Where in the World? Week 15 (February 27, 2015)

Where in the world is this?

Enter your answer in the comment box below.

Come back next Friday (March 6) for the answer, and another photo.
















Where in the world was last week's photo?

Chapel of the Holy Cross
Sedona, AZ 86336

1 888 242 7359



Chapel of the Holy Cross

Spring is in the air... Spring Training that is

As much of North America sits in the grip of yet another cold snap, there are jokes about relying upon a rodent to forecast the weather.  People are looking for any sign of winter releasing its grips and spring approaching.

One sign that spring is coming is Spring Training in baseball.  While it seems like it was just yesterday that the San Francisco Giants won the World Series, players have been reporting for training for a new season.  Early next week teams will begin their pre-season game schedule.

While spring training is in most cases held far from the actual home fields of the teams, the games are played in the sun, where temperatures are warmer than they have been, and, still are for most of us at home.  The Grapefruit League is based in Florida, and the Cactus League in Arizona.  Both those locations bring to mind sun, warm temperatures and better weather, and almost create a euphoria in the minds of many.

If you are a baseball fan, and are still looking to get away this winter, here is a good reason.  Take off for a few days, a week or more to follow your team.  Find the city where they play.  Check the game schedule.  Buy tickets for the games you want to see.  Book your plane ticket and accommodation.  Since you will likely be going to more than one stadium, you will want a rental car to get around.  Besides, in both Florida and Arizona you really need a car to get anywhere.

Attending a pre-season game can be a lot of fun.  The stadiums are much smaller than the major league stadiums at home, so no matter where you sit you are up close to the play.  You get to see your team's players from previous season, as well as the new one play.  It may give you an idea of what their season ahead will be like.

While your team will be playing some games at  their Spring Training stadium, they will also be playing at other stadiums in the area.  Most are not too distant, so a one or two hour drive will get you to the game.  As an example, staying in Lakeland, I have been able to take in games with Detroit Tigers (Lakeland), Toronto Blue Jays (Dunedin), Pittsburgh Pirates (Bradenton), Baltimore Orioles (Sarasota).  These are just some of the teams in the area.

School breaks begin in the next few weeks.  If you are heading south for the break with your kids, why not take in a game or two, or more.

Attending a Spring Training game is another great way to have some fun while you are in the sun.  It a great way to remind yourself about good weather and good times to come.

In all cases, remember the sunscreen.  Having attended numerous games in the Grapefruit League, I have managed to get a couple of unnecessary sunburns.  Caught up in the play you forget the effects of sitting in a stadium in direct sun...especially after being bundled up all winter.

For information about the Grapefruit League (click here) and the Cactus League (click here).

Cuban breezes...

Sunny thoughts....

Cayo Coco, Cuba

News and Tips #10 - Monday, February 23, 2015

Monday, February 23, 2015

In this issue:
-Siesta Beach Named Best Beach in The United States By TripAdvisor - HuffingtonPost
-Haiti is Open for Business - Gone - Medium
-Nine Places That Are Surprisingly Cheap This Year - SmarterTravel.com
-Cruisers' choice: Best cruise ships of 2015 - CNN.com
-10 Pre Car Checks Before Your Road Trip - Travel.Food.Film
-Packing Light: 15 Tips From Travel Experts - Almost Landing

Siesta Beach Named Best Beach in The United States by TripAdvisor - HuffingtonPost

Sure Hawaii and the Caribbean have beautiful, swoon-worthy beaches, but if you're looking to escape the cold -- your #1 beach destination is within the continental United States.  TripAdvisor's annual ranking for the '25 Best Beaches in the US' just came out, and Siesta Beach, Florida claimed the top spot.
Read more...





Haiti is Open for Business - Gone - Medium

Hispaniola, the land mass that Haiti shares with its neighbour to the East, the Dominican Republic, is the second largest island in the Caribbean after Cuba. It's less that four hours by air from New York, yet worlds away in terms of its culture and history.

Arriving from chilly Manhattan in November, the view from the air is at once breathtaking and serene, a picture postcard of tropical delights.
Read more...


Nine Places That Are Surprisingly Cheap This Year - SmarterTravel.com

Call it the year of the bucket list. A strong dollar in destinations around the world is making this an amazing time to go farther and do more for much, much less in 2015. Find great value around the globe-from usually pricey destinations like Japan and France to even better details in affordable spots like Mexico and Eastern Europe-and make 2015 a year to remember.
Read more...



