ORIONWOMEN TRAVEL

CONTACT: orionwomen@bigpond.com or 0405 228 560
Travel for women in a small group to Europe & UK

 SACRED FEMININE TOUR 2009 TRAVELOGUE

 

For the fourth time, we where fortunate enough to create another group of wonderful women to travel with us on our Sacred Feminine tour of Europe 2009 and to share many wonderful times and experiences.

Each tour we run is different and special; each group has its own dynamic and personality. People often ask us if we are sick of going to the same places each year (We did include Venice this year) the answer however is a resounding "NO"

 How could we possibly get sick of the delights that Europe, England and Marrakesh holds? Each time we visit, our connection and understanding of the places and people deepens with such an appreciation. We feel that each place sheds another layer and reveals itself to us with each visit, exposing itself even more for us to cherish and enjoy.

We love staying in the same areas, each time, seeing the familiar faces working in cafes and restaurants, even the same locals in the pub in London! We often joke that we are back in the 'Hood' when we are in each place and delight in the fact that we know our way around so well and for a moment in time we are part of that place.

 

I think one of the gifts of our tours is that we do immerse ourselves in a place whilst we are there, even if it is only for a short time.  This has been commented upon numerous times by past travellers who have travelled before on  larger tours and have only felt they have been outside looking in, instead of actually right in there, getting the feel of the place and enjoying the local fare.

This is helped immensely by the fact that each of our hotels is in walking distance of the centres we are visiting , so we can wander around morning, noon and night if we wish, watching the ever changing delights ,that manifest as the day progresses.

 

 The spread of Swine Flu was all that had been talked about on the media before we left home and we went through many heat detectors at different airports .However ,as a group ,we decided not to buy into it and surrounded ourselves in a bubble of harmlessness. We didn't read newspapers or watch TV whilst away, so separated ourselves from buying into it .In fact we all decided to refer to it as 'That which must not be mentioned' or ' Voldemort.'

  In denial? Don't think so, just didn't want to give it any energy and besides we had all made the decision to be there, so we just got on with it.

 

It's impossible to write down all the things that we saw and did during our time away and so we will just fill you in with some of the highlights in each place.

 

SINGAPORE

We were lucky enough to be staying at the Singapore Hilton this year, a real haven out of the heat, which gave us the opportunity to rest and relax between our flight from Australia and the forwarding flight to Rome. The stop over in between, is imperative to our health and well being and ensures that we are more likely to arrive in Rome in  good shape, ready to get on with the trip.

Travelling in the  western direction there is little or no jet lag . We take Melatonin and Vitamin B12 and Noni Juice, to make sure that we are in tip top condition from the flight. This is made easier by the fact that the Singapore Airline service is just so fantastic, it makes flying even in economy class more that just bearable. Also  it's  a great time to catch up on all the movies that we hadn't seen in a year !

Singapore is always a delightful stopover, the people are so amiable and it's always so refreshing to see the different cultures and religions, which live together in peace and harmony. After the droughts in Australia, it was overwhelming to be surrounded by so much green and lush foliage everywhere. Singapore's motto 'Clean and Green' rang true. 

We visited Little India whilst there, always a highlight and a real confirmation that 'We are not in Kansas any more Toto'. It's always good to get away from some of the 'squeaky' clean shopping streets that Singapore has to offer and go behind the scenes, to where the locals and others from Middle East and Asian countries do there shopping.

 Another highlight for us was going into the Sri Veeramakaliman Hindu Temple, we go here every year and watch in awe and respect as the followers go about there business praying to their deities, making offerings. The highlight is a blessing and an anointing of our 3^rd eye with holy ash, by an elegant, serene and gracious figure of a holy man.

No visit to Singapore is complete without a visit to Raffles, the colonial splendour still imposing and a sight to behold. And did we have Singapore Slings in the Long Bar? Well yes, it just has to be done !! We finished our afternoon cooling off and relaxing at the Hilton swimming pool, this was a great opportunity to get to know each other better.

