Southwest AirTran Merger

Curious what this merger could mean for travellers? I'll sum it up for you really quickly. The bottom line is more routes, which will lead to fewer cancellations and delays. Southwest will now fly out of an additional 37 cities, including newly acquired Atlanta and new routes to Mexico and the Caribbean. Also, these routes will all fall in line with Southwest's policy of no baggage fees. However, fares to larger cities, specifically hubs in the Northeast, will probably increase in price. And the discount flights currently offered by Southwest and AirTran may be no more due to the decrease in competition.

If you want to read the entire story, click here. - Link no longer available.

Traveling Food

Shine, from Yahoo, has created for us today a list of the Top Ten Food Trucks in the US.

Looks like there's a meal for everyone just rolling around out there, including vegan friendly meals from the Cinnamon Snail. I don't know about their name, but the vegan S'mores doughnut looks to die for. And maybe while I'm in DC I'll come across Fojol Bros. of Merlindia, serving up their authentic Indian food. I'm pretty sure Melissa would spend some time tracking down The Frysmith of LA, who uses french fries as a basis for his meals.

So if you can't make it out to a restaurant for lunch, just wait and see what comes rolling down the street.

High Style Camping

Yahoo Travel has put together a list of places you can Sleep Under the Stars. But this is nothing like camping. With prices ranging from $120 to $3,500 a  night you're getting more than a sleeping bag.
In Kenya you can stay at Loisaba Wilderness Lodge and sleep on a bed 10 feet off the ground and built on an old Land Rover axle. The Lion Sands Private Game Reserve in South Africa allows you to sleep in a posh tree house where you're likely to hear a lion roaring during the night. And if you'd rather spend your night out on a deck surrounded by kangaroos, kookaburras, and dingoes head off to Blue Mountains Private Safaris in the Blue Mountains National Park of Australia.

And should you travel to any of these amazing places, pray for sunshine and clear nights!

Top Ten Castle Hotels

Who doesn't want to spend the night in a castle (on a side note...Melissa, stop laughing...it's just a CASTLE). Yahoo Travel has put together a list of the Top Ten Castle Hotels from around the world.

If your passport is a little rusty don't worry, just head up to New York and stay at the Castle on the Hudson. Although this castle never housed a royal family, it is full of rich history and contains much of the original interior and woodwork from its construction between 1897 and 1910. If you were to book a room for tonight, you'd be looking at prices from $195-$595 a night.

The castle that caught my attention the most is the Taj Lake Palace in India. It floats. In the middle of Taj Lake. And it's all yours for 18,000 Indian Rupees, or a surprisingly low $395.00 a night. The hotel floats, it's gonna cost a little. I wonder if that price includes transportation from land to the hotel. Maybe you have to swim. Pack light.

Be sure to check out the other castles picked by Yahoo Travel too!

Seattle, Washington

Today's feature city is Seattle, Washington. I haven't ever been to Seattle, or Washington, but I have some family and friends out there so I'm hoping someday soon. It's always nice to travel somewhere to see someone you know, and it certainly helps you make sure you see the "must sees" of the city. But you should still have a good idea of what is important for you to see and what you wouldn't mind skipping. Great Aunt Mildred might want to spend half a day at the Museum of Knitting History (does that exist somewhere?) but maybe you have better ideas of how to spend your vacation.

The Space Needle is an obvious must. It's what sets this city sky line immediately apart from others. While you're at the Needle do some shopping at the all in one gift shop and grab dinner at Sky City, a restaurant at the top of the building that spins a full 360 degrees as  you dine. And if you just can't make it out to Seattle this weekend, watch the sky line from one of their four webcams.

Pacific Science Center. is sure to offer a day of fun and learning. Just a quick peek at their home page will make you want to visit and play around. With permanent exhibits on dinosaurs, the human body, animals, and technology (among several others) you're sure to be able to spend a day. Featured exhibits rotate, so be sure to see what's coming or currently on display. For the next few months visit the Harry Potter Exhibit or Mindbender Mansion. And before you leave catch a show at their IMAX theater.

Experience Music Project Science Fiction Museum. It's a mouthful, and it's a new one on me. A museum of music and science fiction with permanent exhibits on subjects from guitars to space travel, and a current featured exhibit on music legend Jimi Hendrix. This museum even boasts a Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

Woodland Park Zoo. I'm always up for a trip to the zoo while on vacation. With 15 exhibit zones you're sure to see something wild!

The Underground Tour sounds like something truly amazing. This tour takes you on a guided trip under Seattle's streets and sidewalks, where the original streets and storefronts of Seattle are now located. Learn the history and take a peek at the renovated subterranean city.

Last but not least it seems customary to Ride the Ducks. It's the only way to tour Seattle from land and the water!

I'll leave finding the restaurants to you, but I hope some people who live in or have visited Seattle can leave some comments about their favorite things to do and places to eat.

And here's some helpful advice from my cousin who lives in Seattle.

When I saw that pop up I got mad for a minute thinking you had been here and never called me! I'm so glad Seattle is on your list of places to visit. It is gorgeous and I know you would love it! Ride the Duck is definitely a must do! The tour is fun, but the drivers make it an experience. As well as the Zoo, you need to go to the Aquarium as well and if time allows the Pt. Defiance Zoo in Tacoma (about 45mins) and the Cougar Mountain Zoo...with more exotic animals (close to my house).

A MUST DO is a ride on the ferry to Bainbridge and visit the wineries and tour the quaint town of Poulsbo. That is my very favorite thing to do.
Also a walk along Alki Beach is a way to see Seattle from the water side and a beautiful place to have a picnic.

