LORRAINE THOMPSON
Correspondent
Published Friday, April 11, 2008
Mary Willis's world just expanded.
The 78 year-old retired St. Johns County school teacher recently toured the globe via private jet traveling 34,600 air miles with visits to Peru, Easter Island, Samoa, the Great Barrier Reef, Cambodia, Tibet, India, China, Tanzania, Egypt and Morocco.
Willis was a member of National Geographic's "Around the World by Private Jet" expedition that left Washington, D.C., Feb. 22 and returned March 16. The aim of the trip was to explore designated World Heritage sites, which included some of the world's most treasured and legendary natural and cultural wonders. In all, there were 85 travelers aboard the Boeing 757 jet that is outfitted to provide comfortable seating and gourmet meals while in flight.
National Geographic's experts aboard included Pulitzer Prize winner Jaret Diamond, retired Ambassador James Rosenthal, vice president of National Geographic Rob Hernandez, president of National Geographic Society public relations Betty Hudson, and photographer and host of the publication's TV channel, Boyd Matson. Throughout the whirl-wind global jaunt, the experts lectured on destination sites and prepared the travelers for each stop.
Among the highlights, the explorers experienced a curator-led tour at the private Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum in Lima, Peru. Then it was on to Cusco where they viewed the Plaza de Armas and the Sacsayhuaman fortress overlooking the city. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, temples and palaces of Cambodia and China, the Taj Mahai in Agra, India, game preserves in Tanzania, pyramids and the Sphinx in Egypt and the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco were other memorable stops.
The trip was flawless almost.
Willis recounted how the group visited Tibet on March 6 and 7, and three days later learned of the Chinese -Tibet violence that took place. And while in China, they were locked in at the airport briefly until authorities cleared their flight.
Easter Island turned out to be one of the friendliest stops. "Because of its isolated location, life is simple for the residents. They are friendly and outgoing," Willis said. The island, located 2,300 miles off the coast of Chile, offered an open-air museum of ancient stone villages, sanctuaries and giant statues called moai.
Morocco, according to Willis, was fun-filled, exotic and quick-paced. The Mosque Palace market was a hub of activities. "There were snake charmers, magicians, musicians, fortune tellers. We could purchase freshly ground spices and other goods, and the food was excellent," Willis commented.
Months of preparation
For Willis, the success of her around the world adventure started months before the plane took off. Because of a foot problem, to get in shape and be able to ride an elephant, get into busses and trucks, walk and climb hundreds of steps, and participate in other strenuous activities, Willis prepared for the trip by going to physical therapy. The therapy included swimming, riding a stationary bicycle, cross training, and working out on other strengthening equipment.
"I wouldn't have been able to do all of the activities without the therapy," she admitted.
"This was the most organized trip I have ever been on," Willis noted, adding that she had previously taken many international trips that were sponsored by travel group.
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