Super Cheap Travel TIP #2

Love the Yellow Pages!
Anyone who has traveled with me knows of my deep love of the phone book. Love it. Did you know it's a valuable source of free maps (go ahead and rip them out!), phone numbers and addresses for all the sites in your host city. You will usually also find a listing of all the local museums, parks, and attractions, along with an events calendar.
Another awesome thing about the yellow pages: COUPONS! In the back of just about every phone book is a section full of coupons for everything from 2-for-1 pizzas to discounts on theme park admissions, bicycle rentals and airport shuttles! Just double check the expiration dates...you don't know how long that book has been hanging around!
You'd be amazed at how much more acquainted you'll be with your new surroundings after 10 minutes flipping through the pages of the phone book. You might even save a buck or two!

Summer 2007 Soundtrack

Every good trip has to have a SOUNDTRACK! You know...those songs that stick in your head long after you return to your real life. Songs you wouldn't ordinary hear as part of your 9-5 office routine. No, these are the songs you hear from the rental car's stereo speakers as you cruise around town. It's the songs blasting from behind the counter at every t-shirt shop along the beach. Every soundtrack is comprised of both songs that make you want to run to Target to pick up the CD, along songs that you are certain will drive you mad if you hear them one...more...friggin' time!!!!

Here are my summer 2007 Soundtrack hits:
Amy Winehouse (bless her soul), Rehab
Sean Kingston, Mi Love
Plain White T's, THE WHOLE DAMNED CD, actually
Rihanna, Umbrella (ay ay ay....)

Most HATED Summer 2007 Soundtrack hits:
Fergie, Big Girls (omg...if I hear that song one more time I may go absolutely insane)
Sean Kingston, Beautiful Girls (ok, this one is growing on me)
Maroon 5, you know the song...

Ok, ordinarily I'm a Maroon 5 fan, but on a recent trip to So Cal, I happened to be listening to a radio station that was presenting Maroon 5 in concert. Sadly, they killed that song for me by promoting that friggin concert during EVERY SINGLE COMMERCIAL BREAK! Since this was a top 40 station, that was basically every 10 minutes! Needless to say, they are now dead to me.
What's on your Soundtrack for 2007?

Hillsborough (NH) Stone Arch Bridges

It was during a research trip for a college class that I discovered the amazing scenic glory of Hillsborough, New Hampshire. It's not the boulder strewn mountain streams that make this place so unique. Steep forested hills and quick running streams are typical for this part of Southern New Hampshire. What makes this town a gem in the Monadnock Region actually cross those streams.

Located about 2 hours northwest of Boston, Hillsborough, NH is believed to be home to the highest concentration of “dry masonry” or “dry stone” bridges in New England. Dry stone construction uses no mortar between its stones, and uses gravity to those stones in place. Though many are familiar with the “dry stone” walls frequently seen along the back roads of New England, most are unaware of the rich history of dry stone construction in the United States.

Immigrants from Europe brought with them he techniques of their homelands. Anyone who has visited rural England or Ireland can attest to their strong tradition of dry stone construction. So when the citizens of Hillsborough decided to replace the old timber bridges, that were ill-suited for the frequent flooding of the steep streams in this hilly region, dry stone bridges were the obvious choice.

These beautiful bridges date from the early to mid 1800s have stood the test of time, survived catastrophic flooding, and several continue to carry modern automobile traffic. The proximity to Boston makes this an ideal road trip for the fans of the outdoors, architecture, and history.
Click here to learn more about these bridges and how you can check them out yourself!

