tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46087160473555783532023-11-15T07:32:59.770-06:00Travel---take me awayMy travel experiences and ideas kept here to remind myself of where I have been, what I have learned and who I have met. I hope that others can enjoy reading about my travel as much as I enjoy writing about it.happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.comBlogger206125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-48850065338341537482014-09-11T18:50:00.001-05:002014-09-11T18:50:03.283-05:00Back in the Saddle AgainWe all have those realization moments where we just want to shake ourselves and say to SHUT THE HELL UP. Or is that just me? Probably. A favorite store of mine is having a sweepstakes and the winner gets to choose a trip to New York, Paris, Rome or London. Sounds cool right? It is! Except that my first thought when I saw the options was AWWW but I've already been to those places. Twice.<br />
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At this point, I am sure I hear violin music and tears are coming to your eyes. I mean you feel for me right? So, yeah. I'm an idiot. Years ago when my youngest son was sick on my trip to Morocco, it caused major problems for my husband who had to take time off from his job (which I the funds for my travelling, mind you). So he metaphorically has taken away my passport. If he had any idea where I kept it, he would literally take it away too I'm sure. Luckily, he can't find anything that isn't attached to his hand.<br />
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So in the past months I have been looking at my Bucket List and realizing I have quite a few things I want to accomplish that have nothing to do with travel at all. In July, I took my cousin and the niece of my heart skydiving as their graduation present. At the beginning of August, I began what is likely to be the toughest Bucket List goal ever. I am in the midst of it and it is WORK I tell you, I am spending 90 days getting my body in optimal health. I already work out quite a lot and decided it was time to take control over my diet. So a little over a month ago I cut out all processed food from my diet. How does one do that, you might ask. Well, the answer is with A LOT of cooking and dishes. Like we run the dishwasher three times a day now! But it is amazing the changes I am noticing in myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There is something special about only eating real foods, and especially real foods that you took time and care crafting into nutritious, delicious meals. It's work, y'all. However, I think that in a couple of months (when I am finished and likely never to look at a boxed or frozen meal happily again) I will love the results and appreciate the time and energy I took in crossing that item off my list.<br />
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I have a few more things I am working on as I count down the days until I can immerse myself in a location that speaks no English. And honestly, all of those things will make me a better person than I am today. And for that I am thankful :)happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-6966871041389437952013-08-05T16:12:00.001-05:002013-08-05T16:12:48.275-05:00Texans in New EnglandI just want to take a few minutes to break my year long radio silence with some ponderings about what it is like to be a Texan in New England.<br />
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1. We cannot stop talking about your weather. You have water that comes from the sky! This is novel to us. We must make many many comments on this. And of course get soaking wet because who would pack an umbrella in August???<br />
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2. We are tall, y'all. It's terrilbly disconcerting to watch everyone enter the bathroom. FROM BEHIND YOUR STALL DOOR.<br />
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3. The Mass Pike is the Hotel California of roads. Once you enter you can never leave!<br />
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4. Exits do not match street names. We need to exit at Melnea Cass....how was I supposed to know that was the South Boston exit?<br />
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5. Roads disappear because bridges close. In the middle of the night. While you are trying to get to the airport. <br />
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6. Street signs might appear BETWEEN blocks. Is the sign for the first or second street? It's a gamble! It's fun!<br />
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Craig and I spent several days in the Berkshires and a whilrwind 16 hours in Boston. We had a blast, but we were defintely Strangers in a Strange Land!!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-79220895605031703912012-05-13T21:56:00.004-05:002012-05-13T21:56:38.206-05:00Pack it in a travel size and wrap it with a bowYears ago I realized that I would pretty much buy anything in a travel size. Or sample size. It doesn't matter what you want to call it, but if you shrink the package it's in my basket. Every year Bath & Body Works sells a bag full of samples for like $20 and I'm standing in line to buy it. Every year. I have bags to hold my bags.<br />
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So when I read about <a href="http://www.birchbox.com/" target="_blank">Birchbox</a>. I squealed. I get a box of samples EVERY MONTH? Free shipping? NO TAX???? How fast can I sign up. Turns out not so fast. There is a wait list and it took me several weeks before I was able to sign up. I immediately got the full year (with one free month). I was thrilled to get a box today (even if the theme is a TV show I never watch...Gossip Girl).<br />
<a href="http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/?action=view&current=BirchboxMAY2012.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birchbox MAY 2012" border="0" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/BirchboxMAY2012.jpg" /></a>
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These sizes look small but the goods are quality. The moisturizer is $90 full size retail and I got 1/4 full size. Which means this little jar more than made up for the $10 I paid for the box! Not bad, right? Except I'm not the biggest fan of anti-aging products for my face. But I'll use it on my neck which needs all the anti-aging I can probably find!<br />
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The things I love best about travel size is they are small (duh, right!) but that means they take up little space in luggage and you can try different products for different locations when you go to various countries. My last trip to Paris and Morocco needed vastly different products for the two locations and full sized for both would have been too cumbersome.<br />