The first question , to find out who had bought along the most unusual thing? The answer 'a pair of Spencer Wells, a scissor type of thing that surgeons use during operation to hold things together and nursing sisters and anyone from a medical background seem to know all about! This brought on gales of laughter; as we tried to work out the many and varied possible uses for them on the trip , however the person who brought them along had the last laugh

ROME

Rome never disappoints, as our first European stop on this tour, there is always a tangible excitement that can be felt the closer we get to the city centre. As we approach the massive walls of the Vatican City and we know that we are very close to our destination, the excitement rises to a peak in our stomachs and we want pinch ourselves, to be in the present moment and to realise that we are indeed back in Europe and that the Tour has really begun.

How delightful to be back in the old 'Hood' next to St Peters Sq, to see the same waiters working at our favorite Cafe Rendezvous, where they sell  Latte in a wine glasses.

The land of Pizza, Calzones and Pasta. Carbohydrate heaven Bring it on!!

To walk 5 mins down the road to St Peters Sq, to once again to  see the Pope appear out of his special window and accept his blessing, regardless of whether one is a Catholic or not.

In the afternoon we went on our walking tour through tiny back streets, this walk is now becoming so familiar to us and again the streets, with their centuries of layering, unfolded more delights that we hadn't noticed before. We went to the Colosseum, enjoyed the vista of The Roman Forum and the Palantine. Admired Trajan's Forum and all the many delightful pieces of history through the ages, which are still present in Rome. Shaded by the incredible Cypress Pines, that stamp their presence through out Rome, we wandered streets, ate Gelato and explored Piazzas.

We saw Fontana di Trevi and climbed The Spanish Steps. We stood with awe inside of the Pantheon, admired the work of Bernini and promised ourselves we would re read Dan Browns Angels and Demons yet again! We explored the Vatican Museum, gazed at the Sistine Chapel, bathed in the beauty and grandeur of St Peters Cathedral. We climbed to the top of the Cupola and visited the 2000 year old Necropolis underneath. We walked along the illuminated River Tiber at night, across the Bridge of Angels to Castel Sant Angelo, down the beautiful Via de Reconcilliazone to an illuminated St Peters Sq.

There was hardly another soul around we had it all to our selves.

We look forward to next year, to see what will unfold. And so reluctantly, we farewelled Rome and caught a train through the beautiful countryside to one of the pearls of Italy.

 

 

FLORENCE

Again our hotel in the centre of Piazza Republica was so convenient; to be able to walk out of the door into the living art gallery of Florence was exquisite.

 Some of the girls took a horse and cart ride to familiarise themselves with Florence, which they enjoyed immensely. We immersed ourselves in the Florentine culture, eating in the Piazza and overlooking the activities there. We were delighted, when for the third year in a row Natalia Lopunskinsha, a young and talented opera singer who busks in the Piazza, was there to serenade us.

We visited the Uffizi Gallery, admired the works of Botticelli, Da Vinci and many more artists. The works of art  in this gallery were the private collection of the Medici family , who were for a long time rulers in this area and great patrons of the arts. We saw Michelangelo's David, whose grandeur and perfection never fails to overwhelm. We visited the church of Santa Croce and visited the ostentatious tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Dante. And we went inside the cavernous and overwhelming Duomo, whose stark, yet beautiful interior is so very different from the exterior, which is covered in many different coloured marbles.

Some of the girls went to the opera, others chose to just sit in the square and take in the delights of the Italian food and the surroundings. We wandered around the leather market; the leather gloves on Florence are exquisite and affordable.

No one suffered from 'Stendhal's Syndrome' this is an actual affliction, which can happen when you get dizzy from taking in the sight of so much beauty!!

We caught the early morning train to our next destination

VENICE

Our arrival in Venice is one that we will not forget. As we stepped out of the railway station, each of us was covered in goose bumps, as the scene in front of us unfolded. The sight of the busy canal with all of its colour and activity was a sight to behold.

We had been to Venice a couple of times ourselves and had decided to add it into the tour this year. It will certainly be remaining, for our time in Venice was a truly unforgettable experience.

Lining the many hundreds of large and small canals, are beautiful, unique, yet crumbling villas. Tiny little laneways, the fact that there are no cars at all, added to the village atmosphere. There are over 400 pedestrian bridges in Venice, each one leading to a new and evocative scene.

