Travel Blissful

What Orienteering Taught Me About Traveling

Erica Johansson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:57 +0000

Some of my old orienteering maps.

Daladubbeln

Possibly related posts:

Why I Love Empty Roads

Erica Johansson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:30 +0000

The peacefulness of driving on your own.

Rural scenery in the community of Margaree on the Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia.

The curiosity of wondering what’s around the next corner.

No distracting cars allow you to take in all of the landscape.

The sense of freedom.

Speed limit sign on a golf course in Missouri

You can relax and drive as slowly as you like.

The excitement of not knowing what’s ahead of you.

You can drive above the speed limit.

Possibly related posts:

Music That Makes Me Happy: Cali

Erica Johansson — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:23:03 +0000

Jern Eye Feat. Spank Pops & J Billion – Cali

“Cali” from west coast emcee Jern Eye’s Vision is far from bad. I liked the video in itself much better though. The shots of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco had me longing for California.

Possibly related posts:

Photo of the Week: Old Pickup

Erica Johansson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:15:17 +0000

Old pickup © Ilco

An old pickup truck somewhere in the desert.

Possibly related posts:

Contact Lenses, Eye Glasses or Lasik Surgery?

Erica Johansson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:15:57 +0000

Eye © Darren Fletcher

After a somewhat frustrating experience with my contact lenses a few weeks ago, I considered whether I should consider eye surgery. The prospect of enjoying perfect eye sight almost beats the procedure of having to change lenses every day, or wearing glasses. But the odds were worse than I first thought. Apparently up to one in six who goes through laser surgery suffers complications that affect their eye sight. And even though I know of people who successfully have undergone Lasik surgery, I rather keep using lenses and glasses than risking permanent damage to my vision.

Since I started using contact lenses in middle school and eye glasses on and off in high school, I have plenty of experience in both. I thought about the benefits of using contact lenses vs. glasses when travelling. What I choose depends mostly on what I will do. If I will take part in any activities involving water (swimming, waterskiing, wakeboarding, surfing) or snow (skiing, snowboarding), I wear my lenses. The same goes for activities such as yoga and dancing. During city trips with a lot of sightseeing, culture, shopping and nightlife, I wear either lenses or glasses. If I opt for lenses for a theatre or musical performance, or to the cinema, I make sure to bring eye drops in case my eyes get dry or tired.

The weather also plays a role. During rain or snow, I prefer lenses. Sunny days, either — unless I plan on going to the beach, where I wear sunglasses. I haven’t tried those eye glasses that darken in the sun yet, but I bet they’re worth buying.

If you have impaired eye sight, what’s your first choice when travelling — contact lenses or glasses? Or 50/50?

Possibly related posts:

A Visit to the Uffizi Gallery

Erica Johansson — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:33:37 +0000

The Uffizi Gallery at night

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cfwee/ / CC BY 2.0

Written by: Roberta Leoni

The Uffizi Gallery is located in Florence, Italy. It was commissioned to be built by Cosimo I de Medici in 1560. The architect, Giorgio Vasari, began construction on what was to be the offices of the Magistrates for Florence. This is how the Uffizi (offices) got its name. When Vasari passed away the work was continued by Bernardo Buontalenti and Alfonso Parigi. Following the designs which Vasari had made the building was completed in 1581.

The Medici family had an extensive collection of artwork they either collected or had commissioned by some of the leading artists of the time. Such great masterpieces needed to be displayed. The Uffizi was the perfect place to do this. The works were put on display and anyone who wanted to view them simply needed to ask for a personal showing. The Uffizi Gallery opened its doors to the public in 1765. This makes it one of the oldest museums in the world.

Built in a U shape, the Uffizi Gallery is open at one end to overlook the Arno River. The entire building is a work of art on its own accord. The ceilings are painted with impressive art work as you walk in the main corridor. You will also find many sculptures and statues to hold your interest.

La Primavera - Alessandro Botticelli

There are works of art by some of the best artisans in Florence. Great painters like Michelangelo and Raphaello Santi have works displayed in the Uffizi Gallery. The museum is also home to collections from Botticelli and Tizian Flora.

You can spend three hours in the Uffizi and not see everything. The collection is massive. There are over 700 self portraits of the artists. Most of them were presented to the gallery by the artist, themselves. A few even made the trip to do so in person.

You will be able to see the wonderful Birth of Venus by Botticelli. Also in the gallery are works by Leonardo da Vinci and Caravaggio. There are 45 rooms on the second and third floors which comprise of the Uffizi Gallery. Each room is set to chronologically show style of painting throughout the ages. Although you may want to view every one of the beautiful pieces of artwork, there are more than just paintings. The Uffizi Gallery also has statues, tapestries, and an entire room devoted to miniatures.

