July 2007 Archives

This one, from Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

(In case you were wondering, yes, there are plenty of men on this island off the coast of Cancun, which literally translates as "Island of Women, but I won't give you the history lesson here.)

Anyway, I can't vouch for the quality of this Jose Carlos' seashells and ashtray painted to look like sombreros, but in general, the handicrafts in much of Latin America sell for thrift-shop prices compared to what you'd pay here for something similar. Of course, like anything, you need to pay attention to quality and know what you're getting for your money.

Also, shop around because you'll often find many vendors selling the same thing for wildly different prices. But that's half the fun... negotiating.

Stay tuned for more on the fine art of negotiating (regateando) -- and my obsession with artesanias, as the handicrafts are called in Spanish. More on both subjects another day.

Have you seen a good sign lately? Snap a picture and send it to me with a brief description of where you found it and why you like it. I'll post it here for others to enjoy.

So I was reading this story from USA Today about how airports everywhere -- especially smaller ones such as our own Harrisburg International Airport -- are adding art as a way to showcase local talent and give travelers something to look at during long waits due to _____ (fill in the blank with your situation: delayed flight, long layover, long lines, etc.)

I've seen lots of them -- everywhere from BWI to Mexico City.

Some are so cool I've found myself scrounging in my carry-on for my camera to snap a picture. One that stands out in my mind was a series of wooden (?) birds suspended from a terminal ceiling at different heights and positions so that, when viewed from afar, they appeared to be a single bird in flight. Talk about time-intensive!

What a cool way to take advantage of a captive audience and expose them to the region's creativity. I wonder what they're doing at HIA?

Have you seen airport art? Leave a comment and say what it was and where you found it (if you remember -- I often don't).

Guess what?

Today is National Milk Chocolate Day.

I learned this while reading this story listing 10 of the best places for chocolate-lovers to visit. I was a bit bummed that Hershey didn't make the cut. I think they ought to bottle and sell the wonderful aroma that hits you as soon as you walk into Chocolate World. Maybe it would cut down on my chocolate cravings.

But then again, it's National Milk Chocolate Day, so I guess we should be eating it rather than smelling it.

(For the record, I am trying to limit my chocolate consumption to the better-tasting, better-for-you dark variety of chocolate, although I wouldn't reject milk chocolate in a pinch!)

You'd think it would be easy...grab a dry stick off the ground, smash a marshmallow on one end, incline over campfire and cook to perfection.

But in my experience camping with extended family each summer, marshmallow roasting has never been so simple.

As if the Great Wall, rice paddies, and massive numbers of bicycle commuters weren't reason enough to visit the enormous, diverse country of China, the city of Chongqing now gives tourists yet another.

Public toilets.

We're not talking your average cement-block hole in the ground with nasty odors wafting for blocks in either direction. This is a complex of more than 1,000 toilets spread out across more than 32,290 square feet, according to an Associated Press report from Beijing. Plus a pretty Egyptian-style facade and soothing music. Some of the urinals even sport fun designs, they say.

Word is that city officials might apply to the Guiness Book of World Records to have the free, four-story public bathroom listed as the largest in the world.

Wow.

The past few posts on this blog have been nothing but pictures of readers who want to say to the collective you: "Don't you wish you were here?"

Sure, rub it in.

Don't get me wrong. I love seeing where York County folks are traveling. And I'm glad they take the time to share photos and travel tips from their trips.

But when I have to read and post more than one of these a week, it starts to get to me, because yes, dammit, I really DO wish I was there. Really.

Instead, I'm usually just sitting in my cubicle in a frozen office without windows, working until smoke comes out of my ears. Posting pictures of other people having fun in cool places.

Grrr.

This weekend, it was my turn.

Joshua Guyer, 10, of Dover Township visited the Mayan ruins of Tulum in Mexico while vacationing along the Riviera Maya in June. His other excursions included swimming with dolphins and manatees, parasailing, and deep-sea fishing in the Caribbean.

His travel tip: Take extra bottles of water when visiting the Tulum ruins, as there is little shade. Wear a swimsuit and bring along a change of clothes, also. The excursion isn't complete without a dip in the Caribbean at the beach below.