Take A Vacation from your Vacation

It was completely by accident that I learned one of the most valuable travel lessons of all: you should take a vacation from your vacation. Ok, what does that mean?
I think I'm like a lot of travelers who try to cram as much into their trips as humanly possible, in spite of the fact that we always end up returning from our vacations exhausted! Isn't vacation supposed to be a refreshing change from the regular grind out our everyday lives? That's hard to remember when you're running around Paris, London, or Rome trying not to miss a thing! Sadly, all that hustle and bustle catches up to you somewhere around day 3, and you end up missing something anyway!!!
So don't sweat it!!! Save your sanity, and health, by planning a day or two of lazy down time into your travel itinerary! During my first trip to Paris, I didn't know if I'd ever be back, so my to do/see list was quite long. Even though my main objective was to see Paris, I notice that the Cannes Film Festival fell on the same dates that I would be traveling, so I decided to add a few days on the Riviera to my trip. Little did I know that adding this side trip to my itinerary would save me from my own overly ambitious agenda. So, the first three days of my trip, I ran all over Paris...walked around the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Ile St. Louis, Sacre Coeur, and alley and avenue in between! It was incredibly exhilarating, but it was also physically devastating. In those three days, I learned that no matter how broke-in you think your shoes are, you will end up buying blister pads for the inevitable foot abrasions, and I learned that your body will hurt MUCH MORE if you STOP moving...so just keep going! I never looked forward to ANYTHING, as much as I did the downtime of the overnight train ride from Paris to Nice, if only to be off my feet for a few hours.
But I DO ramble on.... Once I got to Nice, everything changed! The weather was greatly improved. The slightly cool temps of mid May in Paris were replaced by the balmy winds off the Mediterranean! The sunshine, bright colors, and beach magnificence of the resort town were a feast for the eyes, but it was the LACK of monuments, museums, and time schedules that brought me back from the brink of a total breakdown! You find that it doesn't matter what time is it...hell, I'm not sure I was totally aware of the date while I was in Nice. Everything moved at a leisurely pace. It was the exact opposite of Paris, in every way...AND I LOVED IT! All of the madness of the big city melted away as I dipped my toes into the crystal clear waters. I almost CRIED as the train took me away two days later, at sunset, but that side trip gave me what I needed most, a good rest from the madness of the mega-city that is Paris, right when I needed it most! I returned to Paris with a renewed energy, and was able to enjoy one last mad-cappped run through the city of lights before returning to the states!
So do yourself a favor: the next time you plan a trip, especially to a big city, take time to smell the roses! Plan a vacation from your vacation. You'll be glad you did.

New England Surfing???

Some time during the research and planning stages of my first trip to California this past July, I became enamored with the idea of surfing. Nah, I haven't seen the movie Blue Crush (yet), and I must admit that although I can swim, I'm a little afraid of the water! And in spite of all this, I've allowed myself to imagine myself on a surfboard. Yeah. Right. Sure!
Ok, with the craptacular shape that I'm in now, it's not really feasible...but I've decided to stop looking for reasons NOT to try it (I don't live in california, my center of gravity is in a less than advantageous location, I don't dig sharks), and start looking for ways to make this happen.
With a little Google help, I found quite a few surf shops on the east coast...yet most in much warmer places than here! But a with a little more digging I discovered Wahine Kai Surf Company. Wahine Kai means Woman of the Sea...or something like that, and it's a Maine based surf shop that not only teaches surfing to girls and women, but they also create surfboards scaled to a woman's body. As much as I'd LOVE to learn with these surf divas, Maine is just a little toooo far from Boston to make it a feasible option for a day tripper like myself.
Then I found a link for Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Company. This shop is based in Hampton Beach, NH, which is a little over an hour north of Boston. They give lessons from May through the end of September, and tout a clientele ranging in age from age 4 to age 70! Hell, if they can teach a 70 year old, maybe they can work with me??? Anyhooo, they're at the top of my list now.
So, I've found a shop that's close enough to drive to from Boston...but what about the surf? I already know that the water this far north is colder than a witch's teet (I never get tired of saying that!!!), but what about the waves? I've never seen a wave big enough to surf on at any of the beaches in the Boston area. Ok, so I've only really been to 3... So, I was a little skeptical that there would be any surf to learn on! Side note: um, duh, I don't think these companies would be in business if there was no surf in these locations, but I like to see what I'm dealing with first hand.
So I've included a picture I took this weekend at the beach. Not too bad. Good waves were coming in, but they looked tame enough to learn on.
Stay tuned! I don't think I'll try it this year, because I have quite a few pounds to lose before I'm crazy enough to wear a wetsuit...but my goal is to be on my feet on a surfboard...hangin' ten, or whatever a year from now. Pray for me!

