Collectively, Marilyn Lehew’s family has taken 134 Tauck trips. Marilyn has joined us on 34 trips to date, with many more, including our new Norway cruise, peaking her interest. She always travels with family, she told me when we spoke, her mom being her first roommate on the 20+ adventures they shared together over the years. Her sisters Shirley and Bonnie would come along as well, often with a teacher friend, and their husbands in tow. Together they’ve made the memories of a lifetime all over the world, cherishing special moments and stories that bring them together again and again.
“Two of my favorite trips were ones I experienced with my sister Shirley and her husband Bob,” she shared during our recent conversation, offering her fond perspective of her family’s history with travel. “We had just left England and were on our way to the battlefields at Normandy. My brother-in-law lost a cousin there during the war and he was anxious to pay his respects at his gravesite in the American Cemetery. He mentioned this to our Tauck Director when we first arrived in France, explaining that he would like to visit his cousin’s grave in Normandy while we were there. I remember watching them leave on this special mission as the rest of us returned to the boat after visiting the D-Day beaches. Our Tauck Director personally escorted Bob to the cemetery, making his long-awaited wish come true.”
One story inspired another as we talked, testament to the staying power of enriching travel experiences. Eager to hear more, I listened as Shirley continued with another one of her favorite travel moments.
“We were traveling in Japan, arriving one day early with Tauck’s Gift of Time. Just after World War II ended, Bob was stationed in a small town in Japan, about 50 miles from Tokyo. While he was there, he would play baseball with the local kids, one of whom he had hoped to see again. We took a taxi to the town where Bob’s memories lived on, stopping at a little restaurant for lunch. Bob brought out his old photographs from 1946 and showed them to the people in the restaurant. They could not believe his pictures. He told them about the boy he had played baseball with every day, who, at the time was about 14 or 15 years old. Bob remembered his name and shared it with them in hopes someone knew of him or his family. It didn’t ring a bell with the people at the restaurant, but the restaurant staff offered to look the name up in the local telephone book. Just a few minutes later, a taxi pulled up to the restaurant, and out walked the boy Bob played baseball with. Turns out he is a taxi driver in that town and now, 60 years later, the two old friends had the opportunity to meet again.”
As travelers ourselves at Tauck, we always talk about the lasting connections you can make through travel, whether it’s a place you dream of seeing again, culinary treats you’ll never forget or memories of the people you meet along the way. Shirley, who has been to all seven continents, would like to see the Taj Mahal again.
“I brought a piece of the Taj Mahal home with me,” explained Shirley, who told me she bought a memento of this monument to love when she visited India decades ago. “It’s made of white marble and has gemstones in it. Each time I look at it, I marvel at it.”
Isn’t that wonderful, I thought to myself. That’s what travel does. The sights you see have a way of becoming places in the heart that transport you back to your visit. It’s part of the magic of travel, and for avid travelers like Shirley and her family, it reminds them of the times they shared on their trips together.
Marilyn recalled the last “wonderful” trip she and her sisters experienced with their late mother, Ruth. They were on one of the six Ponant cruises they took with Tauck and they became fast friends with the ship’s captain, Captain Lemaire. Capt. Lemaire invited them to his cabin for a glass of wine or champagne. He would always ask Ruth to dance with him. Her mother was truly delighted, she told me.
“My sister Shirley, ‘the knitter,’ would knit clothing for the Captain’s children and Capt. Lemaire would send thank you notes. His son later became a Captain on the same ships,” she recalled, adding that Shirley has made a book of the 41 Tauck trips she has taken. “Shirley would knit washcloths and give them away saying ‘Wash your dishes with these and think of me!’ Many of Tauck’s Tour Directors were gifted these washcloths.”
“One time we sailed along the Italian coast and we were in the southern part of Italy. There was an art village on top of a great big hill,” she said. She was talking about Ravello, I mused, recalling my own blissful memories of my visit there. “I bought several pieces of art there – ceramics only 1.5-2.5 inches tall with goats. Some of the ship crew brought back some special cheese from there – mozzarella di buffalo – and served it that evening back aboard our Ponant ship. It exploded with flavor!”
