Where Do We Go From Here????

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer."
Unknown

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and instead celebrate the journey"
Fitzhugh Mullan
 

On my list - Zip-ling in Costa Rica

 

As soon as I finish one vacation, I start planning my next.  There is no down time between planning and going and then planning again, except enough time to unpack and wash the clothes.  I'm 67 years old, and who knows how many more years of good health my husband and I have to travel.  So my philosophy is - go, go, go.  And my list of places and things I want to do, is there to help me decide what is next. 



Sea Turtle At Totuguera NP

So our next trip is booked, and the deposit is paid.  Still have a few loose ends to tie up.  Airfare for one.  We have looked at what the company we have booked through charges for airfare, and now I am looking online and into consolidators, to see if I can get it for less.  Since I have most of my mileage with United I was trying to get my flights through them, to add on some miles, but it looks like American Airlines is going to be best for this trip, so will sign up for mileage with them, and may even get their credit card for the year, to get their bonus mileage, and then drop it before the annual fee comes due.  I have United's card already, and I refuse to pay two fees.

 

So, where are we going now?  We've decided to head south.  First stop is Costa Rica.  We will fly to San Jose, spend one night, then head to Tortuguera National Park, which is on the Caribbean side of the country, and is famous for the sea turtles.  We will spend 2 nights there at the Mowamba Lodge.  Our stay there will include several canal boat tours into the Tortuguero canals, and also a trip over to the Butterfly and Frog farm.

 

Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake

From there we go to Arenal, which has an active volcano and Arenal Lake.  It is also famous for its hot springs, and I have opted to upgrade and stay at the Tabacon Resort and Hot Springs Hotel.  This will give us access to the hot springs for our 2 night stay.  The resort is just below the volcano, with views straight up to the volcano.  We will be able to go on a nature hike through the jungle there, which includes hanging bridges.

 

Monteverde Cloud Forest is our next stop, and this is where I plan to go zip-lining.  If you check my list, you will see that it says - Costa Rica, go zip-lining.  So this is where I will zip-line through the forest, with eighteen platforms suspended above the ground, I will be able to glide through the forest experiencing what it is like to be an inhabitant of the Cloud Forest Canopy.  We also have a hanging bridges treetop walkway tour set up.  We spend 2 nights in Monteverde.

Walking on a hanging bridge through the Cloud Forest

 

Resort we will stay in Tamarindo

Then on to the Pacific coast.  We spend 3 nights in Tamarindo at a resort right on the beach.  This is our time to relax and hang out at the beach.  Do some snorkeling, take a sunset cruise, and just refresh ourselves for the next part of our journey.  Because from here we go back to San Jose, and catch a flight to Manaus, Brazil in South America.

 

Amazon Clipper on the Amazon River

Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon River.  We will spend two nights in Manaus at the Tropical Hotel which is on the banks of the Amazon.  We arrive late the first night.  The next morning we will have a city tour which will include the famous Amazon Opera House, which was inaugurated in 1896. And we will have time to explore the area and enjoy our resort. The next morning we will depart on the Amazon Clipper for a 3 night Amazon River Cruise.  The cruise includes canoe trips into some of the tributaries as well as guided hikes into the jungle.  The Amazon Clipper only has 15 cabins, so we will be a small group on board.

 

Rio de Janeiro

From Manaus we head to Rio de Janeiro.  We actually spend 2 nights in Rio, but since we are arriving fairly late at night the first night, and leave early the 3rd day, we actually only have one full day in Rio.  That was okay with me, it will be interesting to see, but it is a big city and was not high on my list of places to see.  I have set up a tour for the day which will show us the main highlights of the city and will take us up to Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountain, for views of the city from above.

 

Iguassu Falls with a rainbow

Our final destination is Iguassu Falls (also known as Iguazu Falls).  On my list of things to do is a visit to these falls during the full moon and take the Moonlight Walk.  The walk is only on the two nights prior, the night of the full moon and the 2 nights after the full moon.  I have timed my arrival to coincide with the full moon, and plan to take that walk while there.  We are actually spending 3 nights here.  Our first two nights will be at the Sheraton on the Argentine side.  The Sheraton is the only hotel inside the park, and we have a room with a falls view.  We plan to explore the different paths around the falls, and to take a boat trip below the falls.  We then transfer back to the Brazil side of the falls and stay one night at the Das Cataratas Hotel, which is the only hotel inside the park on that side.
 



