Passengers deplaning from the AirFrance flight diverted to Athens.
We were several hours into the AirFrance-operated flight from Paris, nearing our destination, Cairo, and I was almost finished with the bad movie I had been watching when the plane lost some of its electrical power, causing all entertainment systems to go black, and the pilot experienced what we would later learn was an “incident in the cockpit” and may have smelled smoke. The plane was being diverted to Athens and we passengers were left to wonder if we were about to go through an emergency landing.
“I suppose you’ll be the one to write my obituary.”
My dad was giving me a ride to the airport after one of my infrequent and characteristically brief visits to my hometown of Moline, Illinois, a few years ago. I wasn’t surprised by the question, and I knew it wasn’t just small talk. My dad didn’t do small talk. At the time he was ninety-four, and was probably thinking an obituary would eventually be needed.
He figured I would be the one to do his obit because I was the member of the family who made a living as a writer. It wasn’t too long before that that I learned my father was a bit of a writer himself. He shared newsletters he had written for various organizations he belonged to. I apparently inherited my knack for snarkiness from him.
It wasn’t a long conversation; it’s a short ride from his house to Quad Cities International Airport. He just wanted to make sure I included his military duty; that was most important to him. I said I would. And I told him that if I went first he would probably be the one to write my obituary. I was only half joking. I was in my late sixties and the lines on our actuarial graphs were starting to converge.
But in late January, Dad died. Up until about two months before that it looked as though he would make it to 100. He still lived alone in a two-story house (with a basement, too!) and a few months prior had gotten his drivers’ license renewed, to the chagrin of my siblings and me. But a couple of falls and a botched hip replacement proved too much to overcome. I was on a cruise ship heading for the Panama Canal. So I took my laptop to a quiet place and kept my promise to him. This is what I wrote:
We have space for one more couple – or two singles – for our December 2-5 culinary trip to New York City. But hurry, the booking window will close at the end of next week.
And I have some more information to share about our itinerary and some of the restaurants we will dine at.
Are you a Formula 1 racing fan? Next June, Explora Journeys’ Explora I will be docked in Port Hercule during the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monte Carlo, arguably one of the Riviera’s most iconic events. Bookings are not open yet, but send me a note if you’re interested in learning more and getting on the list.
It was great to see so many people at last Saturday’s 2025 Go Travel Showcase in Lake Mary. I enjoyed talking to everyone about two of my favorite topics: food and travel.
The event was also attended by several travel suppliers, including cruise companies Silversea, Explora Journeys, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, plus Delta Airlines and CIE Tours. And just about all of them offered special discounts or onboard credits. The good news is that these deals are being offered to anyone, even if you didn’t attend. But they must be claimed by Aug. 1.
Take a look at all the offers here and then let me know if you’d like more information.
Come meet me and the other advisors at Go Travel at its 2025 Travel Showcase, Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Markham Woods Presbyterian Church in Lake Mary. We’ll be joined by representatives from top cruise lines and tour operators. There will be exclusive travel deals, giveaways and prizes. Refreshments, too.
It’s free to attend, but space is limited so you’ll need to reserve your ticket. Just click this link and fill out the form. Write “Scott Joseph invited me” in the notes field.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and talking about some of the tours I have planned, including New York in December and a culinary cruise in 2026. And if you want, we can still talk about restaurants.
Here are two exclusive deals from Go Travel. In some cases, the Go pricing may be applied to other dates and cabin classes. Contact me for more information at [email protected].
London has close to 1600 hotels offering an array of accommodations to fit most budgets. But for luxury, the city has only a handful of top-drawer hotels. I’ve had the pleasure of staying at the Savoy, which is credited with being London’s first luxe hotel, and the Langham, and both were sufficiently lavish.
But following a recent six-night stay, I now have a new standard for upscale lodgings: Corinthia London.
Here are a couple of deals for 2026 exclusive to Go Travel. The Queen Mary 2 voyage will include a stay in New York Harbor during the Fourth of July fireworks. No better viewing platform than the deck of the QM2. Contact me for more information at [email protected]
