Paper Trails

Camilli

gcamilli — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:46:46 -0600

by: gcamilli

Description: Names (left to right): Gerry Camilli, Cam Short-Camilli, Gian Camilli Where photo taken: CInque-Terre, Italy Best meal: Vernazza Pizzeria on the beach. The food was delicious, but even more so after hiking 7 miles! Best deal: The Cinque-terre card for unlimited hiking in the park- all of it along the coast through five towns Best time to go: Any time except in July or August when it is very hot and crowded with tourists. Best travel tip: DON'T DRIVE! It's not worth the stress. The trains are cheap and efficient.

Hieropolis

b8neville5g — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:56:13 -0600

by: b8neville5g

Description: Names (left to right): Where photo taken: Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

Goreme_1

b8neville5g — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:21:54 -0600

by: b8neville5g

Description: Names (left to right): Where photo taken: Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

Goreme_2

b8neville5g — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:21:15 -0600

by: b8neville5g

Description: Names (left to right): Where photo taken: Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

Goreme, Turkey. Part of Cappadocia - volcanic terraine of eastern Anatolia.

b8neville5g — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:20:20 -0600

by: b8neville5g

Description: Names (left to right): Brenda McCarthy & Neville Rustomjee Where photo taken: Goreme, Turkey Best meal: Al fresco restaurant in the seaside town of Anamur. Best deal: 1-1/2 hour ferry tour of the Bosphorus river in Istanbul for only $10. Best time to go: Mid-April to June. The main tourist season starts in June and sites are more crowded and the weather gets hotter. The landscape in the country is greener in April/May. Best travel tip: Affordable inter-city buses between major tourist sites. Punctual arrival and departure times.

Middle School in Chino Japan in calligraphy class

susan1117 — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:23:12 -0600

by: susan1117

Description: Names (left to right):Middle school students from Chino Japan, Joe Waneka, and Susan McGannon Where photo taken: Chino, Japan Best meal:The school lunch was a wonderful treat. White rice, fried eel, fresh fruit, milk, and tempura vegetables. All for about $2.00. Best deal: Japanese dried squid is a great snack. You can buy a pouch for just about $1.00 and snack on it for the entire day. Best time to go:We were in Japan in late July and early August. I would not recommend late summer as it is extremely humid and very hot. Best travel tip:Exchange dollars for yen before you leave. Japan is a cash society. Only large tourist shops take credit cards. If you want to purchase items in small towns have yen.

Ephesus, Turkey

Palesh — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:34:30 -0600

by: Palesh

Description: Names (left to right): Alexander Palesh - Parker, Colorado; Keith Palesh - Parker, Colorado; Andrea Palesh New York CIty, New York; Chris Palesh - Parker, Colorado Where photo taken: Ephesus, Turkey Best meal: at a hotel with an inner courtyard near the port - forget about trying to pronounce anything in Turkey, even the tour guide said it was challenging and she was from there Best deal: scarfs, rugs and candy Best time to go: we were there the end of June - one of the ports on our cruise Best travel tip: Ignore the chatter from all the vendors who stand outside their shops to lure you in - only go if if you seriously want to look at something and take someone with you as a backup - drink lots of water, wear sunscreen and tour in a small group - never felt unsafe, just a lot going on all around you

Summer Palace

souperteach — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:57:05 -0600

by: souperteach

Description: Names (left to right):Jeanann Johnson & Peng Zuo Where photo taken: Summer Palace, Beijing, China Best meal:Peacock Restaurant near Minzu University 26 national ethnic minority restaruants are located in this area. Servers wear their native clothes. Pineapple rice was very delicious. Best deal: bargining at the market Best time to go: Try to avoid summer due to heat Best travel tip: carrt bottled water and try peach fruitsickles sold by vendors. A quick cool off. Tipping is not expected anywhere.

