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RON & MARY JAMES
EDITOR’S NOTE

PUBLISHERS

Ron & Mary James

EXECUTIVE EDITOR /ART DIRECTOR

Ron James

EDITOR
Travel Industry Heroes Mary James

e want to begin 2018 on a positive note and wish to rebook a flight for us. The female desk clerk in Kyoto who
STAFF WRITERS
all of our readers a happy, prosperous and travel- hailed a cab for us while standing on a street corner in the
Wfilled New Year. In these times of political division, pouring rain. Alison DaRosa
natural disasters and world turmoil, happiness and prosperity
are not slam-dunk propositions. Our appreciation goes out to new friends from Slovenia - Na- Priscilla Lister
tasa from the Slovenian Tourist Board who planned our most
For many, travel helps memorable trip and Jani, John Muncie
us cope with the our outstanding guide
constant drip of stress- and driver who went Jody Jaffe
inducing news. The out of his way to make
COLUMNISTS
experience of travel the journey safe and
takes our minds off our enjoyable.
Robert Whitley
problems at least as we
plan and venture out on We salute those thou- Susan McBeth
our next adventure. The sands of volunteers
kindness of strangers throughout our travels FEATURE WRITERS
as we move around the who have greeted and
planet is a tonic for our guided us through their Sharon Whitley Larsen
spirits. towns, introducing us to
their culture and food. Carl Larsen
Travelers discover that The bands and danc-
kindness and gener- ers that welcomed us Maribeth Mellin
osity are inherent in at cruise ports around
people around the world – it’s in our human DNA. Perfect the world with toe-tapping medleys that warmed our hearts. Amy Laughinghouse
strangers come to the aid of travelers in need, sometimes The visitor information volunteers who rescued us on street Judy Garrison
in profound and unexpected ways. The travel industry is not corners when we were hopelessly lost. These are travel’s true
immune from greed and callousness, as we all know. But we angels. Stacy Taylor
also have encountered heroes in the trenches that reaffirm
our faith in humanity. Here’s to our heroes - the caring people who take a whole lot Wibke Carter
of stress out of our adventures far away from home.
There are the hotel staffers who take care of us when Ron Margie Goldsmith
got sick in Rome. The tour guide in Varanasi, India, who Cheers for them, our great travel writers and our loyal read-
insisted on taking us to his home so his son could meet ers. Happy travels in the new year everyone! Michael Burge
someone from America – and then served as a small feast.
Ron & Mary James James G. Elliott Co., Inc. Agency
An airline ticket agent who helped us during her break time ADVERTISING SALES

4 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018