A Night On The Town

"I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and
hope they were entertained."
Walt Disney

Flamenco Dancer in Spain

You have just arrived in a strange city.  You have several days to explore and see the sights.  Chances are you have researched what there is to see in the city.  Most tour books will tell you the main sights that you should see.  So you are ready to go explore the city and enjoy discovering new sights.  You may even have researched places to eat, and you probably will have made reservations for a place to stay.  But what if you want to take in some entertainment while in this city?  Do you know where to look to find out what is happening while you are there?

Entertainment is one of those things that changes often, sometimes even daily.  If you are in New York or London, you might want to take in a play.  Do you know where to get the best price for a play for that night?  If you are in a city that is famous for its music or its dance, then you might want to go see that.  But where do you go, and how do you make reservations? 

You can always book through a tour group that will pick you up and take you with a group, to a typical tourist spot that has entertainment.  But is that the way you really want to go, or would you prefer to go where the locals go, and see something more authentic?

Tourist office in Paris

There are several options for you.  The first places to check are your hotel concierge, and the local tourist office.  I always look for an entertainment guide or a tourist guide.  These quite often have suggestions and sometimes even discount coupons to places that are local.  Yes, they may be places where mostly tourists go, but they are better than going with a tour group and being shuffled into a place as part of a group.  Quite often though these guides just have local venues for things that are going on in the city, and they are not necessarily only aimed at tourists.  They advertise local bars that have the local music and dance, or plays and concerts that are currently being staged.

The other thing to do is to strike up a conversation with some locals.  If you are in a foreign country, this can be challenging if you do not speak the language.  Always learn a few basic sentences in the language of the country you are visiting.  Learn things like greetings and certainly how to say, “do you speak English?”  Once you have found someone that does speak English, then find out what they would suggest as a place to go for entertainment in the evening.

Half-Priced ticket booth in
Leicester Square, London

If you are planning on attending a play or concert, find out if there are any discount places that sell “day of show” tickets at a discount.  Quite often if you purchase last minute tickets through your concierge or at the window, you will pay full price, but there are often discount places which sell tickets for that days shows at a discount.  As an example, in New York City there is a half-price ticket booth in Times Square.  In London the half-price booth is in Leiscester Square.  Even here in San Diego there is a half-price booth in the downtown area.  I would imagine that most major cities in the states have this available.  Anything that is not sold out is usually available at a discount.  You may have to stand in line for an hour, but I’ve never had to wait longer than that, and the discount was worth the wait.  Besides, while standing in line you can talk to others and do some people watching.

Going out to see local entertainment in a city you are visiting is part of the adventure and part of getting to know the culture of that area.  It is also, just fun.  So be adventuresome.

Our Weekend Getaway - A Rock Concert in Los Angeles

"Destination Anywhere

Name the place and I'll be there

Pack a bag and we're out of here - let's run

Destination Anywhere

Left of right, I don't care"

Bon Jovi Song - Destination Anywhere

Poster outside the Staples Center

John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. (born March 2, 1962), known as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was formed in 1983.  He is married and has 4 children.

 

Picture I took during the concert

Last week my husband and I drove up to Los Angeles to attend a Bon Jovi Concert.  I decided that I would write about our weekend getaway here on my travel blog, because it is a travel experience that we had, even though a short one.  Also, when you are traveling to another city, a concert is something you might consider looking for, as something different to do for an evening out.   You can find concerts to attend in most large cities throughout the world, not only rock concerts, but all different types of music.

Picture taken during eh concert

Jon Bon Jovi has been one of my favorite singers for many years.  I have wanted to attend one of his concerts.  This concert was part of my Christmas present from my husband, and I have been looking forward to it since then.  We live over 3 hours away from where it would be playing, so we had to make hotel reservations, and also make arrangements for our two dogs to be taken care of overnight.  We seldom do overnight trips because of the dogs. When we make longer trips we have someone come stay with them while we are gone, but for just one night we decided to have a neighbor boy come over and feed them, and that did work out for us. 

We drove up the morning of the concert.  After finding our hotel and checking in we went and had lunch, then relaxed at our hotel for a couple of hours.  A few hours before showtime we walked the 8 blocks down to the area where the concert would be.  The Staples Center is in downtown LA, and the area around it has many restaurants.  We had a light dinner at Trader Vic's.  Then we wandered around the area around the center, waiting for it to open.  There was lots of excitement from the fans waiting to go inside. It was a sold-out event.

