February 2008 Archives

The guidebooks and tour guides always warn you not to take pictures of soldiers, policemen, government buildings or other such subjects when traveling abroad. They might think you're a spy, or that you're using the images for no good, I guess.

I know this rule. But while flipping through the images in my camera, I noticed I must have violated it without realizing I did. (Doubleclick on the photo to see it larger)

You see, the architecture in Buenos Aires is amazing -- this coming from a girl who knows nothing about architecture and typically has little interest in it -- and so I began snapping pictures of cool buildings and architectural details.

That's what I was doing here. But I guess someone got the wrong idea.

At least I didn't get arrested.

After more than a week in Argentina, my friend Laura and I were starting to feel a little frumpy compared to the Argentine women (and men, for that matter).

Not to mention sticky, sweaty and downright gross -- thanks to the 98 percent humidity in Buenos Aires that our Northeast-US bodies weren't accustomed to.

Our hair in perpetual ponytails, we passed one hair styling salon after another with prices that would put Cost Cutters to shame.

But we were nervous.

I know it might sound weird, but one of my favorite things to do when visiting a foreign country is to browse through a grocery store.

I've found that it's one of the best ways to see what the people in a certain place eat and use, what is and isn't available, and how much things cost.

It's also a cheap way to pick up your favorite local items, rather than paying the marked-up tourist prices in souvenir or airport shops.

Here's what I bought yesterday:

They say travel broadens your horizons and expands your mind. So, in that spirit, I share with you the things I learned today:

*Olives used for olive oil are different than the ones you eat

*It's difficult to find an ugly Argentine man (or woman, for that matter)

*Don´t wear flip-flops when it´s raining in Argentina (this lesson courtesy of my friend Laura) (in case you´re wondering why, the reason is that many sidewalks are made from slippery tile or slate)

*Flan is better when eaten with dulce de leche

*9 p.m. is too early to go to dinner

*It´s easier to speak Spanish when you´ve had some Argentine wine (this lesson also courtesy of Laura -- Me? I find it more difficult to speak English when I´ve had some wine)

Today was nearly perfect. Here´s why:

*Good coffee when I had to wake up way too early (before sunrise) to go to the mountains

*Good book to read while I waited to get picked up to go to the mountains (things aren´t very punctual here)

*Cool mountain air and refreshing breeze

*Feeling like I was flying through the mountains when we went up on ski chairlifts for a better view

*Eating a dark chocolate Hershey Kiss when you´re climbing thousands of meters above sea level and experiencing altitude fatigue that makes your legs feel like Jello and your lungs like lead

*Scooping pure, refreshing mountain water from a stream into my hand and drinking it when thirsty

*Giving way to mid-afternoon drowsiness as the sun pours in the bus window and waking up 20 minutes later totally refreshed

*Resting my eyes on some of the most magnificent mountains you´ll ever see in your life and feeling completely content and at peace (it puts things in perspective)

*Talking with and becoming friendly with the people who live here

*Eating a dinner of salad, fresh trout, empanadas, rolls & butter, a bottle of wine AND dessert for less than $18 at an outdoor table of a local restaurant

*Walking home at midnight and seeing families still out and about in the main plaza, relaxing and enjoying the perfect weather

Hasta manana.

Monday evening, while walking back from a late dinner at a street cafe in downtown Buenos Aires, we passed a group of children sitting on the sidewalk in front of McDonald´s (yes, they´re everywhere), digging through black plastic bags.

At first, I didn´t understand what was going on. But as I got closer, I caught a whiff of old hamburgers and trash.

Then, my heart almost broke when I saw a little girl -- she couldn´t have been more than 8 years old -- tucking some of her finds into a tiny pink backpack for later.

I know this happens more than I´d like to think, and in my own country, too. But in all my travels, US and abroad, it was the first time I had seen that with my own eyes.

Needless to say, it made me very sad.

Sorry about the lapse in posts. I was super-busy getting ready to leave for two weeks in Argentina and putting the finishing touches on a story that runs this coming Sunday (24th - check it out!) while I´m gone, so I apologize.

To make up for it, I am taking a bit of my vacation time to check in and write a few words. I am typing this on a very cruddy keyboard with funky symbols (although I´m sure once I get used to it, it would come in handy when I do Spanish translations and have to type in Spanish).