1 comment

Gray Monk Estate Winery

brianatdp — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:47:23 -0600

by: brianatdp

Description: Names (left to right): Jim and Sherry Cleaver, Anne and Brian Moe Where photo taken: Kelowna, British Columbia, from the deck of the Gray Monk Estate Winery visitor center, overlooking Lake Okanagan, a 100-mile long lake in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Best deal: There are over 100 wineries in the Okanagan Valley, but the Gray Monk Estate Winery has free wine tasting and a free winery tour. Best meal: We stayed at the Cherry Tree Bed and Breakfast in Kelowna; the breakfasts (like the house and the hosts) were outstanding! Best time to go: We went in early July � the cherries were ripe, the weather was delightful. Best travel tip: It is a l-o-n-g drive to Kelowna, so think about flying to Vancouver � on the other hand, Idaho was a wonderful drive, and we stayed at Glacier National Park on the way back, so lots to see along the way.

Joe and Kathleen Contrino St. John USVI August 2010

KHC — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:36:54 -0600

by: KHC

Description: Names (left to right):Joe and Kathleen Contrino; Lafayette, Colorado. Where photo taken: Gallows Point Resort St. John USVI Best meal: Cafe Roma - wonderful made to order Northern Italian seafood. Wonderful chef and very hospitable staff. Best deal: Accomodations - discounts for summer months at Gallows Point Resort. Private, remodeled villas. Best time to go: For discounted accomodations June - September. Best travel tip: Take the Charlotte-Amalie water ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. Beautiful 45 minute ferry ride to see the area, islands and bays by water.

Andean Weaver

drochlin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:16:46 -0600

by: drochlin

Description: Names (left to right): Amelia Powell of Denver with Andean weaver Where photo taken: Chinchero, Peru Best meal: Panchapapas near San Blas plaza in Cusco. They serve about ten kinds of potatoes, out of the 500 or so that are still cultivated in Peru. Best deal: Baby alpaca yarn costs about 20% here as what you will have to pay in the U.S. It's incredibly soft and warm. Best time to go: In the U.S. summer, when it is the dry season in the central Andes. Best travel tip: Don't pay the price first offered in the markets. Generally the "real" price is 30-50% lower. Even the taxi fares are highly bargainable.

Key West/ Captain Tony's

seminoledq — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:29:33 -0600

by: seminoledq

Description: Who: Daniel, Isabella, Christine and Daniel (front) McHugh from Louisville, CO Where: Key West, FL at Capt. Tony's Saloon Best meal: Sloppy Joe with a Sunset Ale at Sloppy Joe's and for desert a Frozen Key Lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate Best deal: Ultimate Adventure on Fury, a day of jet skis, parasailing, kayaking and snorkeling Best time to go: Summer is HOT, but less crowds and cheaper accomodations Best travel tip: Fly into Miami, rent a car and take a beautiful 3 hour drive down the A1A, feed Tarpons in Islamorada, see Key Deer on Big Pine Key, and spend the rest of your vacation "wastin' away" in Key West!

Bohio Resort, Grand Turk Island

Perry — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 08:47:55 -0600

by: Perry

Description: Names (left to right):Jacque and Perry Where photo taken:The Ike & Donkey Beach Bar, Bohio Dive Resort, Grand Turk, TCI Best meal: Fresh caught Wahoo Best deal: Viewing the feral donkeys - free! Best time to go:Anytime Best travel tip: Sunscreen and good walking shoes

CIMG1883

mzavod — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:21:10 -0600

by: mzavod

Description: Names (left to right):Bob Zavodsky Where photo taken: Telluride Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: August Best travel tip: take a camera

1 comment

Dresden Group Photo

lls896702 — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:54:39 -0600

by: lls896702

Description: Names (left to right): The Colorado student/adult group of EF Tours, Central Europe Tour 2010 (all from Thornton/Northglenn/Broomfield) Where photo taken: The Zwinger Palace, Dresden, Germany; Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony in Germany Best meal: Bratwurst or currywurst, served with pommes frites (French fries) from the local street vendors, for 5 Euros. Also, the gelato is fantastic; they have luscious flavors, and two big scoops are only 2 Euros. Best deal: Dresden is famous for its handmade crystal glass, which is said to be on par with Venetian crystal. Best time to go: Summers in Dresden are warm and sunny, but not overly hot. We were there in June, and the temperatures were in the low to mid 70's. Best travel tip: Take a guided tour; there's a lot of history and beautiful architecture that you may miss without a tour guide.