Outside the Staples Center

The Staples Center seats 20,000 people for concerts, and it took awhile to get everyone in and seated.  When the concert finally started you could feel the excitement in the air.  And when the band and Bon Jovi came in and started their first song, the crowd was on its feet.  For 3 hours Bon Jovi sang without an intermission.  It went by way too fast.  He puts on a really good show and he had the audience singing with him on most of his songs.  The crowd really went wild when he played "Living on a Prayer" which is a crowd favorite. 

All in all it was a really fun evening.  I was a little hoarse at the end, from singing along and cheering.  We walked back to our hotel after the show, and I even bought a t-shirt from a street vendor.  It was not one of the official shirts - they were selling for $55 at the show, but the street vendors had made up some good replicas and I bought one for $10, which I was happy with.  Have to give them credit for being enterprising. 

Saturday morning we headed south, but didn't go straight home.  I have cousins I hadn't seen in quite awhile, so stopped for a visit, had a nice lunch with them at at little restaurant down by the water in Dana Point, strolled along the harbor area and watched families play in the ocean.  Had a pleasant day before heading home to our schnauzers.

Another picture I took during the concert

Destination - Budapest

"If you come from Paris to Budapest, you think you are in Moscow."
Gyorgy Ligeti

Budapest - taken from Fisherman's Bastion

The first time I saw Budapest was from the Danube River.  We took a river cruise from Nuremburg, Germany, and it ended in Budapest.  So our last day on the ship, we sailed down the Danube and past the beautiful Hungarian Parliament Building and under the bridges to our final port of call - the city of Budapest.  The views coming into the city from the river were stunning, and took my breath away.



Budapest at night

Budapest is the capital and largest city of Hungary and the largest city in East-Central Europe.  Originally this was 2 separate cities. Buda was on the west-bank of the Danube, and the east-bank had the city of Pest.  In 1873 the cities became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube.

There is much to do and see in Budapest, no matter what time of the year you go.  Our first trip was during the Christmas season, when we sailed down the Danube stopping at all the Christmas Markets.  Budapest had a lovely Christmas Market and in the evening we were there for a Christmas Parade, complete with children holding candles and singing.  Our second time in the city was during the summer, and we were able to enjoy the city park on this visit.

A word on public transportation in Budapest.  It is a big city, and while you will be walking around the different areas of the city, it can be quite a distance in-between those areas.  There is public transportation which is inexpensive and runs throughout all the major areas of the city.  It is a combination of bus, trolley, tram and trains.  I would not recommend getting in a taxi.  We made that mistake, and it cost us a small fortune to go a short distance.  Stick with the public transportation, unless you don't mind the expense.

Here are my suggestions of places to see while you are in Budapest:

Castle Hill and Fisherman's Bastion

Looking down on Budapest from Fisherman's Bastion

On the west side of the Danube, Castle Hill is a must-see district for any Budapest visitor. The castle walls and cobbled streets lend it a medieval atmosphere—and so does the lack of cars. Unless you live or work in the area, cars are prohibited, so you'll have to walk or take public transportation to get in. You'll find plenty of cafés and shops in the area, as well as the Buda Castle (a.k.a. Royal Palace), which lies on the neighborhood's southern tip. Also make time to explore Castle Hill's Mathias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion.

One of the turrents at Fisherman's Bastion

Fisherman's Bastion is a neo-Gothic terrace that looks like structure taken straight out of a fairytale. Designed between 1895 and 1902 by Frigyes Schulek—who also oversaw the 19th-century renovation of the  Mathias Church next door—Fisherman's Bastion is named after the medieval guild of fishermen who protected Budapest from invasion.  The structure provides panoramic views of the city.  From here, you can snap some breathtaking pictures of the Danube, Margaret Island, and Pest. You may choose to take some time to explore the bastion's seven ornate turrets, which symbolize the tents of the seven Magyar tribe leaders who settled the Carpathian Basin in 896, ultimately leading to the existence of modern-day Hungary.  Fisherman's Bastion shines brightly with floodlights at night, giving it an even more dramatic presence.

Street on Capital Hill

To get to Castle Hill and Fisherman's Bastion you can walk across the Chain Bridge and catch the funicular, which will take you up the hill.  While you are there make sure you check out some of the shops and there are some good restaurants in this area.  While we were there we saw a small parade of people in old time costumes walking in parade fashion through the area, with a priest leading and a young couple right behind him.  We were wondering if it was some kind of wedding procession.

