Travel plan idea blog

Back to Italy? 1 month in Bologna with a few trips planned

So speaking of nostalgia tourism, my wife and I miss Italy where we honeymooned in 2001. That time we stayed in Rome for 1 month and Assisi for 1 month (and then spent a week visiting Naples and Capri).

When we go back, we were thinking about taking a one month class in Bologna (it's nice to learn something and make friends) and then taking trips to nearby places like Florence, Milan, and Verona. Since we'd be flying in to Rome, we’d probably spend a few days there at the beginning or the end of our trip. We could also try to work in a trip to Assisi and Perugia since we spent a lot of time in those places on our honeymoon. I do have some unfinished business on Capri, but that might wait for inclusion in another travel plan.

We'd also like to go back to Venice. We never did a Gondola ride last time we were there (I was poor and cheap) but this time I might spring for a gondola unless the price in Euros shocks me more than the price in lira did back in 2001...

When we originally went to Italy for our honeymoon, we had been aiming to leave for at least Vienna and Prague. Perhaps we'll figure out a way to work them into this trip. Sometimes airlines let you fly into once city and out from another with no extra fees. I wouldn’t mind flying in to Rome and leaving from Prague or Vienna.

As for Bologna, I hear it's quite nice with excellent food and a small historic city center perfect for exploring on foot. Its location also makes it a nice base since it does have easy access to Florence, Milan, Verona, and Venice if we make it there.

Perugia is another possible base, and we did spend some time there on our honeymoon. However it’s not as far north as Bologna making any trip to Milan or Venice quite a bit longer.

Anyway, here's a list of stuff I aim to include in my future travel plan.

Rome:

The Vatican and Sistine Chapel – I must be the only idiot who spent a month in Rome and never saw the Vatican. I think I saw the outside one night, but I never actually got in. Then there's this insider tip.

Pizza Re: 7 years later, my wife still talks about her favorite pizza.

Via dei Serpenti: We lived on that street by the Coliseum for a month and wonder how it has changed.

Fontana di Trevi: What can I say?

The Spanish Steps: Back in 2001 hanging out on the steps at night was pretty cool. I wonder if I'll still feel the same way now that I'm about 25% older.

Ferrara restaurant in Piazza Trilussa in Trastevere: I heard that this place is kind of expensive, but it's a good modernized version of Italian food worth checking out.

Coffee: Sant'Eustachio by the Pantheon or Cafffe Camerino in Largo Argentina: I almost never drink coffee but sometimes I just feel like a cappucino in Italy.

Pizzeria Baffetto: Some claim this is the best pizza in Rome. I'd like to see if my wife likes it better than Pizza Re.

Florence:

Uffizi: How I went to Florence but didn't enter this famous museum is a mystery.

Cibreo (not the trattoria or theater, but the main restaurant): Said to be one of the best in Italy. Highly, highly, highly recommended. A little pricey, but the food is really special.

Milan:

La Scala: I want people to think I'm cultured – what could fool them more than honestly saying I saw an opera in La Scala?

Milano's Duomo: If you've ever seen a picture of this thing…

Verona:

Plaza delle Erbe: This is supposee to be the best place to begin exploring Verona as it's considered kind of the center and has some of the more famous buildings around it.
Casa di Giulietta: I could skip this one but maybe I want to brag about how cultured I am by saying I've been to Juliet's house.

Honestly after making these lists Verona doesn't excite me as much as it used to. I seem to remember really wanting to go there in 2001, possibly because I was newly married and had recently been president of the Hofstra University Shakespeare Club (which amazingly didn’t continue after I left the university) and it just seemed more romantic back then. Perhaps I’ll be replacing Verona with a weekend flight to Prague or something. I suppose in that case we'd be leaving from Milan. Milan is also a possible base, but I'm sure a month there is more expensive than a month in Bolgna. I suppose it's worth finding out how much more.

Mexico, Canada, Hawaii

This article recommends a few Mexico family vacations. They have the usual resorts but also some more interesting ideas like jet boat tours along the Puerto Marques Lagoon "down the river where early Tarzan films were shot". I imagine kids would enjoy that kind of movie tourism.

North of the US, this article talks about Canada. Seems like Canada's image is changing to a cooler, more adventurous vacation destination:

The Calgary Stampede, the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Ford World Men's Curling Championships are all listed as particularly outstanding activities. The book suggests trying out eco-tourist destinations in Churchill, Man., to see polar bears up close or to kayak down the rapid-filled Slave River in the Northwest Territories.

And still in the US, but further than Mexico or Canada we have some Hawaii vacation deals in this article. Supposedly the hotel specials in that article will help make up for increasing airfare prices.

A few travel deals and ideas including a cruise special in Norway

This article talks about Fall travel deals. A small (15-room) boutique hotel in Puerto Vallarta starts at about $150/night. I believe this is somewhat near Ajijic.

I heard that traveling in Norway is expensive, but this deal sounds amazing (and if you read this blog you know I save that enthusiasm for the truly impressive):

Hurtigruten, a world leader in exploration and educational cruising, is offering great savings on its Norwegian Coastal Voyages. The 12-day roundtrip from Bergen can now be booked at a 2-for-1 cruise price.
Rates range from $2,299 to $3,099 for two people instead of per person.

If Norway is too far, here's an article on New York's Finger Lakes. Apparently this area is extra beautiful when the leaves start changing color.

Beginning to write a Vegas travel plan

This interview with a college football player that grew up in Las Vegas got me thinking about a Las Vegas travel plan. However, I'm pretty sure that I only need a couple of days in Vegas and that some of the surrounding attractions would be even better for me so here is a rough draft of my Nevada, Grand Canyon, & Las Vegas travel plan.