Our first afternoon we went on a 2 hour walking tour, the guide was informative and interesting. This was followed by a ride in a Gondola, which was one of the highlights. At first we went along the Grand Canal, bustling with water craft of all shapes and sizes. The sleek  50's style wooden water taxis ,straight out of a James Bond movie, the Vaporretos which are like city buses, crisscrossing  the canal . There were police and ambulance boats and others, with road work materials on them, such as cranes and diggers. This cacophony if activity and colour is a rare sight to behold, nowhere else in the world could even try to recreate this scene, which has been evolving for over 1000 years. Our Gondola then made its way in from the Grand Canal to the small waterways, where we glided in silence, in awe of the intricacy and uniqueness of Venice.

We had a day off on the second day and even though Venice is a labyrinth, it was very easy to find our way back to our hotel, which was only a 15 min walk from St Marks Square. Often referred to as the'Drawing Room of Europe', this vast square is overlooked by the Byzantine uniqueness of St Marks Basilica, The Doges Palace and a myriad of other interesting things.

Our rooms had balconies, which overlooked the unique surroundings and it was wonderful to sit out on it and watch the sun going down , the sound of the church bells pealing of in the distance.

 Next morning we caught our Air France Flight to the diamond of Europe

 

PARIS

We arrived in Paris on a Sunday morning and made our way by our private shuttle to our hotel. The street food market nearby was in full swing so we had the opportunity to walk through it and admire the fresh produce on sale. So different and yet the same somehow, as what is available to us in Australia.

Paris really is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The amazingly beautiful ' Haussman Architecture' that lines the streets, each building unique and yet similar.

The wide boulevards, the tree lined avenues, the vibrant awnings, in front of the 40,000 cafes that Paris boasts. The attention to detail and the obvious love of beauty and all things beautiful are a welcoming sight.

The array of delicious patisseries and shops filled with cheeses, wines, terrines and luscious cakes and chocolates. The healthy eating plan, went straight out of the window (yet again).Well we just had to have 'CafeSullies' Ouefs Mayonnaise (It's only once a year can't hurt too much!!) And offcourse the Creme Brulees, just had to be eaten and compared ,to find out which cafes where indeed the best. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and rode along the Seine in a glass topped boat. We visited the Louvre, which is just superb and wandered along the Champs Elysee .Taking in the sights of all the Parisian Icons like the Arch du Triomphe, Alexander 111 Bridge, The Grand and Petit Palais  and Les Invalides. We had lunch in the Jardin du Tuileries, under a manicured chestnut tree ,one of thousands that abound throughout Paris, along with the square cut plane trees. We visited Notre Dame and walked and walked. We discovered the'Most beautiful Toilet in the World' as featured on the SBS program 'Paris City of Lights'and shopped Art Nouveu, at Gallery La Fayette.

We had a free day in Paris; three of the girls fulfilled a lifelong fantasy and went to Paris Disneyland. Others went to different galleries and churches.  Sandy and I caught up on washing, and then wandered around our favourite neighbourhood, Le Marais.

That evening, we went back to the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz, where we had a cocktail made by the world famous Ritz barman, Colin Fields. The Ritz is like entering another world. The attention to detail, the splendour, the floral arrangements and richness of the experience is very memorable.

It's hard to leave Paris; however, we knew that our next stop was one of our favorites on the tour .So we again flew by Air France, to the small town of Lourdes near the Spanish border.

 

LOURDES

There was a mist that lay over the mountains during our stay in Lourdes, which meant we never got to see the pristine snow capped mountains of the Pyrenees Mountains, which surround the town. However the taste of the French countryside, as taxied in from the airport was refreshing and beautiful. This was capped off; when we arrived at our hotel and threw open the shutters on our balcony, to a view that was breathtaking. We could see the village of Lourdes with all of its French country charm, nestled in a valley, looking like a scene out of a fairy tale. Between us and the town, was the huge and fast flowing river that carried the melting snows at a breakneck speed.