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I'm thinking I'm going to love this company!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-5849014953665755192012-05-10T14:40:00.001-05:002012-05-10T14:40:47.885-05:00Travel With a Purpose: PerspectiveMatt Long's post today is about <a href="http://landlopers.com/2012/05/09/poverty-tourism/" target="_blank">Poverty Tourism.</a> It struck a chord with me because I have a tendency to find myself in poverty sections of places I am visiting, because I want to get away from tourists. I don't have a lot of pictures of those events though. This post made me really think about why. I think asking people to be in pictures can have a dehumanizing effect. Like they are part of the architecture or the setting. It's why my aunt got yelled at when we were in Marrakech because she took a picture of a donkey and the man on the phone thought she was taking a picture of him. It's why Said told us to ALWAYS ask permission before taking pictures of the people in Morocco. A simple wave to the camera and a gesture to the person will do. And if they say "no" you still smile and thank them. Because they are people too.<br />
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I'm posting this today on Travel With a Purpose because it makes me really think about why one spends time with people during travel. If and when you do volunteer, do it with the right heart and mind. It isn't a show. It isn't entertainment. But don't do it with pity. Do it because we are all stuck on this Earth going through this thing called life, doing it the best we can. Let it be something that bridges you to others. Something that makes you realize that your problems aren't more than others. But they aren't less either. Take a second each day to thank the Lord for the problems you have. And the problems you don't have and then figure out a way to solve them. <br />
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And when you figure out how to deal with one problem, send up a prayer that the people you meet in your travels have found a way to deal with theirs. <br />happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-82844542339638664962012-05-03T13:56:00.001-05:002012-05-03T13:56:50.918-05:00Travel With a Purpose: Global VolunteersI love that <a href="http://www.globalvolunteers.org/" target="_blank">Global Volunteers</a> doesn't charge double for two weeks. The cost of one week in some cases is the same as two weeks. But you know what I think is the best part of this company. They have opportunities here in the United States! This way you don't spend all your money getting to a destination and for people who aren't as interested in international travel can still experience different cultures within their own country. And help out, because that is what is so addictive!<br />
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For $995, you can help for a week on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and in this project children are welcome to join their parents. How educational and eye-opening would that family vacation be???<br />
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Wage Peace Through Service. Leave Your Mark on the World.happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-47363195125586424812012-04-20T09:28:00.002-05:002012-04-20T09:28:41.667-05:00Affordable vacation housingEvery once in a while I learn about something and all I can think about is why I'm finding out about this NOW! As I've decided to take a travel break I find out about <a href="http://housetrip.com/">HouseTrip.com</a>. It's a way to submerse yourself in a city, and as these have kitchens a way to save on food. I can just picture myself shopping in Budapest and staying for a week in my own little slice of Europe. For $134. FOR A WEEK PEOPLE! Granted Budapest is pretty affordable anyway but I'm thinking it would be possible for me to travel to Budapest for under $500 total with these rates (and a free plane ticket of course...which seems to be the only way I travel!)<br />
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The site has properties in several cities so if you are planning on travelling to Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, or Istanbul...check it out!!!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-89760786023373700702012-04-19T09:10:00.002-05:002012-04-19T09:10:24.559-05:00Travel With a Purpose: Pick and Choose Voluntourism<a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation" target="_blank">Volunteer Guide</a> offers a variety of time options from 15 minutes to a full vacations. And then from there you can choose what you are interested in helping with:<br />
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<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/new" title="New Ideas"> New Ideas </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/animals" title="Animal Welfare Opportunities"> Animal Welfare </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/children" title="Helping Children Opportunities"> Helping Children </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/community" title="Community Development Opportunities"> Community Development </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/environment" title="Environmental Protection Opportunities"> Environmental Protection </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/health" title="Health & Safety Opportunities"> Health & Safety </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="10" src="http://www.volunteerguide.org/images/common/arrow-volunteer-vacation.gif" width="7" /><span class="tableCategories"><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/cause/poverty" title="Poverty & Homelessness Opportunities"> Poverty & Homelessness </a></span></td><td width="24"> </td></tr>
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And if you pick Helping Children you can choose from:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/summer-camps"> Volunteer At Summer Camp for Children with Special Needs </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/babies-aids-hiv"> Alleviate Suffering of Babies with AIDS and HIV </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/art-appreciation"> Share Art Appreciation with Children Abroad </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/build-schools"> Build a School in a Developing Nation </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/orphanages"> Help Orphans and Abandoned Children </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/healthcare"> Volunteer For A Medical Mission </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/teach-english-abroad"> Teach English Abroad </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/childrens-dental-health"> Improve Children's Dental Health </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/music-appreciation"> Cultivate Music Appreciation Among Children </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/deaf-children"> Help Deaf Children Experience Their World </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/autistic-children"> Inspire Autistic Children </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/gap-year"> Make Your Gap Year Meaningful </a></li>