Day 1:

Arrive in las Vegas. Check in to your hotel. These Las Vegas hotel discounts look helpful. I found a Mirage discount page and some MGM Grand Offers. I've heard good things about several Vegas hotels so it probably will come down to value.

For dinner, hit a buffet that is still a bargain. This article recommends a few, including Firelight Buffet at Sam's Town on Boulder Highway - they say the gambling at Sam's Club is a good value as well. I'm not really looking for a way to lose money, even if it is a little slower than other ways...

Day 2:

Red Rock Canyon. I don't know anything about it except that the kid who grew up there recommended it (the first article I linked to).

Day 3:

Stay in Vegas. We all know that my wife and I can't go on vacation without doing some serious shopping so today is the day. One of the two can't miss shopping options seems to be the Fashion Show mall across from the Venetian Hotel and Casino. 250 shops and restaurants, seven department stores, plus live runway shows Friday through Sunday.

The other would have to be the Las Vegas Outlet Center, half a mile south of the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. Hard to pass up an outlet no matter where we are...

After shopping, take advantage of some free Vegas stuff like the Circus Circus show or the fountains at Bellagio.

Day 4:

I just heard that the Star Trek Experience closed up. so we need to do something else today.

I've heard about white tigers at the Mirage. Perhaps that and the Fremont Street experience would be a nice day. I remember a college professor who always railed against what he perceived as 'fakeness' at that included how in Vegas they have artificial night and day on Fremont Street. That's if I remember correctly, all I know for sure is that a Korean company designed the electronic system and my Korean wife would certainly get a kick out of seeing it, whatever they play up there.

Day 5:

Some of you may remember my sister asking about the Grand Canyon helicopter tour. She said it was worth it, so that's how I'd like to wrap things up - a helicopter tour / picnic Grand canyon experience. That night we could try a club or another free attraction or a live performance of whatever.

Any feedback for me? The trip is still far away, as in years away, but it's never too early to begin creaming / planning for a vacation...

Oahu, Kona, Maui

Here's an interesting article on Oahu. Apparently the entire island is part of Honolulu. Anyway, the article briefly covers hotels, restaurants, car rental and public transportation, plus sightseeing.

There's a section on stuff couples should do ("Relax on a sunset sail. Numerous companies offer sails right from Waikiki Beach"), stuff singles should do (these ideas sound much better than the couples ideas - for example "Hawaii Food Tours. The hosts/owners are great company and the food is terrific on either the lunchtime Hole-in-the-Wall Tour or evening Gourmet Trilogy Tour"), and stuff families should do (I've always wanted to "snorkel at Haunama Bay. This nature preserve is dedicated to safeguarding the fragile marine life in the Bay and offers some of the best, protected snorkelling on Oahu").

Then they go on to talk about Kona and Maui so the article has a lot of information.

More stuff: Hawaii vacation directory, Hawaii VolunTourism, Kauai (read the comments).

St. Thomas travel deal

I wasn't able to find a whole lot for you today but I do have this article on an American Airlines deal to St. Thomas. You can also find hotel deals on St. Thomas and other islands:

The three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, offer a current promotion that gets visitors a complimentary fifth-night stay, a $50 to $100 resort credit, a $50 gift card, plus up to $200 in savings on a host of activities, tours and extras.

List of musicians who have died in plane crashes

I don't have much time because I have class in a few minutes, but I thought this article was pretty interesting. I hadn't realized that so many musicians have died in plane crashes.

Glen Miller (1944)
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson. (1959)
Patsy Cline, Lloyd "Cowboy" Copas, and Harold "Hawkshaw" Hawkins (1963)
Otis Redding and four members of his backing group the Bar-Kays (1967)
Jim Croce (1973)
Ronnie Van Zant, Steven Gaines, and Cassie Gaines (1977_
Randy Rhoads (1982)
Ricky Nelson (1985)
Stevie Ray Vaughan (1990)
John Denver (1997)
Aaliyah (2001)

The only one I had really been aware of was the Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson crash in 1959 thanks to the song American Pie. Even though I really like Jim Croce, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, and Glen Miller I just had not known that they were plane crash victims.

Travel agent = low stress job?

Yahoo jobs is recommending travel agent (along with mathemetician, archivist, and conservation scientist) as a low stress job:

Travel Agents
Some aspects of this profession include computing costs of travel and accommodations, booking various tours, and selling travel packages. Although accuracy is paramount to success on the job, least stressful aspects include a comfortable pace and low frequency of conflict situations.

BLS notes the average earnings are $29,210 and Shatkin points out this job affords flexibility to be self-employed or work part-time.

"Stressors of any job include the duration of the work week, dealing with angry people, confronting situations and competition. People should look for a job situation where normal work hours are encouraged."

I am slightly surprised - I would have thought being a travel agent does get stressful fairly often. Of course that brings up the whole thing about card mills and real travel agents... If you can figure out the meaning of the last comment left on that entry I just linked, I'll owe you one.

Nottingham’s Famous Goose Fair

If you are visiting Europe during the next few weeks, perhaps to take advantage of fewer crowds and lower airfare now that summer is over, there are some interesting festivals and events taking place all over Europe. Almost everyone has heard of Germany’s famous Oktoberfest festival (This year’s Oktoberfest runs from September 20th to October 5th) which is almost as famous for being expensive and overcrowded!

