tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431518121404633482024-03-19T00:29:46.709-07:00Traveling CynthiaTraveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.comBlogger927125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-59638747083819022242019-04-05T10:25:00.000-07:002019-04-05T10:30:38.650-07:00California is the Nation's Most Visited State<br />
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<i>Excerpted from TravelTrivia.com</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQWVUMc15Rc4EvMiEmcEJ_Tw-WhyHcNXYMMyjFFcWF-GTSLxw1JEqYAw67279WqqFQiOGxw80Fdfe1vEe-QDNQxBqrS6-Acgy3tHp2L7KEuOSElVuUEaeo-eTbGBc1KQMLUnVQZuXDVh1/s1600/Laguna+Beach+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQWVUMc15Rc4EvMiEmcEJ_Tw-WhyHcNXYMMyjFFcWF-GTSLxw1JEqYAw67279WqqFQiOGxw80Fdfe1vEe-QDNQxBqrS6-Acgy3tHp2L7KEuOSElVuUEaeo-eTbGBc1KQMLUnVQZuXDVh1/s320/Laguna+Beach+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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<i>Laguna Beach, CA</i></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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When asked the most visited state in the nation, here's what most thought:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">New York 31%</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Florida 30%</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">Nevada 11%</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: red;">California 28%</span></div>
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But most were wrong and the answer is <span style="color: red;">California.</span></div>
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So, if you immediately thought of Hollywood, Disneyland,
Yosemite National Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge, then your instincts are
correct: California is the most visited state in the US, followed by Florida,
Nevada, and Texas, respectively. </div>
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Drawing in 250 million + visitors each year,
the Golden State is quite literally bringing in the gold: $120+ billion,
annually, to be precise. Often touted as one of the most beautiful and diverse
state, it makes sense that it has such a large draw! Whether you’re coming for
the weather, the beaches, the fame, or the glory, California does not
disappoint.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the state's five most visited sites follow:<br />
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Yosemite National Park<o:p></o:p></div>
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Universal Studios Hollywood<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hollywood Walk of Fame<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Golden Gate Bridge<o:p></o:p></div>
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Disneyland<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-5256563415991683632019-01-10T15:27:00.004-08:002019-01-10T15:27:58.542-08:00Top 5 Most Hashtagged Places in the U.S.<i>Excerpted from ETurboNews.com</i><br />
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Playpicks have scoured Instagram to find the top 20 hashtagged places spanning over nine different catagories. These are the top five most hashtagged locations overall in the U.S. for Instagrammers:<br />
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<i>Miami Beach</i></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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Rank Name of Place Location No. of Hashtags<br />
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#1 Disneyland Anaheim, CA 19,783,733<br />
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#2 Magic Kingdom Orlando, FL 9,400,298<br />
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#3 Miami Beach Miami, FL 8,673,724<br />
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#4 Central Park New York, NY 6,104,544<br />
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#5 Long Beach Los Angeles, CA 4,551,339<br />
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Disneyland Anaheim - Not just where dreams come true, but also where hashtags are made. Disneyland was built in 1955 and has since received 19,783,733 Insta shares. Considering the fact that they had an estimated attendance last year of 18.3 million, it's of no surprise that it's the most hashtagged location in America. Its sister park in Florida, Disneyland Magic Kingdom, takes the second spot on the most hashtagged list at 9,400,298 posts.<br />
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Miami Beach-- This man-made beach has 8,673,724 shares on Instagram, making it the most Instagrammed beach in the U.S. - and with 15.22 square miles of beautiful, golden sand and relaxation, it's easy to see why you can't help but take one for your grid.<br />
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Central Park - One of two New York offerings in the top 10 list (the other being Times Square), this is the city's first major landscape park. The park's construction began in 1857 and upon its completion, it became one of the most popular tourist destinations - having approximately 40 million visitors a year and 6,104,544 shares on Instagram.<br />
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#mosthashtaggedplacesinus #travel #traveltips #instagram #hashtags #travelingcynthia<br />
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<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-25569979822675964612018-12-12T15:17:00.001-08:002018-12-12T15:17:59.908-08:00A Canadian Christmas Kick-off: Vancouver-style<br />
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<i>As appeared in JustLuxe.com</i></div>
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<i>by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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At this time of year noted for family, fun and festivities, what
better way to revel in the season than a weekend in a city where celebration is
effortless? Having hosted such world-renowned fetes as the 2010 Winter
Olympics, Vancouver is no stranger to entertaining guests, so pack your bags
and head to this chilly Canadian metropolis for a pre-holiday warm-up. Long
known as the “Castle on the Hill,” Fairmont Hotel Vancouver seems the epicenter
of activity. Follow me for a short but seasonal kickoff that starts in the
city’s center on North Georgia Street and continues beyond.</div>
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<i>Photo from Fairmont Hotel Vancouver</i></div>
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Welcoming
surprises begin upon check-in, especially for the smallest of guests and dog
lovers (of any size), when greeted by one of the hotel’s resident canine
ambassadors – Ella, a yellow lab, and Ellie, a black lab. Continuing with such
amenities as a white-terry toddler robe, cookies and milk delivered at bedtime
and a miniature stuffed dog named Ella and the hearts of Fairmont’s youngest
guests are forever captured.</div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">An old-fashioned locomotive engine marks
the entrance to the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Notch8, complete with a
steam blast, a train whistle and decked out with holiday items for purchase. So
named for the train term, “notch-8” translates to the final notch at which a
train can travel (basically the highest speed) – a level that can only be
attained when all systems are running perfectly – a name underscoring the
restaurant’s goal of perfection. </span></div>
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<i style="text-indent: 0px;">Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Famous for its ever-changing themed teas
throughout the year – from the Great British Tea Party to the Enchanted Tea
Menu – Winter Wonderful Afternoon Tea marks this time of year with such
inclusions as fromage frais ‘penguins’ and Battenberg biscuits (a festive
green, white and pink dessert), as well as a children’s tea menu. Served in a
cozy library-style room within Notch8, the setting is very British, very
authentic.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuTrXKERhdEf4oPMqvReg89uGfD6h2pXB8S6Mr9oLu2uXtFGO2ooWKgKFV3C5SPOHQNiCvV52kz-ox6L7AlGoi3MlmJbUOEM4YUo0TBZSQiYDduVreGEfRi70vnELm5_PAhn6Df-ovyJc/s1600/IMG_3333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuTrXKERhdEf4oPMqvReg89uGfD6h2pXB8S6Mr9oLu2uXtFGO2ooWKgKFV3C5SPOHQNiCvV52kz-ox6L7AlGoi3MlmJbUOEM4YUo0TBZSQiYDduVreGEfRi70vnELm5_PAhn6Df-ovyJc/s320/IMG_3333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="text-indent: 0px;">Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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Christmas
decorations are everywhere, from the blue-themed Christmas trees in the lobby
to the red-and-green decorated trees in the Pacific Ballroom – setting of the
annual Santa Claus Breakfast, a morning treat complete with egg entrees, fresh waffle
and hot chocolate stations, a cookie decorating table and, of course, a
one-on-one with Santa. Followed by the Santa Claus Parade (it’s Western Canada’s
largest) which travels a route fronting the hotel, this once-a-year breakfast/parade
duo – always the first Sunday in December – is the official kickoff to a full
calendar of across-the-city activities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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Set
harborside at the home of the Olympic Cauldron lit in holiday red and a
background of city lights is the Vancouver Christmas Market with such
enticements as a walk-in Christmas tree; a Christmas store featuring shelf
after shelf of ornaments; 80 huts of authentic German sweets, treats and
treasures; a Glühwein hut serving mulled wine and a Christmas carousel. </div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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Described
as “the transformation of Concord Pacific Place into a magical winter
wonderful,” Aurora Winter Festival has animated sculptures, dazzling light
displays and ice skating on a frozen river. A complimentary shuttle bus takes
revelers from downtown’s Hyatt Hotel (located one block from Fairmont Hotel
Vancouver) to view Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge. Here, the
suspension bridge, rainforest, canyon and Cliffwalk are transformed by innumerable
lights as are the seven suspension bridges of Treetops Adventure. Connected by
viewing platforms, the eight 250-year-old Douglas-firs reaching up to 110 feet
above the forest floor are the world’s eight tallest Christmas trees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Not to be outdone, Stanley Park’s attractions
are equally appealing. Vancouver Aquarium, the country’s largest, offers a
holiday tree powered by an electric eel, a jelly fish snow globe, Scuba Claus
dives where Santa swims with the fish and the screening of </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: A 4-D Experience. </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">price of a donation buys a ticket to
Bright Nights in Stanley Park, a fundraiser for the BC Professional Fire
Fighters’ Burn Fund, where holiday music plays and the Bright Lights Christmas
Train and Stanley Park Train Plaza are decorated with approximately three
million lights. If there’s interest in the VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival
of Lights in addition to Bright Nights, the Karaoke Christmas Lights Trolley
Tour on festively decorated trolleys equipped with karaoke machines travels to both.</span></div>
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<i style="text-indent: 0px;">Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">For those additionally interested
in the stage, skating and shopping, there’s more. </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A Charlie Brown Christmas</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> plays at the Waterfront Theatre. On one
the city’s most recognized shopping streets, Robson, is free skating at the Robson
Square Ice Rink and Plaza. Shopping can include such fun purchases as ornaments
from the Vancouver Christmas Market, the</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> I
Saw Santa in Vancouver </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">children’s book which is available at local
bookstores, as well as a Naughty, Nice and I Did My Best decorative pillow
found at Indigo, Vancouver’s flagship bookstore found on Robson. </span></div>
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<i style="text-indent: 0px;">Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Indeed, Vancouver’s holiday season offers
something for everyone, something for every age – especially Fairmont guests
and cousins, three-year-old Reagan Marie and four-year-old Laney London. Upon
meeting Santa, Reagan was shy, but Laney took the opportunity to ask for a
bike. After hearing her request, Saint Nick responded with a safety-oriented
query: “And what will you always wear if I bring you a bike?” When she looked
puzzled, he pointed to his head. And without hesitation, she answered, “A Santa
hat.”</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #hotelvancouver #christmasinvancouver #castleonthehill #explorebc</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-84625436730439959872018-12-11T13:18:00.002-08:002018-12-11T15:00:21.511-08:00What's in a Number? The Meaning Behind Assigned Flight Numbers<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="color: red;">American Airlines Celebrates the Country’s Founding, Every
Day</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_EZepYYF9Zqa5sHP1XVZhUGqN4Pr81hSsvxq0SUuJ6XebV0oA-xvhLEDKlRmBXusQGcnUgMvwlxTXtGtRyTidx1BgV-iU5rVF6TGt5z8g9AqP3NRKz-NzlftKkzqw8g-97VdxRbobqxo/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_EZepYYF9Zqa5sHP1XVZhUGqN4Pr81hSsvxq0SUuJ6XebV0oA-xvhLEDKlRmBXusQGcnUgMvwlxTXtGtRyTidx1BgV-iU5rVF6TGt5z8g9AqP3NRKz-NzlftKkzqw8g-97VdxRbobqxo/s320/IMG_3476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On April 18, 1775 Paul Revere rode through what’s now
Somerville, Medford, and Arlington, Massachusetts, to warn that British troops
were enroute and that they sought to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The American revolution began that month, but it was July 2,
1776, that the Continental Congress in Philadelphia formally declared
independence and two days later that it approved the wording of the Declaration
of Independence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Today you can fly Philadelphia – Boston round trip each
afternoon on American flight AA1776. And American offers Sam Adams beer on
board.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;">Fly Lucky 7’s to Las Vegas</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are 7 days of the week, 7 seas, and 7 continents. God
is said to have rested on the 7th day. There are 7 deadly sins and 7 wonders of
the ancient world. If 7 is lucky, then 777 is triply so: on most slot machines
777 is jackpot.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, it’s appropriate that American Airlines flight AA777 runs the Phoenix – Las Vegas route.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Good Luck in China</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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When the airline eventually flies Los Angeles or Dallas –
Guangzhou to connect up with China Southern, in which it owns a small stake,
they’ll need to re-assign flight 888 from Pittsburgh – Philadelphia in
celebration of the luck that venture will bring them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Incidentally neither American nor United nor Delta regularly
offers a flight 666.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Excerpted from View from the Wing and by Gary Leff</div>
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<br /></div>
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#travel #traveltips #traveltuesday #traveltidbits #travelingcynthia #americanairlines #meaningofairlineflightnumbers</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-69840696608838477142018-11-17T08:32:00.000-08:002018-11-17T08:32:23.201-08:00Places That Don't Want You to Visit<i>From Fodors.com</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Similar to what was included in our list for 2018, places in
the world who are capping tourism or whose residents have spoken out about how
it’s detrimental to their home. Last year, destinations such as Amsterdam,
Machu Picchu, Venice, Santorini, and Koh Tachai were all examples of places
that were overwhelmed by their own tourism industry. This year, more are
begging tourists to reconsider how and when they travel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdZC4hCOc6NdHuHlOwJJO8_HiAS5NNn7GEePwOS7ou7mezG6hsJmKEF8GfMkIWbVyyVBM2VLeYivZF5Iv7FRW3osua0NAf6DgOBIXBedb0YvcXh83LjkcW7oz4YBvvsgiQm_UAp3KU_si/s1600/Italy+Orig+Oct+08+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdZC4hCOc6NdHuHlOwJJO8_HiAS5NNn7GEePwOS7ou7mezG6hsJmKEF8GfMkIWbVyyVBM2VLeYivZF5Iv7FRW3osua0NAf6DgOBIXBedb0YvcXh83LjkcW7oz4YBvvsgiQm_UAp3KU_si/s320/Italy+Orig+Oct+08+064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Venice, Italy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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Residents of Isle of Skye, Scotland, have complained about
traffic and congestion clogging up roads and throughways, especially near famed
ethereal Fairy Pools, and hope that if tourists do come, they will look beyond
one site with respect to the locals. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Chile’s remote and ancient Easter Island,
with its World Heritage Site monolithic human sculptures, have drawn curious
tourists who are overstaying their welcome—they could once stay for 90 days,
but it’s since been curtailed to 30. “Foreigners are already taking over the
island. They’re damaging the local idiosyncrasy, the 1,000-year culture is
changing and not for the good,” said mayor Petro Edmunds. Ana Maria Gutierrez,
the local government’s environmental adviser, warns that, “Environmentally, the
island is very fragile” and basic services are under strain–not least, waste
management. A decade ago, the island produced 1.4 metric tons of waste per
year. Now, it produces nearly twice that amount at 2.5 metric tons a year. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In
Dubrovnik, where Game of Thrones fervor has reached a fever pitch,
with locals claiming Old Town has become “Disneyland,” especially due to multiple
cruise dockings on the same day. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And most alarmingly, in Mallorca, a local
campaign to protest mass tourism led to a “summer of action” where campaigners
vandalized hotels, demonstrated at the airport, and tagged graffiti proclaiming
“ “tourism kills the city.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In all these cases, the residents and locals emphasize that
it’s not necessarily the tourists themselves who cause the frustration that
comes from living in a tourism economy, but often poor management of resources
from the region’s governmental and business leaders who exploit the situation. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Feel like you just have to visit? Consider off-season, veer away from
tourist hot spots, and make sure to be considerate of the people who live in
your vacation destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><i>#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia </i></o:p></div>
<i></i>Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-7272746964753554352018-11-15T10:36:00.002-08:002018-11-15T10:36:46.470-08:00You Had Me at Hello or Did You?<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<i><div>
<i>I love this article, as it makes you think about those cities you instantly love and those with whom you initially don't like but slowly begin to love. And why??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uQOQeNxJ93ytqMmYwHRhn4siThc3MwEvg9prE4kdjz9puqMJz_Rt_lkD80rZn9wzC2MkRpHhNCLhWeLMcIwWDLTw0OzVfyhf26usYbZH1QkyII3rUtfY10mjrlVlYSWtteypJlwTG_GX/s1600/Hong+Kong.11.05+178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uQOQeNxJ93ytqMmYwHRhn4siThc3MwEvg9prE4kdjz9puqMJz_Rt_lkD80rZn9wzC2MkRpHhNCLhWeLMcIwWDLTw0OzVfyhf26usYbZH1QkyII3rUtfY10mjrlVlYSWtteypJlwTG_GX/s320/Hong+Kong.11.05+178.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
By Nomadic Matt</i><div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>HELLO LA</i><div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How are you? I'm
in L.A. this week for meetings, meet-ups, collabs, and visits with friends and
family. It's amazing how my love for L.A. has grown over the years. The more
time I spend here, the more I love it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">During my first
visits, I hated Los Angeles. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Maybe it was the
traffic. Maybe it was vanity. Maybe the smog. Or the hippie-dippie way of life.
