TREASURE QUEST: DISCOVERY LIES BETWEEN THE COVERS: Mega Author Blog Hop Tour (July 18-25)

TREASURED PLACES

We've traveled around the U.S. and seen a bit of the world – together and separately - and there are many spots that we each will never forget. Here's a tour of just a few of those treasured places.

Portomarin, Galicia Region of Spain

THE CAMINO, SPAIN

Over 1,000 years ago, pilgrims began walking the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) across Spain. It's mentioned in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales! In the Middle Ages, criminals were sometimes allowed to walk the route as penance for their crimes. Those who successfully completed the journey received a certificate issued by the Cathedral in Santiago. This document served as a get-out-of-Purgatory-free card to sinners who returned home with this evidence of their feat. Villages also sometimes sent emissaries to the Santiago Cathedral to pray for rain or for relief from plague. The Camino is a popular pilgrimage to this day.

Sandy N: Along with my daughter-in-law and her mom, I walked for three weeks and covered the segment of the Camino Francés route from León to Santiago de Compostelo. I was 59 years old at the time, so I'm pretty proud of that accomplishment. Staying in hostels, eating local food, drinking local wine, meeting a variety of people from a variety of nations - my walk on the Camino was an experience I'll treasure always.

Sandra A: And I got to live vicariously through Sandy as she called and sent emails to let me know how her aching feet felt during her amazing feat!

Estes Park Aerial Tramway
Prospect Mountain

ESTES PARK, COLORADO

Known as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is located in north central Colorado. The first people to visit the area, Native Americans, hunted in this valley during the summers; John Estes and his family founded a cattle ranch here beginning in 1859. Surrounded by nationally protected lands and by mountain peaks ranging in elevation from 8,500 to over 14,000 feet, the valley's beauty has drawn visitors since the late 1800s. This picture shows the tramway that takes visitors to the top of Prospect Mountain, overlooking the town. 

Sandra A: Estes Park was my honeymoon destination back in the dark ages. Now my daughter lives in Colorado, so I often get to take a side trip to this beautiful treasure. I'd live there if I could!

Sandy N: Sandra and I took this gondola ride together in 2005. I love the entire state of Colorado! The mountains are breathtakingly beautiful, the ski slopes are awesome, and the people are friendly every place I've been. Estes Park is located among some of the most gorgeous scenery I've seen anywhere.

Photo: wikitravel.org/en/versailles/#b

PALACE OF VERSAILLES, NEAR PARIS, FRANCE

Back in the mid-1600s Louis XIV moved his government to Versailles and expanded it into one of the largest palaces in the world. The opulent palace later became the home of Marie Antoinette, and to this day it remains a treasure to the French people. The palace, furnishings, and gardens are among the most beautiful in the world.

Sandra A: Having visited Versailles, I can unequivocally state that it is a treasure to behold. The gardens are breathtaking, and I wouldn't mind being the queen who lived in the rooms that were gilded with gold.

Sandy N: Although I have been to France, I have never been to Paris. A visit to Versailles is near the top on my list of places to see.

Mount Rainier National Park
Paradise Area

MOUNT RAINIER, WASHINGTON

At 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is the fifth highest peak and tallest volcano in the contiguous United States. The Paradise area of the park (at 5,420 feet) receives an average of 680 inches of snowfall every year. That's nearly 57 feet! We've both experienced The Mountain (as Washingtonians call it), and two of our characters from I.O.U. SEX walk its hiking trails.

Sandy N: I live in the Pacific Northwest, and Mount Rainier is a vista I never tire of enjoying. During our rainy winters, it sometimes hides for weeks at a time, but when The Mountain is out, the majestic peak dominates the landscape.

Sandra A: On one of my visits to Washington State, Sandy and I drove to Paradise on Mount Rainier. I can certainly see how it earned its name!

We hope you've enjoyed visiting a few of our treasured places. As a thank you, we're giving away a free download of I.O.U. SEX from Smashwords. (Even if you don't own a Kindle, the book can be downloaded to your computer, iPad, Nook, etc.) Just post a comment below, giving the name of your treasured travel spot and include your email address (for notification in case you win). We'll put your name in the pot for the drawing on July 26.  

To continue your quest for treasure, check out the next blog. No telling what gems you will find here:

Sherry Gloag - The Heart of Romance

Here's more info about the Treasure Quest blog tour.

TOUR RULES:

1)  HAVE FUN!!!

2)  INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

3)  THIS TOUR STARTS:  Monday, July 18, at Midnight (Arizona Time)

      THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, July 25, at Midnight (Arizona Time)

      Winners will be drawn and posted July 26th! *** 

4)  MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW TREASURE AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5)  PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW EVERY AUTHOR SOME LOVE!

6)  DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN?  WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

***Authors have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of  win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***