Iguassu Falls

From the falls we fly home.  It will be a long trip - 23 days.  Its a long time to be gone, but I'm looking forward to another adventure.  We aren't leaving until early 2015, which really isn't too far away.

 

So, how are we getting from place to place, and how is the trip set up?  I have booked almost the entire trip through a company called Avanti Destinations.  This is an independent trip, we will not be with a group. 

 

In Costa Rica we have transfers set up from destination to destination.  Some are private transfers, which means they will have a car and driver take us to our next stop.  Some are shared transfers, which means we could be on a small bus or in a van, and there will be a few other people going to the same destination, but maybe staying at a different hotel.  Once at each destination I have set up activities, which we can easily get to from the resorts, but we will be on our own.  Breakfast comes with the hotels, but in most cases we will be on our own for other meals. 

 

Manaus, Brazil, on the Amazon River

We do fly from place to place in Brazil.  But we will have transfers set up to take us from the airports to the hotels and then back to the airport.  Once at our destination, we will be on our own, but again I have things set up  though Avanti, for us to do, such as the city tour in Rio, and a guided tour of the falls, and the boat trip up to the falls from below.  I have not yet set up the Moonlight walk, will do that with a direct booking through the internet. 

 

We did opt to book our own hotel in Rio.  The hotels they offered through the package were around $400 a night, and I have Best Western rewards.  I was able to get a Best Western hotel right on Ipanema Beach for a lot less.  The hotel looks nice, I'll get the points, and save a little money.  Since we are splurging on hotels at the falls, I felt this was a good plan.  

 

So now we have a new adventure to look forward to.  I'm reading up on both locations, through the internet and also with tour books that I have purchased.  I make notes of places that look interesting, to check out, restaurants to eat at, and things that I might want to purchase.  And I get excited about going.  I almost want to pack my bags now.  Planning is part of the fun.

 

And already in my mind is, where do I go next.  After this trip I'm thinking Australia, New Zealand, or maybe instead, Viet Nam and Cambodia.  Who knows, its a big world out there, and I only have so much time left to explore it.

Ft. Clatsop National Historical Park

 

“We were now about to penetrate a country at least two thousand miles in width, on which the foot of civilized man had never trod. The good or evil it had in store for us was for experiment yet to determine, and these little vessels contained every article by which we were to expect to subsist or defend ourselves. However, as the state of mind in which we are, generally gives the coloring to events, when the imagination is suffered to wander into futurity, the picture which now presented itself to me was a most pleasing one. Entertaining as I do the most confident hope of succeeding in a voyage which had formed a darling project of mine for the last ten years, I could but esteem this moment of my departure as among the most happy of my life. (Meriwether Lewis)”
― John Bakeless, The Journals of Lewis and Clark

 

 

Every summer my husband and I head north to the state of Washington to visit family and spend some time at our cabin on the river.  We always also visit the coast where my husband has family.  We try to make sure every year that we also see something new.  We take side trips on the trip up and back, and visit new things in the areas we visit.  This year we detoured over to the Oregon coast and spent a little time visiting Ft. Clatsop National Historical Park, which is just outside Astoria, Oregon.

 

Inside one of the rooms
of the fort

Ft. Clatsop is where Lewis and Clark and their group of explorers stayed from December of 1805 to March of 1806.  They built a small fort there and spent the winter.  It is an interesting place to visit and if you are in the area I think it is worth a stop. 

 

The visitor center includes a replica of Fort Clatsop similar to the one built by the explorers, an interpretive center offering an exhibit hall, gift shop and two films. The center features ranger-led programs, costumed rangers in the fort, and  2 trailheads - the Fort to Sea Trail and Netal River Trail, as well as restrooms and a picnic area.



We hiked the trail to the river
and came across this canoe
similar to what they would have used

The price is $3.00 for those 16 and older, free if under 16. If you have a National Park pass, or are active duty military it is also free.  They are open every day except Christmas day. 

