And away we go, er okay let's start again

There are few friends who are aware of the chaos that Dick and I went through last week and a few have also experienced the same travel trauma though maybe not at the same level we did. Currently Dick is denying anything has happened. Funny, funny man. 

Waiting to board at SFO

Front view of Lufthansa A380

Not a great overview of the A380

So what am I referring to you ask. Well let's just say that you can replace a lost passport in 24 hrs in San Francisco. We were suppose to fly out on August 14th and arrive in Rome on the 15th but instead we arrived on 19th. And neither of us was ready for the level of humidity that we are currently experiencing.  And for those who have had Italian clients know that this is the state sanctioned vacation time for Italy so not all of the stores or restaurants are opened. The traffic is also very light but that doesn't mean that there aren't any tourists in town. Rome is rather full of large tour groups and many Italians are in those groups. 

So here we are back in Rome the eternal city for the fourth time and will be back again in October. Very little has changed since we were here 3 years ago-the streets are still littered, beggars are every where, and there is dog poop on the sidewalks but hey the pasta, pizza, wine, and other delicious food is still available. 

We usually take the first couple of days easy to get use to the time change but this time we are using the first 4 days to do that and get the rest of the stuff done that we would normally do in 7 days. With the humidity and the noisy young folks in the hostel across the street we are not getting the sleep we had hoped for but I feel better today which is a good thing as we have lots of ground to cover the next three days.   

But we did accomplish one thing that we have not been very successful during our other Rome trips and that was to get photos of Piazza Navona. The last two times the photos were taken but somehow got deleted off the computer. Even this time there were a few little issues but here they are: 

 Fontana del Moro

Fontana del Moro

Fontana del Moro

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi

Fontana quattro fumi

Dove on top of the obelisk  at Fontana quattro fumi

Fontana del Nettuno

Fontana del Nettuno

Sant'Agnese in Agone

And of course to get back to our B&B we had to stop by the Pantheon to again and of course we got to see the large number of tour groups. Several groups were from a Disney cruise ship. Yes there is a port for Rome and it a bit out of the area but Cittavecchia is where the ships pull in a disgorge hundreds of passengers.

Hot and tired tourists

 And along the way we also stopped to admire the lovely colors and other architectural details fund all over this city.

Piazza della pilotta

Fontana dell'Acqua Felice

So tomorrow we head to Salerno to revisit Paestum where there are three large, well preserved Greek temples. Then we continue the Amalfi portion of our trip by ferry to Sorrento.

  

Star Clipper and how to follow our voyage

We will be sailing on the Star Clipper again this year and for those who like to follow our cruise here is a link that will give the ship's current location - marinetraffic.com


First cruise:

Saturday 06 September 2014 Istanbul, Turkey

Sunday 07 September 2014 Canakkale, Turkey

Monday 08 September 2014 Myrina, Limnos

Tuesday 09 September 2014 Monasteries On Mount Athos (Am Sail By) & Ouranopolis (Pm), Greece

Wednesday 10 September 2014 Skiathos, Greece

Thursday 11 September 2014 Skopelos, Greece

Friday 12 September 2014 Poros, Greece

Saturday 13 September 2014 Piraeus (Athens)

Sunday 14 September 2014 Mykonos, Greece

Monday 15 September 2014 Santorini, Greece

Tuesday 16 September 2014 At Sea

Wednesday 17 September 2014 Katakolon, Greece

Thursday 18 September 2014 Corfu, Greece

Friday 19 September 2014 Kotor, Montenegro

Saturday 20 September 2014 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Sunday 21 September 2014 Korcula, Croatia

Monday 22 September 2014 Hvar, Croatia

Tuesday 23 September 2014 Mali Losinj,

Wednesday 24 September 2014 Venice, Italy

After some rambling around Italy and Spain we reboard the Star Clipper for our second cruise:

Saturday 01 November 2014   Malaga, Spain

Sunday 02 November 2014   Tangier, Morocco

Monday 03 November 2014   At Sea

Tuesday 04 November 2014   Casablanca, Morocco

Wednesday 05 November 2014   Safi, Morocco (Optional Tour Marrakesh)

Thursday 06 November 2014   At Sea

Friday 07 November 2014   Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands - Spain

Saturday 08 November 2014   Las Palmas, Grand Canary Island - Spain

Travel - It's not a vacation but an adventure

The countdown has begun for the 2014 adventure, currently without a name, and the planning has taken a majority of my time. Well not really the planning but the the research for where to stay, to see, and how to get there. This can be a battle between what "I" need to do around the house/garden and all the distractions of travel planning like reading travel guides, blog posts, and reviews.

