Thursday 6 December 2012

Travel and Cruise News



 December Newsletter,  Vol. 1, issue 10
        
Travel and Cruise News  
&
Items of Interest 

A newsletter from Rosswin Travel, 
Courtenay, BC


 Santa arriving in Courtenay, BC  


Wishing you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year
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Contents
Bus Tours
Cruise Tips
Artist of month

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Are you planning on taking a bus tour?

Here are a few comments from our 19 day European tour



  Taking a Organized Bus Tour


 Alex and I waiting for the shuttle at the beginning of our journey
Notice we practice what we preach and travel light.
There are pros and cons on taking a bus tour. It depends on your likes and dislikes. Taking a bus tour lets you travel without having to worry about all the details, you know in advance where you are going, someone else has handled all the details on where you are staying, your meals and the details of your sightseeing.  
If you do not like to travel long distances on a bus then a bus tour is probably not for you although there were not to many long journeys as we often stopped and toured areas we drove through. 
We were allowed beside our larger bag, one carry on item and they gave us the dimension but I noticed that many passengers had exceeded the size limit.
We had the same bus the whole trip so were able to leave some of our extra items on the bus, like an extra sweater or jacket ( do not leave any valuables) 
19 Day Tour
We took a 19 day bus tour of Europe and we loved it. We started out in England and the first two nights were spent in London, the first day we toured London on a hop on hop off bus, that was our choice as there were other excursion’s available.  The second day we were taken by bus to Dover to board the ferry, crossing the channel to Calais France, once into France we were directed to our tour bus. We were very lucky and had a guide who spoke perfect English and was very knowledgable. I won’t go into much detail about our tour but just what we especially enjoyed and did not enjoy on our trip and some facts that might be of interest. 
We had plenty time to sightsee at any of the stops we made, and the guide gave us many tips on what to do and not do. 
 Sara our tour guide and one of our bus drivers
The tour was almost fully booked, and we were asked each day to change seats (seat rotation) so that everyone had a chance to sit in the front. We had a group from Sri Lanka on board and they spoke quite loudly to each other but they were very pleasant and sat to-gather as a group when they were able. We also had traveler’s from Australia, New Zealand, the US, the Caribbean and of course Canada. 
Yes, we did have a couple of long days of driving but we stopped every couple of hours and had enough time to grab a snack and use the washrooms. The washrooms on the bus were used only for emergency’s as they have very few dumping stations in Europe and they are expensive to use, at least that is what we were told. I believe in our 16 days only one person had to use the washroom and that is when we were stuck in a traffic jam in France on or last day of touring.

A note on washrooms, Toilets were another education for us as Canadians, in some stops we had to pay to use the facilities, no toilet seats in some cases, a hole in the floor, (hopefully this was for the men), as in this case we left to find other facilities elsewhere. 
The tour guide keep us informed of points of interest as we passed them. 
 We stopped at most of the tourist attractions, such as the Tower of Pisa, Pompaii, and of course the Eiffel Tower and in Rome we toured the Vatican. In Rome and Paris we had the day to tour so we took the Hop on and off bus to get a general view of the city and attractions that we might be interested in. We also had 3 or more evening excursion’s.

One person had her wallet and passport stolen when we were in Germany and when we got to Switzerland while we spent the day sightseeing, she had to spend the day going to Bern to get a replacement passport.
 Some of our group at supper
Another person left some clothes at the previous hotel we were at and there were no other tour buses scheduled to stop that would catch up to us and return them, to mail the clothes to her home would have cost more than they were worth. Other than that I do not think there were any major issues, except for the last day we were in France and got stuck in a traffic jam for 2 hours as there was a special event downtown that the driver was not warned about consequently we were not able to make it back to our hotel in time to get ready to go out for our final supper to-gather so it was arranged for us to eat at the hotel we stayed in. 
We were on a budget holiday and the hotels were not always in the center of town but by the time we got to the hotel after a day of touring and sitting on a bus and had supper we were usually too tired to plan on a big evening.  
At the hotels the driver and valets from the hotel would take the luggage off the bus and to your rooms. In the mornings the luggage was usually out in the hall to be picked up by 7 or 7:30 am. In some cities they frown on the bus parking on the street and blocking traffic so in a couple of cases we had to be ready to board as a full group and in double quick time or walk a short distance to board the bus. 
Hotels
  A budget tour differs from a higher priced tour in the choice of hotels. In some cases they use the same hotel but in the budget tours we usually stay further away from the main attractions and the downtown core. A little research will let you know if you can take a local bus into downtown.   

