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February 4, 2011
Love was in the air on the Costa del Sol …
Hearing many stories from our travelers over the years, those about people who have met—and ultimately formed new friendships—while taking one of our vacations, are often among my favorites. And as the spirit of St. Valentine lingers this month, I’m especially reminded of traveler stories that have taken a romantic turn, such as the sweet tale of Peggy and Philip Smith.
It was actually ten years ago this year that two single travelers—Philip Smith of Spokane, Washington, and Peggy Luther of Jasper, Alabama—were each on our Classic Costa del Sol Extended Vacation in Torremolinos, Spain. This ever-popular Grand Circle vacation is unique, offering weekly apartment-style living at the Bajondillo Apartments—a locale set along the Mediterranean that many of our travelers enjoy so much, they return year after year.
One evening during her own two-week Costa del Sol stay, as the story was told to me, Peggy went to the Bajondillo bar for a bottle of water, but ended up staying a while to listen to the live music and watch people dance before she retired for the evening. That’s when Philip—her fellow Grand Circle traveler (and two other gentlemen)—spotted her from across the room. Philip, a recent widower, just watched as the other two men asked Peggy to dance. Eventually, he approached Peggy himself and asked her to join him on the dance floor.
As they say, the rest is history. Now, a decade later, the Smiths have traveled with Grand Circle and OAT a combined 42 times—including some 20 return visits to their beloved Costa del Sol, where they reunite with the same group of regulars at the Bajondillo.
If you’ve ever met a new friend (or friends)—or loved one!—during a Grand Circle vacation, I’d love to hear more about it. Share your experiences and stories below this Journal entry, or email me directly at harriet@gct.com.
Looking ahead over the next month or so, we’ll spotlight our Land Vacations in Italy, and Australia and New Zealand, as well as our popular European River Cruises along the Rhine, Main, and Danube, the Rhine and Mosel, and the waterways of Holland and Belgium. If you’ve explored any—or all—of these destinations with Grand Circle, I invite you to share your stories and pictures with me at harriet@gct.com.
Harriet Lewis