Bless your socks :) Day 3

We woke up at the crack of dawn again -- jet lag still there.  Today was a beautiful day in Cairns (pronounced like cans -- beer cans, vegetable cans etc.).   My travel partner went out earlier than I on a boat to Green Island.  Since I am allergic to boats, especially  those in the open water with people telling me how awful the trip is, I took a seaplane.  Yes, I am spoiled but I work so therefore I will do it my way.  

I cannot tell you how freaking COOL it was to do this.  Got in a rubber dingy to go out to the plane.  I must have lost my mind because I wasn’t even worried about it.  There was a pontoon platform with a bunch of Chinese tourists waiting on us.  There were three passengers for our flight, me and a nice German couple going to the island for a night.  

Our British pilot let me sit in front.  FYI this was a one engine plane, sweet cousin, I was throwing that in there for you.  Additionally it was a 1950’s DeHavilland, they stopped making them in 1973.  I felt like Amelia Earhart -- the window was open and I was just soaring through the air.  The open water below us, the prop buzzing in front of me.  Oh yeah and there was the Great Barrier Reef one of the most awesome sites in the world - I HIGHLY recommend seeing it by air at least once.  I was disappointed I couldn’t get an hour air tour.  

At Green Island we landed and stepped into a boat, my friend was waiting at the beach for us.  Green Island is a money maker for sure.  I took a semi sub to view the reef, again AWESOME.  (I cannot say that word enough on this trip.)  I wish I had more time here and had brought my suit so I could have snorkeled, but so is life.  

Took a semi sub (ie it didn’t actually descend) with Nathan and his engineer dad (cute little boy who was SO excited about seeing the fish but not so excited about going back to snorkel in his body covering wetsuit).  The reef was so alive, I do not know words to describe it -- it was like being in a reallife version of “the Little Mermaid” -- I was just waiting to see Ariel sitting on a reef somewhere with that talking clam ---the fish were everywhere and even saw a couple of seaturtles. 

We had an awful hamburger at the cafe on the island and the one legged bird and his brother with the deformed foot made sneak attacks on our plates for some fries.  Asian tourist were everywhere, one guy must have no fear as he just whipped off his khakis and ran around the island in his fruit of the loom boxer shorts.  At least his shirt covered almost all of the briefs too.  The ladies all walked around with umbrellas for shade. 

Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Park was something from out of the 1950’s --- an ancient park that had live crocs in little bitty cages with a small thing of water - Cassius was 15 metres long.  They looked plastic a little.  In a way it was very sad.  They also had massive croc skins and a wall of newspaper articles about croc attacks and photos of the victims’ eaten limbs, ugh gross.  

Walked around island and on beach, I waded in the water.  It was so warm it made me almost go buy a new swimsuit so I could snorkel.  Had to wade out about 100 feet through seagrass to get to dingy for my seaplane (unbeknown to me it was jellyfish/ stinger season and we were both very fortunate not to get stung).  The dingy even hit a reef rock on way out to plane -- lowest tide they have seen in years.  The plane had to go out further to take off.  I was the only one on that flight and it was wicked!!! Cairns Seaplanes I can recommend. 

On the pontoon waiting on my ride, I saw a Tiger plane -- a 1930’s era acrobatic plane doing circles and dives.  So in addition to me flying in an antique seaplane, I was treated to a free air show.  How do I get a ride on one of those? 

Once back I strolled through town and somehow ended up at my mothership -- I found the local MALL.  Got extra camera battery (mine is going down too quickly), local cell phone and a mini traveling curling iron -- essentials.  They even had a Target in there and the books were expensive.  

Also went into luggage store and found Samsonite Backpack on super sale from these very nice ladies -- I told them I was so excited I could just about hug their necks.  They had never heard that before and told me -- “Bless your socks”  that is like our “Bless your heart”.  They even ran after me when I left my water bottle.  Nicer folks you couldn’t meet. 

We ended up eating at a Greek Restaurant -- Adelfia.  Was very good and had a few interesting other patrons in there -- bright florescent red hair??  At the local sports bar, we met some of the townie wild life -- Hank  in particular and his buddies explained (or tried to) the difference between Aussie Rules Footie (“big hunks of meat” in their words) and Rugby (athletes) --- the explainers where Queenslanders so they admitted they are biased.  Hank builds ecofriendly pools all over the world (I thought he was lying at first, but he wasn’t).  

It is so refreshing to talk to someone who is so passionate about what they are into.   Didn’t really get to sleep that early ---- Bless his socks, he was a funny guy.

