Sensible Souvenirs

I like to collect unique (but affordable) souvenirs in my travels.  I use the term souvenirs loosely.  I'd like to think that my growing collection is a bit more sophisticated than just a bunch of shot glasses and key chains.  (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)  I'm a big fan of local art.  I like prints that capture the culture of a place that I have visited.  I have a few sovenirs (pictured below) that were inexpensive but perfect conversation pieces! 

Punched Tin Star from Earth to Market in San Antonio, Texas for $21. 

(Price not including the cord. That was about $9.)

(Visit www.EARTHTOMARKET.com for more great stuff from this company!)

 Screen print of Bourbon Street, Lousiana by Don Davey .

This was purchased in one of the shops on Bourbon Street for $15.  

(I purchased just the print and bought a fame for it later.)

A print called "El Encanto" by Nico Thomassin purchased in 

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico for $15.

(I purchased the print and bought a frame later, for this one, as well.)

These pieces cost about $60 all together.  The frames for the two prints were purchased for discounted prices at a craft store, which brought the grand total for these three items to around $100, which isn't too bad considering all the priceless conversations that they will inspire and fond memories they invoke!

If you're on a more strict budget (which can certainly happen, especially if your destination was a pricey one!) just purchase a few postcards. When you return from your trip, purchase a scrap book from a craft store and create a coffee table book so visitors can flip through your travels.  For example, each page could be designated for one of the places that you've been.  You can write dates, memorable moments, etc. around the postcard(s) and it will serve as not only a conversation piece, but a wonderful keepsake as well.  I plan on doing this myself with some of the post cards I have collected!

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Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Must Love Platanos: Travel Advice for the Picky Eater

Though I can say that I thoroughly enjoy taking in the history and scenery of new places, I must admit that I am not enthusiastic about sampling new cuisines. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, I was shocked to find that so much of the food incorporated plantains.  (I am not a fan of bananas, and plantains are very similar.)  I suppose I never considered the fact that it is an island in the Caribbean, and plantains are a main staple in the diets of the people in Puerto Rico. (I was probably thinking more about the beach than the food!) 

With that said...

Traveler's Tip: Research common ingredients and dishes before visiting your destination. (If you are have a more worldly palate, this won't be necessary!) You may want to consider a destination with various types of restaurants, or look for menus online.  Hopefully you will be able to find something on the menu that you'll find appetizing.  For me, it was the trusty "arroz con pollo" or simply, rice and chicken. 

Tostones (made with plantains)

 Back: Empenada  Right: Maduros (made from plantains)  Front: Rice and Beans

 Traveler's Tip: Don't be afraid to ask the waiter questions to clarify exactly what your ordering.  (FYI: If the menu says "Half a Chicken" you're going to get... a half a chicken.)

My HALF chicken at Habana [sic] (now called Texas Embassy) in Austin, Texas.  This was sent back for being undercooked and replaced with ....

Cuban Stir Fry! (Tostones in the center)

Here, I quickly learned the difference between and empanada and and empanadilla.

In Puerto Rico, an empanada (pictured above) is like fried chicken.  An empanadilla is the fried dough stuffed with cheese and chicken or beef.

Traveler's Tip: Share a plate! Ask the waiter how large the portions are.  The meal picture below cost about $12.00 total, including drinks.  (It included three large tacos, a side order of rice and re-fried beans and a bottomless basket of tortillas!)

Traditional dish: Mexican food in San Antonio, Texas.  Chicken Tacos, Rice and Re-fried Beans.  With tortillas con queso y salsa for an appetizer.

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Funny Travel Quotations

I got a good laugh from some of these quotes...

"There is nothing safer than flying - it's crashing that is dangerous."
Theo Cowan

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
Mark Twain

"If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport."
George Winters

"If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel."
Will Kommen

Sign Collection

I like to snap photos (or have my "co-pilot" snap photos) of the different state signs. It's something fun to look forward to on long road trips. I missed out on more signs than I've captured, but I'm working on it! Hopefully this summer I'll fill in the voids, which pretty much is the entire east coast. South Carolina has an awesome "Welcome" sign that I missed last summer. It's pretty elaborate. It's kind of like a brick wall with "Welcome to South Carolina" on it and several palm trees are planted on either side of it. None of the photos in my collection can quite hold a candle to it, but they will have to do for now! I threw in a couple other signs that mark places of interest too. Enjoy :-)

Welcome to New York
The Empire State
(Home Sweet Home: entering New York from Massachusetts)

Lampasas River
(Bell County, Texas)

Rue Bourbon
Bourbon
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

Bonnet Carre Spillway
Lake Pontchartrain
(St. Charles Parish, Louisiana)

Welcome to Louisiana
Bienvenue en Louisiane
(entering Louisiana from Mississippi)


Louisiana
State Line
(halfway point above the Mississippi River)

Mississippi River
(exiting Mississippi)

Welcome to West Virginia
Wild and Wonderful
(entering West Virginia from Maryland)

Tennessee
The Volunteer State
Welcomes You
(entering Memphis, Tennessee from Arkansas)

Welcome to Arkansas
The Natural State
Buckle up for safety
(exiting Texarkana, Texas, entering Texarkana, Arkansas)

Featured Texas city: San Antonio

When I find out that someone is going to Texas, I always recommend that he or she visits San Antonio. I find that this city is like no other place I've ever been. It's filled with historical landmarks. The streets are surfaced with brick pavers and you can hear horse drawn carriages meandering by at any time of day or night. The River Walk (pictured below) is a network of walkways along the San Antonio River that are flanked by an array of different restaurants and low-key bars.



