Today is the Sami National holiday so I wanted to share a little information about this group of indigenous people that come from the region of Sápmi, which stretches across the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola peninsula in Russia.

This holiday commemorates the meeting in 1917 when the Sami people and Norwegians came together to solve joint conflicts. The Sami National Holiday was created in 1992 at the 15th Sami Conference in Helsinki.

The holiday has been celebrated every year since. The level of recognition this holiday receives at the national level across the region varies. In Norway it receives the greatest attention: Norway has legally designated it as a national flag day, requiring that government offices display the Norwegian flag on this day.

Up until the 1960s, the Sami people were discriminated against and many laws were implemented trying to force the Sami to integrate more with the general population of Norway. Today the Sami National Day is celebrated all over the country. The Sami flag is raised, their national anthem is sung, and food such as “reindeer meat” and “fish” is served to celebrate.

The circle in the Sami flag symbolizes the sun and the moon, and the four colors used, which are also used in their clothing represent the four countries that they inhabit.
A few years ago I had the privilege to visit Alta, in the northern part of Norway, where I spent a day with a Sami man named Mikkel Per Bongo.

It was very interesting to learn a little about the Sami culture, which in some ways is similar to that of Native Americans. The Sami people's livelihoods include coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding, but their most common means of livelihood is definitely reindeer herding.

Currently, about 10% of the Sami are connected to reindeer herding, providing them with meat, fur, and transportation.

Approx. 2800 Sami people are actively involved in herding on a full-time basis. The Sami have practiced traditional reindeer herding since the 17th century. Reindeer herding is more than just a profession but a way of life.

The Sámi are ‘semi-nomadic’, meaning they don’t stay in the same place all year. Sámi herders migrate with their reindeer during the seasons, heading to the mountains for winter and coming back together with the community in the summer. On the journey, Sámi herders will camp in a traditional tent, called a lavvo. A lavvo is similar in style to the teepees and wigwams used by American Indians.

The reindeer is a valuable resource for the Sami. In traditional herding, reindeer were used for food, clothing, trade (reindeer as a form of money), and for labor.

For traditional, environmental, cultural, and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved for only Sami people in some regions of the Nordic countries. According to the New Norwegian Reindeer Herding Act from 2007 which regulates reindeer herding in Norway, only those who have the right to a reindeer earmark can conduct reindeer husbandry in the Sámi reindeer herding area.

The right to a reindeer earmark requires that the person is a Sámi and themselves, their parents or their grandparents have or had reindeer herding as their primary occupation.
A reindeer earmark is a combination of one to many cuts in a reindeer’s ears which tells who the reindeer owner is. Reindeer husbandry is often referred to as the cornerstone of Sámi culture.

The conditions in reindeer herding can be extreme and cold. To be able to manage and survive these conditions the Sami people have an intimate knowledge of the landscape, weather, and wildlife - knowledge that most of us no longer possess.
Today there is approx. 2000 Sami people in Russia, 8000 in Finland, 20000 in Sweden, and 50000 in Norway.

If you are interested in visiting Sápmi (also known as Lapland), which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, or another exciting destination please contact me at lene@perfectlyplannedjourneys.com or 703-927-0588
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#love2travel #perfectlyplannedjourneys, #Lapland, #Norway, #Sweden, #Finland, #Sami, #traveladvisor

Valentines Day is only 10 days away, so why not talk about destinations worthy of a romantic visit. Let's start with Amsterdam.

When thinking of romantic destinations, Amsterdam may not be the first place that comes to mind, but with its old city charm, illuminated bridges, and dreamy canals, Amsterdam is such a romantic city.

In the 17th Century, Amsterdam had the largest diamond manufacturing center in the world. In fact Amsterdam was known as the "City of Diamonds". Today, other cities such as London and Antwerp dominate in the diamond world, but you can still find locally produced diamond jewelry in the city, backed by hundreds of years of history.  

Amsterdam has the only flower market in the world which has been in existence since 1862. Its stalls are all located on boats, just like in the old days when flowers were delivered by boat.  

Would you like to go for a romantic stroll? Amsterdam has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris. With over 165 canals, the most popular canals are the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht. There are 1281 bridges.,

Enjoy museums? Amsterdam has the highest concentration of museums per square mile of any city in the world. Even Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has a museum.  

For a romantic dinner, why not try In de Waag, a romantic restaurant with a lot of history? It looks like a small castle, but de Waag was formerly known as the St. Anthony’s Gate, and In medieval times, it used to be a wooden structure.’ The gate is first referred to in a deed in 1466, but it is believed to be older. If you go, be sure to make reservations.

If you are a bird lover, be sure to visit Vondelpark. More than 4000 parakeets can be found there. They are not native to The Netherlands but were brought there as pets. A few escaped and decided that they liked Amsterdam.  

