Mexico's Riviera Maya

April 25, 2022 Somnath Travels 58 comments

Mexico's Riviera Maya: The New Caribbean Vacation Hot Spot

Travelers who are looking for a fantastic all-inclusive resort destination that is priced far below most tropical destinations in and around the Caribbean should look into Mexico's Riviera Maya. This area has fast become a very popular tropical vacation getaway for travelers from around the world.

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The Riviera Maya is located on the Caribbean side of Mexico and encompasses the stretch of coastline ranging from about 5 miles to 60 miles south of Cancun.

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Don't be misled into thinking that because you fly into Cancun to get to the Riviera Maya that it is anything like Cancun and its spring break, party-like atmosphere...it is far from it. The Riviera Maya has been set aside by the Mexican government as a semi-protected area, and as such it cannot become the touristy, high-rise resort type of destination you find in the Cancun hotel zone. Resorts can only be built 3-stories or less in height and they have to be constructed to embrace the surrounding vegetation, wildlife, and topography. It is a much more family-friendly and romantic vacation destination.

Resorts in the Riviera Maya are primarily all-inclusive properties. Because of the remote locations of many of the properties there are very few offsite dining areas. All-inclusive resorts give the traveler the benefit of having everything paid for prior to their arrival. All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), non-motorized watersports, and other amenities are included in package prices. The more upscale all-inclusive resorts of 4-star and higher quality typically have many different restaurant options ranging from buffet to world-class a la carte cuisine....all-included! Some of the more popular resort chains in the Riviera Maya include Iberostar Resorts, Palace Resorts, and Secrets Resorts & Spas. Resorts run anywhere from more family-related types of properties or resorts for the budget-minded to very upscale adults-only spa resorts.

One of the best reasons to choose the Mexico Riviera Maya for your next vacation is not just for the superb quality resorts and great value, but also for the fantastic tours and excursions that are available in around the Yucatan Peninsula region. This area is teeming with Mayan ruins and ancient architecture that are very popular with tourists. The most majestic of the local Mayan ruins are the pyramids of Chichen Itza. These incredibly preserved pyramids date back to 400AD and this awe-inspiring tour will leave with you many wonderful memories. There are many other Mayan ruins tours you can take as well. In addition to ruins you can also experience many eco-based tours that take you to game and marine preserves where you will find amazing wildlife and snorkeling that is nothing short of amazing. Another popular day-trip for those staying in the Riviera Maya region is the island of Cozumel. You can reach this quaint island by ferry from the town of Playa del Carmen located in the heart of the Riviera Maya. It is a short 45 minute ferry ride and once there you will find duty-free shopping, great dining, and some of the world's best SCUBA diving and snorkeling.

If you have taken tropical vacations in the Caribbean or Hawaii and are looking for a new destination to go to the Riviera Maya is an excellent choice that will definitely impress and have you ready to come back to again and again.

Driving in the Outer Hebrides

When you think of the Outer Hebrides, you normally think of sandy beaches, ancient standing stones and lilting Scottish accents. You don't normally associate the Outer Hebrides with some of the best driving in the British Isles...

I certainly didn't expect to enjoy the driving so much when I visited the Western Isles (the other name for the Outer Hebrides) in Scotland recently.

It certainly isn't speed that makes the roads in the Outer Hebrides so exhilarating. In fact, for much of the time I didn't get out of third gear...

The roads are often single track with passing places. And where they are single track, often there are rocky ditches either side of a surprisingly narrow track. If you are at all in doubt of the width of your car, don't drive on the Outer Hebrides!

If the width of the roads wasn't enough, there are other distractions to keep you busy. The first are sheep. There are several times as many sheep on the Outer Hebrides as there are people, and for some reason sheep enjoy standing around in the middle of the road. Lambs are particularly lively and you have to take care when passing.

The other distraction is the often jaw-dropping scenery. Sometimes it's all too tempting to look at the view when you should be watching the road...

The roads themselves are often sinuous, snaking their way through rugged scenery. You can't relax for a moment when you're behind the wheel in the Outer Hebrides.

Fortunately there isn't much other traffic. And while it's always polite to wave to someone who pulls over to let you pass (and return their wave), you quickly find that everyone waves anyway - even where you don't need to pull over. (One chap painting his fence even waved as we drove past.)

The combination of sinuous, single-track roads with awesome scenery populated by obstructive sheep and polite drivers makes driving in the Outer Hebrides such a pleasure.

My top tips for driving in the Outer Hebrides:

Makes sure you have a car with a good third gear. You'll send most of your time in third.
The B8011 from Calanais to Uig Sands on Lewis is fantastic. The beach at Uig Sands is wonderful, but it's worth going there for the drive alone.
If you have a passenger with you, get them to help by spotting approaching cars. An extra pair of eyes can be invaluable.

And although I have now returned from the Outer Hebrides, I have found that I've brought a little of the islands with me: I'm much more patient and polite than I used to be behind the wheel - and that can only be a good thing.

Bunbury Western Australia - A Holiday Destination For All

Bunbury is located approximately 172kms south of Perth. Bunbury is a water wonderland visited by day trippers and holiday makers alike all year round. The towns population is approximately 30,000 and continuing to grow.

There is so much to see and do in and around Bunbury too. We have pristine beaches, superb yachting facilities, awesome Karri Forests, caves and inlets, beach and sea fishing, breathtaking dives including the amazing 'Lena Wreck', playful dolphins, whale watching, great shopping, sumptuous restaurants and a cosmopolitan cappuccino strip, magnificent art galleries, delightful wineries, world-class golfing, lovely lagoons and of course excellent accommodation. Our harbour is one of the most picturesque in W.A. and you can drive along the breakwater all the way to Koombana Bay. Now, you must not leave Bunbury without visiting the dolphins at Koombana Beach (near the inlet mouth of the harbour). Of course we can't promise that they will turn up on time, but this is one of the few places that you can see these magnificent creatures up close and personal. In Bunbury between June and September watch out for magnificent humpback and southern right whales, who pause to play a while !

in the surrounding waters before migrating to the Antarctic.

Bunbury is the major seaport of the South-West region, and the largest centre in Western Australia outside the metropolitan area. It is an expanding regional centre with a wealth of natural and man-made resources. It is surrounded by much of WA's best agricultural land, and the area is also rich in minerals. Bunbury, however, is primarily a holiday centre, and each year thousands come here to enjoy their holidays. The city is also used as a base to visit many beauty spots of the South-West.

Mandurah - Western Australia - A Holiday Destination For All

Mandurah is located approximately 72kms south of Perth - Western Australia. Mandurah is a water wonderland visited by day trippers and holiday makers alike all year round. The towns population is approximately 50,000 and continuing to grow. In fact Mandurah is the fastest growing regional town in Western Australia! It won Tourism Town of the year 2003 and It is now home to activities such as surfing, swimming, crabbing, dolphin watching, boating, fishing and world-class golfing, and that's just scratching the surface!

The town centre of Mandurah is situated around Mandjar Bay and it's foreshore is lined with wonderful parkways, barbeque facilities cafe's, restaurants and a great boardwalk, which is just one of the many other walks available. During weekends and holiday seasons the Mandurah foreshore is packed solid with visitor's enjoying the beautiful surroundings and watching the dolphins at play. At night the Foreshore lights up to produce a spectacular display of coloured lights which are reflected on the water. Its a fabulous lifestyle!

There is so much to do in and around Mandurah that even the locals don't know what they are missing. At MyMandurah.com we intend to make as much information available to visitors and locals alike so that we all get to enjoy the variety of attractions that this beautiful town has to offer. Come and see Mandurah for yourself, you'll love it! I came for a weeks holiday and relocated here 2 months later!

Using credit cards while traveling is a good idea for a number of reasons:

You have a record of your expenditures for record-keeping and tax purposes (especially important if you travel for business)
You may get a better exchange rate when obtaining foreign currency when using your credit card.
Credit card companies can refund disputed charges and may offer extra guarantees, special deals or warranties.
Your liability in the case of a stolen credit card is limited to $50

But, traveling these days is often a juggling act of luggage, boarding passes, identification cards, passports and a gauntlet of security measures. These identification acrobatics can leave you distracted and even a little bit addled, perhaps putting you more at risk of being targeted by an enterprising pickpocket or purse snatcher.

And, even though your liability is limited, costs can quickly add up if multiple cards are involved. Factor in the hassle and increased risk of identity theft, and it is apparent a few preemptive measures can save you from a boatload of heartache.

Consider the following tips as guidelines to traveling safely and affordably with your credit cards....

Plan Ahead:

Anytime you travel you should make photo copies of all of your credit cards airline tickets and documents, both front and back. You should leave these photocopies with a friend or family member.

Be aware that if you make copies of your cards and documents to take with you, you may be giving thieves another opportunity to rip off your personal information. Consider blacking out details such as expiration dates, verification codes and social security numbers.

If you decide not to carry photocopies of your credit cards, be sure to have the card cancellation numbers from the backs of the cards written down and stashed in your luggage.

Leave a Paper Trail:

Save receipts and keep track of the places you used your card. Make sure receipts are stored in a safe place so they can be checked against your credit card statement to ensure unauthorized charges have not been made and/or gone unnoticed.

His & Hers:

When traveling with other family members, even spouses, bring different credit cards that are on separate accounts. When a card is lost or stolen and must be cancelled, all cards on the account are cancelled as well. Having at least two cards from separate accounts will prevent the situation from leaving you stranded.

Lighten Up:

Carry only the personal information absolutely necessary for vacation, such as a passport or driver's license. The less personal information you have, the better off you will be if your purse or wallet is stolen.

When traveling by air, always keep copies of important documents in a separate part of your luggage, such as a carry-on bag.

Keep cards on your person. Most travel stores carry small bags that you can keep cards, cash, and other items you will need to access while out and about. Consider a money belt or security wallet.

Look out for fees:

When traveling abroad and using a credit card, watch out for the conversion fee that many banks levy to convert charges in foreign currencies to dollars, generally 1% of the purchase amount. Some banks charge a fee and some don't so, if you have several cards, it's worth checking with the issuers to see which one has the best deal. Even with the conversion charge, many times ATM machines will have the best possible exchange rates and the lowest fees.

With proper planning, credit cards are a convenient, secure

1. Free lodging!

Find a pen friend. Maybe you haven’t thought of this. It’s the best solution to your budget problems, but you can’t have it overnight! Greek people are hospitable and so are other countries’ people if you become friends with. It’s the simplest thing to do if you like writing letters or just exchanging cards and souvenirs. I’ve done it and a lot of other people have, why not you? Your friend will probably be happy to put you up for a couple of nights and show you around as well. The other alternative is to exchange your house/flat with somebody else’s abroad. There is a site online that will help you find a place .

