Epiphany celebrations are a wonderful way to end the holiday season. Below is a brief explanation of the symbolism associated with this Christian holy day and descriptions of Epiphany celebrations that are annually held at some of my favorite winter destinations.

The Epiphany is on 6 January, and marks the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. The word epiphany comes from the Greek and means “appearance or revelation.”

“Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is over precisely which historical events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi, while in the East the feast celebrates the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. However, in both cases the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation.”
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(Christian)

ATHENS, GREECE
In Greece, since this day symbolizes many things including the baptism of Jesus Christ, the celebration involves the blessing of the waters. In every port city and town a procession carries a blessed crucifix to the water into which it is then thrown. Each Greek port town has its local variation of this age-old tradition. I once spent the Epiphany in Athens. The procession took place in the Piraeus, the port of Athens. The ferries that transport thousands of travelers each year to the Greek islands and the Greek naval fleet were lined up in the harbor for the blessing. Priests in full regalia carried a large crucifix followed by marching bands and Athenian notables. Loud speakers made the blessing audible to the hundreds that had gathered for this annual ritual.

Added bonus: on the Epiphany, as on other holidays, most archaeological sites and museums have free admission.
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Someone just sent me something about this book by Thalia Zepatos. It has been reprinted 3 times, and is often referred to - here is a review  from Paperback Swap

Originally published in 1992, with a second edition in 1996, A Journey of One_s Own has sold over 68,000 copies. Praised by travel experts across the spectrum, from Glamour to The Women_s Review of Books, from The Whole Earth Catalog to American Express, U.S. News and World Report, and Parade, and written about in over forty major dailies, A Journey of One_s Own has become an established title in the travel book category.

Although geared to women and including much information specific to women (how to deal with sexual harassment, for example) A Journey of One_s Own has also found an audience with men who value the extensive information and excellent advice that is not gender-specific.

The third edition sports a livelier and more compact text design, a smaller format, and shorter page count. The author has thoroughly updated the material and added new sections on health, safety, and traveling during times of international upheaval.

Yet, the basic structure has been maintained: excerpts from many women_s travel stories are interlaced with -detailed advice on practical matters (how to stay healthy, be safe, avoid theft, etc.). And the author_s own stories, which reflect on political and cultural explorations from her extensive travels, are engaging and thoughtful, and add depth to discussion of issues such as getting acquainted with new cultures, accepting hospitality, bargaining, and communicating without language.

“Thalia Zepatos is . . . teacher, spokeswoman, and heroine of sorts to a generation of travelers, both women and men, who understand travel as more than the periodic recreational migration that our commercial culture promotes.”_Seattle Times

“Superlatives generally make us suspicious, but we must say: This is THE best women_s travel resource we_ve seen, ever. . . . It_s authoritative; it_s supportive; it_s amusing; it really does have it all.”_New York Daily News

Thalia Zepatos is the author of Adventures in Good Company and Women for a Change: A Grassroots Guide to Activism and Politics.

Stephen Hartshorne GoNOMAD Associate Editor  writes…  Read whole article

“Look at me, look at me, look at me now,” says The Cat in the Hat. “It’s fun to have fun, but you have to know how.”

Designing a great tour requires a thorough knowledge of the country you’re visiting, its history, its traditions, its way of life, and what it is about it that makes people ‘click’.

You have to know where the best historic and cultural sites are, and the most enjoyable activities. And you have to know the best inns and restaurants and how to connect with the locals.

A truly great tour requires flexibility and there has to be a balance of scheduled activities and down time. And you have to know the tastes and preferences of your clientele.

But above all you need to know how to have fun, and as the Cat in the Hat points out, that takes an expert.

Ins and Outs

To learn some of the ins and outs of tour design, GoNOMAD spoke with one of the acknowleged masters of the art, Yolanta Barnes of Sights and Soul Travel.

I have written about Trekking 4 Women - a New Zealand site where Anne Young organises treks for women in Nepal and Africa.Today I came across this site where three Nepalese sisters Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri, are pioneers in the field of female trekking guides. Since 1994, they have worked towards empowering women in Nepal.

In the early ninety’s no one would have dreamed of a Nepalese women guiding a trek. Nepalese society is ruled by the Orthodox Hindu religion where women are considered second-class citizens. Their role is to be a diligent wife, a loving mother, and an obedient daughter-in-law. Society dictates that a woman should not cross out of her home threshold. But the Chhetri sisters did just that.

Sisters are doing it for themselves - fantastic!