Memoirs of a World Traveler: 20 Years of World Travel

By Michael D. Mosley

This is a self-help book as well as book of Memoirs. This book tells the story of a middle aged high school counselor who began to travel the world, fell in love with travel and continued on for 20 more years. The book targets those who love to travel, as well as all those in the travel industry. The author has written the book in chronological order from his first trip planning in 1993, to his swan song trip to China in April of 2012. World Travelers are a group that will fully enjoy every mile. Baby-Boomers who are just now beginning their world journeys can gain much from the travel tips provided. The memoirs, shared by the author, makes the book personal and fun to read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477111123

Michael D. Mosley

Michael D. Mosley is a 63-year-old, retired high school counselor and professor from Atlanta, Georgia, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Health. Mosley grew up on a tobacco farm in Kentucky. He has recently concluded a 37-year career in Education, having worked at every level from Kindergarten to University. Mosley is a father and proud grandfather of two. Th e author of this book grew up in a land locked state and did not see the ocean until his twenty-second birthday. His love of travel is contagious and will have you packing your bags for distant lands. In 1994, Mr. Mosley took a trip to London, England. So inspired, he spent the next 19 years traveling every summer to all fi ve Olympic continents. Th rough his eyes and words you will travel around the world. Th e author shares travel tips and encouragement to everyone, young and old alike. With his travel tips, you are on your way to seeing the world for less. Even those with modest incomes will be able to aff ord to travel. Here is what is ahead for you: Walk up the stairs and i • nto Anne Frank’s hiding place. • Discover how to walk the great Outback of Australia and avoid those pesky poisonous frogs. • Cross the land bridge from Finland and enter Russia through the back door. • Your Eurostar bullet train hits 186 miles per hour as you race from London to Paris. • Marvel at the Statue to the Discoverer’s in Lisbon. • Climb into the Trojan horse in Troy, Turkey. • Take the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini, Greece. • Ride a camel at the Pyramids outside Cairo Egypt and cruise up the Nile. • Travel 62 miles deep into Denali National Park in Alaska. • Walk the Great Wall of China. • Step into the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, Turkey. Th e author shares his adventures to Egypt, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Bahamas, England, Russia, Holland, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Morocco, Mexico, Australia, China, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, 45 US states including Hawaii and Alaska and more than a dozen National Parks (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Pikes Peak, Denali, and more).

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Copyright © 2012 by Michael D. Mosley.

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CONTENTS

Acknowlegments

Mosley’s Top Ten Easiest Trips To Plan

Mosley’s Top 5 Group Travel Organizations

About The Author

1994 — The Journey Begins

1995 — London And Paris

1996 — The Olympic Games Of Atlanta/Holland

1997 — Australia Here I Come

1998 — Falling In Love In Italia

1999 — The Northern Capitals Tour

2000 — Spain- Portugal- Morocco

2001 — Oktoberfest In Munich

2002 — The Czech Republic - Prague

Mike’s Midway Thoughts On Solo Travel

2003 — California

2004 — Alpine Adventure & Glacier Express

2005 — Colorado

2006 — Cosmos National Parks And Canyon Tour

2007 — Canadian Rockies And Glacier National Park

2008 — The Greek Islands – Mykonos And Santorini

2009 — Ireland

2010 — Egypt And Alaska

2011 — Northern France And Turkey

2011 — Turkey

2012 — China

Hawaii

Fall Colors Tours

This book is dedicated to my beautiful daughter Mary Beth Mosley Jordan.

Acknowlegments

I am very grateful to all those in my family who encouraged me to travel the world. My late mother loved to travel. Although she never traveled far from her home in Kentucky, I always loved hearing about her travels. Nobody could tell a travel story like Mom. My brother Ted, and sister Connie, always encouraged me to just keep going. When I tell my two grandkids, Grandpa is going to bring you a present from exotic places like Istanbul Turkey. I can see the sparkle in their eyes; it motivates me to keep going. Knowing they will be there for me when I return to Atlanta from those long 12 hour flights inspires me. I hope Mallory and Chase grow up to be travelers, too.