How many different ways are there to the Sydney Airport? Day 2

Our first night in Australia was a restless one.  We went to sleep early around 9 and I woke up at least 3-4 times during the night.  The view out our window was of the Sydney Bridge.  Jet lag is not fun.  Our flight to Cairns was scheduled for 11:15 a.m. and we had set an 8:30 a.m. pickup for a shuttle (trying to save a few dollars).  

At 6:45 a.m., I got up and hit the shower and got ready.  We packed our suitcases.  Yes, as discussed in previous posts, I have packing issues.  And though I did quite well considering I will be on this journey for 30 days, I still have too much stuff.  22 kg in my checked bag and my carry on is a heavy duffel and my purse. C’est la vie.  I know I can handle it.  My travel partner did bring 7 pair of shoes, so in my mind she beat me.  I only brought 3 pair. 

We went to a little cafe next to our hotel called “the fine food store” and had greek yoghurt and poached fruit.  “What, pray tell, is poached fruit?” I asked the young man  at the counter. 

He replied “it’s fruit that is cooked in sugar”.  I asked him if there was anyway I could get plain fruit or fresh fruit.  He gave me a quizzical stare, “no we don’t have any”.  I thought, what a ding dong is this?  How do you get poached fruit without having plain fruit first.

Walked around the Rocks a little.  We saw cockatiels in the trees, what’s up with that?  I didn’t expect that but they were pretty.  

Went up to the roof top of the Holiday Inn and the view was awesome -- the Opera House, Quay and Bridge. 

How many ways to get to the airport???? Three ways for sure:

You could walk -- maybe we should have tried this.  You could take a shuttle  (to save money) - we did try this (Shuttle driver a nice older gentleman who used to drive “road trains” from Sydney to Darwin) but a shuttle broke down (only us).  You could end up in a taxi with our shuttle mates -- a very nice couple from Auckland (nurse and airplane mechanic). The Kiwis were a little standoffish at first and then by the time we got to the airport, they all but hugged our necks when we left them.  

Our first domestic flight experience was interesting.  You check in at kiosk, go to baggage drop off.  They didn’t ask for our passports or any form of ID.  Then in security, I took out my laptop.  But they didn’t want liquids, our shoes, our belts, or ANYTHING including our ID and boarding pass.  The girls at security started laughing when we stood there in disbelief and were about to take our shoes off.

In the airport, we met a young man from Brisbane (he gave me lots of tips for when I go visit in a couple of weeks). They had a Subway, so I got a sandwich.  :) yum.  FYI they don’t sell chips (aka crisps) or apple slices at the restaurants here.

I have seen many an interesting site at the airport, but the below picture takes the cake.  His girlfriend was very young and pretty, so we were guessing he had to be loaded, because she wasn’t going out with him for his brilliant style.  

The plane was delayed leaving Sydney.  I sat beside Nanny, who was a grandmother from Laguna - a suburb of Sydney.  She was traveling with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and two precious granddaughters (they were as well behaved as they could be under the circumstances).  This family was extremely nice and friendly. 

Now the young boy in front of us, was a horse of a different color.  He kept hitting me with a book and kicking the seat in front of him.  I just sat there and his mother kept apologizing and I said, “he’s only a little boy”.  But the lady in front of him, stood up and paid the mother out well.  There was a nicer way she could have done this, but yes the mother had not even once corrected the little boy. I did feel for her as he was a handful. 

The worst part about it was the father (who was a little older) ignored his wife and children, and flirted with a pretty little teenager while he exited the plane, can we say sleeper sofa?

Got to Cairns and it was hot, felt very reassuring as it was like home -- humidity here we come.  Two Frenchmen came and got us at the airport.  The Balinese Hotel provides free airport transfers.  It was close to the airport and the people were very nice.  The rooms were decorated in Balish decor, but oddly enough they have old crown molding with roses on it -- not very beachy. Go figure.  

We took off for town for dinner and to see what Cairns had to offer.  Our street was a little seedy -- but it was pretty close to town.  Tons of backpacker accommodations and junk shops.

On the main strip we ended up at “Spicy Bite - a new era of Indian Cuisine” - whatever that means.  We had chicken (mild) and kangaroo (medium) curry - passed on the croc for now :)  The kangaroo looked like roast beef and was a little chewy.  We were told if you got it too well done it would be tough.  It’s a more rare meat.  There was a very severe looking lady at the restaurant with us in the entertainment industry who used to live in New Orleans.  Think Annie Lennox from the Eurythmics -- but extremely tan. 

Walked around the square - extremely high end shops here - Louis Vuitton, Cartier, etc.  No, I didn’t go in any - they were closed.  We went in Woolworths instead and bought $15 bananas (yes, $15 for 6-- we didn’t look at the price before we got them).