Ireland 6/2010

tlhagan — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:13:46 -0600

by: tlhagan

Description: Names (left to right): Rick, Tracy and Kyle Hagan Where photo taken: Adare Manor, Adare Ireland Best meal: Ashford Castle, Cong Best deal: Dublin Bus Tour, or hiking the grounds of Ashford Castle. Hiking is free and the scenery on the grounds was breathtaking. Best time to go: June because it's right before the peak season. We were really lucky because the sun was shining everyday. Best travel tip: We rented a car and went and saw whatever, whenever we wanted. Found some great places and people. Getting lost was half the fun!

DSCN0192

JanChase — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:42:40 -0600

by: JanChase

Description: Names (left to right): Gregory Chase, Samantha Chase Where photo taken: Beach at Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California Best meal: Marine Room, La Jolla Best deal: U.S.S. Midway Aircraft Carrier Best time to go: ANytime! Best travel tip: There is so much to do. Old Town, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Beaches and more!

1 comment

DSCN0187

JanChase — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:37:42 -0600

by: JanChase

Description: Names (left to right): Gregory Chase, Samantha Chase Where photo taken: Hotel Del Coronado Best meal: The Marine Room, La Jolla Best deal: USS Midway Tour (Aircraft Carrier) Best time to go: Anytime, the weather's always perfect! Best travel tip: Allow at least a week as there is so much to see and do. The Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Old Town, Museums, the beaches, and more!

1 comment

Easter Island

etincilant — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:32:35 -0600

by: etincilant

Description: Names (left to right):Penny and Hal Taylor Where photo taken: In front of statues on Easter Island Best meal: lots of friendly, good restaurants, just choose one. Best deal: Have your passport stamped for free at the Post Office with an icon of the statue. Best time to go: Spring or Fall (we went in October). Best travel tip: Don't miss the sunset over the Pacific

1 comment

Guthrie Castle, Fofar Scotland

KangaTex — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:34:16 -0600

by: KangaTex

Description: Names (left to right): Alice Guthrie Spillman, James Spillman, Monique Spillman (all wearing Guthrie tartan) Where photo taken: Guthrie Castle, Forfar, Scotland Best meal: Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry, Scotland. The salmon is caught in the Dee River nearby and the herbs are grown on site. Best deal: Dunstane House Bed and Breakfast Edinburgh. The service was impeccable, the breakfast amazing, and the rooms luxurious! Best time to go: Early July Best travel tip: Edinburgh Castle has a free ride to the top for mobility impaired visitors. They also have an elevator to the Crown Jewels for the same persons. Just ask at the ticket window, no reservations necessary.

1 comment

Seabase Bahamas

looneyville — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:29:32 -0600

by: looneyville

Description: Names (left to right): Boyscout troop 564 Northglenn/Thornton CO. July 4th weekend 2010 Where photo taken: Marsh Harbour Abaco Islands Bahamas Best meal: We had a full size BBQ onboard, steaks,hamburgers,hotdogs and spaghetti. Island food Jaimes and Nippers sunday pig roast. Best deal: Watching our boys learn to sail for six days as one group. Best time to go: It's the Bahamas, anytime is a goodtime. Best travel tip: Leave your shoes at home. If your wearing them your not relaxing.

Coronado

whime — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:15:11 -0600

by: whime

Description: Names (left to right): Joe, Chris, Walt, Lisa, & Maggie Hime Where photo taken: Coronado Island, San Diego, CA Best meal: The Spot in La Jolla (great soft shell crab!) and Yogi Topi frozen yogurt for dessert. Best deal: Seals and sea lions are often found on or near the beach at the Children's Pool in La Jolla. There is no charge for admission, but I believe donations are accepted. Best time to go: Anytime except May or June. We hit the infamous "June gloom" - it was overcast and very cool. Best travel tip: We stayed at one of Nancy's Vacation Rentals (found on VRBO.com). We saved a lot of money on meals because the rental home had a full kitchen and an outdoor grill.