Sooooo much to do and see. And if you come..you have a place to stay and a tour guide to boot!!

Now food... http://tomdouglas.com/index.php/restaurants/serious-pie Serious Pie is a fun, intimate place for some gourmet pizza, you have to have at least lunch at Ivar's - fast food seafood but an icon in Seattle.http://www.ivars.com/
Of course you HAVE to go to the original Starbuck's at Pike Place Market. OH! And Top Pot Doughnuts!! http://www.toppotdoughnuts.com/ YUM!! There are hundreds of wonderful places to eat. 

Wanna Shop Through Other People's Luggage?

Well you can at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, AL. This store holds exclusive contracts with all major US airlines that allows it to buy lost luggage still unclaimed after 90 days. Then you get to come in and buy it at discounted prices. Need an $18,000 Swiss Watch? It's yours for $9,000. Some unlucky bride didn't get her wedding gown back after that location wedding in the tropics, but now you can have it for half the price.

Check out the full story at Yahoo Travel or visit http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/ to see what deals you can find! If you visit the store's site, make sure you "Unpack the Bag" to see some of the more interesting items they've found in lost luggage,and then you can tour the store.

And if you want to avoid having your valuables sold to the public because you lost them during a flight, check out Unclaimed Baggage Center's Luggage Travel Tips.

Feature City: Charlotte, NC

Starting a new line of blogs on this blog...Feature Cities. There will be no particular reason these cities are featured (most likely) and I may or may not have been there. But this way we get a little flavor to the blog beyond where I, or Melissa, have been. Hope you can find something interesting, someplace you know, or someplace you want to go.

Charlotte, NC

I'm starting the blog with a city close to home. I visit this city a lot for shopping, concerts, and sometimes just dining out.

My tops pics of what to do are:

Carowinds - An amusement park located half in North Carolina and half in South Carolina.

Discovery Place - A science center for kids and big kids alike, also featuring an IMAX.

Mint Museum - Not money, but art, of all sorts.

Concord Mills - Part of the great Simon Malls chain, where you can shop til you drop.

Charlotte Motor Speedway - Catch a race at the main track or the zMax Dragway.

NASCAR Hall of Fame - New in 2010!

Top places for nightlife/shows:

NC Music Factory - Fantastic place for live shows from the hottest names in music (Road Runner Mobile Ampitheater, The Fillmore), weekend dance parties (Halo), a bite to eat (Wet Willie's, Mattie's Diner), or to catch the game (Black Bear Saloon).

The Alley Cat - A great little bar with live music or DJs.

Coyote Joe's - Great place to catch some of today's hottest country stars, or just have a drink and do some dancing.


More more ideas and information check out this site.

So True.

This little picture in a local restaurant made me smile.

And it's so true! Just in case you can't make out what it says, it's "How great would live be if we lived a little everyday."

Top Ten Foliage Spots

Top ten places to see amazing fall foliage.

NC makes another list!! Ten amazing places to see the beautiful colors of fall, ten (technically eleven) amazing states. I'm ready for sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin pie!

Myrtle Beach, SC

I truly love Myrtle Beach. I not only enjoy the ocean, but I love all the different kinds of attractions MB has to offer. Kasey and I decided try parasailing at Ocean Watersports. After we paid, we put on life jackets and waited to be put in a group. A banana boat takes you to the parasail boat. The ride on the banana boat is an experience in itself. It's fast and sometimes bumpy! Hold on tight! When you reach the parasail boat, the fun begins. You are attached to a harness and you feel like you're sitting on a swing. Kasey and I got strapped in and the workers told us to relax and have fun. As soon as the boat starts going again, you start flying up. Words can't possibly describe the feeling of parasailing! It's so amazing. It's like flying. The water below you is beautiful. Word of warning, the workers like to "dump" you in the water! They'll lower you down until you touch the water and then put you back up. They take your pictures as well. You can order them later if you want to. When every one's ride is over, you take the banana boat back to shore. I highly suggest parasailing. It's one of my favorite things to do.

Kasey and I are always looking for new things to try. We've both been horseback riding in TN, and Kasey found a place where you can horseback ride on the beach. We went in Nov., so it wasn't as hot as it would have been in the summer. You don't have to be a trained rider to ride these horses. Trust me, I'm pretty terrified at first when I get on a horse. I've only been horseback riding twice. The horses know exactly where to go and you're never alone. The guides are always there riding with you. We rode the horses for an hour, I believe. I loved it! It's such an incredible experience. You're able to watch the waves crash into the shore. It's an experience that I'll never forget.

Do you like to shop? I have four words: Broadway at the Beach! According to one trip advisor Broadway is the number one attraction in Myrtle Beach. There's more than just shopping there. You have restaurants, an IMAX 3-D Theatre, Ripley's Aquarium, and night clubs. I've also learned there's a zipline and ropes course, Soar and Explore, and a Wonderworks that's being added in 2011. Broadway also has fair rides that you can enjoy at The Pavilion Nostalgia Park. You can spend quite a bit of time there. If you like the band KISS, there's a coffee shop dedicated them. There's also a ton of restaurants. I'm ready to back! Now would be great!

There's also a House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. It's a neat restaurant and it's also a concert venue. So, if you're in the area check and see what bands might be playing. If you go on Sunday morning, they have Gospel Brunch. You could also check out their Murder Mystery Dinner Theater.
There's so much to do in Myrtle Beach. You can easily spend a week or just a few days. No matter how much time you have, you'll always find something fun to do! Until the next time! Happy traveling!