Regardless of religious beliefs, the reason people flock to Lourdes is for the healing waters. This is the place where Mother Mary showed herself to St Bernadette in the late 1800's (Who by the way is one of a small group of incorruptibles on the planet, which means her body after death, has never deteriorated. Biopsies have shown her organs to still be vital).After her vision, a healing well sprang forth. There are hundred of miracles recorded, after the bathing and taking of the waters here.

 Author of the book'The Messages of Water' Dr Masuru Emoto says, that the water crystals at Lourdes are very special, filled with love and fervent prayer.  We visit here each year and the experience is just awesome. The Sanctuary and all it has to offer is free, your race or religion is never questioned. It is open for all who come to seek healing.

The Sanctuary is a safe and sacred space ,very different from the streets closely surrounding the Sanctuary .These  are like a� Mother Mary/Religious Las Vegas, flashing lights, plastic Mary statues and other religious paraphernalia ,spill out of the shops, However crass ,it makes for an interesting time. We bathe in the waters in the morning. While not everyone agrees with us about this, we have made a decision not to share what takes place during this time with anyone before they do this, it has to be experienced and one need to move into trust!

The rest of the day is free to explore the town, the sanctuary or to just rest. This is such a wonderful opportunity to re group, to take in the wonderful energies, which sustain us through the rest of our journey. In the evening we joined the candlelight procession, which is a sight to behold and a joy to be a part of. This was first brought to our attention by a CD of Dr Wayne W Dyers, where he describes the candlelight procession, as one of the most sacred rituals on the planet. This sparked out interest and Lourdes remains a favourite on our itinerary.

From Lourdes we flew back to Paris, from were we flew British Airways to London.

LONDON

The area we stay in London has really become very familiar and does feel like it is our neighbourhood. Our hotel is situated in the elegant proportions of Belgrave Rd. This once stylish and elegant street is now home of many and varied priced hotels. Situated only a 10 min walk from Buckingham Palace, 5 mins from Victoria station and with all the comforts of home (Laundrette, Tesco, Sainsbury, cafes and great pubs) it's the perfect place for us to be for our stay in London.

There is so much to see and do in London, one could spend weeks there .However our time is limited, so we have chosen to do things which give our travelers a good overview of the place. Firstly back to our London neighbourhood, it's more like a village and really gives us a feeling of what it must be like to live there. The locals are friendly; many have lived in this area for generations. There is a fair bit of complaining about how London has changed.

 So on our first day we visited Westminster Abbey. Being a country that  has a Royal history; Westminster Abbey, gives us sense of the history and grandeur of all that has come before in London. The rather ornate and extravagant tombs of Kings and Queens, as far back as Edward the Confessor are here, as well as the salubrious resting places of Elizabeth the 1^st and Mary Queen of Scots. Nearly all of the great names of English history are either buried here or have memorials here. It is vast, rich, rare and fascinating. We then made our way across the Thames, for a better view of Big Ben and Parliament House. A walk down Whitehall brimming with places of interest, like the War Cabinet Rooms, 10 Downing Street, Scotland Yard, past the Horse Guards and into Trafalgar Sq.

We had lunch in Leicester Sq, and then headed for the half price ticket office. All of us had decided to go and see a London show that night, being individuals, we all had different tastes which were accommodated .Sandy and I went to see 'Billy Elliot 'which was sensational and being only a 5 min walk from our hotel ,was all the better. Two of the girls went to see the sensational show ' Wicked ',which Sandy and I saw last year, again only 5 mins from our hotel. The others went to see 'The Lion King ', as it was in the West End; they all shared a hackney cab, which made it reasonable. It's hard to imagine, that day in day out these and many other shows are playing in London to packed houses!!

We were really enjoying our time in the great cities of the world, however the next part of our trip took us out into the verdant greenery of the English countryside.

 

 

 

 

SOUTHWEST ENGLAND

We hired cars as usual from near Heathrow Airport; we were transported there by shuttle taxi. Its always an exciting time, knowing that you will be driving in another country, even if it is so familiar and you are still driving on the same side of the road!! This is the fourth time that we have left Heathrow in rental cars, looking for a particular direction. We come prepared with step by step guides from Google Maps, plus other maps and instructions from all and sundry. However, there has not been a year that we haven't turned in the wrong direction at some stage. And this year was no exemption!!! Although it always turns out well and we recovered ourselves very quickly ,this time we hadn't been on the road for more that 5 mins and we took a wrong turn.. Anyway, thanks to the eagle eyed spotting, of one of our travelers we turned around and were heading in the right direction in no time at all.

