Be sure to watch out for the ghosts and the goblins and the creatures who go bump in the night.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new. I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement
I called a local cinema, inquiring the actual starting time for a movie; they are known for film shorts and lengthy previews prior to their screenings. No one answered and the recording asked that I leave a message.
My expectation for any response was tempered at best. However, it wasn’t long afterwards that I did. The tone of the message was unexpectedly warm and caring . The caller not only gave the information I requested but advised that I arrive early because the director would be in attendance and the screening was likely to sell out. She wished me an enjoyable evening and offered her assistance with any other questions I might have.
As Ebola continues to rage, capturing lives, headlines and our imaginations, people are hysterical. For those stricken with, or in close contact with the disease, panic and fear are highly understandable. But what about the rest of us?
As we get behind the wheel of a car, maybe while impaired, cross streets while our ears are plugged with music and our minds are elsewhere, or indulge in unhealthy lifestyles, aren’t we in far greater danger?
Shouldn’t we be focusing on the mundane choices we make daily? They are far more likely to determine our longevity than the sensational threats which abound in the media.
Perhaps now should be the time to examine the way we live our lives and evaluate what we are doing to stay healthy and alive.
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In general, once I choose my destination,and numerous factors play a role in the decision ie. desire, time, expense, and world events, I secure my flight.
I never had much success with the last minute deals people rave about, so I generally book my flights months in advance. If I am using miles from my credit card I sometimes speak to the representative directly; it can be well worth it. I remember a very kind employee of Delta finding a first class ticket to Alaska, after quite a bit of searching, for the same number of miles as economy. It was on July 4th and perhaps less people were traveling that day.
For ideas and advice I use TripAdvisor travel forums, general Google searches and buy a guide book, usually The Lonely Planet which offers a number of suggested itineraries, tips on numerous places, and valuable information.
Unlike many travelers I do not, for better or worse, do extensive planning before my departure. I try to get a general idea of where I would like to go, particularly for the beginning, and then, once I arrive let my experiences and the advice of people I meet assist in my decision making. However visas and vaccinations need to be addressed as soon as possible.
I will be heading to Chile next month and can attest to what I have done thus far: purchased my round trip ticket to Santiago, with Delta skymiles; booked three nights in a highly rated hostel in the Bellas Artes District that I found by viewing hostelworld.com then cross referencing with TripAdvisor and booking.com (a site I highly recommend); purchased a national flight that takes me, after a few days in Santiago, down to Punta Arenas, an entry point for Tierra del Fuego; booked five nights at a small hotel in Valparaiso, just before my return back home. And that is all for now, besides pulling out my Spanish dictionary and some Spanish books.
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I recently referred to someone as my “dear friend.” When I was younger I had a best friend, maybe two, and some good friends, but it has taken years to cultivate the dear ones. Somehow the term, at least for me, implies a closeness or quality, like a fine wine, that comes with time. It is a reminder that not all my pursuits can or will be achieved quickly.
In our desire to do this and that, see this and that, be this and that, our impatience or frustration may thwart any chance to achieve what we are striving for. Perhaps, like acquiring dear friends, we need to nurture our quests through the passage of time.
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Thank you subscribers and readers for taking the time to visit my blog!!
I’ll be back on Monday and would be delighted, in the meantime, if you would look through my previous posts. Perhaps you missed a few or will reread one with a new perspective.There is a list of all the previous posts by title and date.
Since the configuration of the site may differ on your browser, perhaps you have not noticed the tabs which offer some additional information:Why this blog?, Photographs, How I Began, etc.
You can search certain posts by category: Practical Advice, Thoughts on Oneself, Snapshots, etc.
All of these may be at the very bottom of the posts.
I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images.
While traveling I may not be posting each day. To be notified when I have written a new post please subscribe-of course its free.
I would be delighted if you would sign up.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new. I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement
Here’s to new discoveries near and far!
Enjoy the days.
Thank you subscribers and readers for taking the time to visit my blog!!
I’ll be back on Monday and would be delighted, in the meantime, if you would look through my previous posts. Perhaps you missed a few or will reread one with a new perspective.There is a list of all the previous posts by title and date.
Since the configuration of the site may differ on your browser, perhaps you have not noticed the tabs which offer some additional information:Why this blog?, Photographs, How I Began, etc.
You can search certain posts by category: Practical Advice, Thoughts on Oneself, Snapshots, etc.
All of these may be at the very bottom of the posts.
I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images.
While traveling I may not be posting each day. To be notified when I have written a new post please subscribe-of course its free.
I would be delighted if you would sign up.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new. I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement
Here’s to new discoveries near and far!
Enjoy the days.
My neighborhood, as in many parts of Brooklyn, New York is experiencing an economic boom. Wonderful news for some, but for others, less so.
If you wish to buy a box of cereal on your way home, you’ll need to walk a few more blocks to the supermarket. The shop that has been on your corner for the past 20 years has just closed. The funky joint that you stopped in for a beer, pizza and some live music has recently shut its doors too. The cute, albeit, expensive cafe and bakery is gone. And the green grocer, where you bought your flowers and plants, packed up before you had time to say goodbye.
I am missing the faces and places I came to know and rely on. Their absence chips away at the unique emblems of this community; it is unlikely a mom and pop will be moving in. All of these storefronts remain vacant to date.
Renters are inadequately protected from owners who seek unbridled profits.
The hardware store on Flatbush Avenue, displaying for decades an array of antique tools, each with its own esthetic elegance, has just placed a For Rent sign in its window.
I suspect it is just a matter of time before the traditional Chinese Laundry moves on to less expensive digs; perhaps I will be doing the same.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new. I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement
I did not err; there does a sable cloud, Turn forth her silver lining on the night John Milton
Catastrophes and devastation have always impacted the human race . They are often the most potent catalysts for cherishing one’s existence.
I recall in the 80’s the tragic accounts of people whose lives were being snuffed out by AIDS. Each hour was now incredibly precious, no moment was taken for granted. I benefited from their insight; saddened for those whose imminent demise gave me a heightened appreciation for each day.
We have likely all learned important lessons from the tragedies that befall us or others around us. We can think of this knowledge as the silver lining in even the darkest of clouds.
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While my thoughts are on Alaska, I am reminded of an American couple I met on one of the public ferries that transports goods and passengers from town to town.
They were engaged in a serious game of cribbage and I couldn’t resist taking part in a pastime of my youth. I presented no challenge with my skills or lack thereof but they didn’t seem to mind the company.
They had met a few years before, both appeared in their forties, and after a date or two the man suggested that they sell their homes and embark on a trip throughout the country. Understandably the woman was hesitant to engage in such a drastic change of lifestyle with someone she barely knew.
But here it was a few years hence. Each had children from their previous marriages who were living independently. And they could continue their careers while on the road. Inevitably there were still many things to consider, but now they were both ready. So they sold virtually everything they owned and bought two motorcycles, taking all they might need, with savings to spare. The couple took great pleasure, with no callousness intended or inferred, in calling themselves “homeless.”
I do not recall if they had a route in mind or were just letting each day unfold, but I do remember they were just beginning their journey and I wished them well.
It was a glimpse into the choices one may make and the many ways there are to live one’s life.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post! Welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new. I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement
