Most of us know Lori Derauf as a world traveler, but recently, the longtime travel agent and owner of Vacation Designers literally flew around the planet in two weeks.
She learned such an airline ticket existed early in her career when she booked a trip for a client. Two airlines offer the world flight, and luckily, her friend was up for such an adventure. The two set out at the end of September on American Airlines, the one with affiliate airlines offering flights to the places they wanted to go. They also researched a bit about the culture and learned to say hello in the different languages.
The two flew business class, which offers priority check in, seats that recline completely for sleeping, and quiet lounges, Lori said. In fact, on one flight, they were asked what time they’d like dinner.
Their first stop was in London, where they stayed two nights. They visited Churchill’s War Room and with other tourists, reenacted the Beatles’ album cover on Abbey Road.
Their next stop was in Marrakech, Morocco, and was a different experience in a Muslim country.
The walls around the city were being repaired after the earthquake, she said. The night markets in the old cities really come to life, and Lori and her traveling companion dined on tagine cooked in the namesake clay pots for just $10 per person.
“It was incredible and the food was amazing,” she said, adding it included an array of spices. They also stayed in an old palace home.
Next up was Istanbul, Turkey, where they visited a famous mosque and purchased rugs that the country is known for.
From there, the two landed in Qatar and stayed in Doha, a much more modern city that seems like it was recently built. Lori described “really cool buildings” and said they also walked around the old city.
Their guide showed them a place where men tend to go to play different games and socialize. One man invited them to stop in for a while and taught them to play something like Chinese checkers.
The next adventure was in Hong Kong, where a typhoon had closed the metro. They and all the others at the airport had no choice but to take a taxi to their destinations, and Lori said they stood seven hours in endless lines.
“We were thankful we were safe,” she said, adding that the lines were orderly.
The travelers rode the longest escalator in the world there, but Hong Kong wasn’t Lori’s favorite city – it was just too busy, she said.
Overall, the trip was 15 days. They spent 47 hours in flight, traveled 23,400 miles, and stayed in seven hotels.
“For us it was about doing it and the fun of it,” Lori said. “But two weeks is a really short time to fly around the world.”
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Other News:
-Officer nominations will be taken at the next meeting for two directors and the president-elect.
-The club chipped in to pay for any gifts that no one volunteered to get for the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection’s program. If you signed up to sponsor a gift, bring that wrapped, with the information about the individual it is for, to the next meeting.
-The board of directors met and approved donations, including one large one for playground equipment near the village’s new splash pad, President Jennifer Tasker said.
Guests: Barb Worcester, Natalie Dresen, Amy Wilson and Peter Derauf, guest of Lori Derauf; Larry Huismann and Brisa Hernandez, guests of the club; Todd Bestor, guest of Ken Pesik.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Birthdays: Dec. 14, Rich Wipperfurth; Dec. 16, Janette Jordee.
Anniversaries: Dec. 17, Janette and Timothy Jordee
Greeters: Dec. 14: Gabriell Hamele, Janette Jordee and Tony Burns; Dec. 21: Roxanne Johnson, Tom Roepke and Scott Cochems; Dec. 28, Kevin McDaniel and Jeff Smith.
To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/