But while I am busy doing those things and a few more hair pulling tasks here are some travel thoughts and quotes.

“My only boast in travel is my effort.”  -Paul Theroux

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." -Lao-Tzu

WORLD TRAVEL RULES

Backup Plan

Don’t plan or pack for every conceivable contingency but have a backup plan for money, travel, accommodations and lost gear / luggage.

Respect

Be kind, ingenuous, patient and respectful to all locals. You are the guest, follow and abide by all laws and way of life.

Pack Light

All your gear and luggage should be light enough for carry on for flights, trains, ferries, and buses. At most, 1 large bag and 1 small bag. Mobility is key. Other than clothing and other necessities, the following items are absolutely essential; Passport (or copy), cash, travel towel, loperamide, toilet paper, ziplock / plastic bag, toothbrush, debit / credit card and water + bottle.

Get Lost

Another word for vagabond is “wanderer”, getting lost (even intentionally) is part of the journey. Also a great way to find places no guide book can tell you about.

Minimalism

Buy and bring only the most essential things. Less clutter, more mobility. If it can’t fit on your person or current backpack, you don’t need it.

Explore

Travel is hardly about the known and the well beaten path. Its more about discovering what few have seen or know about.

Be Cool

Things will go wrong and the unexpected will happen, just chill and be cool. There’s a solution for every problem, don’t ever panic. Your just another human amongst other humans in another country.

Rest

Take 1 or 2 days off a week in your travels for some R&R. Sleep in, forget the map and itinerary. Your body and mind will thank you.

Sustenance

Travel can be exhausting, fuel your body properly. Have at least 2 full meals or 4 small meals daily. Always drink more water than you think you need.

Culture Shock

The purpose of travelling is exploration and experiencing the exotic. Culture shock should be embraced and it is a rare life event that should be looked forward to. Don’t let it scare you, there just fellow humans with a different way of life.

Become a Local

If possible live, eat and act like the locals do. Its part of the adventure experience. Stray from the heavy tourists zones to where the locals actually live, socialize with them.

Travel Slow

Be a turtle, not a rabbit – travel is a lifestyle, not a race. See what you can and not as much as you can. Take it all in with minimal scheduling and a flexible (or no) itinerary.

Expect Problems

Robberies, accidents, severe weather, sickness, loneliness, scams, cold / no showers, no electricity, no internet and delayed transportation. These are unavoidable issues a part of not just travel, but every day life. Don’t panic.

On Your Person

You should always travel light. But these essentials should be with you at all times; Passport (or copy), local cash, hidden cash stash and a debit / credit card.

Visas

Always research the current Visa regulations for the country you’re visiting well before arrival. Countries often have different regulations for different citizens as well as the method of entry. Keep track of expiration dates and any errors. Obtain visas here.

Say Yes

You travel the length of the world to experience what it has to offer. Say yes more often to people who invite you to places and go on wild adventures. Eat the unidentifiable foods, take intelligent risks and do try new things. Be yourself but a more open and brave self.

The Most Important Rule

Wherever you are in the world let each city and the people in it completely take you. Don’t just be a tourist but a temporary local. Move on, repeat.

Learn to travel -- travel to learn: Robin Esrock at TEDxVancouver

Life is an adventure, so enjoy it

Friends often ask me why do I like to travel and I don't really have a good answer other than it is all about the adventure. But I do know that Baby boomers’ travel needs vary from those of seniors and the younger set if only because their life views are different.

Stone Soup by Jan Eliot







But travel for adventure does not necessarily mean foreign travel. While I was in Amsterdam I came across this book Secret Amsterdam: Local Guides by Local People by Marjolijn van Eys, Delphine Robiot and I used it to find many of the secret places in Amsterdam while discovering many other fun things to do in Amsterdam. So what does this have to do with adventure without foreign travel well there are many secret places in San Francisco as well.