<br />Basically Volunteer Guide is the place to find your next voluntourism vacation! Some of the ideas are found in more than one category (helping children and community development has a lot of crossover) so ideas won't get lost if you one look at one section. Look around. See if something calls your name!!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-72960238575684046282012-04-18T13:34:00.002-05:002012-04-18T13:34:16.948-05:00Sounds of Morocco: Part 2I think people are surprised that Morocco is an Islamic country, but the women are so bright and colorful. Many women do wear their head covered but not all, and the colors of their clothes are often indicative of the region they live in. Berbers are the indigenous people of Morocoo and are nomads who live in cave (not to be confused with desert nomads like Bedouin). Our night in Midelt included a dinner at the hotel which had live music and dancers. Somehow I didn't get a video of the high pitched singing of the women (almost like a wail) but the movements are shown. Almost like fully clothed belly dancing. These women shake their hips like Shakira!<br />
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There were some motions to get us to join but we declined. It was a long day, and I probably would have done it WITH someone, but Nancy and Cynde were not inclined LOL!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-58858601448597164842012-04-16T11:44:00.001-05:002012-04-16T15:22:17.740-05:00Oh how we love lists!!So many places where to start? I have friends who don't travel as much as I do and when they ask me where they might go on vacation, I don't know where to start!! Do you want nature or culture? People or peace? Calm or Chaos? I have seen (and enjoyed all of those!) So instead of a place I will tell people a website to check out. It condenses the world into <a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/top-100-places-to-visit-before-you-die-list/" target="_blank">100 places</a>. And while you don't have to see them all to be happy, at least you have a place to start!<br />
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I've only been to 17, and frankly a couple on the list I'm not really interested in seeing, but it gives you an idea of what you can choose from!<br />
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/los-angeles-california-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Los Angeles | California | North America">1. Los Angeles | California | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/seattle-washington-state-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Seattle | Washington State | USA | North America">23. Seattle | Washington State | USA | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/puerto-rico-caribbean/" rel="bookmark" title="Puerto Rico | Caribbean">24. Puerto Rico | Caribbean</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/key-west-florida-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Key West Florida | USA | North America">30. Key West Florida | USA | North America</a><strong></strong></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/new-orleans-louisiana-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="New Orleans | Louisiana | USA | North America">31. New Orleans | Louisiana | USA | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/prague-czech-republic-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="Prague | Czech Republic | Europe">35. Prague | Czech Republic | Europe</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/walt-disney-world-florida-north-america/" rel="bookmark" target="_blank" title="Walt Disney World | Florida | North America">42. Walt Disney World | Florida | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/new-york-ny-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="New York | USA | North America">49. New York | USA | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/washington-dc-district-of-columbia-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Washington DC | District of Columbia | USA | North America">51. Washington DC | District of Columbia | USA | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/rome-italy-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="Rome | Italy | Europe">53. Rome | Italy | Europe</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/paris-france-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="Paris | France | Europe">57. Paris | France | Europe</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/las-vegas-nevada-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | North America">73. Las Vegas | Nevada | USA | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/st-tropez-french-riviera-france-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="St Tropez | French Riviera | France | Europe">74. St Tropez | French Riviera | France | Europe</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/venice-italy-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="Venice | Italy | Europe">75. Venice | Italy | Europe</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/san-francisco-california-usa-north-america/" rel="bookmark" title="San Francisco | California | USA | North America">79. San Francisco | California | USA | North America</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/marrakesh-morocco-africa/" rel="bookmark" title="Marrakesh | Morocco | Africa">88. Marrakesh | Morocco | Africa</a></h3>
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<a href="http://www.100placestovisit.com/london-england-uk-europe/" rel="bookmark" title="London | England | UK | Europe">97. London | England | UK | Europe</a></h3>
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See how many you have visited!!<br />
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</h3>happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-87990000634091311372012-04-12T16:37:00.000-05:002012-04-12T16:37:00.757-05:00Travel with a Purpose: Bucket List Travel Adventures<a href="http://bucketlisttraveladventures.com/Voluntour2.html" target="_blank">Bucket List Travel Adventures</a> is based in Toronto and helps travellers who are interested in travel to Peru and Africa. These adventures last several days to include both volunteer opportunites and airfare from Toronto. They do offer pricing from other cities though.<br />
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Description of the volunteer activities:<br />
<em>Saccaca Community Volunteer Work (B, L, D) We will be volunteering in the
Saccaca community 4 1/2 hours outside of Cuzco. Most of our porters for the Inca
Trail live in this community and it was a logical choice for our next project.