If you are interested in Lewis and Clark, this area has many more places for you to explore.  The explorers were also on the Washington side of the river, and if you go across the bridge at Astoria to the Washington side you will see an entrance for the Cape Disappointment State Park.  Here you will find the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which  stands high on the cliffs of Cape Disappointment State Park, 200 feet above the pounding Pacific surf. A series of mural-sized timeline panels guide visitors through the westward journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition using sketches, paintings, photographs, and the words of Corps members themselves. The center also features a short film presentation, a gift shop, and a glassed-in observation deck with fabulous views of the river, headlands, and sea. Additional displays focus on local maritime and military history.  There is also the Cape Disappointment lighthouse in the state park.

Inside the Interpretive Center on the
Washington side of the river

 

In November of 1805, the U.S. Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and Wiliam Clark reached the mouth of the mighty Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean at last. "Great joy in camp," Clark wrote in his journal, "we are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we been so long anxious to see."  Shortly after arriving at the Pacific on the Washington side, they crossed the river and made the fort where they wintered.  The city of Long Beach, which is close by, also has a statue dedicated to Lewis and Clark. 

One other stop we made while visiting Ft. Clatsop was to see the shipwreck of the Peter Iredale on the Oregon coast near Ft. Stevens State Park.  The Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel sailing vessel that ran ashore October 25, 1906, en route to the Columbia River. Wreckage is still visible, making it a popular tourist attraction.  The shipwreck is slowly breaking up and I can't imagine it will still have much left in another 10 years.  I saw a picture of what it looked like just 10 years ago, and there is very little of that left.  Here is my picture of the ship.

When you visit this area, take time to visit the coast, its quite pretty.  Bring your rain gear, because there is always the possibility of rain, even in the summer.  And eat some of the good seafood, they are famous for their razor clams.

Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands

 

We just returned from a trip. As in the past, we sent a report home to friends and family, as we traveled.  My husband, George, writes these reports, and put in the pictures.  I always post those reports on the blog - on the side column, under Trip Reports.  If you would like to read about our latest adventures you can go to the Trip Report column and click on the Portugal trip.  We had a good time, but we always are glad to get back home to our 2 dogs.

 

You could also click on this link to go to the report - http://havelistwilltravel.blogspot.com/p/the-old-legend-of-barcelos-cock-once-at.html

The Anne Frank House - Amsterdam

2 Year Anniversary of this Blog

“See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. Ask for no guarantees, ask for no security.”

Ray Bradbury

I have been writing this for two years.  My first posting was on this day in 2011.  It has been fun for me to do, but I am running out of ideas, and now it is starting to be a chore to come up with new things to write.  So I am going to take a break from it.  I may come back and write again, if I think of new things to write about.  When we travel, and we will, I may post reports of those trips.  We are taking a short vacation to Hawaii soon, both to Oahu and the Big Island, but I have already written about those places, so probably won't post anything on that trip.  But we are planning a trip to Portugal, where we will meet up with our friends from Scotland.  I am already planning the trip, and I plan to actually fly into Amsterdam and spend a few days and then take the train to Bruges, Belgium and spend a day there, and then go on to Lisbon to meet our friends.  That is a trip we will certainly report on when we return.  Until then..................

What To Do When Things Go Wrong

 "You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem."

 Eldridge Cleaver

Imagine you are on a vacation, one you have paid a lot of money for, and have spent many months anticipating.  It is a tour you booked through a company.  But things are not quite the way you pictured them.  Things are not going smoothly, for what ever reason.  Do you continue along with the tour and complain when you get home, or do you take action to change things while you are on the trip.  And if you decide on the last, how do you go about doing that.

We recently took a trip to Africa.  The trip was very expensive, probably the most expensive trip we have ever taken.  And yes it was through a tour company.  Going to Africa is possible on your own, but certainly easier with a tour company, which will set everything up for you.  We thought the trip was excellent.  Sure, there were a few little snafu's, but after all it is Africa, so some allowances should be made.  But there were several in our group who were not happy.  We didn't even realize they weren't happy, because the way things were set up, we didn't always have interaction with other members of the group.  We were separated into 3 different land rovers for our daily safari's, and we tended to stick with the same group even in the evenings, to a certain extent.  So we were surprised when we found out that some of the group did not feel they were getting the right service.