Privately-Owned Public Open Space and Public Art (POPOS) this link contains an interactive map that provides information regarding to the SF city planning department's guide to the 64 plazas, rooftops and indoor rooms that have been created for public use as part of private development projects since 1960. San Francisco has more than 65 privately developed spaces that are open to the public. No two are alike, and not all are readily apparent. Some are on rooftops; some are tucked inside buildings. Others are hidden in plain sight, easy to walk by without a second glance.

There are probably many secret places in other cities that we live in that have yet to be discovered by either you or shared with someone else. So go out and explore and find those "secret" places and share them. 

********

Do you know of a secret spot in your community and would like to share and see if someone else can find this spot? If you do comment with a photo and let's see if someone else can find it.

Magical Venice

This year's grand adventure will take us back to Italy and our first cruise will end in Venice. We have been to Venice in our previous trip to Italy and I don't think there is ever enough time to see all of the hidden gems in this city. But we have only a few hours to spend again in this magical city so I have started my research and found the following blog post interesting and wanted to share it with you.

This posting is from Monica Cesarato (http://www.monicacesarato.com/blog/author/mc/) who blogs about life in Venice and Italy, sharing her knowledge of Italian lifestyle, and works as a tutor for Italian and English speakers.

10 Things about Venice you didn't know 

by mc 

Venice

Everyone who has been to Venice at least once must admit that it is a unique city: the labyrinth of canals, its narrow alleys, the beautiful palaces, the absence of cars. It can be wrapped in mist caused by damp, or covered by snow or flooded by hoards of tourists from all over the world, but Venice seems always to be a part of our dreams. Yet this wonderful city is not only the star of many postcards and movies, but it is also a city full of strange things and oddities. Here are just a few of them!




Calle Varisco by Hello Venezia

1- THE NARROWEST STREET

The narrowest street in Veniceis called Calletta or Ramo Varisco and it is located on a side street near Campo San Canciano: it is one of the narrowest streets in the world, because it measures only 53 cm. wide at chest level. The word Calle comes from the Latin language and it is the equivalent of street. In Venice, in the past, the routes of communication were the canals. In fact, the main gate of the oldest buildings is always on the side of the canal and the streets are no more than the space that had arisen spontaneously between houses. For this reason the streets are often narrow, winding and without logic!


2- VENICE’S HOUSE NUMBERING

Venice is divided into 6 districts called SESTIERI ( San Marco, Cannaregio, Santa Croce, Castello, San Polo, Dorsoduro) and the numbers of the houses are numbered according to the districts and not the street. It is almost impossible, however, to find an address if you do not know the way or, even better, the proximity to a certain monument, famous building or shop. In fact, even the postmen often use the street guide to find out where they should deliver the letters. For these reasons, the municipality of Venice has created a page whereby anyone can have access to a map of the City of Venice and find the place and how to get there. Perfect especially for tourists!




Campanile di San Marco

3- CAMPANILI (Church-towers)

In addition to mark the hours and call the faithful to religious services, Venetian church-towers worked also as lighthouses for the ships. The bell tower of St. Mark, for example, was covered with reflecting sheets. As well as lighthouses, the towers were also used to control fires. Above the towers were stationed the “guardie del fogo” (fire guards).

Many towers are crooked because the land in Venice is not the most solid one.


4- LE CAMPANE DI SAN MARCO (Saint Mark’s Bells)

The Campanile of San Marco measure 98.6 meters in height. On its summit a golden angel stands and its wings revolve to show which way the wind blows at that altitude. The bell tower collapsed on itself on July 14 1902 – without causing any victims -, it was rebuilt in less than 10 years “where it was and how it was” and it opened on April 25, 1912 on the commemoration day of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice. You can go up to the belfry, where you can enjoy an incomparable view of Venice, only by elevator. The bells placed in the bell tower of San Marco are five: the “Maleficio” which announced the death sentences in the Piazzetta; the “Marangona” which marked the start and end of the work of carpenters (or Marangoni) in the Arsenale; the “mezzana” which sounded at noon; the “Pregadi”which announced to the senators that the time of their meetings in the Ducal Palace had come; the “Trottera” which invited the nobles of Venice to put their horses to a trot so they would not be late for their meetings in Palazzo Ducale. The “Marangona”, the largest bell, was the only one that was not destroyed by the collapse of the Campanile di San Marco.




