Tag Archives: travel

“WHEREVER YOU GO BECOMES A PART OF YOU SOMEHOW” – Anita Desai

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It wasn’t until our third cruise aboard Fathom’s Adonia (and multiple visits to the dining room to enjoy their superb cuisine) that I really noticed this quote on the mural located in the dining room lobby.  On every previous dinner visit, we had made a beeline right past it in excited anticipation of the meal we were about to enjoy with our fellow travelers.  During our third night aboard ship, though, we were meeting Fathom Impact Staff Member, Francisco, for dinner.  He was our cohort leader on the previous cruise, and he wanted to hear about the adventures we had experienced at Chocal and Santiago de Cuba during the last cruise, and our return to Santiago that day.

We arrived just minutes ahead of Francisco, and this time, I did a double-take when I walked past the mural.  Indian novelist, Anita Desai struck a chord in my heart with her words…

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Francisco and Bruce

I have traveled in 65 countries and 36 states, and all of those experiences have become a part of who I am.  Nothing else has had more influence on me socially, emotionally, intellectually, or politically as my travel experiences.

Feeling and expressing gratitude is one of my keys to happiness in life, and I owe my ability to appreciate to all those times I left the safety and comfort of my home, and familiar surroundings.

Although my husband, Bruce hasn’t had the extent of travel experiences I have, those we have shared have had the same positive effect on his life.  We are in sync, and we both craved to return for one last time for an Impact Travel experience in the Dominican Republic and Cuba with Fathom, aboard the beautiful Adonia.

My last blog post of our second Fathom cruise hadn’t even been written when we both agreed we had to return one last time.

We couldn’t wait to go back to see our new Cuban friends that had become a part of us.

Coming up next: SANTIAGO DE CUBA:  OUR REUNION WITH BENI, EDUARDO, AND GRISEL

Elaine-iaK’s Chocolate Label & Wrapper Collection

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ELAINE-IAK’S CHOCOLATE LABELS AND WRAPPERS

TOTAL COUNTRIES:  50    TOTAL BRANDS:  245

*Counted duplicates if brand was from different countries

(Cadbury:  Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, England, Egypt, France, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, U.S.A.)

ALL CAPS:  Countries I have visited

Argentina- Cadbury, Cofler, Bonafide

AUSTRALIA– Cadbury, M&M, Darrell Lea, Margaret River Chocolate Company, Paton’s, Federation Chocolate, Cocoa Farm, Coles, Blue Day Chocolate

AUSTRIA– Delikatessa, Suchard Velma (milk- excellent), Zotter, Rosenhauer’s Weiner, Anzinger’s Wiener, Choceur (Aldi)

BELGIUM– Leonidas, Godiva, Cote d’Or, Callebaut, Wittamier, Neuhaus, Swartenbroeckx, Pierre Marcolini, Chocolat Café-Tasse, Corne, Starbrook Airlines, Galler, Dolfin, The Old Chocolate House, Roose’s Chocolate City, Chocolatier Mondose, Bouchard L’escaut, Hamlet, Chocolatier Sukerbuyc, Isis, Daskalide’s

BRAZIL– Arcor, Garoto, Milka

BULGARIA– Cboie (milk-good), Miemeh

CANADA– Cadbury, Roger’s, Terranostra, Purdy’s, House of Brussels, Neilson (very good-creamy), Chocolate Arts, Canada True, Laura Secord

CHILE– Ambrosoli, Costa (Costamilk- excellent), Privilegio, Cofler

China–Cadbury

COLOMBIA– Chocolatina, Colombina, Santander (70%- excellent)

COSTA RICA– Gallito

CROATIA– Kras (milk- excellent), Rial, Zvecevo, Fantasy, Kandit (milk- ok)

CZECH REPUBLIC– Clever (milk- store brand- excellent and inexpensive @ .45 per bar), Nestle

DENMARK– Toms, Eilles

Egypt– Cadbury, Mandolin

ENGLAND– Cadbury, Thorntons, Nestle Aero, Green & Black’s

ESTONIA– Kalev (milk- excellent)

FINLAND– Frazer, Royal, Anthon Berg, Panda (milk- good- bought in Porvoo grocery store), Pirkka (milk- good, creamy, inexpensive), Brunberg

FRANCE– Cadbury/ Poulain, Bernachon (my favorite truffles- excellent), Valrhona, Yves, Thuries, Casino (milk- excellent- bought in Eze grocery store-inexpensive), Nestle, Govenor’s Table, Suchard, Varda, Cemoi, Monbana

GERMANY– Feordora, Maurinus, Mauxion (milk- good), Milka (milk- good), Ritter, Heilemann, Mozartkugel, Hachez, Divine, Bellarom, Trumpe, J.D. Gross, Alpia, Bohme, Moser-Roth

HUNGARY– Tibi (milk & dark- good), Boci (milk- excellent), Jackpot (milk- bad), Szerecsi (milk- excellent), Stuhmer (milk- bad), Piros 

India– Amul

IRELAND– Cadbury, The Queenstown Story, Galaxy, Butlers Irish, Guiness, Irish Beanie Bar (Shamrock Gift Company)

Israel– Elite

ITALY– Novi, Duca degli Abrazzi, Perugina, Domori, Benedictine, Larzaroni, Icam (milk- excellent), Caffarel, Sorini (dark w/ chili pepper- very good), Bacio, Venchi, Witor’s (truffle-excellent)

JAMAICA– High Gate

Japan– Meiji

Malaysia– Cadbury, Tango

MONACO– Chocolaterie de Monaco

NEW ZEALAND– Cadbury (milk- excellent- My favorite milk chocolate!), Death By Chocolate

NETHERLANDS– Koetjesreep, Verkade (milk-excellent 36%), Baronie, VanGaudae, Mousset, Le Marche, Zuiderzee Museum

NORWAY– Freia, Nidar

PERU- Lacta

Poland– Cadbury, Inda, Goplana, Solidarnosc

PORTUGAL– Jubileu

ROMANIA– Heidi (milk-good), Novatini (milk- bad), Primola (milk- good), Poiana (milk- good), Milka

RUSSIA– Cadbury, 9 other brands (names unknown)

Scotland– Duncans, Kshocolat

SERBIA– Simka (milk- very good)

Singapore–Cadbury

SLOVAKIA– Orion (milk- good), Figaro (milk-good)

South Africa– Cadbury

SPAIN– Lacasitos, Blanxart, Continente, Nestle, Chocolate Sole, Valor, Kinder, Bodega Guadalest, Zahor, La Heredad, Marcos Tonda Tonda, Elgorriaga, Trapa, A La Taza, Spar

SWEDEN– Sockerbageriet, Marabou, Ikea

Switzerland– Nestle, Lindt, Frigor, Alprose, Goldkein, Villars, Swiss Frey, Equal Exchange, Swiss Delice, Munz, Trader Joe’s, Teuscher, Kraft Jacobs Suchard

Trinidad– Charles

Turkey- Elvan

United Arab Emirites- Galaxy

U.S.A. – Richard Donnelly, Scharffen Berger, Starbucks, Twin Oaks, Revival, Endangered Species Chocolate Company, The Chocolate Gallery, Euphoria Chocolate Company, Redstone’s, Choxie, Hershey’s Cacao Reserve, Chocolove, Munson’s, Theobroma, Nestle, Alaska Wild Berry Products, Fairway, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Chuao, Carbolite