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About the
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John Osaki's Blog
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2008 Trip Schedule is
online! Walking Softly’s 2008 trip calendar is now online at www.walkingsoftly.com. Since many trips sell out before the printed brochure is mailed, it isn’t too early to sign up a 2008 trip! Here’s the line-up of new European hiking trips for 2008: Hiking Northwest Greece. Discover charming mountain villages linked by stone-tiled paths and humpbacked bridge is the Zagori region. Visit Meteora’s spectacularly perched monasteries, and climb Mount Olympus, legendary home of the Greek gods. Hiking New Zealand. Sample the best trails on both the North and South Islands. From the hot springs, geysers, and volcanic landscapes of the north to the golden beaches, fjords and rugged mountains of the south, this is a journey you’ll long remember. Hiking the Swiss Alps. The awe-inspiring mountain landscapes of Switzerland are the stage for this classic hiking itinerary. In addition, hiking trips in Bulgaria, the Maritime Alps of France and Italy, the Dolomites, the Pyrenees of France and Spain, and a trip to Japan’s “Outback” on the northern island of Hokkaido are also available in 2008. New trips for 2008 with a focus on culture and easy walking are: Prague, Budapest, and Krakow: Gem Cities of Europe. Explore castles, walk cobblestone streets, see masterpieces of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. Feel the pulse of vibrant and beautiful Prague, Budapest, and Krakow, new gems in the European Union. Japan Heritage. Behind contemporary Japan’s facade of modernity lies an alluring, centuries-old culture that’s your to discover! Join us on this inaugural cultural adventure to uncover the best of Japan’s cultural heritage! Peru and Bolivia: Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca. Discover some of the grand and legendary landscapes of South America. On this Andean journey, experience the splendor of Machu Picchu, explore the Inca sites around Cusco, ancient seat of the Inca Empire, cross Lake Titicaca, and visit Tiwanaku, a ceremonial site built by a civilization which arose a thousand years before the Inca. We invite you to visit our website and peruse the offerings. You can sign-up for a trip on-line, so it’s easy to reserve your place on a 2008 Walking Softly trip! The 2008 trip brochure will be mailed out in October this year. Please note the between June 11 and August 10, we will be based in Europe while we are leading trips. We will check our email at info@walkingsoftly.com as frequently as we can find a good connection in the mountains! Patagonia 2008 Due to an overwhelming response, we have added a second departure for the Patagonia trip in early 2008. The second trip is scheduled for March 15-29, 2008 and is already half-full. Reserve your spot now for this splendid adventure south of the Equator! Special Opportunity: Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh Due to the current exhibition “Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art,” Walking Softly Adventures is leading an art-focused trip to Holland for members of the Docent Council at the Portland Art Museum and their friends. Sign up now if you are eligible, or send us an email if you are interested in joining the tour. This trip may be opened to all members of the Portland Art Museum this coming fall. Passports The new passport requirements for travel between the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have resulted in longer than normal processing times for passport applications. If you’re considering joining a Walking Softly trip or are otherwise planning to travel abroad, we suggest you submit your application (or renewal application) about six months before you intend to travel. For more information, point your browser to the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Keep in mind that some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date you enter their country. Our best wishes to you, and have a fabulous summer! Warmest regards, Amy & John Osaki |
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© Mountain
Hiking Holidays, Inc. |
The Pindos Mountains seen from
Mikro Papingo. Photo by Asen Marinov. 