If you want to gain entrance into the Uffizi Gallery, you can stand in line for a ticket. This line can move very slowly during the busy season. Typically, in July or so, the waiting can take hours. There is a way to avoid the queue. You can make reservations for a tour. There is a small fee of 3€ to place the reservation. When you show up at your appointed time, there is no wait. You just go to the second door and pay your entrance fee to begin your tour. It is well worth the added fee to know you will be able to view the exquisite masterpieces which are on display in the Uffizi Gallery.

Roberta Leoni writes articles for http://www.allflorence.com, a useful resource to find cheap apartments in Florence and 1&2 star hotels in Florence. Roberta is a tourist guide and specialises in the Uffizi Gallery history.

Possibly related posts:

Music That Makes Me Happy: Shot Me In the Heart

Erica Johansson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:15:27 +0000

Adrian Younge and the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra – Shot Me In the Heart

Soulful sound by Adrian Younge and the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra.

Possibly related posts:

Photo of the Week: After Storm in Ukraine’s Carpathians

Erica Johansson — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:20:44 +0000

After Storm © Ivan Cruz

After storm in the Carpathians, the largest mountain range in Europe.

Possibly related posts:

Gothenburg-Halmstad + Elliott Erwitt On Puerto Rico

Erica Johansson — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:38:30 +0000

View from my window

In early November I moved from Halmstad to Gothenburg. Last Friday, about a week ago, I did the opposite. My last apartment contract in Gothenburg expired at the end of January and finding a new place to stay turned out to be more of a challenge than I thought it would be. Apparently every online ad for an apartment in the center of the city receives 1,500-2,000 replies. Rooms and apartments in less attractive neighbourhoods often get hundreds of replies. The apartment situation in Sweden’s three largest cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö is far from optimal. Even if you portray yourself as the ideal tenant and write an excellent email of interest, you generally must reply as soon after the ad went live as possible to have a fair chance.

Since I hadn’t found a new apartment by the time I was about to move out, I considered staying in a hostel or cheap hotel. Fortunately two friends were kind enough to let me live in their apartment until I got something else. In the end I was lucky to find a small first-hand apartment in Halmstad. The owner later told me I had called only minutes after they put up the ad, and incredibly many people had replied afterwards.

I don’t know how long I will stay here but it feels good to have a little place of my own. And even though I like living in Sweden, I sometimes daydream myself away to foreign destinations. Earlier this year I came across renowned photographer Elliott Erwitt’s photos from Puerto Rico. At 26, Elliott was asked by David Ogilvy to travel to Puerto Rico to take photos for an ad campaign. Since then, he has photographed cultural icons, presidents and dictators, kings and queens, and various street photography — life as you see it. Not too long ago, Elliott Erwitt returned to Puerto Rico to find out what has changed and what has stayed the same since his previous visit. On seepuertorico.com you can see his photos on History, Culture, Romance, Beaches, Activities, and Gastronomy as well as fascinating Videos.

Cuartell de Ballajá, San Juan © Elliott Erwitt

Possibly related posts:

Recent Reads: A Magical Evening, Surviving Family Road Trips & Milford Sound

Erica Johansson — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:33:29 +0000

This is part 15 of ‘Recent Reads’ in which I highlight recommended posts in the blogosphere.

Milford Sound at low tide © SP Veres

Mozart, Da Vinci and Jeanne of Soul Travelers 3 celebrated a fantastic carnival in Andalusia, Spain.

The Swedish couple behind Lifecruiser did a road trip to a very unusual hotel situated in an oak tree.

In Why Bangkok?, Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere explains why he chose the capital of Thailand when he wanted a place to work for a few months.

Elise and Anthony of positiveworldtravel.com had a magical evening along the Kualar Selangor river in Malaysia.

At The Lost Girls, Courtney Brooke gives five tips for surviving a family road trip.

Greg and Ash of Follow our Footsteps explore the majesty of Milford Sound on the South Island of New Zealand.

And Leigh McAdam, founder of Hike Bike Travel.com, suggests nine things to do in the Pacific Northwest in March.

Possibly related posts:

Love Abroad: Displays of Affection in Foreign Countries

Erica Johansson — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:10:54 +0000

I recently thought about how people show love in different countries around the world. What are common displays of affection? What is acceptable? What is frowned upon? The dos and don’ts?

Whether you travel with your loved one or meet a new special someone abroad, do respect the local customs and cultural codes. Every country has their own customs and traditions.

For example, in China, Japan and Thailand, avoid kissing in public. In New Guinea, show your love by putting your mouth against somebody’s cheek or press your mouth against someone’s ear. In Kenya, South Korea and Jamaica, group dates are a popular form of dating.

When in France, kiss three times on the cheek when you meet. One on the right, one on the left, and then another on the right. If you take away your head after only two kisses, someone may get offended.

And, needless to say, no sex in public in the United Arab Emirates — and many other countries.

–

If you know of any other specific customs of a foreign country, feel free to share in the comment section.