I know it was definitely in part the lack of public transportation.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I could never
put my finger on it fully but something about LA just always rubbed me the
wrong way.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But then, one
day, everything just clicked. I couldn't wait to visit and was sad when I left.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It hit me
recently why.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I hated LA for
the same reason I originally hated Bangkok.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And I love LA
for the same reasons I fell in love with Bangkok.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">LA isn’t like
Hong Kong, Paris, Buenos Aires, London, Sydney, or a bunch of other things
where you can go down a long list, drink in the culture, find stuff easily, get
around easily, and get a feel for the place in a short period of time.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It’s a city you
live in not a city you visit.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Just like
Bangkok.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">LA is an onion
and requires you to peel back the layers over time. You need to let the city
unveil itself to you.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I began to love
Bangkok when I stopped traveling, stayed put, and started to see the city as a
resident. When I got know it beyond the temples and the tourist trail. When I
found hidden markets, amazing street stalls with only locals, became friends
with my hairdresser and the expats of the city. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When I
understood how the city operates, suddenly I knew why people loved it so much.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And I began to
love it.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I began to love
LA when the same thing happened.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I think that's
why I never liked it when I first visited. I expected it to be like Paris,
London, Tokyo, or New York. A city with lots of tourist activities that's easy
to get around.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And it wasn't
that. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But the more I
got to know it, the more I liked it!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The moral of the
story: never judge a destination by the first time you visit. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">There are so
many factors that determine how you feel about a place - weather, traffic, the
people in your hostel, your interactions with locals - that every place always
deserves a second chance.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And, yes, that
even means my least favorite place in the world - Vietnam. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I would go back there if the opportunity arose.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span class="redactor-invisible-space"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">So never count a destination out. </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">You never know what can happen on that second visit!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<i>#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia</i></div>
</div>
</div>
Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-90203477827559598192018-11-08T15:36:00.000-08:002018-11-08T15:36:28.894-08:00I Think We Should Change the Definition of Travel<i>By Nomadic Matt</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">People like to
think of travel as this thing you do in faraway lands. They think that travel
is about getting on flights to places that don’t speak their language, have
different customs, a different history, different food, and different climate.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8URI7r92LszHmVvnIT68pUYmntVAavdEtt5HAPlkaJi-KK1bVTbeAIeQa8T0OWQ-5omxA1QmUmMLpLHwMeQy4xIdnAnHdLfWo6mUj_i7hPYHU5Og8C1nQSJwKfOYzepIhruYgCNCxMsw/s1600/Copy+of+Helsinki+Summer+Solstice.6.06.Edit+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8URI7r92LszHmVvnIT68pUYmntVAavdEtt5HAPlkaJi-KK1bVTbeAIeQa8T0OWQ-5omxA1QmUmMLpLHwMeQy4xIdnAnHdLfWo6mUj_i7hPYHU5Og8C1nQSJwKfOYzepIhruYgCNCxMsw/s320/Copy+of+Helsinki+Summer+Solstice.6.06.Edit+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Helsinki</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEmmvCvlpMKY8PfD5jk3uHyN2qg2AM5Dbqd_GB-NG1Pxi4mpXJLmJzldhldkb6ZoyIWID80fPJBQolb8K9Qkm093MyrL2ed7b13pTs6BX404EDS_p4XWV1TcFu812aAcZZiTjqqaXvVO4/s1600/IMG_7904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEmmvCvlpMKY8PfD5jk3uHyN2qg2AM5Dbqd_GB-NG1Pxi4mpXJLmJzldhldkb6ZoyIWID80fPJBQolb8K9Qkm093MyrL2ed7b13pTs6BX404EDS_p4XWV1TcFu812aAcZZiTjqqaXvVO4/s320/IMG_7904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Idaho</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g9YdqE25rRTMELZowIRUsEAzehxGYjS-kRYYLTGTbg7vL3xe1eGobSi1XiaajnJ6OwsdcI6gi7Fin9Loe9ypW1ZZbQVB_dQcs_-_MQHuEaSS9thaN-lzEUSc311VCqh9eiVaiipCAZRq/s1600/IMG_7670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g9YdqE25rRTMELZowIRUsEAzehxGYjS-kRYYLTGTbg7vL3xe1eGobSi1XiaajnJ6OwsdcI6gi7Fin9Loe9ypW1ZZbQVB_dQcs_-_MQHuEaSS9thaN-lzEUSc311VCqh9eiVaiipCAZRq/s320/IMG_7670.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>San Diego</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Photos of Cynthia Dial</i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div>
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Travel is the
act of going to the exotic, they say.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But I don’t agree
with that definition. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">To me, travel is
the act of going somewhere new. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That can be to a
country half a world away. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Or, it could be
to the next town over. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Or, it could be
simply when you explore your own town for the first eyes (the staycation).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Anywhere can be
a travel destination. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When I travel,
so many people tell me that I've seen more of their country than they have. I
remind them they could travel their own country too.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"I
guess," they reply and move on to the next subject. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm always amazed
by how few people explore their own country.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">There’s
something special about being a stranger in your homeland and realizing you
really don’t know much about it as you thought.</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We think because
we’re born in a place we understand it but every country has regional
differences that make it unique and, unless we travel to see and experience
them, we'll never fully understand the place we call home.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Driving across
my country (the U.S.) taught me a lot about it. It gave me a deep appreciation
for it, the people, and the diversity within its borders. It broke down
stereotypes and misconceptions I had about the different regions in the US. My
time exploring my own backyard was just as important to my growth as any trip
to a foreign country. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you're on a
limited budget, can't afford a flight or a trip to exotic land, or just want to
do something different, don't forget that you can always travel your own
country. It can be just as powerful as visiting another country.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Expand the
definition of travel.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">And be a
stranger in your homeland! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #definitionoftravel </span></div>
<i></i>Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-32642802859843486782018-11-02T12:56:00.000-07:002018-11-02T12:56:02.509-07:00Survey on Air Travel Etiquette and Comfort<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Excerpted from Genfare.com<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Air travel gets us where we need to go, but it can also make
for a long, long day. As the amenities start to dwindle and the leg room gets
smaller, it’s easy to get worn out and uncomfortable during a flight. In fact,
our survey revealed that the average amount of time before people get
uncomfortable on a flight is three hours.</div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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So, what do travelers do to combat this discomfort? In order
to get more comfortable on a flight, many fliers will try adjusting their seat
or using a travel pillow while others may kick off their shoes and socks. But
is this socially acceptable? According to our survey, 64% said it’s OK to take
their shoes off, and 20% said it’s OK to take your socks off to get more
comfortable during a flight.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lastly, we asked our survey to rank flying annoyances.
Coming in at No. 1 with 54% of the vote was getting your seat kicked. A crying
child followed seat kicking with 27% of the vote and body odor came in third
with 26% of the vote. Other flying annoyances were a talkative passenger,
inattentive parents, a drunk passenger, a seat pulled back or leaned on,
snoring, rushing to get off the plane as soon as it gets to the gate, a
reclining seat, a passenger putting their feet up, smelly food, man-spreading,
a passenger removing their socks or shoes, bright screens on phones,
non-service dogs, and finally in last place was dressing sloppy, which bothered
just 1% of our survey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-60688863974647692922018-09-11T11:36:00.000-07:002018-09-11T11:36:25.620-07:00Remember September 11, 2001Seventeen years ago I flew to DC shortly after the tragedy of September 11 to be with my friend, Linda Mathes, CEO, American Red Cross of the National Capital Region, and as a former Red Crosser, help in any way I could. My day at the Pentagon was the most difficult. <br />
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Most poignant for me was an intact desk visible through the building's gaping black hole -- a dark reminder that someone was simply working when the unimaginable occurred.<br />
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#september112001 #wewillneverforget #unitedwestandTraveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-89051725815565558442018-07-23T10:16:00.002-07:002018-07-23T10:16:39.264-07:00The 10 Airports Where the Hacking Threat is Highest<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Excerpted from MeetingsNet.com<br />
by Sue Hatch <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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If you’re waiting for a flight at San Diego International,
grab a good book and leave your email for later. A new study looking at the
security of public Wi-Fi at America’s 45 busiest airports ranked San Diego as
the most vulnerable, with an 11 percent probability of connecting to a
high-risk network, and a 30 percent probability of connecting to a medium-risk
network.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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The study, conducted by cloud security company Coronet,
looked at data over a five-month period, starting in January 2018, then gave
each airport a threat index score indicating the probability of an attacker on
the public network. The higher the score, the higher the risk.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“In an attempt to maximize the traveler experience, the vast
majority of airports now provide free or low-cost Wi-Fi for passengers to
connect to for work, entertainment or a combination thereof,” the Coronet
report says. “Unfortunately, Wi-Fi security is often sacrificed by airport
operators in exchange for consumer convenience, leaving networks
unencrypted, unsecured, or improperly configured.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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According to Coronet, here are the 10 most cyber-vulnerable
airports in the U.S. and their Threat Index Score:<br />
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San Diego International, 10<br />
John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, Calif., 8.7<br />
William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, 7.5<br />
Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers, Fla., 7.1<br />
Newark (N.J.) Liberty International Airport, Newark, N.J., 7.1<br />
Dallas Love Field, 6.8<br />
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 6.5<br />
Charlotte (N.C.) Douglas International Airport, 6.4<br />
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, 6.4<br />
Logan International Airport, Boston, 6.4</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The airport with the most-secure public Wi-Fi network,
according to Coronet, is Chicago Midway International, with a Threat Index
Score of 4.5, followed by Raleigh Durham International (4.9), Washington Dulles
International (5.1), and Nashville International (5.1).</div>
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<i>#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #airporthackingthreat </i><o:p></o:p></div>
Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-40942296988079057982018-07-18T11:54:00.000-07:002018-07-18T11:54:07.604-07:00Hwy. 1 reopens today — and travelers can once again reach Big Sur<i>Excerpted from WORLD NEWS | TRAVEL WIRE NEWS</i><br />
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Starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, travelers will be able to drive from Cambria to Carmel for the first time in 18 months, a Caltrans spokeswoman announced Tuesday. The agency will do a “soft opening” of the All-American Highway at Mud Creek, 34 miles north of Cambria, where a massive landslide in May 2017 demolished and buried the roadway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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That’s two months earlier originally estimated and two days before a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorates the reopening. Hearst Castle is ready for the change with a full assortment of tours and guides at the ready, said Dan Falat, superintendent of the State Parks district that includes the former San Simeon hilltop estate. “We’ve already got our playbook pretty well laid out,” he said Tuesday morning. Extensive advance planning he and his team did earlier this year was based on “the long-term perception that Highway 1 would reopen sometime soon, and it’s much easier for us to plan for full capacity than to switch midstream and add capacity later.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Mud Creek area has been the last closure point along the nearly 100-mile stretch of Highway 1 between Cambria and Carmel. There had been various other closures along that stretch, following a series of storms in late 2016 and the first half of 2017. At Mud Creek, crews have had to recreate the scenic highway atop material left by a massive landslide in May 2017, which buried and ruined the old roadway. </div>
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The $54 million project was a rebuilding effort in which crews worked dawn to dusk seven days a week. Engineers determined that rather than try to dig the old quarter-mile stretch out from under the 6 million cubic yards of landslide material it would be faster and better to stabilize and support that material and then build a new road across it. The new ribbon of asphalt is connected to the existing roadway to the north and south. The roadway is buttressed with a series of embankments and compacted soil. Crews used protective features including berms, rocks, netting, culverts and other stabilizing material. The approximately 50 acres of land displaced from the mountain above also created 2,400 feet of new shoreline extending out into the sea.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #bigsur #highway1 #highway1open #california</i></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-12266288805508739652018-07-03T13:51:00.000-07:002018-07-03T13:52:08.797-07:00Best Beaches in the U.S. for Celebrating July 4th<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>By Stacey Leasca for Travel + Leisure<br />July 2018<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The United States is home to more than 12,000 miles of coastline (12,383, to be exact). With all that land, there are more than a few hidden beaches that ocean-lovers have yet to find.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From coast to coast — and tucked along the southern border — sit some of the world’s best beaches, and they're just waiting for you to explore. And what better time to head to the beach than on July 4th weekend? <o:p></o:p></div>
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To help you make the most of the shoreline this 4th of July, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most incredible beaches across the country — along with some cool events at each beach to make it an amazing getaway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Miami, Florida</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Miami is once again welcoming any and all visitors to come down to the shore, to not only take a dip in the crystal blue ocean lining the coast, but also to enjoy an amazing fireworks display. This year, according to Greater Miami and Beaches, Bayfront Park and Bayside Marketplace will host “America’s Birthday Bash,” with one of the largest fireworks displays in South Florida. At Bayfront Park, visitors can enjoy a free all-day event starting at 10 a.m. and lasting until midnight. Enjoy local food and drinks, giveaways, a Sam Adams Beer Garden, music and more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Myrtle Beach, South Carolina</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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With more than 10 miles of shoreline and more than 1,000 restaurants, there’s something for everyone in Myrtle Beach. It’s no surprise that people flock to the breathtaking shores each year to soak up the sun and all the fun this beach town has to offer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And while many will likely want to head to the beach for a daytime dip, it’s worth staying well past sunset for the beach’s Fourth of July celebration, which will take place throughout the town in several different locations. So pick your favorite location, set up shop and watch the fireworks explode in the night sky from every angle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Martha's Vineyard<span style="color: windowtext;">,</span> a tiny island off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is quintessential New England. If you leave without tasting a lobster roll, some clam chowder or at least an oyster, we are pretty sure you can get fined. The island, accessible via ferry or by air, is just over 100 square miles and is divided between down-island and up-island towns. Either way you go, you’re bound to have a fantastic stay at any of the ultra-charming inns dotting the island.</div>
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For Fourth of July celebrations, head to Edgartown where fireworks will begin after dusk. The town will also host a BBQ prior to the fireworks starting at 5 p.m.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Virginia Beach, Virginia</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Virginia Beach<span style="color: windowtext;"> </span>has the distinct honor of being home to one of America’s best boardwalks. The boardwalk stretches for three of the 14 miles of public beach and walks visitors directly past the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, the historic Old Coast Guard Station and even a statue of Neptune.</div>
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On the Fourth of July, Virginia Beach transforms into one of the most patriotic spots in the U.S., with a huge celebration including multiple live performances and of course an epic fireworks display.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Hapuna Beach, Hawaii</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There are many beaches in Hawaii worthy of this list, but Hapuna Beach on the Big Island is simply the most spectacular little oasis of all. The half-mile long, 200-foot wide stretch of sand offers perfect conditions for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and bodyboarding almost every single day of the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On July Fourth, travel just a few miles down the road to Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows for a totally different kind of Independence Day celebration. There, the resort will celebrate “Turtle Independence Day.” At 10:30 a.m. the hotel will release the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles they have raised in the resort’s pond. The event will include a welcome ceremony with a hula performance followed by the release. This annual celebration, the hotel explained, “honors the honu and helps educate the public about the Hawaiian green sea turtle. Families are invited to join the celebration!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Huntington Beach, California</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Huntington Beach, in southern California, may be the most famous patch of sand on this list. Known as “Surf City,” Huntington has made a name for itself as the birthplace of surfing in the United States.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Huntington has a world-famous pier, which juts out into the water for 1,850 feet, plus innumerable surf shops and great waves. It’s also a prime destination for Fourth of July, when the city is taken over by concerts, fireworks, and a parade through the streets of downtown Huntington.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Narragansett Beach, Rhode Island</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Rhode Island may be small, but it still has more than 100 beaches within its borders, including one of its most popular coastal areas: Narragansett Town Beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the stone seawall curving down the shore, to the historic Coast Guard house still keeping watch over the bay, the beach is the perfect pit stop for those looking to enjoy a perfect sun-filled afternoon in the smallest state in the union. If you visit Narragansett for the Fourth of July fireworks, you may want to get to the beach extra early as space comes at a premium by mid-morning. So pack a picnic and something warm to curl up in after the sun sets. The fireworks kick off just after dusk.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Ocean City Beach, Maryland</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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With its world-class restaurants, shops and <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-carousels/11" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">Trimper’s boardwalk carousel</span></a>, Ocean City Beach is a top-tier destination for families looking for fun in the sun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the beach offers literally hundreds of free events all summer long, its Fourth of July celebration is one not to miss. The party kicks off at 8:30 p.m. with a free concert followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Key West, Florida</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Key West is home to not only the southernmost point in the continental United States, but also some of the most dazzling beaches in the country. The crystal-clear waters simply beckon you to take a dip and with a plethora of coral reefs lurking just beneath the surface you may even be greeted by a fish or two when you jump in.</div>