In the one of the hotels they used for both the budget & first class tours, we were put in a different room for our breakfast and were served a very light breakfast as the first class had I believe a hot breakfast. The breakfast’s varied, some were a plain Continental Breakfast, at others more lavish so it all balanced out. 
Some hotels were very reasonable if you wanted to buy bottled water or wine if it was available but some were a rip off. When we were in Italy on our Venice stop we discovered a very cheap grocery store and most of us stocked up on bottled water and snacks at a very reasonable price. 
I must say if we had a small cramped room at a small hotel one night we usually made up for it at the next by being in a larger and more luxurious room.  
 Everyday was an adventure and a new learning experience. We have a wonderful time and I am looking forward to repeating it again soon.
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10 Money-Saving Cruise Tips
Posted by Elissa Richard  
 For the first 5 cruise tips see the November Rosswin Travel Blog
Cruises can really be one of the best value vacations around, effectively bundling your lodging, meals, entertainment and activities, and transportation into one tidy, upfront rate. Like anything, the costs can add up if you don't cruise smart, so we put together 10 cost-cutting tips so you can maximize your cruising dollars. The best tip we can give you, though, is to make sure you budget in all the little things that aren't included, but that are still necessary—shore-side expenses and flights to and from port are two good examples.

6. Choose your cabin wisely. At first glance, a tempting way to save money is to nab the lowest rate, which is usually quoted for an inside—or, interior—cabin. Only in rare instances do we recommend actually doing so, as being deprived of natural light and ocean views in potentially claustrophobic-inducing conditions isn't worth the savings. At the same time, considering the little amount of time that you'll spend in your cabin, the most spacious, priciest suite is rarely worth the splurge either.

We recommend paying a small premium for an outside, or, ocean view, cabin, and, if you are going somewhere with fabulous weather, and at least a day or two spent sailing at sea, to go ahead and spring for the balcony upgrade. Those oceanfront breakfasts and sea-misted champagne sunsets, set just steps from your bed, will pay for themselves in no time.

7. Book your own excursions. Cruise line-sponsored shore excursions offer convenience and certain assurances (like guaranteeing the ship will be held for you if your tour bus gets stuck in traffic), but they are often priced at considerably higher rates than what can be arranged independently. Do your research, and get some price quotes on tours or private guide services in port—you might be surprised to find that you can see twice as much at half the price (with a fraction of the people in tow).

Note that if you are sailing on one of the luxury, adventure, or river cruise lines, chances are that most of your excursions are already included in the upfront rate.

8. Sail an older ship. Cruise lines charge a major premium to sail aboard their latest and greatest ships, and will reduce rates on the older vessels in their fleet as they are pushed out of the spotlight. If you're willing to skip out on newfangled frills, sailing aboard line's older ships can be a real money saver, without necessarily meaning you'll have to sacrifice comfort, amenities, or itineraries. Do, however, read up on reviews and ask questions when booking to be sure that the ship has been well maintained, or, as is the growing trend, even extensively refurbished to feature some of the more popular features of the line's newer ships (like dining venues or attractions)—effectively offering very similar experiences at lower fares.

9. Demonstrate brand loyalty. Like airlines with frequent flyers, cruise lines consider repeat passengers their bread and butter, and are in the habit of luring past passengers back for more. The more you cruise with your preferred line, the more return-trip booking incentives you can expect, with past-passenger discounts and promotions offered through special cruise membership clubs. Plus, you can expect special onboard perks like invitations to captain's dinners or cocktail receptions. Note that you can also nab discounts by booking a future cruise while still aboard your current sailing.