One of Europe’s oldest festivals takes place in the UK city of Nottingham, best known for its association with Robin Hood. From its name, it doesn’t sound very exciting, but the Nottingham Goose Fair is a huge old-fashioned funfair and carnival, with rides, food and sideshows. This year’s fair runs from October 1st to October 4th.

The fair has been held for over 700 years and is so named for the geese that were sold there – goose was considered a traditional dish at that time of the year in England and at one time an estimated 20,000 geese were sold and eaten during fair time. The fair was held at first in Nottingham’s historic Market Square, but moved to its present location – a large area of open ground north of the city – in 1929.

If you are in London, it’s fairly easy to go to Nottingham for the day – the city is about an hour and forty minute train journey from London. Or you can drive in a couple of hours.

This site has a list of other festivals and fairs that take place in Europe mostly during October – some of them do sound quite intriguing, such as the Eurochocolate festival in Perugia, Italy and the Laughter Fair in Leipzig, Germany. Although, I think I might just skip the herring festival in Helsinki, Finland.

What Happened To TWA Flight #3 - Carole Lombard

Carole Lombard, the famous Hollywood starlet of the 1930’s, is probably best remembered as the wife of the legendary Clark Gable. She, like many others, was an active participant in the sale of war bonds shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Accompanied by her mother and a press agent, she returned to her hometown of Indianapolis in January 1942. The sale’s success of over $2 million in bonds was not surprising, but the circumstances surrounding the event were puzzling. Rather than returning to California by train, Lombard changed her plans at the last minute to TWA Flight #3. Her mother, an avid numerologist, was hesitant from the beginning and superstitious about the number 3, the letters and flight number of the airline. In addition, there were 3 people in their group, and Carole’s age at the time was 33.

The first hint of something amiss was the unscheduled stop at Lambert Field in St Louis, Missouri. Grounded for inclement weather is not an unusual occurrence; however, the weather had been perfect for the flight up to this time. For no apparent reason, a dense smoke screen arose unexpectedly in front of the aircraft, and visibility dropped quickly from 12 miles to 2 in about an hour. After a 2-hour layover at Lambert, the ill-fated flight continued on to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where another strange incident took place. Four people on the flight were asked by TWA to release their seats to a group of Army pilots. Not only was this an odd request at the time, but also the airport’s close proximity to the secret Area 51 military facility in Roswell aroused even more curiosity as time went by.

Normally, the flight to Los Angeles would have been non stop, but the layover delay and strong headwinds meant refueling was necessary. The next logical stop at Boulder, Colorado was considered; however, the runway there was unlighted, so the plane continued on to Las Vegas. After refueling in Las Vegas, the plane departed for California at 7 pm in clear, cold weather. Only one runway light was left on as ordered by the war department, which might have increased the glare from the lights in the cockpit. It is doubtful, however, that this interfered to any great extent with the pilot’s capability, as the radio beam and other equipment were functioning correctly. Although Captain Williams, an experienced pilot, and the co-pilot had not flown together on this particular segment of the flight, this seemed to be irrelevant. No reasonable explanation could be given why the plane veered some 6.7 miles off course shortly after takeoff. All pilot bulletins for 6 months previous had directed a flying altitude of 8,000 feet, yet the aircraft was several hundred feet below that when it crashed on Table Mountain, the eastern slope of Death Valley about 30 miles southwest of Vegas.

Workers from the Blue Diamond Mine in nearby Arden, Nevada, reported hearing an explosion and seeing fire on the mountainside. They were able to assist a group of soldiers, Indians, and riders on horseback led by Major Anderson from the gunnery school at McCarran Field in searching the trails on the Potosi mountain range. The wreckage, however, was eventually sighted by Western Airlines pilot Art Cheney, enroute to Vegas from California. Unfortunately, the tremendous impact and fire had destroyed all the evidence including the flight plan and navigational log that might have been helpful in explaining the crash.

Adding to the mystery surrounding the flight were 100 highly classified documents, which were released many years later by the FBI in 1985. These included reports of UFO sightings in the same area just hours before the untimely disaster. This might explain why the group of military pilots requested immediate space on the flight, perhaps on an urgent mission to investigate these sightings. We probably will never know if numerology or aliens from outer space had anything to do with the crash of TWA Flt #3 - perhaps it was nothing more than an unfortunate twist of fate.

(Note: Carole Lombard’s remains were interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California, at her request. The Army's offer of a military funeral for her war bond support was refused, but a WWII Liberty ship was given her name.)

Sharon Slayton

Hotel residence > Condotel > Timeshare?

I've written about timeshares and gotten a few positive and more negative comments. I've written about condotels and gotten no comments. Now I'm writing about hotel residences.

This article says that hotel residences are different from timeshares and condotels because the buyer owns the residence entirely (unlike a timeshare) and because the residence has a kitchen (unlike a condotel). Like condotels, there is a chance (hope?) that when you’re not using the residence others will rent it out and you can make some money or at least defray the expense of owning a vacation property.

One day I hope to be shopping for an expensive, fancy vacation home. I'll consider a hotel residence.

Vicariously visit the Texas mexico border?

Here's a book review for Vanishing Borderlands. This is said to be a collection of travel essays and photographs of the very dangerous Texas and Mexico border. Sure sounds like a bad place to vacation:

Bottom line: These borderlands are "not a safe place." They were always primal Wild West territory, but now Border Patrol and DEA agents — even tourists and National Park Service rangers — have been killed here. Deserts, once protected by remote locations, deadly cold or waterless, searing heat, are routinely torn up by smuggling activities and off-road pursuits. They are littered with abandoned vehicles, test-range targets and downed aircraft, ripped-up airstrips, trash and urban pollution. The $2.4 billion Secure Fence Act of 2006, which provided a 698-mile barrier meant to curb immigration, has created an ecological nightmare, a detriment to delicate habitats and easily reduced to pointlessness by ladders, ramps, steel bracing, demolition, tree limbs, ropes and human determination.