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Though just four miles long and two miles wide, Key West has plenty to offer travelers of all ages, from bike riding to snorkeling to fine dining to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And while being landlocked in Margaritaville with a key lime margarita sounds nice, the best way to experience Key West for the Fourth may be by boat. Fury, an area charter company, is offering a fireworks cruise on its catamaran. The trip costs $55.95 per person and includes drinks and snacks. The boat departs at 8:30 p.m. and lasts for about 90 minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Monterey Bay, California</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Monterey Bay isn’t just one simple beach, but instead is made up of several different options including Lovers Point beach, San Carlos beach park and Fort Ord beach.<o:p></o:p></div>
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About three hours from the Golden Gate Bridge, the Monterey Peninsula area is also home to one of the world’s most famous aquariums, and is the perfect jumping off point for quick day trips to the massive redwood forests in Big Sur and the historic boardwalk in Santa Cruz. Head down to the Monterey area for its festive Fourth of July celebration, including its Independence Day parade that attracts more than 15,000 spectators each year. Grab a seat early as the parade kicks off at 10 a.m.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">West Beach, Alabama</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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West Beach is one of Alabama's finest, with its white sandy shores and quiet ambiance. It's an ideal destination for those truly looking to escape the hustle. West Beach goes on for about six miles, some of which can be found without another visitor in sight. Best of all, the entire beach is free and open to the public.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After spending a relaxing and quiet day in West Beach for Independence Day, hop in your car and drive a few minutes down the road to the Gulf State Park Pier for a one of a kind Fourth of July celebration including an impressive fireworks display, beginning at 9 p.m. off the the Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">South Padre Island, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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South Padre Island is home to 34 miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes at Texas' southernmost tip. The gorgeous landscape is why we here at Travel+Leisure previously named the beaches there as one of the best coastal views in the United States.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But the beaches of South Padre are good for more than just looking at. Adventure enthusiasts will also enjoy the excellent windsurfing, kite-surfing, or sand-surfing available up and down the coastline. If wind sports aren’t your thing you can also try paddle sports including kayaking or paddleboarding in the pristine waters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each and every Friday night South Padre Island celebrates like, well, the Fourth of July. At 9:15 sharp, a barge in the center of the Bay shoots fireworks into the night sky. Of course, the town provides the same show on Independence Day, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Old Orchard Beach, Maine</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re looking for a throwback beach vacation getaway look no further than Old Orchard Beach in Maine. Old Orchard Beach is located about 30 minutes south of Portland and has seven miles of fantastic beach as well as a historic pier and boardwalk harkening back to days gone by in the tiny New England town that was established in 1863. On the pier visitors can eat traditional New England food, play carnival games, enjoy some music or even go on a whale watching or birdwatching tour.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Throughout the summer the town invites visitors to daily local events including farmers markets, concerts, local baseball games and more. On the Fourth the town celebrates with a stunning fireworks display from 9:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. If you miss that show don’t worry, Old Orchard Beach puts on a fireworks display every Thursday night all summer long.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Montauk, New York</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re going to a beach in New York you might as well go all out and head to Montauk. Located at the easternmost end of Long Island, Montauk has more than 5,000 acres of parks and beaches. It’s the ultimate way to visit the Hamptons, but without having to deal with the massive crowds. And don’t worry, the area still has plenty of fantastic dining, shopping, sight-seeing and activities to keep you just as entertained as the rest of the island, including a spectacular fireworks display.</div>
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Montauk's annual fireworks display kicks off at 9 p.m. and takes place over Ocean beach just West Montauk Village. Be warned: Traffic can be intense on Independence Day so try to get to the beach early and enjoy the sights all day and night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Nantucket, Massachusetts</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Nantucket may be the most all-American little beach town on this list, and its pristine beaches, adorable seaside homes and delicious seafood make it great for an Independence Day celebration. This year, Nantucket will celebrate with a massive downtown event, complete with games, pie-eating contests, family events and more. Make sure to stay overnight as the fireworks display will come on July 5th.</div>
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From Jetties Beach guests can get an optimal view of the fireworks, which will go off at 9:00 p.m. and last until 10:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Long Beach Peninsula, Washington</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Odds are you’ll find somewhere to sit and celebrate the Fourth of July with your family at Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State. After all, the beach is a whopping 28 miles long.</div>
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There, visitors can sit by the shore, hike along the community’s expansive trails, go horseback riding, grab a charter fishing boat and more. And, as the town itself notes, wild berries grow just about anywhere, so go ahead and pick a few and have a free snack on Mother Nature. Just make sure to do it before the sun goes down on Independence Day as the fireworks will go off near Bolstad Avenue beach around 10 p.m. on July 4th.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #july4th</i></div>
Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-26815492602678177232018-05-07T12:01:00.000-07:002018-05-07T12:01:02.151-07:0015 Things Your Travel Agent Wants You to Know<br />
In celebration of <a href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=6lJ27pYGn2Eue8C11N4K6bUyx6OJ32SSHUTgRukaTha9wcXziAwbbJ0zthHQUL8MZ4pbXtyUiZz2GFdrZ7Ch5KL9rULdCxjL2CIQg-2F3pKxgC36Nr-2Foia5zLHNdM9d7bDGykTmaj-2FuP0uklPQxDHT5HSEojYZXHCYHHmCbBpZBvxb-2B-2Fxo-2Fi-2Fk0yZW8JAm8iRtK9onY32125cEaiRmk5Jr8CC8TBf1yJIS8xX-2Fkj3QYYQ-3D_4rSqVgNIPy5FatTJ2Ei-2BAh7oYmMwGOXaq6dVC4sUV1ac8GiwhPIlO2zUVjkfq0Az2X-2FjFM1j6wfbFOAMqbz6rS0iHeTuIccMDgsUOiN6A2XJq0zkFlD1j8-2BjgWv3n6PbhMRDdkWdjGjAJUAYhAqmPT-2Bmi7bodJ2pwXZx5JnlICnon5fRfcdNVASs-2F0hOQc7eRC0zhV4zwQAl0A1veQ7IYfBxBHCyjS9YI1F3eGZYkQtwKvIpx7g1hpsAIKitBB9x2bpJowZVDP1IhQp9TDnRTydepqBLdeg1424H3YCtKiGEMAfhOKrhYiGNbShuufeIB1xRVbWC56fmQF-2FTzRTnOQ-3D-3D">National
Travel & Tourism Week</a>, the <a href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=6lJ27pYGn2Eue8C11N4K6bUyx6OJ32SSHUTgRukaTha9wcXziAwbbJ0zthHQUL8MZ4pbXtyUiZz2GFdrZ7Ch5KL9rULdCxjL2CIQg-2F3pKxgC36Nr-2Foia5zLHNdM9d7bDGykTmaj-2FuP0uklPQxDHT5HSEojYZXHCYHHmCbBpZBvxb-2B-2Fxo-2Fi-2Fk0yZW8JAm8iRtsmWzwfWOF3ldRfRa51EbedGydW-2B-2FFWwIFM8mRGpbvvc-3D_4rSqVgNIPy5FatTJ2Ei-2BAh7oYmMwGOXaq6dVC4sUV1ac8GiwhPIlO2zUVjkfq0Az2X-2FjFM1j6wfbFOAMqbz6rS0iHeTuIccMDgsUOiN6A2XJq0zkFlD1j8-2BjgWv3n6PbhMRDdkWdjGjAJUAYhAqmPT-2Bmi7bodJ2pwXZx5JnlICnon5fRfcdNVASs-2F0hOQc7eHVLlC8n5jlOTj0h9FnNR8-2FGMj0T-2BCEJNpJW4GMP91UKNLQXbiP8tnC20snpxG0OZQnC6co2RkKB9g6RQkxoOQJL1k1K7aGyiDBINDX1bzfctc8-2Ftmsmz3Cpf9r61boqKwTAmyzDRl3m6n0TKaNunxQ-3D-3D">American
Society of Travel Agents</a> (ASTA) is sharing some helpful insights
provided by travel professionals who connect travelers to the world with 15
Things Your Travel Agent Wants You To Know for you to consider:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdnuXv2PhgLP-xa06dSqRdO8OD6kxLnYTaSJ_4BS4bMvR4avUHZlpxZe6l9fKs7w9XcOv0phaAWZCKhMiq6WTcNk0nYgVJegSE0ua3JjsiReBqhB0o8PBxfTwE85ohI5_w4yEqQoRjkqH/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdnuXv2PhgLP-xa06dSqRdO8OD6kxLnYTaSJ_4BS4bMvR4avUHZlpxZe6l9fKs7w9XcOv0phaAWZCKhMiq6WTcNk0nYgVJegSE0ua3JjsiReBqhB0o8PBxfTwE85ohI5_w4yEqQoRjkqH/s320/IMG_3476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
1) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Our careers are based on knowing things, places and people, that you
don’t know. </span></strong>We have spent most of our careers establishing
and building relationships with our supplier and destination counterparts, so
that our clients can enjoy exclusive access, VIP treatment and special
amenities wherever and whenever they travel. In some cases these benefits are
complementary to the traveler – just one more way travel advisors provide
superior value. <br />
<br />
2) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We know the value of your vacation time, and how to protect it. </span></strong>If
you can’t afford to lose everything you’ve paid for your trip - say if you fall
and break your leg two weeks before you are supposed to travel - you need to
buy travel insurance. Being young and healthy doesn’t mean you don’t need
insurance. And your U.S. health insurance may not offer medical coverage
outside the U.S. Travel insurance is for unexpected emergencies, regardless of
your age or health.<br />
<br />
3) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We will be honest if you ask our opinion on a resort or cruise
ship. </span></strong>We rely on our personal experience, not reviews on
websites from people you don’t know. And if we haven’t been to your resort - we
usually know someone who has and can give you first-hand feedback.<br />
<br />
4) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s all about YOU! </span></strong>The more information clients
can give us about their preferences and interests, the better. We can tailor
tours towards your interests - for example a family traveling to Europe and the
teenage boys are musicians and really into music. In London, we’ve created a
tour of London that incorporates rock-themed sites, including 94 Baker Street
where John Lennon and George Harrison had a boutique clothing shop, Paul
McCartney’s house, Abbey Road’s Studios, Hendon Street, and more.<br />
<br />
5) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When it comes to logistics, we have your best interest at heart. </span></strong>Sometimes
there are “cheaper” options but if we don’t mention them to you there is a
reason and the price saved is truly not worth it. <br />
<br />
6) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We can make magic happen, but don’t ask us to beg to my reps for help
when you need to make changes to the “advanced pay/no changes” reservation that
you insisted we book. </span></strong>Most of the time clients don’t need
to make changes to bookings once an itinerary is set. However, we never
recommend or advertise an advanced/pre-pay rate to a client; it’s always that
one time the client insists on a prepay rate that changes need to be made.<br />
<br />
7) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When we travel, it is always a working vacation - even on our
personal, family vacations. </span></strong>Within each trip, we are doing
research for our clients so that we can place them at the right resorts and we
can be sure we are providing the correct information at all times. Most
familiarization trips include anywhere from 5 to 15 hotel site visits and every
activity and meal is documented so that we can pass on this knowledge to our
clients. While our social media accounts may look like a permanent vacation, it
is hard work. Travel consulting is a profession that requires ongoing training
just like any other profession and these "vacations" are part of our
training.<br />
<br />
8) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Please do not base your hotel choices on web reviews. </span></strong>You
have no idea who that reviewer is, what their expectations are when it comes to
a hotel stay and what "their perception" of great is. We choose
hotels based on "your needs and expectations." Just because a
vacation was great for someone else, doesn't mean the same vacation will be great
for you. Getting to know and understand my clients' needs and wishes are my top
priorities, so we can advise you on the best choices for "your"
vacation.<br />
<br />
9) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">You are leaving money on the table when you book hotels direct instead
of with us. </span></strong>We can add value to your reservations with
complimentary breakfast daily, possible upgrades, and a special amenity like a
spa or food and beverage credit. <br />
<br />
10) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We provide more than just an airline ticket - we provide support
before, during and after your trip. </span></strong>Did you know that we
can help you coordinate your air travel providing the best logical routing,
connecting times, baggage restrictions and also assist with canceled flights,
missed connections and schedule changes? <br />
<br />
11) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We practice what we preach. </span></strong>We are very
well-traveled, typically having been to dozens of countries and we share our
first hand insights with clients. Chances are they have been where you are
going! <br />
<br />
12) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Book as soon as you can. </span></strong>The cruise, tour or
resort, dining reservations, shore excursions, etc. should be booked early.
It'll get you the best pricing and selection for what you are looking for.<br />
<br />
13) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We work for you, we do not work for the travel supplier. </span></strong>I
am your advocate and have no reason not to get you the best price possible.
<br />
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14) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Your travel agent is the expert. </span></strong>We will ask the
right questions, listen to your answers and offer expert advice to guide you in
making the right decision regarding how to spend your vacation time. We take a
critical look at the moving parts of your trip to make sure that each component
fits – like a giant jigsaw puzzle.<br />
<br />
15) <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">If time is money, think of us as asset managers. </span></strong>You
can’t hit re-do on a vacation, and your time is your most precious asset. Let
us take the stress out of planning - or if you like planning - let’s do it
together. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<i>#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #travelagent #useatravelagent #ASTA #PATA #nationaltravelandtourismweek</i></div>
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<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-87395095385868895442018-04-04T18:12:00.000-07:002018-04-04T18:12:34.842-07:00Quebec City: A Seasonal Setting for Everyone, All the Time<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>By Cynthia Dial as appeared in JustLuxe.com</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The first time I
visited Quebec City was magical. It was January, my purpose was to experience Winter
Carnival and I returned in love with Canada’s wedding-cake white wonderland. My
reappearance – a 180-degree departure in time – was in July for its Tall Ships Regatta
along the Saint Lawrence River.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9JpfpMsCntZdo91Do-NwIacCDwcZQtMbqqFuVhsArvTgrJllHehddBjWLvfCCBky8oqUpgk4kDGakNAaevn5lbZuJA5aBBOa4pYuytPmgfhODGsG-tSb-inzFuNnbxeSnGsScVDl5ZPm/s1600/IMG_9339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9JpfpMsCntZdo91Do-NwIacCDwcZQtMbqqFuVhsArvTgrJllHehddBjWLvfCCBky8oqUpgk4kDGakNAaevn5lbZuJA5aBBOa4pYuytPmgfhODGsG-tSb-inzFuNnbxeSnGsScVDl5ZPm/s320/IMG_9339.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photos by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine a weekend replete
with approximately 40 around-the-world tall mast sailing vessels, 3,000
international sailors in dress uniform and all the revelry surrounding such an
event – from its opening day Parade of Ship Crews and onboard visits to its
closing night’s fireworks show and following morning’s Sail-Away of the Tall Ships
toward Ile d’Orleans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Though opposite in
timing and different in tone, the two visits underscore some of Quebec City’s
most fetching lures – around-the-calendar options and regardless-of-season
optimism. It was a local who summated the country’s go-with-the-flow attitude:
“We don’t see the glass as half empty or half full. For us, it’s always full.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTiowPqt8kKth7Ai7Lm9r20D854FFP56Xhjdt296H-pZe-x2aZcWkBwCe3HYi2q6Y7mta8FZgejyJoNUqmdS_W59J7ermxHg6KJC5vI85PmSFpsW3b-efbOgGF2QhrqmgCGEJboobE0Tb/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTiowPqt8kKth7Ai7Lm9r20D854FFP56Xhjdt296H-pZe-x2aZcWkBwCe3HYi2q6Y7mta8FZgejyJoNUqmdS_W59J7ermxHg6KJC5vI85PmSFpsW3b-efbOgGF2QhrqmgCGEJboobE0Tb/s320/IMG_1313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Follow me for a
peek into the best of a city that is positively charming, whenever and wherever
you go. Though situated little more than 150 miles east of Montreal and almost 3,300
miles west of Paris, the 3,475 square-mile municipality is decidedly French. Home
to more than 700,000 residents – 95 percent of whom are native French speakers
– here you’ll find summer window boxes overflowing with flowers, cafes serving
crepes and croissants (and in cold weather, the hot alcoholic drink, Caribou)
and cobblestone streets everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Quebec City began in
the early 1600s as a fur trading post (a continued main staple, fur boutiques are
abundant), its founding father was French explorer Samuel de Champlain and
Louis XIV transformed the once simple outpost into a French provincial capital
of North America. Now, 400 years later, the effect of multiple battles with the
British Empire throughout its history remains apparent in its appealing French
and British mix.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbQMwmMaKVfyh2PtqjYb6DQfkrRdA44zqUjRj3XOt05WzQx4B9RRA5NXvWFt1JouFqED9GDo-o0LoyJiNo0QRGg1kOu5AaRDeG3fXPKzYUYaM1FGitTUrYdO5YbdW-Pgbp0_cxceUeXbU/s1600/IMG_9325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbQMwmMaKVfyh2PtqjYb6DQfkrRdA44zqUjRj3XOt05WzQx4B9RRA5NXvWFt1JouFqED9GDo-o0LoyJiNo0QRGg1kOu5AaRDeG3fXPKzYUYaM1FGitTUrYdO5YbdW-Pgbp0_cxceUeXbU/s320/IMG_9325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A contemporary
example of preeminent North America coupled with European cachet best describes
Quebec City – a modern day town with minimal crime, low unemployment and few
miles to the countryside. Additionally blessed with a walled Old Town replete
with quaint, narrow streets bursting with celebrated monuments, ethnic eateries
and Quebecois-style boutiques, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1985 for this encircling past. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Within its walls
and overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac dramatically
sits atop the city’s cliff as if a lighthouse protecting the waterway and
beckoning travelers to stop and stay. Historically as colorful as its setting, the
hotel was built in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century as a luxurious stopover for
passengers of the Canadian Pacific Railway, named for Count Frontenac (a notable
governor of New France) and was the setting of the World War II conference
attended by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King at which
D-Day was planned.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Chateau, as the
hotel is affectionately called by locals, is at the center of Quebec City’s activity
with Dufferin Terrace and the Champlain Monument at its back door. Dufferin
Terrace is the wooden walkway adjacent to the cliff’s edge that runs beyond the
length of the hotel and attracts runners, strollers, singles, families, locals
and tourists alike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anchored at one
end by the Champlain Monument, the base of this landmark duplicates a stage.
Featuring street performers – from euphonious singers to gymnastic-inspired
routines – this is Quebec-style entertainment. As signage reads: “Street
performing is a tradition recognized by the city of Quebec.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taken
from Buckingham Palace’s ritual, the Changing of the Guard at the Citadelle parade
grounds is the ceremonial relief of the garrison’s on-duty guards by their
replacement sentries (all attired in scarlet military dress and tall bearskin
hats). Complete with music of the Regimental Band and the guard’s mascot,
Batisse the Goat, this is a long-standing tradition since 1928.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMXJx02RdwG_4SzapHqzJeThyphenhyphen2QG9Gx48WKScwJwAAz04rS-3xpxYEyitsXrTPyoI-rKCtfSeTfWHsD73Dhbs4NkzPKO-l3a9kehE5lWvVD87IaDCixIYq5AAfyCNqY8ZKHYYFrgfU9SL/s1600/IMG_4863.jpg+RESIZE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMXJx02RdwG_4SzapHqzJeThyphenhyphen2QG9Gx48WKScwJwAAz04rS-3xpxYEyitsXrTPyoI-rKCtfSeTfWHsD73Dhbs4NkzPKO-l3a9kehE5lWvVD87IaDCixIYq5AAfyCNqY8ZKHYYFrgfU9SL/s320/IMG_4863.jpg+RESIZE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nearby is the
250-acre Plains of Abraham. The site of a major battle and former municipal
airport (Charles Lindbergh landed here), this city park and prime gathering
spot attracts 1,000,000 annual visitors. Whether it’s the setting of Winter
Carnival, the summer venue of concerts (think Paul McCartney and Celine Dion)
or simply locals’ favorite outdoor scene for picnics and people watching, it’s
analogous to New York’s Central Park and Hyde Park of London.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A stairway, albeit
a steep one, goes from Upper Town’s sites to Lower Town. Reached from the
staircase near the Champlain Monument or by funicular, this cable car ride –
representing one of the continent’s only such means of transportation and one
of the region’s oldest businesses (1879) – operates along the cliffside at a
45-degree angle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJZaxxf2ncqTrUPo-RVZUMdZoSUQnT8KbgUbl3kUfU3zSpMpk5KYXkhKVXGk4F1oyt5TQ-Qq3xLtRh8xqXDPsHvm5oe5MlyT6Nc7bTlFwIAvKZNLr5rBn9LjzxT3qGPH4SeVbmN506itf/s1600/IMG_9075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJZaxxf2ncqTrUPo-RVZUMdZoSUQnT8KbgUbl3kUfU3zSpMpk5KYXkhKVXGk4F1oyt5TQ-Qq3xLtRh8xqXDPsHvm5oe5MlyT6Nc7bTlFwIAvKZNLr5rBn9LjzxT3qGPH4SeVbmN506itf/s320/IMG_9075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At its base is
Quartier Petit-Champlain. Once a tiny portside village of trading posts, today
it is a restored refuge of back-in-the-day homes and one-of-a-kind storefronts.
