Homeward Bound ...

Today I head home from the journey of a lifetime, a richer (in experience, definitely not purse), wiser person, hardly able to believe I am lucky enough to have completed such an amazing trip. From those first few tentative steps off the plane in Beijing, across many, many kilometres of Mongolian deserts and Russian tundras, through places so cold your toes and nose felt they may drop off, with people so lovely that their friendship warmed your heart and soul, to the end of our long and winding train trek here in Helsinki. It feels like I am awakening from a deliciously wonderful dream. I wish I could bury my head under the covers and go back to sleep.

It has all been beyond my wildest expectations. Usually an independent traveller, I was unsure of what to expect with Travel Directors, however, I have nothing but glowing praise for this company and the people they employ. The itinerary was stunning and the attention to detail thorough. The accommodation was top quality, always centrally located and always comfortable and clean (and often down right luxurious). The meals were planned carefully to give us a taste of the local culture and a chance to sample a variety of styles and places. Often times, drinks such as wine, beer and vodka were provided at no extra cost as a nice surprise. The cultural experiences provided in the way of music, dance, drama and other shows were also top quality, sometimes even performed as a one off, personal show just for our group. The local guides were always outstanding; extremely knowledgable about their area, but able to present this knowledge in an interesting way so that we were always hungry to listen. As well, these wonderful people were of good humour and warm and friendly. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them and they would go out of their way to accommodate our needs and wants.

One of the best things about the journey, however, was our magnificent tour leader who was with us all the way. Her warmth and friendliness, her kindness and her efficiency, her willingness to always go above and beyond her duty, her high level of professionalism ... I could go on and on singing her praises, for there is no doubt in my mind that she was the magic ingredient that made this tour so unbelievably successful. Lena is a tour guide made in heaven.

This company, Travel Directors, has an excellent reputation and I now understand why. No, they are not paying me to sing their praises; they have earned them well and truly. They have put in the hard work planning these trips, but a key ingredient is the staff they hire. They know how to choose the best. I really would not hesitate to travel with this company again.

As I sit on the long flight home I am sure my mind will mull over many happy memories of the people and places and wonders I have encountered. For now though, I will take a last stroll around this beautiful city and breathe in the freedom that is holiday air. I will suck it in deeply and greedily, willing it to reach every single cell in my body to help sustain me until the next time.