I guess that means if I want to 'see' this area I'll be buying the book...

And not to get too political, but I'll take the risk - why bother building a wall that is easily climbed over?

Some press releases for travel fans

I wanted to clean out my email box and I have tons of press releases I haven't gotten around to mentioning yet. Here they are in bulk:

The New Mexico History Museum will open in downtown Santa Fe on May 26, Memorial Day Weekend 2009. Link.

Curacao's hospitality and tourism association, CHATA, is auctioning great package deals to the island until September 26th. Link. Also, The island of Curacao is extending the booking window for its Curacao Now promotion until Nov. 15, 2008. Link.

This online survey says that "15 per cent of Brits have told fibs about their travel experiences to impress someone."

NCL has announced holiday cruises starting at $319.00. Link.

Actually I was hoping to get through more but this took longer than I thought. I'll probably have more for you in a few days...

Hiking in Korea, Canadian credit cards, a possible new law

I'll start off with an article on traveling in Korea, particularly Mt. Seorak. I'm looking forward to going on a few hikes this fall to enjoy the foliage - not sure if Mt. Seorak will be one of them but it is one of the most famous mountains in Korea. Certainly not a bad choice for tourists with a little time. Those on tight schedules can easily find good hikes in or around Seoul.

By the way, I'll eventually start telling stories about my wife's experiences as a tour guide in Korea.

Here is a Canadian article on some credit cards with travel rewards. We have an old discussion on American cards here.

I hesitate to get even remotely political so close to an election, but I feel like living dangerously with this article. Basically one politician introduced a bill that, if passed, will eventually make it harder for Customs & Border Protection to keep your confiscated laptop forever or mess up its information. Sounds OK to me.

On the Road to Knowledge game from Via Michelin online

I sometimes enjoy hunt lists, riddles, puzzles and things so I found this press release interesting. The hunt goes from September 1 to October 5 and this is the official website where you can enter and get more information.

Since it's a European company, I'm not sure that non-Europeans are eligible. Also, they say the game is simple so I'm not sure it will be fun for those who want a serious challenge.

Here's the press release:

Win a two week holiday to Mauritius, travel vouchers, iPods and more, by playing the simple 'On the Road to Knowledge' game from Via Michelin online. From 1st September to 5th October 2008, visitors to the Via Michelin website will be challenged to solve a series of riddles and discover the hidden treasures of Europe via the Via Michelin "Road to Knowledge".

Riddles and clues...

Participants will be challenged to solve a fresh puzzle every five days throughout the five week duration of the Treasure Hunt. In order to solve these riddles, participants will be offered a series of clues hidden in the Maps, Travel & Tourism and Hotels & Restaurants sections
of the Via Michelin website. Competitors will also have the option to request support from friends in order to progress in the competition.

At the end of the competition, players must have solved as many puzzles as possible in order to qualify for a series of prize draws for rewards that include a trip for two to Mauritius, various weekend breaks in Europe and iPod Touches.

Caribbean resort vacation deals: book before October 31, 2008

I'm not sure if this article is legit or if it's some kind of ad or press release so I recommend critical reading here:

Savvy travelers looking to get a jumpstart on their 2009 travel plans should take advantage of SuperClubs' Early Booking Bonus Savings with up to 20 percent off rates at 11 resorts in Jamaica, Curaçao and the Bahamas. Guests who book by October 31 will reap the savings on travels January 2 - December 22, 2009.

The resorsts involved include:

1. Grand Lido Resorts & Spas: AAA Four Diamond resorts in Jamaica. Rates start at $152 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

2. Breezes Resorts: Breezes Runaway Bay, Breezes Montego Bay, Breezes Bahamas and Breezes Curaçao. Rates start at $112 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

3. Hedonism Resorts: Adults-only Hedonism I and Hedonism II promise a sexy vacation. Rates start at $135 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

4. Starfish Trelawny: All-inclusive family-friendly accommodations. Rates start at $86 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

5. ROOMS Negril or ROOMS Ocho Rios in Jamaica: these are not all-inclusive.

Tourism classes in Japan

I'm not sure how many will find this article interesting. The short version is that tourism classes are becoming more popular in Japanese universities. Students think the courses look good on their resumes because Japan is trying to boost tourism.

VolunTourism in Hawaii

Well Hawaii is high on my list of places to go so I've talked about possible travel plans, accommodations, websites, Kauai, etc.

This article on Hawaii caught my eye because of the nice contrast it provides with my recent rant on companies that make money asking for volunteers.

So from 7:00 AM (ouch that's early for vacation) to 1:00 PM they worked on a Habitat for Humanity project. In return they got to feel good, learn how to make cabinets, and pay only $239/night for their hotel. I'm no expert, but considering these Kuhio Shores condos cost about $195/night (the range for ones that sleep 2-4 is $195-$225), that doesn't seem like a great bargain to me.

Then again, you're not supposed to volunteer only to get a discount on the hotel:

"For many people who are coming to Hawaii, vacationing is not just about lying on the beach and having a mai tai anymore," Clemmons said. "They appreciate that there is a stronger opportunity for volunteer conservation projects in Hawaii than in most parts of the (U.S. mainland)."

"I interviewed a couple of young women who had done a documentary on their VolunTourism trip to Hawaii," he said. "They said VolunTourism lets you bring your aloha. These tourists are bringing their aloha. They aren't just taking it."