I’d be remiss if I did not acknowledge all those in the travel industry who helped me along the way. At the end of the phone line somewhere is a Delta or American Airlines reservations agent who took my call, got me a good flight with a window seat, and confirmed all those flights for 20 years. Even to get to a simple vacation spot like Dublin, there are dozens of people who help you get there. Be kind to the cab drivers, the gate agents, and the flight attendants. Smile at the pilot; Lord knows I appreciate him.

A smile still goes a long way; use it.

Much of my travel was in a group. There are several wonderful companies that have aided me as I conquered the globe. Trafalgar, Globus, Cosmos, Caravan, and Brendan are but a few that were a joy to travel with. At one time I had a travel agent in Atlanta. Bill Jolly was wonderful and had a real talent for getting me the lowest airfare to distant places like Sydney, Australia. I have forgiven him for not telling me that particular flight was a back-breaking 15 hours from LAX to SYD. However, Qantas served good food and beverages. My favorite airline is Lufthansa to whom I am grateful as they helped me cross the big pond no less than 5 times. I am even grateful to TSA. They didn’t exist when I started traveling the world in 1994. I cooperated with them even when they took up my 8-ounce bottle of Vermont Maple Syrup at the end of my Fall Colors Tour through New England. I had a backup 5-ounce bottle well hidden in my luggage. Momma raised no fools.

When you travel abroad you will need to learn the currency, whether it be the British pounds/pence, the French Francs, or Euros. Bring US currency with you but understand there will be ATM’s all around you. I have even used the ATM in Russia. Americans used to travel with a wallet full of Traveler’s Checks but this is a fading practice as the world has moved to electronic banking. You get a better exchange rate if you use your bankcard in most instances.

How can you remember your trip in detail? The key is scrapbooking. I have a photo album for almost every trip I took. Computers crash and take your travel pictures with them. Always allow for a backup system to save your precious travel memories. I learned this the hard way.

Mosley’s Top Ten Easiest Trips To Plan

1. London

2. Ireland

3. Hawaii

4. Alaska

5. Canada — Glacier or Fall Colors Tours

6. Grand Canyon

7. Bahamas/Caribbean

8. Paris

9. Amsterdam

10.The American West

Let me take a little time now to talk about individual vs. group travel. If you travel single, you get up when you want, eat when you want, and do only the excursions of interest to you. You may see and know less about the castles and cathedrals as you will not have a tour guide to answer all your questions. On the other hand, Group travel allows you to forget about maps and have your vacation planned ahead. You seldom carry your own luggage and many of the meals are included. There are pros and cons with each.

Some of the countries I traveled to almost required group travel. Russia, Egypt, and China are three destinations I do not recommend for single travel. Paris is a city I did both single and group. I prefer the group; but that’s just one man’s preference.

You could try both. During the past 20 years, I tried several companies and here are my top five.

Mosley’s Top 5 Group Travel Organizations

1. Cosmos

2. Gate 1

3. Globus

4. Trafalgar

5. Caravan

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About The Author

Michael D. Mosley is a 63-year-old, retired high school counselor and professor from Atlanta, Georgia, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Health. Mosley grew up on a tobacco farm in Kentucky. He has recently concluded a 37-year career in Education, having worked at every level from Kindergarten to University. Mosley is a father and proud grandfather of two. The author of this book grew up in a land locked state and did not see the ocean until his twenty-second birthday. His love of travel is contagious and will have you packing your bags for distant lands.

In 1994, Mr. Mosley took a trip to London, England. So inspired, he spent the next 19 years traveling every summer to all five Olympic continents. Through his eyes and words you will travel around the world. The author shares travel tips and encouragement to everyone, young and old alike. With his travel tips, you are on your way to seeing the world for less. Even those with modest incomes will be able to afford to travel. Here is what is