10. Buy travel insurance. Booking a cruise vacation is a big-ticket investment, and one that's worth protecting. Reasonably priced travel insurance policies can easily be purchased from third-party insurance companies (like Travel Guard—read our Q & A), which will reimburse the costs of your cruise, airfare, and more should unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or interrupt your trip. Plus, policies will often include medical travel insurance, too—a vital asset when heading outside US borders, where coverage for most American medical policies ends. Just be sure to read the fine print, to ensure the policy is right for your particular needs. Insurance costs are minimal, typically a nominal percentage of the total trip price, and the policies easily pay for themselves in peace of mind alone.
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 Artist of the Month
Sharon Lennox - Mute Swans

Framed
16 by 20
Oil on Canvas

 Sharon Lennox

I an a student and producer of fine art.  I grew up in a rural community and have loved anything to do with nature and animals all my life. In my paintings all my loves come together, animals, birds, nature, flowers and artistic craft.  My medium is oils, I like the ease of mixing and the buttery texture which allows the paint to flow smoothly onto the canvas. I paint from photos mostly, sometimes many photos for the development of one painting.  The research, planning and set up of a painting can take as long if not longer than the painting itself.
I guess the main thing is that I absolutely love what I do, hope to still be learning and painting when I am ninety.
                                                               Email: sharjm@telus.net 
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I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish to see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda
If you liked this please pass it on 

Rosswin Travel,  
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
e-mail: rosswin@shaw.ca
420 Harmston Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2X2

follow me on face book  for travel tips, pictures and comments. 
"Like" my Rosswintravel fan page  http://www.facebook.com/rosswintravel 
If you do not wish to receive these posts let me know by e-mail and you will be deleted from my mailing list. Please put in the subject line “delete"

            ____________________________________________________________


















Wednesday 31 October 2012

Niche Travel


                            Niche Travel


                           November Newsletter,  Vol. 1, issue 9
        

                                           Travel & Cruise News  
                              & Items of Interest 
                               A newsletter from Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, Vancouver Island, BC


 Stornoway Harbour, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
painting by R. Ross

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Contents
Niche Travel
10 Money Saving Cruise Tips
Artist of the Month
Dance a Thousand Hands (youtube)
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Niche Travel
What is Niche Travel? When everyone in a group is interested in the same activity or belong to the same  organization and travel to-gather as a group. Niche travel can apply to cruises, tours just about anything related to going somewhere and doing something as a group. 

To-day we will focus on Niche Cruising
Niche cruises are usually booked on smaller ships, depending what your interest is, as they can go into smaller ports where the larger ships cannot go. With less passenger’s you might possible fill the ship with your own group as some of the smaller ships could hold as few as 35 or less passenger’s.  You could arrange your own schedule with the cruise line if your group was the only ones on board.  If you were a history group you could arrange to visit ports that are of historic interest, that have historic building etc.  Regardless of what you are interested in there can be a group tour arranged. 
Find a ship that will accommodate your group, and the whole focus on your trip will be your Niche.  Many Niche tour operators employ experts in your field and will act as guides, or bring aboard an expert yourself to give lectures. 
The small ship's will not have all the amenities that the larger ones have, such as Casinos, choice of different restaurants, entertainment nor all the people that you encounter on larger ships. If you want to enjoy a more intimate experience then think about a cruise on a smaller ship. 
 Do not forget river cruising, especially for the history buffs, think of cruising up the Danube and seeing all the castles and the wonderful old architecture along the way, being able to spend the day exploring the small towns along the way. 
If your group like’s to cycle then the different stops on a river cruise would be for you.  Some of the riverboat's have their own bicycle’s if not they can be arranged in the different towns.
If your niche is  ballroom dancing, Square dancing, lectures on certain subjects, anything that you do not need to go ashore for, then a larger cruise line can work for you.  Rooms can be arranged to hold your meeting’s and by booking early most of your cabins can be in the same section.  We were on an Multi Level Marketing tour last November, we had a room that we used for a couple of hours every sea day (sea day is when we are not docked in a port) for our speakers and we had a cocktail party for our group. Our table’s were all in the same section for dinner.

The list of niche sailing and destinations is almost endless.  A group can be a little as 6 and as high in number as the boat can accommodate. First decide on a destination and then research what cruise lines go there.  
So put on your thinking cap and plan that cruise you always wanted to go on. 

If any of this interests you, lets talk about it and see what can be done to put a plan together for your desire.