The upcoming Voluntourism opportunities in Hawaii sound much better than building houses (at least to me). There's a whale count on Oahu, for example.

Travel with autistic children: cruises and more

This article talks about a Royal Caribbean cruise designed for families where one or more of the kids has autism.

They also mention camping in Colorado and a resort in Vermont. But just because a tour operator tries to provide travel experiences for people who suffer from autism does not mean that the vacation will be easy:

The very idea of travel — the chance to see new places, try new foods, experience new cultures — is directly at odds with the needs of many people with autism, who require well-established, strictly observed routines to feel secure.

I hope this helps some of you. I have a friend who has 2 kids with autism. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but if you watch this video, someone somewhere donates money to research on autism or something.

XL goes bust: what happens next?

This article on how many in the UK have had their vacation plans ruined by the demise of XL, Britain's third-largest tour operator, makes a scary suggestion:

But the repercussions of the collapse are expected to travel much further. Will the demise of three holiday companies now signal fundamental changes in the way the market operates? As the industry contracts, will low cost flights and bargain basement holidays become a thing of the past? And will the much-maligned but relatively safe package holiday run by mass-market travel companies – derided by a new generation of budget-conscious, internet-savvy, independent travellers – make an unplanned comeback?

If so, will weary travellers be forced to return to the days of being herded aboard coaches by clipboard-wielding officials on their way to the obligatory "welcome" meeting, where cheap sangria is liberally dispensed to disguise the pain of substandard accommodation on a miles-from-nowhere building site?

I don't imagine things getting that bad, but I guess we can say that the economy has hurt the travel industry. Mancunian addressed a similar issue, airlines in America declaring bankruptcy.

Solo travel planning keys & learning on vacation

This article on solo vacations says that the keys are stretching your comfort zone slightly, arranging to have some company, and learning something:

I find it tricky booking a solo vacation. It is about defining your comfort zone -- and perhaps stepping out of it. It is about being independent but, at times, having company. One thing that works for me is to book a trip with a focus -- learn a language, have a soft adventure, brush up on your yoga or cook and eat in Italy.

I've talked about the importance of learning something on vacation before. I'm still trying to talk my wife into a Thai massage course in Thailand, or an Italian course in Italy (would love to return to Rome, see Milan for the first time, or maybe head back to Perugia for someplace different and nostalgic), or a Spanish course in Spain (never been to Barcelona) or possibly another Spanish speaking country.

Along the same lines, this article talks about a vacation experience where people learn golf or other things:

...learning getaways are on the upswing with vacationers not content to just sit on the beach sipping mojitos....Besides golf school, I've participated in cooking classes, snowboarding lessons, sailing schools, white-water rafting and flyfishing instructions and an array of getaways in which learning a new skill became a highlight of the excursion.

At the end of that article they have a resources list that includes information on where to buy learning vacations including vocation vacations which I mentioned about a year ago.

Unanswered Questions – Korean Airlines (KAL) Flight 007

The Boeing 747 KAL Flight 007 left JFK on August 31, 1983, with 269 occupants including 240 passengers, 22 of which were children, and flight crew personnel. The majority were American and Korean, with a few other nationalities such as Taiwanese, Japanese, and Filipino. After refueling, the plane took off from Anchorage, Alaska at 4 am (1300 GMT) on September 1, 1983 bound for Kimpo Airport in Seoul. Shortly after departure, the airplane began to deviate from its assigned North Pacific course to Japan. This route was extremely close, within 17½ miles, to Soviet airspace and the off-limits zone for civilian aircraft. Failing to make radar detection at Bethel, the last navigational point on the mainland of the U.S., it continued off course to enter the designated Air Defense buffer zone of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The area was carefully monitored by Soviet surveillance, and plans were in place to test fire their SS-25 ICBM, a missile declared illegal through the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaties (SALT) between the Soviet Union and the U.S.

Information from the cockpit voice recorder indicates that the pilot and crew were unaware that they were entering a controlled airspace. It has been considered, but it is doubtful, that they chose this particular flight path to save fuel. After attempting to contact the pilot of Flt 007 and getting no response, the Soviets fired several warning shots at the aircraft. Within minutes, the order was given to bring down the airplane as it was about to leave the airspace for the second time. After two missiles were fired by the Soviet interceptor jets, Flt 007 disappeared from the radar, but there were no Mayday broadcasts as it continued to descend. There is considerable discrepancy in the time element with some information pointing to a rapid descent and decompression. Other data reflect a leveling off of the aircraft for at least 5 minutes after being hit. This would indicate that Captain Chun, the pilot, was able to switch to manual control as the plane descended.

Although the initial press report stated that the plane had landed safely on Sakhalin Island, a disputed territory between Japan and Russia, this proved untrue. KAL Flt 007 crashed in the sea just north of Moneron Island, with no survivors. Just 9 days after the crash, the Chief of General Staff of the Soviet Union said they did not know where the crash had occurred and could not locate it. This was refuted, however, 9 years later, when military communications revealed that within minutes, the Soviets had launched KGB border guard boats, helicopters, and civilian ships to the site. Whether or not this was only a simulated rescue effort was not determined. Although they claimed nothing of the wreckage was found, Yeltsin's report in November 1983 stated that the black box tapes were top secret, but had been recovered and sent to Moscow for interpretation. Apparently, they did not furnish proof that the plane was on a spy mission or actually in Soviet airspace when shot down. Further rescue efforts through October by the U.S., South Korea, and the Japanese were met with hostile interference by the Soviets, who claimed territorial rights to the crash site.