Her recent trips have been closer to home. One of the last trips she took with her both of her sisters was Yosemite and Sequoia: John Muir’s California.
“I brought three baby Sequoias home with me,” she shared, literally keeping her memories of that trip alive and growing. “You have to keep them planted in the pot for at least two years,” she explained and plans to plant them in her hometown of Franklin this year.
A devoted gardener, Marilyn was headed out to her garden after our conversation. I had more questions, of course, wanting to relive her journeys – and a few of mine – through the tales she told. But she had a question for me before we said good bye.
“Have you ever been to Nashville?” she asked. “We live in Franklin, just 24 miles south of Nashville. It’s a historic town, with a key Civil War battlefield, the bloodiest of the war, I believe, and many storied buildings.”
I had not visited Nashville yet, but what she said next inspired me to put her hometown of Franklin on my bucket list.
Turns out, Marilyn and her husband Calvin save historic buildings, keeping their legacy alive for future generations. They have purchased, resurrected and preserved the town’s old factory and many of its centuries-old buildings, opening restaurants and businesses that have helped the town and its enduring history thrive as a must-see destination.
Speaking with her about her family and their Tauck trips together was a gift that underscored the impact travel has on our guests. Learning about the philanthropic and historic legacy she and her husband have created on behalf of their own community had an equally important and palpable impact on me, making our Tauck connection more priceless still.
Mike and Eloise Murphy are adventurers at heart. Avid travelers, they have explored the world together for decades, favoring cruises over land journeys and wildlife over museum tours. Before they knew about Tauck, they sailed to their chosen destinations aboard big ocean liners that were less customer-focused than they liked. They turned to Tauck after their travel agent recommended they take a look at our trips. Their first Tauck trip, Kenya & Tanzania: A Classic Safari hooked them on Tauck, becoming their all-time favorite Tauck travel experience and keeping them captivated enough to experience this same journey four times.
“We really liked the itinerary and saw a great variety of animals every time we went. The whole trip runs very well, and we’ve always liked the people that we met there. Plus, the tour directors have always been very good,” Mike told me, adding that they traveled to Africa with Tauck every two years for 10 years, joining us on Botswana, South Africa & Zambia as well. “We like all the locations we visited as well. I personally think the Mount Kenya Safari Club is one of my favorite places on the planet. It’s just a great place to kick back for a couple days. We normally go horseback riding there, and they used to have some dogs there that liked to go on walks with us.”
“It was definitely a different experience every time we went, even though we traveled to Africa more or less at the same time of year, in the June and July timeframe. The weather at that time of year is good, and the bugs you hear about are relatively minimum,” he shared.
Except if you wear black, I learned, like one young man on one of his safaris did, attracting all the flies to him with his dark shirt, sparing the rest of the group from contending with them. Mike, a retired “fly boy” (pilot) himself, nicknamed him “fly,” a name the young man happily claimed, further enhancing the camaraderie that’s inherent on safari.
Listening to his stories transported me back to my own safari experience. I share Mike’s feelings about Africa and its wonders, admittedly envious of his many return trips, and still dreaming of reliving my time in Kenya. Not only was I mesmerized by the animals we encountered, napping lion families, cheetahs on the hunt, gentle giraffes, trumpeting elephants, barking zebras and more, I was equally moved by the Maasai, whose always smiling faces belied the challenges of life in the bush.
“We visited a local primary school on our last safari with Tauck. The children sang and danced and put on quite a show for us. They were pretty amazing. My wife, Eloise, and I were so touched that we gifted them a donation. Others in our group followed suit, anteing up a total of $930 that went towards the purchase of a truckload of school supplies, soccer equipment and the like. That felt really good.”
“I’ll never say never, but it’s a pretty long way to go from California. We will, however, travel with Tauck again and are taking the Iceland cruise in June, our 17th Tauck tour. We like the way Tauck takes care of all the details,” Mike told me, sharing that “Tauck fits our desires perfectly.”