2. Low cost travel

Stay at campsites. The cheapest alternative to free lodging, at least in Greece. You save money and have fun . Find a campsite at www.greecetravel.com/campsites

3. Invest on a bike.

If you like cycling, then you can do it. In Greece you can cycle to most places and see areas that are worth visiting. You can easily rent a bike , and if you are in Corfu you can try

4. Rent a room in a village or at the port

There are families who rent rooms in their own house ; cheaper than hotel rooms but you have to follow the rules. Where can you find them?

Watch the port area if you come by ship. There are people who approach you and tell you about their own rooms around the area, at low prices. Sometimes you can even bargain to get a better price.

Well, if all these don’t suit you and you may own a caravan , you don’t have to worry about lodgings. You can stay at campsites at low cost, at the side of the road or even in a field for free. You can also hire a caravan and share the expenses, if you travel with friends.

and cost-effective means of payment when traveling. Just keep these tips in mind, and the next time you're balancing on one foot at the security gate, you'll be glad you did.

Albany Western Australia is a city of approximately 30,000 people in the south-west corner of Western Australia, approximately 409km from Perth . The city is nestled between three large hills, Mount Clarence, Mount Melville and Mount Adelaide, facing the beautiful King George III Sound.

The main industries of Albany Western Australia consist of tourism, fishing and agriculture, although before the 1950s whaling was one of the major sources of income and employment for the population. One of Albany's old Whaling stations has now become one of the biggest tourist attractions for the area.

Since that time, Albany has become popular destination for a variety of visitors enjoying the fresh air, clean beaches, and fine views over the Southern Ocean, while still proving to be a thriving regional centre.

There is so much to see and do in and around Albany too. We have pristine beaches, superb yachting facilities, awesome wildflowers (in season), caves and inlets, beach and sea fishing, breathtaking dives, whale watching, great shopping, sumptuous restaurants and a cosmopolitan cappuccino strip, magnificent art galleries, delightful wineries, world-class golfing, lovely lagoons and of course excellent accommodation. Our harbour is one of the most picturesque in W.A. too!

In Albany between June and September watch out for magnificent humpback and southern right whales, who pause to play a while in the surrounding waters before migrating north to the warmer waters to breed.

Albany is the major seaport of the Great Southern region, and the largest centre in Western Australia outside the metropolitan area. It is an expanding regional centre with a wealth of natural and man-made resources. It is surrounded by much of WA's best agricultural land, and the area is also rich in minerals. Albany, however, is primarily a holiday centre, and each year thousands come here to enjoy their holidays. The city is also used as a base to visit many beauty spots of the Great Southern.

Pick A Travel Agency

April 24, 2022 Somnath Travels No comments

How To Pick A Travel Agency

The trip of a lifetime can take a lifetime to plan unless you know how to pick a travel agency.

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A common misconception is that travel agencies add to the cost of your trip. In truth, finding and using a good travel agency to plan your trip usually saves you time, money, and frustration. So how do you pick a travel agency?

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Ask around!

The best way to find a good travel agency is through word of mouth. Ask your family and friends who they've used and then ask them about their trip. How did they travel? Where did they stay? Was their trip enjoyable? Getting a few referrals from friends helps you to know in ahead of time what to expect from a particular travel agent and helps you weed out the good from the not-so-good as well.

Are you a member?

Many clubs and organizations offer travel services for their members and many corporations have established relationships with travel agencies that their employees can use. "Members only" travel plans frequently offer the best values.

Compare

Shop a couple of experienced firms. Travel agencies come and go like any other businesses. The ones that stay in business add experience and know-how to each trip they plan. Make your first inquiry with a travel agency a listening experience; judge how well the agent listens to you and how comfortable they make you feel.

A good travel agent will ask you to outline your trip. They'll ask where you're going and why, how you'd prefer to travel, how long you plan to stay, and what your travel budget is. Be open and honest with your answers. A good agent will readily put together a sample itinerary that describes availabilities in transportation, accommodations, and estimated costs.

If you feel like you're getting the "hard sell" or the travel agency tells you there's only package available, keep shopping. You can always go back if you find that they're right!

In addition to finding the best rates in lodgings and transportation, an experienced travel agent can also give you some helpful tips about your destination and here's the bonus-- generally it costs nothing to use a travel agency! Because they can buy in volume, travel agencies get discounts on prices for both tickets and lodgings!

Bonjoie! 7 Lessons I Learned in Paris

After reveling in a mountaintop experience, it often takes one a couple of days to not only regain altitude and perspective; it takes a little while to fully grasp what--exactly--just happened.

Such was our trip to France.

Escorting thirty-six young musicians to Paris for a three-concert tour proved to be an amazing experience which I cannot fully communicate in this Newsletter. My words will fall short; our pictures will miss most of it; and stories re-told with enthusiasm to eagerly awaiting family members will only reveal a glimpse of the experience. What happens when vision meets strategy, passion meets energy, and divine inspiration meets faith cannot be comprehended by those missing the mountaintop. But because it is now part of who I am, I feel moved to attempt to share it with you.

Paris was, for me anyway, the fruit of nearly fourteen years of musical training in my kids. And it found my heart bursting with joy as I celebrated it. After listening to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" played mostly with less-than-perfect intonation upwards of ten thousand times; of the foot-stomping, the eyeball-rolling, and the 'I hate the violin' when my children were too irritable to practice; of the 90-minute roundtrip weekly drives to Westport for lessons: watching not only my own Ben and Cristina, but the orchestra kids aged twelve to eighteen, perform Beethoven's "Fifth" and Barber's "Adagio for Strings" in a medieval cathedral in the center of Paris left me ebullient. Tears stained my cheeks as the music moved and carried my soul to a height previously unimagined. Friendships forged with the most unsuspecting partners, as commonalities were uncovered and shared. Barriers erected by political divisions, theological differences, and ideological disparities collapsed under the international love language of music.

It was an extraordinary experience, and I learned a few lessons along the way:

1) We stand on tall shoulders of the spiritual giants who lived before us. When one visits a city with cathedrals still standing after the frenzy of the Crusades and the numerous battles fought there, one realizes the magnitude of the spiritual convictions of those who came before us. Studying the Chartres Cathedral--and walking the halls of La Trinite and the Magdalena Cathedrals where our children performed--allowed me not only the luxury of admiring stained glass windows depicting prominent Biblical themes; it allowed me to ruminate on the vision, inspiration and dedication with which they were crafted. In earlier times in Paris, religion was not a part of life. It was life.

2) Art, music and literature are necessary components for creating a life worth living. As are good shoes, good mattresses, and good books necessary elements of every childhood; good art, good music, and good literature provide needed nourishment for the soul. Wandering through the rooms of the Louvre--and my favorite museum in Paris, the Musee D'Orsay--gave me even greater appreciation for the importance of fabulous art. They don't call these guys masters for nothing. I am convinced that the world would be both safer and happier if everyone learned to paint, played a musical instrument or sang in a choir, and read classical literature on a daily basis. Music remains the universal language of the heart; anyone who does not understand this had better start listening to Mozart.

3) Celebrate serendipity. Already a lesson explored in both my book as well as in earlier Newsletters, it is worth repeating here, as I witnessed, embraced and practiced what I preach. Most of you may know by now that I have an inordinate amount of passion for the color lime-green (or illness, depending on your perspective). It was pure serendipity that, while walking down a Parisian street in search of French ceramics and candles, we stumbled upon a lime-green sofa setting against a bricked store wall. I started laughing hysterically. Where but in Paris would I find a lime-green sofa in the middle of the street? I promptly sat down in it, reveled in the experience, and allowed it to be captured in film. It was serendipity that, while walking around a tony shopping district, I was grabbed from behind, only to find a Parisian lady who spoke no English attempt to communicate to me that her surname was "La Coq" and could I please tell her where she could buy the Vera Bradley backpack I wore which sported roosters and eggs? I happily told her--in English--that it was no longer available but sign-languaged her to get out a paper and pen so I could write down the internet site where she might have some luck. The serendipity of that encounter still makes me smile. Perhaps it was serendipity that our tour guide was darn near perfect; that our flights were uneventful; that our hotel was perfectly situated; and that the Parisian orchestra, which played in a joint concert with us, was well-prepared and delightful. Serendipity or angels watching over us: we celebrated each and every tiny victory.

4) Food plays a huge role in the celebration of life. To be French means to have a passion for all things related to food. They unapologetically indulge in the culinary arts and enjoy all of its inherent stress-relieving side benefits on a thrice-daily basis. They endorse a 'live to eat' rather than an 'eat to live' M.O. And it shows. "Take-out coffee" is an oxymoron. It simply does not exist in France. Coffee is meant to be drunk sitting down, preferably with a friend or two, along with a baguette or a sugar-or-chocolate-filled crepe as well. While French women may not get fat, American women visiting France just might. I embraced the French dining philosophy for eight days and came back with more "wiggle in my waddle," if you know what I mean. Que sara sara (or is that Spanish?)

5) Charm and charisma still work. They are not overrated. From the hotel staff to Parisian waiters to the clerk at the Ralph Lauren store: all met our needs with grace and charm. When an unsuspecting yet magnificent floral arrangement brought a constant tickle to my throat, the "Polo clerk" ordered up a glass of water for me. It was delivered on a cloth napkin atop a silver tray. (When was the last time that happened to you stateside?) When our orchestra met up with the community orchestra for a joint concert, we were--every one of us--enthralled by its Parisian conductor, Sylvan. Young and vibrant, he exuded charm with his humility and gracious behavior toward us; the hot pink tie against his otherwise all-black "uniform" proved once again, the magic of charisma.

6) "Bonjour" means something. The French refuse to start a conversation without it. Once, when I barged into my explanation of needing several Eiffel Tower charms for bracelets without the mandatory "Bonjour" opening, the store clerk stopped me mid-sentence, interrupting my banter with "Bonjour, Madame, how can I help you?" How wonderful to be reminded at every turn that today is, indeed, a good day!

7) "Bonjoie" means even more. Late on the second night of our trip, bubbling with energy and excitement after traveling to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I accidentally said "Bonjoie" (jwahr) rather than "Bonsoir" (swahr). Sarah, the perfectly-fluent chaperone to which I directed this mis-step, proclaimed: "Happy joy of life to you, too!" Giggling my way up the escalator to my hotel room, I didn't quite realize the extent of my error. But the next morning on the bus, everyone greeted me with "Bonjoie." And so it stuck. It became our password for life in April in Paris. I can think of none better.