PS - Other popular MB attractions include Alligator Adventure, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park, Dixie Stampede, and the NASCAR Speed Park. Located in North Myrtle, check out Barefoot Landing for lots more shopping, dining, and entertainment. And if you're looking for someplace quiet and quaint to spend the day head on over to Murrells Inlet.

Worth Paying Less to Fly?

I'm not sure this would be a better way to fly, even if it did cost less than coach. Check out the new super small seats being unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas next week. This new seat is being likened to a horse saddle. Although not intended for flights much longer than three hours, I don't think I would be comfortable much beyond three minutes.

So who thinks it's just a way for airlines to make more money? Smaller seats, more seats per flight, and perhaps not paying that much less to feel like you're riding a horse to your destination? Pass.

24 Hour Hot Spots Across America

24 Hot Spots Across the Country (yahoo)

If you are an insomniac yahoo is here to help. Here's a list of a few stores, restaurants and businesses across the country open 24/7. None in NC this time. Guess we need our beauty sleep.

Italy and Switzerland Travel Tips

Italy

1. Money: The exchange really isn't too difficult. A Euro equals about $1.33. You can either round down to $1.25 or up to $1.50 to quickly figure out about what you're spending. Most things that you buy will cost about the same as they do in the US. The one major difference to that that I found was beverage. Over $4.00 for a glass of Coke, and no free refills. Be prepared to carry around a bunch of coins. You will have to convert your money. If you try to hand someone a US dollar they're going to look at you like you're paying with rocks. You can change money at the airport, train stations, and there are usually currency "vendors" in the middle of town. The ATMs, for a fee, will also take an American debit card and dispense Euros. You will also incur a fee if you use your debit or credit card for purchases, but they are accepted.

2. Language: You will run into a lot of people who speak English, but not nearly as often as you might think. Some waiters will grasp enough English for you to order, but that may be it. Tour guides are well versed in English, but people working ticket counters, small stores, and perhaps even at your hotel may not be. Our biggest issue with language barriers occurred in train stations. Figuring out where you want to go and where you need to be while purchasing a ticket and finding the correct platform can be difficult when there's no one you can ask. However, don't underestimate how far hand signals can get you. And never be afraid to ask someone if they speak English and if they can help you. Extra tip - ask people who don't look like they work wherever you are. The local people on the street are friendly and often speak English (of course use your own judgement on who to ask and how much about your plans to share).

3. Food and Drink: Not a single restaurant I went to in Italy offered free refills (other than THC), so if you're really thirsty, get water. Tipping your waiter/waitress is not a common practice. However, when you receive your bill you will notice a "sitting fee" added that is usually around 4 Euros. This covers the tip, the bread you are served, and any complimentary drinks you may receive (we did in fact receive complimentary wine in Rome).

4. Transportation: If you are traveling between cities trains are definitely the way to go. Very cheap, and fast. Try Rail Europe. Make sure you arrive at the station at least 45 minutes before your train is scheduled to leave. You might have a difficult time finding the platform if the station is very large. Cabs are also an easy way to get around and cost about as much as they do in the US. A cab driver can give you an estimated cost to where you want to go before you get in. The subway system in Rome is very simple, gets you most anywhere you need to go (or within easy walking distance) and a day pass is cheap.

5. Hotels: Hotels in Italy are very small. The bathrooms are even smaller. Showers can be smaller than the average US standing shower. Also, beside the toilet will be the bidet. Don't get them confused. And no, it is not a sink. Many hotels will give you an actual key instead of a swipe card (loved the quaintness of that detail) and some hotels may require you to leave the key at the front counter before leaving for the day. Hotel elevators (called lifts) are very small. Usually only large enough for two people, without too much luggage. And don't be surprised if your hotel doesn't even have an elevator and get ready to hike a few floors. The beds are small and close together and yes, that thing that looks like a vacuum hose in the bathroom is your hairdryer. Although no formal concierge, the person at the front counter can help you find your way or help you book a tour.

*Also, some areas of the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica are off limits for a woman if you do not have your shoulders and knees covered. A scarf or shawl over your shoulders is sufficient.

Switzerland

Pretty much all of the same things. But a few extras/differences:

1. Our hotel room was normal size, the bathroom too.

2. Things seem to cost much more in Switzerland. A Burger King value meal cost the equivalent of nearly $14. Souvenirs that would cost about $5 here, cost around $10 there.

3. The language is much more difficult. And it's not simply Swiss that they speak. There are three different languages spoken in Switzerland and the written language is not easy to figure out, key words are not anywhere close to English. However, you're still very likely to run into English speaking people who will help.

4. Take note of the traffic lights. It won't help you, it's just cool. They go green, yellow, red, yellow, green.

Switzerland: Zurich, Luzerne, Engelberg

I didn't hear music in the Alps, but they were amazing. So like I said we were supposed to have a non-stop train ride to Zurich. So imagine our surprise when the train stopped and we were told to get off...in Lugano. We get off with several other very confused passangers, wait while the situation is explained in Italian, and finally get the story in English. Our original train from Milan broke down, so we were put on a different one, but this one only went to Lugano. So we're told to get on a train that comes in 30 minutes. We got free coke vouchers though. We get on the next train with no problem, and after awhile on the intercom we hear that all passangers for Zurich must get off at the next stop. We have someone who doesn't speak Italian, and apparently no English asking us what do and what's going on. Like we know...Another passanger is able to help us and takes us straight to the train we're supposed to switch to. As soon as we stepped on the train the doors closed behind us and the train left. I know God was looking out for us on that one. The train station in Zurich, Switzerland was the most confusing one. We had no idea where to go or how to get to our hotel. We called the hotel and they told us to get on another train to the airport. It took a tourist information center to really understand what to do. They have the "big" trains, and then S trains, which are like subways, but above ground. They just go between smaller cities. We grabbed lunch at Burger King at the train station. A combo was 14 CHF...nearly 12 bucks! Ouch. Nearly the end of the vacation and near exhaustion we crashed when we got to our hotel. There wasn't anything we wanted to do in Zurich anyway. We were in the middle of nowhere.