The "river" that runs though the downtown area of the city is actually a series of channels that was created after part of the San Antonio River was rerouted. It is not the natural route of the river. The River Walk was constructed over the course of several projects conducted in the latter half of the 20th century. The projects began in an effort to prevent flooding and then as restaurants and hotels sprang up, it became an attraction. (I don't mean "attraction" as in Disney World. I mean "attraction" as in a unique, relaxed destination.)

The entertainment in San Antonio is endless. There are tours, Flamenco Dancers, live bands, clubs and street performances.

The boat tours are my favorite. Many of the pictures featured on this blog were taken during the tours. A must-see is the Menger Hotel, which is rumored to be haunted. If you don't get a chance to lodge at the Menger, you should go in see the Menger bar, where Teddy Roosevelt recruited "The Rough Riders" that served during the Spanish-American War at the turn of the 20th century. Another must-see tour is the Alamo. I would suggest seeing the Alamo tour during the day and visiting the gardens, then venturing to the River Walk and taking a boat tour when the walkway is lit up and brimming with night life. You can sit back, relax and enjoy the warm Texas breeze that envelops you.

For links on more information on the River Walk and the Menger Hotel, please visit:
The Menger

The San Antonio River Walk

How much sunscreen do you REALLY need?

It is no secret that I have fair skin. Really fair skin. I don't mind it. These days it seems to make me unique with the "tanorexic" craze going on. If I do get a tan (which I have before!) it fades within a few days. It is more likely that my freckles will connect than I will get a deep tan. I'd like to think that even if I had skin that tanned easily, I would still apply sunscreen religiously.

During a recent sea kayaking/snorkeling excursion on Culebra Island (Puerto Rico), I thought I was prepared. I had a brand new bottle of spray-on SPF 30. The instructor kept reiterating the importance of sunscreen application. Out of about 10 people standing there, he took one look at me and said, "You're definitely going to need some!" Thanks.

So I sprayed. And I sprayed. And I sprayed some more.

I even found some SPF 50 that was in a bin provided by the instructor and put it on my face. We went out to kayak and snorkel for about an hour and a half, and went back in. I decided to reapply (from top to bottom). I ran out when I got to my knees. There was no more "community" SPF left in the instructor's bin. I thought I would be fine. Not too much longer-- the brochure said the excursion would last three hours.

I was wrong. The end result is displayed above. Sun poisoning! Blisters, swelling, sun burn. Not fun! I opted out of a hiking/zipline tour the next day because wearing sneakers was out of the question.

The moral of this travel story: when in doubt, pack MORE sunscreen! (And my recommendation is to invest in the lotion and not the spray. I find that the spray does not last as long and does not apply as evenly as it claims to!)

Rail Travel

Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are among the only domestic airlines that do not charge for checked baggage, according to airfarewatchdog.com. (This site is a great resource for anything airline related-- fees, fares, etc.) Some airlines are now charging as much as $25 for checked baggage... one way! This could be remedied by boycotting these airlines, however, many would argue that it is unrealistic to expect all air travelers to fly using just two airlines. I can relate to this. In my own experience, I have found that unless you book tickets on Southwest far in advance, they tend to be more expensive than the airlines featured on Cheaptickets.com (which include Delta, U.S. Air, Continental). Therefore, if you're booking within a few weeks of your departure, it may be cheaper to book with Cheaptickets.com and pay baggage fees than to book with an airline that does not charge for baggage. One issue with JetBlue is that it does not fly out of outlying airports. (For info, click here.)

For an alternative to air travel all together, MSNBC.com recommends trying rail travel. Upon reading this, I did further research and looked into Amtrak. I found that the accommodations appeared comfortable and similar to that of a cruise ship cabin (perhaps a bit more cramped). They offer en suite bathrooms and dining facilities on the trains. Another positive aspect to rail travel is that it is a "green" alternative to flying. Amtrak reports that its carbon footprint is considerably less than that of car or air travel. An economically inspiring aspect to rail travel is the fact that it will stimulate a once-declining industry in the United States: rail roads. (Amtrak was named in the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)

I think that rail travel is a great alternative to air travel-- if you have the time. Obviously, rail travel will take longer to "get you where you're going." However, you will see MUCH more in your travels. Amtrak also offers various discounts including AAA, military and senior citizens.

In the end, I suppose your choice between air and rail travel will all depend on where you're going and how long you have to get there. My advice is: take your time. See as much as you can. When will you get the chance to do it again?


For a map of nationwide Amtrak fares, visit: amtrak.com
To plan your trip, check out this interactive map from amtrak.com: See map