We will be building a local community centre and tasks will include building mud
bricks for the project, building, painting, crafts, games as well as many other
activities that the whole family can participate in. A chance to get your hands
dirty and help out and become members of this community. Overnight Home stay.</em><br />
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There seems to be quite a bit of hiking as well so make sure you are prepared to work! Rebekah kas shown interest in Peru for her trip...I'm not holding my breath (yet) because she has changed already (twice!)happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-27322699123485665582012-04-11T10:23:00.000-05:002012-04-11T10:23:38.646-05:00Sounds of Morocco part 1<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tmCnUHRLf1Y" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Our hotel in Marrakech was right behind a Mosque so we woke up at 5:30 AM to this. But I loved it! It's part of the Islamic experience for a traveller!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-71731350234462646482012-04-10T08:21:00.000-05:002012-04-10T08:21:22.551-05:00The Birthday Project and the March updateMarch was obvioulsy a productive month for my bucket list! I went to Morocco and rode a camel! But that deserves a post of its own (complete with video!) So I'll list the other things I ended up doing (and not doing in March)<br />
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I didn't read a single book or watch a single movie! Which means in April I need to hit the books and press play. I did finish Midnight Cowboy yesterday (it took me a couple days), and wonder WHY DO ALL THE SAD MOVIES WIN THE OSCAR! I think people sit around and change endings JUST TO WIN A STATUE!! If you haven't seen the movie, I hope I'm not giving it away by saying it's sad, but then I figure, it won Best Picture, you should know it's sad already!<br />
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My garden is moving along, so I am going to cross the "plant a garden" portion off my list but still need to learn how to use my pressure cooker when I receive all my bounty! Look at my black eyed peas! LOOK AT THEM!!!<br />
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<a href="http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/?action=view&current=100_0574.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/100_0574.jpg" /></a>
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These fantastic peas were grown straight from a bag from the grocery store. Did you realize you could grow those beans you buy to cook? You don't have to buy special little packts. Grab a few from a bag you intend to cook and grow some more!<br />
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I had meant to Drink Absinthe in Paris when I was there but OK SO OOPS! Totally forgot to do this, so I guess I will have to go back to Paris one day. What a tragedy! Since I need to complete 12 items in '12 to keep my Bucket List moving, I switched something out. I decided to perform a Random Act of Kindness for a stanger. I got the idea from Stephanie at <a href="http://www.adropinmybucketlist.com/2012/03/suprising-stranger.html">Filling My Life Bucket</a>. I also liked her criteria so I wanted it to be a baby with a soon due date, a single mom, and a list that had a couple things bought (so I know it was real!) I forgot to add a a link to my site so she would know I wasn't a creepy stalker, but I did let her know that she was getting a gift on my birthday :) So Happy Birthday to me! and congrats to Amanda B from Hampton, Georgia who is getting this adorable thing (Rebekah loved hers!!)<br />
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Eventually I want to take part in a complete <a href="http://www.thebdayproject.com/" target="_blank">Birthday Project</a>. If you've never heard of them it's an organization who helps you give on your birthday instead of worrying about receiving! You do a random act of kindness for every year you were born. But I want to keep it to the monetary limit of the age I am too. So I think next year I want to do 39 random acts of kindness and spend $39 doing it! If you need an idea for your birthday or for you bucket list, check it out!!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-34887468386099752892012-04-07T16:39:00.000-05:002012-04-07T16:39:00.151-05:00Bucket List: Fashion and WellnessThis is a pretty weak section for my Bucket List. I'm sure as I read more lists I'll come up with more ideas but this is it for now~<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FASHION & WELLNESS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spend 3 months getting my body in optimum shape</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Learn Krav Maga</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Master the Pincha Maurasana pose</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take a makeup lesson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Run a half-marathon</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walk a full marathon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be able to do the splits</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do 100 consecutive pushups</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Complete the Tough Mudder</span></div>happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-86797788913876916532012-04-05T22:27:00.000-05:002012-04-05T22:27:00.847-05:00Travel with a Purpose: All Hands VolunteersThere are a lot of volunteer projects that charge money. <a href="http://hands.org/" target="_blank">All Hands</a> does not. Once you get yourself to the project they take care of your food and shelter and general needs. HOWEVER, this is NOT a spa day. You WILL work. You will learn and you will make a difference. This is one organization I am very interested in because they work on timely disasters. So if a major earthquake or tsunami hits and you want to know how you can help out a foreign area beyond donating money. This is a fantastic idea.happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-31581386254604780362012-04-04T16:33:00.000-05:002012-04-04T16:33:42.817-05:00Fears of travelling debunkedI think that most people who love to travel get a lot of flak from people who don't have the wanderlust. Why go outside the country to see things when our own country has so much to offer? I get this question ALL THE TIME. I try to be polite. Personally, I want to travel to great distances as young as possible because I see my parents and aunts and uncles and frankly aging sucks. I probably won't want to fly 6000 miles when I'm 70. But then again knowing me I probably will. Regardless, why wait? It's not that I don't want to see America. I do! It's just that most of it is a car ride away (and I live in Texas people!) My parents own an RV I will likely inherit someday so I can RV my way across the country in my 70s and 80s.
