I am typing this newsletter in Terminal 3 at the Alaska Airlines waiting area in Chicago's O'Hare Airport.  It is 3:30PM Central Time.... 12:30PM in Anchorage... and 10:30PM in Amsterdam, where I left this morning..... The time changes are telling me to rest, however, the memories of incredible experiences are flooding my mind and I am too excited to sleep.
 
In BNI and Ecademy, the philosophies of "Givers Gain" and "A Friend in Every City" are the hallmarks of their respective organizations.  For me, my 20 years of association with BNI and just over one year with Ecademy have led to many lasting relationships of empowerment, compassion, support and care.
 
Over the last 48 days, I have explored 11 countries.  I have done this by plane, motor coach, bullet train, ferry, car, subway (the underground tube) as well as walking.  I have traveled over 50,000 kilometers, (Sacrebleu!! I mean - over 30,000 miles:  thought I was still in Europe!!); and into the hearts and homes of my welcoming hosts and sponsors.  With a warm hug and much love, I graciously and humbly thank the following people who cared for me as I travelled.
 
Cornelis & Ingrid de Maijer - Hoogland, The Netherlands; Erwin de Laat - Mechlen, Belgium; Tina Jonasen - Copenhagen, Denmark; Liz Chukwu - London, England; Paul Clegg - Frome, Somerset, England; Marieme Jamme - Guilford, England; Freddy & Linda Daems - Mechlen, Belgium; Andreja Lahj - Ljubljana, Slovenija; Christophe & Beatrice Poizat - Mirepoix, France; Helder & Sofia Falcao - Trofa, Portugal; and Victor Marques - Douro Valley, Portugal.

European Trip Hosts

These folks hosted me during my 48 day, 11 country European tour. I am forever indebted and grateful for their open hearts and welcoming arms. Thank you.

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A very big Hug to each and every one of you.
 
The lessons learned on this extraordinary journey are already serving me well as I return to my loving wife Nancy and my wonderful home in Eagle River (Anchorage).  I may set a world record for a welcome home hug and kiss when I see her.....
 
This is the last installment of the visual Ice Chips for this trip.  Yes there will be more traveling and taking the message of Remember the Ice around the globe.... Stay tuned.
 
In these albums are some memories from my last country, Portugal.  What an extraordinary place, with exquisite beauty, history and culture.  I highly recommend you put this country on your "bucket list".  On Sunday June 7th, I arrived in Porto, Portugal by bus from Toulouse, France. From the smiles on the faces of the locals to the patriotic pride of the flags hanging from their balconies, the Portuguese are a passionate people. 

My dear friends Helder and Sofia Falcao hosted me in Porto and their home town of Trofa.  Helder and Sofia are National Directors for BNI Portugal, as well as BlackStars on Ecademy.  Our networking relationship fostered several meetings with BNI chapters and fellow Ecademy members.  Helder was a great translator for the "Remember the Ice" message.

Porto, Portugal

I spent an week in Portugal as the guest of Helder and Sofia Falcao. It was an extraordinary experience. Enjoy the views.

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We traveled to Lisboa, and did some BNI meetings and Toastmasters as well.  More opportunities to share "Remember the Ice".  Thank you Helder.  We also had the opportunity for a very nice meal at Dom Pepe just south of Lisboa.  The steak was excellent, and the Crepe Suzette was out of this world...... The process is in the album as well.  MMMMMMMMMMM..... delicious.  The owner, Jose joined our table for some great conversation and a very special bottle of 29 year old port wine.

The next morning, I awoke and noticed an exclusive automobile showroom just across the street from my hotel.  So I decided to investigate.  It was a Lamborghini.  Take a look at the price tag in the photos.

Lisboa & Douro Valley, Portugal

Helder and I traveled over 5000 KM in one week spreading the message of Remember the Ice throughout Portugal. What a trip!

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Then we visited Helder's parents at a wonderful spa in the city of Geres, in the northern part of Portugal.  Water is the focus, as it is the essence of life for each of us and the beautiful flowers and plants all around the spa.

Some of the best wines in the world come from the beautiful Douro Valley.  Victor Marques is a master of the process of making wine and carries on a family tradition.  He is a man with a huge heart and was a wonderful host.  Thank you Victor.

One of the many hillsides full of precious vines...

I lift my glass to each of my friends I met along the way.   You welcomed me into your home and your heart, and for that I am eternally grateful.  I look forward to seeing you in Alaska in the near future.