Our children shone like sugar-coated gumdrops sprinkled around the streets of Paris, dotting major landmarks and sweetening each and every meal. I was thrilled and honored to have been part of an event of such historic significance for our young and tiny youth orchestra. They were goodwill ambassadors for our symphony, our town, and our country. Never have I been more proud as a music lover, a parent, and as an American. Perhaps my experience sheds some insight on how you, too, can celebrate life.

The Costa Brava Insight

Starting at Blanes to the south and ending at Cadaques in the North, the Costa Brava offers purchasers natural beauty, proximity to the great city of Barcelona, historic medieval villages, world-famous restaurants like "El Bulli" at Roses, innumberable excellent sporting opportunities including world famous golf courses and ski-ing in the Pyrenees.

Girona/Costa Brava airport now has four flights a day from London Stansted. There are innumerable fights from almost everywhere in the UK to Barcelona, and local train services are excellent, as is the road network. English is widely spoken, but it is a big asset if you speak a little Spanish. No-one expects you to speak the local language - Catalan.

Although cooler in winter than the Costa del Sol further south, it is also cooler in summer with daytime temperatures around 30c. Lunch on the terrace is a year round option except perhaps in December and January. The atmosphere is also very different, more sophisticated. Incomers are of many nationalities, usually retired or soon-to-retire professionals. Generally they are well travelled, fairly well-off, and sociable, but there are no foreign "ghettos" as occurs further south, so no English restaurants, pubs and bars. Eating out locally is however an inexpensive, and therefore frequent, pleasure.

This is not a travel guide. Our aim in telling you about the main towns and resorts of the Costa Brava, is to try to give you a feel for what would be the right area for you. When making a buying decision, do make sure that you are clear about what you want. Some parts of the Costa Brava die out of season. That may not matter if you don't plan on being here out of season, but can be soul-destroying otherwise.

The Hyduke Mine Road

Our family has been making bi-annual trips to the Colorado River for as long as I can remember. Tradition dictates that we go to the same place, a sand bar about a mile up river from Picacho on the California side. Picacho, a former mining town, is about 18 miles north of Winterhaven. Getting there requires taking the infamous Picacho Road. It's a long, ruddy dirt road that weeds out all but the heartiest of campers. It's a test of your vehicle as well as your nerves.

There is shorter way to get to Picacho from the west on a road called the Hyduke Mine Road. My brother John and I heard about it from a former trucker, who said he'd used it to bypass the Interstate 8 agricultural inspection station. We figured that if a trucker could do the Hyduke Mine Road, then so could we.

Our vehicle was a Chevrolet Caprice Classic; a cop car. John was driving, his future wife rode shotgun, and my girlfriend and I were sitting in the back. We assured them that this was the best way to go. The Hyduke Mine Road starts off of Ogilby Road and after about 16 miles it connects to the Picacho Road just 5 miles south of Picacho. While on Ogilby Road we saw the sign for the Hyduke written on a piece of wood and staked into the ground. We pulled onto the trailhead and assessed the situation.

To the east of us was Picacho Peak, a prominent Butte jetting out of the desert which can be seen for 100 miles on clear days. According to the map, all we had to do was keep heading towards it and pass on it's north side. How could we get lost with such a prominent feature to navigate by?

Within the first 8 miles we encountered only a few obstacles. We crossed numerous dry washes and plowed up a few sandy embankments. These things were good for a laugh and instilled in us some confidence that this was going to be a cinch. All the while we headed for Picacho Peak. I felt a little uneasy since we hadn't seen a soul and we were now at the midway point. 8 miles of walking in either direction would be required should there be problems with the car. On this day the temperature was about 95 degrees. We had the windows rolled up, air conditioning blasting out the cold and Van Helen tunes cranking all the while.

At this point we encountered difficulties in rapid succession. The car's check engine light came on and drew John's attention to the temperature gage approaching the red zone. John knew just what to do. He ordered us to roll down the windows and cranked the heater to full blast. As crazy as it seemed, shutting off the air conditioning and running the heater provided the additional cooling effort necessary for the engine to not overheat and thus leave us stranded in the desert. Grumbling passengers aside, this was a prudent move.

We came across an area where the road was washed out by a wide stream. The stream bed was now dry but the road on the other side was 24" higher than the stream bed. "We can't climb up that" was what we were all thinking. Out came the military shovel and a level of ingenuity that only desperation can muster. Within a half hour we'd built a ramp out of sand and rocks. John and I carefully studied the situation and decided we'd need momentum, timing, and perfect tire placement. After agreeing on the plan, John jumped in the car, gave the obligatory thumbs up, and slammed on the gas. I can still see the event so perfectly in my mind. John's car hit the ramp and the front end made it up the bank just as planned. The rear tires rolled halfway up the ramp and the tires began to spin. The spinning tires inched up the rest of the way and finally grabbed hold, launching the car up onto the road and tearing off its muffler. After a roaring applause, pats on the back and a sigh of relief, we all jumped in the car and sped on.

Up till this point, we always had Picacho Peak in sight. This aided navigation and provided assurance to the womenfolk who'd begun to lose faith in our plan. As we headed into the foothills of the Chocolate Mountains the peak fell out of sight. Our spirits sank along with it. John and I attempted to pacify the ladies by reminding them that we carried with us camping provisions for a whole weekend. Under the worst case scenario we would simply have to camp, which is what we came out here to do anyhow. Neither of us dared point out that water, our most necessary commodity, was already running out.

We came across a deep pond with a soggy earthen dam on the south side. The road passed over the dam which was only just wide enough for the car to pass. I got out of the car to spot John as he drove over it. On his right ride was a shear drop off, on his left was this pond which slowly leaked over the dam and under his tires. It seemed that as he passed over it, the dam crumbled, the tires slipped, and ever more water began to fall over the dam. After he crossed we had the impression that we could never go back over it again. No one could, for that matter.

Later we came to a fork in the road and decided to take the left since it seemed to be more traveled. We continued on for a half mile as the road turned to thick sand. John gave it gas enough to continue on. Soon we came upon a cul-de-sac, a dead end with the thickest sand we'd seen yet. I imagined this is where we'd be forced to camp that night. Here I think is where John's 4 wheeling instincts first manifested themselves. John slammed on the gas and whirled the car around this dead end in the widest allowable arc he could. The tires slowed and began to slip but the car continued to move forward. The car's speed gradually increased and soon we were back at the fork. This time we made the right decision.

Stopping for a rest I took stock of our situation. I realized this was a road for 4x4 vehicles. Not cop cars. In 2 hours we'd made it about 12 miles. We lost sight of our point of reference. Each of us was sweating, dirty, and embittered. We'd long since stripped down the least layer of clothing that decency allows. The secret of the water supply was now public knowledge. The car was running poorly because the muffler was torn off. This hurt our ears because we had the windows rolled down. We couldn't roll them up since we were in the desert with the heater running. Of course, we did this because the car was overheating, and so on. By this time, John and I felt we were way beyond the point of no return. The ladies on the other hand saw every bump and turn as a sign that we should turn back. Our stubborn refusal to turn back led to hurtful accusations and a "them vs. us" mentality which lingered well beyond the completion of the Hyduke Mine Road.

Late in the afternoon we crested a hill and took in the sight of the Picacho Peak on our right. It was close so we knew we didn't have far to go. Proceeding down the hill we entered into White Wash. We continued on in this wash at about 30 miles per hour daring not to slow down or even turn sharply for fear of digging in and getting stuck. After some scary points where we slowed to a crawl we were within sight of the Picacho Road. We saw that the road was flanked by sand berms used to keep drainage from flowing into the road. John didn't even consider slowing down. He hit the 2' sand berm at full speed, smashing his way over it and onto the Picacho Road.

Our misadventure was over. We found our way to Picacho and jumped into the Colorado River to cool off.

Iqaluit In Nunavut

April 23, 2022 Somnath Travels No comments

A Trip To Iqaluit In Nunavut, A Canadian Arctic City

In 2004, I completed two Inuit art buying trips to Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. For both trips, I flew out of Ottawa on Canadian North airlines.

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The other airline that services Nunavut is First Air. Only the last half of the jets was allocated for passengers as the entire first half was for cargo. Being so remote, Canadian Arctic Inuit communities pretty well have to have everything shipped up there by plane or by boat during the summers since there are no roads connecting to the rest of Canada or even between each Nunavut community. The Arctic landscape from the air was desolate, hilly and barren. As the plane got closer to Iqaluit, the airport's small terminal building stood out with its bright yellow color.

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The airport itself is within walking distance to the rest of the town. There are taxis that charge a flat rate of $5 per trip anywhere in Iqaluit. Interestingly enough, these taxis also pick up and drop off other passengers along the way so shared rides with others are common here. There are several hotels in Iqaluit and rooms are generally clean, comfortable but quite basic. Accommodations and dining up north in Nunavut are both expensive. All food items with the exception of local Inuit fare must be flown up from the Canadian south. A carton of milk will cost about $10 in Iqaluit. Most Inuit locals cannot afford to buy overpriced fruits, vegetables and meat from the south. Many local families still rely on Inuit hunters who bring caribou, seal and whale to the table.

There is only one high rise building in Iqaluit and it is used mainly for local Nunavut government offices. All other buildings are low rise, including the hospital. The vast majority of the residential housing is similar to cabins that are raised off the ground because of the harsh Canadian Arctic winters. Many look a bit run down with junk and disposed items piled outside. With the fact that there are no lawns or trees possible this far north, the neighborhoods are certainly not the prettiest sights around. But one Inuit art carver told me that his government subsidized rent is only $36 per month. There are some small clusters of nice homes on the outskirts of town. Some houses have husky dogs tied up outside and many have snowmobiles. In fact, the roads, most of them unpaved, are shared by cars, trucks, snowmobiles, all terrain
vehicles and people. During the summers, Iqaluit can get quite dusty with all the vehicles turning up the dirt on the roads. As a result, Iqaluit did look a bit nicer during my first trip which was during the winter when the city was in white snow rather than brown dirt. There is new construction going on since with the creation of the Nunavut territory, Iqaluit is growing as more Inuit from other Arctic communities are migrating to the city.

One thing that was very noticeable in Iqaluit was the large numbers of children everywhere. Nunavut has a very young population with 56% under the age of 25. I saw many Inuit mothers wearing traditional Inuit parkas with large hoods in the back where their babies are carried. The Inuit youth is one of the Canadian Arctic's untapped resources and its future. They have access to satellite television and dress just like their counterparts in the south. However, at present only about 25% of high school students graduate so a big challenge for the Nunavut government is to encourage the Inuit kids to stay in school. During my second trip, there was darkness for only a few hours each day so it was very strange to be walking around town at 10 pm in the evening with daylight still present. Even at this hour, there were still quite a few young Inuit children playing outside.