Hero's Square

Hero's Square, City Park and Vahdagybtard Castle
Dedicated to "the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of our people and our national independence," Heroes' Square is one of Budapest's grandest landmarks. Swing by this area and take a picture of the Millenium Monument, called so because its construction was begun in 1896, Hungary's 1,000th anniversary. At the base of the famous column (topped with the archangel Gabriel) are statues representating seven Magyar chieftains—considered to be the founders of the Hungarian nation. Behind the column are matching colonnades with 14 statues of royalty and other important figures in Hungarian history.

Vahdagybtard Castle in City Park

Next door to Hero's Square is Budapest's City Park (Hungarians call it Városliget) .  This park is the largest park in the city.  It is worth taking some time to explore it.  Also, in the park is Vahdagybtard Castle.  This castle began its life as a structure made of wood and cardboard. It was built for the city's millennium exhibition in 1896 and was a huge hit with both the locals and those visiting Budapest.  Because the castle became so popular with the residents, the city decided to make it a more permanent structure. It is actually an enclave of buildings rather than just one structure and is said to be modeled from a castle of the same name in Transylvania, Romania.

Hungarian Parliament Building

Completed in 1904, the Hungarian Parliament Building is one of Budapest's most famous landmarks. The National Assembly of Hungary still meets there to this day. Travelers come mainly to take in the building's architecture (primarily Gothic Revival style) and its beautiful statues and paintings.  According to many, there is no structure in Hungary that serves as a better symbol of the country's independence and commitment to democracy.

Hungarian Parliament Building

Holy Crown in the Parliament Building

Guided tours of the Parliament are available when the National Assembly is not in session. The tour takes about 45 minutes, and is well worth the price (about $16 US) as it covers the main entrance stairs and hall, one of the lobbies, the old House of Lords and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.  The crown jewels were stolen during World War II.  At some point they were given to the American Army for safekeeping, and they were stored at Fort Knox.  They were finally returned to Hungary when Jimmy Carter was president. 

 

Thermal Baths
Budapest is famous for its thermal waters. A relaxing soak in a thermal bath is a quintessential Budapest experience that you will not want to miss. The baths are heated by natural thermal springs. As if a long, hot dip in a bath weren't enough to ease your muscles after a day of walking, most bath houses also offer massage services and steam rooms.

Szechenyi Bath

Budapest's various baths cater to different tastes. Széchenyi Baths in City Park stands as the largest thermal bath in Europe, and the perfect place to engage in a long game of water chess with some locals. Gellért Baths is one of the most photographed spas in Budapest, and with its grand Art Nouveau architecture and art deco details, it's not hard to see why.

We visited the Szechenyi Bath the day we visited City Park.  We didn't go into the bath however.  Most of the hotels in the city also have Thermal pools.  Our hotel told us that there thermal pools used the same natural thermal springs water as the other baths in town.  They also had the steam rooms and the massage services.  So I decided to save money and use those services instead, and then I could just go up to my room afterwards and relax.

Shop at the Central Market Hall

Central Market Main Floor

Built at the end of the 19th century, the Central Market Hall is the largest indoor market in Budapest. Among other things, on the ground floor you'll find a large selection of sausages, meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. On the second floor, there are food stands and plenty of vendors selling handicrafts, clothing, embroidery, chessboards and other souvenirs. Paprika and Tokaji are also sold here. In the basement, there is a fish market, a small Asian grocery store, a supermarket, and a small drugstore.  The building also has some architectural significance. The metal roof structure is still the original, and the roof is covered with decorative Zsolnay tiles.

Both times we visited Budapest we spent some time at the market.  They have some beautiful embroideried tablecloths here and I found some nice lace.  There is the usual tourist stuff, but also some nice things at good prices.  Also, the stores along the street in front of the market have some beautiful things to purchase, so if you are a shopper, this area is a good place to visit.
 

