Travel Newsletter - September 2005
Do Something Wonderful For Your Country... Leave!
But get a passport first!! Changes In Latitude Travel Store, along with Lonely Planet and many other companies
in the travel industry are promoting September 2005 as the first annual National Passport Month. According to
the U.S. Department of State, only about one-in-five Americans currently have a passport. Getting a passport is
the first step in opening up the world for your own exploration, and the personal enjoyment and enrichment that
accompany international travel. Once you have your passport you can take advantage of how easy it is today to
get elsewhere in the world and begin to share in our excitement and passion for travel.
Not only is getting a passport a great idea, it is also very practical. In the near future, you will need to
show a passport to return to the United States from countries where you previously needed only a birth certificate or
driver’s license. Starting in 2006, a passport will be required on your return from the Carribean, Bermuda,
Central and South America. And in 2007, a passport will be required when you return from Canada or Mexico, even
by car or bus. Plan ahead and apply now for your passport, to beat the rush before these new rules go into
effect. Passports last many years before they need to be renewed and you will be ready for any travel
opportunities.
In the world today, one of the best things Americans can do is to travel out into the world and act as ambassadors of
their country, interacting with people in other nations. By learning more about each other, we foster better
understanding, increased tolerance and mutual respect for all of the people who inhabit the one planet we all share.
Travel makes us better people. Travel makes this a better nation. Travel makes this a better world.
Internet Travel Resources
It’s easy to get a passport. You can pick up an application at our store, at most local post offices or download
it off the Internet from the
U.S. State Department’s website (which
also provides you with answers to most of the other questions you might have about passports). The State Department’s
application location locator allows you to type in your zip code to
locate a nearby government office that accepts passport applications. Lastly, if you want to help promote
international travel and support the effort to get September officially declared National Passport Month by a
congressional bill, you can sign their petition.
Upcoming Travel Programs
Our popular Traveler’s Tuesdays Travel Programs begin this month, so mark your calendar! Stop by our
Travel Programs web page for the latest information about other upcoming
shows.
Tuesday, September 13th (7:00pm) -
Central Asia: "The Stans"
Where in the world is Uzbekistan? Is there any silk on the Silk Road? Find out the answers and learn more
about the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyztan (known as “the
Stans”) from a traveler's point of view. World traveler and photographer
Sheryl Shapiro will present her
spectacular images and share stories of her recent trip to Central Asia. Sheryl has presented several very popular
shows in the past and this is sure to be another!
Tuesday, September 20th (7:00pm) -
Travel Medical Clinic
Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, traveling around the world or only to one country, this medical
clinic will help you prepare for your next international trip. You'll receive the latest information on immunization
requirements, health risks, and travel precautions from
Dr. Cory Sperry, a travel medical specialist.
Tuesday, September 27th (7:00pm) -
Portugal: Castles & Cobblestones
Come visit beautiful portugal through the lens of
Marilyn Wertheimer's camera: castles and palaces, medieval hill
towns with narrow cobblestone streets, ancient Celtic ruins, and prehistoric rocks (possibly even older than Stonehenge!)
arranged in mysterious patterns. Wander through Picturesque villages and glance at breathtaking views of the sea
with jagged rocks and glorious sand beaches!
Tuesday, October 4th (7:00pm) -
Southern Africa
Witness 16 days in Southern Africa through the lens of local photographer,
Rich Adams. This photo journey
seeks to capture the multiple rainbows of Victoria Falls, the smiles and humble existence of the Simonga Village in Zambia,
and the amazing diversity of wildlife from Botswana's Linyanti and Okavango Delta regions.
Suggested Reading
“Don’t Let The World Pass You By! 52 Reasons To Have Your Passport” 2005, published by Lonely
Planet. Whether you are planning your first trip abroad or your 100th, this book will recharge your travel dreams.
It is filled with inspiring, informational and entertaining reasons to have a passport. There are also
thought-provoking trip ideas, a short history of the passport, fun passport trivia, essential travel websites and
organizations, and recommendations from travel experts make this reasonably priced book worth a read.
A passport is the ultimate document for unsurpassed opportunities to eat great food, admire the world’s most superb art
& architecture, and fall in love in the most romantic places. New from Lonely Planet, Don’t Let The World Pass You
By! 52 Reasons To Have Your Passport is a perfect gift for any traveler or would-be traveler, inspiring and
entertaining with stories from everyday people about how international travel has improved their lives in unexpected
ways. This one-of-a-kind book shows that traveling abroad is easier, more fun and less expensive than many of us
might imagine.
Just For Fun
At checkout, after staying just one night in a hotel, the desk clerk hands a couple a bill for $350. The man
explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel, the rooms
certainly aren't worth $350 and insists on speaking to the manager. The manager explains the hotel has an
Olympic-sized pool, a huge conference center, and famous shows that were available for the husband and wife to use.
No matter what facility the manager mentions, the man replies, "But we didn't use it!"
The manager is unmoved and eventually the man gives up and agrees to pay. He writes a check and gives it to the
manager. The manager is surprised when he looks at the check and says, "But sir, this check is only made out for
$100." "That's right," says the man. "I charged you $250 for kissing my wife." "But I didn't!" exclaims
the manager. "Well," the man replies, "she was here, and you could have."
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"Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings.”
- Hodding Carter
Happy Travels!
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