The Soviet interceptor pilot, Major Osipovich, admitted in a 1996 interview with the NY Times that he was aware that it was a civilian aircraft because of the double rows of windows and blinking lights. Yet, he failed to alert the ground controllers of its probable identity, and these lights were not detectible by them. However, he added that he could not be sure that the plane was not an RC-135, a U.S. reconnaissance plane, or possibly a civilian aircraft that had been converted for military purposes. This argument was weak, however, as there was little similarity between the Boeing 747 and the 135.

Through intensive investigations, numerous theories were offered, with differing opinions on all sides. A suggestion that the plane was indeed a military aircraft, carrying no civilian passengers, was quickly dismissed. The strategic commander of the Soviet operation proposed a theory of a wind tunnel formed when the nose and tail broke off, and passengers were then sucked through and out of the plane. If so, then why were there no remains? Although the passenger cabin was punctured in numerous places, the overall area was too small for anyone to be sucked out from there. According to a flight crew broadcast, oxygen masks were deployed and passengers were warned of an emergency descent. There should have been enough oxygen left for some to remain conscious for at least 12 minutes after impact.

There was yet another theory proposed - an assassination plot planned by the Soviets. The most noteworthy passenger on the flight was U.S. Congressman, Larry McDonald, a well-known anti-communist on his way to the 30th anniversary of the U.S./South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty. McDonald was also president of the John Birch Society, whose mission was to expose the communism of the Soviet Union. No evidence existed, however, that the Soviets knew of this passenger until the media revealed the information after the crash occurred.

The pilot of the accompanying KAL Flight 015, also carrying U.S. Congressmen, believed that the coordinates of the flight plan might have been improperly entered in the Inertial Navigation System. When discovered, Captain Chun of Flt 007 then chose to follow the aircraft's magnetic compass, rather than returning to Alaska, which might explain the flight path deviation.

Overall, a total of 1,020 items were recovered, and of this total, only a few unidentifiable body parts were found eight days after the crash along the shores of Hokkaido, Japan. Reports from the media stated that a few items of clothing had apparently been dry cleaned before being sent to Japan, and others were found zipped up, but nothing inside. Some speculated that giant crabs or sharks may have devoured the bodies, but this would not explain the absence of any bones. Other non-human remains were also found including seats, books, shoes, and a camera, but no luggage was found by either the Russians or the international search parties. This led many to suppose that the passengers and their belongings were trapped within the aircraft itself. Civilian divers claimed to have found a plane filled with garbage, but again no bodies.

The U.S. and Korea were understandably outraged at this unbelievable tragedy, and protests arose around the world. President Reagan deemed this a "massacre...a crime against humanity...," and proceeded to revoke the license of Soviet Aeroflot flights to the U.S, the revocation enforced until 1986. Although the Soviets expressed their regret over the loss of lives, they insisted that the entire unfortunate incident was caused by the CIA's involvement and instigation of a spy plane mission. The International Civil Aviation Organization disagreed and determined that the violation of Soviet airspace was accidental. As a result of the disaster, military radars from Anchorage were extended, and Reagan directed that GPS be used for civilian as well as military aircraft (a directive finalized by Clinton in 1996).

There is no question that KAL Flt 007 was shot down, but what really happened to those inside the aircraft? Was the plane within the off-limits zone, or in neutral waters? Was it a deliberate "act of brutality" by the Soviets, or a justifiable defense of their territorial zone? Why did Air Traffic controllers in Anchorage somehow fail to note the positions of both KAL flights? These are just a few of the many questions that may remain unanswered, for one reason or another.

Sharon Slayton

COBRA in Cleveland: advanced computed tomography technology

I missed this press release about a month ago, but better late then never. Appraently there's a new explosives and weapons detection system in Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport called the COBRA. Will we soon be seeing the COBRA in more US airports?

Anyway, the press release:

PEABODY, Mass. -- Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG) today announced that it has installed the COBRA([R]), the first Checkpoint Auto-EDS (Automatic Explosives and Weapons Detection System) at a carry-on checkpoint in Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport, the first such system to be piloted at a U.S. airport checkpoint. The COBRA employs advanced computed tomography technology to screen baggage, providing 3-D images of the contents of a bag to resolve alarms.

Jim Green, President and CEO of Analogic, noted, "We are very pleased to install a volumetric, CT-based scanner at a checkpoint for the first time. We believe Analogic's advanced computed tomography technology will provide TSA's security officers with the most sophisticated tool available today to detect explosives and weapons automatically."

Mike Young, TSA Cleveland's Federal Security Director, added, "Auto-EDS will provide our highly trained Transportation Security Officers with an additional technical capability to protect the traveling public and our commercial aviation infrastructure from the most serious threats: improvised explosive devices. The additional detection capabilities of Auto-EDS also may allow TSA to modify carry-on baggage screening procedures to increase efficiency and reduce passenger inconvenience."

The COBRA has an 80-cm tunnel opening that can generate high-resolution 3-D images of the contents of a bag or bin in real time. An automatic Bin Return System (BRS) saves additional time and labor, returning empty bins beneath the system on a motorized conveyor. The COBRA is designed to support aviation, surface transportation, and other checkpoint portals more efficiently than conventional equipment, reducing operating and life-cycle costs while increasing throughput and threat detection capabilities.

Analogic Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced health and security systems and subsystems. The Company is recognized worldwide for advancing the state of the art in Automated Explosives Detection, Computed Tomography (CT), Digital Radiography (DR), Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Patient Monitoring, and Advanced Signal Processing. For more information, please visit www.analogic.com.