Feel free to contact me for more details.
rosswin@shaw.ca

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10 Money-Saving Cruise Tips
Posted by Elissa Richard on October 17, 2012 at 3:45:40 PM EDT
Fodor's Contributor


Cruises can really be one of the best value vacations around, effectively bundling your lodging, meals, entertainment and activities, and transportation into one tidy, upfront rate. Like anything, the costs can add up if you don't cruise smart, so we put together 10 cost-cutting tips so you can maximize your cruising dollars. The best tip we can give you, though, is to make sure you budget in all the little things that aren't included, but that are still necessary—shore-side expenses and flights to and from port are two good examples.
1. Shop around for the best price. There's no true one-stop shopping destination to compare going cruise rates, so you'll have to check multiple sources (like cruise lines' websites and Twitter pages, trusted third-party cruise sellers and travel agencies, and deals-specialized websites) to secure the best deals and added-value promotions (i.e., free cabin upgrades or onboard credit). Just be sure to read the fine print to see if any additional charges (taxes, port charges) might ultimately up the cost of the quoted fare, and know what's included in the rates for the cruise line you book, before forking over your credit card. Better yet...
2. Use a cruise-specialized travel agent. If you don't have the time (or patience) to scour countless cruise offers, turn to a trusted travel agent. Cruising lends itself well to an agent's expertise. Knowledgeable specialists know the ins and outs, and can help match you to the ideal cruise line and ship for your tastes and budget, pick out the best cabins, and, since they buy in bulk and offer repeat business, use their leverage with cruise lines to get better rates and perks than you could likely find independently. Be sure to use a reputable agency that is affiliated with reputed outfits like the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Best of all, note that cruise lines typically pay travel agent's commissions, so you won't have to foot the bill.
3. Book early or during "wave season." The waiting game rarely pays off when it comes to cruising, with the best rates and preferred cabins going to those who plan ahead. Cruise lines are eager to fill up their inventory as far out as possible, and will lure in early birds with hooks like reduced rates, onboard credits, and cabin upgrades; luxury lines regularly post 2-for-1 fare deals and free airfare, too. Plan on booking your cruise trip at least six months out, and if you want to travel during peak times (summer or school breaks), a year in advance is better still.
Another good time to nab deals is during "wave season," from January through March, when cruise lines looking to book up the year ahead are met by winter-weary travelers yearning for some vacation light at the end of the cold-weather tunnel. Or, keep an eye out for specials posted during National Cruise Vacation Week, held from October 21–27, 2012.
4. Cruise during shoulder season. Shoulder season sailings—where moderate temperatures, minimal crowds, and reduced rates meet—fall into that magic window between high season (the most popular periods) and low season (when weather conditions and prices dip, and demand is at its lowest). Time your sailing right, and you can get the exact same sailing, on your dream ship, at a fraction of its high-season cost.
For the best bang for your buck in some of the most popular sailing destinations, try Alaska in May where, for enduring slightly chiller temps, you'll be rewarded with less rainfall than in summer, good wildlife viewing, and mountains still capped with snow. Or, beat the heat and the tourist crush by sailing the Mediterranean in September or October—if you're not big on beaches or buzzing nightlife, milder faller temps make for far more enjoyable sightseeing conditions than under the baking summer sun.
The Caribbean in late fall, meanwhile, at the tail end of hurricane season, is also rife with bargains. Cruise ships can easily change course to avoid the path of any brewing storms—you'll just need to have flexibility should itinerary changes be deemed necessary.
5. Shop around for airfare or cruise from your homeport. Getting to your embarkation port can be expensive, so be sure to investigate airfare expenses before pulling the trigger on your trip. Though booking airfare through the cruise line offers some insurances (like a better likelihood that the ship will wait for you if the flight is delayed), these fares are often inflated in the name of cruise line profit bolstering. Shop around for airfare independently to gauge the going rates, and be sure to factor in extra flight expenses for sailings that start and end at a different port. Or, save even more by choosing a cruise that leaves from your nearest drive-to "homeport" (with more than 20 operating in the US today), and forego the expense of airfare altogether.
#6 to #10 will be posted in my next newsletter

These tips are being posted on my facebook page "www.facebook.com/rosswintravel"



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Artist of the Month

Saskia King

"Saskia's Studio”
Artist and fine art‘s teacher specializing in Oils and Acrylics in my private studio.