Walk Across the Chain Bridge

Chain Bridge

Spanning the Danube the Chain Bridge was the first to permanently connect Buda and Pest. There had been a pontoon bridge on the river since the Middle Ages enabling passage from spring to autumn. During winter, the river froze making crossing possible; however, there were times when the weather changed abruptly and people got stuck on one side. In 1820, this happened to Count István Széchenyi, when he had to wait a week to get to his father's funeral. This experience led him to decide that a permanent bridge had to be built. He became a major advocate of the project and founded a society to finance and build the bridge.  At the time of its construction, Chain Bridge was considered to be one of the wonders of the world.  It was completed in 1849.

Take a Cruise on the Danube

Shoes on the Danube Promenade
on the Danube River

If you didn't arrive by boat as we did, then you can book a cruise on the river.  There's no better way to admire the beauty of Buda and Pest.  Embark on a relaxing daytime sightseeing cruise that includes a stroll through Margaret Island, or add a romantic touch with an evening cruise that's accompanied by dinner and dancing beneath the stars.  Several companies in Budapest offer sightseeing cruises, and most of them are head-set-guided in multiple languages. There are many options to choose from: one-hour sightseeing cruises cover all the attractions located on the banks of the Danube, two-hour cruises offer optional walk on Margaret Island, evening cruises are available with buffet-type dinner, and some offer music where you can dance while you cruise.

The Shoes on the Danube Promenade

This is a memorial on the banks of the Danube. It honors the Jews who were killed during World War II. They were ordered to take off their shoes, and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away. It represents their shoes left behind on the bank.



 

Whatever you decide to do while you are in Budapest, make sure you try some of the wonderful Hungarian food.  There are many restaurants to choose from.  There are museums to visit.  And you can take a day trip out into the countryside, or take a day cruise on the Danube that will take you into other areas.  There is also a famous restaurant in Budapest, Gundel's.  Gundel's was opened in 1910 and they are famous for their crepes.  They have savory crepes as well as dessert crepes.  It is just a short distance from city park, so if you are over in that area and want a relaxing stop, I highly recommend this place.  But the main thing is to enjoy this vibrant, beautiful city.

 



Dessert Crepe at Gundel's

Lake in City Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Trip to the Desert - Wildflowers in Bloom

"I think the American West really attracts me because it's romantic. 

The desert, the empty space, the drama." 

Ang Lee

 

 

Cactus in bloom

Right now the wildflowers are in bloom in the desert.  It is a great time to take a drive, either a day trip or a week-end get away.  We drove out to the Anza Borrego State Park last week and spent the day in search of interesting wildflowers and cactus.  And we stumbled across an area with metal sculptures - which was an added bonus.

Wildflower on a cactus

Anza Borrego State Park is about 80 miles northeast of San Diego.  The visitor center for the park is just outside the town of Borrego Springs.  It was an all day excursion for us from San Diego.  For those with more time, you could spend the night in Borrego Springs, there were several motels and inns near the park.  There was also RV parks and campgrounds. 

We found quite a few wildflowers, and the season has just begun.  I've never been a big desert fan, I am more into water - rivers, oceans, etc.  But the desert does have its own beauty and sometimes it is fun to explore something different.

A cactus in bloom

At the visitor center there is a short movie about the desert as well as some interesting displays.  You should definitly plan a stop at the center.  There are several short walking trails near the center and we found lots of wildflowers right there.  The people in the center are very helpful, they will tell you the best places to go to find the wildflowers.  One of the ladies in the center also told me about a good place in Borrego Springs to have lunch or dinner.  It is called the French Corner and she said the owners are from France, and the food is delicious, although a little pricey.  We didn't stop there for lunch, instead we opted for a couple of tacos and a cold drink, and we were on our way.



Head of the dragon
Galeta Meadows

Dragon - Galeta Meadows



Metal Sculpture of a Gold Miner and his horse

From Borrego Springs we decided to check out Galleta Meadows, which I was told about in the visitors center.  Basically this is an area that is desert, but there are huge metal sculptures all over the desert.  They are quite spaced out, so you do have to go looking for them, and they have off road areas to drive out to them.  My favorite was the dragon, but they were all great.

If you are making the trip from the San Diego area then you could stop in Julian on your way home.  Julian is a western style town in the mountains east of San Diego, and it is quite easy to detour through Julian on this trip.  Julian is famous for its apple pie, apple cider and buffalo burgers.  It also has some cute little shops to explore.  If you were making an overnight trip, this would be another option of where to stay.  There are quite a few bed & breakfast type inns and nice restaurants in Julian.  And whatever you do, make sure you try a piece of the apple pie.  Or do what we did, and pick up a whole pie to bring home with you.


