Newsletter Christmas 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We’re looking forward to a wonderful Christmas in Wales this year. We hope you too have a glorious festive time and a happy holiday wherever you are.
We had such a wonderful response to our email Christmas card last year showing guests jumping off a gulet, that we thought we’d continue the fun theme, this time with a song and dance routine on one of our cruises this autumn. You’ve probably received so many seasonal images of reindeers, robins, and snow, that we thought we’d send you some bright sunshine and blue skies to bring you some cheer.
Many thanks to all of you for your interest in what we do and your marvellous support. I’m delighted to say that bookings for 2010 are already considerably up on 2009. Our Sailing to Ephesus gulet cruise in June is fully booked and a number of other trips are close to filling. January is always our busiest booking month, so if you do fancy coming on an archaeological adventure or cultural cruise with us next year please get in touch sooner rather than later.

POMPEII AND THE AMALFI COAST
We are currently working to develop some more exciting gulet cruises in Italian waters. The Almira II, sister ship of our beautiful 8 cabin, gulet Almira, has been operating on the west coast of Italy for a number of years, and we are eagerly looking forward to running some trips on her very soon.

One itinerary will certainly be a 1-week cruise (and we’re also planning a 2-week trip) that visits some of the most famous archaeological sites in the world such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, together with beautiful locations such as Capri and Positano.

All that together with fabulous Italian food, hedonistic relaxation, and super swimming! This will be part of our 2011 schedule of tours, but we can tailor make trips in 2010 for private groups. Please let us know if you are interested.

FEEDBACK
A number of our guests have created online photo galleries of their trips or written about them on their websites or blogs. Why not see what they have to say or have a look at their pictures? If you’ve travelled with us before they will bring back wonderful memories. If you’ve not yet been on one of our trips, you’ll get an excellent sense of what we do directly form the horse’s mouth! Here’s a few examples that focus on tours along the Aegean coast of Turkey.

We arranged a private expert led gulet cruise, Sailing to Ephesus in Turkey, aboard a luxurious 6 cabin, gulet Artemisia, for the Furmanski family. You can read about, see photos, and even watch a video on their travel blog

Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, joined us for a second gulet cruise in Turkey, From Halicarnassus to Ephesus, and then went on for a stay in Cappadocia which we arranged. You can read about her trip on her website.

Dana Cameron, award-winning writer and author of the Emma Fielding archaeological mysteries, also joined us on our From Halicarnassus to Ephesus gulet cruise. You can read about the trip on her blog (in several chapters) - with a slight werewolf twist!

Christmas - Did you know?
Not only did Santa Claus originate in Turkey, but Saint Nicholas (born in the ancient city of Patara on the sunny coast of Lycia) quickly became one of the principal protectors of seafarers. Following the adoption of Christianity he preserved Poseidon’s mantle. Temples to the god of the sea effectively became churches dedicated to St. Nic. - saviour of seafarers and guardian of pilgrims sailing to the Holy Land.

You can follow in Santa Claus’s footsteps on our Sailing the Lycian Shore gulet cruise. You’ll explore the holy island of Gemiler, crowned with a cathedral church floored with mosaics and dedicated to Father Christmas in one of his earlier guises. Leave your snow clothes and Xmas presents at home, but remember your swimsuits and cameras! The view from the top of the island (pictured) is quite magnificent.

Find out about all our escorted Turkey tours.

With very best wishes from
Peter, Michael, Julie, and Elin – the Peter Sommer Travels’ team

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