

I just received a call from a ‘travel’ company. They told me I’d won a free Disney vacation. Wow! So cool! Right? Wrong. They gave me a verification number to go to the Internet and register for my tickets. Still cool, right? Wrong. I get one ticket, not enough for my entire family. And…I have to sit through a 90 minute timeshare presentation. I know, some of you are booing but…I’d do it in a heartbeat if…my husband didn’t already SELL timeshare! What good is it for me to sit through 90 minutes of something I can buy from him…and make commission on?

Well, I registered. So anyone that wants my one little ticket. Let me know and I’ll send them the info. Disney is a nice place and a good trade in the timeshare world.

Hugs, D