I’m a bag gal. I love bags of all shapes and sizes. Special purposes bags, all purpose bags, and those quirky bags that are cute, but I’m not exactly sure how to use them. When you see and use as many bags as I do, you soon learn that bags are not created equal, and once you realize that, you will never approach using a bag in the same way. When I read about Lock-a-Bye bags I was intrigued; it seemed to combined fun fashion with practical considerations, resulting in a bag that held lots of promise. So I welcomed the chance to put it through its paces. The concept: A bag with a locking mechanism that allows you the freedom to leave your bag while still keeping the contents safe. For example, not being able to enjoy the beach […]
Read MoreArtfully Displayed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art
In a city filled with wonderful museums, New York’s MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) stands out as a real gem – and my personal favorite. From an initial gift of eight prints and one drawing, the collection has grown to include over 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects, along with over 22,000 films and over four million still photos, making it one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world. The exhibitions maintain a nice balance of subject, style, mediums, and time periods. It’s the kind of place you can spend a few hours or the entire day, depending on what your schedule will allow. It’s a great place to spend a cold wintry day, warming up with the art as well as a stop off in the cafe. With […]
Read MoreCelebrate Crop Over on Barbados
It might seem like just a summer long party, but the Barbados Crop Over summer festival has serious roots dating back to the 1700’s. The festival was originally a celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest — at a time when Barbados was the world’s largest producer of sugar. Gradually, as the sugar production declined on the island so, too, did the Crop Over festival, but was then revived in the 1970’s as a summer long festival. Visitors from around the world head off to Bridgeport for a Barbados holiday to celebrate and enjoy the second largest party in the Caribbean. The main festivities occur in July, but are bookended by other activities, making it a festive island to be on all summer long. Here are a few activities that may tempt you: Ceremonial Delivery of the Last […]
Read MoreMoscow Appeals
The world she is a changing, and I’m not talking about politics and culture and current events. I’m talking about the countries themselves – and there are a whole lot of countries around today that weren’t around some years back. I was a Soviet Studies major in college, a seemingly worthless major today, and it’s been work breaking the habit of saying Soviet Union for the now correct Russia or Ukraine. Thank goodness it’s easy to remember that Moscow is still the capital city, formerly of the Soviet Union and now of Russia. I had at one time hoped to travel to Russia, and even had a visa, but it just didn’t work out. I still have it tucked away somewhere as a keepsake. Today, with so many things to experience, far beyond the leak and dreary cold war era, […]
Read MoreFlight Attendants are Trained to be First Responders
Think you know what a Flight Attendant does? Under the best of circumstances all you’ll need him or her to do is nag you about turning off your electronics and pour you a beverage of two. But don’t forget that Flight Attendants are trained as first responders – to fight fires, provide life saving first aid, act as security coordinators, and to get you off of an airplane fast, should the need arise. Take a look at this video and think about it the next time you fly:
Read MoreBeach Shopping at Ron Jon Surf Shop
Shopping is one of the top activities for travelers. That’s right, surveys show that millions of travelers want to spend a little time shopping on their holidays. Whether it’s a major shopping expedition, or just picking up a few souvenirs, I’m not certain, but there’s no doubt that a lot of money is spent shopping while enjoying a little holiday time. Being stuck inside shopping while traveling to a beautiful destination seems a real shame to me, but if the Orlando area is in your plans, I can recommend stopping off at one of my favorite spots, Ron Jon Surf Shop. Although there are several Ron Jon locations, my favorite is the one at Cocoa Beach, a short drive to the east of Orlando. This store is huge! It has over 52,000 square feet of shopping and displays, and a […]
Read MoreThe Vatican Celebrates the Beatification of Pope John Paul II
May 1, 2011 celebrates the beatification of Pope John Paul II, the ceremony by which he will becomes a Saint. The Holy Mass for the Beatification of the Servant of God John Paul II will be held in Saint Peter’s Square at 10 a.m., with Pope Benedict XVI officiating. The casket has already been exhumed and is now lying before Saint Peter’s tomb. It will be moved to the main alter during the ceremony, and following will be reinterred in the Chapel of St. Sebastian. While only a select delegation will be allowed inside for the ceremony, hundreds of thousand of visitors of all religious backgrounds will gather in Saint Peter’s Square to watch and listen as Pope John Paul II becomes a saint. As is typical for many events, large television will show the events inside to the outside […]
Read MoreUNESCO Sites in Prague
Visiting UNESCO sites is a popular travel activity, and I always look up what sites might be in any area that I’m traveling to. Whether it’s an appreciation for history, a love of natural beauty, or both, there’s a UNESCO site sure to appeal to most travelers. While making summer travel plans, the city of Prague (capital of the Czech Republic) figured prominently on the list for awhile. So, of course, I went to check out the UNESCO sites in the country to learn which ones might be practical while visiting the city. There are 12 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list that are in the Czech Republic, and only one is in Prague. But when you consider that that one is the entire center of Prague, consisting of the Old Town, New Town, and Lesser Town, that’s a […]
Read MoreMajorca: One Island, Hundreds of Beaches
There’s a reason European beach lovers have made the island of Majorca (also spelled Mallorca) a popular holiday destination – it’s because every where you turn there’s a beach calling out to you to relax and enjoy. Even the fondest sun lovers must come off the beach sometime, and Majorca holidays offer plenty of shopping, restaurants, bars and nightlife to go along with your sun. So how about those beaches?! Any listing of beaches is sure to stir up an argument as one person’s favorite is not included and another’s most dreaded beach is. So consider this a sampler of some beaches that may be worth a try, selecting one that best meets your geographic location and beach style. Busy Beaches If you’re looking to mix and mingle with lots of people, turning your time at the beach into one […]
Read MoreSpring Break Travel Questions from Kids
Spring break might be over for some kids, but there are still a lot of families traveling on the planes. I’m not sure if parents are taking the kids out of school, home schooling, or if perhaps there are schools with a really late spring break. Most of the families seem to be having a good time, the parents may be tired and the kids a little rambunctious – it’s spring break, after all – but every day it reminds me how families choose to make travel a priority. Kids are full of questions, whether they’re experienced travelers or first timers, and they’re not afraid to put it all out there. From questions about flight etiquette to other information, here are some of my favorite questions from spring break – along with a few answers (always slanted to be appropriate […]
Read More