I love lists.
Thanks to Anderson Cooper, I have another one to live by.
28 things I wish I'd known before I started traveling.
Thanks AC!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The National Parks
Summer.
Makes me want to take a road trip.
I imagine that iconic 1950s scene of the nuclear family of four packing up the station wagon, hefty camping gear and fishing poles loaded in the back, ready to hit the highway. While the saying goes There is nothing more American than apple pie, I beg to differ. There is something more American: taking advantage of the great beauties of our own backyard, our National Parks.
The book lists numerous US National Parks: Crater Lake, Oregon; Glacier, Montana (Glacier is even celebrating its centennial this year: http://www.glaciercentennial.org/); Mt McKinley/Denali, Alaska; Glacier Bay, Alaska; The Grand Canyon, Arizona; and the list goes on.
What's your favorite National Park?
Makes me want to take a road trip.
I imagine that iconic 1950s scene of the nuclear family of four packing up the station wagon, hefty camping gear and fishing poles loaded in the back, ready to hit the highway. While the saying goes There is nothing more American than apple pie, I beg to differ. There is something more American: taking advantage of the great beauties of our own backyard, our National Parks.
Yellowstone National Park, circa 1956
The book lists numerous US National Parks: Crater Lake, Oregon; Glacier, Montana (Glacier is even celebrating its centennial this year: http://www.glaciercentennial.org/); Mt McKinley/Denali, Alaska; Glacier Bay, Alaska; The Grand Canyon, Arizona; and the list goes on.
What's your favorite National Park?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Where to next?
Now that my journey to the Baltic is complete, the jitters from my traveling addiction are setting in and I'm in need of my next fix. Where should I go? There are 900+ places I have yet to visit and I need to prioritize. I've asked a trusted friend and fellow travel gal (who also lives by the 1,000 places book) for her recommendation as to my next journey. Thought I'd share the first of her recommendations, Jerusalem, here.
Guest Blogger: Travel Gal Alicia
Another small town girl crossing off one place at a time.
Jerusalem, Israel
I have never been so excited to visit anywhere than when I toured Jerusalem – I mean, it is THE city of history, religion, and every major news story since World War II. And there I was, half way around the world rolling into town in a 50 passenger bus. Over the next week I was able to explore the old city, historical sites and tourist traps alike, and to write about one week could easily fill 20 pages. So I’ll stick to a few of my favorite highlights.
When most people think of Jerusalem, the Old City is probably the image that pops into their head. Old Jerusalem is divided into Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters, but there is an easy continuity between them. Everywhere you look silk and tapestries hang over the narrow passageways while merchants line the cobblestone streets beckoning you into their shops with promises of the best deals in all of Israel. No matter who’s selling you the postcards, olivewood chess sets or Holy Land themed t-shirts, there’s always a “Made In China” box sitting behind the counter. And on the days their own sections are closed for their days of rest, it’s not uncommon to see patrons exiting the shops in the neighboring quarters.
The heart of the Old City is the Temple Mount and its Western Wailing Wall. Every day hundreds, if not thousands, of devout Jews congregate at the Wailing Wall, praying and socializing together, and almost always celebrating at least one bar-mitzvah.
And while all this is going on at the base of Temple Mount, the platform up top is swarming with tourists and Muslim guards. The area is large enough to fit 12 Great Pyramids, the largest man-made platform in the world, and is filled with gardens, arches, a mosque, and of course the Dome on the Rock – which is not actually the mosque, but a shrine. One of my favorite pictures is from the Mount of Olives with the sparkling gold dome in the background.
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And another building contained the complete known collection of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Can you tell I’m a little excited by history? I could go on and on – the Via Dela Rosa, the Bell Caves, the endless archaeological digs - but I think it would best if you just took a trip there yourself. I promise, it will be the trip of a lifetime.
Date of Completion: May 2006
Guest Blogger: Travel Gal Alicia
Another small town girl crossing off one place at a time.
