Senior Beat
by Carol Higgins Taylor
Special to The Weekly
Winter isn’t letting go. But the days are getting a little longer so there does seem to be light at the
end of the tunnel. Having survived this season, you deserve a treat. A chance to get away from it all.
Eastern Area Agency on Aging has a unique opportunity to help you climb out of the winter
doldrums. EAAA will host two slide show presentations about Collette Vacations trips to France
and Hawaii at its main office, 450 Essex St., Bangor. Starting to feel better already?
The first presentation, “France Magnifique,” will take place at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, and will feature photos of a once in a lifetime tour of France that includes a wine tasting and train journey. The trip is Sept. 9-20, and highlights include Paris, Seine Dinner Cruise, Normandy, Omaha Beach, Amboise, Winery Tour, TGV Train, Avignon, French Riviera, Nice, and Monaco.
Wine and croissants. Uh-huh. That makes for a great vacation.
The second presentation, “Hawaii by Land and Sea,” will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, and will feature photos of an extraordinary tour of Hawaii that includes Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu City Tour, Maui, Hilo, Kona, Kauai, North Shore of Oahu and a seven-night cruise aboard the ship Pride of America. This trip is Nov 13-23, 2015.
I can almost smell the flower leis.
Both of these trips are surely to be magical but whether you’re interested in taking the tour or just
curious about the destinations and would like to experience the slideshow, you are welcome to attend the presentation. Let EAAA take you away for a little while and get winter out of your head.
For those who do wish to take one of these Collette Vacations, there are special transportation
accommodations. Travelers may park their cars at Eastern Area Agency on Aging’s parking lot and take a chartered bus to Logan airport in Boston. No more worrying about getting a ride or where to park the car. It will be safe and sound plus you will be riding with your traveling companions. It’s truly a bonding adventure.
“We are very excited to be partnering again with Collette Vacations and to be able to bring these
opportunities to the community,” said Noelle Merrill, executive director at Eastern Area Agency on Aging, and an avid traveler who has been on these tours herself. “The trips are well planned and very enjoyable, and foster a real camaraderie among the travelers. It’s great to have everything taken care of and the price, which includes one or two meals a day, is reasonable. We have heard from so many travelers that it’s really the best way to go. ”
These tours are also a fundraiser for EAAA, which receives a percentage of the price on tours
booked through them which is a nice gesture of Collette and helps programing at Eastern.
Even those of you who may be unsure about traveling so far are more than welcome attend the
presentations, added Merrill. “The pictures are so beautiful and worth seeing and we want everyone to have a chance to see the two locations and take advantage of this opportunity if possible. There is absolutely no pressure. Just come and have fun.”
Join Eastern Area Agency on Aging at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, or 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, to experience the presentations that will whisk you away from dark days and huge snowbanks to foreign and exotic lands.
If possible, call EAAA at 800-432-7812 and let them know you are coming so they have
enough refreshments.
Carol Higgins Taylor is an advocate for seniors and owns a public relations firm in Bangor. Email
her at 4chtaylor@gmail.com.