"What was your best vacation ever?"
(asked at the Bellevue Regional Library on 05-28-97; published in the EJ on 06-01-97)

Ed Messerly, Software trainer, Seattle


"Caving in Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico. It was 100 degrees outside and very cool inside. And it was like a movie set -- totally flat outside, then you go down a ramp and around, and then suddenly there are bats hanging there and pools and the colors depend on the minerals. It was like Disneyland, only bigger!"

Lisa Scott, Administrative assistant, Kenmore


"Jamaica. It was wonderful. My dream vacation. I didn't have to do anything but lay in the sun. All you do is put on your bathing suit, walk out the door, and lay on the beach. I'd always wanted to go -- and I will go back. Great music, great food."

Hugo Oswald, Retired attorney, Mercer Island


"Going around the world while on a sabbatical. Our youngest son was attending school in London... If we travelled via London, we could continue around the world, which we did... The beach at Phuket in Thailand was very nice. It was an easy beach -- sandy, congenial people. And, of course, sun."

Sadia Shuja, Housewife and daycare owner, Redmond


"When I went back to Pakistan three years ago. I visited my mom, my relatives. I hadn't been home to Pakistan for seven years. I stayed four months... The big problem going back again is the cost -- about $5,000 for plane tickets just for my family."

Liz Beazizo, Children's librarian, Kirkland


"Probably going to Disneyland when I was 10 with my family -- and eating two boxes of See's Candies in the car so they wouldn't melt. The western-style mine was the best. But you didn't have seatbelts and I was afraid I was going to fall out! ... Or Wallowa Lake in Oregon... I got to ride in the bumper cars even though I was too young."

Jason Luke, Video store clerk, Bellevue


"When I went to Japan last year. Totally new culture. Never been there before. There for a week and a half. I'd like to go back. And the cities themselves -- they're huge, tremendous! Tokyo's insane. A lot of people."

© 1997 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

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