Puerto Vallarta

JRS86 — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:55:51 -0600

by: JRS86

Description: Names (left to right):John & Lisa Steven Where photo taken:Puerto Vallerta Best meal:Pipis, in town. Great service, great food, but the margarita is the big draw! Every flavor, in the biggest fish bowl glass - get two straws and share! Best deal: "Rhythms of the Night". At $85 a person this excursion includes a party boat out to the jungle, an amazing show on a pyramid set, with incredibly athletic dancers, and a moonlit meal on the beach while the waves crash within feet. Best time to go: July was hot and humid, but had fewer crowds. Best travel tip: When hailing a taxi, be sure to ask if it has air conditioning!

1 comment

IMG_1157

karenboucher — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:27:04 -0600

by: karenboucher

Description: Names (left to right): Where photo taken: Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

DSCN4202

daleclack — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:33:09 -0600

by: daleclack

Description: Names (left to right): Theresa Hydock and Dale Clack of Littleton Where photo taken: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy Best meal: Dinner in Bologna at Da Bertino & Figli; reasonable prices and excellent food, especially the grilled meats �Arosto Misto� and the Tagliatelle Bolognese. Generally, keep in mind that Italian appetizers and first courses are often equal in size to American entrees, and they are reasonably priced. Best deal: : In Venice, get the multi-day pass for the water taxi. Also, when you travel by train between cities, the �local� train trip is a fraction of the cost of the rapid train, while not taking much longer in time. Best time to go: Mid to late May Best travel tip: Do not rent a car unless you plan to stay outside of the cities. First, Italians are used to driving at a rapid pace. Second, road direction signage is not apparent until it is time to make an immediate decision and execute a turn. Driving stress can potentially be harmful to relationships. Third, guide books do not warn that you can get ticketed for driving in the historic sections of cities. The cities are trying to minimize air pollution that impacts old buildings and art works, so they provide permits only to locals.

34450209

dmclaughlin44 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:11:29 -0600

by: dmclaughlin44

Description: Names (left to right): Jean-Marc Berthier, Micheline Kramer, Deborah McLaughlin (Breckenridge), Lyn Shader, Patricia DeGraef, Francoise Cambilargiu, Pierre Andre Tapernoue Where photo taken: Col de la Seigne while hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc beginning in Chamonix and traveling over cols to Switzerland, Italy, and back to France Best meal: in mountain Refuge Bonhomme Best deal: Altitude Mont Blanc Best time to go: July Best travel tip: Go now. Europe is a good value for the first time in years. We stayed in a combination of refuges and small boutique hotels. Both were wonderful.

Trans-Siberian Trans-Mongolian Railroad

WmStanley — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:37:17 -0600

by: WmStanley

Description: Names (left to right): Bill Stanley and Rita Steinhauer from Colorado Springs. Where photo taken: Along the Trans-Siberian railroad in Siberia, Russia Best meal: Small restaurant in Beijing which has never seen a tourist. Ordered by circling Chinese characters in our guide book. Less than $5 for two. Best deal: Chinese metro system. Go anywhere for about 30 cents. Well-positioned signs are also in English plus there is helpful staff. Best time to go: Hard call. We went June/July; cold in St Petersburg and Moscow; warm in Mongolia; very hot in Beijing. Recommend late May. Best travel tip: Travel with a small adventure travel group like we did given the complex logistics of this trip and the difficulty with multiple languages.

