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Ready, Set, Go!By: Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker / Out & AboutDon’t miss your reunions or dream vacationsjust because you’re not as strong or vitalas you used to be.Today, few peopleeven notice other’s disabilities.So, if you’re up to date on yourvaccinations, find a trip that pleases youand will soon be available.Touring and cruising companiesencourage making reservations up totwo years in advance. But unless youcurrently need medical care, you are lesslikely to cancel due to unforeseen health issues if you consider goingas soon as possible.In fact, last minute availabilities can be great for seniors. A land triplike one of Collette Vacations “Spotlight” tours has stays of four to sevendays in America’s or Europe’s most exciting cities.Daily sightseeing is included, and here’s the best part. Each itineraryuses a single 4-star hotel throughout, so there’s no packing andunpacking!Or you might try Globus’ Monogram Tours, which offer privatevacations in very popular locations. Plus you get the services of a localguide who provides your trip orientation, escorts you to your luxuryWhere Atomic Bombs Were DroppedBy: Burt & Dianne Davis / Our VacationWe visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki whenwe were in Japan during the Far East &Alaska Cruise with VikingOcean Cruises. Japan commemorates the atomicbombings there in peace parks and dedicatedmuseums.HIROSHIMA – More than 140,000 werekilled or died as a result of the atomic bombdropped by the Enola Gay. On Peace Day yearly,thousands gather at the Hiroshima MemorialPeace Park and pray for lasting world peace.The central theme of the park and museum isNever Again should the world experience the horrors resulting froman atomic bomb. The photos and exhibits in the Peace Museum arepowerful, depicting the horrors resulting from the bombing.A focal point of The Park is an arched tomb cenotaph with namesof victims inscribed on the stone chest beneath the arch. An eternalflame at the end of the arch will continue to burn until all nucleardevices in the world have been destroyed.The children’s’ monument is dedicated to a young girl namedSadako who survived the initial blast but died from leukemia in herearly teens.hotel, and may even help you with your special needs.Speaking of special needs, regardless of the trip you select,don’t be embarrassed to request help with devices necessary to yourhealth or comfort. Special needs itemsare rapidly becoming travel essentials,so rental companies now provide and setup the personal health items you need inyour hotel room or cruise ship cabin.Motorized scooters and wheelchairsare especially in demand, along withportable oxygen tanks, raised toilet seats,and hospital style beds. And the numberof available items and serviceablelocations is expanding rapidly.One unforeseen complication is hotels and cruise lines have troublekeeping up with the demand for special needs accommodations, andregular hotel and cruise ship doors may not be wide enough to allowwheelchairs or scooters. NCL’s “Pride of America” circles Hawaii everyweek with over 1,000 passenger staterooms but only 64 are wheelchairaccessible.Guess which staterooms are being booked first?Crystal Merryman-Sarbacker is a travel agent and the owner ofVegas Vacationers Inc. She can be reached at:Merryman2@aol.comNAGASAKI - Three days after the Hiroshima blast, followingwarnings from President Harry Truman that they must surrenderor experience more bombings, the United States bombed Nagasakiresulting in 74,000 more deaths.A 30 foot high Bronze Peace Statue is thefocal point of the Nagasaki Park. One hand ofthe man represents a nuclear attack. The othersymbolizes tranquility and gestures for peace andmeditation. His closed eyes express prayerfulnessfor those who are victims of the war.In the Peace Museum a sign reads, “Nagasakimust be the last place exposed to an AtomicBomb.” The exhibit’s numerous photos illustratethe destruction of the city and death and injuries to its citizens.The park is filled with poignant monuments contributed by manynations. Through these excursions, we gained a greater understandingof the Japanese people and their perspectives on these catastrophicevents.Japan is a vibrant country which looks ahead to a prosperousfuture, but places great importance on remembering and remindingthe world of the heavy price it paid for waging war.Thanks to Dianne and Burt Davis who continue to travel the worldand share their adventures with our readers.40March 2021