Letters to Harriet
Last month, I wrote about visiting Turkey, and the differences I noticed in this diverse nation between then and the first time I traveled there in the early 1970s. Several OAT travelers wrote in to share their own experiences visiting a destination before and after it had undergone significant changes—including John P., who responded to my journal entry about what he saw in Berlin after returning there almost a decade after his first visit. It reinforces how quickly and drastically things—and places—can change.
When I first visited Berlin in 1993, portions of the wall that had separated the former east and west sections of the city still existed in several locations, and its imprint was clearly visible everywhere. Where the wall once stood were huge expanses of green space offering clear views of both the formerly communist Berlin and the “liberated” section of the city. Bombed-out buildings still littered eastern Berlin in contrast to the well-kept business, residential, and shopping areas of the west. Berlin was still divided three years after the wall fell, if only by meadows of grass.
Nine years later, when I returned with GCT in 2002, most of the green spaces had been replaced by modern buildings. Potsdamer Platz, with its gleaming Sony Center, occupied what I remembered to be a vast open space. The sun shined through the Reichstag’s new glass dome just a few hundred feet from what formerly had been a series of twelve-foot-tall concrete slabs painted in numerous colors, left as a reminder of the divided city. Only one remnant of the famous wall remained, and that was far removed from the central plazas, parks, memorials, and museum spaces. Berlin had become a city of the most outstanding new architecture I have seen anywhere, with well-dressed people everywhere in the unified capitol. Its transformation was astonishing!
John P.
5-time traveler
Richmond, Virginia
John, thanks so much for responding to my journal entry. It’s amazing to think how quickly the world around us is changing, which is why it’s so important that we get out now to explore the places we’ve always dreamed of seeing.
Ask Harriet
Alan and I have always tried to instill the importance of travel in our children Edward and Charlotte—which is why we often take family trips together. So it’s exciting to hear from you about your own adventures with your family, and even more so when you’re considering beginning new travel traditions with your family members.
OAT travelers Merilyn and Jim M. recently emailed me to ask a question about bringing their grandson along on an upcoming trip.
Q: Are there any generational programs on OAT? We have traveled with Grand Circle to Costa Rica before and would like to bring our grandson on a tour. Please send information if such a trip would be possible.
Merilyn and Jim M.
4-time travelers & Vacation Ambassadors
Salem, South Carolina
A: Merilyn and Jim, thank you so much for asking this question. I think travel is one of the greatest ways we can open the eyes of a younger generation to the great big world we live in—and it’s wonderful that you’re encouraging your grandson to journey to unique destinations.
To answer your question, we do not have official “generational” trips, however we are now offering a new trip option to our travelers: Private Departures. If you’ve ever wanted to plan an adventure for your family (including travelers of any age), a girlfriend getaway, or a trip for an anniversary, reunion, or other special celebration, you can now choose to travel in an exclusive group of as few as eight travelers on our OAT Land Adventures to exciting locations like Africa, India, and yes, even Costa Rica. Our current age policy states that travelers must be 13 years or older to travel on our trips, and the child must be accompanied by an adult. If you choose our new Private Departure option, you can bring your grandson along, regardless of his age.
These trips start at an additional per person cost of $400 beyond the published price of the trip. Plus, if you choose a private departure, you will still enjoy all of the small group benefits you always have, including the leadership of an expert, resident Trip Leader. If you’re interested in planning your own special family adventure, you can learn more about this new travel option, as well as the trips available, by visiting the private departure page on our website. And if you’re ready to reserve your trip, call our Group Sales Account Representatives toll-free at 1-800-353-6262 and select Option #3.
Merilyn and Jim, I hope you’ll take advantage of this exciting new trip option. Happy travels!