Possibly related posts:

Hunting for Dinosaurs in Dorset

Erica Johansson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:00:20 +0000

The Jurassic Coast

Written by: Rebecca Tom

Wow, a real piece of dinosaur in your hand. It’s a possibility…

Fossil hunting is not just for geography and geology types — it’s a fun activity that can be enjoyed by anyone. Dorset, in the south of England, offers world-class fossil beds on beautiful shorelines where you can have a go at hunting for dinosaur bones and teeth. It’s great fun for kids too, so why not head to Dorset? You never know what will turn up!

Dorset (and East Devon) are home to England’s only natural world heritage site, The Jurassic Coast — 95 miles of stunning coastline running from Exmouth to Studland that are designated by UNESCO as having ‘outstanding universal value’. The rocks there are truly special as the many fossils contained in them record 85 million years of Earth’s history, covering the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

You can easily spend hours on the Dorset coast looking for fossils. My favourite place for this is Charmouth. The beach has easy access, parking, a café and public toilets. It has an interesting Heritage Coast Centre on the seafront with plenty of information on the natural history and fossils of the area. The cliffs are world famous for their rocks and attract serious collectors and amateurs alike.

There are plenty of fossils to be found all year round but the best time to look is during the spring or the winter months as there are less people about, and the storms and extreme high tides help to reveal new fossils. Charmouth is especially beautiful in the winter. Waves lash the coast and spray up over the sea wall, throwing large stones over the path at the same time. Surfers can be spotted too taking advantage of the wave power.

The most common type of fossil at Charmouth is the ammonite. They lived in the sea between 240–65 million years ago and belong to the group of predators known as the cephalopods. Living relatives include the squid, octopus, cuttlefish and nautilus. It’s amazing to discover these beautiful spiral shells and be the first human to hold them so many years after their death. Also in plentiful supply are belemnites. They first appeared around 208 million years ago and are relatives of the ammonites. Look in the shingle and on the tide line, especially as the tide starts going in. Try focussing on a small area and keep your eyes peeled.

At one end of Charmouth beach is Stonebarrow and at the other is Black Ven — the largest coastal mudslide area in Europe. Ammonite impressions can be found in the mud there but most are so delicate that they break up if not treated very carefully.

To reach Stonebarrow you have to cross the river Char over a small bridge. Stonebarrow is good for ‘fools gold’ ammonites and crinoids – ‘sea lilies’ that are relatives of starfish. Beyond Stonebarrow is Golden Cap — the highest view on the south coast at 191m above sea level.

If you are lucky, you may come across a really amazing find (which must be registered with the World Heritage Team (01305 225101)). After heavy rain in 2000 local collector Tony Gill found the fossilised remains of a 5m long Heritage Centre.

The cliffs at Charmouth are prone to falling and can do so at any time. Mudslides also occur, especially after wet weather so keep an eye out and don’t take silly risks. Walking on the mud itself can be a mistake – my leg vanished up to my knee when I when I wasn’t paying enough attention to where I was putting my feet! Also, remember to check the tides and only set out along the coast during a falling tide. A table of the tide times can be bought in Charmouth Fossil Shop.

Durdle Door, a remarkable geological structure on the Dorset Jurassic Coast.

If this has got you interested in hunting for a dinosaur or two, why not check out some holiday cottages in Dorset, book up a few days away and see what Charmouth has to offer. Happy fossiling…

Rebecca Tom is from England and loves to travel. Her first trips outside of Europe were to Israel on a school trip and then to Thailand years later with friends. She has since been to Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and The Maldives. Next destination, Morocco.

Possibly related posts:

Photo of the Week: the Swedish West Coast

Music That Makes Me Happy: International Love

Erica Johansson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:15:49 +0000

Fidel Nadal – International Love

Fidel Nadal is an Argentine reggae musician.

Possibly related posts:

Photo of the Week: Couple Watching Sunrise

Erica Johansson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:14 +0000

Couple watching sunrise

Couple watching sunrise at Mt Cootha, Brisbane, Australia.

Possibly related posts:

Zugu Competition: Win Return Flights To Anywhere in the World

Erica Johansson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:37:31 +0000

To promote their newly launched flight comparison website Zugu.co.uk, Cheapflights is running an exciting competition.

What does ‘Zugu’ mean?

The name ‘Zugu’ originates from a real word with a travel related meaning. For a chance to win two return flights to anywhere in the world up to a value of £1500, submit your creative response to the question ‘What does Zugu mean?’.

To help you a bit, Travel Blissful offers you an official clue. Other clues have been hidden on various travel blogs and on Zugu.co.uk itself. You can also search Google for ideas and inspiration.

Submit your entry in writing or video through twitter @zugu_uk with the hastag ‘zugu’ or through their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/zugu Deadline: March 5th.

The competition is open to UK and Irish residents who are above 18 years of age. For more information, see Zugu Competition Terms & Conditions.

Possibly related posts: