An OAT traveler expresses her gratitude through art
By Anne Hruza, 22-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador, Brick, New Jersey
As two of OAT’s most enthusiastic travelers (almost 23 trips already traveled!), one of the things my husband, Denis, and I enjoy most during our adventures are the home-hosted visits.
When visiting someone else’s home, we always want to bring something to show our thanks—and we’ve noticed that many travelers tend to bring the same things to these home-hosted lunches and dinners: shirts, hats, and small trinkets from their hometowns.
When I began traveling, I wanted to try to give our hosts or hostesses something different. Since I've retired, I’ve spent some time painting. I believe that when you paint, you’re able to study a subject or a landscape more closely—and it allows you to remember whatever it is you’re painting better.
So, in keeping with my love of painting—and trying to present our gracious host or hostess with something a little different—I like to paint watercolors of their homes.
Our Trip Leaders usually provide me with the water, and while everyone is introducing themselves at the beginning of the visit, I sit outside for about ten minutes and paint. When I enter the house, I present our gracious homeowners with a quick, watercolor sketch of their home. I’ve met some truly wonderful people this way!
I always take a photo of my paintings and place them in a special sketchbook so that I’m able to remember my past travels—and the homes we’ve been welcomed into. Here are a few of the paintings I’ve created for our hosts during my OAT adventures to Egypt, Chile, and Turkey, and a visit to France with your sister company, Grand Circle:
A Bedouin tent painted during an adventure to Egypt.
Painted during a Chile adventure.
Painted during a trip to France with Grand Circle.
Painted during an adventure to Turkey.