After a few hours of nap time (during which we were knocked out...I apparently got the remote and turned the tv off in my sleep, which was impressive because it took me forever to figure out how to turn the tv on and later that night I couldn't figure out how to turn it off...while awake) we got up and decided we needed dinner. It was pouring. So we asked the front desk where to go. Our options within walking distance were Italian (cause that's what we were hoping for), chinese, or mexican that wasn't that good. We went for the Italian but only cause it was closest. But we couldn't read the menu, it was 8,000 degrees, and the food was very expensive. So after sitting and debating about leaving cause we were scared of the guy who seated us, and was the waiter, and the bartender, and probably the cook. We finally scooted though and went to the chinese place. Which was really yummy! After dinner we took a walk down a trail alongside a little river and took note of the godzilla size slugs that came out after the rain. We picked up a music channel at the hotel that played mostly english songs so we spaced out to watch that until we went to bed.

The next morning we were supposed to be at the bus station by 9:15 for our tour. We made the scheduled shuttle to the airport, and the scheduled S train to the train station, but then got totally lost and couldn't find the bus station, which was supposed to be behind the train station. I called the tour place and asked for help, and she said she'd call and have them wait for us. Well no wonder we couldn't find it...it wasn't a station, it was a dirt field with buses parked on it. I guess in Switzerland station translates into large dirt circle. When we boarded the bus in was a trillion degrees (that's a lot hotter than the Italian restaurant had been) and we were quickly informed it was because it was against the law for the bus to idle. And our tour guide quickly informed the rest of the bus they were late due to waiting for two guests and we were only ten minutes late, so the tour would be fine. I repeat ten minutes late. We are running behind ten minutes. Gaaaaaaaaah So later when she asked if there were any Americans to wish them a Happy 4th we were a little slow in raising our hands. The entire bus already hated us. And we were the only two Americans.

The tour first went to the town of Luzerne. We went to The Lion Monument built in memory of the soldiers who died protecting Marie Antoinette. The area was beautiful, and very sombering. Then we rode into town and had about an hour to explore on our own. Kristen and I picked up Swiss army knives for gifts then wandered around the river and the town. We got a little turned around on the way back, went way out of our way actually, but were still one of the first back at the bus. So take that!

Lion Monument

Beautiful Luzerne

Luzerne

We didn't stop again until Engelberg, at the base of the Alps. We started off to the top of Mt. Titlis on a regular chair left. Like the kind you're sealed in on. Then we got into a large gondolla (not the boat) with everyone and rode up a little bit. Then we transfered onto a different gondolla, the floor on this one rotated. It was like the top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. It moved slowly, but was still a little unnerving when it started. Once we got to the top we were set free to be on our own for about an hour and a half. First Kristen and I headed to the glacier. You went through a door and actually walked into the glacier. It was wonderfully freezing in there. Different color lights lit up the walls and there was a place you could select different kinds of music. On the way out Kristen hit the "funk" button. I really wish I could remember what song started playing cause it was hilarious. Loved the glacier though. Then we rode the Ice Flyer. It was an open chair lift that just went in a big circle. You could get off at one point and go snow tubing, but we didn't have time for that. Aside from just generally taking in the sights the only other thing we did was wolf down some lunch. Then it was back down the three chair lifts and back to the bus. There's not too much to write about the Alps, but the views speak for themselves and they were amazingly beautiful. So check out the pictures for a vague idea of what we saw.

On the way up!

The rotating gondolla car

Inside a glacier...chilly!

It was pretty late when we got back from the tour. We grabbed dinner in the airport, deciding we needed to eat something Swiss-like before we left. So we had...I really don't know. A giant sausage thing and hashbrown cakes. It was actually really good. Tasted like we were eating breakfast at IHOP. After painstakingly packing that night we crashed until it was time to get up, check out, and head for our plane.

So that concludes my travel blogs for Italy and Switzerland. It was an amazing trip and Kristen and I have some wonderful memories. We were blessed to not have any real troubles and to have met some really friendly and helpful people. Check the travel tips blog for some specific things to keep in mind when traveling to Italy and Switzerland.

Milan, Italy

Unless shopping at Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, and Luis Vuitton is a regular occurance for you there's not much need for you to visit Milan, at least in my humble opinion.

When you exit the train station you're dumped right into a huge city. Might as well have been in New York, minus the flashy billboards, neon signs, and plentiful restaurants. Just lots of big buildings and traffic. We had to buy a map to find our hotel. The most expensive map of the trip. Fitting I suppose. We crashed for a bit at the hotel once we got there, and then tried to figure out how to see The Last Supper. The only thing we wanted to do in Milan. We quickly found out that just wasn't going to happen. If you want to only go see The Last Supper you have to book a reservation months in advance. Otherwise, you can book a tour, which would include The Last Supper. Tours for that day were booked, but there was a spot the next morning. So we head down the street to see if we can change our train tickets. We can, but luckily don't right then. Luckily cause as soon as we get back to the hotel to have the guy book the tour, we're told they filled the rest of the spots. In less than 20 minutes. So No Go on the Michaelangelo.

