How intrepid of a traveler are you? Does the thought of body scanners give you pause? Recently, I read about the security measures being considered in the light of the latest terrorist attack. I can’t say that I am pleased at the idea of installing body scanners. I already feel irritated at taking off my shoes, my belt, jewelry, jackets, and all. The other day I commented in jest that the only people traveling would be nudists. Ha, ha. Now it feels like it may be a reality. When will the invasion of my person stop? When I stop flying altogether?
I’m too much of a traveler for that. I resent the idea that traveling, one of my single most pleasures, might be taken away from me as well. But to simply grin and bear more breaches of my civil rights makes me grit my teeth, too. It’s a dilemma. When I turn to commiserate with fellow travelers, I experience their ambivalence. Though annoyed, they are scared into thinking the personal searches are helping. They see them as necessary, and are even hopeful that because of them they are safer than ever. Add that to the tense atmosphere that any protest or complaint will be misconstrued as a threat, and you have a compliant group of individuals, moving along like cattle moving down the chute.
I thought it was odd years ago when I first saw a sign at the security line suggesting that humor or joking was not allowed. Our first reaction to the ridiculous notion that we were terrorists was to joke about it. Apparently, all those jokes about concealed bombs in wooden legs, and faulty pacemakers were just not funny. In place of that reaction, we now have fear. First, they take away our good humor, then our belongings, and now, we are on the verge of having our dignity disappear.
The TSA has listed 14 destinations for which full body scanners are being considered. Maybe I just won’t fly to any of them. That way, I can keep my shirt on.
Tags: body scanners, civil rights, dignity, fear, safety, security, terrorist
Two short days gives you a glimpse of Mardi Gras. So, for anyone who is a Mardi Gras aficionado, our observations will fall short. However, acknowledging that it’s a just a glimpse might help. This is what we saw:
- Hotel lobbies filled with happy people coming and going
- Streets lined with men, women and children of all ages, sizes, colors, and nationalities
- Fast food vendors boasting hot dogs, bbq, cotton candy, sodas, beer and more along the parade route
- Parades three times a day with colorful floats, high school and community marching bands, and drill teams
- Beads everywhere: Layers of them on men, women and children, and thrown from every float and car
- Brilliant colors adorning nearly everyone: from the beads they wore, to full masks and headdresses
- A grand feeling of festivity and friendliness
- Acts of kindness: people everywhere catching and retrieving tossed beads and sharing them with children, friends, strangers
- Friendly policemen maintaining the barricades every 50 yards or so, even, when requested, handing beads fallen by the way to the crowd
- A family friendly celebration: strollers, children riding their dad’s shoulders, sleeping babies, young lovers, big families
People we talked to later asked about obscenity, a feeling of fear or harm, or threat. We saw none of that. Perhaps, if that’s your scene, you can find a rough and raucous element. But the day’s and evening’s events we witnessed were of a happy, friendly, and lively mood.
I’d go back to Mardi Gras in a minute. The beads alone are a huge part of the fun. And next time I’ll wear a mask.
Tags: beads, celebration, floats, Mardi Gras, parades
The weather here has been 19 below in the mornings nearly all week. Yesterday I was out on my enclosed/attached porch and I reached over to touch the window and discovered the ice was on the inside as well as the outside. It’s January in Wyoming: the month I always try to leave town.
When I lived in California, in my past life, I never gave much thought to when to travel. When you could get off, or the kids were out of school were the two elements of travel planning. But now I know better. Now I think about where I’d like to be when….. Then I fill in the blanks with phrases like: when the snowplow drivers are your best friends, or when the mosquitoes are your worst enemies.