Instead of walking back through the seedy neighborhood, we strolled along the Esplanade and saw many people out.  A dad was teaching his daughter how to rollerblade, it was funny.  The water was very murky and crocs live in the area.  No one swims here.  The walkway was very well lit and extremely nice.   They have a nice public water park area also that is a vanishing pool into the other water but doesn’t touch it. 

We were exhausted when we got back to our room as we had walked and walked and walked. 

  

We booked our tours for the weekend -- Saturday - excursion to Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef  -- Sunday - excursion to Cape Tribulation area.  

The Sun never knew it’s beauty until it saw it’s reflection off my roof....Day 1

Well, I survived a 14 hour flight from LAX to Sydney, Australia, whilst losing April 13, 2011.  We arrived at the crack of dawn to a beautiful sunrise over the ocean.  My seat mates were a professional photographer from Melbourne and a mining engineer from Denver.  They were very nice and entertaining.

Day One -- Australia --

 We made it into our hotel, but of course it was too early to check in.  These people look at me as if I am from outer space when I open my mouth.  Seriously, they have accents too.  I have decided there are different languages and American and Australian are two different ones.  I am learning Australian from the bottom up, mates.

After somewhat checking in our hotel in The Rocks (quaint little area)  Holiday Inn Old Sydney-- you could almost envision ragged/haggard convicts alighting from their 9 month + ship journey from England.  And here we were ragged and haggard alighting from our taxi from a 24 hour journey -- man up ladies!

We hit the Circular Quay and caught our first view of the Opera House.  I do not have sufficient words to describe this site ---- MAGNIFIQUE!! AWESOME!! UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!   are my best attempts.  Paris has the Eiffel Tower, London has the Tower, and NYC has the Statue of Liberty. I have seen all of these, but I can assure you none of these compare to the Opera House.  The Opera House is more low key in some ways because it isn’t as “historic” or symbolic.  But it just seems more down to earth and friendly --- more accessible--- just like the people of this country.  

In the Quay was the BIGGEST cruise ship -- Rhapsody of the Seas.  There were tons of people getting on the ship, I guess they were leaving today.  Even that big it wouldn't be for me.

Whilst (loving these new words - don't know if I am using them properly, but who cares) eating my breakfast of fresh fruit from the CQ Cafe, we saw many people running around the Quay and going to work.  I saw one thing that quite threw me.  In a metro area, the ladies were wearing nasty cheapie flip flops to work.  I might have been wearing the same clothes for 24 hours and have had no shower, but that really got to me.  Ladies get some tennis shoes.  Flip flops with no pedicure are not a welcome site.  I will give them one thing -- nail polish down here costs about $12.50 a bottle so maybe they just can’t afford it.


As we were suffering from major travel exhaustion, we took the Red Double Decker tour bus and were joined by a very nice young man from Germany, who had also just arrived.  It was a fabulous day, about 75 degrees and sunny.  After touring the whole city, we took the tour to Bondi Beach and had lunch at Ravesi’s.  Our very nice waitress was a San Francisco college student that was going home next week.  The view was great and the food was good -- pumpkin ravioli with asparagus and cheese and kingfish and oysters ("don't eat the seafood if you can't see the water" and we were overlooking the water).

The people watching was pretty good too -- a bright pink haired lady hailed a cab, a Ferrari drove by at a great rate of speed and a young man in a Toyota got a ticket for something from a policeman in a bright yellow vest.  To top off the characters, there were skateboarders and some moron who kept doing back flips off the beautiful mosaic benches and planters.  

At the beach we saw young skateboarders and surfers.  In the water, we saw the older surfers hotdogging in the waves enjoying the beautiful Thursday afternoon. 

Back on the bus, we were granted wonderful views that overlooked the city. 

Our next stop was Hyde Park, I was pleasantly surprised with this place and think it is one of my favorite places ever -- I could sit there in the shade and just watch the interesting sites for hours.  The fountain was beautiful but dwarfed by the majestic trees that border the sidewalk.   Also there were creatures in the park, and I am not talking about the weird birds we saw (and heard) but the juvenile delinquents hanging out (they are the same all over the world - skateboarding through the people).  

The Sydney Opera House tour did not disappoint.  Martin was a wonderful tour guide who treated us to three theatre viewings -- the first is where they are staging “Much Ado About Nothing” (which I might catch on my trip back to Sydney); the second where they were practicing for the stage rendition of the music from Final Fantasy (I was told it was a Japanese video game - but I have never heard of it) -- this was great to listen to in this amazing venue, beautiful live music is always a treat;  and third to the small theatre where they were practicing for Madame Butterfly the ballet.  Great stuff and the inside is just as magnificent as the outside.  -- So we got a tour/history and saw a ballet and a concert -- what a great value. 