1 comment

Kayaking Sipan Island, Croatia

morrisak — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:20:11 -0600

by: morrisak

Description: Names (left to right): Laura and Kirk Morris of Conifer Where photo taken: Sipan Island, in the Elafiti Islands, a 1-hr ferry ride north of Dubrovnik, Croatia Best meal: The Rainbow Restaurant, a small cafe on the mainland north of Zaton bay, overlooks a popular local swimming spot and is accessible by boat. We tied up our kayak and spent an afternoon relaxing in the sun and enjoying fantastic pizzas at an affordable price. Best deal: Private rooms or apartments designated by the sign �Sobe� are available throughout the Elafiti Islands. With double rooms available for 30 Euro a night, (a fraction of what you would pay for one of the bigger hotels in or around Dubrovnik,) you also often get to know a local family and have access to common areas such as kitchens, living rooms, and large patios overlooking the sea. Best time to go: Smooth water for kayaking can be found in September, the air and water are still warm, and it is outside of the peak tourist season. Dubrovnik, like most European cities, is packed with tourists in July and August, especially during the day when the cruise ships are in port. Best travel tip: The Elafiti islands are a quiet and low-cost retreat on Croatia�s Adriatic coast and a great place to spend a few days once you�ve walked the city walls of Dubrovnik. Surrounded by crystal-clear blue water, they are sprinkled with white sand beaches, small fishing villages, secluded coves and swimming spots, and fabulous seafood restaurants. Kayaking is a beautiful and relaxing way to explore this area. We took a �self-guided� trip, renting our kayak from a local outfitter for a few days and staying in �Sobe� that they arranged on different islands.

Tyler_Dave_and_Connor_in_front_of_City_Hall_-_DP_photo_6-10

davidrich — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:19:35 -0600

by: davidrich

Description: Names (left to right): Tyler Gronski, Uncle Dave and Connor Gronski Where photo taken: Stockholm City Hall where the Nobel Prize dinner is held. Best meal: Pickled Herring and Boarl Best deal: Great souvenirs shopping in Old Stockholm and kayaking around the city. Best time to go: May and June - cool temps around 70-75 F and long nights. Best travel tip:

Entrance to Beng Mealea, an unrestored temple in the Angkor Complex

roberthughes — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:33:35 -0600

by: roberthughes

Description: Names (left to right):Robert & Phyllis Hughes of Boulder Where photo taken: Angkor Wat, Cambodia Best meal: Funky Monkey in Siem Reap, where you can play Trivial Pursuit on Thursday evenings to benefit a children's charity. Best deal: Car rental for just $30 per day, including the guide/driver (who was great!). Prince d'Angkor Hotel also good deal. Best time to go: November through February, which is the cool season. Best travel tip: Get up early and rest at midday, then go out again after 3 PM, to avoid the heat. And allow a minimum of three days, as the Angkor Wat complex is quite large and many temples are completely different from one another.

Prime Meridian

amgallegos — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:30:44 -0600

by: amgallegos

Description: Names (left to right): Deanna Payne, Bertha Gallegos, Trinity Payne, Ann Gallegos & Lorena Payne Where photo taken:Greenwich, England Best meal: Indian Food in the Regents Park area of London Best deal: Museums and the Royal Observatory are free in the London area. The National Gallery is free and you can see the masters (Da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, etc.) Best time to go: June & July Best travel tip: Buy the London Oyster pass. You can buy a 3 or 7 day pass to use the chunnel and bus system, which is the best way to get around London.

Eiffel Tower!

greeneggs — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:07:44 -0600

by: greeneggs

Description: Names (left to right): Sam Thompson Where photo taken: Hotel Splendid Eiffel Tower Balcony - Paris! Best meal: Crepes De Arts! Yummy for dinner & dessert! Best deal: Ride the subway. Easy to get around, saves you time and your feet. Best time to go: We went up the tower Sunday evening, less crowded than Friday & Saturday! Best travel tip: Buy tickets ahead of time online for the Eiffel Tower & avoid "some" of the lines.

1 comment

IMG_0240

marteau10 — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:40:33 -0600

by: marteau10

Description: Names (left to right): Marie-Claire and Fred Hammer of Lone Tree Where photo taken: Stockholm, Sweden--in harbor with view of Royal Palace in background. The white awning was for the recent Royal Wedding between Crown Princess Victoria and her fitness instructor, Daniel. Best meal: Fresh fish, especially herring, from one of the many stands which line the scenic waterfront. Best deal: The "hop and go" ferry boat and bus combo, where, for a nominal fee, one can visit the many islands which comprise "the city that floats on water." Best time to go: summer and early fall, to take advantage of the 18 to 20 hours of sunlight each day. Best travel tip: visit the Vasa Museum, which houses the "unsinkable" Royal warship Vasa, which did sink in 1628 and was raised from the harbor in 1956.