Bill and Phyllis Mangold of West Manchester Township pose for a picture in front of the Sydney Opera House in Australia in March.

They said that Sydney is the most beautiful city they have seen.

Their travel tip: Be prepared for jet jag when you get home. The time difference is 14 hours.

...our winner is none other than Annie Swade, with her amazing memory for random facts!

She got the answer right on: the Susquehanna River travels for 444 miles from its headwaters in New York to the Chesapeake Bay. 444 -- now that's a nice orderly number that someone like me, who likes orderly things, can really remember. :)

In case you want another bit of trivia about the river, it's the longest one on the American east coast.

And it looks pretty darn beautiful early in the morning or late in the evening when you're looking south from Highpoint in York County, or across at the Harrisburg skyline and the many bridges (from the West Shore in Cumberland County).

Each July 4, the city of Harrisburg explodes fireworks over the river and boaters hit the water to watch from below. This year, I watched from Negley Park in Lemoyne. It was pretty impressive.

After spending parts of the past two days on or near the Susquehanna River for stories I'm working on, I have a fun, river-related pop quiz for all my readers.

How long is the Susquehanna River?

As always, no cheating, no Googling, no asking a friend. Just pick a number and post it in the comments.

Hint: It's in the hundreds.

Hint No. 2: The river starts in New York State, runs through Pennsylvania and empties into the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

I'll announce the answer and the winner tomorrow.

This story in USA Today got me thinking about how normally environmentally conscious folks get a different mindset about conservation when they travel.

I'm as guilty as anyone, but when I took stock of my travel habits and preferences, I see that I am not consistent:

*When I stay in a hotel, I am inclined to take a longer shower than I normally would at home because I'm not paying for the water and to heat it.

*But I always turn out lights that aren't being used and would never think of leaving the lights and/or TV on if I'm not in the room.

*I like the housekeeping staff to make the bed, but I think they should change the sheets only after I leave.

*I'm a big fan of places that practice responsible ecotourism.

Leave a comment and tell us how green or guilty you are! (We won't judge.)

This picture was drawn probably about 1,000 years ago. On a big rock in the middle of the Susquehanna River near York County.

I saw prehistoric sketches like this while on assignment for a story today. I got a bit of sunburn, despite the 30 SPF, but I think it will be worth it.

Keep your eyes on the Living/Lifestyle section of the York Daily Record/Sunday News in the coming weeks to find out who drew these? Why here? What do they mean?

If you've seen them, leave a comment and share what you know.

Bob Zimmerman, LaRahe Zimmerman, Kendra Zimmerman, and Roberta Zimmerman, all of West Manchester Township, pose for a photograph in front of the castle Schloss Neuschwanstein in Fussen, Germany, which was the model for the castle in Disneyland.

The Zimmermans went there in June while visiting Kendra, a graduate of West York High School and University of Pittsburgh, who is spending a year in Germany as an au pair. The bunch also visited Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Eagles Nest, Rothenburg, and Dachau during their trip.

Their travel tip: Rent a car and enjoy the convenience of driving. Behind the wheel you're totally free, going where you want, when you want. Take trips off the major routes and enjoy what the smaller towns have to offer. GPS is a must.

When you're on a bicycle for more than three hours (like I was Sunday) you have a lot of time to think.

Mostly, this happens when you are on flat ground or coasting downhill. The rest of the time, your brain is busy trying to think you up the hills. The constant up and down (but mostly up) of the Lancaster County landscape made me ponder how riding a bike is a great metaphor for life.

Yeah, yeah, you've heard the whole thing about when you fall off you've just gotta get back on... but it goes beyond that.

Somehow, I got it in my head that I was going to try to do a 30-mile bike ride before my 30th birthday. I realize that in the world of bicycling, this is not a big deal. But I have never managed to ride this far/long and wanted to see if I could make it.

So I signed up for The Great Green America Fest's metric century, and checked the box for 30 miles instead of 12.

Silly me.

I'll admit it.

I'm a nerd when it comes to geography.

I once spent an entire summer filling a three-ring binder with information about every country on the map: Capital city, major languages, relgions, literacy rates, largest imports and exports, flags. I studied it obsessively, intent on winning the local geography bee that fall.