 Julian Apple Pie



Julian

 

Traveling On Your Own

“I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.”

Bill Bryson

 

Bunratty Castle, Ireland
A place we toured by car

 

My husband and I have traveled quite a bit over the years, and the majority of trips we have done on our own, with out being part of a tour group.  Yes, we have done some tours, we have done the "big bus" tours and we have done smaller tours with only a few in the group, but most the time we have preferred to go it on our own.  That quite often meant renting a car and exploring a countries back roads, getting off the beaten path.  But as we have aged (we are 65 now), my husband has expressed a desire to not do that anymore.  He is not as comfortable driving (or having me drive) in a place where he doesn't know where he is going, and he can't read the road signs, and doesn't always know all the rules of the road for that country.  So for that reason we are looking at other options.  But that doesn't mean that we have to get back on the bus.

George and I in Scotland
Off the Beaten Path

There are many ways that people can still travel on their own, without being completely on their own, and without having to rent a car.  There are quite a few tour companies who will now book your independent travel for you, including all your transportation.  They will either book you on the train, or provide a car and driver for you.  They will take care of hotels along the way, and even arrange city tours to orient you to the city when you arrive.  They will have someone available for you to call if you need assistance while you are traveling.  You are on your own with your travel partner, doing whatever you want to do, on your time table, spending as much time at a place as you want to spend, and going where you want to go.  But you have all the comforts of  being on a tour and having someone take care of you.  And your meals can be at local restaurants eating local foods which is what I prefer, or if you don't want to do that, you can eat McDonald's or at the hotel - although I don't recommend either of those things.  The point is, it is your trip and you plan it.

Another option is to go completely on your own.  Do not book through a tour company.  You might want to go to a travel agent, as they can help you with the planning and get you train tickets, ferry tickets, whatever you might need.  Quite often the train tickets are cheaper if purchased here in the states, than if you purchase them there.

Delphi, Greece

When we went to Greece a few years ago, I booked the trip in advance, but we were on our own.  I had the hotels booked, I knew what dates I would be in each place, I booked a mini tour which would take us from Athens to Delphi and Meteora and back to Athens.  It was a 3 day tour.  We were  picked up in a van, with several other couples, taken first to Delphi where we toured the ruins.  We spent the night there in a really nice hotel which was on the side of the mountain overlooking the Peloponeso Peninsula.  The next day the van took us to the city of Kalampaka, where we spent the night.  The next day we toured the monasteries on the tops of the rocks in Meteora, then we returned to Athens. 

The Monasteries Of Meteora
Town of Kalampaka below

Me, on the Island of Santorini, Greece

We also took a 3 day Greek Island cruise on that trip, which was booked in advance.  I booked it through the internet.  I wanted to see the islands, and some of them can be reached by ferry, but some take too long to reach that way.  The cruise got me to several islands in a short period of time.  And it was fun.  The time we spent in Athens was completely on our own.  And after the cruise we flew to the island of Santorini and spent several days there.  The cruise did not stop there, and it was on my list of places I wanted to see, so we explored Santorini and then it was just a short hop by ferry over to Crete, where we spent a week.  We stayed in a timeshare there, and had time to really explore the island.  We did rent a car there, but it was pretty easy driving on the island, not too much traffic.  We wouldn't have wanted to drive on the mainland. 

So we combined a trip on our own with a cruise and a small tour.  We were on our own,  We weren't stuck on a bus with a huge group of people, doing what we were told to do.  We didn't have a time schedule of how long we could be someplace - except while on the cruise and the tour.  We got to eat the local food (which I loved) and to spend as much time people-watching as we wanted.

So, next time you are planning a trip think about going on your own instead of taking a bus tour.  Be independent, and you can really get more of a feel for the place you are going to.  You may be surprised, it's easier than you think.  And you don't have to be too independent, you can have a little help. No one is saying you have to completely wing it, have the trip set, reservations made.  But with independent travel it is not all set in stone, you have the time to be spontaneous, and explore more on your own.  Happy Travels!

Escorted Tours

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

Gustave Flaubert

An escorted tour is a tour with a guide.  There are many different kinds of escorted tours.  They vary a great deal.  Usually if you say you are going on an escorted tour, or on a tour with a tour company, everyone thinks about the "big bus" experience, the "If its Tuesday it must be Belgium" type of tour.  Those are certainly available, by every tour company out there.  But there are many other choices out there to choose from.