Seattle and Aberdeen travel plan

I know it's been a while since I promised this. It's still not done but it may never be so here's what I have so far.

Day 1: Seattle

I’d make this day in Seattle my first day. If you don't feel like clicking the link it's Seattle Art Museum, Maximillian in Pike Place Market for lunch, back to Seattle Art Museum, out for coffee, back again...

If it's a Saturday, when you're done with art you might try the Seattle Museum of Mysteries. I've never been there but it sure sounds different, especially the ghost hunting tour on Saturdays at 5:00.

Day 2: Seattle

If you're a Nirvana travel fan, I happened to find this piece of trivia: Young St. Bridge which Kurt Cobain lived under for a while. He used some of that experience to write "Something in the Way".

Otherwise, I'd say Pike Place Market (watching them throw the fish around didn't do anything for me but some tourists seemed to love it. The first Starbucks is nearby (crazy crowded but the mugs seemed cheap compared to other Starbucks).

If you have any leg power left, you can head up to the Avenues for shopping (if it's OK to go shopping on vacation). 4th and 5th avenues were decent for shopping if I remember.

I'd do Wild Orchid for dinner. My wife and I loved that place including the lemon chicken satay, the sweet potato soup, the mango pork, and the other stuff we ate but can no longer remember. It's on 1401 3rd Ave and reservations are a good idea.

Day 3: Seattle

The Underground tour is interesting. There are some interesting shops around Pioneer Square as well.

Then you might head out to the Space Needle. I prefer to go up these types of things at night. Watching the sunset if you can time it right would probably be awesome. Nearby there are lots of choices including the Experience Music Project. I've never been but it looks interesting. It is fairly expensive and I'm told it's more for guitar lovers than anyone else.

For dinner, how about a Tom Douglas restaurant? My wife and I went to Etta's – no complaints. The food was interesting but not spectacular.

Day 4: Aberdeen

I've never been to Aberdeen so I'm pretty much guessing here. But this is what I would do. I'd start with Gray's Harbor Historical Seaport.

If the downtown shops and stuff looked interesting I’d go there next. If I were really bored maybe the Kurt Cobain walking tour: http://www.aberdeen-museum.org/kurt.htm - I don't think looking at his old house would be real interesting, but maybe someday I'll be bale to impress someone by saying I've seen it.

Day 5: Aberdeen

The Abderdeen Museum followed by some hiking in Olympic National Park sounds good to me. Here you will find "Pacific Ocean beaches, rain forest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and a stunning variety of plants and animals. Roads provide access to the outer edges of the park, but the heart of Olympic is wilderness; a primeval sanctuary for humans and wild creatures alike." Sign me up.

Portland is next, but I haven't had time to write that part of the itinerary yet. Stay tuned...

Qantas: laptop arrest obscuring more serious problems

This "laptop idiot" seems to be a big story in Australia. According to this article, he was escorted off a plane by counter-terrorism police after refusing to turn off a laptop as the plane landed. Later he was released and not charged. Here they say he could have been fined $2750. If you're wondering about he "laptop idiot" I did not come up with that.

This seems to be getting as much or more attention that more serious issues. This article talks about cancelled and delayed flights. Qantas isn't doing so well.

It wasn't that long ago when Qantas flight attendants expressed some concern over the safety of the airline. Here's the old blog entry, but the Yahoo article i linked to back then is gone so it may not be much use.

It seems Qantas hasn't quite recovered from a spat with their mechanics. Scary.

Volunteer to help someone make money?

When I went to Algonquin Park, I stayed in an 'ecolodge'. This was back in 2002 or 2003 I think - probably before I started this blog.

At the Algonquin ecolodge I had some good breakfasts, met interesting people, got to pump water for my shower, got to pump water for my wife's shower, got to canoe on a private lake, and all in all have an interesting travel experience.

Negatives included getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and having to drive an hour to get to the main road in Algonquin Park.

Now as far as I can tell, this is a for-profit company. Yet, yesterday I got an email from them. Weird because I don't think they've sent me any emails in the past 5 years or so since I stayed with them. Also weird because they want me to volunteer to help them do some work on the ecolodge. By volunteer I mean pay $30 for food, "bring spades, rubber boots, work gloves, a dirty wheelbarrow," and then I presume do hard work.

I just don't understand why anyone would do this for a company that's trying to make money. If I'm wrong and this is a charity or non-proft then I understand. But they should say so. Otherwise they should be offering some discounts or something for people who work on their projects. Honestly, I'd feel pretty stupid if I paid $30 to dig ditches for a weekend or whatever they have volunteers do and then decided to vacation there and pay $200 (Canadian) per night to stay in the place.

While I would consider going back to the ecolodge, I'd have serious concerns about the mosquito situation because it was really really terrible. Apparently now they have some wolves nearby and the possibility of a wolf-howl - a huge plus for me. However, they also have Park Rangers leading Wolf Howls in Algonguin Park and there are some places to stay much closer to the park and probably much cheaper.

London Open House

If you are visiting London – one of the world's most expensive cities - during the next couple of weeks, you have a rare opportunity to see some of the capital's buildings and monuments that are usually off limits to the general public.

The program, called London Open House is actually a charity, the purpose of which is to enhance the public's knowledge of architecture, design and the environment. The charity operates year round, but once a year, they have a couple of days when the public is allowed to visit various buildings – homes, palaces, churches – that are otherwise usually closed to the public. This year's dates are Saturday and Sunday, September 20th and 21st and around 700 buildings will be open, as well as various guided walks and lectures.