The Leonardo DiCaprio movie, “Catch Me If You Can” was filmed here and its
thoroughfare and North America’s oldest avenue, Little Champlain, was once
voted Canada’s most beautiful street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lower Town is also
the setting of innumerable and incomparable restaurants. Cochon Dingue (Crazy
Pig) is a local favorite, so expect to wait. But with such treats as seafood
pot pie and sugar pie (voted “best in town”), it’s worthy of a time commitment.
Its sister restaurant Le Lepin Sauté (Carefree Rabbit) is where to dine for
rabbit meat and duck, and in warmer weather its patio is unbeatable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If splurging, a
meal “must” is Laurie Raphael. Featuring weekly menu changes, choices are based
on themes – ever evolving, always authentic. Even one’s arrival is unique.
After a walk through the kitchen (offering the opportunity to see Chef Raphael
in action) and a cocktail in the lounge, prepare for a dining event. Little
wonder it’s been said: “When you eat at Laurie Raphael, you taste Quebec.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2opVldSDFwiA0ctG5ieRkUOD39g3rCL8LecmaLgKrMu00feAjTFrdur2mw5hLzPVDHsi4gzc0RBR0PEN0tOdzabC8sZQqKFjp5ZIMjXhFlXtXaZQGfoR7OtgSLIUHEBWXVzhJMQ_RAMQ4/s1600/FullSizeRender3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2opVldSDFwiA0ctG5ieRkUOD39g3rCL8LecmaLgKrMu00feAjTFrdur2mw5hLzPVDHsi4gzc0RBR0PEN0tOdzabC8sZQqKFjp5ZIMjXhFlXtXaZQGfoR7OtgSLIUHEBWXVzhJMQ_RAMQ4/s320/FullSizeRender3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #999999;">Situated steps
from the river, Lower Town projects a different vibe from the remainder of the
city. Among its exclusive overnight choices are Auberge Saint-Antoine (Quebec
City’s only Relais & Chateaux) and its restaurant, Chez Muffy – a
farm-to-table eatery embellished by cozy seating, stone walls and wooden beams
– both situated in a 19<sup>th</sup> century warehouse. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk509324537"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #999999;">Located
in the former National Bank of Canada is the four-star boutique Hotel 71 and
its companion connected-by-the-lobby hotel Le-Saint Pierre – the perfect blend
of old-style Canadian charm and state-of-the-art amenities. Among its creature
comforts are the lobby’s wine and spirit stations, basketed-bicycles to lend, a
rainfall jetted shower, customized mattresses and birch sheets (both designed exclusively
for the hotel) and Ristorante Il Matto, which features the recipes of owner
Rocco Cortina’s mother. Sitting amid a bevy of art galleries, Hotel 71’s
in-house partnership with Vincent et moi gallery is inspiring – it showcases
and offers for sale the inventive work of a rotating selection of
mentally-challenged artists.</span></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYkTrBLI88K3L1FIXKbqfViXwKoaLSlB7BV8w4DWbys2LmP_Q6LEntOOMxSQH8CjSEXnuFAO2G1U4Gsgf_p3IgGB-is-9c0bo_QXSpZ1oBLwPuij8aU6NIYh_8krpd7FlVs7bo_FJUel2/s1600/IMG_9268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYkTrBLI88K3L1FIXKbqfViXwKoaLSlB7BV8w4DWbys2LmP_Q6LEntOOMxSQH8CjSEXnuFAO2G1U4Gsgf_p3IgGB-is-9c0bo_QXSpZ1oBLwPuij8aU6NIYh_8krpd7FlVs7bo_FJUel2/s320/IMG_9268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk509324537;"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #999999;">In the end, whether
one’s preference is Lower Town not Upper Town, within the walls versus outside
the walls or summer over winter, the best way to enjoy the many facets of
Quebec City is from a variety of perspectives. So, whether from a boat on the
Saint Lawrence or the cliff overlooking the renowned waterway to a helicopter
above both – this is a destination for everyone at any time.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>#travel #travelingcynthia #traveltips #ohcanada #quebeccity</i></span></div>
<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-22735631334875748122018-03-17T09:22:00.000-07:002018-03-17T09:23:16.459-07:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx2CqNFSZzCtXkL0yoK5n4kej68h8IxKgYinAxaunOkd-AryloonlZnHGn1NLe4ybHaKOhaSMpdbGRWnmw99570ix3w1f5D755TpNCU2xE-CkkNyVPe8erfpOCHFkSKjW8_VhZ-vkHI31/s1600/ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx2CqNFSZzCtXkL0yoK5n4kej68h8IxKgYinAxaunOkd-AryloonlZnHGn1NLe4ybHaKOhaSMpdbGRWnmw99570ix3w1f5D755TpNCU2xE-CkkNyVPe8erfpOCHFkSKjW8_VhZ-vkHI31/s320/ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Irish Prayer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“May the road rise up <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to meet you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">May the wind be always at <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">May the sunshine warm <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>upon your face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The rain fall soft upon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your fields<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And until we meet again,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>may God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hold you in the palm <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of His Hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
#happystpatricksday #ireland #gogreen #travel #traveltips #travelingcynthiaTraveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-8049129425366682822018-03-12T12:57:00.003-07:002018-03-12T12:57:51.573-07:00In-flight Offences<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">According to research conducted by the flight comparison site, <a href="http://www.us.jetcost.com/">www.us.jetcost.com</a> here are results of a survey conducted about inappropriate passenger behavior on airplanes. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThvREDp1ZeGd6KY91JEnUva5dKWPtIQCmySefN1iCTq6oHtuXB_o8f99KvjzAnHFIf1mp2tpt5Umz-mHeIl2I8SgafWA-FjrcWILhWJY0pw1xtufaBTFuRir05MBtKA_cSm_dhyphenhyphenQRFSr2/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThvREDp1ZeGd6KY91JEnUva5dKWPtIQCmySefN1iCTq6oHtuXB_o8f99KvjzAnHFIf1mp2tpt5Umz-mHeIl2I8SgafWA-FjrcWILhWJY0pw1xtufaBTFuRir05MBtKA_cSm_dhyphenhyphenQRFSr2/s320/IMG_3476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Details: 398 US cabin crew
members were polled about out-of-bounds actions they had experienced
while working on planes. All those polled were American citizens, at least 21 years old and had
worked as part of a cabin crew for at least 6 months. Answers revealed the
following stats:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two in three (67%) had
witnessed passengers being aggressive or violent to one another <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Almost half (48%) of cabin crew
members had been propositioned by passengers<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">38% of cabin crew members had
been insulted by passengers<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One in ten (10%) had
experienced passengers violence first hand, of these three quarters (75%)
sustained an injury as a result<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span>A
spokesperson from <a href="http://www.us.jetcost.com/">www.us.jetcost.com</a>
commented on the findings:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“It’s not
appropriate or acceptable to behave disrespectfully to others and to those in uniform, and being thousands of feet in the air doesn’t change this fact. Cabin crew members
have a right to go about their daily work without these impositions. This
behavior is serious and unlawful; it should be treated with zero tolerance.
When you are in a confined space with others it is ever more important to
behave in the right way and treat both other passengers and workers around you
with consideration.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-60803013481052652832018-01-18T09:58:00.000-08:002018-01-18T10:09:03.380-08:00Those four-digit flight destinations? Their days may be numbered<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 20.25pt; margin: 9.75pt 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">American’s Flight 1776 to
Philadelphia? Hilarious.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Southwest’s
Flight 1492 to Columbus, Ohio? Clever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Alaska’s
Flight 2738 to Portland? Not a side-splitter (and not meant to be), but I don’t
blame Alaska, and it certainly exemplifies that problem that we’re talking
about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;">The
fun flight numbers may stay, but as for the rest, the numbers’ numbers are up.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IMRCtY99FJbN0hpHGdfLKcbxDG7ik-rHCNT-5uA_rIQkZDXWYwKYALehFs-hfDx35-jEaQYxIZhotC9qcACarcX3esMLSc3Ny-mCCEmpdTcJKjYJcBaKqySycBgvBmLHPz9x09WsndZa/s1600/stock-photo-flight-board-on-the-airport-great-for-topics-like-traveling-aviation-etc-426358858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="450" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IMRCtY99FJbN0hpHGdfLKcbxDG7ik-rHCNT-5uA_rIQkZDXWYwKYALehFs-hfDx35-jEaQYxIZhotC9qcACarcX3esMLSc3Ny-mCCEmpdTcJKjYJcBaKqySycBgvBmLHPz9x09WsndZa/s320/stock-photo-flight-board-on-the-airport-great-for-topics-like-traveling-aviation-etc-426358858.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">If you need
a break from worrying about nuclear war and how tax reform is going to affect
your business, ponder flight numbers. I’ve added it to my list of things to
worry about in 2018, and I keep hearing Frank Sinatra crooning, “There may be
trouble ahead,” from Irving Berlin’s “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">A
reader asked recently about flight numbers, and like anything that has to do
with airlines, you ask a simple question and you won’t get a simple answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">That’s
not a knock on airlines, but a commentary on the enormous challenges of and
changes in the industry. Unfortunately, there’s a price to be paid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Assigning
flight numbers “used to be an art, believe it or not,” said Brett Snyder,
president of CrankyFlier.com, which deals with all manner of airline questions
and offers air travel assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;">There
is beauty in simplicity. Several flights are the numeral 1, including American
Airlines’ flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy to Los Angeles International,
which leaves at 8 a.m. and arrives just before noon. It’s a longtime route and
has a certain prestige to it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">It
also has a blot on its history. American’s Flight 1 crashed in 1962, killing
all aboard. American did not retire that number, although many airlines do
after an accident. Asiana Airlines, for instance, changed the Flight 214 number
assigned to the Seoul-San Francisco route after a July 2013 crash at SFO in
which three people were killed and scores injured.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">American
and United retired the flight numbers of the planes downed in the 9/11 attacks,
although United accidentally reactivated them because of a system glitch
(and then deactivated them).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">On
a whimsical note, airlines sometimes do the numeric version of wordplay, Snyder
said. Besides Philly and Columbus, you’ll sometimes find flights to Vegas with the
flight number 711 (Spirit has had one). You may find a 415 (JetBlue and
Southwest) for flights to San Francisco (its area code) or a 66 for a JetBlue
flight from JFK to Albuquerque (presumably for Route 66, never mind St. Louis;
Joplin, Mo.; Oklahoma City ….)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Eight
is considered a lucky number in some Asian cultures, so flights to that part of
the world may use that number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">But
what’s happening with most flight numbers is far from amusing. Because of
mergers and growth in the airline industry, it’s running out of numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">That’s
because flight numbers cannot be larger than four digits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Why
not just make them bigger, like adding extra letters or digits to a license
plate?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Easy
for us to say, not so easy for airlines to do, Snyder said. Airline computer
systems are hard-coded for no more than four digits. And that means the number
of available numbers is finite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">When
you tell people there are 10,000 flights a day, “most people think…10,000 is a
lot for any given day,” Snyder said. “It’s not.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Factor
in that numbers are used only once a day and some numbers aren’t used at all,
including 13 and, yes, 666 and….“We’re running out of numbers!” Southwest
explains in a post called “The Science Behind the Numbers.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">“To
start with, the numero uno industrywide-rule is that no flight number can
contain more than four digits, meaning we only have up to flight number 9999 to
work with,” Southwest writes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">“(No
airline can use five-digit flight numbers! While this has been debated in the
industry for years, the level of effort to make the change from four to five
digits would be huge, and even the level of technology change to add alpha
characters to published flight numbers would be gargantuan…although it would be
fun to ‘name’ flights—‘Now boarding, Southwest Airlines Flight FRED to Los
Angeles.’)”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Somehow, I
just can’t imagine WN FRED. (WN is Southwest’s two-letter code. Many of those
codes make sense — AA for American and BA for British Airways — but some do
not.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The
numbers are becoming so scarce that one of the identifying factors of flight
numbers — eastern and northern destinations were usually even numbered and
western and southern were odd — are generally not used that way these days,
Southwest noted in its post.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Some
airlines with “there and back” flights use the same number going and coming in
order to conserve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Eventually,
the numbers will be expanded, but it will be difficult and hugely expensive,
Snyder said, and we know who will end up paying for that, don't we?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">We
can blame the people who failed to imagine the future, starting with Irish-born
physicist Lord Kelvin who supposedly said in 1895 that “heavier-than-air flying
machines are impossible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 20.25pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Now
the only thing that seems impossible is finding numbers to designate where all
these routes go. It may be time to just face the music and dance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i><span style="color: red;">by Catharine Hamm for the LA Times</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #airtravel</span></i></span></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-56597252793496485012018-01-05T12:32:00.000-08:002018-01-05T12:32:25.528-08:00Top 10 Best Places to Live Overseas in 2018<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Author, Retirement and Real Estate Expert
Kathleen Peddicord says, ‘These are simply the best places to be, regardless of
your age or any other circumstances.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Paris, France –Live and Invest Overseas, the leading overseas investment,
real estate and retirement resource for more than 400,000 people
around the world, announced its 10 best places in the world for you
to live better, reinvent your life and have a grand adventure in 2018.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>“We aren’t identifying the world’s top retirement havens. At
least, these are not only the world’s top retirement havens right now,” said
Kathleen Peddicord, author and publisher of Live and Invest Overseas.
“These are simply the best places to be, regardless of your age or any other
circumstances.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">One. </span>Lisbon, Portugal – This city on the Tagus, one of the
oldest in Western Europe, was originally settled as a Phoenician trading post.
It was in the 15th and 16th centuries, though, that Lisbon flourished.
Awe-inspiring landmarks were constructed during this Golden Age of
Discovery—the Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém, for example, and, on
the waterfront, the Praça do Comércio.<br />
<br />
I remember stepping through the triumphal arch onto this immense plaza my first
visit to Lisbon. The enormity of the space and the height and grandeur of the
structures on three sides around you almost take your breath away when you face
them for the first time.<br />
<br />
Imagine what it must have been like to be here, standing on this waterfront
spot, 500 years ago. Imagine the activity... the trade... the money...From this
spot, 500 years ago, Lisbon carried its culture to the four corners of the
globe, colonizing Asia, South America, Africa, and the Atlantic islands...And
then it carried back from these far-flung territories great wealth, much of
which was invested in the betterment of what became one of the most glorious
cities of its age.<br />
<br />
Lisbon became Lisbon thanks to its strategic geographic position at the mouth
of the Tagus River. According to a popular fado, Lisbon has always been in love
with her river... because the river is the city’s lifeline to the sea... and
Portugal very much identifies herself with the sea.<br />
<br />
Lisbon is a noble and elegant city whose centuries-old, pastel-colored stone
structures are bordered by jacaranda trees and set off by formal gardens and
parks with elaborate fountains. Roads, walkways, and pavements are laid with
small cobblestones in contrasting colors to create elaborate patterns and sea
scenes that are like works of art, almost mosaics.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In other words, this is a very pleasant place to be and our
top pick for city living in the Old World in 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: cyan;">Two.</span> Cali, Columbia – Cali, in the Valle del Cauca,
south of Medellín, Colombia’s third largest city, with around 2.5 million
inhabitants, is not the city you imagine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, it’s safe. Second, it’s a bargain… largely because
for so long the world has been too afraid to spend time or money here. This is
beginning to change, as tourists and investors are realizing that Cali is not
what they’ve been led to believe it is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ignore the cautions and the historically negative press and
come discover this pretty city where rents and much else can be 25 to 30
percent cheaper than in now much better known Medellín.<br />
<br />
Cali is located near the Equator but at an altitude of almost 3,300 feet, so
its climate is agreeable and changes little throughout the year. Afternoons can
be hot, but with the approach of sunset a refreshing breeze sweeps through the
city. Early mornings are crisp and perfect for being outdoors.<br />
<br />
In Cali, urban development is not at the expense of natural beauty. Even in the
heart of the city, you can fall asleep to the gentle chirping of tiny frogs and
awake each morning to birdsong.<br />
<br />
Towering palms run down the middle of wide boulevards. Shade trees drape
themselves over the narrower streets. Everywhere, you encounter parks, paths,
and green spaces, especially on the south side.<br />
<br />
Cali’s charms extend to its people. Most Caleños are polite and friendly.