I was born in 1959 in Sloten, Holland. My love of paintings grew from countless hours of admiring the Old Masters hanging in numerous galleries there and drawing until my fingers hurt. In 1974 my parents and I immigrated to Canada. Work and a family kept me too busy until 1987, at which time I re-entered the art world with renewed energy. Being a self taught artist, I like to say that “I have learned everything the hard way, through practice, perseverance and self study”. In the process I have won 6 awards.In February of 1997, I opened “Saskia's Studio”, to give oil painting lessons. It has grown into a thriving studio where my classes and workshops focus on techniques and brushwork, colour theory, drawing, composition and style. I have also taught workshops and classes in the community. My own paintings are originals, old master reproductions or commissions. They have been sold to private and corporate collectors in Canada, Holland, England, USA, Costa Rica, China, Austria and Australia.
Quality and good taste is of foremost importance to me and I like to cover a diverse range of subjects with my artwork. My paintings are like my children, they must have a strong heart and soul so they can be felt as well as seen. I strive to achieve emotion with my paint through colour and light, with movement, and via nostalgia. If I fail in this, my paintings mean nothing and they will not be displayed.
To get inspiration I go for long walks in the woods with my dog observing nature’s fabulous colour schemes. Mostly my ideas come from warm feelings to a specific subject that I see. My mind is always in three places at once planning and trying to apply beautiful things into a painting. Eclectic is my nature.
What I love about painting is the ability to immortalize beauty onto a canvas so that it will never be lost and others can enjoy it also. When I succeed in my quest I am rewarded with good feelings of pride and accomplishment and relief as well, for it is always a stressful mission to achieve that extra bit of polish.
My family has lived in the Comox Valley since 1980 . My husband “Buster” is a carpenter who now builds elegant garden gazebos. We have hand-built our own home on a lovely spot and raised two sons there who have both become tradesmen and avid sports enthusiasts.



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Dance of a Thousand Hands
http://www.youtube.com/embed/7vs-H7xLnrs?rel=0 

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I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish to see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda
If you liked this please pass it on 

Rosswin Travel,  
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
e-mail: rosswin@shaw.ca
420 Harmston Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2X2

follow me on face book  for travel tips, pictures and comments. 
"Like" my Rosswintravel fan page  http://www.facebook.com/rosswintravel 
If you do not wish to receive these posts let me know by e-mail and you will be deleted from my mailing list. Please put in the subject line “delete"


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Tuesday 2 October 2012

Group Travel


October Newsletter
Vol. 1, issue 8

                                                     Travel & Cruise News  
                              & Items of Interest 
               A newsletter from Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, Vancouver Island, BC


Glengarry, Ontario Scenes
Lancaster Wharf early to mid 1800's
painting by R. Ross, copied from a post card
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Contents
Group Cruising
How to book an affordable cruise
Artist of the Month
Joke

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                                      Group Cruising

Have you ever cruised or toured with a group before, many people believe that you have to belong to a club, organization, church etc before you can join a tour or cruise as a group, not true, you can form a group with friends, family, a Square Dance group, Gay Group etc. 

Group travel can be cheaper but that is not always the case, as sales can give you a better deal.
See a travel agent to book cabins with an existing group providing that group has available space, as long as there is extra rooms available you do not have to belong to that particular group.   Book a cruise through your travel agent with a group and enjoy what group amenities are available and once on board you can go your own way, just let the tour or cruise host know you are not going to join in any of the group activities.

Decide where you want to go and check with your travel agent to see if there are any group’s available for that cruise or tour.  

Forming your own group
Appoint a Cruise or Tour leader to keep track of names and numbers of persons interested in the trip and who will oversea the booking arrangements. If possible check with a travel agent who has handled group travel before and see what arrangements can be made, go to more that one agent if necessary and find one that you are comfortable working with. 

The travel agent will guide you on what to do. 

Find out where the cabins are on the ship, if you book early enough you can arrange to have the cabins close by and all on the one deck if you are all booking similar type accommodation. The earlier you book on a cruise line the more amenities you will receive, later booking have no extra amenities. 
 MLM Group Cruise  on the Carnival Miracle
You can organize a group with as little as 6 persons with some cruise lines. If you have booked extra space put out word that there is a cruise group that has berths available by advertising in a newspaper and on a website or facebook etc.

When selecting a cruise ship consider if there are going to be children in the group, then check which cruise lines have activities for children, is there cabins for the handicapped if you have someone that needs a wheelchair.  

Try to pick a cruise that will accommodate the needs of the group.  For example you would not want to book space on a Fun or Gay cruise when you have mostly seniors who would not enjoy the activities that would be planned for that cruise. 

If your group wants to meet for lectures etc then have your travel agent arrange for a meeting room, your group might also warrant a cocktail party. 

Give everyone a list of the excursions and try to arrange them before you leave to ensure your group will travel to-gather. 