Once outside, we took a sunset tour of the Harbour on the Cook Cruise Lines. There was one shot we couldn't get -- the naked men on the shoreline near a residential area on the rocks.  I sure hope this was their backyard and not their neighbors. 

I have seen many a beautiful sunset in my day -- but this is in the top 5 for sure.  The sky was lined with shades purples, blues, oranges, and reds.   I have a friend who lives here and I hope that when he goes home at night, it is early enough for him to enjoy that site every day.  It was breathtaking to look at the Bridge and Opera House in that lighting.  I am debating taking the sunset bridge climb now, or go during the day?  Choices, choices..

As we troopered on, we thought it best not to go back to the hotel until we were done for the evening -- two more stops to make - the Shangri-La Hotel and a place to eat.  I have yet to figure out how a Southern Accent can melt someone, but whatever works, use it.  We looked like drowned rats, yet this very nice young man at the Blu Horizons bar let us in.  (The sign said smart business dress, and we were three steps out of a homeless shelter after not showering and having stained blue jeans and tennis shoes.)  Seeing Sydney from the 36 floor of this great hotel  was a memorable experience.  We watched the cars merge in and out and realized - Sydney drivers are much nicer than US drivers who don’t know what merge means.

After finding a forgettable restaurant in the Rocks, we went back to our room and plugged in our dead camera batteries (I killed two today) and dead cell phone -- we didn’t have time to plug it in at any airport due to our delays.   Note to self use those electronic chargers I packed.

This was a great shower as we hadn’t had one in so long. Went to bed with a wet head of hair and didn’t even care.  :)

And yes the tag line above was correct -- after the sights we saw today in my new third favorite country -- "The Sun never knew it’s beauty until it saw it’s reflection off my roof" tshirt in the Opera House gift shop.  I saw the reflection and the beauty and it was an awesome sight....Thank you Sydney for a great day...

Who let the donkeys out???

Girls birthday weekend/French Quarter Fest 2011

A beautiful April weekend in New Orleans with friends, one would expect to pass a good time and enjoy the free local music.  And we did.  The sights we saw.  (Yes, that is a miniature donkey with painted hooves.) 

Our weekend started out with a late night arrival and an early start the next day.  We took an invigorating walk on the levee and through the quarter.  You always meet the most interesting characters early in the a.m.   Either they are just getting in from going out, still out, or waking up early for some cafe au lait and beignets.  Also the smells are pungent from the previous night's revelry.  The trash trucks cannot get there early enough.  

Mr. B’s Bistro never disappoints --- crawfish ravioli, BBQ shrimp, gumbo, and bread pudding -- yummy!

After lunch we continued to walk but not for exercise.  We had to contribute to the local economy and found a great new art gallery -- artist - Peter O’Neill - loved it.  Also there were a few shops that needed to lighten our wallets.  We spent our siesta in the French Market Cafe outdoor area listening to Jazz and doing some major people watching.  A street person painted entirely in silver wanted to make sure he got in our pictures.  

Then for Bourbon Street Crawl --- You must always start with a good meal -- Antoine’s could have done the trick with us but it left lots to be desired this time.  I have been there several times before and the service and food were great.  This time, not so much -- the service was so so (busboy was great and the waiter was invisible) and the food was not good.  I think this will be my last time to frequent this historic establishment.  If you go, enjoy the atmosphere, but beware of the food.  And always get the tour -- it is a very historic establishment.

We hit Bourbon Street but were not sufficiently shod, or were we?  I guess it depends on what  your purpose on Bourbon Street is.  (Ended up in cheap flipflops from a junk store before the night was out.)

We started in a “new” dance bar and saw a great band with the female lead singer decked out in silver rhinestones.  They always have a high turnover of “new” clubs.  Saw the renovated Tropical Isle -- was not overly impressed because the atmosphere of the old one was forever gone.  Danced our way down to the quintessential tourist karaoke hangout called Cat’s Meow.  Yes, you can sometimes catch a good singer - we saw a girl kill with a Snoop Dogg song.  Fritzel’s was packed and had a great little jazz combo. The Blacksmith Shop’s crowd was light but as always the walk there - entertaining.  Only meet one drag queen who was selling drinks from his/her little minibar.  We called it a night and were in the room asleep by 2?? Getting old sucks. 

Our Magazine Street/Spa day was wonderful.  I highly recommend grabbing a slice of pizza at the appropriately named Slice Restaurant on Magazine Street - the pizza with tomato sauce was the best of the two options.  At Earthsavers, we enjoyed the ultimate in luxury and the staff were great.  When we left, we were very relaxed.  This is a great place to visit if you want to be pampered.  Or just to unwind after a long day of doing the quarter.    