The locals, Inuit and non-Inuit alike were very friendly. I got the impression of a tight community perhaps because of the isolation of the Canadian Arctic. However, the local Inuit were also very open to visitors and willing to share a bit of their lives. During the daytime, I went up to a few Inuit art carvers who were working outside their houses. Each turned off their power saws when I approached them and seemed happy to talk to me. I met most of them later during the evenings when they showed me their finished works of Inuit art.

I had the opportunity to walk about 30 minutes to the outskirts of town past the airport one day. I climbed up a hilltop with a satellite dish facility overlooking an expansive valley. There was nobody else around and it was incredible how silent the area was. It was like a vacuum where I could hear only my own breathing. It was a very peaceful and even spiritual moment there. While sitting on this Arctic hilltop, I was suddenly startled at one point by a noise and it turned out to be the flapping wings of a large raven flying by.

There are tours offered by local outfitters to see the northern wildlife and experience some of the Arctic tundra further out. I hope to take one of these tours on a future visit. A trip to Nunavut is not cheap since everything, including flights are so expensive. However, I will definitely return not only for more Inuit art, but also to experience more of the local Inuit culture and the Arctic land.

What is the Weather Really Like in Hawaii?

Yes, it is usually pretty balmy here in Hawaii, but are you prepared for all of the different weather that you will find in the islands?

The weather can vary greatly within a few miles. For instance, Mount Waialeale on Kauai is the wettest spot on earth with over 460 inches of rain a year (in 1982 it actually rained 666 inches!) However, just a few miles away is a desert that receives less than 10 inches of rain per year. So as you can see the weather varies quite a lot just on one island.

Hawaii weather is greatly influenced by the trade winds that generally blow at speeds of 10-20 MPH. Sometimes the winds will be light to non-existent and sometimes they will blow much stronger--into the 30 MPH range.

The trade winds have a welcome cooling effect. Even though it may be 85 degrees with 80% humidity, the trade winds make it feel much more comfortable.

The opposite wind is called the kona wind. The kona winds tend to bring hot, humid weather, and sometimes rain. The kona winds are not as prevalent as the trade winds. (Don't confuse kona winds with Kona side of the Big Island which tends to be hot and dry.)

Hawaii has semi-tropical weather. Temperatures usually range from 75-90 degrees year round in the daytime, and 70-80 degrees at night. Temperatures in the winter months may be a little cooler, where nighttime temperatures can sometimes fall into the 50's. (It feels much cooler than that with a 20 MPH trade wind blowing.)

At the higher elevations of the islands (such as up country Maui and Big Island) temperatures can drop to the 30's or 40's and snow often falls at the very high elevations of Haleakala and Mauna Kea!

Rain showers can appear at any time of the year but they most often fall between the months of November-February. Even though these winter months are technically the "rainy season", the rains are generally short lived, and sunshine and blue skies return quickly.

We call these short, light showers "blessings." Sometimes you can't even seem to find the clouds that are producing these "blessings", but if you look around you will probably see the rainbows they leave behind!

Hawaii also has what are called "Mauka Showers." Mauka means "inland" or "toward the mountains." It will often be raining in the mountains or valleys, but be dry on the beaches.

Sometimes during the winter months it does rain for 2-3 days straight. The good news is that since there are so many micro-climates on the islands, you can often just go a short distance to find dry weather.

Hawaii does, on rare occasion have a hurricane pass our way, although this happens much less often than it does in Florida or other parts of the US mainland. It is always good to be prepared, of course, but the last hurricanes to hit Hawaii was "Iniki" which hit Kauai in 1992. Hurricane season runs between June-December.

Even given these general guidelines, the weather can vary quite a bit depending on where you are on the island. The windward (Northeast) sides of the islands are generally the wettest and coolest, and the leeward (Southwest) sides are generally the driest and hottest.

So as you can see, there can be quite a variety of weather in Hawaii. Be sure to pack a light jacket, rain coat, or sweater so you'll be comfortable on the cool Hawaiian nights and in your visits upcountry.

If you plan on visiting Maui or Big Island you won't want to miss the summits of Haleakala (elevation 10,023 feet) and Mauna Kea (elevation 13,796 feet.) Just make sure you pack a heavy jacket!

Oh No! Summer Camp's Over... So Now What?

Well, there is a name for it and it's called post-summer camp gap year travel!

A mouthful to digest, but an easy decision to make! And as an after taste you'll have plenty of time to let it all sink in on your explorations of America.

Once your summer camp duties have been fulfilled and you've squeezed every ounce of fun and satisfaction out of your time there, the last thing you'll want to do is go home. So, what else is there to do in America? And what are you going to spend that hard-earned summer camp cash on anyway?

America is a land of infinite possibilities. Since the US has a staggering 12,000 available summer camps scattered throughout the country, you'll have to consider which camp the launching pad for your adventures is going to be.

A good idea is to plan your route before deciding on the camp you're going to be working at. Remember, with your J1 visa, you'll have up to ten whole weeks of travel time in the United States. Spend that time wisely.

Summer camp is a great place to meet the people who actually live in America. They know the country well so get their advice on interesting places to visit, especially the ones that are off the usual touristy trails. Since there are 12,000 summer camps to choose from and thousands of possible places to visit, here are a few options to help give you some ideas on your camp choice.

Let's start at Route 66

Route 66 is the Great American Road Trip. "In addition to (working at) Camp America, I got to travel from coast to coast" says Bojan from Serbia. Many who leave camp start road trips in Chicago and end them on the sunny beaches of the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles, California.

Travel through a series of eight American states and the landscapes that made the West famous. You'll literally find thousands of things to see and do. It is highly recommended that you take your own transport. That way you'll be able to stop in the various towns for as long as you like. If you're familiar with motorcycles, this is the iconic bikers dream route; there is no other.

America: Land of Theme parks

The most awe-inspiring park has got to be Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, California. From a New Yorker's perspective, Gordon Teoh says "It's all going on, all the time".

This is not a theme park so much as it's an extreme park, and it's home to one jaw dropping rollercoaster - The Viper, otherwise known as the largest looping rollercoaster in the world. But wait, the Viper is set to lose this title to an even taller and faster opponent with the planned unveiling of The KingDa Ka. Towering at 456 feet and launching you screaming at over 127 MPH, America's theme parks just keep getting bigger, faster and meaner....almost out of control. So make sure your camp is based around the Los Angeles area if you decide to take the plunge.

The Grand Canyon

Few people have not heard of the Grand Canyon, but not many have seen it. This is an American classic for film locations of every kind and for those who know, this was Airwolf's lair in the famous TV series by the same name. The Grand Canyon is an exceptionally deep, steep-walled canyon in the northwestern Arizona area.

"It is amazing - just like in the movies!" comments Helen Anderson who worked at Camp Canonicus. River rafting in the Colorado River, hiking and of course good old photography are things to do at the Canyon. The Grand Canyon cannot be missed; it's big, it's wild and it's absolutely amazing.

These destinations represent only a small fraction of the possibilities of post-summer camp gap year travel. The summer camp you work at could be anywhere in the USA, so do some research or contact one of the camp organizers for things to do after camp. Ten weeks of America's infinite possibilities await, so waste no time.

Australia: The Sight-Seeing Travel Tour

If you haven’t been to Australia or are planning to visit it a second time, then you must have all the information about the places to visit so that you can fully experience the wonderful land that is Australia.

Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world and is divided into 6 states and several territories. The 6 states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. The two major territories are the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid, but the south-east and south-west corners have temperate climate and moderately fertile soil. The northern part has tropical climate, which is part tropical rainforest, part grassland and part desert.

When you go to Australia, you just cannot miss seeing The Great Barrier Reef. It is the world’s largest coral reef and extends for over 1,200 kms! It lies a short distance from the north-east coast.

Another spectacular place to visit is Uluru. It is the second largest monolith in the world and is located in central Australia. You can also visit the Great Artesian Basin, which is the world’s largest and deepest fresh water basin. Along with its beauty, it also serves as an important source of water in the parched outback.

You sure can’t miss going to Sydney if you visit Australia. Sydney is located in a coastal basin situated between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Blue Mountains to the west. You can enjoy all the activities associated with beaches because there are more than 70 beaches in Sydney! If you have limited time, then you can only go to the famous Bondi Beach of Australia.

Sydney has more amazing landmarks for you like Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Both are located in Sydney Harbour. If you are interested in rowing, boating, recreational fishing, racing small yachts and Dragon Boat racing, then you can get all that in Sydney Harbour.

The city also boasts of musical, theatrical and artistic activities which come under one roof in the Sydney Festival which happens every January. More information can be found here

Melbourne is another major city of Australia which is situated in the south-east corner of the mainland Australia. It has a large and vibrant cultural life along with a chain of pubs, bars and nightclubs. Fashionable nightclubs, ubiquitous faux-Irish pubs, serious jazz venues on Bennetts Lane, massive pickup joints like The Metro on Bourke Street are all part of the city’s magic.

If shopping is what tempts you the most, then there are many reasonably priced shopping places where you can go and shop till you drop. Melbourne has innumerable clothing shops for every budget and various outlet stores in Bridge Road, Richmond for bargain hunters too!

Perth is a city known for the pristine quality of its beaches. Unbroken stretches of golden sands run through the entire length of the city’s coastal suburbs. If you are a nature lover, then you got to see this place.

Adelaide or the ‘City of Churches’, as it is often referred as, is a coastal city situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The name City of Churches is a reflection of Adelaide’s past rather than its present. The city has many wine growing districts such as the Baroosa valley.

Food lovers can taste traditional Australian cuisine which consists of grilled chops, Sunday roasts etc. Some English trends are still evident in domestic cuisine like hot roast turkey, chicken or ham with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding. Australia’s two most traditional takeaway dishes are the meat pie and sausage roll.

Lancaster Castle

April 23, 2022 Somnath Travels No comments

Certainly Seal Beach!

If you are visiting the Los Angeles, California area you need to travel a wee bit south to beautiful Seal Beach. Named for the seals which used to inhabit the area, the town has all the charm of a beach community. Lovely tree lined streets and well kept homes are the town's feature. When you want to have a little extra adventure and are lured by the salt air, take a walk on the pier which pushes out to the Pacific Ocean.