Instead we took the subway to the Milan Cathedral (which was actually almost worth the entire stop in Milan as unless you've been to this Cathedral before, you have seen nothing like it) and the shopping district. We went in a few stores then got depressed. Nothing even had price tags. Price tags might have at least made it amusing, but without price tags it just means if you have to ask you can't afford it. So we left that quickly behind us in our dust. For the life of me I can't recall eating in Milan, but I know we had some gelatto outside the Duomo (Cathedral). We probably had McDonald's or something, cause I really don't remember. Oh wait, it might be coming to me. Someplace small. Eh, I got nothing.

Milan Cathedral

Gellato!

That was it. That was our time in Milan. OH, I do remember where we ate cause the only thing I took with me from this city was my glass Coke bottle from dinner. We just had dinner at some sidewalk restaurant. I had noodles and pesto, and it was actually one of my favorite meals.

So while I certainly don't dissuade anyone from visiting Milan, have a plan of what you want to do and what you want to see. Get tickets well in advance for the Last Supper. And bring about $2,000 if you want to shop.

Venice, Italy

Venice was my favorite Italian city. As soon as you walk out of the train station, there's the water. We got a little turned around looking for the hotel, but it wound up being down this narrow little street right next to the train station. They kept calling it a street, I probably would have found it easier if they said your hotel is down this foot path. We had no specific agenda for Venice, so we just decided to head to St. Mark's Square. No, actually, we headed there cause that's where the Hard Rock was. So we had lunch at the Hard Rock, then headed into the square. There were some high end shops there that we looked in while we listened to Andrea Bocelli's orchestra practice. We took pictures of the square and then headed to the main bay of the Adriactic Sea, overlooking another Cathedral, which I can't recall the name of right now. We sat on the steps that randomly lead into the water and put our feet in the Adriatic Sea. It felt wonderful. I'd say we sat there like that for nearly an hour.

Beautiful Venice

In St. Mark's Square

Looking out over the Adriatic Sea

Then we decided to see how much a gondola ride would cost. I went to check and then returned to Kristen to tell her the price. But apparently walking away is a good thing, cause the guy came after us and dropped the price a bunch. So we agreed and off we went to his gondola. He was a great tour guide. He told us about Marco Polo, Casanova, and how the city was built. It's actually a network of islands, with every square inch of land built upon. The canals and everything were all already there naturally. He didn't sing, but he was a lot of fun anyway. And yeah it's a little expensive, but I'd recommend it as a great way to see the inner parts of Venice. Plus, hey, our guide stopped at an ATM for us. We had to get out of the boat, but talk about service. Then again, I guess he just wanted to be paid.

Taking a gondola ride

When we got back to land we walked up and down along the Sea and did some shopping. I think gellato was also had. I can't keep up with our ice cream consumption. We had dinner right off St. Mark's square and then strolled around just long enough to hear Andrea Bocelli sing for a few minutes. While we were waiting for Bocelli to start we made friends with the pigeons. If you held out your hand with bread (which we stole from our own dinner) they'd fly right onto your arms. I had one just perch on my shoulder for awhile. I wasn't even feeding him, he just chilled. I named him Paco. We stood there with those birds forever. I'm not sure exactly how or why we found them so amusing, but we weren't the only ones. The square was packed with people playing with pigeons.

After Bocelli we boarded the Vespetta, which is like the water bus, and headed back toward the hotel down the Grand Canal. When we got off our stop it was just so relaxing and pretty that we sat down on the steps again. I guess this is the point at which exhaustion caught up with us cause we just sat there and laughed for about half an hour. Over anything and everything. Even when we got back to the hotel we just laughed until a ridiculous hour.

At some point on this trip we tried to leave from the wrong train station. Might have been Venice to Milan, I don't remember. But when we entered the train station, our train number and time and platform were all displayed on the board. The train just never came. And that was because it left from a different station. We were able to catch another train about half an hour later though. Now I'm thinking maybe this was when we tried to leave Milan. But I know when we left Milan our original train broke down and we got a back up so instead of a non-stop trip we had to get off and change trains twice. The moral is...be prepared for anything and think quickly on your feet! And if you're in another country, learn to pantomime. 

Florence, Italy

Having cut into our time in Florence by half a day, we really didn't get too much time in this city. Maybe six hours or so. A good five hours less than we had planned. We had no clue what to do once we got off the train, so we just grabbed a cab to the hotel. It was....hotel....uhhh Montreal. Yes, that was the one. We grabbed a new map and headed to see the Duomo Firenze. The only thing in the city we knew about. So on our way we had dinner in a nice little square. We did some shopping in the square too. The find of the night was these little leather bracelets. I'm totally in love with mine. We took lots of pictures of the Duomo, and had gellato. That's another word I'm pretty sure I spell differently every time I write it. I just want to keep readers on their toes. Also, while you're in Florence and facing the Duomo, turn around and check out the Door of Paradise directly behind you. Having studied art I wanted to see Ghiberti's famous doors, but thought we missed them. Later while watching our video of Florence I spotted the doors as I passed right by them.

We were lucky enough to hear the bells ringing. Beautiful and mesmerizing.

We didn't really do much else in Florence to be honest. Wandered around a bit. Then crashed at the hotel. This hotel had a huge shower. It was half the size of a shower in the US...but that makes it HUGE in Europe. So I thoroughly enjoyed that shower. I could move. The only other thing I remember about the hotel was the blankets on the beds were yellow. I'm sure in thirty years I'll be glad I remembered that detail and documented it here.