Super Cheap Travel Tip

Need a mini vacation, but have NO CASH??? Do what I do: Visit your own town like a Tourist!
I must admit, I have it easy. I live in Boston which is a prime tourist destination, but, though I've lived here for a total of 10 years, I'm constantly reminded of the things I haven't seen or done in this city. I hadn't even been to the beach, in spite of the fact that I only live 30 minutes away by train!

During the week, open your local phone book: most have a section in the front dedicated to local parks, museums and other attractions. Pick two or three that you've never visited, or haven't visited in a long while. Get up early Saturday morning and hit the ground running. Treat yourself to a lunch featuring a local specialty, and don't forget to bring your camera!!!

Optional: if you have a few extra bucks, get a hotel room in a touristy part of town to further the illusion of travel!

It is sooooo easy to get caught up in your day to day routine and miss the cultural richness that is right outside your door...so the next time you're wishing you had the time or money for a mini-vacation, just look no further than you're own hometown!

Florida Sunset

I took this photo on Clearwater Beach in Florida with my old Largan Chameleon camera. It came out surprisingly well, considering it was definitely on it's last legs after many years of faithful service.
Views like this are what fuel my travel bug. I can't look at this picture without sighing. I can almost feel the sand beneath my toes as I type... ;)
Travel on!

Paris 2002...the endless march...

Two things I did clearly remember from my whirlwind trip to Paris and Nice during May 2002: I learned the true meaning of "walking it off" and somehow, I missed going to the top of the Eiffel Tower!

I know what you're thinking..."How the hell does one go to
Paris and NOT visit the Eiffel Tower?" Oh I visited the tower...let me explain.

Although I was holed up for 9 hours during the flight from Dallas to Paris, I was just too excited to sleep. Once I landed, it was too early to go crash out at my hotel (not that I would have wasted my first moments in Paris sleeping in my tiny hotel room!), so I pulled out my hand written "Place to Visit" list and my pocket map and put foot to pavement. First stop, THE EIFFEL TOWER, of course!!!

Here's what I wrote on le 16 mai 2002 at 15:30 about that:

Well, of course, my first photos had to be of la Tour

Eiffel! It is HUGE! Of course, I knew it would be, but I

think the amazing part id the beautiful details, like the

curly cues and the beautifully carved pedestals upon which

it sits. And the weather could not be better. I'm going

to wait to go to the top. The line is long and I'd love to

see it at night.

Yeah, well...we know THAT didn't happen. After a LOT of trips on the metro, validating my rail pass and finding the hotel, I spent the rest of the day walking the beautiful neighborhoods around the Eiffel Tour/ Champs de Mars area, heading into the center of the city, reveling in the sights of the Ile de France area, Notre Dame, Ste. Chappelle, the small islands in the Seine. I crossed the Pont des Arts and walked through the streets of the Latin Quarter, with its tangled streets and back alleys, back to my hotel, which was located in the predominately residential Contrescarpe neighborhood.



AND THAT WAS DAY ONE!!!

For some reason I have no notes for day two...I might have been in a coma for most of the day as the lack of sleep caught up with me, followed with more neighborhood walking. I enjoyed Luxembourg Garden and all of the fountains. Paris even has Roman Ruins! Who knew??? I was amazed...and kept on walking!

Day three was the Louvre. If you've never been...well, you probably won't understand why that's basically all I did on day two. There was more wandering about the streets of Paris, which is the real museum. It's like NYC without the tall buildings. So multi-ethnic! Oh and the people dress MUCH better than we Americans do.