Aside from their Africa safaris, cruises, both riverboat and small ship, are their favorite ways to travel. They have sailed with us to the far reaches of the world in Antarctica, their 2nd favorite destination by the way, and cruised with us aboard Treasures of the Aegean, Treasures of Spain and Portugal, and The Blue Danube among others, often traveling with like-minded friends they met while sharing their mutual love of travel.
As we were ending our conversation, Mike told me that he watched the video we have online about The Tauck Story. He was surprised and delighted to see the old photo of the Wigwam Restaurant that Arthur, Sr. took his first guests to on our trips along the back country roads of New England in the 1920s.
“My family used to go there too when I was a young child. I even have of a photo of my sister and me, at 5 years old, standing in the front of the Wigwam. Sure brought back a lot of fond memories,” he shared.
Memories like Mike’s are so much a part of the magic of travel and one of the reasons why we often long to revisit those places that touch our heart. We’re beyond thrilled that Mike and Eloise have made their way back to some of their favorite places with us making more lasting memories along the way.
It’s easy to fall in love with travel. Whether you embarked on a road trip through the bucolic landscapes of New England like Linda and Chris John did on their first Tauck trip or traveled to Italy on a dream vacation in 2008, where priceless experiences played out in a pageantry of treasures difficult to replicate anywhere, the memories you make can be truly life changing.
I had the delightful opportunity to chat with Linda after returning from my own unforgettable week in Florence with Tauck, sharing stories about palaces and people that are the stuff of real-life fairy tales. Hers is a love story worthy of the movies, scripted with big screen settings, a talented cast of characters, history-making scenes, surprising acts and moments of breathtaking suspense that keep you totally engaged in the outcome.
As she tells it, “My long-time boyfriend, Chris, and I went on Tauck’s Classic Italy tour in 2008. We were just about to start building a house together, so I wanted a good vacation before we started the long process. When we were in Florence, our tour director, Jennifer, told us about a medieval theater show and dinner that took place at a beautiful palace. Chris signed us up right away. When the show started, one of the staff picked him to participate in one of their shows. As he appeared on stage dressed as a king, another staff member pulled me on stage, unwillingly I might add, to be part of the act. That’s when Chris proposed to me, whipping out a ring as he did so. I remember thinking the ring looked real, so I stood there for a few minutes wondering if this was part of the show or a real proposal. I took so long to answer that Chris finally said ‘you don’t have to answer now.’ But I did and said yes. Later, Chris shared that he had gotten the ring through all the metal detectors at the various airports, Had it not, he said the proposal would have happened in the airport instead of Italy. Since our 15-year anniversary is coming up at the end of the year, we are hoping to go on another Tauck tour since this is where it started.”
“Traveling with Tauck is great way to experience all that is special about the destinations you explore” she told me, citing the good food, the great hotels, and the caring Tauck Directors and bus drivers who make each trip memorable. Now that she and her husband have completed building the dream home they started after returning from Classic Italy years ago, they plan on joining us on more trips. On their wish list is our Treasures of the Mediterranean and Legendary Scottish Isles cruises and Costa Rica, but not before they return to Italy where their amazing proposal took place.
I was thrilled to learn that the happy couple is booked on Bellissima Northern Italy this year, where they will visit Milan, the Italian Lakes, Bologna, Venice and more, with a two-night stay in Verona, where Romeo and Juliet declared their undying devotion to one another. Which seems a most fitting journey for this modern-day tale of eternal love, don’t you think?
A popular hit created on the heels of World War I when US soldiers were returning home from Europe, “How you gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?” could well apply to the Siegle sisters, longtime guests who have, to date, logged in 63 Tauck trips.
Farm girls born and raised in Iowa, their first Tauck trip took them, coincidentally enough, to Paris. Their family, hardworking farmers all, did not have time to travel when the girls were growing up, given the daily chores that kept them busy at home. Once they started traveling with us, nothing could keep them down on the farm for long.