The next morning we got a cab to the train station. And I'm so glad we did. He brought us to a different train station then the one we had arrived at. Ten points for the taxi driver and a lesson to be learned. And from there it was off to Venice...

Rome, Italy

So you're going to Italy? Or you want to go to Italy? Following are the blogs I wrote after my trip to Italy and Switzerland in the summer of 2009.

We land in Rome, get our bags, and then...totally don't know what to do. We wander until we find an information counter. We ask her to help us find our hotel but she hasn't heard of it and following Murphy's Law, we don't have an address on our confirmation sheet...or a phone number. (It's like we'd never traveled before huh?) So we find another counter, this one for reserving hotels. The girl there is able to tell us which subway to get on, and which stop to get off of. Okey dokey, here we go. At least until we get on the subway going the wrong way. It only took us one stop to figure it out though, at least we were thinking somewhat cleary. Okey, dokey, here we go...again. So we get to our stop, and everyone else in Rome wants to get off at the same stop. Kristen makes it...I don't. So as the train leaves with me still on it I look through the window at Kristen on the platform and wave goodbye. I got off at the next stop, got back on going the other way, got off the train, and naturally now Kristen and I are on oppisite sides of the train tracks. After a few minutes we find each other on the street above and are now stuck again...we don't know how to get to the hotel from there. We stand on the street for a couple minutes going "English? Anyone? English?" and finally get a response, although it's in choppy English. Don't care, we'll take it. We get directions to our hotel, find it with no problem, and crash for about two hours.

So the first real Rome sight was the Trevi Fountain.. We wandered around for awhile just taking everything in and finally located the Fountain. Much bigger and more amazing then the one in Las Vegas (yes, really). Throw a coin in for good luck! Before that we kept it all American though and ate dinner at the Hard Rock. This became our American Embassy because they gave free refills. No where else in that country did. And at nearly $4.50 a pop free refills on coke was a commodity. We also found our way to the Spanish Steps that night. Crowded. I tried to get everyone to move off the steps so I could take a nice picture, but it didn't work. So we wrapped up our first evening in Rome and headed back to the hotel.

The Trevi Fountain

The (always crowded) Spanish Steps

We had breakfast at the hotel the next morning. Apparently we didn't understand how the whole breakfast thing worked cause everyone else in there had all this food and all we could find was bread and a slice of salami and cheese. Regardless, we headed out to see...something Roman. Can't remember what. Oh yeah (after several minutes of thinking) we went to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. We actually just kind of went to Vatican City and wound up there. The line for the Vactican Museum was outrageous so we just kept walking until we came to the Bascilica. The line to get in here was long too, but moving fast. So we sucked it up. Inside we were able to see all the artwork, "mummified" Popes, and the confessionals, and Michaelangelo's Pieta. It took forever to get out because as soon as we walked out the doors the entire square was packed with people and at a standstill. Being Sunday morning there was some sort of service going on outside. Our mistake #1. Vatican on a Sunday. Later on that day we walked down to the Pantheon. One of the largest free standing domes. Of course, in no picture from the ground can you even see the dome. Still neat and significant to see and learn about.

*Some areas of the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica are off limits for a woman if you do not have your shoulders and knees covered. A scarf or shawl over your shoulders is sufficient.

Outside St. Peter's

The Pieta

Inside the Basilica

The Pantheon

Then the Colosseum!!! We had no plans when we got there, but we were quickly approached by a guide offering us a tour. It was cheap, and it allowed us to skip the line, so we jumped on board (VERY well worth it). The tour guide was hilarious, and I guess cause we walked up late proceeded to pick on us the rest of the day. Learned lots of neat stuff, which we never would have known except for the tour. As we left the Colusseum to head to the Forum we were handed off to a different tour guide, Ian. He told the best stories, and gave us so much great information, and I married him. Yes, yes I did. While demonstrating the Roman wedding practices he asked for my hand. Literally. And in Rome all they did to become officially married was shake hands. So, half an hour after meeting, and a hand shake later, I found myself a hubby. And all in less than two days in Rome. Go me!!! During this tour we found out the Vatican Museum was closed on Monday, which was when we planned to return. So we decided to change our train tickets to Florence and stay in Rome Tuesday morning for Ian's tour of the Vatican. We had dinner on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Colusseum and then took pictures at night after all the lights had come on. We both could have just sat there forever I'm sure. It was one of the most amazing, beautiful things I have ever seen.

Inside the Colosseum

Down in the Forum

Colosseum at night

Monday found us with nothing planned to do. So we went to the large park in Rome, rented this bike thingy and rode through the park. Only, we got the hoopdie of all the bikes and when we got to a certain speed it made this horrible clanking sound. We were really disrupting the serene park setting. We made our way to the zoo, Bioparco. Why not see some Roman animals while we're at it. Or at least some African and North American animals being kept in Rome. It was exactly like our zoos, only the signs were in Italian. Obviously. We had dinner at the Hard Rock again, free coke refills people. We probably did some shopping, I think that might have been the day we actually walked up the Spanish Steps. It's a tough little hike, but one you just gotta make.