IMG_9255

Penny Taylor — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:24:53 -0600

by: Penny Taylor

Description: Names (left to right): Mary Bediz and Penny Taylor Where photo taken: Sahara Desert, Morocco Best meal: Chicken Tagine at our desert camp Best deal: Moroccan lanterns in the Souk (the better you can bargain the cheaper the price. (we were terrible!) Best time to go: Spring or Fall Best travel tip: Tell the taxi driver to use the meter (or you will pay a lot) Be sure to take a horse and carriage in Marrakech to ride around the old city.

Christmas in Mazatlan

djehgotz73 — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:55:57 -0600

by: djehgotz73

Description: Names (left to right): Tim Ehgotz, Donna Ehgotz, Nick Ehgotz, Rodney Philpot, Carla Philpot, Shirlene Cook, Sharon Sandera, Rebekah Philpot, Lee Philpot, Michelle Ehgotz Where photo taken: Beach in Mazatlan, Mexico Best meal: Panchos for Breakfast Best deal: $5.00 sunglasses Best time to go: Christmas/our winter months Best travel tip: Enjoy delicious food at Panchos on the beach, take a pulmonia for a personal tour of the city, bargain for everything except food, eat the coconut yogurt and ice cream, get the thrill of ziplining through the jungle with Huana Coa Canopy Adventures, relax with the sun/sand/surf and photograph the beautiful sunsets. We had terrific weather the week we were there. Take a light jacket for evening breezes while walking on the beach. Check the money exchange rate before you go.

BRUGGE BELGIUM

ascudder — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:07:11 -0600

by: ascudder

Description: Names (left to right): John & Ava Scudder Where photo taken: Brugge Belgium Canal Best meal: Chocolate, Chocolate & more Chocolate Best deal: Transatlantic cruise from the U.S. to Europe Best time to go: Spring - middle of May Best travel tip: Make sure you buy plenty of chocolate - it is the best in the world!

View of the Bay from La Forteleza in Trujillo, Honduras

ramonykim — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 12:33:01 -0600

by: ramonykim

Description: Names (left to right):Kim and Ramon Medina with their children Kobi, Kevin, Leyla and Wendi Where photo taken: Overlooking Trujillo Bay from the historic Fort of Santa Barbara. Best meal: Sopa de Coco con Mariscos (Coconut soup with seafood) available in the beachfront restaurants. Best deal: Viajes Nayana Flor: Tours by boat with Don Moncho, viajesnayanaflor@yahoo.com, who can take you to Garifuna villages along the coast, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, or into the mangrove lagoon. Best time to go: March/April. After the rainy season and before it is hot. Avoid Easter Week (Semana Santa) as it is too crowded and prices go up. Best travel tip: Speaking Spanish is helpful but not necessary. Local people are friendly and helpful. Read up on the rich history of the area before going. Flights go to San Pedro Sula or La Cieba and one can either take a bus or rent a car from there to get to Trujillo.

Orava Castle-- Dolny Kubin, Slavakia

schmitted — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:21:37 -0600

by: schmitted

Description: Names (left to right):Marty and Ted Schmidt Where photo taken:Orava Castle, Republic of Slovakia, Dolny Kubin Best meal:Bryndza Halusky--sheep cheese with bacon on gnocchi;Kapusnica--sauerkraut-based soup on dumplings with chiles, Slovak wines and slivovitz toast"Nostrovia" at Prasna Basta restaurant in Franciscan square of old town in Bratislava. Best deal:Tour of Orava Castle near Dolny Kubin for 5 Euros. Three hour guided tour of a castle that dates from 1267 and was the site for filming of the silent film classic "Nosferatu" or Dracula in 1922. Best time to go:Given that 60% of Slovakia is forested with deciduous trees, fall colors must be spectacular. Best travel tip:Forget trying to learn or speak Slovak. the farther from Bratislava, the less English is spoken, but the people of the country are very friendly and most people involved with public transportation can speak enough English to keep a traveler going in the right direction. The basics of "please, thank you, good day, good meal" in Slovak are well received.