But for the next 30 years I want to see the rest of the world. And here are some great <a href="http://dosomethingcool.net/" target="_blank">travel fears debunked</a>.<br />
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My personal favorites (and the ones I hear the most are):<br />
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<strong><em>Crime</em></strong><br />
<em>One of the biggest fears about traveling is crime. And I admit that crime is a concern for me while traveling. It certainly can happen so you have to keep yourself safe. But some people take this fear way too far.</em><br />
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My family was all up in arms over the fact that I booked a private excursion for us on Jamaica. Images and stories of past horrid crime were flowing freely. I calmly called the company and discussed their fears and then looked up facts. Turns out that San Antonio is probably more dangerous that Falmouth, Jamaica any day of the week. Though I'm not planning a trip to Kingston any time soon.<br />
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<strong><em>Terrorism</em></strong><br />
<em>I’ve heard some people cite terrorism as a big concern when they decide where and when to travel. However, I think it depends on the events going on in the world and the country in question. The less prominent terrorism is in the news, the less likely you’ll hear it being used as a reason not to travel.</em><br />
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You wanna hear about this? Travel to an Islamic country. I can't tell you how many ignorant comments I got about Morocco before I went. And the worry about it being "near" Libya. Buy a map people.<br />
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<strong><em>Disease</em></strong><br />
<em>It’s always a good thing to check out the diseases you might face while traveling. You don’t want to catch malaria, dysentery or typhoid while enjoying your travels. However, you can preempt a lot of these diseases by getting immunization shots. If you keep clean and avoid dirty water, you’ll immensely decrease your likelihood of catching anything.</em><br />
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Ok I do consider this a real worry. But it's not stopping me. We have a great health system here and I have good insurance. I got my shots and watched the water I drank and foods I ate and I was fine.<br />
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Jet Lag however is a mofo!<br />
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So what are your fears? What is stopping you from seeing what you want to see? As you get in your car to drive to the store (which is far more dangerous than a terrorist threat) know that <a href="http://travel.usatoday.com/news/2010-10-21-1Adangerousroads21_ST_N.htm" target="_blank">traffic abroad</a> can be just as deadly. But it doesn't even put a dint in our activities at home? Why would it stop me abroad????happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-51733846919596078182012-04-02T12:46:00.000-05:002012-04-10T16:19:27.693-05:00Eiffel Tower picturesI went to Paris with a plan. I wanted to show my aunt as much of Paris as I could. I had already been to Paris twice. I like it, but I don't love it. It's beautiful and legendary and all, but when I think of the whole world out there, this is one of the places I don't think of as required. But everyone wants to see this:<br />
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<a href="http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/Paris%20and%20Morocco/?action=view&current=DSC_0073.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/Paris%20and%20Morocco/DSC_0073.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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My aunt had made the comment during the day that she didn't understand what was so romantic about Paris. I had taken her to eat and the Louvre and to eat and to see the Arc de Triomphe and to eat. I realized that I took her to see MY Paris. MY Paris isn't romantic because *I* am not romantic. I don't like chocolate much, flowers wilt and die and frankly I can open my own door. But my aunt wanted to take her husband (who is romantic) to Paris next year and I realized I was doing her a grave injustice by showing her the foodie side only. So I took her back and showed her this:<br />
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And my personal favorite:<br />
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She fell in love as most people do. This is by far one of the most beautiful sights in the world. I think I read somewhere that this is the most recognizable landmark in the world. If you find yourself in Paris be sure to take the Metro to the Trocadero. Once there it's easy to find the view. However, the metro itself is like casting dice, switching eight times, jumping through fire and then spinning three times. Don't do this your first day. Get to know the Metro first before you plan your excursion here. But as you can see it's completely worth the ticket!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-33681752200947899012012-03-29T19:04:00.000-06:002012-03-30T13:05:50.642-06:00Travel with a Purpose: A company to put on your radar: EarthwatchI had lunch with Erin again last week and she asked if I had heard of <a href="http://www.earthwatch.org/" target="_blank">Earthwatch</a>, which I hadn't. She told me I needed to go home and look it up immediately and so I did. Not because I listen so well really but more because she really intrigued me. Earthwatch is about travel and volunteering but it's also about working with scientists and their endeavors around the world. So like basically, it's my dream trifecta! There are lots of options but recently I had a dream about working on Easter Island so <a href="http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/haoa.html" target="_blank">this one jumped out at me.</a><br />
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"On this expedition, you'll help researchers examine the role of prehistoric rock mulching and rock placement in Rapa Nui gardens and agricultural systems as ways of creating a sustainable agricultural system. You'll also help conduct experiments assessing whether and how this prehistorical technology could be re-introduced on the island today."<br />