However, we were so relaxed, we barely made our hard to get dinner reservations at Emeril’s Delmonico.  OMG what a blessing to make up for the mediocre dinner the night before.  We all loved it.  The piano playing was amazing and the food outstanding! Crab cakes, lobster and corn beignets, BBQ shrimp, filet, and dirty rice, what more could one ask for.  

People from the South enjoy good food (and we have the best food in the world in the South and the US).  When a Southerner goes somewhere (anywhere in the world), they normally remember a place by it's food -- Austin for the South Congress area, New York for Little Italy, and Chicago for it's pizza and popcorn.   It’s very reassuring to be in a city where "makin' groceries" is a common occurrence and as soon as you eat one meal, your first question is -- Where will we eat tonight/tomorrow? -- and you know there is a 98% chance you will get a good meal.  We did eat our way around Nola and finished the weekend off with Sunday morning beignets from Cafe du Monde (in Metairie on Veterans -- and we had to get some Gambino's to take home, of course). 

Our hotel was ok except for the ants upon checkout.  We had the BEST valet, Kendrick --- did we always have our running clothes on and look slouchy? No matter, when he asked if we were aerobic instructors, we were EXTREMELY pleased :)

Great Company, Excellent Food, Interesting Sites, and Beautiful Music --- So long for now fair city, we will return soon......   Now about those donkeys, I wonder how long the line is at the Orleans Parish permit office to get that parade permit?

Frankly my dear, I don’t give a d#@!!

Yes, Scarlett O’Hara was a tough Southern Belle, but she traveled light in that wagon out of Atlanta.  She took Ms. Mellie, Prissy and Rhett.  No Samsonite for her.  When she got to Tara she dressed herself in green curtains.

Modern Southern Belles wouldn’t be caught dead in an outfit like that.  But we have to get out of the habit of traveling like movie stars ---Regular people are only entitled to one checked bag under 50 pounds and a carryon less than 20 pounds??? How can you pack for 3 days like that, nonetheless 20 days?  What about variety and style?  How many shoes and handbags can you pack in that? 

This is where it comes to the suck it up princess part for me.  My first packing conundrum came when I went backpacking and to school in Europe for 8 weeks.  I packed a large backpack and my dad and I went for a hike through the neighborhood.  Afterward I went directly to my room and unpacked half of the items in the pack.  Ending up with a manageable amount, I had a trip of a lifetime.  Man, did I love my old navy t-shirt I took with me that summer.  (I still have it by the way.)

When I go off for a weekend, I take at least three outfits too many.  You never know what the weather will be (I know there is weather.com, but how often are weathermen correct?).  This is acceptable practice when taking a road trip from home in your SUV.  But when you are traveling by plane somewhere, this is very cumbersome and impractical.  One of my family's travel rules is "don't pack it, if you can't carry it yourself". 

Recently on a trip to Croatia, I had to take an EasyJet flight to Italy.  My travel partner gave me quite a bit of grief over my packing skills, or lack thereof. I admit I take too much on trips.  I admitted it then.  I will always admit it.  The sweet lady behind the counter took pity on me and helped me out, as she saw what ribbing I got for my traveling style.  There is a funny picture from this, that I still have gotten yet.  

My male travel companion, of course, had packed light for a trip even longer than my journey.  I admire his packing ability but know that I will never be that efficient.  I like choices and conveniences -- he didn’t complain when I had Solarcaine for his sunburn (after one trip of not finding any in Paris, I always take this with me -- Winter trips -- hand warmers are a necessity,  they don't sell those in foreign countries and Paris at New Year's is not Hawaii).  I take insect repellant and medicines for most emergencies as well. “Be Prepared” isn’t that Boy Scout motto great? 

In quite a few travel magazines, there are many an article regarding “How to Pack?”  Stylish trenchcoats, fancy pants expensive bags, high heels and Evian spritzer -- not exactly functional attire/ accessories -- I have never really found these articles helpful. 

When traveling, I opt for black drawstring comfy pants, a white t-shirt, and a worn blue chambray shirt.  If possible, crocs or other slip-on shoes (with socks for the plane) make airport security quicker and easier.  When traveling to a cold location, I take my coat on the plane to save room in my suitcase.  And I always seem to need that extra room in my suitcase. 

I excel at few sports, and one of them is shopping.  I can find a bargain just about anywhere, even on a concrete floor of Les Puces de Saint-Ouen in the vintage post card booth (and I am not fluent in French).  In Salisbury, my sister and I found the TK Maxx (the English version of TJ Maxx).  When I go on an adventure, I always have to compete in my favorite sport.   One never knows what treasures are out there. 