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Once on the pier look to the north and see the mountain range seemingly rising up from the ocean's floor. Look straight out and you will see the majestic Pacific. Yes, those are oil rigs jutting up out of the ocean! A bit of an eyesore, but necessary especially in this day of over dependence on oil imports. Are you hungry? Stop in at the restaurant located half way down the pier and get a bite to eat. Or, stroll back in town and have your pick of seafood restaurants.

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Nearby to Seal Beach is Long Beach, which is the home of McDonnell-Douglas, the airplane manufacturer. Now owned by Boeing, much of the area surrounding Long Beach International is dedicated to aviation. Stop by the airport and see what a circa 1920s airport still looks like! Yes, it is functioning and it is a good alternate airport to LAX.

Los Angeles is a 20 minute drive to the north while Orange County and Anaheim are within an hour's drive to the south. Of course, being that it is California, expect to be stuck in one of their wonderful traffic delays at some point. Hey, you could always return to bucolic Seal Beach and wait out the traffic!

Raleigh's Pullen Park

Visiting any city can be difficult especially on younger family members. If you have children, they soon tire of the museums, buildings, traffic, congestion, etc. The key to any city visit is finding a place where the children can get out, stretch their legs and, BE KIDS!

My family moved to the Raleigh area of North Carolina in 2004 but before we made the move, we checked out everything/anything about the area. With two preschool boys in tow, we discovered several parks in the area. Pullen Park in Raleigh stood out for us.

The best features of the park are the rides. For only one dollar per child per ride they can ride the carousel [built in the late 1800s and still running!], ride the train, or ride on a small boat. In addition, there are paddle boat rentals available for about $5. for an hour. A great thing to do with all family members.

Parking is free and there is a picnic area. You bring your own food or go to the snack stand and make a purchase. There are also outdoor music events going on from time to time and your group can rent a portion of the park as well. Most of the park is well shaded so if you go during the summer you won't pass out from the heat.

The park is located on Western Blvd. near North Carolina State University. If you tire of the park you can always take in a Wolfpack sporting event. Either way, Pullen Park is a destination worth pursuing in your visit to Raleigh, NC.

Charming and Historic Cape May, New Jersey

Located at the southern most tip of the state of New Jersey, Cape May is a historic seashore town, a bird lover's dream come true, and a fisherman's paradise all wrapped up into a popular vacation destination. Let's take a look at this noted community located at the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Delaware Bay.

Named for the Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey [spelling later changed to May}, the town became America's first seashore resort in 1761. During the 1800s the community rose to fame as it quickly became one of the country's top vacation destinations. Indeed, hundreds of "Victorian style" homes were built in the town and most of these homes still stand today. In fact, no other locale in the USA boasts as many Victorian homes as does Cape May.

To appreciate the history of the area, visitors are encouraged to stop by the Greater Cape May Historical Society, which is located at the Colonial House Museum on Washington Street, right behind City Hall. The historical society features varying exhibits of local historical interest; a visit to the society will rouse your appetite to explore the resort in detail.

The resort is best traversed on foot, which will allow you to take in all the bed and breakfast establishments [which consist of some of the most charming of the Victorian homes], inns, shops and restaurants, as well as taking a stroll on the boardwalk and beaches. In the height of the summer tourist season, foot traffic oftentimes goes faster than automobile traffic so go ahead and get into your walking shoes and prepare to take in the sites and the salty air on foot.

Birders flock to the cape at all times of the year as the area boasts a phenomenal and varied bird population. During the Spring and again in the Fall, members of the National Audubon Society gather together for workshops, boat trips, field trips, bird viewing, and more. Because of its unique position on the east coast, Cape May attracts a stunning variety of migratory birds including hawks, owls, and peregrine falcons. Without a doubt there are few places on earth as popular for bird enthusiasts. When not viewing birds you can take in Cape May's Lighthouse which still features an operating beacon!

Fishermen are attracted to the area because of the variety of species you can catch. Striped bass, bluefish, and weakfish are all in abundance while white perch, sea trout, herring, croakers, and sea bass are plentiful too. There are ample amounts of tidal creeks and rivers offering access to avid fishermen as well as jetties, inlets, docks and bridges, back bays, sod banks, the ocean, and the Delaware Bay. You can charter a boat for some good quality deep sea fishing as well.

Nearby attractions to Cape May include historic Cold Spring Village, a remake of communities that existed in the area during the 1800s; Cape May County Park and Zoo, featuring over one hundred species of wildlife; the Wildwoods, a thriving resort community just four miles north of the cape; and Avalon and Stone Harbor, fine resort communities between the Wildwoods and Ocean City.

Mossel Bay - A Small Harbour Town With Alot Of Muscle!

Named "Mossel Bay" by the famous Dutch navigator Paulus van Caerdon, whose crew consumed huge amounts of tasty molluscs after landing here in 1601. Today, this coastal town's famous muscles are prized by connoisseurs around the world, but Mossel Bay has other tasty treats just waiting to be discovered...

Between the East Coast and the Eden District

This area, known for good reason as the Eden District, is located on the East Coast of South Africa. Found at the start of a scenic strip aptly named the Garden Route. Mossel Bay is only 4 hours drive from Cape Town on an equally picturesque stretch of road well worth travelling for its own sake.

This is the place where the Indian Ocean laps pristine beaches and prehistoric fynbos dashes over hills... The climate has been compared to Hawaii, though it has its own unmistakable character. The Mozambique current, whose warm waters make for excellent swimming and sailing, have created a surfers Mecca similar to Plettenberg or Jeffrey's Bay.

Mossel Bay rests on a tooth-like cape, or point, named Cape St Blaize. From here several beaches lie waiting to be devoured, sandy stretches like Dias Beach, Victoria Bay and Santos Reef are famed for good all year conditions, miles of walking space and dazzling-pink painted sunsets.

The land of the Gouriqua and Khoisan peoples

During the past two thousand years, the Mossel Bay region was inhabited by the Gouriqua, an indigenous Khoi khoi tribe, and earlier by the San people who were mainly hunter-gatherers. Cultural tours escort travellers to their existing settlements and enlighten them to the ways of these friendly inhabitants, the forefathers of our present indigenous people. A rich history is unravelled through cultural stories and the art of their ancestral cave paintings.

Things you'll discover in and around Mossel Bay...

Many hidden details are waiting to be discovered in Mossel Bay. Among the fascinating museums dedicated to the explorer Bartholomeu Dias, you'll find a curious old Tree. This old giant, named the Post Office Tree, is a Milkwood that is more than 500 years old. This tree oddly acquired the name "Post Office Tree" after mariners posted letters in an old boot strung around one of its wild and willing branches. A freshwater spring, which for the past 500 years has not run dry, flows beneath its aging roots. This tree is only one of Mossel Bay's many historical sites. Adventures in and around the town will uncover many more.

Repeatedly called "The Bay of Attractions" you can guess that there are no shortages of things to do in Mossel Bay. The only problem is where to start...

See the Great Karoo, Little Karoo (Semi-Arid deserts) and return to Mossel Bay via the garden route, all in one day:

Take the Klein-Karoo Day trip to Oudtshoorn and ride on the back of an Ostrich. See the Crocs and enjoy the Ostrich Show at an Ostrich Farm.

Stop by the Cango Wildlife & Cheetah Ranch to see the wildlife and even hug a cheetah!
Visit the Cango Caves and lose yourself in the magnitude and beauty of this subterranean underworld.

Experience the wonders of the indigenous forest with a Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour. Suspended 30 metres over the forest canopy, you can traverse from one platform to another along a steel cable.

Close to Mossel Bay is the experience and thrill of coming eye to eye with one of nature's oldest predators - The Great White Shark. With no diving qualifications or experience required you can face your fears surrounded by professional shark tour operators and a steel cage.

For a tamer experience, Mossel Bay provides the ideal viewing location for nature's friendlier sea fairing animals. Southern Right Whales, Humpback Whales, Brydes Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins and Jackass Penguins can all be seen by boat on the open seas.

Mossel Bay is more than just a muscle bound oasis at the end of the road...

Not that the journey to the garden route is something to complain about; it's only a semi-arid desert crossing after all. Apart from the superb scenery, rich historical excursions and a reputation as the Bay of Attractions, Mossel Bay is also a holiday destination with value for money, excellent dining experiences that suite everyone's tastes and a fair-weathered, and an all year-round destination where the local advice of sitting back and just allowing life to happen makes a lot of sense once you get there.

If you ever find yourself adventuring in South Africa, discover Mossel Bay for yourself. The oasis at the end of the Garden Route...

Noia By The Sea

The Galician holiday town of Noia is located in the Noia-Muros bay on the North West coast of Spain, just above Portugal. It is a 40 minute drive from the historic city of Santiago de Compostela and lies adjacent to the popular coastal resort of Porto do Son.

Although Noia is worth a visit on its own merit, it is also ideally located for visiting other seaside towns like Muros, Porto Sin and Boiro and of course anyone holidaying in this part of Spain is bound to want to see Santiago de Compostela.

What makes Noia worthy of note is not just its location, but its history and appearance. Noia has existed for well over a thousand years and was, for 700 years, the seat of the Archbishop. It has two churches dating back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries and many other ancient buildings in its original mediaeval quarter. An unfortunate feature of Noia, but one typical of this region, is the constant presence of decrepit old buildings adjacent to well maintained ones. This is the result of the land registration laws, or lack of them, in Galicia. If you can ignore this failing, Noia is an attractive town with many tapas bars, plenty of shops and the feel and atmosphere of a genuine Spanish town. Noia still has a thriving market and the locals speak their own language, Gallego.

Noia's nearest beach, "la praia de Testal", is only a five minute car journey away and several other beaches can be reached within minutes. A short drive out of town and into the country will see you quickly gaining altitude, Galicia is hilly and sometimes mountainous, but this adds to the views and scenery. You will also notice the smell, Galicia is a forested region with pine and eucalyptus grown as a crop. Futurist looking windmills will also be in evidence on the hill tops and generate a substantial amount of the regions "eco" friendly electricity.

In cultural terms the Galicians are Celts, so do not expect flamenco dancing and spanish guitar, instead the traditional instrument is the bagpipes and the dancing is very much in the "folk" mold. If you are from Scotland or Ireland, you will feel at home here. Also the most popular crop vegetable is the potato, although it is usually poached in a seasoned liqueur and has a pale orange hue to it when served.

In summary if you want a Spanish holiday, but one away from the tour operators, crowded beaches and commercialism of the south, then Galicia (and Noia) may offer a welcome alternative. If you do travel to this part of Spain, remember it does have seasons, so visit between May and September and be prepared to try and speak a bit of Spanish! Visit http://www.galiciaguide.com for further information about Noia and the Spanish region of Galicia.

