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EDITOR’S NOTE

EDITORS/PUBLISHERS

Ron & Mary James

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Mia Sellfe

ART DIRECTOR

Don Inhousen

CIRCULATION

Jake Washington

STAFF WRITERS

Alison DaRosa

Priscilla Lister

John Muncie
RISK & REWARD OF TRAVEL Jody Jaffe

s we go to press two travel-related incidents You might suspect folks would think twice about Kitty Morse
have made headlines. First, are the Boeing travel these days. But unsurprisingly, none of our
A737 Max 8 crashes and subsequent ground- many friends around the world have curbed their John Freeman
ings that have disrupted travel and are likely to globe-trotting ways. If anything, they have ex-
affect airlines and aircraft manufacturers for years panded their adventurous horizons seeking more FEATURE WRITERS
to come. Boeing’s reputation is in tatters as the exotic and difficult ports of call and destinations.
company struggles to correct software problems Travel for them is a necessary part of their lives Sharon Whitley Larsen
that can doom a plane, its crew, and passengers -- it is exhilarating, stimulating and nurturing for
Viking Cruises, an industry darling, narrowly minds and spirits. Carl Larsen
escaped a Titanic-sized calamity when engines on Veteran travelers know the potential risks, minor Maribeth Mellin
the Viking Sky failed in dangerous rough seas off and catastrophic. They work hard to minimize
Norway. The abandon ship whistle sounded, and danger by being well-prepared and smart as they Amy Laughinghouse
many passengers airlifted in gale-force winds off leave comfort zones behind. Often favorite stories
the disabled vessel. Ultimately the ship was towed are about scary misadventures with a happy Judy Garrison
to shore. ending.
Thankfully major catastrophes are rare. But The Boeing and Viking kind of incidents will Wibke Carter
almost every traveler has been impacted by always be with us. And every traveler says a little
Mother Nature’s extreme weather - hurricanes prayer that he or she will never be on one of those Margie Goldsmith
and tsunamis, even rogue winds. More common fateful, tragic journeys. But stay home to stay
challenges are accidents like falling, getting lost, safe? No. Reasonable risk will never deter a real Michael Burge
getting sick from a variety of sources and getting traveler. It’s part of the deal as we adventure and Brian Clark
ripped off by pickpockets and taxi drivers. Regard- explore the world.
less of how wealthy a traveler may be or how well ADVERTISING SALES
prepared, no one can avoid risk. Ron & Mary James
Wine Country Interactive Inc.
Ron & Mary James
Publishers & Editors WDT San Diego | New York | London

8 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018