Thank you to all of you who have enjoyed this journey with me. 

Have a phenomenal week!

Best regards,

Bob

Remember the Ice is about helping you attract the life you want through empowering word choice. It is about asking you to shift the way you articulate your message by changing your word choice. It is a consistent process that you engage in and continue over and over and over..... Like the bee working on pollination. Keep pollinating your conversation with empowering word choice. The results will bloom with success, and attract more of what you want. 

In the nearby village of Camon, there is a Rose festival. The scent from the spectacular array of roses permeates the air.  It was a quiet drive to and walk around this quaint village.  Enjoy the album. 

Camon, France

Home of a world famous Rose Festival, this quaint village is like a slice of a time gone by.

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Later in the week, we hiked in the historic Roquefixade area. What a view at the top!! It felt like we were hiking to the moon!!!  The Poizat family: Beatrice, Nicolas, Julie and Christophe, were so hospitable, I felt like the member of the family. We went to the Col de Montsegur and climbed up the 200 plus meters of steep mountaintop and enjoyed the panoramic view.

Back in Mirepoix, I experienced one of the "Typical Marketplace Days" . When the market comes to the village......so do the people!! After a busy day hiking in the wondrous countryside, or working your way through "la petite crowd" at the market, it is only too obvious that one would enjoy two of France's most recognized exports!!......

Later in the week, we went to the world famous Chateau de Montsegur. There is a powerful history to this amazing structure, and I invite you to Google: Montsegur It is a breathtaking view.  Follow the trip up the steps, to the top; enjoy the view and then look over your shoulder to view what you have just accomplished.

Roquefixade and Montsegur, France

Visits to spectacular castle ruins and countryside. The veiws are amazing.

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Keep working on eradicating the "(k)notty words" and surprise yourself with your new view of empowering accomplishments in articulation... Okay, I know that this next picture is being repeated.....It is just the "norm" for me as I continue to experience new adventures. Thank you for joining me. Pinch me. Am I really living this dream journey? Oh yes I am.....and the Dagwood sandwich just continues to grow, more and more......

As you are finishing this visual Ice Chip, I am in Porto, Portugal with my good friend, Helder Falcao. He is the National Director of BNI Portugal and a fellow Ecademy BlackStar. I really appreciate his networking skills and look forward to sharing Remember the Ice with his BNI Director team.

Au revoir, à bientôt France. Merci Beaucoup!!

Next issue will hail from the beautiful Douro Valley and the beloved vineyard of Victor Marques. Have a phenomenal week!

Best regards,

Bob

Remember the Ice is about helping you attract the life you want through empowering word choice. It is about "helping you shift the way your articulate your message by changing your word choice.  At first it is challenging to ask you to eradicate the "(K)notty Words" that create the chaos in your life.  You have been used to doing this for a long time.  Removing the "(K)nots" is like asking you to speak a foreign language.

I  imagine it could be very similar to deciphering the following sign without knowing French.

Speaking a language you are unfamiliar with seems awkward at first.  In this case, the Re-Education process focuses on speaking, however in a new language.  The idea of reshaping the way you speak by removing the "(k)notty" words from your vocabulary is one that seems a bit intricate at first.  The Cognitive-Emotive Dissonance is something to embrace and look forward to; because it is in that intricate process of going through change, that we can experience the shift.

Look at the intricacy of this next photo.  The details show an insight to a hidden beauty and secret if you will.  There is a sense of order at the core.  I ask you to consider the sense of order in your core messages you verbalize and write.

Something to think about, and develop a strategy for personal implementation.

The journey is now in the third week of May, and heading through the winding road of the Austrian Alps after crossing Germany from Mechlen, Belgium.  We are on our way to Slovenija, and there are several pictures to share.  There are castles abundantly spread over the Austrian countryside.  They are magnificent pieces of wondrous engineering.  There are also numerous church steeples that catch your eye.  It was like "East meets West" when we considered the diversity of our traveling crew.  Ljubljana is a beautiful capital city.  The cafés are plentiful and utilized regularly.

RTI - Austria, Slovenija, Italy, France

In one day we travelled 1300km through Belgium, Germany, Austria and Slovenija. After the weekend, I travelled to France by car and "bullet train". Great trip!