Unfortunately, my new standard operating procedure is to carry an empty Eddie Bauer duffle (circa 1990) in my suitcase just in case.  Too many trips have ended up with a late night search for an extra suitcase in junk shops whether it be in London or New York City.  I have quite a collection of suitcases and bags from these times.

Isn’t it bad that you are in Paris and learn a new word -- “balance” = scales -- because you are trolling for scales to weigh your suitcases -- one of which was a new purchase at the Galeries Lafayette (it's red and quite smart).  It is an interesting experience to spend your last night in the best city ever searching stores for scales.  Which we didn't buy because they were SO overpriced.

Instead we tallied up how much we thought was the worst case scenario for our overage, only to be blessed with an emergency allowing us to check ALL of our bags and pay nothing for the weight nor number of bags.  This was right after the blanket bomber and the airlines were security checking everyone twice prior to boarding so they wanted passengers to check all bags instead of carrying lots of stuff on the plane.  (We were 2 hours late leaving due to this --  but cha-ching no paying for our weighty and numerous bags.)

Suffice it to say, I like to contribute to the local economies and have even had to mail home packages to accommodate this habit.  Retail therapy is good for the psyche. While I buy for myself, most of my purchases are for family and friends -- it’s more fun to give than receive. 

If I could just get the initial packing for the trip under control, it would leave more room for the purchases.  Scarlett had the right idea  --- travel light and improvise when you get there.  But hand warmers and Solarcaine do come in handy and I doubt my packing habits will change.  Common sense and travel restrictions do limit my options -- 50 pound bag coming right up -- I am presently at 26 pounds for an upcoming trip, what am I missing?  Daddy, please come over and help me pack.  How about a walk around the neighborhood?

Karl Pilkington or not? Perfect Travel Partners...

If you haven’t seen “Idiot Abroad” yet, you need to.  I love the show but know that I could NEVER travel with someone like Karl.  He is never happy and he complains like you wouldn’t believe.    It is one thing to commiserate with your travel companion along your trip.  But it’s another thing to just sit and whine/complain the entire time you are on a trip.   

(FYI it’s also great to have someone to go through the travel experience with you, even if it is a bad partner, but sometimes it might be better to be solo than with a horrible partner.)

My idea of a nightmare trip would be to be stuck on a bus/boat with lots of people, if you know them or not.  You just can’t account for other people’s stupidity, tastes or actions. I have been there and done that -- 2 busloads of Texans in Italy.  I chose to ride on the bus with the luggage and a few people, versus the other bus with the majority of the people.  They were all nice people, but sometimes even nice people shouldn’t travel together.  That was my first and last “group” trip. 

I have been very fortunate in that I have had great travel companions.  Since I started traveling with my family, my favorite travel partners are my parents and siblings.  As my brother, JR, says “I have to put up with you”.  That is so true, but my family is fun and adventurous, so we got lucky.  There is no question as to them leaving you.  They know all your good points and bad.  If they complain you can tell them to “suck it up princess”.  Conversely, if you are the complaining one, they can smack you upside the head and tell you to suck it up also and you aren’t offended.  With family, you are honest and sometimes, unfortunately, more harsh with than friends or romantic partners.  

When you are dating someone, you are normally dating the representative.  If you travel with someone it is very difficult to be the representative for long.  Close quarters, little privacy and too much time together --- it a true test of wits and patience.  A trip with a romantic partner can kill a relationship very quickly or strengthen it immeasurably.  

I advise before committing to anyone, take them on a trip -- see how they travel.  If they unravel under the least stress and end up in a ball on the floor, that is a bad thing.  If they buck up and roll with the punches, then they might be keepers.

Friends can be great to travel with or horrible to travel with.  I have close friends that I would never want to travel with  -- even on a short weekend trip.  My friends might think the same of me.  I talk too much and am a tad bit anal on some things.  But I do try to be open to new things and cultures.  In my career and work life, I am a control freak, but I have to be due to my responsibilities.  In my travels, I try to be more laid back, fun, and open minded.

I have a select few close friends that I would travel with anywhere and anytime -- throw us on a desert island I think we could have a good time.  A friend from college, a friend from work in London, and a friend from home -- they have put up with me in good times and in bad.  Being lucky, they have invited me on many a dream trip -- backpacking through Europe (a great experience in roughing it for this Southern Princess), road trips through Italy (yes, I would go in a camper van if asked again -- but there must be screens and insect repellent), and hanging out in Paris (my favorite city to explore).  We have weathered a rainy Amsterdam day, early morning homeless German male advances in a Vienna train station, and the Italian trains without a reserved seat.  We have weathered the heat, mosquitoes, crazy drivers, offensive fashions, male purses, and the twilight zone in Italy.  We have persevered through the frigid temperatures of Paris in the dead of winter.  If you can survive some of these memorable travel experiences and still be talking to each other, then that is a great travel partner and a good steadfast friend. 