They’ll bid you good morning or good afternoon when you pass, and they’re
always up for conversation. Spending time here, you’re reminded how nice life
can be when it’s built on these kinds of basic values.<br />
<br />
This city is also the acknowledged world capital of salsa. If you can swing
dance, salsa is easy enough to pick up, should you feel the urge. Just loosen
up your hips and move.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: cyan;">Three.</span></span> Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – I've been
hanging out in New World cities that Spain built for a long time.<br />
<br />
Over the past 35 years, I've gotten to know old towns from Granada and León,
Nicaragua, and Cuenca, Ecuador, to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Antigua,
Guatemala, and Casco Viejo, Panama...<br />
<br />
Established in 1496, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic predates them all.<br />
<br />
It's the oldest European city in the Americas and the capital of Spain's first
colony in this part of the world. Founded by Christopher Columbus' brother
Bartholomew, colonial Santo Domingo might best be described as dignified. It
feels more genteel than the cities built in other of Spain's colonies in the
decades to follow.<br />
<br />
The structures at the heart of this old town are classic Spanish colonial but
simpler, statelier, and somehow more refined than their counterparts across the
region.<br />
<br />
Calle Las Damas, the first street of the original city and therefore the oldest
street in all the Americas, is lined with 16th-century pale stone facades and
runs into Plaza de España, the expansive open square at the harbor.<br />
<br />
The highlight here is the colonial city's first palace, the private home of the
first governor of the colony, Diego Columbus, Christopher's son. It's an
exceptional example of classic Spanish-colonial architecture.<br />
<br />
Diego's vice-regal residence marks one edge of the Plaza de España, at the
water. At the square's other edge, alongside the old town, is a row of
restaurants where you can dine alfresco and watch modern-day activity in this
harbor that helped build the Americas.<br />
<br />
In colonial Santo Domingo, Bartholomew and Diego created an administrative hub
for the activities their sponsoring country imagined for the New World they
envisioned. It was from this base that the Spanish managed their conquests of
Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guatemala, Peru, Florida, Colombia, and Jamaica.<br />
<br />
In colonial Santo Domingo, the Columbuses built a customs house, a hospital, a
cathedral, a university, a library... everything required to launch a new
Spain.<br />
<br />
During its golden age, this city's colonial structures stood as testament to
the riches flowing through their benefactors' coffers.<br />
<br />
Today, Santo Domingo, capital of the country with one of the fastest-growing
economies in Latin America, is chasing a new prosperity. The streets are
lively, the harbor busy, and the city is the epicenter for tourism investment
in this country. Recently opened are a JW Marriott and an Embassy Suites by
Hilton. Under way are an Intercontinental and a Hard Rock Hotel, and Carnival
is bringing a ship a day to Santo Domingo’s cruise dock.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All of this tourist growth is translating into impressive
infrastructure improvements in and around the capital, as well as the continual
development of new and better services, amenities, and conveniences. As a
result, Santo Domingo is the most impressive Spanish-colonial city in the
Americas now supported by all modern conveniences (everything from a new 911
service to new shopping malls, movie theaters, and five-star restaurants),
making it a better place to think about spending time all the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Plus, the Dominican Republic offers the easiest and quickest
residency and naturalization programs available anywhere. The country is
rolling out the welcome mat for anyone interested in living here full time… or
even becoming a full-fledged Dominican.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Four.</span> San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize – My first
visit to the little village of San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye,
Belize, I climbed down the stairs of the eight-seater airplane, grabbed my
duffel from nearby on the runway where it'd been placed by the pilot who
doubled as landing crew and baggage handler, and carried it with me across the
dirt road to the hotel where I had a reservation.<br />
<br />
There I was met by the real estate agent who had promised to show me around. He
wore shorts, a T-shirt, and no shoes. "Welcome to barefooted paradise," he greeted me. I was 23-years-old.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ambergris Caye, likewise, was but a young girl. San Pedro
town, the fishing village around which development was just beginning,
consisted of three parallel roads, all unpaved. The hotel where I stayed that
first visit and the several that followed over the next few years, the best on
the island, could generously have been described as two-star. Amenities
included towels in the bathroom (some days), a telephone at the front desk
(that worked sometimes), and a front-line position on the Caribbean Sea.<br />
<br />
It was the beachfront situation, of course, that people, including myself, came
for. There's only so much Caribbean seafront, and, as they say, nobody's making
any more of it.<br />
<br />
Thus, what there is tends to be pricey. I came, therefore, all those years ago,
to Ambergris Caye in search of affordable Caribbean seafront.<br />
<br />
And I found it. My first several visits, that same real estate agent (who never
did invest in footwear) toured me up and down the coast of the island in his
small boat. We had to go by boat, as the single road that continued up the
island beyond San Pedro town didn't continue very far. The only way to see what
the island had to offer beyond San Pedro was on foot (tough going, through
untouched jungle that grew in most places up to the water's edge) or from
offshore.<br />
<br />
I was young and inexperienced, but even I could recognize pristine beauty. The
beaches of Ambergris were (and are) far superior to those of mainland Belize.
They compete with the best the Caribbean has to offer, and, back then, more
than a quarter-century ago now, they were a steal.<br />
<br />
They were also utterly undeveloped. If you didn't bring it with you from the
mainland, you likely were going to go without it on Ambergris Caye. I remember
a couple of beachfront bars and grills and a single small shop where you could
buy cold Cokes and toilet paper. If you wanted to own a stretch of the sandy
Caribbean, this was a good place to shop for it cheap. If, though, you were in
the market for a Caribbean beach home, you had to be the rugged, self-reliant
type to make a happy go of it here.<br />
<br />
More than three decades later, Ambergris Caye has come of age. The three
original town roads are paved... and a number of others have been carved out. A
central island roadway continues nearly from end to end, meaning that, now, you
don't have to travel by boat to see the length of the island. You can go by
golf cart (the preferred means of transportation these days).<br />
<br />
The hotel where I stayed years ago is still there, but, today, it shows four
stars in its materials (probably deserved). These days, the coast is also
dotted with five-star hotels and resorts, along with high-end condo
communities, restaurants, art galleries, supermarkets, delis, wine shops, and
golf cart rental agencies.<br />
<br />
The best part is that it's not as bad as all that might make it sound.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ambergris Caye has grown up, yes, but she's managed to keep
much of the charm of her youth. San Pedro town hasn't matured into a tourist
haunt. Rather, this unassuming Caribbean outpost has evolved into a cozy and
welcoming community. This is neither tacky Cancun nor prim, proper Bermuda.
This is a small town of expats from all over the world working together to
create the life they all came in search of. They're opening businesses,
indulging artistic interests, planning community events, inviting each other
over for beach bar-b-ques...<br />
<br />
You wouldn't describe property prices today as a steal, but they can be a
bargain compared with elsewhere in the Caribbean. However, if your dream of a
new life overseas is all about soft white sand, lapping azure sea, and swaying
palm fronds, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, should be at the top of your
I’m-going-to-go-have-a-look list.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Five.</span> Saint-Chinian, France – The south of France is
not very big, but it is in two parts. Provence is very known and very
expensive. Alongside it is the other south of France, Languedoc, not known and
not expensive.<br />
<br />
And in Languedoc is little Saint-Chinian, the quintessential French country
village where everyday life is like something out of Disney’s “Beauty and the
Beast.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This town is notable for two things in particular…First, its
property prices, which are half those of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. The
second reason for the growing popularity of this region is its wine.<br />
<br />
For decades, the Languedoc produced vast quantities of quaffable vin de
table, but nothing very notable. However, over the last decade or so, growers
have specialized and built on the AOC status (appellation d’origine contrôlée)
created in 1982 and are now producing world-ranking red wines from the original
Carignan, Cinsaut, and Grenache grapes, with the addition of Syrah and Mourvèdre
varieties.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Indeed, wine is the village economy. Saint-Chinian is home
to 1,900 inhabitants and 200 wine makers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sitting on a hill in Saint-Chinian (a very pleasant thing to
do, by the way) you can think you are in the middle of nowhere. But, in fact, Spain
is near enough that you can pop over for dinner… and Paris is just three hours
away by TGV.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to the excellent train and bus service, you can live
in Saint-Chinian without a car. If you find you do need a lift somewhere, ask a
neighbor. The people of Saint-Chinian are very friendly and always ready to
help out. Americans often think of the French as rude and aloof. In
Saint-Chinian, the reality is nothing to do with the stereotype.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Six.</span> Citta Sant’ Angelo, Italy – As you ski lazily down
a gentle slope, a ray of sunshine hits your face, and you look down to the
coastline. The sun is glittering on the Adriatic. Between you and the sea is an
expanse of vineyards and olive groves that leads down from the mountains to the
beaches.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The gently rolling hills are ablaze with blossoming cherry and peach trees,
while lavender, daffodils, iris, and crocus are beginning to peak out after a
short and temperate winter, punctuating the landscape like a colorful Renoir.<br />
<br />
Arriving back down to the ski resort, you have a restorative espresso and
meander back toward the coast. An hour later, you’re enjoying fresh clams and
white wine at a beachside café, to be followed by handmade pasta topped with
today’s catch.<br />
<br />
After a leisurely lunch, you take a walk on the beach, maybe settle in a quick
nap on the sand, reveling in the warm springtime sun. Perhaps you take a quick
dip, though the waters are still shaking off their winter chill.<br />
<br />
This is life in Abruzzo, Italy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Abruzzo, historically one of the poorest regions in the
country, had fallen off the national map until just a few decade ago. Since the
1950s, however, Abruzzo has seen steady economic growth. In the 1990s, its
growth surpassed that of any other region; its per-capita GDP expanded to
become the highest in the country. The construction of new highways made it
more easily accessible from Rome, opening the region up domestically and
attracting state and private investment the likes of which Abruzzo had never
seen before.<br />
<br />
Today, the per-capita GDP well outpaces that of the rest of southern Italy (and
is a healthy 84 percent of the national average). Today, this is the richest
region in this part of Italy.<br />
<br />
New development is taking place, especially in Pescara, where a new bridge is
under construction and large-scale housing communities are underway along the
seaside, and small, historic towns are working hard to attract investment to
save their historically significant but nearly deserted streets.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nowhere is this more true than in Città Sant’Angelo, our
favorite spot in this welcoming region.<br />
<br />
The Abruzzo Tourism Board is working hard to attract more tourism, both
domestic and international, more foreign investment, and more general
recognition. While the region is still several years away from being a
recognized vacation spot, and perhaps even further from being the household
name that Tuscany is, the tide is turning. I predict it won’t be too much
longer until the world begins to pay Abruzzo the attention it deserves.<br />
<br />
Meantime, right now, you could say that Abruzzo is Italy’s best-kept secret.<br />
<br />
Abruzzo has everything Tuscany offers and more—at a fraction the cost. A couple
could live here comfortably on US$1,400 per month or less, including rent...
meaning your monthly budget could be much less if you own your own home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Seven.</span> Ljubljana, Slovenia – Slovenia, the second
richest of the 13 Slavic countries, is nestled among Italy, Austria, Hungary,
and Croatia in the heart of Central Europe.<br />
<br />
This is a mountainous country, with 47 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline
and a rich aquifer system, much of it underground, that cuts through the
limestone in subterranean rivers, and impressively bio-diverse, occupying an
enviable position at the center of four major geographic points: the Alps, the
Dinaric Alps, the Pannonian Plain, and the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
<br />
Though this is certainly a First-World country, it’s also refreshingly rural
and largely forested.<br />
<br />
Slovenia’s past is long and turbulent. This piece of earth has been shuffled
among major world powers starting with the Roman Empire, then the Holy Roman
Empire and the Habsburg monarchy. The country was annexed by Germany during
World War II, made a socialist republic under Yugoslavia, and finally emerged
an independent nation with multiparty democracy in 1991. It went on to gain EU
membership in 2004.<br />
<br />
This is a nation of resiliency and adaptability, its population hardy and
determined.<br />
<br />
Charming, Old World capital-city Ljubljana is the heart of the country, both
literally and figuratively. It’s a small city of 272,000 people, but, with easy
access to both beaches and ski resorts, it offers the best of all worlds in
terms of lifestyle options.<br />
<br />
Ljubljana is also a modern city with all the amenities of 21st-century living
that manages to retain a small-town charm. Local farmers bring their produce to
market in wooden carts each day.<br />
<br />
An historical crossroads and key trade route, Ljubljana is home to Germanic,
Slavic, and Mediterranean cultures and influences. Venice is only
two-and-a-half hours away, and the country’s small coastal villages are
undistinguishable from those of northern Italy.<br />
<br />
The architecturally stunning Ljubljana boasts important Baroque, Art Nouveau,
and Art Deco structures and landmarks, even though the city has been rebuilt
several times over, after earthquakes.<br />
<br />From Ljubljana, the coast is only an hour away. Head south to enjoy the
olive groves, the breathtaking ocean views, and clean, clear water of the Adriatic...
or head 45 minutes north of the city to experience Lake Bled, its small island
(Bled Island), the pristine mountains and forests that surround the area, and
medieval Bled Castle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What cost all this Old World charm supported by top-notch,
real-world infrastructure? A couple could live comfortably in Ljubljana for
less than US$1,500 a month.<br />
<br />
Yet, despite having so much to offer, this country remains off the world’s
radar. Tourists to date are mainly European, and the few expats who have found
their way to this corner of Europe are British retirees.<br />
<br />
We hope to help change that. Ljubljana deserves a whole lot more attention than
she’s been getting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Eight.</span> Playa del Carmen, Mexico – Playa del Carmen is a
little beach town that sits about an hour south of Cancún on Mexico’s Riviera
Maya. Once a sleepy fishing town, the port was inadvertently put on the map by
Jacques Cousteau in 1954 when he filmed an underwater documentary of the Great
Mayan Reef just offshore of Cozumel Island—which lies about 12 miles offshore
of Playa del Carmen.<br />
<br />
Divers began seeking out these Caribbean waters for themselves, and in the
1970s a port was built to ferry the tourists from the mainland to Cozumel. In
the following years Playa del Carmen (or "Playa" to the locals)
became more globally known, but only as an access point to Cozumel, the real
star.<br />
<br />
Simultaneously, 60 kilometers to the north, Cancún was being born. The first
expats to Cancún in those early days were mainly European, but once the resort
city became overly saturated by tourists, many of these first settlers started
heading south to Playa del Carmen. In the 1990s the population was growing so
rapidly that Playa was the fastest growing city in Mexico... and growth has
continued strong in the 2000s.<br />
<br />
These days Playa is thought to be home to over 10,000 foreigners—expats make up
7% of its total population—including many Europeans, Americans, Canadians,
Argentinians, Venezuelans, and many more nationalities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Expats aside, there is a significant amount of
"domestic immigration" to Playa. Many Mexicans feel that this region
of their country is one of the safest, so they come here to vacation or live
with peace of mind. Plus, this coast is responsible for 30% of the country’s
tourism income; the regional economy is stable and jobs are plentiful.<br />
<br />
Foreigners can work here too, making it an attractive destination for those
needing or wanting to earn an income to help support their Playa adventures.
We’ve known expats in Playa who own and operate bars, teach English, teach at
or run schools, and manage real estate offices.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many are also raising families. This town is growing and has
lots of niches to fill. The international school here was founded by expats who
recognized that they and other expat parents needed a good option for
education.<br />
<br />
Playa’s population is incredibly eclectic for such a small town. Tourists, but
also residents, are of all ethnicities and represent all parts of society. From
young couples to retired couples, from families to groups of students, it seems
to appeal everyone alike. It’s also a welcoming destination for the LGBT
community, with several gay bars around town.<br />
<br />
Plus, nearly everyone in Playa seems to speak English. If you feel you may
never master a second language, Playa could be a good option for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) is the pedestrianized
street that runs parallel to the beach, one block up. Acting as the town’s
boardwalk, this buzzing strip is the heart of the town’s entertainment. Music
rolls out of the open storefronts as you walk down the street... Led Zeppelin,
then Jimmy Buffett, then salsa...<o:p></o:p></div>
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Around 10 p.m., as many of the older crowd head home after a
long day in the sun and a few cocktails with dinner, the rock and roll gives
way to club music. Taking their place, the younger crowd starts to fill the
streets, and they’re just getting started for the evening. The party here lasts
well into the night, with music going strong until the early morning hours.<br />
<br />
When it comes to day-to-day living, you’d have no trouble finding anything
you’d want or need. And you can get pretty much anything you’d have gotten back
home, this little town has 12 supermarkets and 2 Walmarts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Nine.</span> Bali, Indonesia – Bali enjoys a well-deserved
reputation as one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world. The
jungle is lush, with an immense variety of ferns, palms, flowering plants, and
trees in a thousand shades of green. Volcanoes raise their heads above the
clouds, and terraced rice fields cascade into the valleys.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Multi-tiered Balinese temples adorn even the smallest
villages. The locals are unfailingly friendly and some of the most serene and
pleasant people you are likely to find anywhere.<br />
<br />
The coastline is a picture postcard, and the ocean, which is never far away,
offers world-class diving, surfing, snorkeling, parasailing, and all other
manner of water sports.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bars, dancing, and discotheques are all convenient.