I’ve only lived in Wyoming 3 years, so I only learned this lesson recently. January 2008 taught it to me. I was sitting pleasantly in my living room in November of 2007 when the phone rang and a woman selling cruise trips convinced me that the cruise she had to offer was a great deal. Since I love a good deal, I said yes. The only consideration I gave to the scheduling of the cruise was that it would be after Christmas.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the cruise I booked was departing from New Orleans smack dab in the middle of the Mardi Gras festival. It was Serendipity, plain and simple. I had always wanted to go to Mardi Gras, but it was never on the way to where I was headed. (The usual approach to our travel: is it on the way to Grandma’s house?) Besides, Louisiana is a long way from California, and, now, Montana, our closest airport. Suddenly it was on the way.
You might wonder why I didn’t know this. I did, after all, select the cruise dates. The thing about Mardi Gras is that the festival dates change every year. The celebration is tied to Twelfth Night (the feast of Epiphany) and the Spring Equinox, which is a seasonal thing. In 2008 it was earlier than it’s been in a long time. It’s not like the 4th of July. Just as you need a calendar to tell you when Easter is going to be this year, you need to find Ash Wednesday to find Fat Tuesday. Add to that the fact that Mardi Gras covers several weeks, with Fat Tuesday somewhere in the middle, and, unless you are a native, or a big follower of all things Mardi Gras, you may be just as clueless as I was.
We booked a hotel in New Orleans for one day before the cruise’s departure, and for one day after its return. It wasn’t enough, but it was as much time as we could spare, especially given the fact that we stumbled upon it. I tell you, it was Serendipity. Mardi Gras and the Caribbean! How much better can it get than that!
Tags: Caribbean, cruise, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, travel
My husband was never a traveler. He, like many others, felt some anxiety at the thought of leaving the country. Understandably, there are many areas for concern. Safety is certainly one. Transportation might be cause for concern. Dietary needs or preferences may be important, even critical. Language might be a barrier. Packing and unpacking and moving from hotel to hotel might even be considered to be a minus. Add fear of the unknown and you have a reluctant traveler. Or you may have no traveler at all. You may be going solo. 
The one week trip we took to La Paz, Mexico was a test drive. That trip went so well, that soon after he was ready to stick his big toe in a bigger pond and test the waters with a cruise. What do I mean by this rather clumsy analogy? Have you ever stood at the edge of a pool, a pond, or a lake. I swim 3 times a week at the local pool, and though I know the average daily temperature of the water, I still dip my toe in every time before I climb in. My fellow swimmers, even the divers, do the same. It’s called testing the waters. We all want some idea of what to expect before we take the plunge.
A cruise will allow you to do the same; to test the water. Try a country out. See if you want to spend more time there. For very little cost, you can have a kind of buffet of travel. Are you looking for more or less developed travel destinations? Is shopping your goal, or participation in rugged outdoor sports? For the timid amongst us, we can step out of our safety zone and visit places we might not otherwise consider. Tour guides are readily available.
We visited Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico. We did a little bit of shopping, some snorkeling, a short tour, and an easy jungle hike and swim in the falls. We spent a quiet morning on an island beach, and an afternoon at a local market. It was not enough, but it was a peek. And guess who’s ready to go exploring now? Yup, my hubby. We tested the waters, and now we’re ready to dive in. 
Tags: beach, cruise, destination, exploring, hike, market, outdoor sports, shopping, snorkeling, tour guides
Tired of planning?
Need a rest?
Or, just a getaway?
Is it cold outside?
If you answered yes to the questions above, it might be time for a cruise. I know you just had a holiday celebration, but now you might need a rest. A cruise is a great place to get one.
First, let’s look at planning. You don’t really have to do any. The cruise line has it all planned out. Do what’s on their daily list, or don’t do any of it. It’s completely up to you how much participation you muster.
How do I know? In January 2008, I took my first Mediterranean cruise. It lasted one week, but I could have used two. I left my home, where it was 10 below, and all talk of snow and blizzards behind. I needed the rest after several family holiday interactions, and I needed the getaway from the real world. The cruise dynamic was perfect. Warm, rested, protected, entertained, my husband and I discovered how easy cruising is, and so much more. You should try it!