Sometimes opposites traveling together can make a trip more eventful/exciting.   My cousin and I are opposites.  She is very detailed oriented and regimented -- having an itinerary for the whole trip.  I, on the other hand, love a road trip where you decide where you are going a few days before you go.  We have been stuck together for 40 years now.  And when we get together we act like children (not a bad thing sometimes).  

If you can sit and not talk and just start giggling because you are together, that is a great travel partner and I am fortunate enough to be related to some and have friends who are like that.  A travel companion of mine would be very surprised to discover that just hanging out with him in a cafe people watching and NOT talking is more fun that being on a tour with obnoxious orange clad tourists.  

The perfect travel partner attributes in my opinion:

someone who is down to earth and not rude to people

someone who rolls with the punches and can deal with big and small problems/snafus

someone who is open to new cultures and wants to experience the unfamiliar around them

someone who is funny and honest and loves life 

someone who is quiet and not obnoxious 

someone who is honest and tactful

and most importantly, someone who will go and see at least a few of the things I want to go and see (or at least let me go see them and sit and wait on me).

I try my best to be the best traveler I can -- Be a traveler not a tourist :)  So suck it up princess and have a great time whoever you go with, but if you are unlucky and they are no fun, you can have fun enough for both or all of you.   Karl you are great to watch but please don't be on the tour bus with me.  Or if you are, please keep the complaining to a minimum. 

Timing is everything! Hand warmers or fans? Pick your poison

When dealing with real estate, location is everything.  When dealing with travel, timing is a key element. 

Summer in Italy?  New Year’s in Paris? Maybe not the best timing.  Less people, yes, but extreme temperatures -- Had a great time in those places at those times, but Spring or Fall anywhere would probably be the best time to go.  

I have spent New Year’s in Paris - standing under the Eiffel Tower with a few hundred of my newest closest friends.  It was a tad bit frigid and hand warmers were a necessity.  I will never forget that night, nor the immigrant taxi driver trying to keep his kids warm.   

A month in Croatia and Italy can be a great experience. During July?  If you learn the words Troppo Caldo because they appear on the TV news every night, it might mean it’s a tad bit sweltering out.  I will always remember sweating it out in Herculaneum. And hiking up Mt. Vesuvius early in order to beat the heat.

Like Goldilocks -- you would think I would have learned by now.  Springtime in New Zealand and Fall in New Orleans - those were perfect weather trips.  Not too cold and not too hot. 

Sometimes the weather can make the trip more memorable.  Walking in the snow in the Versailles Gardens/ Central Park - walks and moments that will not ever be forgotten.  Swimming in a Sorrento pool/ Hanging out in San Marco Square  in the Italian summer heat, it was so hot you could almost see the heat in the air all around you.  You could feel it and remember that sensation and the view of looking up at a daunting Italian Riviera train station staircase with your 30 pound backpack. 

Coming from the Deep South, heat and humidity are a part of my daily life (even in Winter).  But unlike some places, we have great investments in air conditioning.  Lots of European countries invest more in heating than in air conditioning.  One of the best souvenirs I have from Croatia is a little handheld fan I received free at an outdoor music festival :)  It came in very handy when it was Troppo Caldo. 

When planning your next adventure, just keep in mind that in addition to the place you are going and who you are going with -- a key element of your trip is the weather -- so if you plan a trip to Oregon in October, bring a rain poncho because 40 days and nights of rain is biblical.  Extreme weather might “make” your dream trip more memorable.  Keep a positive attitude and enjoy the extremes. 

Hand warmers I can buy and hit the snowy Parisian streets.  Troppo Caldo or not, I would enjoy a return to Italy even in a July.  Bring on the extremes, it makes a great part of the story!

Search the Globe...

When my brother and I were little, we had a globe.  Our dad and mom used to give us a country’s name and then we had to find it.  Playing Search the Globe was fun -- and being 3 years older, I could beat my brother most of the time ;)  We learned so much about World Geography in relation to where we lived.  

Our grandparents gave us books on far away places --- France (Madeliene),  Africa (Rudyard Kipling), England (knights and dragons).  We watched movies --- Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Rescuers Down Under, Blue Hawaii.  Teachers exposed us to Christmas around the world and taught us how to do the Hula.  How could a little girl from the South, not want to travel and experience different cultures?  