And why not add a little mystery? Over the past 30 years, a mysterious person or group has mounted six statues in Amsterdam including a sculpture of a violinist inside the Stopera. The city of Amsterdam became the owner of the sculptures on the promise that the identity of the artist/artists would never be made public.

If you need any help planning a memorable trip to Amsterdam or another romantic destination please contact me at lene@perfectlyplannedjourneys.com or 703-927-0588 

#love2travel #perfectlyplannedjourneys, #Amsterdam, #traveladvisor, #romancetravel

In honor of the birthday of the Oxford English Dictionary, which was finally completed after over 40 years of work on February 1st, 1884 let's learn a little about Oxford.  

It is no surprise that Oxford has more published authors per sq. miles than anywhere else in the world.  JRR Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings), Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland), CS Lewis (The Chronicle of Narnia) to mention a few.

Speaking of Alice in Wonderland, did you know that she is based on a real person?  Her real name was Alice Pleasance Liddell, and Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Dodgson) made up the whimsical story to entertain a 10 year old Alice and her sisters.  

Oxford is a beautiful city in in South East England.  It is situated 50 miles north-west of  London.  The history of Oxford in England dates back to its original settlement in the Saxon period.   The architecture of its 38 colleges in the city’s medieval center led poet Matthew Arnold to nickname it the 'City of Dreaming Spires'.

The University of Oxford is the World’s second oldest university. 

Balliol College, one of Oxford’s oldest colleges was founded in by John Balliol in 1263.  The truth is that Mr. Balliol had to pay for this college to be built as a punishment for insulting the Bishop of Durham.

The reason that Oxford was not bombed during WWII was that Hitler wanted to use it as his capital.

Lastly, in case you wonder where the name Oxford comes from, it originates from the old term 'Oxanforda' which literally meant a ford (shallow crossing) in the river where the cattle (Oxen) could cross safely.

If you need any help planning a memorable trip to Oxford, England or some other wonderful destination please contact me at lene@perfectlyplannedjourneys.com or 703-927-0588 

#love2travel #perfectlyplannedjourneys, #Oxford, #England, #traveladvisor

Skiathos is a beautiful little Greek island in the Aegean Sea, where you can find this idyllic beach named Lalaria Beach, which is only accessible by boat.

Here you will find crystal clear turquoise water and a beautiful, smooth, white pebble beach.

Unfortunately, visitors have been helping themselves to pebbles as souvenirs, which has created a huge change in the landscape over the last decade. So next time you travel, bring home some amazing photographs but leave nature the way it was when you got there. Incidentally, visitors who are caught with pebbles will be fined anywhere from $468 to $1,170 USD.

A very interesting fact about Skiathos is that when Persia invaded Greece for the first time in 492-490 BC the fleet of Xerxes, the king of Persia, was interrupted by a great storm on the coast of Skiathos. As a result, the Greek fleet was able to barricade the surrounding seas to prevent the Persians from gaining entry which led to the defeat of the Persians.

As an added fun fact, the award-winning movie, ‘Mama Mia’ was shot on this island, and rumors have it that the best souvlaki in Greece is sold on Skiathos.

Please contact me if I can help you with a trip to Skiathos, or another breathtaking destination in Greece.  I can be reached at lene@PerfectlyPlannedJourneys.com or 703-927-0588.

#love2travel #perfectlyplannedjourneys, #LoveGreece, #traveladvisor, #leaveonlyfootprints

The Great Sphinx is part of the Giza Plateau complex, but deserves a post of its own.  It is one of the most recognizable constructions in history.  A mythical creature with the head of a man, and the body of a lion, facing directly from west to east, The face of the Sphinx is believed to represent the pharaoh Khafre. Sculpted from soft sandstone, many believe that the Spihinx would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried in the sand for so many long periods in its lifetime. The body is 200ft long and 65ft., which when next to the pyramids seem small.  

There is a wall around the Sphinx, and archeologists believe, that as a young prince,Thutmose IV fell asleap in the shade of the Spinx. At the time the Sphinx was buried up to it's neck in sand.  Thutmose, who was not the crown prince,  had a dream where Ra-Hor-Akhty the sun god, talking through the Sphinx, spoke to him, telling the young prince to clear away the sand because the Sphinx was choking on it. 

The Sphinx said to him that if he did this, he would become King of Egypt.  Thutmose did as he was asked, and after completing the request of the Sphinx, Thutmose placed a carved stone tablet, now known as the Dream Stele, between the paws of the Sphinx. The restoration of the Sphinx, and the text of the Dream Stele would be a piece of propaganda meant to bestow legitimacy upon his unexpected kingship.

 It should be mentioned that little is known about King Thutmose's IV reign as king.

You don’t go to Egypt without seeing the pyramids.  In fact they are part of Cairo's skyline, located just 6 miles from the city center, on the west bank of the Nile River is where the Giza Plateau is located.


