Taking Flight: Advice for First-Time Travelers

Wild Writing Women Magazine | Taking Flight

WildWritingWomen

™

Taking Flight

The Wild Writing Women provide first-time travelerswith all you need to know to spread your wings and fly.

A Message From Our E.D.

(Editorial Dominatrix)

Features

The First Time I Saw Paris

by Georgia Hesse

Georgia, the ingenue, absorbs thelessons of Paris

Mardi Gras Madness

by Cathleen Miller

Wide-eyed wonder in the wicked city

Riding the Rails in Europe

by Jacqueline Harmon Butler

Jacqueline

’

s childhood love affairwith trains continues

The Coptic Priest

by Lisa Alpine

Lisa journeys to the Promised Land

Heading Towards the Sun

by Carla King

Trading a husband for freedom inthe South of France

Getaways

Lisa savors the Côte d'Azur

Miller To Go

Cathy outlines the hidden dangers of travel

Food Flirt

Jacqueline on dining alone

Gear

Carla tells you how to plug in to Europe

http://wildwritingwomen.com/zine/issue/TakingFlight/index.html (1 of 2) [1/2/10 12:52:22 PM]

Wild Writing Women Magazine | Taking Flight

Travel Tips

For a well-connected journey

Ten Tips for Maiden VoyagesTen Tips for Perfect PackingTen Tips for Staying Safe on the RoadI Wouldn't Leave Home Without...Tripping without Jet LagMoney Matters

R&R: Reports & Reviews

Reports

Ft. Mason

Reviews

Boonville Hotel Petite Soleil Regency Hotel Carter House Hotel Do & Co Albertina Restaurant Divertissement: Flight 001

On the Horizon

Workshops Salons

Gallery: Memories from ourTravels

Snapshots from our first trips

What Goes Around

McDonald

’

s Is My Kinda Place

by Suzanne LaFetra

Suzanne tells us why she passes through those golden arches, even in China.Global Fusion

by Lyn Bishop

Lyn Bishop strikes out on a trip to understand the world and reports back for those of us stuckat home.

http://wildwritingwomen.com/zine/issue/TakingFlight/index.html (2 of 2) [1/2/10 12:52:22 PM]

Wild Writing Women Magazine | Taking Flight

Wild Writing Women

TM

Taking Flight

Letter from the E.D.

by Cathleen Miller

The notion for our

“

Taking Flight

”

issue began inour public appearances around the country. Afterwe would read from

Stories of World Travel

, or telltales of our journeys, women would invariably say:

“

I wish I had the nerve to do what you do...totravel the world.

”

This made me realize that thereare a lot of you out there who are longing to travel

—

as I once was

—

but just don

’

t know how to takethat first step to make it happen. This edition isdedicated to helping you begin your exploration.The Wild Writing Women believe so strongly in the power of travel to educate and enlighten that weeven addressed it in our mission statement. Our goal is to

“

encourage the positive aspects of travel,and to empower women in general.

”

Having the courage to hit the road

—

with companions or alone

—

is

empowering. It frees you to pursue your own destiny, to take an active role in creating your ownhistory. Travel opens the door to your cage.We are not the first people to come up with this idea. While so much fear and suspicion sadly keepsmany Americans at home today (and granted this is probably not the best time to take the Girl ScoutTroop on the Baghdad field trip) some of our best minds have created public institutions to encourageus to venture beyond our own borders and investigate other cultures.For example, J. William Fulbright, a young man from Arkansas, traveled to Oxford as a RhodesScholar. After witnessing the devastation of World War II, Senator Fulbright introduced legislation tocreate the Fulbright Scholarships. He believed if large numbers of people lived and studied in othercountries,

“

they might develop a capacity for empathy, a distaste for killing other men, and aninclination for peace." (Maybe more people need to learn this lesson; George W. Bush had never usedhis passport until he became president of the United States.) In 1961 President John Kennedy createdthe Peace Corps to create world peace and friendships. His hope was that U.S. volunteers servingabroad would learn a respect for other cultures and simultaneously their tenure would promote abetter understanding of Americans.But far beyond any political or social agenda is the pure joy available to travelers witnessing thebeauty and majesty that we

’

ve only read about in books. And meeting people from foreign climes canoffer you warm memories and lasting friendships. When you experience the world firsthand it

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