Tuesday morning we packed up and took the subway (or the underground tube as we affectionately referred to it) back to Vatican City to meet up with Ian. After doing his best impression of Moses to part the traffic we started the treck to the Vatican. It was a long haul with the luggage to the Museum entrance, but luckily once we got there we were able to check our bags. Hitting the highlights of the Museum...well it was a lot of art and sculptures. A remake of the Last Supper, some other Michaelangelo, Raphael, various other Ninja Turtles. Nero's big purple stone bathtub. And of course, the Sistine Chapel. No photos of that, they aren't allowed. And even though everyone else was taking pictures, I didn't want to get our guide in trouble. Ian told us stories about Michaelangelo and what all the panels represented. There are some things in those paintings that should not be in a chapel. But Michaelangelo was resentful about having to paint it, and about being decked by the Pope of the time, so he had his fun, knowing no one could do anything about it. And the panel with the creation of man, you know it, the two hands nearly touching fingers...not nearly as big as it seems whenever you see it. Tiny, tiny. It is 45 meters up in the air, but without someone pointing it out to you, it'd take you awhile to find it. So after that amazing tour it was time for us to rush to the train station, hop a train, and head to Florence.

Philadelphia, PA

I took this trip with another one of my friends and we made one very fundimental mistake: we went in January. I don't recommend that. Talk about cold. Ouch. Now, our main purpose for going was to see a show, so the weather wasn't really our first concern. But I would choose a more outdoor-friendly time of year to visit this awesome city.

We had one day to explore the city (and see our show), so we tried to pack in as much as we could. We started the morning by heading to the famous Eastern State Penitentiary. This was the first Penitentiary designed to reform prisoners with confinement and solitude. Famous criminals Al Capone and Willie Sutton were housed here, and you can look inside Capone's elaborately decorated cell. On a guided tour you'll learn about the prison's basic operation, means of reformation, and the several escape attempts made throughout its working history. And for those with ghosties on the brain, yes, this is a famous haunted location featured on Ghost Hunters. No, I did not see anything floating around or hear anything banging on walls. Why? It was too cold for any ghost with commen sense to be out and about.

Next we visited Love Park, which houses the famous statue spelling out the word LOVE. I shall give you fair warning that this statue is much smaller than most pictures will have you believe. So small in fact, that we drove around the block several times looking for it and not even seeing it, though it was in plain site. Love Park is in the middle of several busy streets and is not easy to park near. You're better off parking a few blocks away and walking. Also, no fountain in the middle of the winter. Still, it's famous and recognizable, stop and see it!

You can't go to Philly without enjoying some of America's greatest moments in history. A luckily they're all clumped together. There's no fee to get a look at the Liberty Bell. And the hall it lives in is full of other exhibits and videos.

Directly across the street you can enter and take a tour of Independence Hall. A ticket is needed to enter, but the ticket is free. A guide will take you through each room open to the public and will certainly teach you something you didn't know. A highly recommended tour!

I also recommend saving some time to wander through China town. The shops are interesting, the restaurants are authentic, and it's like visiting another country without leaving Philly.

And to leave you with my final warning...parking in Philly is VERY difficult. The parking garages are sometimes underground, and the ramp to go down is in the middle of the street. No joke. Make sure you read the signs for side of the road parking, sometimes you have to pay sometimes you don't. If you can avoid driving while exploring the city, do it! But don't let this little fact sway you from visiting, because no matter how many times you had to drive around the block, everything  you see and do will be worth it!

NC holds one of America's coolest small towns!

America's Coolest Small Towns

Wow, I live in a great state, and it looks like the editors of Yahoo Travel know it. Brevard, NC just an hour and a half from my home town is featured in today's article of "Coolest Small Towns." And if you want somewhere beautiful to stay while you're up that way, check out Down to Earth Cottages, an Inn run by some friends of mine. I haven't stayed there, but I have visited and it's a beautiful place to spend some quality time with nature.

Baltimore, Maryland

After spending about twenty minutes Saturday morning in denial about being awake at 7:45 we trudged up to our host's dining room. We were treated to Krispy Kreme and Coke for breakfast (our choice, ya know, to futher jolt our nervous system). Then we got ready for our day and left with nothing but a list of things to see and a GPS.

We found a parking garage right by the Inner Harbor and left the car for the day. We were aiming to find the National Aquarium, which was more difficult than it should have been. Half of it is on one side of a water way, and half on the other side, joined by a bridge. But you can only get into the building on one side. That aquarium also only admits people at certain times, to keep it from getting too crowded. So we bought our tickets and had an hour and a half until our admit time. To kill time we had nachos at the Hard Rock and then went to the top of the Baltimore World Trade Center. Here I nearly made a complete fool of myself by almost saying out loud, "I can't remember if I've been to the top of the World Trade Centers in New York since 9/11", while thinking I couldn't remember if I'd been to the top of the Empire State Building or any other excessively tall building. Luckily I caught myself before having to stick my foot in my mouth in a crowded elevator. The view from the top of the BWTC was beautiful.

After the World Trade Center we were able to go into the aquarium. Our ticket included the dolphin show and the 4D theater. The dolphin show was cute, not too long, but enough to see some awesome dolphin tricks and learn some cool things. Now, if you're wondering what the forth dimension in the theater was, so were we. Turns out it's wind, "snow," bubbles, and a little bit of water. I nearly fell out of my seat from being startled by the water a couple of times. The aquarium was very nice, but nothing too out of the ordinary. They have a spiral type ramp that goes around one large tank, and of course many individual tanks and exhibits. Despite only letting a certain amount of people in at a time it was crowded and seeing into the smaller exhibits was difficult. But all together the aquarium was a great addition to our vacation.

Next on our agenda were the historical ships that were in the harbour. We bought a four pack which allowed us on to all of the ships. The first was the USCGC Taney, which was the last surviving ship to have witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor. Then the LV116 Chesapeake and the submarine the USS Torsk. The Torsk sunk the last enemy ship of WWII (and I just learned was also built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard which I used to live about an hour away from). And our last ship was the USS Constellation which was involved in the Civil War. All of the ships were awesome, and provided some great opportunities for photo ops. The Constellation had an audio tour, and the Chesapeake had an exhibit devoted to the furry friends of the Navy, dogs that lived on board of various vessels. The Taney of course had an exhibit on board about Pearl Harbor. We were lucky because there were no crowds as the ships were about to all close. I wouldn't recommend going on a hot and humid or crowded day as all of the ships are small and very hot inside and below decks.