The Pyramids of Giza are also referred to as the Giza Necropolis because they were built as tombs for kings (and queens) who reigned from around 2613–2494 BC. known as the Fourth Dynasty,  While the most famous pyramids in Egypt are the three largest ones, the Giza Plateau is actually the home to a total of nine pyramids


The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and by far the biggest, tallest, and most intact pyramid in Egypt. It is the final resting place of king Khufu (Cheops), and took approx. 20 years to build. It is built entirely of limestone and is considered an architectural masterpiece, containing approx. 2.3 million blocks ranging in weight from 2.5 tons to 15 tons.  The original height of the pyramid was 488ft.


In case you are wondering, that means that one block would have had to be laid every 5 minutes of every hour, 24 hours a day for 20 years.   In addition to the unimaginable amount of work involved, it is fascinating to learn that the construction of the pyramids was so advanced that even with modern 21st century technology, human race has not managed to replicate the Great Pyramid of Khufu with such precision, and highly advanced mathematical, geological and astronomical science.


For this reason, it is safe to say that unlike popular belief that the pyramids of Giza were not built by slaves, but rather highly skilled masons, engineers, architects, surveyors, and other craftsmen.

If you would like to travel to Cairo to see the pyramids for yourself, please contact me at 703-927-0588 or lene@perfectlyplannedjourneys.com
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You may DIY your domestic travel, and even trips to international destinations that you are familiar with, but when visiting far away foreign places where the culture and language is totally different from your own taking advantage of a "Meet & Greet" makes all the difference in the world!

During my recent trip to Egypt I got to enjoy the "Meet & Greet Service" provided by my supplier in Egypt Yasser Salah, and it was simply wonderful!

After a very long flight, let me tell you, to be met at the airport by someone who helps you get through immigration, takes care of your visa, picks up your luggage, and walks you out to a waiting car is so nice!

To then have our own guide and driver during our entire trip was priceless!

And of course, when we left to return home, we didn't even need to show a ticket, our airport concierge took care of everything.

Pictured above are the three guys who took all the stress out of our trip.

Cammino di San Tommaso, is a 196-mile cultural and spirutal pilgrimage from Rome to Ortona, in Italy.   The hike will reward you with breathtaking nature and picturesque, well preserved villages.   If you make it all the way to the small village of Villa Caldari di Ortona you may think that a water fountain would be a welcome sight.  

That is not what you will find when you arrive in Villa Caldari di Ortona.   The owner of a local winery and the organizers of the Cammino di San Tommaso decided that they wanted to reward you with something better if you make the pilgrimage.

Here you will be rewarded with a fountain of wine, which is available during the opening hours at winery.   The fountain consists of two brass spigots set in a stone basin, streaming free glasses of red wine for all who stop by—be they a pilgrim or just a thirty tourist

Interested in tasting the wine from the fountain in Villa Caldari di Ortona? please contact me at Lene@PerfectlyPlannedJourneys.com or 703-927-0588, and let's plan your adventure.

#love2travel #perfectlyplannedjourneys, #visitItaly, #traveladvisor, #wine

Ljubljana may be a destination you don't know a great deal about, as it truly is a hidden gem in Europe. Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and is located in the center of the country.

There are four main roads in Slovenia that form a cross across the country and Ljubljana is where they meet in the middle.

How can you go wrong with a city that translates as “the loved one”?
Ljubljana is a perfect blend of Slovenian, German, and Mediterranean cultures. A charming fairy-tale city that is a blend of Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau buildings, watched over by a medieval castle.

Perched on top of Castle Hill and dominating the city skyline to the south, Ljubljana’s magnificent castle is a must-see. Take the funicular up to the castle where rather than touring the rooms with an audio guide you can go on a scavenger hunt / escape the castle. This is a challenge where you are given challenges that lead you through the various rooms of the castle. You are given one hour to complete the puzzles and save the dragon.
The dragon is the symbol of the city, and you will see them everywhere - buildings, bridges, etc.

Legend has it that Ljubljana was founded by the Greek mythological hero Prince Jason and the Argonauts. The dragon was harassing the townsmen so Prince Jason fought and killed him. Curiously enough it was the dragon that became the symbol of the city and is now depicted on the Ljubljana coat of arms. The dragon represents power, courage, and greatness.

One of the city’s most photographed spots is Dragon Bridge, where you will see a wonderful green statue of the dragon.

A fun fact is that the dragon at the Dragon Bridge wags its tail every time a virgin lady crosses the bridge.

If you would like to visit Ljubljana, please contact me at Lene@PerfectlyPlannedJourneys.com or 703-927-0588, and let's plan your adventure.

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#love2travel #perfectlyplannedjourneys, #visitSlovenia, #traveladvisor, #Ljubljana