Festivals and cultural events are staged almost weekly. Dining options range
from excellent street food (for a pittance) to white-glove and five-star.<br />
<br />
Golf, climb a mountain, go to the zoo, visit galleries, talk with artists,
commune with monkeys, study yoga or meditation, take a cruise… there are always
many interesting options for how to fill your days.<br />
<br />
Honest and respectful curiosity will serve as your passport into Balinese
culture. Sincere and interested foreigners are frequently welcomed into tiny
villages, private homes, and local gatherings. Bali can be an easy place to
make friends and, for all the reasons I’ve mentioned, a difficult place to
leave.<br />
<br />
On the southwest side of Bali is the small town of Sanur, an unpretentious
suburb of the larger city of Denpasar. Quiet and laid-back, Sanur feels far
removed from the crowds of tourists who flock to Bali for vacations and
honeymoons. Even during the height of the tourist season, Sanur never seems to
attract much attention…. Making it an ideal place to think about spending time
in this part of the world as something other than a tourist.<br />
<br />
Sanur can be an affordable place to live, but it’s also possible to indulge in
a five-star, luxury lifestyle. Whatever your budget, you'll find that you can
live substantially better for less money in Sanur.<br />
<br />
Consider Sanur if you like the thought of living by a pretty beach on a
gorgeous, world-renowned island, enjoying easy access to fresh and organic
foods, eating at great restaurants, making friends with the genuinely welcoming
locals, and meeting plenty of like-minded foreigners who have become enchanted
with the laid-back lifestyle this town excels in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Ten.</span> Da Nang, Vietnam – Women ride sidesaddle on the
backs of motorbikes, even when wearing pants or jeans, legs dangling over the
side, chauffeured by their colleagues or family.<br />
<br />
Some don the traditional Vietnamese ao dai, the colorful two-piece
outfit with the top extending all the way to the ankles, a long slit down one
side, and long white pants underneath.<br />
<br />
Other women wear elbow-length gloves to add a bit of class while protecting
from the elements. Even the poorest find ways to show their sense of good taste
and elegance.<br />
<br />
All the retro-style class and sophistication lends an aura of yesteryear.
Sometimes I feel like an old movie is playing in front of me.<br />
<br />
The roads and architecture are modern, but most of the businesses are still
family run, with almost no big international brand names, fast food joints, or
coffee shop chains present. You can feel the entrepreneurial spirit, energy,
and enthusiasm. It’s everywhere.<br />
<br />
There are vendors all along the streets, mostly elderly women offering fruit,
vegetables, sandwiches, and snacks. Some wear the stereotypical cone-shaped
Vietnamese hat and carry their wares the old-fashioned way, in baskets balanced
on long poles over their shoulders.<br />
<br />
They’re nearly all lean, almost scrawny from all that walking around, faces
creased from the sun and wind. Men linger on street corners beside their
motorbikes, ready for customers needing a short, quick ride. Others work as
bicycle taxi "cyclo" drivers pedaling tourists around the streets.
They live hand to mouth, as their parents and grandparents did. They have no
long-term view; today is the only day.<br />
<br />
But that perspective is changing in real time.<br />
<br />
This is Da Nang, third-largest city in Vietnam behind capital Hanoi and
business hub Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang is big but still provincial. Were it not
for the skyscrapers, bridges, malls, endless stream of motorbikes, and the whir
of air conditioners, today’s Da Nang could easily be 1960s Da Nang.<br />
<br />
Da Nang is equidistant between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the former to the
north, the latter to the south, both about 800 kilometers away. Migrants from
the countryside are streaming into Da Nang because it’s the closest big
destination for those in largely impoverished central Vietnam.<br />
<br />
Young people from neighboring rural areas come to seek out a better life in the
big city and then send money home, just like in developing countries the world
over. Those who have an education and some English easily find a job in retail
or the tourism industry.<br />
<br />
In recent years, Da Nang was elevated to "centrally governed status,"
putting it on equal footing with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and two industrial areas,
Haiphong and Can Tho. Da Nang is the designated tourism jewel of Vietnam, a
gorgeous destination itself with several UNESCO World Heritage sites nearby,
including Hoi An to the south, the ancient capital Hue to the north, and the
ruins of Hindu temples at My Son in neighboring Quang Nam province.<br />
<br />
Da Nang is managed. It’s organized, well planned with a strategic view. I
recently saw a plan entitled "Da Nang Master Planning Vision—2030 to
2050." If that’s not forward thinking, I don’t know what is. I’ve never
heard of such a long-term city-planning view anywhere in the world, never mind
in a developing country.<br />
<br />
Signs and symbols of progress everywhere.<br />
<br />
In Southeast Asia we’re used to anarchy on the roads. In Da Nang, the powers
that be are working to address driving and parking challenges.<br />
<br />
At the end of last year, the authorities eliminated motorbike parking in the
evenings along Bach Dang, the broad riverside promenade on the Han River that
runs through the heart of Da Nang.<br />
<br />
Sure enough, promptly on the evening of Jan. 1, scores of policemen were out,
all along the promenade, helping motorbikes move along, explaining where they
could park on side streets, giving directions, leading the way.<br />
<br />
The two rivers that cross through Da Nang are spanned by seven bridges. Now
work is under way on a tunnel under the river at the Han River Bridge. It’s not
that traffic at this spot is overwhelming today. It’s that city officials are
looking ahead and preparing for future traffic.<br />
<br />
To many in the West, Vietnam conjures up images of a backward communist
country, top heavy with red tape, clogged with inefficiencies.<br />
<br />
This stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth in today’s Vietnam. The
advent of "doi moi" in the late 80s and early 90s has brought about
the intended "socialist oriented market economy." It’s the equivalent
of the Soviet Union’s "perestroika"... a restructuring.<br />
<br />
The result is an economy on fire, led by forward-thinking executives, many
educated overseas, with an entrepreneurial spirit unparalleled in the region.<br />
<br />
Developing countries in Southeast Asia are known for sluggish service in shops,
restaurants, and hotels and demotivated employees. Again, this is not the case
in Vietnam. Vietnam is not your typical developing Southeast Asian market.<br />
<br />
Vietnam has everything going for it and is catching up quickly to its
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counterparts in terms of foreign
tourist arrivals.<br />
<br />
In 2016, Vietnam saw more than 10 million foreign tourist arrivals for the
first time; that was a stunning 24% increase over numbers for 2015.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">-Kathleen Peddicord</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-58445653693834472562017-10-20T11:00:00.002-07:002017-10-20T11:00:58.795-07:00From Fjord to Treehouse: Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>By Cynthia Dial for TravelSquire.com</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">My initial introduction to Saguenay –
Lac-Saint-Jean is a serene one, with the drive through acres of farmland dotted
with corn, cows and a collection of colorful barns simply a preview of its attractions
to come. At one point La Route des Bières (The Beer Route) runs adjacent to our
road and serves up five microbrewery stops along the trail (the only perk
missing from this bicycle path is a designated driver). Only a bit further down
the two-lane road water appears and reappears bend after bend – from rivers to
lakes to fjords – all underscoring the significance of Saguenay’s name, meaning
“from where the water flows.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX9sCiYJpngAzf5RpwxMxWtaIjNl5_DOvDUBYmvFHlW5b4hyvEpW8p4MgeVGG6pAfoHgKSrZVjKSvAq1SW0GOtv__QEXCsfiRxua3_bMdeUlV4n-Y3NBwSW6MFcMmM1Rvnldn_zbZ5IaY/s1600/IMG_5175+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOX9sCiYJpngAzf5RpwxMxWtaIjNl5_DOvDUBYmvFHlW5b4hyvEpW8p4MgeVGG6pAfoHgKSrZVjKSvAq1SW0GOtv__QEXCsfiRxua3_bMdeUlV4n-Y3NBwSW6MFcMmM1Rvnldn_zbZ5IaY/s320/IMG_5175+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photos by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Welcome to our region,” I’m warmly greeted
at my first stop with a warm hand</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">shake and a seasonal snack, chocolate-covered
blueberries (my sampling is from Pères Trappistes de Mistassini, Trappist monks,
rumored to be the best). Coincidentally synced to wild blueberry season
(mid-August to mid-September), my visit is during the time of year that its
food scene showcases such specialties as blueberry butter, blueberry onion
confit and blueberry sausage. Fresh and farmed characterizes the area’s food
and drink, with agriculturalists and artisans selling their local products from
roadsides to storefronts. Among the fresh-from-the-region fare are maple syrup,
walleye fish, broad bean soup, Perron cheddar cheese and sparkling wines made
from raspberries, blackcurrants, grapes and blueberries.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKS9JQEEimdH_bE90lhN2XOS7OEYQUGdVKqg7ar9FZYTEhYn5nRb0YWaPPik1RWFSXczwxKesEU5ugG2rFAkjxJZmieBNco7g-F0DkQnhQa2xoA_q_vLjmsEYl_cAkbxZ3qv00IdR_DXkB/s1600/IMG_5189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKS9JQEEimdH_bE90lhN2XOS7OEYQUGdVKqg7ar9FZYTEhYn5nRb0YWaPPik1RWFSXczwxKesEU5ugG2rFAkjxJZmieBNco7g-F0DkQnhQa2xoA_q_vLjmsEYl_cAkbxZ3qv00IdR_DXkB/s320/IMG_5189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beyond its month-long affair with “everything
blueberry” is a topography as diverse as it is impressive – plains, forests, mountains,
rivers, a lake as big as a sea and one of the world’s longest navigable fjords lined
with unspoiled villages and cliffs so steep they are accessible only by water. Even
the <i>Michelin Guide</i> recognizes the
region’s most noted natural attraction, listing the Saguenay Fjord as one of
the planet’s must-see destinations -- alongside such internationally-renowned
landmarks as Egypt’s pyramids and the Eiffel Tower. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A white “S-a-g-u-e-n-a-y” name sculpture accented
with a red heart confirms you’ve arrived in this area known for its unique combo
of independence and ingenuity. Since 1981 it has been illegal for a woman to
take her husband’s name; moms are not encouraged to stay at home; typical
snacks are cheese curds, salt and vinegar chips, poutine and Pepsi (not Coke); the
roads’ yellow-and-black warning signs caution motorists of moose, deer and
snowmobiles and opportunities to see bears are abundant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At Okwari Aventures it’s possible to observe
black bears in their natural habitat from a watchtower, with the animals coming
within feet of the open-window viewing areas. Of the 3,500 black bears in the
region, 30 reside here. As timing is important, it’s key to note that from the
end of June to mid-July there’s the potential to see cubs and because of September’s
blueberry season it’s a good month for sightings. Additional options include hiking
in the bear-free area, canoeing the lake in a rabaska traditional birchbark
vessel and observing beavers in their environment.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s this eclectic spirit, almost
exclusive to Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean, that also defines its overnight prospects,
which creatively range from traditional hotels and treehouses to ghost towns
and zoos. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux, a night in the
wild translates to a treehouse stay 25 feet above ground at the top of a trunk-mounted
flight of steps, sleeping within a starlight dome with windows covering
one-third of its surface or overnighting in the coziest of choices, a suspended
spherical treehouse – each ensconced in the woods and many with
through-the-tree views of the fjord. Nothing quite compares to awaking at dawn
by the sun filtering through the forest’s canopy to the sound of a bird
symphony. An early morning start is advised to take advantage of the large menu
of activities – sea kayaking on the fjord (sunrise, sunset and full moon),
ascending the cliffs lining the fjord along the Via Ferrata (day time and full
moon) and climbing the high ropes circuit (includes zip lining on seven giant
zip lines).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To imagine an overnight in a ghost town is
a stay in Val-Jalbert, a photogenic company pulp mill town from the 1920s,
complete with 40 of its original turn-of-the-century houses, the general store,
convent school (option: sit in on a lesson as Mother Superior teaches her
convent girls), post office and the imposing 236-foot high<u> </u>Ouiatchouan Falls
(a higher cascade than Niagara Falls). Here it’s possible to sleep in of one of
the 24 luxuriously-restored workers’ houses or in accommodations above the
general store – all projecting a back-in-the-day vibe and all complete with 21<sup>st</sup>
century comforts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A cultural and heritage site – it was home
to 950 at its peak in the 1920s, the mill permanently ceased production on
August 13, 1927 and the village was abandoned for years until the 1960s – today’s
Val-Jalbert is the recreation of last century’s thriving town, complete with “nuns”
walking its main street in route to school, the “mayor” driving the tour bus
and the “mayor’s daughter” bicycling around town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The 26-hour VIP experience and prospector
tent overnight within Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien takes adventurous sleepovers
to a uniquely Quebecois level. Listed as one of the world’s ten most beautiful
zoos, it is home to more than 1,000 animals from 75 native or exotic species.
This one day-plus experience begins in an elevated, open-air nature trail park
train as it winds more than four miles through acres of open territory – home
to such North American mammals as deer, moose, caribou, wolves, musk oxen and
bears. Bears are the only animals able to traverse all areas of the zoo and train
stops to accommodate them along the road are frequent, which translates to even
more photo opps.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1GHmfFn3WhyphenhyphenbxMlK1stjSEu_x5YPPItk6J3NVT4le1UwdKR9csWjrVGqtoSVKClXmiLQ7kkmaBOeGI2pEmNq8C-98lB9zRWP4amQi68lQ9KfB8J3s6Q37d5pOsemVLQS1mE53IIipTX6/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1GHmfFn3WhyphenhyphenbxMlK1stjSEu_x5YPPItk6J3NVT4le1UwdKR9csWjrVGqtoSVKClXmiLQ7kkmaBOeGI2pEmNq8C-98lB9zRWP4amQi68lQ9KfB8J3s6Q37d5pOsemVLQS1mE53IIipTX6/s320/IMG_2988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We make the schedule,” says guide, Maëlys,
of the customized itinerary. Lunch is in a home from 1905, which was moved from
its original site to the zoo. Reflective of its era, the house’s minimalistic décor
includes religious pictures and a Singer sewing machine. “Marguerite” (the
occupant of the house) serves a traditional meal of soup, chicken pie and blueberry
pie (a menu that is always homemade and forever varies). Marguerite speaks only
in French and stays in character, even as she gives a brief tour of the outdoor
yard before rushing us back into the house when a bear is spotted wandering
onto the lawn. Thus, the rules: Always walk in a group, never wander off and be
aware of your surroundings and its animals at all times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To reach the campsite, the vehicle stops
as Maëlys surveys the situation. She quickly unlocks the gate to our enclosed
area and we just as quickly drive through it, gate closed behind us. Once we’re
settled into camp, items securely tucked into our tents, possibilities include moose
tracking, feeding the site’s baby moose and venturing again onto the train and out
of the enclosure to travel to a bison-surrounded lake for a sunset canoe ride.
After an old-fashioned meal cooked over open flames, the day ends as all campouts
should – surrounding the fire to roast s’mores. Before departing the next
morning, it’s possible to visit the new animal nursery and go backstage to observe
the vets at work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It's best described as a Canadian safari
with only guarantee: adventure. While it’s possible to stay at nearby Hôtel du
Jardin instead of within the zoo, who would choose to forgo a night in the wild
surrounded by roaming animals and their around-the-clock activity?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Returning to the water, passengers have
discovered Saguenay Fjord from the comfort of Les Navettes Maritimes du Fjord
(the Fjord Marine Shuttle) for more than 40 years. Between its three ships
offering approximately 15 daily departures from a variety boarding points, the
July and August shuttle traverses from village to village. As the perfect
vantage view for whales, its appeal extends to bikers and sightseers alike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If arrival to the region is by sea, the
port of Saguenay does not disappoint. Recognized for the “best international
port welcome” four years running, the lively passenger greeting is from the costumed
cast of the region’s summer theater production “La Fabuleuse Histoire d’un
Royaume” (“Fabulous History of a Kingdom”). Celebrating its 30th season and
noted as the country’s first large-scale historic performance, the show
features 150 actors, horses, cars, flooding, cannon shots, explosions of fire
and whirlwinds of music and dance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So hospitable, so extroverted are the
people of Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean that though French is widely spoken (with a
bit of English conversed here and there), should a non-French speaking visitor
need help, it isn’t uncommon for a local to find someone who can assist and if that’s
not possible, communicate through a game of charades, if necessary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I bid my silent farewell to this remote
retreat, I hear “Au revoir,” when walking through security to board my flight. And
though it is all too soon that I disembark in reality, I find comfort in my
carry-on snack – a bag of chocolate-covered blueberries which I’ll enjoy with a
Pepsi (not a Coke).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: red;">Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The city of Saguenay is Quebec’s sixth
largest and the region of Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean is almost four times the
size of Belgium, yet its atmosphere is so homespun, to locals it’s “a small
village at the end of the road.”<br />
</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://www.saguenaylacsaintjean.ca/">www.saguenaylacsaintjean.ca</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<i><span style="color: cyan;">The area code for Saguenay –
Lac-Saint-Jean is 418. </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">Where to Sleep:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Parc Aventures Cap Jaseux</span> – Self-described
as “a renowned destination in adventure tourism and eco-tourism,” this park of
adventures and such unique accommodations as treehouses is seasonally open from
late May to mid-October, with peak season from June 24 to the first Monday in
September. 250 Chemin de la Pointe aux Pins, Saint-Fulgence; 418-674-9114; www.capjaseux.com/en<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Val-Jalbert</span> – Not only the impressive
revival of a ghost town, it’s also possible to overnight here. For a peek into
its history and to best understand the town, first stop should be at the old
pulp mill to watch its 360-degree multi-media production, an “immersive sensory
experience,” that transports you to the turn of the 20th century. As village visits
are seasonal (open from late May to mid-October), book early as July and August
fill soon. 95 Rue Saint-George, Chambord, 418-275-3132; www.valjalbert.com/en<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien</span> – Called “Land
of the Caribou,” this night in the wild is one where you are caged and the
animals run free in their vast natural environment (though caribou are within
your multi-acre enclosure). Accommodations are available June through mid-October;
though the zoo is open winter and summer. 2230 Boulevard du Jardin, Saint-Felicien; 418-679-0543; www.zoosauvage.org/en</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">Where to Eat and Drink:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Microbrasserie du Lac Saint-Jean</span> – An
award-winning microbrewery within walking distance of beaches and the blueberry
trail is known for such homemade beers as its famous Gros Mollet and 10
seasonal draught beers (all enhanced by the use of regional spices). Its equally-revered
menu offers such choices as escargot and cream pub pastry, foie gras crème
brulee and beeramisu (ladyfingers soaked in beer syrup and topped with mascarpone
mousse). 120 Rue de la Plage, Saint-Gedeon; 418-345-8758; www.microdulac.com/en</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Restaurant du Moulin</span> – Located within the
old industrial mill of Val-Jalbert, Chef Carl Murray is at the helm of this
fine dining establishment. Having served as chef for six years, his connection
to the site is more than his longevity – his grandfather was once employed as a
mill worker. Chef’s recently created Heritage Meals showcase recipes of the village’s
past. Val-Jalbert, Chambord; 418-275-3132; www.valjalbert.com/en/services/restaurant-du-moulin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Auberge-Bistro Rose & Basilic</span> - By using regional herbs, spices, honey, blueberry liqueur, cheeses and more, this
urban inn focuses on the flavors of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean – featuring such
menu items as salmon tartar, house rillettes, pan fried scallops and shrimp and
chocolate fondant. 600 Boulevard des Cascades, Alma; 418-669-1818; www.roseetbasilic.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">Must See:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Site de la Nouvelle-France</span> – An archeological
site where movies such as <i>The Black Robe </i>were
filmed, this is a replication of Champlain’s first settlement in Quebec City
and its daily life in the 17th century, complete with colorful characters who
act as colony habitants. 370 Vieux-Chemin, Saint-Felix-d'Otis; 418-544-8027; www.sitenouvellefrance.com <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: cyan;">Musée du Fjord</span> – Located on shores of the
Saguenay River’s Baie des Ha! Ha! cove, this museum features a 14,000-gallon
salt water aquarium, a touch pool with starfish, sea cucumbers, urchins and
other species and such outdoor activities from June to September as digging in
the fjord’s tidal pools and guided excursions in quest of discovering living
organisms, minerals, plant and wildlife. 3346 Boulevard de la Grande-Baie-Sud, La Baie;<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> </span>418-697-5077; http://museedufjord.com/en/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #saguenaylacsaintjean #quebec #travelpics</span></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-4234804820034602702017-10-09T11:05:00.000-07:002017-10-09T11:05:32.953-07:00SWITZERLAND’S CANTON OF VAUD HAS IT ALL – LAKES, MOUNTAINS, WINES AND CHARLIE CHAPLIN <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><i>by Cynthia Dial for JustLuxe.com</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With an arrival timed to Swiss National Day, a
holiday that symbolizes the 1291 founding of the Federation around which
Switzerland was formed, celebratory fireworks seem to shout: “Welcome to Vaud.”