Presidential Palace-- Republic of Slovakia, Bratislava

schmitted — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:16:06 -0600

by: schmitted

Description: Names (left to right):Ted and Marty Schmidt Where photo taken:Presidential Palace, Republic of Slovakia, Bratislava Best meal:Bryndza Halusky--sheep cheese with bacon on gnocchi;Kapusnica--sauerkraut-based soup on dumplings with chiles, Slovak wines and slivovitz toast"Nostrovia" at Prasna Basta restaurant in Franciscan square of old town in Bratislava. Best deal:Tour of Orava Castle near Dolny Kubin for 5 Euros. Three hour guided tour of a castle that dates from 1267 and was the site for filming of the silent film classic "Nosferatu" or Dracula in 1922. Best time to go:Given that 60% of Slovakia is forested with deciduous trees, fall colors must be spectacular. Best travel tip:Forget trying to learn or speak Slovak. the farther from Bratislava, the less English is spoken, but the people of the country are very friendly and most people involved with public transportation can speak enough English to keep a traveler going in the right direction. The basics of "please, thank you, good day, good meal" in Slovak are well received.

A sleeping Eyjafjallajokull

jgiardino — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:22:14 -0600

by: jgiardino

Description: Names (left to right): Eyjafjallajokull's Ash Cloud Where photo taken: Roughly 8 km from the erupting volcano in Iceland. Best meal: delicious magma Best deal: angering Europe Best time to go: right now! Best travel tip: don't get too close and ash washes out easily

Icelandic Ash Cloud

jgiardino — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:09:32 -0600

by: jgiardino

Description: Names (left to right): Jessie Giardino, Jason Giardino Where photo taken: 2 hours South of Reykjavik on our way to see the Volcano Best meal: Hot dogs from B�jarins Beztu Pylsur, Reykjavik's favorite "restaurant." Best deal: If you have a AAA membership and plan to take tours, bring the card along for a 10% discount on Gray Line outings. Best time to go: Shoulder seasons (May and Sept) there's still light out but the prices aren't nearly as steep as they are in summer. Best travel tip: Fly through Boston, not only did we save a bundle on airfare we had time to explore Beantown!

Scotland

alvanm — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:41:53 -0600

by: alvanm

Description: Names (left to right): Wayne Johnson, Lori Spaulding, Carol Laingor, Bonnie Weizman, Helene Roberge, Dick Laingor, Cynthia Saer, Linda Ditchkus, Linda Warner, Caryl Matson, Christie Lee, and Alan VanMiddlesworth and Terri Morrow holding papers. Where photo taken: West Highlands Way, Scotland Best meal: Steak and Ale pie, Rowardennan Hotel Best deal: Single malt Scotch! Cheaper than here. Best time to go: Mid May to beat those nasty midges. Best travel tip: Stay in guest houses. Comfortable accomodations and good breakfasts.

2 comments

Parhams in Cambodia

Lucy Parham — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:17:21 -0600

by: Lucy Parham

Description: Names (left to right): Lucy & Glenn Parham Where photo taken: Angkor Wat, Cambodia Best meal: Lotus roots, all vegetables are natural and flavorful! Best deal: Silk clothing. Vendors around the temple are willing to bargain. Best time to go: Early Spring Best travel tip: Take plenty of dollar bills because there are lots of children selling items for a dollar.