We made our way to Glastonbury The heart Chakra of the World, home to the legendary Isle of Avalon and an assortment of history which includes the Druids, Pagans, and Goddess Culture.

We always stay at the same place in Glastonbury- Parsnips. Lynda is a very beautiful woman, who bends over backwards to be helpful to our girls and itïs always so refreshing to be greeted by her huge smile and warm open hearted hugs. The beds at Parsnips are like floating clouds, with huge puffy quilts and high quality bedding, a real treat.

 We always eat at the same place in Glastonbury which is called the 'Who'd a Thought It', heaps of character, with great food and beverages We immersed ourselves in traditional English fare, beef and ale pies, cottage pies etc, all served with home made vegies and lashings of mash potatoes, followed by bread and butter pudding or sticky toffee pudding. Well it has to be done. and it's only once a year (Did we mention that?)

Glastonbury never fails to produce an experience for our travelers. Whether it's climbing the Tor (The Isle of Avalon) , where the Mary and Michael Ley lines cross. Taking time out, to bathe in the peacefulness and beauty of the Chalice Wells Peace Garden and partake of the sacred healing water there. Visiting the ruins if Glastonbury Abbey or merely immersing yourself in the many and varied shops, that sell a vast array of spiritual books and crystals.

From Glastonbury, we made our way via some gorgeous countryside and tiny villages, filled with thatched roof cottages to the White Horse at Chervil, then on to visit our paranormal and crop circle expert, Charles Mallet. An intense and rather reclusive chap, he is a wealth of knowledge on Crop Circles, if he knows how they get there (and we believe he does), he is staying very tight lipped about it . After visiting him for 4 years, he is now much more chatty and helpful. There have been a huge number of early Crop Circes this year. We had put it out there for a fresh one, whilst this didn't happen; there was still the opportunity to visit an older one. We were lucky enough to find the crop circle, with the help of Charles, very close to West Kennet Long Barrow a burial site that dates from 3600 BC and is set in the heart of Wiltshire .It overlooks Silbury Hill, which is a man made chalk mound, which dates from the Neolithic period. The fields are set in rolling countryside, the views are magnificent and the sky seems to go on for ever.

The Crop Circle was in a rape seed crop (Canola), we had expected to get very yellow and had all donned rubber boots, plastic pants and garbage bags for the experience. Luckily, as it had been raining and everything was a bit damp, the crop did not shed its pollen onto us, for which we were very grateful. It was magic walking through the head high field of crops, searching and only being able to contact each other by calling out, to eventually coming across the flattened out sections, of the pattern of the crop circle. We felt very happy to have been able to have the experience, still no clearer as to why these extraordinary manifestations occur, but very happy to have been right in there.We had lunch in Avebury and wandered around the stone henge there.

There was another crop circle very close to the town, but evidently it had been ploughed up by the farmer.

That evening we had our special access pass to Stonehenge. Always an outstanding experience to be there inside the stones, feeling the energy and filled with the wonder of how did they get here? What were they used for? We had as usual, a small circle to give everyone an opportunity to share what they were feeling. We sent prayers, healing and love to our loved ones and the planet, in the place where 12 Ley Lines meet.

Next day, we drove back to Heathrow, dropped off our cars and where shuttled to our hotel back in London.

This was the last day for one of our travelers who had taken only the Sacred Feminine part of the tour and the girls all went off tho Hyde Park and Harrods for the afternoon, before she caught her flight back to Australia that evening.

AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN.....

It felt strange to have one of our travelers gone and we missed her .

