Journey #21452

FFNEO Hosting Journey Coordinator
Amy Kostka

9/17 to 9/23/21

COVID may have postponed this journey for a year, but we did it!!

I give my most sincere thanks to the organizing committee for their hard work and to our members who gave NE Ohio-style hospitality to eleven Huntsville Area Ambassadors by being home hosts, dinner hosts, day hosts, drivers and companions during this busy week.

From Amy and Bill Kostka, many-times home hosts –
Bill and I were able to spend more time with our friends from Huntsville, Marilyn and Bill. We had a fun time seeing them again after Bill and I traveled to Huntsville in 2019 for a global journey to celebrate 50 years of the moon launch and stayed at Bill’s lovely farm. We were thrilled to be able to reciprocate his hospitality by hosting him and Marilyn in our home. As Marilyn said, “I only wished you lived closer so we could see you more often.” We agree!

From Lynn and Jerry Tindall, first-time home hosts –
We joined FFNEO in the fall of 2019 and signed up to home host a couple from New Zealand in May 2020. We all know what COVID-19 did to those plans. When a second opportunity to home host a couple from the Huntsville Area FF presented, we immediately volunteered. From the planned activities beginning with the Welcome Dinner on our first full day to the Farewell Potluck dinner, we became acquainted with the 9 other Huntsville Ambassadors and formed what we believe will be lasting friendships. In a word, we found home hosting a FABULOUS way to meet new friends!

Here are just a FEW of the highlights of things that we saw and did…

Saturday, 9/18 – Riding the Euclid Beach Carousel at the Western Reserve Historical Society in University Circle	Sunday, 9/19 – It was a gorgeous day for our Nautica Queen Brunch Cruise along Cleveland’s lake shore	Monday, 9/20 – Ambassadors and Hosts inside the Old Arcade during the guided walking tour along downtown Cleveland’s Euclid Avenue
Monday, 9/20 – A tour with comedy narration of Cleveland’s downtown and surrounding neighborhoods	Monday, 9/20 – Ambassadors and Hosts enjoying the beautiful Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo	Monday, 9/20 – Night illuminations of the Asian Lantern Festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Tuesday, 9/21 – ‘Feeling the beat’ at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum at North Coast Harbor	Wednesday, 9/22 – At the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, the 10′ x 256′ long cyclorama by artist Heinz Gaugel depicting the history of Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite peoples	Wednesday, 9/22 – It was rainy and cool but no one cared! Dave and Mary welcomed us to their home for our Farewell Potluck. It was wonderful to hear how much the Ambassadors enjoyed their time with us in NE Ohio.