At the Tanzania Border
We had vendors and others who approached us 

Everything was fine with the whole group until we crossed the border into Tanzania.  We had to wait at the border to pick up new drivers and tour guides, because the law says that the drivers from Kenya cannot continue on into Tanzania.  In a perfect world the new drivers would have been there waiting for us, since they knew we were arriving.  However, we did have to wait for over an hour.  We found out that the Tanzania drivers had a flat tire, and they got delayed partly because of that.  But our Kenyan drivers stayed with us until they arrived, and yes, it was hot, and yes there were people there who were asking for handouts and to sell us things.  I did not have a problem with that, having seen the roads throughout Africa I could certainly understand how there could be delays, and I was enjoying interacting with the people, and even bought a few things.  But that was a major complaint of some of the group.

Some also complained that the luxury tents we had along the way were not as luxurious as they thought they would be.  I personally found them to be quite comfortable, and felt they were part of the experience. 

One person in our group was traveling with her 2 teenage daughters and she was the first one who complained to the company.  She actually called the company that she booked with and had her driver fired on the spot.  She later said that she did not feel safe with him, which surprised all of us. But having got to know her a little bit, I tend to think she over-reacts.  She may not have in this situation, but I know she over-reacted to some other things with the group, which led most of us to believe she was over-reacting again.  Whether she was right to do what she did or not, who knows, but she did take action.  Would you have done the same?

Our group with our driver Juma

After this incident there was more talk between the group about how we felt.  The 4 other people my husband and I were with were happy with our driver and with the service we were receiving.  We had no problems.  We did find out that there were others in the group who had some complaints. They had decided to wait till they got home to put in their comments, but since action had already been taken, the company was immediately wanting our feedback.  They wanted to know if we were unhappy with our drivers and did we want them replaced also.  We loved our driver, Juma, and were concerned he would lose his job because the other driver was fired, and there were some complaints about the third driver.  Everyone in our land rover expressed our happiness with our driver. 

After we returned home the company contacted me and wanted to know everything that had happened and how I felt about the trip.  They were accessing whether to keep the company they had hired in Tanzania or to get a new company.  They were interested in everything that had happened and our feelings.  They sent me a voucher good for a discount on our next trip with them, even though I was basically happy with the service we received.  I'm not sure if they sent the unhappy people a larger voucher, it is certainly possible.

So, if this happens to you, would you call immediately, or wait until you got home.  I guess it would depend on how unhappy you were, and if calling then would change anything.  In her case, she was happier with a new driver.  If you were unhappy about something that had already happened and it couldn't be changed, then complaining when you got home might at least give you a partial refund or a voucher for future travel. 


Our Tent in the Serenget
Some didn't think these qualified as luxury tents

If you do need to put in a complaint, then how do you go about it.  In her case, she used her cell phone and called.  I know my cell phone would not have worked in Africa, but I could have emailed the company and probably have gotten a quick response.  If you are complaining after you get home, then there are several ways to go about it.  If you booked through a travel agent then I would go and tell the agent what happened.  The agent will have a company representative with that company and going directly to the rep will have more pull then on your own.  As a travel agent I handled complaints such as that for clients, and usually got very positive results.  If you booked on your own then the best thing is to put it in writing and either email or mail the letter to the company.  Even if you call them, they will ask for something in writing, so best to just start that way.

But however you handle it, if you are unhappy then you should let the company know.  It is your vacation, you paid a lot of money to go, and you should have happy memories when you come home.  If something has spoiled it, then talk to the company.  You may get a refund, or not.  But by telling them the problem, you may stop it from happening in the future, and help someone else.

Destination - Lisbon

"We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment."

