Eastern Europe Research Trip – Friends!

What better way to enjoy a journey than in the company of friends! In a ship-full of people – including passengers (about 200 on this cruise) plus the crew and performers – you meet so many interesting folks. With most of our fellow passengers, we met for only a dinner meal or perhaps on a tour, introduced ourselves and shared our enthusiasm for our experiences, but some people we got to know well enough to call friends, and that is a joy and a sweet surprise.

Allow me to introduce you to Merial and Bob Heldt, retired business owners:

 Merial is gifted at needlework, and both Bob and Merial love to travel and to play golf.

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We met Judy and Wayne Bayliff several days into the trip. They live a life that many of us only dream about. They’re travel and lifestyle photojournalists!

Here I am with Judy and Wayne. Neil took this photo, and the rest of the day we were all taking pictures of each other taking pictures!

Judy and Wayne write for a number of syndicated publications. Click on the links for examples of their feature travel stories and images.

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(By the way, if you would like to be placed on Wayne and Judy’s private mailing list for future travel and lifestyle articles with images, send an email to: the2writers@gmail.com. On the subject line type “Free Subscription.”  Once registered, you will receive new articles by Wayne and Judy sent to your email address.)

Judy takes most of the photos, and Wayne does most of the writing. In the past ten years, they’ve taken more than 30 cruises!

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I’ve already introduced you to Sylvia Hahn-Griffiths, who specializes in developing travel itineraries for people who want to visit Hungary. She took this cruise with her fiance Bill, whose first words to me were in Italian. I had to ask for an interpretation. These polyglots! I’m so jealous!

Sylvia’s carrying the book she lent me so I could study the author’s information about the Hungarian language and various Hungarian traditions. The book: Budapest A Critical Guide. The author: András Török (Now I have a copy of my own!)

And then, of course, my life-long travel companion…

I don’t have enough great words for this guy. I am very blessed!

 Tomorrow, we’ll spend our last evening on board the Viking Ship Jarl. You’re invited to the chef’s farewell dinner!

Happy Traveling!

Sue