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After a fabulous gourmet lunch "event" in the village of Zomene, Slovenija, we went to Trieste, Italy.  The sunset was amazing.  Then within 48 hours, I arrived in Narbonne, France.  My dear friend Christophe met me and we went to the walled castle in Carcassonne for a pizza and a beer.  After travelling by car, bus and train for 36 hours, I was grateful for that beer!  We then headed to Christophe's home village of Mirepoix.  The dominant structure is the St. Maurice Cathedral.The city centre was built up on stilts after the great flood of 1279.  The upper levels are the residences with the shops down below.  I have grown to really like this village after being here a week.

A beautiful night in Mirepoix, France

Pinch me.  Am I really living this dream journey?  Oh yes I am.....and the Dagwood sandwich just continues to grow.

One interesting side note. There appears to be no fuel price crunch in Mirepoix, as you can see below.

This village is looking better and better each day.....

There are two weeks left in this incredible journey and I enjoy sharing more with you..... Have a great week.

Best regards,

Bob

I am writing to you from the wonderful quaint French village of Mirepoix.  What a beautiful place to spend a week... The ambience is amazing.  My dear friend Christophe and his wonderful family are hosting me, and truly are sharing the Givers Gain philosophy.  This trip is infused with incredible experiences...it is like building the ultimate Dagwood Sandwich... (There is a blast from the past for you....) 

Again, with your permission and indulgence, this Ice Chip will be more about sharing some photographs of my journey rather than a tip.  However, the same comment from before holds steadfast:  one thing I hope you grasp from the images is the sense of friendship and connection and community and fun and respectful elegance and rapport that is universal.

I went to BNI meetings, spoke at them as well as the Network Connect '09 event in Brigwater.  In between appearances, I was able to see historical castles and amazing architecture that helped to define the character of the English countryside.  Nunney Castle in the west of England is a rare 14th Century French Castle.  The vintage Rolls Royce from the 1920's is owned by Paul's neighbor and he really enjoyed telling me about it.  A great memento from a time gone bye; he loves driving it.

And finally, I arrived in London and did get a glimpse of Big Ben.  The majority of the time was spent off the regular routes that most tourists might take, as I was welcomed into the homes of my hosts in England; Liz Chukwu, Paul Clegg and Marieme Jamme.  You are precious people with huge hearts and open arms..... Thank you so much...

Enjoy the gallery for this Ice Chip...

RTI - English Countryside

Photos from the English countryside, with my host and fellow BNI director and Ecademy BlackStar - Paul Clegg

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This was taken crossing the Waterloo Bridge, on my way to an Ecademy BlackStar Day meeting at the Strand Palace Hotel.  The event was as magnificent as the grandeur of the sights.  Thank you my fellow Ecademy BlackStars, and a special thank you to Penny and Thomas Power for your vision.

The next segment will come a bit quicker if you will indulge me once again.  In 3 weeks I have been graced with 9 countries and so many memories, I am overflowing.  I have been back to Belgium; through Germany again; and traversed Austria on the way to Ljubljana, Slovenja; and now I am in Mirepoix, France (enjoying a freshly prepared Panini....the aroma is delightful).

Here is a picture that represents the friendships that have been built and will continue to be nourished and nurtured.  Even if we perceive a gap or rift in life......Remember, we can build a bridge.....

Thank you for sharing my journey and I am honored to be developing relationships with all of you.  Enjoy your moment, and I look forward to sharing more with you..... 

Have a great week.

Best regards,

Bob

With your indulgence, this Ice Chip will be more about sharing some photographs of my journey rather than a tip.  However, one thing I hope you grasp from the images is the sense of friendship and connection and community and fun and respectful elegance and rapport that is universal.

RTI - The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark

Photos from Hoogland and Spakenburg, the Netherlands; Mechelen, Belgium; Autobahn in Germany; Tivoli Garden Tulips, Copenhagen, Denmark;

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I have had the pleasure of seeing The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and England...(Pictures of the English Countryside in the next installment). 

I am living out the story that Penny and Thomas Power created with Ecademy.....

A Friend in Every City.  I am heading back into London tonight to catch an early train to Brussels; then on to Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mirepoix, France; Stuttgart, Germany; Cordoba, Spain: and the world famous Douro Valley in Portugal, home to the finest vineyards of Victor Marques and his family---some of the best Port wine in the world.  There are still more than three weeks to this networking odyssey, before returning home to Anchorage and my precious wife, Nancy.... (miss you so much sweetheart, xx)

My relationships with both BNI and Ecademy.com have welcomed me with open arms.  There is no question:  It is all about the relationship. 

Have a great week.

Best regards,

Bob