 Hilaire Belloc 

"Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”

Frank Herbert
 

Tram in Lisbon

As Portugal's capital city, Lisbon holds a concentration of historical and cultural attractions and is the nation's most cosmopolitan city.  Lisbon is a charming mix of now and then.  Old wooden trolleys travel up and down the hills, there are cobbled streets and bird-stained statues, and Art Nouveau cafes to relax and have a cup of coffee.  There are parks, and squares, and old world architecture. Lisbon is one of the few European capitals with both a river and a coastline, the city spreads along the north bank of the River Tagus and meets the ocean.


Lisbon

We have plans to go to Lisbon in 2014.  I have never been there before, although we were close to the border when we were in Spain in 2001.  We will not be on a tour, so I am starting to look into where in Portugal we plan to go, and what there is to see.  I'm sure our first stop will be in Lisbon, so that is where I am starting.  We plan to explore other areas of Portugal, including the Algarve area, which is where we will most certainly spend at least a week.  But Lisbon will be our starting point.

So what is there to see and do in Lisbon?  Like most European cities, just walking around the historic area of the city will be a joy.  The cities in Europe are so different from our cities, with so much history and culture to see.  And for those of us into photography, it is a joy to point our cameras at all the old architecture.  Lisbon will certainly have lots of things for us to see.

My first purchase in Lisbon will most likely be a Lisboa card, which is a Lisbon City Pass and is a great way for tourists, like myself, to save money when seeing the local attractions.  Once purchased, the card offers free or discounted entrance to more than 80 Lisbon museums, sights, and tours, including the Jeronimos Monastery, the Belem Tower and the National Pantheon.  It also gives you free transportation around the city, because the Lisboa Card includes all trips on the Metro, public buses, trams and the Elevadores.  It even covers some sights outside the city, to some of the nearby cities.  The card costs approximately 18 Euros for adults, and 11 Euros for children.

Lisbon is made up of 7 hills, and at the top of each hill an amazing view awaits.  While the hills can be steep for climbing, there are many funiculars and trams connecting them.  the Lisboa Card will come in handy in getting you around the city.

There are three main districts that you should definitely visit while in Lisbon.  They are the Alfama,  Bairro Alto and Belem.  I will probably start my sightseeing in the Belem area of Lisbon, which is where the Age of Discovery began.  Ships commanded by the likes of Vasco da Gama and Henry the Navigator set their sails here returning with tales of adventure, bloodshed, and riches. Discovering a sea route to India, Gama helped aide in Portugal's rise to one of the world's greatest empires. Belem is where two of the most popular tourists sights are - The Belem Tower and the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos.


Pastel del Belem- a custard pastry famous in Lisbon

Belem is also where you can purchase a Portugese taste treat known as Pastel del Belem.  These are cream tarts that are famous throughout Portugal, but were first created in 1837 in Lisbon.  The best place to buy these are where they originated in a shop called Casa Pasties de Belem.  Enjoy one with a sprinkling of cinnamon and powdered sugar, with a cup of coffee, or whatever you enjoy to drink.  It is a good way to start off your sightseeing day in the Belem area of  Lisbon.


Belem Tower

Belem Tower is probably the most famous of the local sights.  In Portuguse, it is Torre de Belem or the Tower of St. Vincent.  It is a fortified tower located in the mouth of the Tagus River and is the gateway to Lisbon.  The Tower has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  The tower was  commissioned by King John II and was built in 1515 to guard the harbor of Lisbon.

The tower is open 10AM - 5PM (Oct.- Apr) and 10AM - 6:30PM (May - Sept.).  It is closed on Mondays.  It cost 5 Euros to enter, or with the Lisboa Card it is free.

The Monastery

The Mosteiro dos Jeronimos  (Monastery of Jeronimos) is just a short walk away from the tower.  Its intricate decorations and peaceful spaces will leave you inspired.  It was built in the 16th century and is considered one of Lisbon's most magnificent buildings. Here you will go inside the church to view the architecture, and visit the tombs.  You can also visit the cloisters and there is a garden to walk through.  The monastery is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Inside the Museu da Marinha

Museu Da Marinha (Maritime Museum) is near both the tower and the monastery.  This is the place to go if you want to understand how Portugal rose to become one of the greatest maritime and trading powers in the world.  The museum houses maps, documents, navigational instruments and models of ships from the era of discoveries through to this century.