I don´t think i´ll be adding pictures to these posts until later (too difficult and limited computer time) so you´ll have to be content with words until I return and can spiff up these posts with pictures.

Gerry Hartman of Hellam Township traveled to Ely, Minn., last March for a five-day dogsledding and camping trip along the Canadian border. The trip was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. This picture was taken on one of the frozen lakes of the boundary waters with fellow dogsledders and Inuit sled dogs.

Travel tip: Be sure to take the proper clothing and extra betteries.

Today, this little device arrived in the mail. Because electrical currents and outlets are different in various countries, most international travelers who want to charge a digital camera or other electronic device end up buying one of these at some point.

Until now, I've managed to do without. The outlets in Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela worked fine without adapters. But in Argentina, they use European-style outlets, hence the need for an adapter.

I figured if I have to buy one, might as well get an all-in-one unit that works in most countries and has a USB port to boot. The price was $30, but then add $10 for shipping and about the same amount to make sure I got it before leaving for my trip and you are looking at $50 for this little doo-hickey.

The price, my friends, of travel (and procrastination).

Carole and Don Davis of West Manchester Township pose for a photo in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, during an October trip.

Carole's travel tips: Wear comfortable walking shoes that are easy to take off and put on because when you go into the temple you take off your shoes. Go with an open mind because it’s a whole different culture.
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If you need a little inspiration to get outdoors (see related post "Do you care?" below, or by choosing "issues" in the drop-down menu to the right) check out the new podcasts by the National Parks Conservation Association.

The project uses the very technology that often keeps people busy indoors to encourage them to get out and enjoy nature.

I listened to a couple, and they're pretty well done. If nothing else, it was relaxing to listen to the narrator tell the stories, interspersed with creaking doors, the sounds of birds and the outdoors.

Wouldn't it be cool if DCNR did something similar for Pennsylvania's state parks?

I think it might have been a waste of money.

Still, this morning, I visited the travel health clinic at Holy Spirit Hospital to get whatever vaccinations were recommended for my trip to Argentina.

The nurse who showed up -- after making me wait more than half an hour past my appointment time -- wanted to chat.

I've never wanted to go on a cruise.

The idea of being confined to a ship -- no matter how large -- for most of my vacation just does not appeal to me. I have no interest in taking in onboard entertainment, chowing down at all-you-can-eat buffets or sleeping in a room the size of a closet with a window about as big.

I understand that you get off the ship to explore the different ports of call. But I have no interest in fighting my way through a crowd of tourists as we move from one overpriced tourist-trap to another during our precious few hours on land.

How can you truly experience the culture of a place like that?

Recently though, I read about theme cruises where your time onboard is spent in classes and workshops, learning about everything from photography or wine to golf.

What a great idea!

The trend makes the idea of going on a cruise a little more appealing. Still, I doubt you'll find me spending my vacation days on a cruise ship anytime soon.

What do you think? What have your experiences been on cruise ships? Am I being unfairly anti-cruising?

Camping is one of the few times I can completely relax.

It's not my only outdoor activity -- I like to ride my bike, paddle my kayak and go for walks. But there's just something about being tucked away in a forest or mountain, far from cell phone signals and Wi-Fi zones, that gives me a license to truly kick back.

The breeze rustling the trees, the chipmunks scurrying about and the dapple of sunlight reflected on a lake remind me I need to slow down. Life is best appreciated at a slower pace.

My urges to be productive diminish and I notice things I usually pay no mind to. A colony of ants hard at work, the cool pattern in the bark of a tree.

Thank goodness, I think, that there's a whole world out here, even though we don't participate in it as much anymore, thanks to computers, HDTV and all the other electronic gadgets and chores clamoring for our time and attention.

But a new study, released yesterday by The Nature Conservancy, confirms what many folks have suspected for some time now. We aren't enjoying the outdoors as much as we used to.

Visits to National Parks are down, as are the amounts of time people spend fishing, camping and hiking.

Are you guilty of not enjoying the natural world around us? Do you care?

First, no more meals -- even if they were bad to begin with.

Then, more crowded cabins.

Now, the latest thing in the airline industry seems to be a limit on checked luggage.

United Airlines announced this week that it will only allow passengers to check one bag. If they want to check a second one (which was previously free), they must now pay $25. Here's the info

What do you think of that?