I was about 13 when my family first ventured from the South.... to Colorado.  I can still remember my first response when I saw the Rocky Mountains (majestic -- is the only word to describe it, just like the song).  We went up the mountain in "white out" and my dad kept saying as he was driving "those are just bugs hitting the windows".  Yeah pop, right? Ha ha.  The Sundown Motel was a beacon in the night on that trip.  Dad took my brother and me on a snowmobile trip over the Continental Divide in a snowstorm on Thanksgiving day - Awesome trip.

My next trip "out of the South" was to California with a school group and two of my closest childhood friends.  I hadn't been on a plane since I was a baby until then.  A giddy 15 year old headed to LA, What was my mom thinking.  We meet boys from Canada (asked them if they had cable TV, how naive can you get?), Jamaica, and Pennsylvania (they all talked funny and told us we were the ones with accents - bless their sweet hearts).   For three little girls from Louisiana, Los Angeles from a bus window was a wonderland.

Since then, I have traveled extensively throughout the US and even went away to college  ---  Texas (a whole different country in the US).  At college, I met a kindred spirit.  He asked me to go backpacking through Europe.  I wasn’t that brave -- then.   If he could do it, I could (it's a competitive thing). Because of him, I became brave and adventurous and found my favorite country, Scotland.   I went to visit him while he was in school there.  It was my first non North American journey.  14 days in picturesque Scotland, what a way to peak a future world traveler’s interest. 

The cementing for my wanderlust was the best site in Europe, the first time I realized I was IN Europe -- exiting the Trocadero Metro station and seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  I have traveled extensively in Europe - even backpacking and roughing it.  I also wandered down to New Zealand and took a road trip.  So many countries and continents, so little time.

Spinning the Globe now... Where to go next?

First real blog -- Something not worth doing is worth not doing well.

Hi, ya'll!
Introductions, s'il vous plait.  Shockingly, I am from a Southern U.S. State (with a name like Magnolia and an accent as thick as mine, what could one expect?).  While I love to travel, I still love to come home.

In my profession, I get to write quite a bit, but not like this.  Blogging will be a good way to share my travel/life experiences with family and friends.  I consider life an adventure and try to make the most out of it that I can.  Everyday brings new experiences, but I adore going on adventures where I am away from home and experiencing new and different cultures.

The adventures that I will refer to in my blog will be adventures to places other than my hometown and with my hometown job stresses and life (no one would believe what I see and hear everyday anyway-- that would be for another blog and would require many signed legal releases on the part of too many people I work for and with).

With my job, I have a little too much stress.  It feels overwhelming most days and my adventures are ways to jettison that stress.  To a friend,  I once compared that I take on everyone's problems like a sponge.  That sponge turns black and blacker with every problem. (I even ask people sometime, "What headache are you going to give me today?" Not the most appropriate question to ask someone who will be paying me, but it lightens the mood. They have a headache about their problems and would love to give it away.)

An adventure allows me to wring out that sponge and make it new again.  Or another way to put it, is that I play "whack a gopher" every day and an adventure is getting to back away from the game somewhat.  The longer the adventure/trip the newer the sponge is to go back to the grindstone.

My adventuresome nature comes from my close family --  wonderful parents (Dad and Mom), brother, and sister (I will refer to them as JR and Princess).  I have a wonderful grandfather and had amazing grandmothers and an amazing Papaw. Fortunately I was even able to know two great grandmothers and a great grandfather (we have good genes in my family - better make sure I have good retirement and insurance).

You could say gypsy blood runs in my family.  Most of my family on both sides came over prior to the Revolutionary War (I am a DAR member on the paternal and maternal side).

While living in London, I was asked what type of American I was, French, Italian, German etc.  I said I was a true American mutt  -- that we know of, a mix of Scottish, English, French, Swiss, Swedish and German, with some American Indian thrown in there for a little spice.

My grandparents traveled for work and fun.  (My Little Mammaw, ie a great grandmother, even got to travel extensively in post war Europe and Japan -- her nickname was Cricket, because she was always on the go and had a charismatic personality, like her only granddaughter and three great granddaughters.)

Dad and Mom took us on many a family vacation.  Road trips were their specialties, a two day drive to Colorado, New Mexico or Maine was no big deal. (I do prefer to fly and get there but love to travel in a vehicle if the country is small like Italy, France or New Zealand.)  Never a dull moment on our vacations.  The Griswolds just thought they had interesting times.

In the South, they say a good story always starts with "Bubba, hold my beer and watch this".... Hopefully I can supply some good stories.... so, Bubba, bear with me and hold my beer....
Ciao for now.
Magnolia Gypsy