Tags: casino, cold, cruise, disco, getaway, jogging, Mediterranean, revues, snorkeling, spa treatment, swimming, tour, walking
Ken is the fellow I mentioned previously with the list in his wallet. (See Planning to Travel?) I worked with him for 10 years and he shared his travel insights with me. Here are just five of his recommendations.
If you can avoid traveling between school’s end (mid June) and school’s start (early September) you will find it is much easier to see the sights. The lines are shorter. The attractions have far fewer people visiting them. The hotel rates are generally lower. Even the weather is generally better, though that has nothing to do with summer vacation. He took his vacations in September and May.
If you are taking a tour, plan to arrive a day or two early, and/or stay a day or two after the tour is over. If you go early you will have time to acclimate and start your tour rested and oriented to the area and the time change. If you can stay after as well, you will have time to recover from the fast paced, whirlwind schedule of a tour. Tour companies often pack in the sights and cities to give you a lot for the price. There may be places you’d like to revisit, or nearby cities not included in the tour. You’ve come so far, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump to see them as well.
Speaking of tours, shop around for the right tour. Too many destinations might tire you, too few might not be stimulating enough. Study the schedule carefully. Do you like getting an early start? A quick view or in-depth study? Tours have their pluses and minuses. Are you traveling alone? A tour provides companionship. Are you nervous about traveling? A tour provides a sense of safety. Would you rather self-tour? Or perhaps combine the two, purchasing a day tour upon arrival? You know yourself best.
Talk to people. Walk the town or neighborhoods you have come to see. 
Visit with the merchants, the cafe owners, the servers. He loved meeting people, and took the time to have a cup of coffee and simply visit. The charm of travel is the cultural exchange.
If you are alone, think about trying out different traveling companions. A friend, a brother or sister, a niece, nephew, or even a grandchild might be available and love the idea of a journey. Ken tailored their trips to their needs.
There’s more, I am sure. I’ll keep you posted as I think of more. Good luck, and have fun traveling.
Tags: cultural exchange, destinations, hotel rates, journey, sights, tours, travel tips, vacations
What kind of traveler are you? Do you plan to travel? How detailed are your plans? Do you have a list? Do you have a time period in mind? A destination?
I knew a man who kept a list inside his wallet. On it were the names of all of the countries he wanted to visit before he died. During the last 12 years of his life he visited two or three of them, came home, and crossed them off the list. In June of 2009 he completed a trip to Japan with his grandson. The next day he died. He was 82 years old.
My sister is a great trip planner. I think she enjoys the planning nearly as much as the trip itself. By the time she takes the trip she has compiled a binder full of information: trip brochures, maps, timetables, sightseeing information, etc. She has planned trips anywhere from 1 to 2 years in advance.
Sometimes we can only plan ahead. Our jobs limit us. Vacation time must be scheduled. Children’s school schedules must be taken into account. Celebrations or annual events occur on specific days. High tourist traffic is also a factor.
When our children were young, most of our travel involved camping. Yosemite was high on our list as a destination. Making reservations for a week in Yosemite was difficult if not nearly impossible. Reservations could be made a maximum of 6 months in advance. I discovered that if I did not pinpoint the exact date of the vacation and compute the exact date 6 months prior to it, and stand in line at the Ticketmaster office, I would not get a camping spot. Now I imagine I could do it online in my living room in my pajamas.
I fantasize sometimes about being a last-minute traveler. What would that look like? What kinds of deals could be had? I once heard a talk show host tell of how upon taking her friends to the airport she grew envious of their travel. She thought for a bit about where she wanted to go and bought a ticket. She had no luggage. She said she bought clothes when she arrived, at the markets and tourist shops. Now that’s spontaneous.
What kind of traveler are you? Share your great stories and tips.
Last year we had the bright idea to have a great big family Christmas celebration in Georgia. Fine for my son and his family, since they live in Bethlehem. Fitting, in fact. But somewhat of a trek for the rest of us. Also, fitting. Unlike the shepherds and the Wise Men, we flew to Bethlehem, leaving our homes in California, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona.
