The plane touched down on December 31, 2005 in Sydney, Australia. 22 hours on a plane is a really, really long time. Plus, I’d given up a whole day by crossing the international dateline. Still, it didn’t seem real. I couldn’t believe that I had finally arrived in my dream destination, just in time for the huge New Year’s Eve celebration.

I’ll admit, I checked into my hotel and took a nap first – and it was hard to resist getting to the Harbor. I knew, however, that I’d probably never make it if I kept running on empty.

Once I woke up, I walked the four blocks to the place where music (and fireworks, on NYE)  floats – Sydney Harbor. It was only noon on a very hot, humid day, but crowds had already started to gather and stake out a prime location for the fireworks display that would take place on that evening. New Year’s Eve banners flapped from light posts, traffic signs flashed directions to parking and entrances to the viewing locations, and I snapped photos like a person possessed.

I had decided not to fight the crowds and to grab my front-row seat on a harbor cruise. When it came time to board, I ran on board like a bride-to-be at a half-off wedding gown sale, and staked my claim on the best viewing spot I could get. I’d also arranged in advance – I’d booked this trip a year earlier – with the captain to be allowed on the boat’s bow with my camera and tripod when the fireworks action started.

The theme for Sydney’s New Year’s 2006 celebration was “Heart” and as we passed under the Harbor Bridge just after sunset, I got a glimpse of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, decorated with lights in the shape of a heart, and the lights were “beating” to underscore the theme. It made my own heart skip a beat from the anticipation. Just under the bridge was the Opera House, decked out in its party duds. It glowed purple and blue and white, and seemed to pulse in its own right.

All of the boats in the Harbor participated in a parade, decorated with the theme in mind. As midnight approached, each boat found its spot facing the Bridge, so the effect made the water look like a Christmas tree with heart-shaped ornaments in its reflection.

The boat captain started the countdown, and I joined in with him. 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. Then, the heart that was beating in me stood still, while the heart that was beating on the bridge did the same – only for a moment. Then, like it had been given new life, it burst into bright lights from the fireworks that originated on each side of the bridge and met in the middle. For the next 10 minutes it sounded like a war zone, as we watched the display that our host city had prepared for us.

It died down for a while, but one of the boat hands said to me, in that soothing Aussie accent, “Mate, that bridge? She’s not even warmed up yet.”

I then watched another fifteen minutes, and after it was all over I joined in with a resounding “Woot!” with the crowd of thousands as we all reacted with a heart-felt round of applause.

That night followed me around Australia for the next two weeks of my country tour, and I was pleasantly surprised to see when I circled back to Sydney that the bridge still bore the heart decor. It was there when I climbed to the tippy-top of it to get the best view of Sydney I’d seen. There couldn’t have been a more perfect theme for my Sydney New Years experience, as my heart fills with joy every year at this time when I remember.

People often refer to Italy as “Bella Italia.” It means “beautiful Italy” and it’s the perfect description.

Why do I think it’s perfect? Aside from the fact that I just got back from my honeymoon there?

Positano, Italy (Photo copyright Carmen Shirkey)

First, there’s the scenery. Whether you want history (Rome), seaside views (Amalfi), scenery that wows (Tuscany), art (Florence) or drama and whimsy (Venice) there’s something for everyone.

If you want to go just to eat, Italy will keep you rather busy. Pizza was invented in Naples, so it’s a must eat if your’re in the south or along the Amalfi Coast. If you’re in Florence, take a break from the beauty of all the art in the city and dine on a Florentine steak. And if you’re anywhere in Italy, take every opportunity to indulge with some gelato.

And then there are the people. I love Italians, and they’re a breed all to their own. They can offer their hospitality and be slightly annoyed by you all at the same time. They are so helpful and friendly, while being a bit abrupt. They speak loudly, and gesture a lot. They never let me practice my Italian. I’m not sure if it’s because I butcher the language or because they would rather practice their English (or both.) But they always seem to notice and appreciate my attempts.

Lastly, there’s the atmosphere. There’s just something about Italy that you can’t put your finger on. It’s the way it feels. It’s the way it smells (good and bad.) It’s the horrible traffic and the awesome public transportation. It’s the monumental size of the sites. It’s the varied and sordid (and interesting) past. It’s the ability to walk everywhere. It’s the way the sun shines. It just IS Italy.

In my next life, I want to come back as an Italian.

If you travel a lot (or even a little) something, sometime, is bound to go wrong. Maybe your flight gets canceled. Maybe your layover is too short, and you miss your next flight. Maybe a hurricane disrupts your vacation. It’s a sad but true fact of life – nothing ever goes exactly as planned.

If you know how to travel smart, however, you’ll find yourself better prepared to deal with life’s little practical jokes.

Travel Trouble 1: The airline sends your bags on a whole different trip than it sends you. The best thing you can do for yourself is to pack a few different outfits and all your essentials (including your medications!) in your carry-on bag. There’s a product called Space Bags – they are your friend. Space Bags allow you to pack more in less space by taking the air out from between your clothes. By being prepared, you’ll still be PO’d when the bags go missing, but you also won’t have to wear the same underwear for three days while you wait for their return from Bora Bora.

Travel Trouble 2: Mother Nature messes with you. I’ve been on three trips now where acts of nature have made things more difficult. Again, it’s the being prepared part that will help you manage the mayhem. For example, I was in Aruba for a week, and knew that a hurricane was rearing its ugly head in the Atlantic. I kept informed about it’s path, and when I realized that it was going to hit Miami – one of the legs on my journey home – I was at the concierge immediately trying to change my flight. I had to wait until the airline would allow changes at no charge, but because I was one of the first to act, I was lucky enough not to be one of the hundreds stranded at the airport. Be aware, and you’ll be prepared!

Travel Trouble 3: Your flight is delayed, which means you’ll miss your connection. I’m not advocating anarchy, but I am advocating that you be your own advocate. The instant you learn that your flight is delayed, take action. The last time this happened to me, the gate agent requested everyone remain in their seat and he would get to each person in his own time to get them reassigned. I said “the heck with that!” and rather then wait, I went to another gate and another agent that didn’t have 200 people lining up waiting to get another flight. Since I took control of the situation, instead of the situation controlling me, I was able to get us the last two seats that would get us to our connecting city on time.

So when it comes to travel be a boy scout (or a girl scout.) Be prepared! Which means, you should always have a book on hand to entertain yourself while you wait for the troubles to get sorted out.