Jerusalem, Israel
I have never been so excited to visit anywhere than when I toured Jerusalem – I mean, it is THE city of history, religion, and every major news story since World War II. And there I was, half way around the world rolling into town in a 50 passenger bus. Over the next week I was able to explore the old city, historical sites and tourist traps alike, and to write about one week could easily fill 20 pages. So I’ll stick to a few of my favorite highlights.
When most people think of Jerusalem, the Old City is probably the image that pops into their head. Old Jerusalem is divided into Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters, but there is an easy continuity between them. Everywhere you look silk and tapestries hang over the narrow passageways while merchants line the cobblestone streets beckoning you into their shops with promises of the best deals in all of Israel. No matter who’s selling you the postcards, olivewood chess sets or Holy Land themed t-shirts, there’s always a “Made In China” box sitting behind the counter. And on the days their own sections are closed for their days of rest, it’s not uncommon to see patrons exiting the shops in the neighboring quarters.
The heart of the Old City is the Temple Mount and its Western Wailing Wall. Every day hundreds, if not thousands, of devout Jews congregate at the Wailing Wall, praying and socializing together, and almost always celebrating at least one bar-mitzvah.
And while all this is going on at the base of Temple Mount, the platform up top is swarming with tourists and Muslim guards. The area is large enough to fit 12 Great Pyramids, the largest man-made platform in the world, and is filled with gardens, arches, a mosque, and of course the Dome on the Rock – which is not actually the mosque, but a shrine. One of my favorite pictures is from the Mount of Olives with the sparkling gold dome in the background.
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Strongly contrasting the vivid golden dome was a building on the other side of town: a dark metallic structure telling the story of the Holocaust. We all learned about the Holocaust and World War II in school, but this place brought it to life. I’ve never seen such a large collection of letters, photographs, vintage film, and videotaped interviews with survivors. The inside of one building was lit completely by candle light, with a voice reading off the names of every Jew who perished in the Holocaust. In the year since it opened, they had only reached the H’s.
Date of Completion: May 2006
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Stockholm
The last stop of our wonderful vacation was to Stockholm. My first trip to Sweden, the "mother country". I plan on returning to Sweden someday for a much longer visit, seeing extended family, and I hope to return with some knowledge of the Swedish language (where is my copy of Rosetta Stone?). The Swedes seemed impressed with my 'Tack så mycket', but that can only get me so far.
Our day in Stockholm began with a brief bus tour of the city, much of it was spent driving on the scenic roadways along the pristine waterways. The bus driver pointed out Elin Nordegren Woods' Stockholm apartment, the royal cathedral where the Princess Victoria was married later that month (June 19th), and the impressive Vasa Museum (interesting story - read it!). We didn't get to see the museum, it'll be on the list for next time!
The best excursion of the entire trip was walking on the rooftops of the Old Parliamentary Building in the city center of Stockholm. It's hands-down the best view of the city, serene yet a thrill! Throw on a helmet, strap yourself into a harness, connect to a silver rail, and walk along the steel catwalk for this amazing rooftop tour.
We spent the afternoon in the small seaside town of Nynäshamn, had lunch in the quaint town, coffee and then finished the day with a beer on the seaside boardwalk.
Our day in Stockholm began with a brief bus tour of the city, much of it was spent driving on the scenic roadways along the pristine waterways. The bus driver pointed out Elin Nordegren Woods' Stockholm apartment, the royal cathedral where the Princess Victoria was married later that month (June 19th), and the impressive Vasa Museum (interesting story - read it!). We didn't get to see the museum, it'll be on the list for next time!
The best excursion of the entire trip was walking on the rooftops of the Old Parliamentary Building in the city center of Stockholm. It's hands-down the best view of the city, serene yet a thrill! Throw on a helmet, strap yourself into a harness, connect to a silver rail, and walk along the steel catwalk for this amazing rooftop tour.
Other sights around the city:
National Day of Sweden
Viking Gotlandic Picture Stone (Runestone)
We spent the afternoon in the small seaside town of Nynäshamn, had lunch in the quaint town, coffee and then finished the day with a beer on the seaside boardwalk.
