USA Today recently listed the three best travel jobs a person
could have. One was a private jet tour leader
– where you are the tour guide for passengers taking a global
blitz via private jet.
USA Today recently listed the three best travel jobs a person could have. One was a private jet tour leader – where you are the tour guide for passengers taking a global blitz via private jet.
The second was a gentleman host on a cruise ship – where you get to cruise and dine for free in exchange for dancing with unaccompanied female passengers.
The third – and best – was a travel writer, where you write about the places you visit.
My ultimate dream job is to be a travel writer. First I would go to Salzburg, Austria. Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is holding year-long celebrations to mark the composer’s 250th birthday. I’ve wanted to go to Salzburg ever since I saw the “Sound of Music” when I was little. So, first I’ll take in a concert, and then I’ll climb to the top of the highest mountain – where hopefully Julie Andrews will pop up and start singing.
Next, I would hop aboard the Amadeus Amadagio cruise ship, which is billed as the largest river ship in Europe. It has locations in the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in Europe. It boasts over sized rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows with separate sitting areas. It has walking tracks and bicycles that passengers can use for exploring while in port. It stops in Holland, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Prague, Austria and Belgium. I figure while I’m in Belgium I’ll get a waffle (are they called Belgium waffles since you’re in Belgium?), jump on a bike and scout the countryside for Julie Andrews.
The next stop on my trip would be the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which is the largest structure made by living organisms. I will visit with camera in hand and take pictures of the Fauna and Flora which I identified only as characters in a Disney movie when I was young. While there maybe I’ll find Nemo who maybe able to tell me where to find Julie Andrews since they both stared in Disney movies and we all know Disney characters run in packs.
Next, I would continue my travels in the states at the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska if for no other reason than I’ve always wanted to see the northern lights. The Northern Lights shimmer over the Brooks Range near the top of our world.
Standing virtually at the top of the world I’ll have a great view and will be able to see where the Chugack, Wrangell, and St. Elias mountain ranges converge to form the “Mountain kingdom of North America,” in Alaska. Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest unit in the National Park System and has the largest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet on the continent. Surely, standing amongst the clouds I’d be able to spot Julie Andrews if she’s running around the mountains singing.
I will not let failure stop me. I will fulfill my duties as a travel writer and my pursuit of finding Julie as I visit our nation’s magnificent national parks.
Naturally, I would visit Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona in my travels. How hard could it be to find her there? After I’ve completed my in-depth reporting by writing the word ‘Big’ in my notepad I’m off to the next park. I’ll be sure to stop at Acadia National Park, Maine, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho and Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. To travel by train, plane or boat to places far and near and write about them would be a dream come true.
I realize I may never find Julie Andrews. I realize my family may not be allowed to travel with me. I realize every job has its perks!
Cindy Argiento is a free-lance columnist who lives in North Carolina with her family. Her column appears weekly in the Gilroy Dispatch and Hollister Free Lance. She may be contacted at ca*******@*ol.com.
