Spring is in the air... Spring Training (from February 25, 2015)

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

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).

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).

Resolutions for travel in 2015

Here are my travel resolutions or goals for 2015.  As with any resolutions or goals not all will likely be achieved.  Stay tuned to this blog to see how I do.

I would like to further my ability to speak Italian.  I have been learning Italian especially during my travels in Italy.  It is a beautiful language.  I am able to carry on basic conversations in Italian with another person, get the general gist of group conversations and the news on TV.  Being part of a conversation with a number of people is still a challenge.

Living in Canada, I have learned that winter is a part of our life, but it would be nice to get a break from it.  Florida is a possibility as it is accessible by car and plane.

However, for a more long term winter break Nicaragua has caught my attention, and I would like to see first-hand what it has to offer.  From my reading so far, it seems to be a Central American country on the verge of development.  It has a lot of history and culture to enjoy and learn about.  The cost of living and lifestyle both seem to be to my liking.

I always enjoy visiting Italy.  Most of my time has been spent in and around Rome and Naples.  I would love to add Florence, Tuscany and Venice to my list of places visited.  A culinary course in Tuscany, for even a day, would be amazing.

As a possible add-on to a trip to Italy, I would love to return to Spain.   There is so much to see and do.  Of particular interest, due to my interest in architecture, is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

I would also like to visit the Netherlands, and if time permitted bike around parts of the country.

Closer to home, I would love to return to Newfoundland.  I was there a few years ago, but my time was limited and I only saw the area about 100 km radius of St. John's.  The Viking settlements in the north are of particular interest to me.

As well, while there, I would like to take the ferry to St. Pierre et Miquelon.  These are two islands that are a self-governing territory of France.  Only 25 miles off the coast of Newfoundland they provide the opportunity to experience 'la vie francaise' closer to home.

Two of my goals can be done together.  I would love to see the Northern Lights in the far north.  I have seen them many times around my summer home in Ontario.  As well, I would like to visit northern Canada.  For years the remoteness and beauty of the Yukon especially has intrigued me.  However, visiting The Northwest Territories could also meet this goal.



Something I am looking into is to use some of my areas of expertise in education and combine that in a travel setting.  I am not sure what it will look like.  I call it travelling and giving back.

As you can see, there are many possibilities for my travelling this year.  That does not include any opportunities that pop up along the way.  In 2014, my trip to the Turkey and the Middle East was planned and started within 8 weeks.  My list also does not preclude returning to many of the places I have already visited that I would like to return to.  So many places, so little time.