by Paull Tickner
Wednesday June 03, 2015

I always get a positive reaction whenever I mention the word ‘Cotswolds’ at trade shows. That said, many travel agents are unaware that this iconic destination stretches from Stratford upon Avon in the north to Bath in the south and across to Oxford in the east. It is a region of sleepy, honey colored limestone villages, sheep-clad hillsides, privately owned and internationally renowned gardens, 16th century pubs, quintessentially English tea rooms, the Arts and Crafts Movement, jaw dropping history, treasure filled castles and a close encounter with Tudor England… Welcome to the Cotswolds, a corner of England that has just become more accessible thanks to the new American Airlines daily non-stop service from JFK to Birmingham in the heart of England. 

ShoreTrips offers more than 2,400 excursions and activities, all personally tested, in more than 420 cruise ship ports of call and cities throughout the world. Shoretrips are the experts – having researched every location thoroughly, choosing the best sites to visit, and the best things to do. They interview the guides and providers, and only when they meet their strict criteria do they offer their services to you. With 30 years of international travel experience, Barry and…

You are probably wondering if Marchev has gone off the deep end? No I haven't. Not yet. I want to share an observation I had while my wife Barbara and I were strolling through a fabric store looking for ideas.

After being in the store four minutes, I felt a migraine coming on, and I don't get migraines! I was being introduced to the three TC's. The choices,  the colors, the costs. I must admit, there was a lot of good looking stuff in that store. Too much stuff. Choices, options, and colors are what are needed to sell tile, carpets and…