Next morning, three of our group came with us t the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The other two had there own plans. We were disappointed that Australia was not featured this year and had not realised that this was because the plants had all been destroyed in the Victorian bushfire. While not as inspirational and stunning as it had been in previous years (Apparently because of the world financial crisis, or so I heard when we got back to Australia) it was still a sell out (20,000 tickets) and a really enjoyable experience. That afternoon re grouped and went to the London Mind Body and Spirit fair, only a 5 min walk from our hotel. We all had a wonderful time and took advantage of what was on offer .This was now the last night for another of our travelers and so slowly we were becoming an even smaller group.

AND THEN THERE WERE SIX....

 

MARRAKESH

We arrived in Marrakech quite late in the day, as our flight was delayed by a few hours. There was a big line up to get through the 'Heat Thermometer' seeking out possible Swine Flu (Grippe Porcini) (Voldemort !!) victims.

It is always a sensation arriving in Marrakesh, being taxied along the new double lane road into the city. The road lined with new apartment blocks, all painted with signature shades of Marrakech pink and looking pristine and palace like. As we got closer to the walls of the old city, the roads became narrower and the surroundings less salubrious, yet more intriguing and unfamiliar. Eventually we found ourselves walking along tiny narrow alleyways and standing outside of a door, one that didn't look much different to the others, except for two lonely palms trees standing sentinel either side of the door. As with all Riads, they delight and inspire as a whole world opens up once inside. These Moroccan courtyard homes are decorated in the most spectacular Moroccan fashion, which includes terraces and roof gardens overlooking the city.  A small and obliging little man who delivered our breakfast and any other request looked like he stepped straight out of the movie Casablanca. Complete with his maroon pyjamas suit, a fez and white gloves, sporting a huge sword shaped scar on his cheek from a life prior to being a house boy, he did his best to look after us.  The Riad was only a 10 minute walk from the Souks and once we found our way it was easy to get there. We were delighted to recognize many landmarks in the Souks from last year and it felt really good to know that we actually knew our way around! The Souks in Marrakesh are intoxicating, selling anything from sheep's heads, to 'real fake' French and Italian bags, sunglasses and belts. Hand beaten goods and exquisite pottery, lamps, shoes, leopard and zebra skins (Yuck), amber, indigo and myrrh.

 Piles of spices all formed in colourful spires, olives and oranges galore.  Well anything you can think of and more really, spilling out into the walkways.

The excitement of Jmaa El Fnaa square, a place that never stops, it emerges each hour with a different spectacle, full of surprises. A world heritage site, filled with snake charmers and story teller from the Western Sahara. Male belly dancers, water sellers in full costume, Gnaoua musicians fortune tellers and dentists!!!!  All with the eerie sound of the muezzin calling all to prayer 5 times a day.

So much so see and do, so many cultures from all over Africa and the deserts converged into one place, a real culture shock and a culture extravaganza.

One night we went to a rather strange place called 'Chez Ali Fantasia' A real tourist place (however the tourists come from all over the place not all westerners ).We were greeted by two lines of Moroccan horsemen on Arab Steeds, brandishing rifles raised in the air as a guard of honour. The whole evening was a showcase of all things Moroccan, a kind of cleaned up version. They tried to fit everything I at once!!! There was a show with trick horsemen, camels, the original horsemen that met us at the gate, galloping full steam towards us and the firing off their rifles and then coming to a complete halt so close, you could see the whites of the horse�s eyes. Fireworks, a belly dancer, a parade, musicians from every part of the country and every different tribe, a cast of thousands, all playing together, but different tunes! It was a cacophony of sounds, sights and smells. A major overwhelm for all senses!!

We also spent some time at a Hamman, a traditional steam room .The same girls were still working there from last year! We were covered in black soap, slathered in mud and scrubbed within and inch of our lives! We had a massage and pedicure and emerged refreshed and exhilarated ready for the next round of bartering in the souks.

Marrakesh was such a highlight that we look forward to returning next year.

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO.....

The end of the tour had come and each of the remaining women had made plans to extend there trip further .One went to America, another to Devon and Somerset to look up family history and another to catch up with friends in Nottingham.

Sandy and I returned home via Singapore, very fulfilled and pleased with how everything had gone. We are looking forward to and planning next years already!!

We hope that you might consider joining us in 2010 for the trip of a lifetime

Regards Mary and Sandy