Cruisers' choice: Best cruise ships of 2015 - CNN.com

While Disneyland has long been known as the 'happiest place on Earth,' Disney's cruise ships sound like they're also cheerful spots to vacation.

At least that's what the 2015 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards, announced Monday, are indicating. Disney Cruise Line dominated this year's awards, winning in 12 categories.

Disney Cruise Line won the coveted "best overall" cruise line award for the third year...
Read more...


10 Pre Car Checks Before Your Road Trip - Travel.Food.Film

So you've planned your road trip. You know where you're heading and you've stocked the car with enough food to last you for a year, but sometimes it's easy to get that excited about your holiday that you forget whether the car is up for driving long distances.  So, before you take off on that wild adventure, you should do a few pre car checks to make sure your car is in good condition and running smoothly, thus helping you get to your final destination safely...
Read more...







Packing Light: 15 Tips From Travel Experts - Almost Landing

I didn't always pack light. My first trip overseas I bought the biggest bag I thought I could manage and I packed everything I thought I would need, who knew Thailand had shampoo? Truth is, I was scared. I had no idea what to expect or what I could find. So, I pack everything, just in case. And those three little words "just in case", are enough to make you upsize your bag and unzip the expandable section.
Read more...

http://almostlanding.com/packing-light-bloggers-tips/

News and Tips #9 - February 21, 2015

Saturday, February 21, 2015

In this issue:

-Have you seen inside the world's first northern lights plane? - YouTube
-15 Quick Ways to Beat Jet Lag - Smart Women Travelers
-First time Greece: top 10 experiences - Lonely Planet
-9 Ideas for Your Next Volunteer Travel Experience - Fodors
-Ithaca, NY tourism office" Go to Florida instead - Fox News

Have you seen inside the world's first northern lights plane? - YouTube




15 Quick Ways to Beat Jet Lag - Smart Women Travelers

Fifteen quick ways to beat jet lag like you've never seen it before.  There are several of tips out there on jet lag, but this is especially comprehensive and I thought I'd share it with Smart Women Travelers.
Read more...

First time Greece: top 10 experiences - Lonely Planet

With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all the hype. But how to approach this vast country with enough islands to suit everyone's taste and antiquities dotting the landscape like a historical map of Western civilisation?
Read more...





9 Ideas for Your Next Volunteer Travel Experience - Fodors

A few years back, my wife and I took a six-month trip with our two teenage children where we volunteered our way around the world. Not only was this a much cheaper way to travel, it was far more meaningful and transformative than any hotel-restaurant-museum trip I've ever been on.  Working with local projects as part of local communities not only impacts the lives of the people you are helping, but it can also dramatically...
Read more...


Ithaca, NY tourism office: Go to Florida instead - Fox News

"Really, it's for the birds here now."

Tourist officials in Ithaca New York, fed up with the repeated snowstorms and below-freezing temperatures, have stopped trying to lure visitors to their city and are instead steering them to Florida's Key West.

"That's it. We surrender," read a message that began popping up...
Read more...

“Wherever you go...

Where in the World? - Week 14 (February 20)

Where in the world is this?

Enter your answer in the comment box below.

Come back next Friday (February 27) for the answer, and another photo.












Where in the world was last week's photo?

Mission Dolores - Old Church
3321 Sixteenth Street
San Francisco, CA
94114

Mission Dolores is the oldest intact mission in California, and also the oldest building in San Francisco.

for more information: Mission Dolores

Sunny thoughts...

A sunny day at the beach would be nice....

Phuket, Thailand

Celebrating the Year of the Sheep

It's Lunar New Year, a holiday celebrated around the world.

In this edition:
-Asia Prepares for the Year of the Sheep
-Glimpses of Chinese New Year
-Lunar New Year: Asia's big party - BBC - Travel
-Lunar New Year in Korea
-Lunar New Year Celebrations 2015 in the United Kingdom
-How To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2015 in NYC
-A homeward bound motor 'gang' - Chinadaily.com
-How People travel during Lunar New Year - Lonely Planet blog
-Lunar New Year Fireworks - Beijing 2015

Asia Prepares for the Year of the Sheep

No matter where you are, or when, shopping is a major activity in preparing for a holiday:


Lunar New Year is celebrated in many countries around the world.  Most major cities will be holding events.


