Energizers

T he Energizers Travel Group had an exciting year in 2011, with four trips that covered nine countries. We started 2011 with 23 Energizers traveling to Egypt. In Cairo we visited the Museum of Antiquities, climbed the Pyramids of Giza, viewed the Sphinx and traveled to Alexandria by train before flying to the city of Luxor. At Luxor we boarded a Nile River cruise ship and traveled to the Valley of the Kings, where we entered the ancient tombs of the Pharaohs and visited the Palace of Queen Hatshepsut. The tour was cut short due to political unrest that was developing, but we had a wonderful trip. In August, 26 Energizers took a 14-day river cruise called "Castles along the Rhine and Danube." The journey began in Budapest, Hungary and continued through parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands, ending in Amsterdam. We were treated to a concert by an orchestra in Vienna, cruised through the beautiful Wachau Valley and made our way through 81 locks from the Danube River to the Rhine River. In October, 28 Energizers traveled to beautiful Ireland for a 10-day excursion that began in Dublin. After a two-night stay and tour of Dublin, we traveled to medieval Kilkenny, before moving on to Waterford for a visit to the House of Waterford crystal. After a night in Waterford, we visited the Blarney Castle where we kissed the famous Blarney Stone. Then, we sojourned on to the famous Ring of Kerry, known as one of the world's most beautiful coastal routes. We visited the home of an Irish dairy farmer who shared a cup of coffee and the Irish people's way of life, before moving on to the town of Limerick. On our last day, we toured the town of Tullamore, famous for its Irish Whiskey. We learned about the distilling process before spending our last night at Cabra Castle in Kingscourt. Six of us added to our Irish experience by playing a round of golf at the Cabra Castle Golf Course. In December, 24 Energizers traveled to the European Christmas Markets. We began with three nights in Oberammergau, Germany, famous for its passion play held every 10 years and the woodworking craftsmanship. From Oberammergau, we took tours of Munich, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria, before traveling on to Breitnau, Germany in the Black Forest two nights. In the Black Forest, we traveled to Strasbourg, France for one day where we visited the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Our last two days, we moved to Bern, Switzerland where we visited the Bundeshaus (the Swiss Parliament), the famous Bear Pit and Lucerne. With 2012 charging ahead, we are getting things geared up for another exciting year. On March 31, we will go to Holland and Belgium in the springtime. We'll take a riverboat trip through the canals and waterways of the Netherlands during the spring flower bloom. During this trip, we will visit the largest flower market in the world and tour the Floraide, a horticultural event held once a decade. On June 6, we will cruise the Greek Islands and Turkey, beginning in Athens, Greece. We will visit the ancient Acropolis and Parthenon, then board a cruise ship to Istanbul, Turkey and the ancient city of Ephesus. We will cruise to the Greek islands of Patmos, Santorini, Mycanos, Rhodes and Crete before returning to the mainland. On Oct. 1, we take the Canadian Rockies by train, starting in Vancouver with a trip to Victoria and the famous Butchart Gardens. Then, we board a train for a two-day trip into the Rocky Mountains. We will travel the mountain roads to the the glacial ice fields, Lake Louise, and the towns of Roper, Banff and Calgary. By Horace Waugh Energizers Travel 7 For more information about our travels, contact: –––––––––––––––––––––––––– Horace and Martha Waugh Phone: 205-663-7720 120 Shady Lane Alabaster, Ala. 35007 Email: energizerstvl@gmail.com Energizers having dinner in Cabra Castle in Cavan, Ireland. Bill and Jerri Gober with Bern, Switzerland in the background. Energizers travelers pause at the famous Lion of Lucerne sculpture in Switzerland, praised by Mark Twain as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

• Cover