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Let me make clear though. These ARE NOT CHEAP. There are other options at varying lengths and activity levels but I haven't looked closely enough to see if this included airfare. I am doubting it. However this is a true scientific endeavor so you could probably get donations to help with your trip as well. Would LOVE to hear from anyone who has completed an Earthwatch Expedition.happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-62544032948543149642012-03-26T14:08:00.000-06:002012-04-10T16:22:06.750-05:00French food, restaurants & Bistro RichelieuFrench restaurants are expensive. Food in France is subsidized so that farmers are guaranteed a living wage no matter what kind of crop they make. This means cheese and fruit and vegetables and everything else used for making meals is expensive. Likewise, waiters are not heavily dependent on tips for income. So included in most meal prices is your service cost. I personally still add more, especially in Paris where service can be...well sketchy...to an American perspective. See the French love a good meal and they love to savor it. They do not want to be bothered by a waiter asking if they need anything else and shoving a check at them. So for an American who has to ask for drink refills and the check, service can seem horrid. In fact, for the French it is perfect and respectful. Cultures clash.<br />
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This is not to say you can't find an inexpensive meal at all. I mean sandwich shop fronts are open all over the city and the standby of Jambon et Fromage is ALWAYS available. And you don't look crazy walking down the street and munching on a sandwich. Everyone does it.<br />
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A sandwich and drink is usually about $5 and it's an easy way to budget lunch (of course don't forget about dessert but I'll cover that later!) And if you do sit down to eat at lunch you can usually find Prix Fixe meals that contain three courses (sometimes a drink) and aren't going to break your bank. <br />
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Dinner can be costly. The good news is that like New York restaurants are required to post menus and prices outside so you know what is available and for how much BEFORE you enter. It helps if you know French food names (or have a trusty dictionary), because they tend to START descriptions in English then add a French word every now and then. For example, I hate eating fungus. It's my one never ever food. So I am sure to know the French word for mushrooms (champignons) to avoid anything with this at all. And the French love their fungus!<br />
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Like every other country out there but America (it seems) the French also like to eat really, really late. Like 9-10 is just getting it started. Somehow these people munch on bread all day to keep themselves from gnawing their own arms at 7pm like we were about to and still stay thin. My Germanic genes however won't allow that to happen and just smelling the bread meant I had trouble zipping my pants. So I avoided the bread outside meals and we ate at 7. With all the other Americans! It's actually kind of funny when travelling to Europe. If you feel homesick eat at 7pm. Or earlier. You are SURE to find other Americans at restaurants this way!<br />
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So we happened upon Bistro Richelieu on a wet cold evening and we sat off to the side. I ordered wine and French Onion soup and something else that escapes me for my meal (I was tired at this point) and some of the best creme brulee I've ever eaten. But what made my meal the best was this:<br />
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<a href="http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/Paris%20and%20Morocco/?action=view&current=DSC_0054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/Paris%20and%20Morocco/DSC_0054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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Two of the best waiters I have ever had. The woman spoke NO ENGLISH but smiled and giggled at my atrocious French. The man spoke far better English than my French and we had a wonderful time sitting and resting and visiting with them as much as we could. Unfortunately as we were winding down the restaurant started filling up and they weren't able to talk to us much. But they were sweet and kind and these are the kind of people I think of when I hear people talk about how they were mistreated in Paris. French people don't hate Americans. They are intolerant of tourons (tourist morons) but I am guilty of that as well here in San Antonio (a tourist mecca). So please have no worries about the mean French waiter. Try out your French, show them you tried and give them a giggle over your atrocious accent. It makes the experience that much more fun!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-68891201417384015952012-03-24T07:22:00.001-06:002012-04-10T16:25:13.182-05:00Bucket List Revisited...Again...Henna UndoneI'm sure that many people start to accomplish bucket list items and then right when they are ready to git 'er done realize it's not what they imagined. Or even want. My trip to Morocco was surreal at times (having tea in a Berber cave kitchen while the son's cell phone rings was very Dr. No), but overall it was very real. Thanks to our fantastic guide Said from <a href="http://www.desertmajesty.com/" target="_blank">Desert Majesty</a>, we got to see parts of Morocco most don't even imagine exist.<br />
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And so my exotic ideas of getting my hands hennaed in Morocco flew out the window. The women who sit in Djemma El Fna in Marrakech do a beautiful job of taking tourist's money and creating superb drawings on the backs of their hands. My resident friend warned me that the black henna can cause scarring so I went off into the back roads of Meraouga and Dades and Draa Valley ready for my henna moment at the end of the trip.<br />
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Until I met Fatima. She graciously showed us how to create bread, adding ingredients like my husband's grandmother (by sight) kneading and kneading until MY arms were sore. It was as she was shaping the bread that I noticed her hands. My aunt Cynde had commented on how much time and care Fatima had spent on washing her hands before and after dough preparation. But her hands looked dirty. So I sneakily asked Said about her hands and he explained that this was the true tradition of Henna. Berber women coat the PALMS of their hands with it, cover them with material or bags then sleep so that the staining appears in the morning. THIS is the Berber tradition of beauty. NOT the designs on the backs of the hands. <br />
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Also they use it to color their fingernails and I found it precious on the shy little girl they handed me to kiss (on the cheek four times each side) that I didn't want to put down. You can see it if you look hard at her fingernails. This is Sophie (the mom, who invited me into the inner sanctum so we could all see the rest of their house!), Fatima in my arms, and Eunice in Sophie's arms.<br />