Lancaster Castle

Lancaster Castle stemmed from an original fort built by the Romans overlooking the town of Lancaster and the River Lune to help combat the invading forces of the Picts and Scots. Following the demise of the Roman Empire in Britain during the 5th century, Lancaster fell into decline and it was not until the Norman Conquest that the present castle took on a more solid structure with the building of the Norman Keep by Roger of Poitou.

The castle led a very turbulent and colourful life having a succession of owners. A total of 265 executions took place within her walls, as well as the infamous Pendle witch trials of 1612. A total of ten people were tried and convicted of witchcraft. If you were unlucky enough to be imprisoned within her cells during the later half of the 18th century onwards, you could have found yourself transported to the new found colony of Australia.

In 1399 Richard II seized the castle from the 2nd Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt after his death and claimed the castle in the name of the monarchy. When Henry IV ousted Richard in the same year, the castle became part of the Duchy of Lancaster where it has remained ever since.

Henry undertook a massive rebuilding program which saw the addition of a twin-towered gatehouse. The gatehouse consisted of two 20 metre high towers consisting of several floors with the top two being dived into a number of rooms. A Well Tower (which became know as the Witch's Tower) was built during the 14th century and consisted of two deep wells and several underground dungeons. These dungeons went on to house people accused of witchcraft prior to their trial at Lancaster Castle during the reign of King James I in the 16th century.

In 1585, Elizabeth I rebuilt the upper storey of the 12th century Keep.

Extensive modifications were undertaken during the 18th century, converting the castle into a prison. The use of which, has lasted for over 3 centuries. Separate complexes were built for female and male prisoners as well as a Wardens house. This wide-ranging refurbishment program began in 1788 with the warden's house and cumulated in the prison for male inmates in 1796.

The rooms of the gatehouse were converted in to prison cells which were used to house debtors. These rooms were quite comfortable and reserved for those debtors who were able to lay their hands on a little money, enabling them to live a comfortable life compared to others in the same predicament. Prior to that they were probably used and maintained by the Castles Constable. This was not the first time the castle was used to house prisoners. A Reference to prisoners being held at the castle dates back to 1196.

The last major build program undertaken at Lancaster Castle was in 1821 when a new female prison was built to the design of Joseph Gandy who had been trained by James Wyatt and had worked for John Nash.

Airport Parking

April 23, 2022 Somnath Travels No comments

UK Airport Parking

Airport parking in the UK can be expensive if you just turn up at the car park without having made a reservation. Cost savings of up to 60% are not unusual when you are able to pre-book your airport parking space.

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The trouble is that there is so much confusion online with airport parking on who can offer the best price and solution that meets the users needs. There appears to be a large number of websites offering various parking solutions. In truth there are only a small number of direct operators, but there are many operator partners that you can use to pre-book your airport parking.

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This situation is common within the travel industry. There are relatively few major booking systems in comparison to the number of on and offline businesses connecting to and using them as their backend operation. Successful operations are able to add value to the booking process for the consumers. Some of the operator partners for airport parking include airlines, hotel chains and dedicated parking websites.

The Airport Parking Guide aims to offer the "best choice of available car parks at airports across the UK" and have developed their own price and information comparison system. The search results are colour coded for easy identification of on site, off site or meet and greet parking.

Using data from five of the main direct discount operators, for a given set of times and dates, the guide will return a choice of available car parks along with links to more in depth information.

The Airport Parking Guide in collaboration with BCP has recently made available for download, PDF guides for Gatwick and Heathrow airports. These are the first in a planned series of airport guides to be released by the Airport Parking Guide.

Over 200 car park options are contained within their database from around 100 or more car parks. The four parking brokers used to compare information and prices are BCP, APH, FHR and Holiday Extras. These operators account for the majority of all online and offline pre-booking of UK airport parking.

Each operator has their own strengths, but comparing the solutions of all four ensures that the Airport Parking Guide is able to add value to the website visitor. It is often in the detail that one makes a choice and the guide presents impartial information on all the car parks offered.

Stephen Thomas is a developer and writer for a number of online travel websites, including the Airport Parking Guide where you can compare prices and information on airport parking throughout the UK.

Eclectic Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina is located in the Triangle Region of North Carolina. It is called the triangle because the three main cities of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill make up the principle locales of the region. Naturally, when you draw a line from city to city a triangle shape emerges.

Home to the University of North Carolina, this Tarheel town is charming. Walk the streets and you will see that pedestrians and cyclists have the right of way while the shops reflect the character and wealth of the community. Indeed, per capita income in Chapel Hill is the highest in the state fueled by the highly regarded state university and local businesses particularly those based in the Research Triangle Park.

The university itself is rated at or near the top when it comes to public universities. With sixteen libraries on campus, you can 'do research' for over two weeks and still not see the entire campus. Founded in the late 1700s UNC at Chapel Hill resembles an Ivy League school in looks as well as reputation. Tour the grounds and you will see carefully maintained buildings dating back hundreds of years as well as modern structures for student housing and sports facilities. Indeed, the UNC Men's basketball team is the most recent national champion which gives Chapel Hill an especially warm spotlight from national media.

When walking the streets of Chapel Hill, you will note a nice mix of business establishments including taverns, bars, the ubiquitous coffee shop, memorabilia shops, galleries, etc. There is plenty of parking right in the center of town, so you need not walk far to take in all that this thriving university town has to offer.

Charleston, South Carolina: City of Charm

Charleston, SC is a place where Scarlett O'Hara would feel welcome as would any modern day persona. The city is warm, inviting, and above all else -- historic.

When locals talk about South of Broad they are talking about the heart of the city. This area dates back several hundred years and features the row houses that made the city famous, the houses of worship that anchor the city [did you know that one of the first synagogues built in the US is in Charleston?], and the people who give the city its charm.

The city is best observed on foot. Or, by horse drawn buggy. Make sure you have a comfortable pair of shoes on and, if visiting in the summer, expect to be soaked in sweat! Bring plenty of fresh water and dress lightly. Enjoy the guided tours or simply purchase a map and take a tour yourself. Note the confederate building, Rainbow Row, the Battery, College of Charleston, and every point in between. Make sure that you eat at one of the fine dining establishments; you will rave over the seafood! Note the oaks and observe the Spanish Moss on the trees.

Other areas of interest nearby include Magnolia Gardens, Fort Sumter, the Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, John's Island and Santee. Hilton Head Island is one hour to the south and the state capital, Columbia, is a two hour trip northwest on Interstate 26.

Wonderful Wildwood, New Jersey

The Jersey Shore boasts some of the most crowded vacation destinations going. However, one popular resort, The Wildwoods, is truly a happening place and well worth the trip despite the crowds.

Much of this venerable beach community took off in the 1950s with the opening up of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Many of the hotels still gracing the area still reflect that fifties look: tail fins, big hair, Elvis, and more. Old hotels with a bit of tackiness to be sure, but still a fun place to check out.

The boardwalk is a two mile trek laced with all kinds of stores selling saltwater taffy, t-shirts, trinkets, games, rides, junk food, you name it. If you don't like to walk, tram cars will take you to the end or to any point in between. Soon, you will hear the familiar "watch the tram car" recording emanating from the cars and all you have to do is flag one down, hop on, and you're off.

The beach is free, by the way. And, it is very wide particularly by NJ standards. Most people familiar with the Jersey Shore know that many beaches are razor thin. This beach has sand added to it constantly and naturally by compliant tidal waters; it is at least 1/4 mile from boardwalk to surf [in low tide, that is].

Wildwood now boasts a convention center built on the beach and new rides jutting out from its piers. Historic Cape May, home to more than 600 Victorian houses, is only four miles to the South and a great place to visit when you tire of the boardwalk scene. Atlantic City is one hour to the north and is a frequent side trip destination, especially on rainy days. Alternatively, you can also escape to the county zoo for the day in the town of Cape May Court House.

The best time to go to the Wildwoods is during July and August as the water temperatures can be too cold before that time. Still, most hotels have outdoor heated pools which you may prefer to salt water.

The resort is changing as many old buildings are being torn down and replaced by condos. Preservationists are attempting to maintain the family welcoming theme of the resort, so it remains to be seen what the resort's future will be. In the meantime, grab a beach towel and your sunblock and head over to wonderful, Wildwood, NJ!

Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Traveling to Pennsylania Dutch Country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is somewhat like taking a trip back in time. Long inhabited by the Amish who are actually Germans, the area is checkered by family farms where the men still work with horse and plow, the women bake everything from scratch, and families get around by horse drawn carriage.

While there, you can purchase homemade goods including jellies and jams; blankets and pillows; wood carvings; handmade furniture; outdoor items including birdhouses; and so much more. Try the fudge... YUM! Sit down for a traditional Amish meal served family style. You will share a long table with complete strangers while being waited upon by pretty maidens. Savor the tender meats, homemade noodles, gravy laden mashed potatoes, and breads and pies that will be part of your dining experience.

Located between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, the area is seeing a building boom. Some of the Amish are moving away, but many do remain. Lodging is very reasonable and more than likely you will stay at an Amish run establishment.

The Amish are a quiet, thrifty people possessing a good business acumen. Many sincerely revere Almighty God and it shows more in their mannerisms than in their dress which has changed little over the centuries.

Lively Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair, New Jersey is New York City in a bag. Well, not really! Located just 12 miles west of Manhattan, the town has the look and feel of New York without the crowds, pollution, or prices. Well, maybe they DO have the prices. Home to Montclair State University, the town attracts the upper crust as well as the poor. With just 8 square miles and 40,000 residents the town is bustling from end to end. Parks can be found throughout and the seasonal festivals are a blast. May in Montclair is a popular event as well as is their Farmer's Market, Art in the Park, etc. Other destinations around the township worth a look include: the Montclair Art Musuem, churches, shopping and more. If you like a good bagel, go to Watchung Plaza in the center of the township. While there, you will find plenty of ethnic eateries as well as the typical greasy spoon. The town isn't cheap, so expect to spend your money! Enjoy the antiques, art shops, galleries, and second hand stores too. Montclair is located in Essex County and is adjacent to Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Verona, and the Oranges.

How and Why You Can Save Money by Buying Your Airfare Online

Let*s start with an explanation of Online Airfares. It is important to note that in the airline business, as well as with most any another business enterprise, there are three distinct tiers of sellers in the marketplace.

First of course is the major domestic and international airline carriers.

Next, you will find the airfare wholesalers, who are often referred to as consolidators. The consolidator buys empty seats from the airline, and they resell those seats to travel
resellers.