On most cruise lines If you book 15 berths you get a free berth 30 berths a free cabin for 2. This can be allotted to the organizer or the money value divided among the group. 

There is good information on the internet on planning a cruise which should be checked out before you visit your travel agent, then you will be more knowledgable about what she is telling you and you will probably have a lot more question to ask.

This above information is only a very short summery of what can be done with groups, If you are thinking of forming a group please do your homework before approaching your organization etc as there will be a lot of questions and you will need to be knowledgeable to answer them. 

Please comment if you have any suggestions for group cruising or group tours that I should have covered. Thanks

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Travel Tip

How to Book an Affordable Cruise



illustration,travel bargain,ship,boat,pen,man,swimming,woman,travel agent
Photo: Peter Arkle

Question submitted by Alex Bruno, Boston, Mass.

Trip Doctor’s Answer

Book through an agent. Cruise lines are strict about keeping pricing consistent across the board—so if you find a discount offered online, your agent should have access to the same rate. “The playing field is pretty level in terms of what vendors can sell a cruise for,” says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of cruisecritic.com. When deals do pop up, they usually take the form of onboard credits, excursions, and other perks. Note the fine print: a lower price online could be for a different cabin category and may not include the same extras. Given the potential for confusion, it’s no surprise that 80 percent of cruisers still book through a travel agent, says T+L’s cruise editor, Jane Wooldridge. “If you don’t care what ship you’re on or where you’re going, you can buy a cruise like you would an airline ticket, and just grab a good deal you see online.” But agents can offer insight and advice that a website cannot. The best of them will be familiar with the features and quirks of a ship, will tell you if upgrades become available later, and may get you access to onboard welcome parties. (If you’re using miles for your flights, they can also help you obtain air credit.) “In general, you’re not going to pay more to book through an agent,” Wooldridge says—yet the advantages are clear.
Have a travel conundrum? The trip doctor is in. Send questions to tripdoctor@aexp.com.
With thanks to Travel + Leisure for access to this article

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Artist of the Month


Comox Bay Marina
Oil on Canvas
20x16 i


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Debbie Salmon, Union Bay, Vancouver Island, BC,  


Debbie Salmon graduated form Kwantlen College with a diploma in Graphic & Communications, and has taken fine art lessons at the University of Concordia, Montreal, as well as privately. She began her art career at a textile company in Burnaby where she made logos and drew caricatures to be 

silkscreened on t-shirts, caps and jackets and sometimes sports bags. Three years later, Debbie accepted a job as a creative ad designer at one of the large newspaper chains in Vancouver. She enjoys being creative, seeking new ideas to make ads look special but her true passion is to sketch and paint.  Debbie also freelanced her skills by drawing illustrations which she sold to a high quality clothing company in Gastown to be silkscreened on their clothing.  Her artistic talent became known at an early age; her mother still had the picture that Debbie’s kindergarten teacher was most impressed with.  Debbie Salmon  has lived in the Comox Valley since 1992




She has painted in oils and acrylics for over twenty-five years and is diverse in both subject and media.
She focuses her energy on what is most important to her - inner peace - through her painting and in everyday life.
Her subjects are carefully chosen; she looks for both a challenge and inspiration.  She say she never stops learning, just as in life itself.

Go to http://www.debbiesalmon.com to view Debbie’s work. 
“Art and life is a masterpiece”.



       Joke Time

I took my dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes (he is 66).
We decided to grab a bite at the food court.
I noticed he was watching a teenager sitting next to him.
The teenager had spiked hair in all different colours - green, red,
Orange, and blue.
My dad kept staring at her.
The teenager kept looking and would find my dad staring every time.
When the teenager had had enough, she sarcastically asked:
"What's the matter old man, never done anything wild in your life?"
Knowing my Dad, I quickly swallowed my food so that I would not
Choke on his response; I knew he would have a good one!
In classic style he responded without batting an eyelid ....
"Got stoned once and had sex with a parrot,
I was just wondering if you might be my kid."

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I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish to see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda
If you liked this please pass it on 

Rosswin Travel,  
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
e-mail: rosswin@shaw.ca
420 Harmston Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2X2

follow me on face book  for travel tips, pictures and comments. 
"Like" my Rosswintravel fan page  http://www.facebook.com/rosswintravel 
If you do not wish to receive these posts let me know by e-mail and you will be deleted from my mailing list. Please put in the subject line “delete"