Alison Heittman

One of the first times we were having dinner at Dudley’s Farmhouse Grille, there was a family with a much older gentleman dining at a nearby table. At the end of their meal, they called chef/owner Jim Kennedy over and pronounced the meal “delicious.” Then the older gentleman went on to say that he’d been born in the farmhouse, and that his mother “would approve.” It was a really nice moment.

We were cruising out of Venice a few years ago – bought the cruise just prior to quitting our jobs & going freelance. By the time the cruise came around we weren’t quite as flush in the pocket, but we had TONS of hotel points from work travel. We stayed the night before the cruise in the Danieli. Because we were platinum level with Starwood, we qualified for a free upgrade – to the Doge’s Suite! We walked in and it looked like a place where treaties would’ve been signed… A month later we were watching the James Bond flick Moonraker, and realized that the room he’s got in Venice was our suite – pretty amazing, staying in such an incredible room while we were pretty much flat broke!

We went to the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Everyone should go to the Olympics, so that they can get that feeling of being a part of the world as a whole. It is amazing to be in a place where pretty much everyone you meet is excited to be in that one spot – how often does that happen? I also recommend attending games outside of your home country; it helps you to better experience the games as a citizen of the world, as well as feel the full impact of the hospitality of the hosting country and its people. I’m looking forward to attending the 2010 games in Vancouver, as I’ll get all this with the benefit of a shorter plane ride!