Glimpses of Chinese New Year

...In this series of images, updated daily from Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 through Saturday, Feb. 21, Associated Press photographers show how the Chinese Lunar New Year is observed across the Asia-Pacific region, illustrating what China's biggest holiday means to the country and its extensive Chinese diaspora...
Read more...

Lunar New Year - Asia's big party

On 19 February 2015, more than a billion people will kick-off 15 days of festivities to celebrate the Lunar New Year – one of the most important festivals for people in China, many parts of Asia and in cities and towns worldwide. Although celebrated in different ways around the world, Lunar New Year is a time for families to get together, honour deities and ancestors, and ring in the new lunar calendar. Legend has it that the festival, which has origins dating back to the...
Read more...


Lunar New Year in Korea

The Lunar New Year is the largest annual holiday across Confucian societies in the world. 

From China to Taiwan, Hong Kong to Singapore, billions of people across nationalities and languages are united in celebration of "Chunjie" which lasts over a week on the lunar calendar.
Read more...




In the United Kingdom...

In New York City...

Chinese New Year falls this year on February 19th, and 2015 happens to be the year of the sheep in the Chinese zodiac, or the ram, if you prefer a bit more attitude.  As the most important holiday in Chinese culture (the Chinese equivalent of Thanksgiving and Christmas, all at once) it is a time for festivities and food.  So get in on the cultural fun!  Here's our roundup of how to celebrate Chinese New Year in NYC.
Read more...




With billions of people celebrating Lunar New Year, and many of them travelling to be with family and friends, the resultant traffic is huge.

How people travel during Lunar New Year - Lonely Planet blog

People are determined to get home whatever it takes

Lunar New Year Fireworks - Beijing 2015

Happy Lunar New Year

It's Lunar New Year - The Year of the Sheep

Gung Hei Fah Choi (Chinese)

Coming soon...

Coming soon...

This summer Toronto will be hosting the PanAmerican Games (July 10-26), and the Parapan American Games (August 7-15).

Capture the spirit.  Come and join in the adventure.



For more information CLICK HERE.

News and Tips #8 - Mardi Gras - February 17, 2015

Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.  It marks the last day of the pre-Lenten festival of Carnival.

For most North Americans, thoughts of Mardi Gras always focus on New Orleans which has its well-known festival.  It is a great time of fun and revelry.

While Mardi Gras is now a time honoured tradition in,  and synonymous with New Orleans its roots lie elsewhere in the South.  It seems that first recorded Mardi Gras was held in Mobile, Alabama in 1703, and it is still celebrated today.  That is a lot of time to do it right.  From there Mardi Gras spread to other cities in the South, as well as other cities across the USA that have their own version of Mardi Gras.

To better understand what Mardi Gras is all about it is good to have an understanding of some of the traditions and vocabulary associated with the festival.  Purple, green and gold are the colours of Mardi Gras.  Not only do the colours represent virtues, there is also an historical significance in their choice.

While visiting New Orleans, if you want to fully see the city and what it is all about it is best to go into the French Quarter beyond Bourbon Street, and the rest of the city.  Experience some of the sights, sounds and flavours that have given New Orleans its character.

If you haven't been able to attend Mardi Gras this year, or if you haven't yet had enough of it, perhaps tonight's (February 17, 2015) episode of NCIS: New Orleans will help.  The show will have a Mardi Gras theme.  Great care was taken to recreate an authentic Mardi Gras atmosphere for the show.

References:

-The Pussyfooters - New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras - Pictures - CBS News
-Mardi Gras: Not just in New Orleans - USAToday
-Mardi Gras outside New Orleans? Here's how other cities celebrate - nola.com
-Top 10 Mardi Gras Traditions You Should Know - theculturetrip.com
-Beyond Bourbon Street: 10 Things You Don't Know About New Orleans - Conde Nast Traveler
-Mardi Gras by the Numbers: "NCIS New Orleans" Lets the Good Times Roll - Yahoo TV

News and Tips #7 - February 16, 2015

February 16, 2015

In this issue:
1. America's Happiest Airports - SmarterTravel.com
2. Museum Rules: Talk Softly, and Carry No Selfie Stick - NYTimes.com
3. The Coolest Subway Stations in The World
4. This is What Breakfast Looks Like in22 Countries Around The World
5. Top 10 Travel tips to stay healthy abroad

America's Happiest Airports - SmarterTravel.com

A long layover feels twice as long when you're at a dull airport. But if you happen to be somewhere with good local food, interesting shops, free Wi-Fi, and other pleasant diversions, passing the time before a flight can feel more like vacation and less like an unwelcome interruption. Dating site MissTravel.com recently polled more than 50,000 people to find out their favorite U.S. airports and came up with a list that delivers on the comfort, convenience, customer service, and cleanliness fronts.
Read more...


