My husband, Lewis, and I traveled independently for twenty-five years in the U.S. and Europe. Back then, we navigated without reservations, and used rental cars and public transportation to get around. But as we grew older, we found that the well-organized Grand Circle Tours were more to our liking and better suited to the physical limitations that come with aging.
 

As I am an avid gardener and photographer, the primary focal point of interest of our recent travels has been photographing gardens. On our Grand Circle Romance of the Rhine & Mosel River Cruise, I told our delightful Program Director Hildegard that I had photographed the Botanic Garden in Basel and was interested in shooting more of the same. She mentioned a flower show which had been running for several months. Though the show was winding down, Hildegard suggested that we take a city bus to the site in Trier, Germany. Coincidentally, Trier is where Lewis had been sent for a time in World War II, after recovering from scarlet fever in France. He had almost no recollection of the region when we boarded our little bus to the exhibition.
 
When we arrived, we discovered that this was far more than a typical “flower show.” The vast landscaped area contained so much: a sunken garden of huge proportions, including a pool; formal plantings; tents of garden supplies; a colorful rose garden showcasing the work of dedicated local gardeners; and an arboretum of specimen trees. At the end of our visit, as we left the arboretum behind to catch our bus, we passed a large vineyard. The scene became more and more familiar, and Lewis commented there was something he recognized about the lay of the land.
 
At the bus stop, when we asked others about the history of the area, we learned the unexpected truth: in the past, this garden had been an Army Base. And not just any base—Lewis realized that this was indeed the place where he had found himself as a young PFC in the U.S. Army. What a delightful rediscovery! Thanks to Hildegard and Grand Circle, we were able to embrace a bit of the past.
 
Submitted by:
Rose Brannon
Marietta, GA

I’m looking forward to hearing your stories about traveling with Grand Circle—and perhaps sharing one here, or in an upcoming issue of our Insider newsletter.

Email your stories and photos to me at editorinsider@gct.com, or send them to:

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Karen Hansen

Grand Circle Travel
347 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210