A little more than a week ago, I joined dozens of other kayakers and canoeists for the first Susquehanna River Adventure. Because I kept putting my paddle down to take pictures, I'm going to tell you about my five hours on the river in photos.

Some folks competed in races, but I chose the "island hopper" route, which meant a bunch of us paddled from island to island learning about everything from the flora and fauna and history of the river to how to camp according to leave-no-trace principles.

We paddled under the historic Rockville Bridge and got a lesson on micro-organisms from a DEP biologist. (Poor girl, working on a Saturday!)

I just saw this story in USA Today that some campgrounds are getting -- and advertising -- free WiFi access.

I guess I knew this day would come. But I kind of hoped it would hold off a bit longer.

I don't know about you, but I go camping because I want to get away from the computer that I stare at for hours every day. I want to rest my eyes with the beauty of the great outdoors -- the plants and animals and natural light. I want to disconnect and decompress.

Leave a comment -- what you think of WiFi in the woods?

Once again, my taste buds are causing me problems.

Those of you who read this blog regularly will recall the day I craved tacos al pastor something terrible. (Click here to read that entry.)

Well, Sunday, it struck again. Only this time, instead of tacos, it was fresh-squeezed orange juice like they serve most places I went in Mexico in April.

My friend Ana Paulina (whose wedding I was attending in Mexico) received a juicer at her shower from another bridesmaid, who knew about her dislike for the processed, packaged, fully chilled kind of OJ sold in most grocery stores here.

I grew up drinking that, so I still like it. But I've also tasted the room-temperature, fresh-from-the-fruit stuff they serve in many Latin American countries. And sometimes, like Sunday, my taste buds remember that and want it... BAD.

So I spent a good 10 minutes squeezing an entire bag of oranges for a precious few cups. But damn, was it good!

... Mali! (a country in northwest Africa)

In the 12th century, Timbuktu was the crossroads of the four most important caravan paths supplying the Arab world. It was the site of one of the earliest universities. Most recently, it was on the list of 21 finalists to be named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Speaking of the new seven wonders, here's a story from Saturday's 7-7-07 announcement of the new seven.

I agree with most, but take issue with a couple.

Where is the legendary Timbuktu?

Post your guess/answer in the comments, and I'll tell you the answer on Monday.

No cheating and googling it!

At the end of last summer, I discovered The Neat Sheet.

What, you ask, is so neat about this sheet?

I'd say, What isn't?

Water rolls off it. Sand shakes off it. Wrinkles smooth themselves out. It weighs less than a pound for easy transport and storage, yet has tiny weights in the corners to keep it where you put it.

At $8 each ($15 for the larger family size), they're cheap. I went bought two. I keep one with my camping stuff and one in the trunk of my car. You'll find 101 uses for it on the company's Web site, but here are some highlights (and my favorites):

*In the car to protect the seats from wet butts without a towel
*A beach blanket
*A tablecloth for picnic tables
*A groundcloth for your tent
*Emergency rain/sun tarp
*Bike cover

It has become, without a doubt, my favorite summer accessory. If you have one of these, leave a comment and share your favorite use!

Today, I spent nearly six hours with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmothers, siblings, parents, nieces, nephews, and assorted significant others (not all mine, obviously!).

Talk about adventure.

(I survived.)

hint: click on photo to enlarge

I like being in transit, but I hate to drive.

This struck me as strange when it occured to me today. (while driving to work -- go figure). So, I tried to tease apart the difference as I sipped my coffee and navigated the traffic on I-83 south.

I think I like being enroute. I like the feeling that I'm on the move, going some place, headed somewhere, on a journey. What I don't like is dealing with traffic and other drivers, and the fact that you can't move around too much when you're in the driver's seat. (Mass transit, please.)

When you're traveling, you're moving outside of and away from what is familiar. You enter unknown territories and you explore them and experience new things. There's a nice mix of anxiety and excitement.

Then on the return trip, you can mull over all you have seen and done. And you have the anticipation of returning home to loved ones, pets, house, whatever it is that your travels make you appreciate all the more.

If you think about it, travel is kind of like the best things in life in this regard: New school, new job, new partner, new house. Nerves and excitement on the way in. Memories and lessons learned come later.

Please leave a comment and share your thoughts. What do you like best/hate most about traveling?