Museum Rules: Talk Softly, and Carry No Selfie Stick - NYTimes.com

In a famous lab trial, a chimp named Sultan put two interlocking sticks together and pulled down an elusive prize, a bunch of bananas hanging just out of arm's reach.

Nearly a century later, eager tourists have conducted their own version of the experiment. Equipped with the camera extender known as a selfie stick, occasionally referred to as 'the wand of narcissism'...
Read more...


The Coolest Subway Stations in The World

New Yorkers spend most of their time on the subway either stressing over train delays or wondering why the dude manspreading next to them is wearing a velour jumpsuit and eating a full plate of spaghetti. Straphangers aboard have similar woes, but with an added bonus: many of their subway stations are actually nice to look at!

And to prove just how good other subway riders have it - at least in terms of aesthetics we scoured...
Read more...


This is What Breakfast Looks Like in 22 Countries Around the World

The best meal of the day.
Read more...












Top 10 Travel tips to stay healthy abroad

When traveling to a foreign country, it's important to do your research and know the risks before you go. What contagious diseases are easily transmitted through mosquitoes, water, or unsanitary conditions? What type of climate will you be in? Will there be a risk of heat stroke or sunburn? Will you be flying into a high elevation creating a risk of altitude sickness? Will hypothermia be a problem...
Read more...

Let the Good Times Roll - Carnival 2015

With Lent about to begin this Wednesday (February 18), it's the height of Carnival season around the world....

Rio di Janeiro, Brazil

Nice, France

New Orleans, USA

Venice, Italy

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Quebec, Canada

Laisse le bon temps rouler!

News and Tips #6 - Valentine's Edition - February 14, 2015

February 14, 2015
Valentine's Day Edition

In this issue:
1. Bite into the best cruises for chocolate lovers
2. Find romance in Venice: Aman Canal Grande (and beyond) - Smith Travel Blog
3. Dos and Don'ts on La Saint-Valentin in France - Comme une francaise (video)
4. 10 Most Romantic Cities in Europe - The Tourist of Life
5. Valentine's Day proposals - Will you marry me? - WestJet (video)
6. Top Spots for Romance this Valentine's Day - Johnny Jet

Bite into the best cruises for chocolate - USA Today

Chocolate lovers may have their appetites satisfied on cruise ships - whether their tastes run to rich truffles, melting cakes of 'loaded' chocolate drinks.

Many lines offer you a nighttime chocolate on your pillow and feature chocolate desserts nightly on dining room menus.  If you want more you can pre-order a round of chocolate strawberries delivered to you cabin (a nice romantic gesture).
Read more...

Find romance in Venice: Aman Canal Grande (and beyond) - Smith Travel Blog

Want to impress your beloved? We mean squeals of delight, adoring looks, maybe even a few delight tears? To get the desired effect whisk them away to Aman Canal Grande in Venice (George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin's jaw-dropping wedding venue) and then to some of Venice's most romantic spots.  Housed in a 16th-century palazzo, this poised Venetian escape epitomizes La Serenissima's seductive charms...
Read more...


Dos and Don'ts on La Saint-Valentin in France - Comme une francaise  -  (video)




10 Most Romantic Cities in Europe - The Tourist Life

My idea of a romantic city is small, cosy, lots of music, lots of places to eat romantically, to be able to wander and be amazed and to find the peace you can't find at home.  It was hard to create this list as Europe has so many romantic cities that measured up to this criteria.  But after a couple of hours I finally figured it out.  Here is my top 10 of romantic cities in Europe.
Read more...



Valentine's Day proposals - Will you marry me? WestJet (video)




Top Spots for Romance This Valentine's Day - Johnny Jet

Bring on the romance! While couples are getting close today on Valentine's Day, they are apparently getting closer in New York and Cancun.
There's a new survey out by Allianz Global Assistance ranking the U.S. Valentine's Day destinations with New York stealing the number one spot followed by Las Vegas and Chicago, respectively.  Other U.S. destinations ranking in the top 10 were San Francisco, Seattle,...

Read more