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About Elaine-iaK's Travels

As a graduate of Recreation Administration, from San Diego State University, I have made recreation and travels my career and life’s passion. After graduation, I traveled solo for one year throughout the South Pacific, doing travel photography in a wide variety of settings. Upon my return, many of my photographs became the subjects of my newly created line of handcrafted photographic greeting cards, "Exquisite! By, Elaine", a business I have had since 1986. Check them out at: http://ExquisiteCards.fototime.com . In 1983, I began teaming up with my mom, Goldie, teaching arts & crafts to cruise ship passengers, aboard Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. In addition, I lectured on travel photography, as well as Australia and New Zealand history, aboard Princess Cruises. In 2004, I formed a new teaching team with my recently retired husband, Bruce, who serves as my "humble assistant" until 2010 when the cruise lines shifted the arts and crafts program to mostly being taught by their own staff. Currently, our favorite mode of travel is by river boat. Along the way, we enjoy poking around small European towns, meeting the people, seeking out interesting photo subjects, and always stopping at every chocolatier to make a purchase. Adding to my chocolate label and wrapper collection is a bonus! And, as a U.S. Masters swimmer, if I can find a pool to get in a swim with the locals, all the better! Cheers! Elaine-iaK ~ Believing in your dreams can be far more rewarding than living by your limitations~ -Karla Peterson

A little about me…

As a graduate of Recreation Administration, from San Diego State University, I have made recreation and travels my career and life’s passion. After graduation, I traveled solo for one year throughout the South Pacific, doing travel photography in a wide variety of settings. Upon my return, many of my photographs became the subjects of my newly created line of handcrafted photographic greeting cards, “Exquisite! By, Elaine.”

In 1989, I teamed up with my mom, Goldie, teaching arts & crafts to cruise ship passengers, aboard Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. In addition, I lectured on travel photography, as well as Australia and New Zealand history, aboard Princess Cruises.

In 2004, I formed a new teaching team with my recently retired husband, Bruce, who served as my “humble assistant” for six years until the teaching opportunities aboard ship became scarce.

My favorite style of travel is on a small group tour , especially in Europe. Along the way, I enjoy poking around small towns, meeting the people, seeking out interesting photo subjects, and always stopping at every chocolatier to make a purchase. Adding to my chocolate label and wrapper collection is a bonus!  And, as a U.S. Masters swimmer, if I can find a pool to get in a swim with the locals, all the better!

2023 update:  I have now traveled to 70 countries and 42 states!

Cheers!

Elaine-iaK

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~ Believing in your dreams can be far more rewarding than living by your limitations~ -Karla Peterson

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  What started as postcards written home during my 1984-1985,  12-month South Pacific adventure, evolved into travelogue e-mails sent home from internet cafes.  After much encouragement from family and friends, I have decided to enter the blogosphere and share my travel tales with you.

Travel is my passion, along with travel writing and photography, seeking out and enjoying chocolate, and swimming; not necessarily in that order. (The order changes depending on what I am doing at the time!)  These are the things I will be writing about
during my travel journeys, as well as the people I meet along the way and the cultural connections I make in the process.

Stay tuned as I prepare for my August-September European river cruise along the Rhine and Moselle rivers.  Before I depart, I plan on sharing bits of this and that about my past travels and more.

Cheers!

Elaine-iaK