My obsession with checking out grocery stores led me to this -
all the Knäckebröd reminds me of my grandparents pantry!
Why does coffee in foreign countries always look so sophisticated? No paper cup!
Nynäshamn Marina
Local beer
Stockholm was our last stop and as we cruised back toward the UK, we passed under the famous Öresund Bridge linking Denmark to Sweden, the first road link from Europe to Scandinavia.
We cleared the bridge with just 18" to spare!
Stockholm - Completed June 2010
Lost In Translation
A sampling of funny things we saw along the way...
London
Copenhagen
Tallinn
Stockholm
London
If there was any question about what this Chinese restaurant serves...
In case you didn't know, it kills.
Just the ones that steam?
Shrubberies!
At least it keeps the street clean!
Copenhagen
Take Away, always sounds better than "To-Go"
Danish Center for ?
Fasten the Safety!
Helsinki
Just no terriers...
No smoking, and oh yeah, no ice cream either.
Unicorn in Finnish (top) and Swedish (bottom)
Residential area?
The green thing, it's a WC.
Must be a problem with urinating on the streets.
In Swedish, this says "No Pissing".
Love the deer!
Again, what does the entire Baltic region have against terriers?
Smoking Kills, in Sweden too.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Helsinki
Ah, Helsinki, what a beautiful day we had there. I spent the morning on the balcony of the cabin, looking at the scenery as we were cruising into the port early in the morning. I could see thousands of islands dot the waters just off the mainland. It looked as if we were in the San Juans of the Pacific Northwest, felt like home.
Finnish Countryside
Our day began with a trip to a home in the countryside for coffee, tea, and traditional Karelian Pie and Rye bread. The Karelian Pie and rye bread were served along with egg butter (quite good actually). The hosts, the Nurmis, were very pleasant, opening up their home to us and several other guests. Their home sits in Sipoo, just about 20 miles outside the city and is nearby a lake surrounded by trees. It's quite an idyllic setting - I could have stayed there forever! They do rent out a cabin on their property - here's the web site.
Our day began with a trip to a home in the countryside for coffee, tea, and traditional Karelian Pie and Rye bread. The Karelian Pie and rye bread were served along with egg butter (quite good actually). The hosts, the Nurmis, were very pleasant, opening up their home to us and several other guests. Their home sits in Sipoo, just about 20 miles outside the city and is nearby a lake surrounded by trees. It's quite an idyllic setting - I could have stayed there forever! They do rent out a cabin on their property - here's the web site.
Rye bread - enough for several months!
Santa?
Feeling at home
We spent the morning walking around the home, checking out all the saunas (almost every Finnish home has one), went the grounds nearby the lake, etc. The smoke sauna out by the lake uses real wood and black smoke so the user comes out of the sauna looking like they were just in a coal mine. It's quite popular to use the sauna in the winter then go for a quick dip in the ice cold lake. Sounds interesting, but no thanks!
Smoke Sauna and Indoor Steam Sauna
After our morning in the countryside we made our way back to Helsinki, stopping along the way at this beautiful centuries old church: Sipoo Old Church. It's only used in the summer - no heat in the cold winter months!
Church in the Rock
The name says it all - it's a church, built into a rock in the middle of the city. Temppeliaukio Kirkko, as it's known in Finnish, is a beautiful, modern church built in 1969. The walls surrounding the church are made up of the rocks it is built into, and a dome of copper wire covers the top. Within the rock walls, there are small knotches throughout where remnants of candle wax exist as candles are placed here during special services. The space itself is filled with light, simplistic yet very spiritual.
Hotel Kamp
In the afternoon, we camped out and basked in the sun in front of Hotel Kamp, listed in the book. We dined at a small table out front, ordered Finnish beer and spent the afternoon people watching.
The remainder of our day in Helsinki was spent checking out the outdoor market, another church, and just taking in the sights and sounds of the city. A few pictures from the afternoon:
Hotel Kamp, Date of Completion: June 2010
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