Home to such illustrious settings as Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux – all
perfectly perched along the shores of Lake Geneva – this is where <i>bonjour</i> is spoken to passing strangers
“just because,” a three-kiss greeting is standard and everything is considered
an opportunity to open a bottle of wine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOqJFbXAnU2KxjQ7KvE42PBQBoC2GlAW6X_GgzLNH1eOg5fh71TMkJ_r7GtOVZ-yBqFu59GdL1Ta4dfH_DAtnmwYONxLcVtrvQb4vGK6eaYzcMNoY8M3-HzX_noKJynJES2vNFFiyOsFO/s1600/IMG_6109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOqJFbXAnU2KxjQ7KvE42PBQBoC2GlAW6X_GgzLNH1eOg5fh71TMkJ_r7GtOVZ-yBqFu59GdL1Ta4dfH_DAtnmwYONxLcVtrvQb4vGK6eaYzcMNoY8M3-HzX_noKJynJES2vNFFiyOsFO/s320/IMG_6109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photos by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As one of Europe’s largest lakes, Lac L</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">é</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">man (translation: Lake Geneva)
is a significant presence in this region that shares the liquid icon with its
across-the-water neighbor, France. When you add lakeside promenades, hillside
vineyards, cobblestone town centers and a backdrop of the Alps, the resulting
recipe is a magnet for those lured by luxury.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrx9mh1gO9jgLPiOrEAABS6ctO3UVIZdxni6KKCfxXYN7YBZDSvr9MFczTiyJSRMUbuEMw98HiLDMGocdObo-moE3bxu2qQM8xjEx67PkMOrs1fVEsFxyLsUsdW9Worafl1mEdg9bEV-Z/s1600/IMG_6031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrx9mh1gO9jgLPiOrEAABS6ctO3UVIZdxni6KKCfxXYN7YBZDSvr9MFczTiyJSRMUbuEMw98HiLDMGocdObo-moE3bxu2qQM8xjEx67PkMOrs1fVEsFxyLsUsdW9Worafl1mEdg9bEV-Z/s320/IMG_6031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Home to eight five-star hotels and Ecole
Hoteliere Lausanne (the world-renowned Swiss hotel management school), Vaud has
established an exclusive standard of hospitality. Add to the mix a total of 95
restaurants selected by the Gault&Millau 2017 guide (tally: 1,338 points)
and 12 Michelin-starred restaurants (totaling 17 stars) and the canton is also one
of the world’s most famous regions for the culinary arts. Among its delicious specialties
are cabbage sausage, Gruyere cheese, fresh-from-the-lake perch and Chasseles
wine (a velvety smooth dry white variety grown in nearly 70% of the region’s
vineyards).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5DZbAYcgG2cDviynrJRmoA5buo40zdTXQePNaEMR7MjsfmS-U4_bqt_ygmK-TXjFbgqFsoIOX30qAQ9qk16nVAj5jSqUlnQrGWHumSvJWmdaLP9bGUxcON7TXAV5XCC433dqu2B0iAgW/s1600/IMG_5752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5DZbAYcgG2cDviynrJRmoA5buo40zdTXQePNaEMR7MjsfmS-U4_bqt_ygmK-TXjFbgqFsoIOX30qAQ9qk16nVAj5jSqUlnQrGWHumSvJWmdaLP9bGUxcON7TXAV5XCC433dqu2B0iAgW/s320/IMG_5752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">To best appreciate the canton of Vaud, let’s
explore some of its towns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Built on two rivers and three hills, Lausanne is
as cosmopolitan as it is transnational. The setting of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC), it has 60 sports federations, more than 300 sports
clubs and is home to the Olympic Museum. An attraction for 300,000 annual
guests, museum highlights include 1,500-plus exhibits, 150 video screens and four
restaurants (TOM café on the building’s top floor is known for its weekend
brunch and lake view).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi780ztjpiBciN9AOOSkiQ6m1jqOb6nkW0oYCRvyEq3e9-lVn-r4Hj4M_7MIsDE1D2PZVzQTHwR3CiKCyznSQXCETcGD4Q4efRJ0rW4JtJ22XhAEYeISmvzQvY-fYxlh-9mY_qqTIJvMO0B/s1600/IMG_5652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi780ztjpiBciN9AOOSkiQ6m1jqOb6nkW0oYCRvyEq3e9-lVn-r4Hj4M_7MIsDE1D2PZVzQTHwR3CiKCyznSQXCETcGD4Q4efRJ0rW4JtJ22XhAEYeISmvzQvY-fYxlh-9mY_qqTIJvMO0B/s320/IMG_5652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Superlatives define Lausanne. With 17 parks and
280 square feet of green space per resident, Lausanne has been called Europe’s
Greenest City. As the setting of 50 language schools and the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology, in addition to the hotel management school, it has
also been named the Capital of Schools. And running every three minutes along
the city’s vertical terrain, Lausanne’s metro system is the continent’s oldest
(built in 1877) – transporting passengers along hills so steep, the landscape
is reputedly responsible for the Lausanne ladies’ reputation as having the best
legs in Europe. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcmOAsJpty_jHZ-1uQvMC4Tc4NkAIJ1EGpVpd4EjNihnopelt74Z6HpsnxIUxQ1JcYmCMfiITfXRc0glpJI67JhZLwgvMFCePPTz63cc_CmnIYmp-8WjeWwOXqz44dt4kmpmv8AUC-RTs/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcmOAsJpty_jHZ-1uQvMC4Tc4NkAIJ1EGpVpd4EjNihnopelt74Z6HpsnxIUxQ1JcYmCMfiITfXRc0glpJI67JhZLwgvMFCePPTz63cc_CmnIYmp-8WjeWwOXqz44dt4kmpmv8AUC-RTs/s320/IMG_5646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Of Lausanne’s three five-star palace hotels –
Hotel Lausanne Palace & Spa, Beau-Rivage Palace and Royal Savoy Lausanne –
each is tastefully extravagant. Hotel Lausanne Palace & Spa (1915) is the
setting of C</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ô</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">t</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">é</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Jardin, a restaurant
recognized with 14 points Gault&Millau, also known for its antipasti
offerings and its perched-overlooking-the-city seat. The Beau-Rivage Palace’s
premier restaurant, Anne-Sophie Pic, is headed up by the three-star Michelin
chef whose name it bears and the hotel grounds are also noted as the spot on
which Coco Chanel’s dog is buried. Continuing the tasty trend, three-star
Michelin designee Marc Haeberlin serves as Royal Savoy Lausanne’s Signature Chef
and is especially active in the creation of Brasserie du Royal’s seasonal menus.
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Originally opened in 1909 to accommodate the
wealthy on their grand tours, the art nouveaux-style Royal Savoy Lausanne closed
100 years later for a two-year, $100 million renovation. Protected by Swiss
Heritage, today’s historic building pays homage to the past but also features
comforts of the 21<sup>st</sup> century, including such amenities as in-room
Herm</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">è</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">s toiletries, Nespresso machines
and its at-the-top-of-the-hotel SkyLounge.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodhdP3mjdiLINTAaGpYyNwHH2jf2BfoWbNJ4dKVe2ZmI597kViskfMzSFjN7sYCiwJ4SM0kbIALSjQKDzHAkJVCUY7iSycfX0ljZHY0yV-2anVjQ45gTYl-eeYWa2zcMntrXyNGHFQhA2/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodhdP3mjdiLINTAaGpYyNwHH2jf2BfoWbNJ4dKVe2ZmI597kViskfMzSFjN7sYCiwJ4SM0kbIALSjQKDzHAkJVCUY7iSycfX0ljZHY0yV-2anVjQ45gTYl-eeYWa2zcMntrXyNGHFQhA2/s320/IMG_5734.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Montreux, another Instagram-worthy Lake Geneva
town, showcases a flower-lined waterfront walkway, palm trees and the iconic
statue of Freddie Mercury (hard rock group Queen’s late lead singer and
treasured Montreux adoptee). With a philosophical musical core, the town’s
history includes once-upon-a-time visits from Tchaikovsky who came for
inspiration and modern-day concerts that have highlighted such luminaries as
Miles Davis, Deep Purple and Prince. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslj2NLZ51J9DARS1XyEtZPMyciU7qceAQiI63mu91v1VtXRbu6QE_ateM8gJQZPJTfrFG8ehNjDLsufJYhc5ODQGauX1Iyf_WFkFVBo-J6TQRkv1EczgZDqrdUqJ5w_ETtwfFU7t9_0MM/s1600/IMG_6201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslj2NLZ51J9DARS1XyEtZPMyciU7qceAQiI63mu91v1VtXRbu6QE_ateM8gJQZPJTfrFG8ehNjDLsufJYhc5ODQGauX1Iyf_WFkFVBo-J6TQRkv1EczgZDqrdUqJ5w_ETtwfFU7t9_0MM/s320/IMG_6201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Vevey became home to Charlie Chaplin in 1952.
Enticed by its welcoming ways, he moved to the village with an Old Town comprised
of narrow walkways and historical monuments at the base of overlooking-the-lake
hills. In combo with Vevey’s lazy lakeside lined with hotels, restaurants and bars
and a collection of such distinctive museums as the Alimentarium Food Museum
(you’ll know its location by the “Fork” that appears in the lake), L</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ä</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">derach’s Chocolate Museum and
the Swiss Camera Museum – today’s appeal is as irresistible as it was to the celebrity
comic 65 years ago. Chaplin’s World museum is located in Manor de Ban, the
Chaplin’s family home. Sitting on 10 acres amid 100-year-old trees, it chronicles
the actor’s career and provides a personal peek into the life of his family of
10.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRvvHivYtc_Tp6iRaX84t7uNJzQmXYpvX7sjwD_BiPPcPbwQWpopGPtThuy6l9p6wSCDRmKqR6YNP2IVoWq4CNLxCIf-eSRHz-ch8nuHXSDRxnPypBUQHYShu0DNSYWwEw09ABGEty0L7/s1600/IMG_6204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRvvHivYtc_Tp6iRaX84t7uNJzQmXYpvX7sjwD_BiPPcPbwQWpopGPtThuy6l9p6wSCDRmKqR6YNP2IVoWq4CNLxCIf-eSRHz-ch8nuHXSDRxnPypBUQHYShu0DNSYWwEw09ABGEty0L7/s320/IMG_6204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Along Vevey’s shores the Grand H</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ô</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">tel du Lac presides over the
setting like a queen over her court. As the town’s “grand” hotel, it serves up
such one-of-a-kind guest settings as the Oriental Lounge (open for tea service
and inspired by the “Arabian Nights”), an Asian-themed Bar and Les Saisons, the
signature restaurant under the tutelage of Executive Chef Thomas Neeser
(recognized with 16 Gault&Millau points and one Michelin star).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Lavaux’s wine region was granted UNESCO World
Heritage status in 2007. The steep, narrow, terraced vineyards rising from the
lake are supported by stone walls and situated between Lausanne and Montreux. As
one of Switzerland’s oldest wine making regions, it was originally cultivated
by monks in the 12<sup>th</sup> century. Comprised of 14 preserved wine-growing
villages, all offer wine and most offer exceptional eateries as well.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRnip9j0afBfTpjpx9hdUfA-iYN0_1FAI4JqkAw8mSC51YasdoWcm8RrUOoh3JM3YFY6HqFR_LeWWKFzSa1houyDoBkIeCzfI1slSXMCgc8gR3eB2y6mhkQqb-p-f_-3cGCzQs4jNOZZI/s1600/IMG_6082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRnip9j0afBfTpjpx9hdUfA-iYN0_1FAI4JqkAw8mSC51YasdoWcm8RrUOoh3JM3YFY6HqFR_LeWWKFzSa1houyDoBkIeCzfI1slSXMCgc8gR3eB2y6mhkQqb-p-f_-3cGCzQs4jNOZZI/s320/IMG_6082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Vaud’s mountains are never far from these shoreline
towns and are easily connected by the rails with conventional and specialty train
travel varying from clog trains and the Swiss Panoramic Train to the Cheese
Train and Chocolate Train. Located within the mountains Les Diablerets (a
village and ski resort that lies between Lake Geneva and Gstaad) has Alp-style
excitement. After a 15-minute cable car ride to Glacier 3000, so named as it is
3,000 meters (9,900 feet) above sea level, adventure is abundant. At its top is
the Peak Walk (the world’s first suspension bridge connecting two mountain
peaks), the Alpine Coaster (a one-half-plus mile descent, including a loop, 10
curves, six waves, three jumps and two bridges) and Restaurant Botta, known for
such Swiss mountain food as raclette and fondue and complemented by a
surrounding view of the Alps.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVN5NMi7-qM_4ormrzDZ5bVUEGquU0v0jpJpG-cED1PSVeRGMB6MS8MRCn6wQeGsFmQf_jgZ42vKx8Bor0ttdwiZ9-j7KL39G3ZVeYwvX-IJ3qZHAsM_JwPW84R_6_hliGJU-aXhjsVYE/s1600/IMG_5830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVN5NMi7-qM_4ormrzDZ5bVUEGquU0v0jpJpG-cED1PSVeRGMB6MS8MRCn6wQeGsFmQf_jgZ42vKx8Bor0ttdwiZ9-j7KL39G3ZVeYwvX-IJ3qZHAsM_JwPW84R_6_hliGJU-aXhjsVYE/s320/IMG_5830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Situated in a mountain valley is the village of
Rougemont and its three-year-old Hotel de Rougemont. Though described as a
typical chateau, nothing is “typical” about this Alpine boutique hotel and spa.
