AAA projects that 46.3 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving weekend, the highest travel rate since 2007. I’ll be traveling just slightly more miles than that, and I’m loading up my Kindle Paperwhite with good reading to take along on the journey. I’m always keeping lists of things I’d like to read, and today I share these recommendations with you – whether you need something to keep your company while in transit, or to enjoy while others are watching football. Paris Was Ours Paris is “the world capital of memory and desire,” concludes one of the writers in this intimate and insightful collection of memoirs of the city. Living in Paris changed these writers forever. In thirty-two personal essays—more than half of which are here published for the first time—the writers describe how […]
Read MoreTalking 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 […]
Read MoreHow 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 […]
Read MoreTourism 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.
Read MoreUp 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 […]
Read MoreChanging of the Guard at Presidential Mansion in Athens
The Presidential Mansion is located across the street from Athens’ National Gardens, and I happened upon it at the changing of the guard. Called the Evzoni, the guard is an elite ceremonial unit drawn from the Greek Army, and members are usually identified early in the military career while in basic training. The Evzoni are responsible for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Mansion, and the gates of the guard’s camp. The Evzoni are easily recognized by and are a bit famous for, their traditional uniform which dates back to the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The everyday uniform is a Farion (a scarlet fex with a black tassel), Doulamas (a navy blue tunic), and Periskelides (white woolen stockings, two pairs are worn) with Anapastos (a type of garter to hold the stockings in place). The shoes they wore are […]
Read MoreHotel Review: Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast & Barn, Yakima Valley
Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast & Barn Address: 3271 Roza Drive, Zillah, Washington (Yakima Valley) Value Luxury Rating: (out of 3 hearts) Features: Set on a working farm in the Yakima Valley, Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast & Barn offers overnight accommodations in 22-foot teepees. This specialty bed and breakfast has barbeque grills, compact refrigerators, separate super-clean and private water closets, along with an open-air shower to round out its amenities. The property is horse and dog-friendly, and the teepees have a special bed in your teepee so your dog can sleep right along with you. No children permitted. Price Range: $245/night based on double occupancy. Full breakfast included. Cherry Wood is open during the “season”, generally from late spring into early fall. Reservations required; make them early as they book up for the season quite quickly. Personal Notes: I’ve been interested in […]
Read MorePostcard from Peace Center Amphitheater, homepage
I’m in Greenville, South Carolina, for Euphoria 2014, and Friday night was Taste of the South held at th Peace Center. To accompany the great food and drink, Sixwire played in the amphitheater. A wonderful Friday night. This is a really great event and a wonderful way to kick off a weekend.
Read MoreTravel Product Review: Tani Underwear
Luxury Collection of Underwear from Tani Product: Air Fitness Boxer Brief from Tani Rating: (out of three hearts) Features: Designed to be worn for athletic and everyday activities, the Air Fitness Boxer Brief keeps you cool and comfortable in any situation. The three-dimensional pique knit creates tiny pockets of air that helps regulate your body temperature, keeping you cool where you need it most. The SUPERFINE Tencel wicks away 50 percent more moisture than cotton. What He thought: I handed these over to my favorite guy traveler for review, asking him to pay special attention to comfort and wearability. I asked him to wear them under a variety of conditions: every day, for high energy activities, for long and sweaty travel, and for light exercise. He put the boxers through its paces, laundered it by hand as well as by machine, […]
Read MorePostcard from Moon Palace Resort, Cancun
Early morning quiet on the Moon Palace grounds. This was the view of the gardens from my balcony, with the ocean just beyond
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