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<a href="http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/Paris%20and%20Morocco/?action=view&current=Sophiesfamily.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c82/aseal28/Paris%20and%20Morocco/Sophiesfamily.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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I have so much to say about my trip, but I still am processing it all. And getting all these pictures uploaded is a CHORE! Can't wait to share my hammam experience though!happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-25646281153446369112012-03-22T16:19:00.000-06:002012-03-22T16:19:00.667-06:00Travel with a Purpose: Costa Rica ChicaI will make it to Costa Rica some day. Flights to San Jose are crazy cheap and short from Texas and I'm not really sure why I haven't gone there yet. Craig is on the fence after seeing a web page with the variety of snakes available to play with (read: run away from) in the glorious junglish atmosphere. I have mental images of him in a tree canopy refusing to come down because there is a flashy reptile on the ground. Probably I'm holding it. He once almost jumped out of a two story building, because I was trying to get him to touch a ball python. I even knew of his fear at the time. I can be mean that way.<br />
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Opportunities to volunteer in Costa Rica are plentiful. I did a google search and found pages of ideas (and even some news stories!). The one that popped up and seemed interesting is <a href="https://www.abroaderview.org/volunteers/costa-rica/" target="_blank">Sea Turtle Conservation.</a> The costs seems the most affordable of places that I've seen so far. Two weeks is $1050. This is cheaper than cruising!<br />
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Actually I really like t<a href="https://www.abroaderview.org/" target="_blank">his company </a>from what I read. Would love to do more research on it! I think I'd like to do a Spanish immersion in Chile :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">CAVEAT EMPTOR: I personally have not worked with this orgainzation. Be sure to do all due diligence in researching a group before giving them any money and travelling to a foreign country to work with them!!!</span>happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-49393603580728763422012-03-15T16:21:00.000-06:002012-03-15T16:21:00.354-06:00Travel with a Purpose: Moroccan womenI am slightly hesitant to volunteer to teach English in certain countries. I waffle between finding it self-centered in the belief that other people need to learn my language and the knowledge that English is a common language around the world that will help people get jobs in tourism. Many Moroccans are already bi-lingual (at the least!). However the thought of opening worlds and helping women learn to read? That speaks to me! I've volunteered here at home with children and literacy and I personally think there is no greater gift to give a person than the ability to read. But as an avid reader I recognize my bias :)<br />
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If you have interest in visiting Morocco and making a difference in a woman's life, please look into <a href="http://www.proworldvolunteers.org/projects/help-improve-womens-lives-through-literacy" target="_blank">ProWorld's opportunities</a> in Meknes. This is an interesting company because they have built in excursion opportunities to Fes and Volubilis that are fantastic!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">CAVEAT EMPTOR: I personally have not worked with this orgainzation. Be sure to do all due diligence in researching a group before giving them any money and travelling to a foreign country to work with them!!!</span>happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-85578302533732974082012-03-09T10:01:00.000-06:002012-03-09T10:01:00.810-06:00Camels are called "ships of the desert" for a reasonSo one week before leaving for my trip I did research on how to ride a camel. Not my best preplanning move ever. I immediately went to my fitness instructor and said I needed to work out my inner thighs. A lot. In a new exercise segment she called the "Andrea workout" (which I didn't really appreciate because my name has been damned numerous times the past week) she worked inner thigh muscles I didn't know I had. I certainly hope this helps somewhat when I hold on with all my might using only my inner thighs.<br />
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Research will show you that riding a camel is not like riding a horse. I kind of already knew this what with being 9 feet in the air during the ride. This is not much lower than the roof of a house. So jumping off a camel is not really a likely method of dismounting. Their little spindly legs worry me because I am not little and I don't care that they are used to hauling hundreds of pounds of cargo across long stretches of desert.<br />
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Here is a short video to give you an idea:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xLRUuV1z3QA" width="420"></iframe><br />
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I hope when I get back I can post a video of one of us showing off as well! I certainly hope we get our own camel because those sharing don't look comfortable!<br />
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Additionally, some friends of mine who lived in Saudi Arabia warned me about the rocking motion. So I have stocked up on DRAMAMINE. I will be sure to take it before we get on the camel because the last thing I want is to be sea sick in the middle of the desert 9 feet off the ground! (See also: NO TOUCH MONKEY! On Dress)happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-41782806208062464152012-03-08T16:07:00.000-06:002012-03-08T16:07:00.180-06:00Travel with a Purpose: Voluntourism in FranceI am always surprised to see France (especially the Eiffel Tower) on so many people's bucket lists. While I love Europe, because I think it's the perfect place to dip your toes into travel, France has always been the place others wanted to go and I happily tagged along. Don't get me wrong. Paris is a fantastic place to be the typical traveler. <a href="http://landlopers.com/2012/02/08/tourists-in-paris/" target="_blank">Matt Long</a> covers this fabulously in the fact that so much of the Parisian experience is being part of the cliche! Baguettes, the Metro, and picnics near the Louvre. The participation in Parisian life and being a tourist is really no different that what true Parisians do! There are a variety of volunteering positions in France but the ones I think are most fascinating are outside the city. And really the South of France is nothing to sneeze at either!<br />