With an addictively quiet atmosphere, the day may begin with a symphony of cow
bells serenading guests as the animals transfer from one mountain to another,
church bells chiming on the hour and end as the moon rises between the mountain
ridges. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi4fQbiItGwpyKG6qVdiRXWZZ_6Ia24CuBShTm5h9C5v-v1nCaMwRoMigzfzu-zqBPRMMNVaijWDf1KHm4iOLFaRiLztFuwxV3YNU_YQs8cqD_lGYXCVha2AHQfTkQjD_r6GKK1dUvm5w/s1600/IMG_5843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi4fQbiItGwpyKG6qVdiRXWZZ_6Ia24CuBShTm5h9C5v-v1nCaMwRoMigzfzu-zqBPRMMNVaijWDf1KHm4iOLFaRiLztFuwxV3YNU_YQs8cqD_lGYXCVha2AHQfTkQjD_r6GKK1dUvm5w/s320/IMG_5843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Swiss Alps, Lake Geneva, UNESCO-recognized
wine region and eternally charming towns – this is Vaud. It was beloved by such
purveyors of perfection as Coco Chanel and her affection for Lausanne, Audrey
Hepburn and her ties to Morges and Lord Byron and his fascination for Montreux’s
Chillon Castle. However, Vevey resident and cherished son, Charlie Chaplin, says
it simply but best in his letter to a friend: “We love Switzerland more and
more each day.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>#vaud #travel #travelpics #traveltips #travelingcynthia #lakegeneva #montreux #vevey #rougemont #lausanne</i></span></div>
Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-4661416253213317432017-09-11T11:08:00.000-07:002017-09-11T11:08:07.539-07:00September 11, 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
On the 16th anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, it is important to remember that the country will always rebuild, recover and become an even stronger nation -- whatever challenges we may face.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qNcJpOEDoVdDNJVjWEeUsAj7l73ZCj2yVD7JErVwoV_ksaQXCageh0ozFC1nJM6tL1vJBveGbMGtO_Y2FpB-8DWgmgkCdxEFe3gmYdPTr1uNifdgxOv2UsmxskfeptHkDiA-Zf2FEk9i/s1600/IMG_8807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qNcJpOEDoVdDNJVjWEeUsAj7l73ZCj2yVD7JErVwoV_ksaQXCageh0ozFC1nJM6tL1vJBveGbMGtO_Y2FpB-8DWgmgkCdxEFe3gmYdPTr1uNifdgxOv2UsmxskfeptHkDiA-Zf2FEk9i/s320/IMG_8807.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFpNrlW-INxK_RtHmuK_Abnm7EPkqIcp5Qjf4TvnNuzONjEw26Zm1pUmluOr1cgpQZratYpeqXeN8-jNxNRsSygp6hH1cdnAvifTWY7K1DBLZRGPb7m5HTdSRMbEWVE5HeeFJ5KdGPpjP/s1600/IMG_8816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFpNrlW-INxK_RtHmuK_Abnm7EPkqIcp5Qjf4TvnNuzONjEw26Zm1pUmluOr1cgpQZratYpeqXeN8-jNxNRsSygp6hH1cdnAvifTWY7K1DBLZRGPb7m5HTdSRMbEWVE5HeeFJ5KdGPpjP/s320/IMG_8816.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Photos by Cynthia Dial\</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#neverforget</div>
Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-74173601718084173142017-09-06T15:43:00.000-07:002017-09-06T15:43:01.937-07:00Top Five Secrets to Savvy Travel<br />
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<i>Excerpted from Condé
Nast Traveler<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Time it Right</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">1.</span><i><span style="color: cyan;"> Fly on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Traveling on off-peak days – and at off-peak times – means
lower fares, a less crowded cabin and a greater chance of snagging those
elusive mileage-award seats. Taking two days off for a long weekend? Instead of a Thursday to Sunday or a Friday to
Monday trip, save money by flying on a Saturday and returning on a Tuesday.</div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">2.</span><i><span style="color: cyan;"> Hop Between Cities at Midday.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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When you’re traveling through Europe or Asia and need to get
from one city to another, consider scheduling transportation for the middle of
the day. If you leave at dawn, you miss
the sunrise – ideal for photography and observing locals – and reach your
destination at midday, when temperatures are highest, the light is at its worst
for photos and it’s too early to check into your hotel. (You may also have to fight rush-hour
commuters and miss a breakfast that is included in your rate.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">3</span>. <i><span style="color: cyan;">Visit Islands During Shoulder Season.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Peak-season rates on islands often reflect nearby countries’
vacation schedules rather than the best time to visit (Bali’s hotels, for instance,
fill up with Japanese in early May and with Australians in January). In low season, many businesses shut
down. Shoulder season – when crowds are
thinner but the weather is still good – is the solution.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Find the Hidden Deals</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">4.</span> <i><span style="color: cyan;">Sign Up for E-mail Notifications.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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The best airfare and hotel sales are largely
unannounced. Airlines and hotel
companies target specific subsets of travelers – loyalty program members,
holders of certain credit cards, people who’ve registered on their Web sites –
and alert them by e-mail. To keep your
in-box from being bombarded, get a dedicated e-mail address for such alerts and
check it when you’re ready to start planning your next trip. If you can make quick purchasing decisions,
sign up for alerts from flash-sale sites that sell hotel rooms at discounts of
40 percent or more, such as Jetsetter and Tablet Hotels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Find the Right Human Beings</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">5. </span><i><span style="color: cyan;">Get the Best Room for Your Dollar</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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At luxury properties, rates vary substantially according to
occupancy. A room could be $350 one week because there’s a big group and $250
the next because nobody’s coming. For top-end
hotels that have on-site reservation desks, call and ask the manager when,
during your travel window, the hotel will be emptiest and thus have the lowest
rates. Then ask something like, “If I
come on that date, would there be a chance of an upgrade to ocean-view?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p>#travel #travelingcynthia #traveltips #travelsecrets</o:p></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-16271758698544511232017-08-21T12:41:00.000-07:002017-08-21T12:41:25.884-07:00Travel Quote of the Day<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="dhrco" data-offset-key="cn01o-0-0" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cn01o-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center;">
<span data-offset-key="cn01o-0-0" style="background-color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Travel quote: "It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear."
</span></span><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: inherit;">Douglas Adams</span></div>
</div>
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<span data-offset-key="77bic-0-0" style="background-color: #444444; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh862Gxxlbc1R3z6oMloZKBwBT3WAOsGdAKmlTvYHVwyHzbLY4P7hLkAOpSmjctufZ-SZtgRSneZ60ayCg5iK1rE2KYklLfoSM9pVBI5MtLutJsAjQQ4Hsd8tjD92pvMvdkCkvHVyD3bifn/s1600/IMG_9545+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh862Gxxlbc1R3z6oMloZKBwBT3WAOsGdAKmlTvYHVwyHzbLY4P7hLkAOpSmjctufZ-SZtgRSneZ60ayCg5iK1rE2KYklLfoSM9pVBI5MtLutJsAjQQ4Hsd8tjD92pvMvdkCkvHVyD3bifn/s320/IMG_9545+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a>
#travel #travelquotes #travelingcynthia </div>
</span></span></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-23938516793194244882017-08-10T13:12:00.000-07:002017-08-15T09:59:53.042-07:008 Ways to Breeze Through Customs Quickly<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">From AllianzTravelInsurance.com</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The basics are simple: Fill out your paperwork before you get
off the plane, book a seat that'll let you get out of your plane quickly and
then head straight for the customs agent without bathroom detours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlieXsHWJDlCW1YXqx7kxgdEOBJPxwNm1AUWkaiTVOsCDq8CxuVsSgDdSi8YucMWo6NXM3GZ2cZhO3xoQXxpBW5xUy0A5CI0-fPQ41jQo7142sKW3TGkrKkrtzJ4nPYhgbtQzc9o4AcWi/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlieXsHWJDlCW1YXqx7kxgdEOBJPxwNm1AUWkaiTVOsCDq8CxuVsSgDdSi8YucMWo6NXM3GZ2cZhO3xoQXxpBW5xUy0A5CI0-fPQ41jQo7142sKW3TGkrKkrtzJ4nPYhgbtQzc9o4AcWi/s320/IMG_1595.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">To some degree, customs lines are inevitable. After all, every
time a plane full of people arrives, it takes a little while to process all
that luggage. You'll also have to go through customs if you're traveling across
international borders. Still, that doesn't mean you have to suffer; there's a
lot you can do to get yourself toward the front of the line and speed your way
through the actual customs encounter.</span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">1.
Travel Light</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Guess what: The less time you spend juggling your bags, the
faster you can get through the customs line. With that said, there's one item
you should never be without: a pen for filling out your customs form on the
plane. Somehow there are never enough pens to go around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Do you see someone struggling to manage all their bags on the
way through security? As hard as it can be to watch them having a hard time,
you should never transport someone else's bag through customs. You never know
what they might be carrying that they'd like to escape responsibility for. If
you just can't stand to watch the mayhem, offer to rent them a luggage cart
– but rest assured that your Good Samaritan obligations end there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">2.
Ditch the Food</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Many restrictions exist for transporting fresh products like
fruit, vegetables or meat across international lines; your trip through customs
will usually go faster if you ditch the food entirely. Still, even if the food
you have is legal, failing to declare it can net you some hefty fines.
Therefore, honesty is always the best policy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;">3.
Track Your Spending</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Each country allows you to transport a certain dollar amount of
purchases across the border without paying "duty" – basically, a
tax levied on purchases made or gifts received while you're abroad. Keep your
receipts, or track how much you've spent at the very least. This way, you can
prove whether you fall under the duty limit or how much you may be over the
limit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">4.
Avoid Farms</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Customs won't deny you re-entry to the country if you've visited
a farm, but you may lose some time in customs while they clean your footwear to
make sure you're not accidentally bringing any biological contaminants into the
country. However, customs people don't clean your boots for the fun of it.
Invasive species and illnesses like foot and mouth disease are very real
hazards. If you have visited any farms, admit it and accept the possible delay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">5. Put
Your Phone Away</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Want to have an up-close-and-personal visit with a customs
agent? Just whip out a camera and start taking pictures; it'll get their
attention quickly. If you'd rather have a quick and hassle-free experience,
leave your phone and cameras tucked away until you're all the way through
customs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">6.
Apply for Global Entry</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">If you want to make everyone else in the customs line turn green
with envy, consider applying for the Global Entry program. You'll have to pay
$100 and give your fingerprints, and not every airport supports the Global
Entry program. Nevertheless, if you're accepted into the program and traveling
through a major airport, your trip through customs boils down to a quick stop
at an automated kiosk to confirm your identity and make any necessary
declarations. The NEXUS and SENTRI programs, also offered by the Department of
Homeland Security, offer similar benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">7.
Check Your Baggage Requirements with Your Airline</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">If your flight into the United States doesn't take you directly
to your final destination, then you might have to retrieve your checked bags
after passing through immigration and before going through customs. After that,
you'll need to recheck the bags again before you catch your connecting flight.
Check with your airline beforehand to find out whether you'll have to retrieve
and recheck your bags or not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "PT Sans Narrow Regular", serif;"><span style="color: red;">8. Know
Where You're Staying</span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Be prepared to tell officials where you're staying in the
country you're visiting. They may ask you to provide the address of your hotel,
so keep a copy of your reservation on hand. Sometimes they also ask you for
proof of your departure ticket and date, so those copies need to stay in your
carry-on bag as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Some travelers take being first in the customs line very
seriously. It's true that if there's a long walk to customs, moving quickly can
get you out ahead of the pack. Still, there's no need to turn a trip through
customs into a race or a competition. No matter where you end up in line, we
guarantee that the experience will be more pleasant if you relax and enjoy the
experience. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">#travel #traveltips #travelingcynthia #easycustoms <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-543151812140463348.post-73190193052601162972017-07-26T16:22:00.001-07:002017-07-26T16:22:54.427-07:00Eight Expert Travel Hacking Tips for 2017By Brian Robson<br />
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“Travel hacking” is when you work within the rules of
airlines, hotels, and travel credit cards to earn rewards such as points
and miles to put toward free travel. Despite its name, travel hacking is simple
(and legal), and lots of people do it every day to save money and see the
world. If you have ever wanted to take the family on a trip and just couldn’t
afford the airfare, learning to travel hack can solve your dilemma.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpbJMoG5ey97oOV6MsZXx7AmM__YGAwYrJRSFV-CDvim-d7BNUS8Rv7IqBOkMXyLnzXq4BVOL31BLAC9teO13sfYm3cThyphenhyphenA56O4LjWLPuzBsVJnuvRAi6qVRKyrQUWa3vu91vNgq2KfOL/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpbJMoG5ey97oOV6MsZXx7AmM__YGAwYrJRSFV-CDvim-d7BNUS8Rv7IqBOkMXyLnzXq4BVOL31BLAC9teO13sfYm3cThyphenhyphenA56O4LjWLPuzBsVJnuvRAi6qVRKyrQUWa3vu91vNgq2KfOL/s320/IMG_1595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Photo by Cynthia Dial</i></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Meet the experts</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We reached out to the following travel rewards experts for
their advice on choosing a travel card, maximizing rewards, and making the most
of points or miles at redemption. Here’s what they told us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #1</b> – Take advantage of more than just free travel.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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You might not know this, but travel credit cards are
good for more than just earning points. Some of these cards grant you and your
family access to additional perks. Ariana from TopCashback explains:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Airline miles or hotel loyalty points may seem like the only
rewards, but think again! In addition to miles, some reward programs (such as
American Express) give you access to airport lounges, restaurant and hotel
concierges and deals on rental cars.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rewards programs may also offer opportunities for earning
extra points with participating car rental services, hotels, and airlines. All
the more reason to make sure you read up on everything your card has to offer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #2</b> – Choose cards with miles bonus incentives and
flexible redemption.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Travel hacking is all about finding ways to earn miles and
points faster while working within the existing rules. Cat Holladay from The
Compass is Calling explains how some cards make that even easier:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“The key is to sign up for the cards with the most miles’
bonus incentive AND the most flexible usage. Several cards out there give
50-60,000 ‘miles’ after spending $3,000-4,000 in the first 3 months. 60,000 miles
is the equivalent of 2 domestic tickets on many airlines, almost two
international tickets on Singapore Airlines, and one international ticket on
most carriers.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Choosing a travel credit card with flexible redemption means
more options when it’s time to redeem your hard-earned miles. Some top travel
cards offer 1:1 rewards transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs or
discounts on travel booked through the card’s rewards program, and more. Others
allow you to redeem miles for a travel statement credit, which means you can
reimburse yourself for eligible travel purchases, no matter where you book.
And, as Cat points out, many of them offer generous mile bonuses for spending a
couple thousand dollars within the first few months.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #3</b> – Maximize rewards on everyday purchases.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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What kind of purchases do you make in your everyday life? Do
you find yourself eating out more often than not? Are you brand loyal? It is
wise to sign up for a credit card with a rewards program that aligns with those
everyday spending habits.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“By signing up for a new credit card with a hefty welcome
bonus and just doing your normal, everyday spending, you can accrue points or
miles towards free flights (plus taxes or fees, generally low) or hotel rooms,”
explains David Slotnick of The City Miler.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the best things about a credit card that rewards your
everyday spending habits is that you don’t have to change anything. You don’t
need to adjust how much you’re willing to pay for something just to hit a
particular threshold, and you’ll earn your way toward a free trip in no time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #4</b> – Don’t opt for cash back.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Some cards let you cash in your points for a pre-paid gift
card. While that might seem like a perk, it’s a colossal waste of points and
miles. With most travel cards, you’ll get the best points redemption value for,
you guessed it, travel. (Some travel credit cards even give you a nice
redemption bonus if you book through their cardmember portal!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It’s tempting to exchange your points for cash back – you
see the dollar amount beckoning to you on your screen, just one click away,”
says Kaja Olcott of RewardExpert. “However, people need to know that it’s not
necessarily the best value available to them. In fact, redeeming for air travel
typically offers the most lucrative return.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #5</b> – Study loyalty program terms for extra points.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Travel isn’t the only category where loyalty programs exist
to help you earn and spend points. In fact, quite a few travel credit cards on
the market feature loyalty programs in other categories for dining, car rentals
and more. Studying and understanding the terms of these programs is a great way
to maximize your point accrual, according to Torsten Jacobi of Mighty Travels:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Loyalty programs often offer bonus miles or points just for
signing up to them for free. If you shop online, you can use various portals
like MileagePlus Shopping and AAdvantage eShopping to earn as you spend and some
loyalty programs also have dining programs so you can earn as you eat. You can
earn with your car rentals, your mobile phone provider, when you buy an
Internet service, order flowers and sometimes even when you buy or sell a
property!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another way to earn extra points is with loyalty programs
that let you “level up” in terms of spending and earning points. “Just for
signing up you get 3 American Airlines points for every dollar you spend at
participating restaurants,” explains Sean Ogle from Location Rebel. “Once you
hit 12 transactions in a year, you get bumped up 5 points per $1 spent. So to
give you an example, if you go out to a dinner and spend $100, you’ll get 500
AAdvantage points just for being part of the program. If you register one of
your rewards credit cards, then you’ll also get points from them.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #6</b> – Consider a card with an annual fee.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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No one likes to pay annual fees on their travel credit
cards. However, in some cases, the annual fee is worth it, as Matthew Kepnes of
Nomadic Matt points out:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“For those who travel a lot and fly a lot, I think it is
worth it to get a card with a fee. Fee-based cards tend to give you a better
rewards scheme, where you can accumulate points faster, get better access to
services and special offers, and get better travel protection. With these
cards, I have saved more money on travel than I have spent on fees.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The cost of the annual fee can pay for itself several times
over. This is especially true with cards that come with a generous sign-up
bonus. For instance, if you opt for a card that nets you 60,000 points just for
signing up, the cash back on those points could pay for the card for several
years. It’s also worth noting that some of these cards offer to waive the
annual fee for your first year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #7</b> – Be flexible.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Generally, flexibility is a good thing to have when life
throws little curve balls at you. This is especially true for booking travel
and redeeming hotel rewards. Some rewards programs help you save money or earn
extra points if you are flexible about your departure date and are willing to
shift things around. You might even be eligible for more rewards if you
downgrade your hotel accommodations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Flexibility is key when trying to maximize airline and
hotel rewards. Sometimes the award space will appear just days before your
trip. If your travel dates aren’t flexible, book a backup itinerary and change
it as better options become available.” – Scott Mackenzie, Travel Codex.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s often important to opt for travel credit cards that
have flexible spending and redemption bonuses. The same is true for how
flexible you are in redeeming those points.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Tip #8</b> – Transfer points to partner programs.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes it pays to transfer your points to a partner
program. Take it from the Financial Panther himself, Kevin. He explains:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Some card issuers have a bunch of travel partners to which you can transfer your points over and get tremendous deals. For example,
I have a friend this year, who is flying to Hawaii round trip from Minneapolis
for 25,000 points! He did this by transferring his points to Korean air
partner, who partners with Delta, and they have a deal where you can fly
anywhere in the US roundtrip for 25k points.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some top travel credit cards feature 1:1 points transfer to
several airline and hotel loyalty programs. That means you won’t lose any
points if you decide to do like Kevin’s friend and transfer those points for a
better deal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These are just a few expert travel hacking tips you can use
to earn free travel while making the most of your points. So don’t let the
rising cost of travel stop you or your family from seeing the world. Take some
tips from our panel of travel experts, and start making the system work for
you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>#travel #travelingcynthia #traveltips #travelhacking</i></div>
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Traveling Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02112260687173981198noreply@blogger.com0