Unless you buy a seat on a flight directly from the airline, then you are often buying from a travel reseller, which sometimes takes the form of your local, neighborhood travel agent.

Of course, the airline would prefer to sell you your seat directly, because they will get to keep all of the markup for themselves, thereby increasing their profit margins. But the
system has been set up in this way to assure the airline that they will be able to fill all of their seats.

Let*s face it, empty seats generate zero revenue. The airlines figure that they would rather discount some seats than to fly half full. When the airlines sell seats to consolidators, they often do so for as much as 70% of off the regular published airfare prices! Since the discounts are so deep, there are a lot of consolidators willing to jump in and sell seats for the airlines. Imagine that.

This means that the person in seat 2B might have actually paid twice as much for his ticket as did the person in seat 2C! This is because the person in seat 2C was willing to shop around for a better price, whereas the person in seat 2B just called the airline and bought his ticket at the regular rate.

It actually happens everyday where a shopper will find a ticket for half of what they would expect to pay for the ticket, but by the time they get to the checkout screen, the ticket has already been sold. In some cases, the shopper had the chance to buy directly from the consolidator instead of from the reseller/agent who is trying to beat them to the punch.

This is also the reason that if you shop for an airline ticket online, you might find the same ticket at five different sites at five different prices. Let*s face it, all of the consolidators have their own defined markup on the tickets they sell, and each of the resellers/agents also have their own markup on your ticket. Everyone needs to make a profit, right?

But, some companies charge a higher markup, while others charge a lower markup. Whereas the big consolidators might charge a $150 or $200 markup on the tickets they sell, there are other consolidators like that charge only a $50 markup on a resold ticket.

Before you actually buy your ticket, we would stronly suggest for you to shop around and try to see all of the sites that resell airfare, be it consolidators or resellers, and see for yourself who has the best prices.

We believe that you should always get the best price you can get for airfare; that is why we wanted to share with you how the system works. The more you know, the more likely you will be able to save your hard earned money for the really important things such as extra gifts, shows, and other activities.

One last word on this topic. Some websites that you visit mightactually be affiliate resellers. The hard lesson about affiliates is that they do not always have quick and efficient customer support, and they may not be able to change or cancel your ticket, if you need them to do so.

There are many quick and efficient ways you can check a site to see if you are on an affiliate site. I am listing two of those methods below. Be aware of these things when you are ready to buy from a site, so that you don*t buy your airfare from an affiliate reseller.

1. If you mouse over a link, you will see the URL of the link in the bottom of your Internet Explorer browser window. If it is different from the URL that appears in your Address Bar at the top of your Internet Explorer browser window, then you will know that you are on an affiliate site.

2. If you mouse over a link, and you see the URL in the bottom of your Internet Explorer browser window and that URL has a question mark in it, then you will know that you are on an affiliate site.

In conclusion, we do encourage you to shop around and find the best rates on airfare. We only ask that along the way, you stop at our site to see if we can actually beat our competition on airfare prices. You might be glad you did.

Chile and Morelia

April 23, 2022 Somnath Travels No comments

Chile, The Ultimate Adventure

I've written a great deal on Chile but I've for the most part concentrated on Santiago and the major outlying areas. In this article I'll concentrate more on the beach and coastal areas.

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In this article I'll concentrate more on the beach and coastal areas. I frequent these areas just about every single weekend and had, for a time, planned on building my cottage near the coastal areas. I can say there's still a great deal of readily available land for purchase in the coastal areas also

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Prices for a lot range about $3500 to $7500, depending on the size and locations desired. In my ebook on Chile, I have specified some websites you can go to look at that have photos of available land lots and surrounding areas. These areas are very attractive and rustic. The kind of places, where a small cabin would make one feel so cozy and at home in the environment.

The coastal areas of Chile have a lot to offer anyone who is thinking of living there. The most popular area or city is Viña Del Mar. It's the most popular beach or coastal town due to the fact that, it has a casino, which makes it the central focal point. People travel for miles around to go to the casino and this is where the Chilean elite and well to do play. It's very common to run into local tv personalities at the casino and Saturday's are the best for casino action. The casino hotel itself almost rivals the MGM in Las Vegas, in terms of luxury.

If you're not a gambler that's OK also, because Viña Del Mar has a wealth of shops, restaurants and waterfront activity for any and all to enjoy. Right next door to the casino is a large city park where you can rent scooters, bicycles and more for the kids, if you're looking for a bit of romance, then try a "Victoria", which is a horse drawn carriage ride around the city center.

Right behind the casino is the carriage stand, where you and your loved one can take a slow ride down one of the side streets that is parallel with the ocean. You can ride and see the waves and the sunset.

Going into the main part of downtown Viña, you will find tons of street vendors selling anything from oil on canvas paintings of seascapes, to handcrafted leather items and more. There's much to see and do and there are more small curio shops then I've ever seen in my life in Viña. If you're looking to collect unique and rare items, this would be the place to start.

Now as far as accommodations, the cheapest places are called "residenciales". These are old family houses where you can rent a room for a very low price, you won't find luxury but it's cheap and clean. One of the best places can be found at:

Residencial Blanchait

Avenida Valparaiso 82-A

Viña Del Mar

Singles USD 20.00 - 25.00

There's fine dining in Viña but if you want something fast and simple there are tons of cafes and fast food type of restaurants. Fine dining is great but this city is one with people on the move who don't always want to take the time to enjoy a fine cuisine. Everybody's coming and going at all times of day and night. The city is not as lit up as Las Vegas but believe me when I say it has the same feel, the same energy and the same excitement.

During the month of February, the Viña Del Mar International Song Festival has been held each year since 1970, lasting all of six days. The venue for this major event is the Quinta Vergara amphitheatre, and it's organized in three parts: the first is the international competition, which traditionally has around ten countries taking part; then there is the folk section, with performers coming from all over Chile; and finally the international show, sprinkled with international stars, and the ever-hopefuls who wish to win over the demanding audience, and let me tell you, Chilean crowds are very tough to please when it comes to entertainment.

Many american cruise ships are starting to make regular stops now in Viña Del Mar which is quickly making it a very international city. One of my other favorite cities is Valparaiso. Valparaiso is only ten minutes by car from Viña Del Mar and it's considered a historic city. This city has the same protection as that of Prague; nothing in this town can be changed. It all must be preserved exactly as is.

Valparaiso is more or less a historical monument, the whole city! It's very old but this is its charm and character. A real treat in Valparaiso, is a ride on an ascensore. The city of Valparaiso has been called "The Vertical City" because it was built on large hills, and so the city is truly divided. The shops and stores are in the lower part of the city but the residential living is in the hilltop areas, and to get from the hills to the lower part of the city you can take an ascensore.

That is, basically a large elevator car that takes you from the upper to the lower part of the city and vice versa. It's only a couple hundred pesos for the ride but it's a thrill you'll always remember and cherish. The ascensores where first built and put into use sometime in 1883 and then there were over 83 working units throughout the city giving the townspeople access to the lower parts of the city.

Now there are only 15 working units left. It's amazing to see these little boxes going up and down tracks built into the sides of hills. They work just like old time elevators in that they use a counterweight system to provide the lift. It's highly suggested if you plan on coming to Chile you make this one of the things you want to experience.

If you want more info on them you may want to get your hands on my eMag, that's free at my website. Valparaiso has always reminded me of a European city, due to its architecture and styling. Narrow, cramped cobble stoned streets, give a definite air of old world European charm.

It has always reminded me of Paris, and once you've walked down the streets you'll feel the European influence too, even some of the street names are French. There are several good cafes that are French in name also. One place I can recommend for cozy eating with Euro flair is the Le Filou De Montpellier Café. Stop by and get a sandwich and a cup of tea, you'll be glad you did.

There's also Casa Museo, the museum for Pablo Neruda, a great Chilean writer. This is definitely a cultural event and worth seeing. The Brighton Hotel is a great place to stay that also has a lounge with lots of excitement! There are all types of places to find action in Valparaiso.

Just try to get here before June which is the rainiest month for this area, and when it rains it truly pours!

So now comes the big question; is this a good place to potentially live in? The answer is yes it is. Rents are cheap here and that's because there are no modern buildings here, remember Valparaiso is a historical city, so there's no new building going on.

Do keep in mind though; it's a bohemian lifestyle here in the real sense of the word.

The apartment buildings are old and Chile is a country that is only interested in what's new and seemingly modern. Most do not wish to live in an older building, as I've said in my previous writings. Landlords find it difficult to rent older buildings out. This is why rents are so low here but this is not the case in all places. No, in some parts of the city the rent is high, because you're living near the ocean. Overall, for the right person, this can be an ideal situation though.

There's very little work in Valparaiso. Most work in Santiago and commute everyday. It's just a little over an hour from Santiago to Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar and for many this is the only way to make a living. But due to the fact that cruise ships are making regular stops here and the casino is the big draw, I suspect a persona can make a great living teaching casino personnel English.

There are also smaller areas that are all along the coast, that make great hideaways, and places to live. If you have a car, I'd say take a drive down the coastal highway to Con Con (pronounced, Cone Cone). This is a great coastal town. Sleepy, rustic but with real spirit, several hundred apartment complexes line the ocean with the only thing separating them from the sand is the two lane highway.

Don't be alarmed if you happen to see so many Greek styled apartments in this area. That's normal. Remember what I said about Santiago being an eclectic and diverse city? The same is true for the coastal areas also. You'll swear that you're taking a drive in Greece when you see the stylings and the color schemes of the apartments and that's one of the things that make Con Con so interesting. It almost seems to be a misplaced city.

Whether you're going to this area or coming back from it you will pass Edelweiss. It's a Swiss restaurant that has a breathtaking view of the ocean and nearby cliffs. Stop and soak up more Euro styled culture at this great restaurant and have a piece of cake and coffee. Check out the menu for other traditional Swiss and German dishes. The best time to go is around 4pm, any later than that and you risk running into the early evening crowd. Just look for the large Swiss flag and you'll know you're there.

Ah yes, you're wondering now, what's the average rent for a place in Con Con right? Well it averages around $375 give or take, depending again on how new or old the building is. Always expect to pay more if the building is newer and as I have said in my past writings, you don't want a newer building.

Here in Chile, the newer apartment buildings do look all modern and such but they are oh so small space-wise. The older buildings have way more character and are a lot more spacious in size. Again, go to my website and download a free copy of Global Living and check out the pictorial on Valparaiso and you'll see what I'm talking about.