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<a href="http://www.concordia.org.uk/" target="_blank">Concordia</a> is a UK based company that offers farm and volunteering opportunities from construction to true archaeological work. France is an expensive travel destination so I think this would be a fantastic idea! So get your Indiana Jones on and check it out!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">CAVEAT EMPTOR: I personally have not worked with this orgainzation. Be sure to do all due diligence in researching a group before giving them any money and travelling to a foreign country to work with them!!!</span>happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-43474245163077247922012-03-06T14:03:00.000-06:002012-03-06T14:03:00.898-06:00Off the beaten path: Berlin Treptower ParkLooking over past posts, I realized that I have left out quite a bit of my trip to Berlin with Stuart. After doing Prague and day trips basically on our own, I wanted to make sure that we had a tour guide with us in Berlin. While Prague was saved during the Nazi occupation, Berlin was so destroyed the collection of rubble from the city <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teufelsberg" target="_blank">created a hill of debris</a> now grown over that held a US NSA listening station.<br />
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As I've mentioned before, <a href="http://traveltakemeaway.blogspot.com/2010/08/tale-of-two-cities.html" target="_blank">Berlin is fascinating</a> in it's sense of NOW. It is difficult to walk through the city and get a feel of the past because so much of it is brand new (but rebuilt to look like the past). So without a guide, you happen upon a building you think is hundreds of years old is in reality on 10 years old (or less!). It's a trick of the eye that not all Berliners are happy with. How much is recreating history being authentic? How much of recreated history is worth the recreation? What does it imply?<br />
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Berlin is also very rule-bound with respect to construction. The red granite of the Third Reich is so disgusted that new red construction has been destroyed because of rumors that the granite came from the Nazi regime. This makes the memorial in Treptower Park that much more special.<br />
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Our guide was getting annoyed with us I could tell. Stuart (being 17 years old) was unable to show any interest in anything and I was so excited about being in Berlin that I was pretty much willing to be shown anything, anywhere. So when she took us into the former East Berlin to see the park, she seemed a little concerned we wouldn't have an interest. Finally she mentioned that this was a Soviet memorial park. Would we mind that? My response was simple. The men who died in the war were no less human, no less someone's son or husband or brother because of their nationality. I was happy to go and ponder the "other side" simply to place perspective on a war that ended five years before my son was born. <br />
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This was one of our last stops so imagine my surprise when huge stylized flags of red marble (taken from the Third Reich Chancellory!!!) were used in the memorial.<br />
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The sheer size of this memorial is amazing. My son barely comes to the base of the kneeling soldier. But that is nothing compared to the standing Soviet solder at the end of the long garden. It is hard to put this size of this in perspective and I don't believe pictures really do it justice. The soldier is holding a child and stomping on a swastika. This marks another unique facet of this memorial. Swastikas and Nazi symbols are illegal in Germany (even as Anti-Nazi sentiment!)<br />
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Let's see if a bigger picture gives better sense of size. Look at the tiny people to the right of the picture.<br />
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The park was built after the war by widows and women as so many of the German men were killed in the war. If you travel to Berlin, I strongly recommend going off the beaten tourist path and check out this memorial. It's very peaceful and quiet and a wonderful place for contemplation.happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4608716047355578353.post-8249174095686298332012-03-05T02:46:00.000-06:002012-03-05T08:16:22.037-06:00Beer, Brisket, and Guns: God bless TexasThere are moments in my life where I take a step back and think, "Only in Texas!" Most of the time this is a good thing. This last weekend I found myself in a tent, staring at a stack of white plastic boxes.<br />
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Somehow my friend Kelly and I ended up as judges for the final Brisket competition at a local cook off. <br />
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Brisket is a big thing in Texas. It's rubbed and slathered with special herbs and sauces then cooked for hours and hours. The end result is a tender, juicy meat that you should be able to cut with a fork. If you use a knife it's not good brisket. It should also have a "smoke" ring around it showing the long hours it spent on the pit. This means all the tastings will be heavy on flavor so between every taste we needed to cleanse our palates:<br />
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Our team made the finals for brisket but no award. They did win 7th for Chicken and 2nd place (YAY!!) in Ribs. Perhaps now I should mention this is NOT a place for a Vegan. I didn't see a single vegetable the whole weekend. <br />
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SO??? You say. We have cookoffs where I live, too! What makes Texas special? Maybe all the other states celebrate their birthday EVERY YEAR. Maybe other states run their flag more often than the American (factoid: The Texas flag is the ONLY state flag allowed to fly at the same height as the American flag.) But do they also run flags for battles? The one on the bottom right is the Alamo, the one on the bottom left is from Gonzales and says <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_and_take_it" target="_blank">"Come and Take It"</a><br />
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But even more importantly...do they hold auctions selling SHOTGUNS to a bunch of beer swigging, meat eating country boys? <br />
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It's no wonder people think they are in a foreign country when they visit Texas!<br />
<br />happytravelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031965292763752170noreply@blogger.com0