“We heard about Tauck from two widowed ladies we knew from church. We thought if they like it and it’s good enough for them, then it’s good enough for us.”
That recommendation turned into a lifelong love affair with travel for the sisters, the more adventurous the better I learned after chatting with them, with small ship cruises among their very favorites. Among the many voyages they have enjoyed with us, they braved the cold on our cruise to Antarctica where they warmed up to the penguins and marine life they encountered. They circumnavigated the land of fire and ice with us in Iceland, gamely soaking in the thermal delights of the Blue Lagoon. They explored the Norwegian fjords and the Scottish Isles aboard our “lovely” Ponant ship; indulged in the Treasures of the Mediterranean and the Aegean on idyllic cruises they’ll long remember; transited the Panama Canal and met the Guna people in the remote San Blas Islands; and discovered the exotic sights of the Arabian Peninsula and the antiquities of Egypt with wide-eyed wonder. Most recently, they joined us aboard Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto, revisiting places they explored with us on Michigan’s Lakes & Mackinac Island back in 2006.
Whether by land or sea, Phyllis and Arlene choose Tauck because of the great care they receive and peace of mind they experience, noting “how thankful we have been for the trust and security we always feel.” But it’s our uniquely interesting itineraries – polar bears in Manitoba, lions, rhinos, giraffes and more in Africa; giant tortoises, playful seals and blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos; Yellowstone in winter – and exclusive cultural experiences they can only have with Tauck, that kept them coming back for more. “Each journey enriched our lives and far surpassed our fondest dreams.”
“Gratitude is essential to living a full and happy life which certainly applies to travel. Each and every Tauck tour is a metaphor for life. We feel extremely and bountifully blessed to have found and appreciated Tauck tours and family. What the precious privilege of cultivating a lifetime of joy, beauty and spiritual growth that have been the paradigm of our life. A sincere thanks to Tauck.”
With loyal guests like Arlene and Phyllis, whose stories and memories are truly steeped in the attitude of gratitude and in the magic of travel, the pleasure is all ours.
A dedicated solo traveler, Sue Werner has saved 70 group pictures from her Tauck trips, dating from 2019 all the way back to 1987 when she traveled with us on Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head & Charleston. Sue, who likes a good party just as much as we do, has also attended just about all of Tauck’s events, joining us more than once on annual events like the Kentucky Derby, Run for the Roses; our New Year’s Eve gala, A Celebration of Roses in Hollywood and the Jazz Event in New Orleans. While she doesn’t have group photos of those experiences, “you can’t easily fit everyone into one picture,” she has lasting memories of the good times she shared with everyone in attendance.
With so many trips under her belt, I wondered how she chose them and if she had a preference for a mode of travel.
“I like it all. I enjoy the river boats, but I like the land tours too and especially enjoy the comfortable motor coaches Tauck uses. Usually, I just choose a destination, knowing that no matter where Tauck goes or how we travel, Tauck is going to take care of me.”
Wherever she chooses to explore with us, the draw for Sue is a well-rounded mix of culture, scenery and wildlife. South Africa, An Elegant Adventure appeals to her and is on her bucket list as are Essence of South America and Essence of Japan. She also has been dreaming about Grand Australia & New Zealand, something she hopes to do in the future. The Christmas Market cruises are favorites and she has put both the Belgium and France holiday cruises on her wish list.
She is not done traveling with Tauck yet, even though she joked that she will have to live until she is 150 to take all of Tauck tours she is interested in! What keeps her coming back is what Arthur Tauck Sr. had in mind 100 years ago when he founded the company.
“All I want is a congenial party. We shall be just one happy party, properly chaperoned, out for a real good time…”
“The trips are a lot of fun. Tauck does an amazing job. They put a lot of thought and effort into them, and you have nothing to worry about. They take care of things that you wouldn’t even think about, and then you’re just free to experience the destination, free to enjoy it and do what you want. They have a nice even balance of tour time and free time on every trip.”
The post Patron of the Month appeared first on The Taucker Travel Blog.