Day four I left Paris. I had planned a side trip to Nice and the French Riviera. I had no idea when I initially planned this trip, that this side trip was an EXCELLENT idea!!! I call it the vacation from my vacation. It was a much needed change of pace from the non stop bustle of Paris. I didn't realize how much running around I had done until I hit the laid back Riviera. Needless to say...I did a lot of hanging out at the beach!!! But this blog entry is about PARIS!

After 4 awesomely relaxing days on the Mediterranean, I reluctantly left the leisurely pace of the cote d'azur behind me, and returned for one more day in Paris before flying back to Dallas. After consulting my places to visit list, I realized that I had hit only half of the places I had planned to visit. Needless to say, I felt obliged to try to hit as many of those sights as I could in the time I had left.

That last day, I visited the following Paris destinations: the Musee D'Orsay, Sacre Coeur and Montmartre, and the Pere LaChaise Cemetery (you know...the one with Jim Morrison). The cemetery was a bit of a hike, but worth it. So many famous people are buried there...it was amazing. Writers, composers, authors. Even Maria Callas is buried there. I heard that Cher even has purchased a plot in the cemetery.

That last night, I decided to hit one more sight before heading back to the hotel to pack for my early flight back. Although I had not yet gone to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I decided to forgo the climb, and, instead, visit the Arc de Triomphe. The rain from the afternoon continued into the evening, but I took the metro to the Champs Elysees and walked toward the huge French symbol located in the center of a 3-lane rotary. At first, it's not clear how exactly you're supposed to get to the structure without being flattened by the rushing traffic flying in circles around it. Thank goodness, someone had mercy on visiting pedestrians and installed a tunnel beneath the rushing traffic.

The Arc de Triomphe was an very pleasant surprise; not only is it a monument to French battles of the past, but you can also go into it. There's a narrow spiraling stone staircase that takes you to a large hall at the top, with some very cool displays on the history of the monument. At the end of the hall, there's another small spiral stair case that takes you all the way to the top of the monument itself. The night views of the city from the top were SPECTACULAR!!! The lighted avenues radiate out from this central spot towards all corners of the city...and through the mist, I saw it: the Eiffel Tower, all lit up with a rotating spotlight at the top. It was breathtaking and well worth the climb! I was still sad that I had not made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but this view was an excellent consolation prize.

One great piece of travel advice I've received in my life is to never regret the things you didn't do during a trip. Instead, enjoy the sight you do see, then GO BACK to see the rest. That piece of advice drove me to begin planning my return visit to Paris. That next year, in May 2003, I did just that. And the very first thing I did? I climbed that tower! Oh yeah, I did. And I'm sure I appreciated it that much more for the wait!!!

I'd like to thank Rayleen Putman for giving me the mini notebook with the American flag on the cover, that I used to take notes during my very first transatlantic trip to the land of croissants and berets. I still have it, and thanks to that notebook, I was able to relive that first trip, that, until now, seemed a zillion years ago! She's my sister from another mother and I wish she wasn't soooooooooo very far away!!! :)

The Inaugural Post!

Wow! I'm a blogger! Ooh, it feels a little naughty, but don't worry, folks! I'll keep it clean! Let's start with the reason I created this blog: I LOVE TO TRAVEL! There, I said it! Almost as much as travel, I love to TALK about travel! The places I've been, the places I'd love to visit, and the places I wish I could UN-visit! I don't pretend to be an expert on travel. Lord knows, every trip I've ever been on has been a learning experience...not just about the location, but the process of getting there, getting around, and getting the hell up outta there!!!
What can readers expect from this blog? Well, you'll get my take on just about every aspect of travel...from my own travel experiences. There are lots of travelers who have traveled to a heck of a lot more locales than I have (basically I've only hit two continents, including the one in which I currently reside ), and you'll find plenty of intrepid trekkers who have been to more exotic locales than I have ever dreamed of visiting (any place that requires a machete, is probably NOT the place for me), but I guarantee, you'll be hard pressed to find another chica who loves to travel as much as I do!
So, I hope you enjoy my rants and raves, and take this blog in the spirit in which it is intended: WITH MUCH LOVE!!!!