Welcome to the December 2005 edition of SINGLE PARENT TRAVEL e-zines - a continuing series of monthly newsletters created for the community of single adults who travel alone with kids.

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In this issue:

I. GLOBAL BRENDA'S MESSAGE
II. INN AT EAST HILL FARM
(paid advertisement)
III. GETTING COZY IN KOYA-SAN - A SINGLE PARENT SOJOURN TO JAPAN.

I. GLOBALBRENDA'S MESSAGE

Dear Readers,

I just returned from a sunny, but cold and brisk winter vacation to Denver and southern Utah. I went snowshoeing (for the first time) with my kids in the Colorado Rockies. It was great fun and as I began to get tired, we spotted a moose and then we scurried double time back to the car! From there I headed out to Canyonlands, Monument Valley and the remote and beautiful Capitol Reef National Park. I wrote about these fabulous areas in my book, "The Single Parent Travel Handbook," which is available for sale at http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=1127229&s=41949994 , and will give you an update in my next newsletter.

Since this is the holiday season and everyone is so busy, our December newsletter is short, sweet, and full of holiday cheer. Our regular sections will be included once again in our January newsletter. This month we have two features only: our advertiser and a delightful single parent family Christmas story about Japan that was published on http://www.ParentsWithoutPartners.org

Enjoy! And may you all have a wonderful holiday! Happy Trails! GlobalBrenda

II THE INN AT EAST HILL FARM, Troy, NH (Paid Advertisement)

Open year round providing guests with a relaxing hands-on farm experience, including cow milking, collecting chicken eggs, churning butter, making cheese, and feeding the animals. There are children's recreation activities, indoor and outdoor pools, and outdoor seasonal activities including hiking, boating, horseback riding, ice skating, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. Call -800-242-6495 or visit http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=1127230&s=41949994 .

III. GETTING COZY IN KOYA-SAN - A SINGLE PARENT SOJOURN TO JAPAN

My most enduring memory of our 1991 December trip to Japan was that of cold feet. Winters in Japan are purported to be dry and crisp, unlike the humid spring/summer season. Unfortunately the weather gods did not smile on us. My daughter had chosen to spend the fall semester of her junior year of college at Temple University's Tokyo campus. The kids and I thought it would be an exciting adventure to forgo our usual Christmas extended family gathering and instead spend the holidays in Japan and Hong Kong.

After a few dry crisp days in Tokyo we headed by bullet train for Kyoto, ancient capital of this island nation. We had pre-reserved three nights in a ryokan, a typical Japanese inn, partly to save money, but mostly to experience Japanese culture first hand.

The first thing we had to do upon arrival at our ryokan was to remove our shoes and place them with dozens of others in the center area of the tiny lobby. It was easy to spot how many Americans were staying at the inn. High top sneakers were in fashion then and stood out from the low-cut leather shoes worn by most other foreigners.

We were given "hallway shoes," heavy open-backed shoes, which were two-thirds the size of my big American feet, as were the steps leading to our room. Miraculously I only stumbled twice on the way up. Our Japanese hostess, whose English was limited to a few words and lots of sign language, explained that when we walked in our room we were to wear only our socks. "Hallway shoes" had to be carried to the other side of the room. From there we walked down another hallway to the bathroom, where, it was explained, we were to don "toilet shoes." Toilet shoes were never supposed to leave the toilet. Please continue this story at: http://srv.ezinedirector.net/?n=1127231&s=41949994

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