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8 Places to Celebrate National Hot Tea Month

Tea is the second most popular drink in the world, the first is water, and while here in the United States we haven’t embraced many of the rituals surrounding tea, our consumption of the drink is growing in leaps and bound. The idea of tea being for blue haired little old ladies, full of pretentious traditions, and offering tiny tasteless sandwiches, does a disservice to the many hotels and restaurants who offer fine fare to accompany their loose leaf selections. A few basic tips will help you enjoy your tea, and prevent any etiquette faux pas. Pour the tea first, then add milk. When stirring the tea, be sure not to clink the spoon against the side of the cup. That whole extended pinky thing — uh, no, just no. No dunking. Lemon should be served in slices, not wedges. […]

2014: A Year of Travel in Review

I log a lot of travel miles each year, and every year I say that I’m going to keep track of just how miles that is. And every year, about half way through, I forget to update my miles and then I never seem to get back on track. Maybe next year I’ll stick with it (and I say that every year, too). While many of of travels each year are a result of flight attendant work, I do manage to log a goodly number of other travel each year, usually averaging one trip a month. This year featured two trips to Europe and a nice amount of U.S. travel. I am grateful for the many travel opportunities that have come my way this past year. I’m blessed beyond belief to be able to see the world and, as I […]

End of Year Instagram

I’ve decided to start doing regular updates from my Instagram account, sharing the photos that were popular there. You follow me on Instgram, right? If not, click right HERE to go to my Instgram profile, then click on follow. I can’t wait to connect with you there. This photo of the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City was the most popular one that I shared last month. It must be its stately grandeur, even in the midst of construction, that make people fall in love with the place. A photo posted by Mary Jo Manzanares (@travelingwithmj) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:32pm PST The next two photos were taken in Lloret de Mar, in Costa Brava, Spain. The first photo was taken in the beautiful Santa Clotilde gardens, a wonderful place to wander on a warm afternoon. The next photo […]

Travel Product Review: Neo-Cover Luggage

Neo-Cover Art Inspired Luggage Product: Lady Harvest 2-piece Hardside Spinner Set from Neo-Cover Value Luxury Rating: (of three hearts) Features: This multi-colored luggage set features a brilliant artistic polycarbonate exterior with a special matte finish. The fully lined interior has multiple pockets and zippers while the multi-directional spinner wheels provide a convenient mobility. The aluminum handle has a soft rubber grip with impact locking telescopic handle. Built in TSA combination lock helps protect valuables. The set includes two pieces, one 29-inch and one 22-inch the latter suitable as a carry on. What I thought: What was great: It’s not black! I didn’t need to worry about which bag was mine. It’s pretty. I can’t tell you how many compliments I received about the luggage. While at first people may have been startled by its vividness, they often looked closer and […]

Video from Athens, Greece

I was in Greece last month and have written a couple stories about my time there already, this story about the Evzoni, and this one about what I learned from a Greek cab driver. I’ve got more to come, of course, but will be spacing them out over the next few months so it’s not all Greece, all the time. However, I wanted you to see this video. It visually tells you a little bit more about what I was doing in Athens, and how important the TBEX conference was to the tourism industry of the city and country. Travel Bloggers Exchange – TBEX Europe 2014 in Athens from ACVB on Vimeo. If you’re a travel blogger, DMO, tourism professional, PR represtative working in tourism, or travel brand, and would like to know more about TBEX, please get in touch. […]

Talking About Instagram

Let’s talk about Instagram. I love this photo sharing platform, and although I have no prowess as a photographer, I think my family, friends, and readers appreciate the moments I choose to share on Instagram. Some pics are hits, others misses, but my Instagram stream is a synopsis of my day-to-day life and experiences, interspersed with some highlights from the past. Here are a few of my most popular photos shared on Instagram last month (October). There’s no surprise that the first two are from Athens, Greece. And the third is from the efforts to get there. After a busy morning at the keyboard, there’s nothing like a walk and pastry stop. A photo posted by Mary Jo Manzanares (@travelingwithmj) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:41am PDT On today’s agenda: Walking up the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. Great views […]

How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in New York City’s Five Boroughs

Ringing in the New Year in New York City is a bucket list item for many people. The annual ball drop in Times Square, as well as other celebrations throughout Manhattan, plus events in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, makes New York City an ideal spot to ring in 2015. For a visitor, however, the thought of researching and putting together all the details of a New Year’s getaway may be overwhelming. NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, has put together some tips and ideas to make New Year’s Eve planning just a little bit easier. (If it’s too late to make your plans for this year, start making your plans today for next year.) In Times Square The Ball Drop: The iconic ball drop (and yes, in this […]

Tourism Economics: As Explained by a Greek Cab Driver

I learned a lot about the impact of Greece’s tourism economy from my cab driver. This isn’t trickle down economics. This is real. This is personal. Enjoy the story and photo essay here.

Up Next: Traveling to Israel

I’m just back from two weeks in Athens, the first week for TBEX related work, the second week for traveling and touring about the country. Although I miss Greece already – the food, the people, the sights, did I mention the food – I was glad to be home to family, pets, and the real world of work and running a business. I’m sleeping a lot, getting caught up on laundry, and wading through my email inbox. I’m not a nomadic traveler, and I have no interest in becoming one. I find joy in quick weekend trips as much as I do in longer, extended trips. And at the end of the day, I like having a home to return to after my travels. So while I’m missing my daily baklava and coffee fix from Greece, I’m looking ahead to […]