ciao by axmai

5- CIAO

The word CIAO has Venetian origins. In ancient times people used it in Venice to greet each other in this way: “s-ciavo vostro”, which means “your servant, at your orders, your slave.” So as time went by the greeting became at first “s-ciao” and then “ciao”. The word “schiavo” (slave) has a rather unusual origin: in fact, until the tenth century the Latin word “sclaveni” and then the medieval “Sclavi” stood to indicate the Slavs people. It came to take on the meaning we know today right in between the X and the XI century, when a massive phenomenon of selling slaves of Slavic origin began in the place we now know as Germany. These people were brought en masse to Western Europe becoming the enslaved people for excellence.

6- VENETIAN WATER

Why isn’t the water in the lagoon of Venice always crystal clear? For the presence of many rivers that flow in from the northern Adriatic. The sandy bottom, moreover, accentuates the look of opaque water which looks dirty.

7- PONTE DEI PUGNI

In ancient times there were two factions in Venice: the Castellani and the Nicolotti. The first lived in the area east of the city Castello(working in the Arsenale), the latter in the area west of Venice, where there is the Church of San Nicholas of Mendicoli . The two factions had always been rivals, since the 14th century and in the period between September and Christmas, they faced each other in the so-called “Lotta dei Pugni - War of the punches.” These fights were particularly vicious and they took place on some bridges of Venice, including the Ponte dei Pugni. The struggles could be of three types: a single boxing match (la Mostra), a multi-fight (la Frota), the battle for the bridge (Guerra ordinata). People were cheering from the banks of the canal, from windows, roofs and even by boat. Who could throw the opponent into the water won the fight and was carried in triumph by the people of his faction. Since there were no parapets on those bridges as protection, often contenders fell into the water. The Wars of Fists caused many injuries and, more rarely, some deaths. With the growth of animosity in the disputes they were banned in 1705. In Venice, these wars were replaced in 700, during the period of Carnival, with the “Forze d’Ercole”.




Nissioeto

8- NISSIOETI

The signs indicating the streets, fields and canals are called “nissioeti”(which in Venetian it means little sheets) . In fact they resemble small sheets. They are written in Venetian dialect and their translation is very particular: a calle (street) can be dedicated to an ancient craft, a fact that happened there , a legend, a workshop.


9-FIRST WOMAN TO GRADUATE

Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia was the first woman in the world to be graduated , on June 25 1678. Elena was born in Venice in 1646. A memorial stone lies on one side of Loredan Palace (now the town hall of Venice, with Ca ‘Farsetti).


10- THE FIRST CASINO

The first public casino was born here in 1638, as an attempt to limit gambling and moralize the customs of the Venetian lords.

Gringo Trails: Is tourism destroying the world?

I enjoy being a world traveller and I try to leave as little of an impact as possible in the place I am visiting. But just being some place means that you are impacting it, at times positively and at other times in a negative way. In many countries tourism is a major part of their GDP and they will just put up with the negative aspects until the system is too broke for repair. 

In this posting I have provided links to a short documentary by Pegi Vail. Please watch the trailer and plan to be a better world citizen when you travel on the only planet we have to live on.


Gringo Trails


Pegi Vail
2013 | 79 minutes | U.S., Bolivia, Thailand, Mali, Bhutan
World Premiere | Director in Attendance

A timely documentary raises urgent questions about how we travel and the unintended cultural and environmental consequences of tourism around the globe. 

Gringo Trails follows well-worn travelers’ routes through Latin America and beyond to Africa and Asia. The film reveals the complex relationships between colliding cultures, such as the host countries’ need for financial security and the tourists who provide it in their quest for authentic experiences. Through the stories of both travelers and locals, and with stunning footage from Bolivia, Thailand, Mali, and Bhutan, Gringo Trails explores the dramatic impact of travel and tourism around the world over the past 30 years.