Trafalgar Tours Bus, Driver and Tour Guide

I have taken a few escorted tours over the years.  In 2010 we took a Trafalgar Tour.  Trafalgar is one of the largest tour companies, and they have been around for many years.  They are a good company, and if the big bus tour is your thing, then I would say they are a very good company for you to book with.  Our tour started in Vienna, Austria, traveled through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, a corner of Bosnia and ended in Budapest, Hungary.  There were about 50 people on board, all very nice people who we got to know to some degree during the trip.  Some we liked better than others, that always happens.  It is a way to make friends, and you do tend to pair up with others who you find you have something in common with.

Special Dinner at Farmhouse in Croatia
George and myself with others on our tour

The advantages of an escorted tour are - price (usually overall it's cheaper because they book in block, and they cover so many of the little expenses), you have someone guiding you and showing you all the sights that they consider to be worth seeing, and they tell you about what you are seeing.

The disadvantages, at least as far as I am concerned (you may not consider these disadvantages) are - most meals are included (which means you will be eating at the hotels alot, and not eating where the locals eat, or what they eat), you are herded into a town in a large group and given a city tour, and maybe a half hour on your own if you are lucky, which doesn't give you much time to see anything on your own, there is no spontaniety, no getting off the beaten path.  And you are stuck with the same group the entire trip, which can get old.  Even though you are suppose to leave a place at a certain time, you are always waiting for someone, so you sit on the bus frustrated that you could still be out seeing things.  And they tell you what time to get up in the morning, usually early.  If you are in a country such as Spain, where the locals don't eat dinner until 10 p.m., then you miss all the night life, which is part of the experience. If you have to be up at 6 a.m to have breakfast and catch your bus, you will probably not stay up and experience the night life.

A tour Group being led up the steps to the ruins of
Lindos in Greece

There are options even for those who want an escorted tour.  You don't have to do the "big bus" type of tour.  You can opt for a smaller tour, maybe less than 10 with guides and usually a van or small bus to take you places.  These are a little less structured usually and you have more flexibility.  The guide is usually willing to listen to you if you say you want to do something different (as long as the others in the group agree), or to spend a little more time at a place.  You have less people that you are always waiting for.  However, if the group is small, you may find less people that you have something in common with, but you can always wander off on your own.

The other option is to do a free-style type of tour.  You are on your own, just you and whoever you are traveling with, but you still book through a tour company.  They arrange everything, places to stay, city tours if you want them, entrance to whatever sights you want to see, and land transportation (whether it is a van and driver or maybe the train).  You have a guide that meets you and takes you to your hotel, the guide is available if you need them, but you are on your own to see what you want to see, and spend as much time as you want at each place.  If you opt for the driver to take you places, then that is usually your guide.  You usually do meals on your own in the local restaurants, but the guide can advise you on good places to eat - they are usually local so know where to go.  It is more like traveling on your own, but you have the security of having someone available to help you.

Africa - On Safari

We are heading off to Africa soon, and we have booked through General Tours.  General does tours all over the world.  They do escorted tours and they will also design a trip just for you, with your own driver.  They are a great company and have also been around for a long time.  We are doing a pre-tour package to Victoria Falls, where we will be basically on our own, with a guide who will pick us up and take us to our camp, and we have a tour of the falls.  We will be there for 3 days, and anything else we want to do while there, we will have to book on our own. 

Africa - On Safari

Then we do a 12 day safari through Kenya and Tanzania.  We will be staying in lodges and luxury tents.  All our meals will be provided and our transportation from park to park.  We are guaranteed that there will be no more than 16 people in our safari group.  I think that is a nice amount.  We will be in jeeps a lot, so we will be in even smaller groups then.

At the end of the trip we added on 2 nights on the island of Zanzibar (the spice island), to just relax and enjoy the beach.  We will be on our own there also, with a guide to pick us up when we arrive and take us back to the airport when we leave.

When you are doing a place like Africa, there is no "big bus" experiences, but there are companies that do put quite a few more people in a group.  And if you are staying in hotels in the parks, then you will not get to the good animal viewing places until later in the day, when it is crowded.  By staying in tents, we will be close to those areas all the time, and hopefully will get to see some good views of the animals.