My only complaint, and the reason why in the end I chose to start building my cabin elsewhere, is that the airport is very far from the Valparaiso-Viña Del Mar area. From the airport, these areas are almost two hours away. So I thought to myself, if I arrive from traveling and have been on a plane for ten hours, I don't want to spend an additional two hours in a car just to get home.

So I ruled out building near the beach and coastal areas but I love them so much that I spend just about every weekend in these areas. My friends like to go to gamble at the casino (they're gambling addicts, but that's another story in itself) but I like to explore and look around or find a good place to eat.

If you love photography, then these areas are a photographers dream! Even if you're not a great photographer, take lots of pictures anyway! You'll be glad later you did. There's no way you can come to any of these towns and not leave with a good feeling. I personally, doubt one can come here and not entertain the idea of moving and living there.

Don't think for a moment you can't live and make it in any one of these cities or places, because chances are with a bit of resourcefulness you can. There's nothing like staring out over the cities from a hilltop and enjoying the lights and the sound of the waves hitting the shores.

It's then that you'll realize, just as I did, there's so much the world has to offer, and that there's a place for everyone. You just have to find your place and make it your home. Who knows, maybe the beach areas of Chile will one day become your new home.

Living Like A Native In Morelia, Mexico

The beautiful, rustic, old, colonial city of Morelia is situated about halfway in between Guadalajara and Mexico City and has a thriving population of around 1,000,000 people. It has everything from historical buildings and monuments to modern-day conveniences, shopping centers, restaurants, movie houses, universities and colleges, etc. What makes Morelia special, though, is its people. Their backgrounds vary from native Indian to French to Spanish and other nationalities. Their greatest asset, however, is their warmth and friendliness.

What Brought All To Morelia

Most of my life I have studied foreign languages and other cultures. I spoke Spanish as a child and then went on to other languages. In 1996, I was attending Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington for a degree to validate my business experience. Then, one day, a visiting international programs speaker came to one of my history classes and shared her experiences about living in the country of Sri Lanka (an island country just south of India). As I was in a transition period of my life and needing a change, I checked on nearby countries where I could go on an exchange program to re-establish my Spanish language skills. My school had such a program with Centro Mexicano Internacional (CMI) in Mexico that really appealed to my sense of adventure and interest in other cultures. So, I signed up for Spring Quarter 1997 and headed off to Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.

Morelia would be my home from March 1997 until I moved to Guadalajara to enroll in a more advanced Spanish language program in August 1997. Even now, though, if given the choice of living in Morelia versus Guadalajara, Morelia would always win out. The city is vibrant with a deep sense of culture and history dating all the way back to the 1500's. Every day, on my way to school and back, I walked by old colonial style structures, buildings, statues, monuments, fountains, and parks, each with a story about the past. For instance, an aqueduct (called El Acueducto in Spanish), built in the 1700's to carry Morelia's water supply goes right through the center of town (El Centro). I passed this marvelous structure every time I walked the avenue (Calzada Fray Antonio de San Miguel) leading up to my school. Next to the Calzada is a wide cobblestone pathway with benches to sit and relax, read, or visit with friends. On one side of Calzada Fray Antonio de San Miguel are churches and schools. The other side has shops, art galleries, and a restaurant or two. All of the buildings appear to be at least as old as the Acueducto or older and are fairly well maintained.

Paying the bills

When I first arrived in Morelia, I was depending on financial aid from my school in the US. Within a week or so of arriving at my new school I was asked to substitute for an ill teacher to teach Mexican students enrolled in CMI's ESL (English As A Second Language) program. I found out that I loved teaching the Mexican students. And, as the school was very impressed with my teaching skills, they offered me a part-time job teaching all levels of English and Linguistics classes. Also, I began to work in the school's computer laboratory as a supervisor in the evening after classes were done for the day. Together, both of my positions paid about $3 per hour. With the surplus from my financial aid and from what I earned, I lived on approximately $500 a month or less. Out of this amount I paid for rent, food, travel, entertainment, and obligations I had back in the US. After paying my US expenses, I usually had about $300 or less for my day-to-day living.

My monthly expenses generally amounted to approximately: $50 rent, $150 food, $25 clothing, $25 transportation, $50 other personal expenses (laundry, haircuts, entertainment, etc). Now, some people may think one can't do too much on $300 or $400 a month. It can be done if one does not have to worry about the ownership and upkeep of an automobile. Granted, things were tight at times, but I always managed to go see movies at least a couple of times a month. And, I went to a lot of free or other low cost events such as concerts put on by some of the local schools or musicians. Movies, haircuts, and restaurant meals only cost about $2.

Finding a place to live

Before I even left the US, I checked Morelia's hotels on the Internet and asked for recommendations from officials at my new school. The first place I found that I liked and stayed at was the Mintzicuri Hotel at Vasco de Quiroga No. 227. The rooms were very clean and comfortable at a rate of about $8 a night. Within a week of arriving in Morelia my school's housing director, Charly (a dear, sweet lady), took me to look at local apartments. I found one at the Posada de Villa located at Padre Lloreda No. 176 for about $150 a month. Then, after a few weeks I decided to see what was available in the local paper. I found a rooming house that offered a room for about $50 a month at Vincente Santa Maria No. 1925. When I went to check it out, I found a large, comfortable room with a bath shared by 3 other roomers. We also had access to cooking facilities as well as a mini refrigerator in each room.

Day-to-day life in Morelia

I lived a basic, simple life. I would stop at a local bakery and buy rolls, bolillos (small loaves of bread), and/or galletas (large cookies) for breakfast on my way to school. Then, I ate sandwiches and fruit at my school's snack bar for lunch. For supper, I would either eat at a local café or buy groceries and fix something in my room. My favorite item at the cafés was milanesa, a thinly sliced beefsteak, chopped up and mixed with fresh avocado and eaten with tortillas. Or, I would have milanesa sandwiches and other local dishes. Usually, if I cooked at home, I would eat spaghetti type meals or fruit and vegetables.

Routinely, Monday through Friday, I took Spanish classes and taught English between the hours of 8:00 AM through 2:00 PM. 2:00 to 4:00 PM was siesta (break) time. Afterwards, I taught and worked in my school's computer lab from 4:00 to around 9:00 PM. After 9 was suppertime. Saturdays, I taught classes half-day. I devoted the rest of the weekend to either resting or other personal activities.

When I wasn't busy working or studying, I oftentimes walked around town or took a combi (Morelia's VW Van Mini-Bus system) or taxi to various cultural sites such as the city library, the government buildings, other buildings of historical interest (ex: Mexican Patriot José Morelos' birthplace and house), or mercados (open markets either outside or housed in large buildings) and did a little exploring.

I almost always felt safe in Morelia, not because of the visible presence of gun toting policemen, but because of the very low crime rate. El Centro (downtown) was generally always crowded and busy. Many of the side streets off of Avenida Francisco Madero (Morelia's main downtown street) had shopping bazaars and mercados with every imaginable item from food to clothes to leather goods to electronic items and much more. The one area I did not care much for was right around the bus depot (long distance buses). There are x-rated theatres and other nefarious activities close to that location.

One thing I came to really appreciate in a hurry, was that I did not have to wash my own clothes. There are no self-service laundries that I am aware of in Morelia. I usually took my clothes to the laundry service in the block just down the street from my room. The two young ladies that ran it were efficient, prompt, and always welcomed me with smiles.

The people of Morelia

Generally, the people of Morelia were very friendly, warm, and caring. Two of my friends at a local Internet cyber café were especially helpful to me. When I first went to Morelia, my spoken Spanish consisted of only being able to speak in the present tense. I had never really learned how to properly conjugate verbs. Even though I could read and understand Spanish very well, I was very limited in my ability to converse. At first, I carried 2 very helpful books - Practical Conjugation of Verbs and a Spanish dictionary, both published by Larousse. For 2 months I carried these books everywhere I went and referred to them almost constantly. One day, my friends Genaro and Marcos took me aside and told me to put the books away, try to think and talk as best I could in Spanish and let them help me to correct errors in my grammar. That was the very best thing I could have done. It worked! It was not long at all before I was able to converse fairly freely. The key is immersion in a language - thinking, speaking, and living it.

Other people and families also befriended and "adopted" me. Two of my students took to me like an older brother and included me in their family activities and meals and recreation and also acted as my personal guides around Morelia. One of their favorite activities was gathering around a big-screen TV and watching fútbol (soccer). Sometimes, we would go to a local park or concert. Another of my students took me to events like the local fair and flea market.

Places of interest for tourists

Places I would recommend for visitors to Morelia to see: The sidewalk cafes and food stands, the shopping bazaars and mercados, Morelia's Zoo, the annual Feria in April-May (the local fair), the cyber cafés, local book stores, church and government buildings, museums and art galleries, the parks and fountains (ex: Bosque Cuauhtémoc and the Three Sisters fountain in El Centro), the local universities, movie theatres (generally $2 or $3 for an adult ticket), musical entertainment - one place that comes immediately to my mind is El Colibri restaurant (located in El Centro just off of Francisco Madero). El Colibri has a live band that plays both local music and soft rock as well as a show called El Baile de los Viejitos (The Dance of the Little Old Men), a delightful presentation and musical score.

The shopping bazaars and mercados have all kinds of clothes, leather goods, electronic gadgets, and food items. They even sell birds - big birds! There are shopping areas or mercados all over Morelia. Some that I frequented are: 1). on the way towards the central bus station - several shops selling food items and leather goods; 2). Mercado Revolucion - between Francisco Madero and Plan de Ayala in El Centro; 3) Mercado Independencia - on Avenida Lazaro Cardenas just off of Vincente Santa Maria. One word of caution - when eating at the local food stands, make sure the food is fresh and has not been sitting out for an extended period of time. And, always, always ask for agua purificada (purified water). One more word of caution, this time to women, Mexican, American, or any other nationality - always take along a companion or stay in a group.

Morelia's weather

I was not there during winter months; however, I have heard that the winters are fairly mild. The summers can be very hot at times, but, for the most part, I found them moderately warm to hot. I have heard that it is wise during late summer, fall, and winter months to carry an umbrella, though.

Do your homework before you go

If you are really serious about visiting Morelia - do your homework before you go. Many excellent hotel deals, information about sites to see, historical background, information about language schools, etc. can be found by looking on the Internet. Other great sources of information are travel guides you can either purchase or find at your local library.

My experiences in Morelia were generally positive mainly for the following reason - I went there expecting to live like a native, not a foreigner and I kept a good attitude and sense of humor.

If you are looking for a place to start a new life or to seek a little culture and adventure then, this little hidden gem, Morelia, could be your ticket.