Palacio da Ajuda is also in Belem.  Just above the pink National Palace (the official residence of the President of Portugal which is not open to the public), is the former Ajuda royal palace, built between 1796 and 1826.  It was occupied by the royal family and remained the royal residence until the abolition of the monarchy in 1910.  It is sumptuously furnished with tapestries, sculptures, oriental carpets and historic paintings.  There is a display of the royal jewelry, crystal and other treasures.  It is still used for state occasions. 



View of Alfama district
taken from the Miradouro de Santa Catarina

The Alfama district is the most famous part of town, which is a labyrinth of alleys, miniature squares and whitewashed houses rising in tiers from the Tagus River.  This is quite a contrast with the area below Alfama.  The low-lying district closer to the river is the Baixa district which was totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1765 and was rebuilt with a precise grid form with magnificent squares and alleys.  But the Alfama district, with its winding cobbled streets and alleys, is best explored on foot during the mid-morning market time or in the early evening with the streets teem with locals.   Exploring the streets and alleyways is a good way to get a feel for Lisbon's Moorish past. A climb through the Alfama district to the castle on top is rewarded by stupendous views over the Tagus and its suspension bridge.

Tower of Ulysses in Castle Sao Jorge

The Castle of São Jorge is a Moorish castle occupying a commanding hilltop overlooking the historic area of Lisbon.  Saint George's Castle can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Its oldest parts date from the 6th century.  It is now an oasis of peace, but just past the main gate is a statue of King Afonso Henriques and a series of cannons, reminders of the castle's original purpose. What remains of the Alcaçovas Palace where medieval kings lived, is a stone building now housing a restaurant, and round the back, a small archaeological museum in three underground chambers (including the one where Vasco da Gama was once received by King Manuel).

Most of the castle was destroyed over the years, especially in the Great Earthquake, but still includes a long extension of walls and 18 towers. Visitors can climb the towers and walk along the ramparts for the best views of the city, or relax in the gardens where peacocks, geese and ducks strut around. One of the castle's inner towers, the Tower of Ulysses, holds the Câmara Escura, a periscope that projects sights from around the city.  



Bairro Alto

The Bairro Alto district also attracts visitors.  This is the bohemian quarter of the city, rising to the west in steep streets and stone staircases and lined with restaurants and bars.  This is a good place to head for an evening meal.  The area can seem sketchy, but it's as safe as the rest of the city.  The area is a favorite among locals.  The lower part of this district is the elegant Chiado with fashionable department stores and tea houses.  You can catch a lift from there up the hill.




Miradouro de Santa Catarina

The Miradouro de Santa Catarina is a place you should visit for more great views of the city  Next door to the Bairro Alto is the neighborhood of Santa Catarina.  This area has streets of pastel-painted houses but very few restaruants and bars.  It is mostly known for its garden with a terrace offering river views. Within this terrace you will find a stone figure of Adamastor, a mythical sea monster from the poem "The Lusiads."  There is also a pleasant café where locals go to admire the dawn view over the Tagus.  You will also have a great view of the 25th of April Bridge over the Tagus,  which is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.

If you would like to take a tour of the city or a day tour to some areas near Lisbon there are lots of companies available.  But the one that I would book if I was doing a tour is with a company called "We Hate Tourism Tours".  They seem to do more individual type tours, and not the usual things that anyone can see.  From the reviews I read online from people who had taken the tour, it was more like being shown the area by a good friend who lived there.  Not the typical big bus experience for sure.



When you wander the back streets of a city
you see how people live and get a feel for
the city.

There are certainly many more things and areas to see around Lisbon.  Like anyplace you visit you need to just get a feel for the place, and to do that you should wander around by foot, as much as possible, and sample the food, do some people-watching and just soak up the sights and sounds of the city.  You should visit the local flea markets or open markets when you see them.  There is even a Thieves Market, which is in the area of Igreja de Sao Vincente de Fora.  Here you can browse through all sorts of interesting things to purchase.  There are also some pretty good antique shops and stalls that you will find while exploring.  Just walking around exploring a new city is my favorite part of traveling.


**pictures taken from the internet