Quite a few companies are now recognizing that more and more travelers prefer being more independent when they travel and are now setting up more independent type trips, but still being there for the traveler. Even Trafalgar now has what they call "At Leisure" tours.  You are still with a group, but a smaller group, you spend more nights in one place with more leisure time to explore on your own.  You are not rushed from place to place.

George and I on our own in Greece

And more and more companies are now custom-designing trips for the traveler who wants to go on their own but still have someone available to show them the sights and be there for them.  So if you don't want the "big bus" experience, but are not sure you are ready to head off on your own, consider one of the custom designed trips. 

If you are feeling a little more adventuresome and want to head out on your own, to distant places, my next posting will be about independent travel and how to get around.

Staying Safe While Traveling

This is a post that I did a year ago.  I thought it would be worth re-posting. Safety is always an issue. 

"The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist".
Russell Baker

Safety is always an issue when traveling. Here are a few safety tips, which could help you when traveling.

1. Think about how you dress. Clothing that might be acceptable in your own country could attract unwanted attention in another. Also, you don't want to stand out in a crowd, to draw attention to yourself as a tourist. T-shirts with sayings can sometimes be offensive. Just be aware of where you are, and what would be the normal wear there, and pack to blend in.

Times Square, New York

2. Leave the bling at home. Expensive jewelery is best left in your jewelery box at home. If going on a cruise where you will have a dress night, then take some nice jewelery, but keep it in the room safe until the dressy night.

3. In your own city you know which areas are safe to walk around in at night, in a strange city you do not. Use common sense and don't go into areas that seem questionable, stay in lighted areas where there are lots of people around.

Having a beer in Croatia

4. Don't drink too much! One of the great things about traveling in Europe is experiencing the rich nightlife, and trying new foods and drinks. But be careful, you don't want to become a vulnerable target.

5. If a thief attmpts to rob something from you, hand it over. Anything they steal is replaceable. Go to the police and report it. You will need this report to make any claims with your insurance company.

6. Don't keep your valuables in one place, spread it out. If you have 2 credit cards, then put them in separate places. If there are 2 of you traveling together, then each of you carry one. Store your other valuables, such as passports, in hotel safes, or in your luggage. But make a photocopy of passports and credit cards, so that if they are lost or stolen, you have all the information on you to replace them. Keep those copies separate from the originals. Also, make sure you make a note of phone numbers for the credit cards in case you need to call and report them stolen.

Driving in Tahiti

7. If traveling by car, keep items hidden in the trunk, not out where they can be seen while you are parked. If you are at the beach for the day, do not leave anything of value on the beach while you take a swim.

8. Men should not keep their wallet in their back pockets, it's the easiest place for a pickpocket to get it. A suit jacket or the front pockets are preferable, but even then not completely safe. Better yet, buy a money holder or passport holder that goes under your shirt, and keep credit cards and cash there, along with your passport.

9. Women need to keep their purses to the front of their bodies, not slung over their shoulders so that the purse is behind them. And keep them zipped or fastened shut,

10. Have fun, but use common sense, and be aware of what is going on around you.

Botin Retaurant, Madrid

Quick story from our travels. We were in Madrid, Spain. It was our first night. We were heading out to dinner and I told my husband that I didn't want to carry my purse, but that I wanted my wallet with me. He said he would put my wallet in his front pants pocket. He put his wallet in the other front pants pocket, and we went to dinner, at Botin Restaurant (which is the oldest restaurant in the world). In Spain, dinner is not until around 10 PM, so we were following that custom.

Walking back to our hotel after dinner, we were in an area that had vendors selling things from tables along the street. Even though it was around midnight, the area was crowded and well-lit, so we were not worried. I was meandering along, looking at all the neat stuff for sale. My husband was a little ways ahead of me. When I caught up to him he was upset. He told me that someone had dropped some coins in front of him, and had stooped to pick them up. While he was diverted watching this, 2 different pickpockets managed to each get the wallets from his front pockets. He realized almost immediately what had happened and was able to grab my wallet back from the one guy, but his wallet was gone. We were standing there trying to decide what to do next, when a very nice man came racing towards us. He had George's wallet in his hand and was waving it at us. He had seen what had happened and had raced after the thief and retrieved it. We were very lucky, we didn't lose a thing. But it was only because of a good samaritan who helped us. So, be aware of your surroundings, and if something unusual happens, remember it could be just a diversion.

Travel safely everyone!