We walked down to Little Italy but it was mostly just restaurants. After having our dinner at the Hard Rock we used the GPS to find Edgar Allan Poe's gravesite. The cemetary actually had two headstones for him, one where he is currently buried, and one in his original burial spot. At both, people have placed roses, coins, letters, and other little things. Kinda creepy if you ask me, but all it lead me to do was want to read one of the letters. It seemed like a bad idea, like I should just leave it all without touching. But I have to touch. So I read one. After carefully placing it back a bunch of birds (ravens???) began squawking in the trees and creeped us right out of there.

The last thing on our list for the day that we wanted to see was Poe's house. The GPS was no help. Amity St, where the house is located, runs through town and is seperated throughout several blocks, which just confuses GPS. Plus, the house isn't located in the best of neighborhoods. In fact, the neighborhood is downright questionable, especially if you're there at 10 PM like we were. After driving around for about 15 minutes and making ourselves plenty known to the many people wandering the streets we decided to give it up and re-directed the GPS to the intersate. Lo and behold, only then did we find the Poe House. On accident. There is a rather small sign on the side of the house, and it's very easy to miss.

So at that point we had seen everything we set out to see. Baltimore was beautiful and I'm sure I'll visit again. Maybe next time spend some time on the water and venture out into the night life.

America's Beautiful Coasts

America's Most Beautiful Coastal Views (yahoo)

A varied list of beautiful coastal spots all over the US. I've had the pleasure of visiting Ogunquit, ME and the description doesn't really do it justice. The entire Marginal Way is flanked by Sea Roses and craggy rock cliffs, and the small town of Perkins Cove is about as rustic as you can get and full of quaint little shops.

So, anyone up for a trip to the beach?

Tips and Advice for Mexico

Here are my tips and advice for travel to Mexico:

Transportation:

1. Taxis - Before you go anywhere tell the driver where you want to go and agree upon a price. They don't use a meter, so agreeing on a price before hand will keep you from getting robbed when you arrive.

2. Don't attempt to drive. There are no lines in the road and everyone just drives where they want. Seems very dangerous to me, unless you are from Mexico and know what you are doing.

3. Don't be afraid of public transportation like buses. They're quick and cheap.

Money:

1. Have a good understanding of the exchange rate. Currently 1 dollar = 12.5 pesos. If you have no idea what you're spending in pesos it will be very easy to overspend. Also, some places will con you if they think you do not understand the exchange. Have an idea of what you should be getting in change and count it. And be prepared to carry around a lot of coins and wads of paper money.

2. Convert your money. Nearly everywhere will accept the US dollar, but you will get change in pesos. Also, small shops and taxi drivers won't use the exchange rate. For ease they use the rate 1 dollar  = 10 pesos. For example: a taxi ride is 100 pesos, if you pay in US dollars he will expect ten dollars, when 100 pesos is really only 8 dollars.

3. Don't freak out when you see your dinner bill, or any other price tag. The $ sign is also used in Mexico. So your credit card slip will read $250 for your twenty dollar meal.

4. You can use debit and credit cards, but you will be charged a small fee. It's a percentage of what you are purchasing, so it will vary and you will have to check your bank statement to see what you are charged.

Food and Drink:

1. While you may want to use bottled water to brush your teeth, and avoid drinking tap water, water and ice in major restaurants should be fine. The water is purified, and ice is made from purified water. If you are in a tiny, isolated town however, use your own discretion.

2. Do try the local cuisine.

3. Tip wait staff. 15-20%.

Shopping:

1. The name of the game is haggling. Everything is overpriced, they expect you to argue. I can't give you tips on how to haggle, because I stink at it.

2. Be prepared to be pressured. Every shop owner is going to be standing outside telling you why you should come into their shop. Once you do go inside they're going to insist you buy one of everything. And if you start to leave empty handed, they start to bargain. It can get tiresome, but you can make it work to your advantage.

3. Most stores will offer you tequila. They claim it's free, can't vouch for that. But hey, if you wanna get smashed fast I guess that's one way to do it. Just keep a tight grip on your money after that...not that they'll steal it, they won't have to, you'll be wasted and decide you just have to have the Bob Marley portrait made out of macaroni shells.

Other tips:

1. Sunscreen. Duh. But really. Sunscreen. Also, many of the biological and animal parks require biodegradable sunscreen. You can get this at a sports store.

2. Make sure your hotel as beach access, and a beach you can actually swim at. Just because the hotel is on the water doesn't mean you can swim right there.

3. Enlist the help of concierge. They're there to help, and should be super friendly!

4. Many places in Mexico, including possibly your hotel, require you to put toilet paper in a trashcan beside the toilet. Make sure you read any signs posted so that you do not back up the pipes.

5. Be friendly and polite to everyone you meet. You never know who will be willing to lend an extra hand or give you some good advice or tips because you were nice to them.

6. You can of course tip your maid, but what we did to be a little more fun was buy small gifts and bring them with us and leave one each day for our maid. Just make sure you leave a note with it or she won't take it. Our maid left us a very sweet note at the end of the week and always left us fun things in our room (towel animals, extra lotions, etc).

And most importantly - don't forgo doing something you will regret not experiencing later, take lots of pictures, and enjoy every moment!