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The Saga of Over 140 Tours

19th August 202319th August 2023 funtime65

I started a thread that’s started the whole world smiling, and with apologies to the Bee Gees mine’s is the Saga of Over 140 Tours.

My old employers from my student days in Aberdeen, where we made lunches for their day trips in Grampian, have been in touch.

And they have flagged up their brochure Worldwide with the tagline Over 140 Tours to explore worldwide.

Now I know we’re all living longer but Over 140s?

Saga, as well as being my summer employers which funded my Top Deck Oktoberfest booze bus antics was also my parents’ go-to travel providers.

Worldwide vision

China in their hands: The folks at the Great Wall

Saga has built its reputation on providing the best travel for the over-50s.

And yes that’ll creep up on you although these guys speed up rather than slow down.

It’s not nicknamed Sex And Games For The Aged for nothing.

Saga are teasing us in their new Worldwide brochure with somewhere very close to home which is home.

Dream experiences

Scotland is new on the menu alongside Valencia, the Azores and India.

Alongside old favourites across Europe, Asia, Australia, Borneo and more.

Of course Saga offers dream experiences across the travel spectrum…

You know… solo tours, stay and explore, small group tours and escorted tours.

Now as Saga like to start as they go on they’ll take the stress out of your door to airport experience by giving you a VIP driver.

Either to London or your local airport.

Mighty Mississippi

And because it’s what would make my missus happy then I’ll flag up the sample Journey on the Mighty Mississippi.

Journey on the Mighty Mississippi is a 15-nighter down the grand old river from £5,945.

That includes your travel insurance with 11 excursions and visits.

Welcome to the Jungle: Elvis’s Jungle Room

And…

Tours of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans
Entrance to Studio B, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Graceland
Complimentary shore excursions in every port on the cruise (‘Hop-On Hop-O’ coaches in Vicksburg, Natchez, Baton Rouge, St Francisville, and visit to Nottoway Plantation)
3 days – free time
7 nights in hotels, 7 nights cruise on
American Queen and 1 in flight
International flights.
Prices are based on return flights with British Airways (direct) or United Airlines (indirect) from London Heathrow.
Supplements may apply from other airports
22 meals: 9 breakfasts 6 lunches
7 dinners

Africa, Asia, Countries

The Year of the Tiger

31st January 202231st January 2022 funtime65

Ya dancer… today is the Year of the Tiger.

If you’re a tiger you’re a thrill-seeker, crave attention and are short-tempered but kind.

Although you wouldn’t be saying that if you’d had your carcass ripped apart.

But we’ve seen both faces of the tiger from our childhood films, as hippoty-hoppity Tigger or cunning Shere Khan.

Immerse yourself in the world of the Jungle Book by hopping on board any of a number of travel providers to that other powerhouse of tigers, India.

Yes you Khan

Exodus Travels gives you a 17 days India Tigers Safari from £3,499 including flights.

Where your tiger of choice is of course the Bengal Tiger (and don’t let Shere Khan put you off).

Our old friends at Hayes & Jarvis have a 15-days £4,099pp guide price for their trip around India.

And you’ll obviously get to enjoy the charms of the great cities of Delhi and Mumbai and the Taj Mahal.

They came from Africa

Pussycat, pussycat: Panthers in South Africa

Now we’re not sure why tigers moved from Africa to Asia around 2 million years ago.

But if you’ve been out on a drive and stood in awe at its kin, the panthers and lions, you’ll want to get out to Asia to see the tiger.

Now what of tiger watching in China… well, for everything in the Far East we defer to the expert Wendy Wu.

The Year of the Wu

Wendy and our buddies are holding a week of virtual events all week so we’ll know even more about tigers by Fiday.

And what to do when you’re faced with a tiger (and not one of those paper tigers).

Well our Chinese friends tell us to wear red socks and underwear although by that stage I’d suggest the nearest tree is the answer.

Happy Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger.

Asia, Countries, Deals, Europe

Here We Goa Cristiano

30th December 202130th December 2021 funtime65

Here We Goa Cristiano. Ronaldo, R7, has been put on a podium in India’s Portuguese outlier.

Yes, we’ve been here before, with statues a bit of a hobby horse of mine.

Funny, because there are too many of these with empirical British generals and not enough of the gee-gees themselves.

Although racecourses are the exception.

And who else would have pride of place at Aintree, Liverpool, home of the Grand National than Red Rum?

Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, is a football thoroughbred who his native Portuguese have had on a podium for years.

All of which our tour guide par excellence Jose Madomis made clear early in our visit to Portugal Centro.

Although The Scary One has never knowingly been told who she should defer to… Signore Ronaldo or Mourinho.

The first statue

The Portuguesers know his value, of course, and closer to God is He.

As I found out when I saw his beach towel for sale among all the Our Lady mini-statues in the Marian site of Fatima.

And while Cristiano is lauded on mainland Portugal he is venerated in Madeira, the island off Africa, where he was born and raised.

And where the first Cristiano statue went up.

Cristiano Goanaldo

And we’re thinking here that this coastline region of India is made for Cristiano.

We don’t know if in fact he owns any of it but needless to say he should be able to afford a good bulk of it.

Vasco da Gama, named after the explorer, is its capital.

And with its Portuguese culture and architecture you’d be forgiven for thinking you were still in Iberia.

For those who like to mark landmarks (guilty!) next May 30 sees the 35th anniversary of Goa becoming India‘s 25th state.

Get us there

All major airlines fly from the UK and Ireland to Madeira, it takes 3 hours and 40 minutes, and our old friends at skyscanner quote £46 with Ryanair.

And we’re advised that TUI provides direct flights from London Gatwick to Goa for a return from £551pp for February.

Here We Goa Cristiano.