On those two days only, you can visit – for free – such intriguing and diverse places as the home of the Argentinean Ambassador, the BBC studios and Benjamin Franklin's home as well as many of London's little known churches, several cemeteries and the first Hindu temple to be built outside India.

This month is also the last chance this year to visit certain rooms in Buckingham Palace which is only open to the public during August and September of each year. If you visit Buckingham Palace, you can see some of the lavishly furnished state rooms, the gardens and the ballroom, home to state banquets. Unfortunately a visit to Buckingham palace isn't free but it's a rare chance to see how the other half lives! (Still free is the ceremony of the changing of the guard at the palace).

Unfortunately, transatlantic airfares seem high at the moment. I am trying to go to the UK for a few days (from Raleigh-Durham) around the beginning of December, (surely this is considered low season..?) but cannot find anything for less than $800. I also checked Kayak and found some slightly cheaper options, but with making several connections each way.

Alicudi, Italy: interesting travel story

Neat story here about how one woman almost bought a house in Italy. Ever heard of Alicudi?

If not, don't feel bad. This remote Italian island has about 100 residents and one hotel. Boats to the island are extremely unreliable (since no one goes there they often decide to cancel). The house itself is probably not what most of us dream of when we think vacation house:

Electricity is provided by a generator shared by five houses, and water is collected in two wells. The ultimate "green" island, Alicudi has not squandered its resources. But how easily could city-bred people adapt to these extremes? Just running down to the port and back would involve preparations on the level of climbing Mount Everest. And imagine forgetting something in mid-climb? Plus, furniture could only be hauled up by mules. Talk about an incentive for purging oneself of earthly possessions

But for the handful of people who do dream about remote desert islands...

Anyone here flown on Sun Country Airlines?

I've got a friend who is flying from New York to Minnesota. Sun Country Airlines had by far the cheapest flights around compared to the "major" airlines. Even though he had never heard of them, he booked the flight. Now he's looking from some reassurance from people who have flown with them.

After asking around, I have heard good things about Sun Country. Their airplanes, 737-800s, are relatively new (late 1990s/early 2000s) and they do a decent job in terms of customer service.

At least that's what I heard. But no investigation is thorough until I post the question here...

Here you can see their route map. Their hub is Minneapolis / St. Paul so if that's where you're going, there's a good chance Sun Country will be the cheapest.

I'm interested in this not only for my friend, but also since one day I plan to head to Minneapolis / St. Paul and the International Wolf Center.

Position Announcement: California University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania, A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
College of Science and Technology
For full details please see: www.cup.edu/employment

Position: Tourism Studies Specialization in tourism geography with an emphasis on tourism planning and development. Online teaching experience is an asset.

Rank and Salary: This is a tenure track faculty appointment. Salary is competitive and commensurate with academic preparation and experience. An excellent fringe benefits package is included.

Application: To be considered, applicants must submit hardcopy all of the following before an on-campus interview is granted: full curriculum vitae; official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for review purposes); letter of application highlighting the applicant’s qualifications and teaching interests; names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three professional references who have current knowledge of the applicant's abilities. Veterans should forward a copy of form DD 214 to the Office of Social Equity, 250 University Ave, Box 9, California, PA 15419.

Application Deadline November 21, 2008.

Send complete application except DD214 (if veteran) to:
Dr. Susan Ryan, Chair, Search Committee
Department of Earth Sciences
250 University Avenue, Box 55
California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA
15419
Phone: 724-938-4531
Fax: 724-938-5780
Email: ryan@cup.edu

Integrity, Civility, and Responsibility are the official core values of California University of Pennsylvania, an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, veterans and the physically challenged are encouraged to apply.

What does it mean to be well traveled?

So when a language teacher meets a class for the first time we usually do a getting to know you activity. Last semester I did one where students wrote interview questions, interviewed someone else in the class, and then reported what they found to everyone. My students told me that every teacher used the exact same activity.

This semester I wanted to do something different. I don't want to be the same as all the other teachers. So I invented an 'awards game' where students choose an award and then interview classmates to see who deserves it.

Some awards were hardest studying, heaviest sleeper, most likely to succeed, and biggest traveler.

When I talked to the biggest traveler people I asked them what interview questions they would use to give the award. The only one they had was "How many countries have you been to?"

I told them that I thought they needed more. I mean someone can visit a bunch of countries but that alone does not make them well traveled. I told them they could ask how many countries someone has been to but they would also need to ask questions that dug deeper.

They said they would add how long the person spent in each place but for me that is still not enough.

So I thought that this would be an interesting question to discuss here. What makes someone well-traveled?

Anyone looking to rent a bus in Sydney?

The following is a paid review.

I've been asked to review this website by a minibus hire company in Sydney.

A lot of times when I do a review (well all 4 or so times), I'm asking questions like 'would I use this site to make a hotel reservation?' or whathaveyou. Reviewing this site presents a bit of a challenge because it's in a specialized niche that I have no real experience in or knowledge of.

But I guess my review has to focus on 'would you use this company if you needed a minibus in Sydney?'

Sure I would. Like I said, I'm not minibus expert but I do know that when a company specializes in one niche product or service they have a good shot at succeeding if they know their business well. And it's more likely that everyone will know their business well in a specialized company.

I mean if I go to a normal rental place, they might know that a Chevy Aveo is a compact (or is it subcompact?) and that a Cadillac is luxury, but your average counter person at a rental agency doesn't know too much about the different cars.

Then you take this company. The have 8, 12, and 21 person minibuses. These are available with or without a driver. That's what they do. It'