Next to scheduling and making airplane reservations, getting to and from the airport is probably the hardest part of the travel puzzle. Luckily, Atlanta has a great metro train, with a stop right at the airport. My husband and I took advantage of that mode of transportation, descending the stairs and buying a ticket, pulling our luggage along behind us. One of our sons rented a car. That’s always convenient. Another chauffeured the remaining travelers to and from the airport at all hours of the day or night.
It was wet that week. It rained a part of every day. Or at least that’s how I remember it. The humidity of Georgia is a huge contrast to the climates we left behind. Even Wyoming, though colder, and snowier, has a drier climate. But, really, what did we care? We were all housed in a comfortable three-story home, warm and dry, and full of holiday cheer.
Our site seeing consisted of last minute Christmas shopping trips, a visit to an historic train museum, attendance at a local nativity presentation complete with youngsters and live animals, and an unforgettable tour of the creamery. The tastiest and funniest of our treks was the creamery tour. Tasty because we received a free ice cream cone at the conclusion, and funny because we all had to wear hair nets, even the babies. The bearded and mustachioed men wore them on their faces as well. We looked like surgeons on holiday, minus the gloves.
There were gifts from Santa for the small children, and presents from parents and grandma and grandpa for them. For ourselves, our greatest gift was being together, schmaltzy as it sounds. The reality was we spent our Christmas budgets and more to be together, and that had to be enough. A few enterprising souls, i.e., the women of the tribe, crafted small tokens while the men looked on, puzzled that they had fashioned gifts at all. Pa rum pa pa pum….me and my drum.
Tags: airport, Atlanta, Christmas, flight, Georgia, gifts, metro, reservations, Santa, shopping, travel
(written 12/22/09)
I’m traveling today, driving from California to Utah to spend Christmas with my daughter. I’ve driven this route many times. The road holds ghost images of those trips, each slightly different. My grandmother lived in Springville, Utah, so we drove to Utah every summer. I recall being in one of those cars you see off to the side of the road, the hood raised, steam escaping from the radiator, kids in the back seat. On one trip with my mother, tired, she pulled off on the shoulder of the road, and climbed in the back to sleep. We rolled the windows down and I sat and read picture books and colored while she slept. I was 4 years old.
Once we rented a motel room in Las Vegas just long enough to get a nap and a swim and wait out the hottest part of the day in the desert before continuing. Often we left home as early as 4 a.m., still in our pjs, to try to beat the heat of the desert crossing.
There was a time when you drove right down the strip on your way through Las Vegas, soaking in the neon lights if you were lucky enough to get there after dark—usually on the return trip for us. But today you can drive right through Las Vegas and never even see the strip—the freeways bypass all of that, and for good reason, too. The place is gigantic now, and the traffic enormous.
Sometimes when I am driving out amidst the sage brush and the sand and the interminable line of telephone poles, I try to spot the place where my car broke down one late night, long after dark. Five college friends and I came to a sudden halt out in the tumbleweeds, 30 minutes north of the city’s outskirts. Lucky for us there was a primitive rest area and a phone booth. But not a Yellow Pages. An operator responded when I dialed O and I told her we needed a tow truck.
“What garage?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” I answered, explaining our circumstances.
“I need the name of a garage or service station,” she replied, apparently not registering the fact that we were in the dark, unfamiliar with local services, and without access to such information.
We went round and round on that question. Then finally, when my voice began to crack, and tears began to run down my face, she looked up the name and number of a tow-truck service. That was a long and dismal night. Once towed back to the strip, the six of us waited in an all night diner for a garage and a bank to open; the garage to repair the car, the bank to fund those repairs.
That wouldn’t happen today. Someone would have a cell phone with internet access, and a credit card for such emergencies. Traveling today is much more civilized and pleasant. I even have a GPS to tell me where the freeway is, and the closest restaurant and gas station. Boy, I sure could have used that information.