HANAKAPIAI BEACH

boyet — Sat, 29 May 2010 08:59:18 -0600

by: boyet

Description: Names (left to right): Jonathan and Melanie Where photo taken: Napali Coast, Hanakapiai Beach, Kauai north shore Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

Haena Beach, Kaua'i north shore

boyet — Sat, 29 May 2010 08:50:46 -0600

by: boyet

Description: Names (left to right): Where photo taken: Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

Ancient Carthage

KayBuzbee — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:12:16 -0600

by: KayBuzbee

Description: Names (left to right): Oonagh and Jack Ross, Jean McGinnis, Carolyn and Bill Kemp, Katherine Wise Buzbee, Tony McGinnis, all from the Denver area. Where photo taken: The Ancient City of Carthage, 10 miles outside of Tunis, Tunisia Best meal: The busy main avenue (Ave Habib Bourguiba) in Tunis has affordable cafes serving everything from couscous to pizza. There are outside tables to watch people walk by. For a most memorable dining experience, go to Dar el-Jeld. As you enter the restaurant you�ll hear a musician playing traditional Tunisian music. The interior is like a gorgeous decorated jewelry box. You can enjoy a house specialty � delicious lamb served with olives, capers, and tomatoes. There are several fish dishes and many traditional food items. Best deal: The souks (markets) inside the old walled city is the closest you get to a medieval bazaar. They are filled with narrow alley ways (don�t get lost), packed with haggling merchants selling scarves, leather, jewelry, carpets, and ceramics. You must bargain hard to get the very cheapest deal! Once you get the hang of bargaining, you�ll get things half of the price quoted. Best time to go: Fall and Spring. From June to September it�s hot and dry in Northern Tunisia. As you go south towards the Sahara Desert, it gets much hotter and drier. In winter it can be chilly Best travel tip: Since Tunisia was once a French colony, Tunisians speak Arabic and French. Knowing a few phrases in French would be helpful. Also, while shopping in the souks, don�t count on using your credit card. Most merchants want either Tunisian dinars or dollars.

1 comment

Porto Marie Curacao

mtfreunds — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:56:54 -0600

by: mtfreunds

Description: Names (left to right): Where photo taken: Best meal: Best deal: Best time to go: Best travel tip:

Spain

roxibeegles — Mon, 24 May 2010 05:51:57 -0600

by: roxibeegles

Description: Names (left to right): Sarah Olson Wawrzeniak and Roxi Beegles Where photo taken: Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain Best meal: Chicken at Los Caracoles Best deal: Free fun at Parc Gruell Best time to go: We had picture-perfect weather in May. Best travel tip: Drink the local wine....Vina Sol from the Torres family

Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina

rkmafrey2 — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:40:35 -0600

by: rkmafrey2

Description: Names (left to right): Karen, Alex, Mackenzie, and Ron Frey of Centennial, Colorado Where photo taken: Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Stari Most, a 16th century bridge destroyed in the war after the split-up of Yugoslavia, was rebuilt with the help of UNESCO, and dedicated on July 23, 2004 (Immediately behind us spanning the Neretva River). Best meal: Dinner at Konoba �Dvije Pecine� (�The Two Caves�), cascading down a series of terraces next to a little stream and the Crooked Bridge. Complete with fresh salads, mixed meat grill platters, and dolma (peppers stuffed with minced meat, vegetables, and rice). Best deal: Shopping at Coppersmiths� Street provides for a truly Turkish experience, with local galleries, tapestries, and colorful hammered-copper jewelry, vases, and plates. For a quick snack try inexpensive �burek�- a phyllo dough and ground beef baked meat roll. Best time to go: May-June or September. Summer can be very hot. Best travel tip: Stay at the Bosnian National Monument �Muslibegovic House�, both a hotel and museum dedicated to Ottoman history and culture. For a very enjoyable and emotional tour of Mostar and its recent past consider local guide Alma Elezovic. For truly spectacular views of Mostar and surroundings, pay a small fee to climb the very narrow staircase of the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque minaret. Since Bosnia-Herzegovina is maturing its tourist transportation connections, Mostar usually is visited as a day-trip tour from Croatia (Split, Hvar, Korcula, or Dubrovnik). Mostar is best experienced by staying overnight, and can be reached by reliable bus service from Split or Dubrovnik.

Pao de Acucar - May 2010

RYCameron — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:23:33 -0600

by: RYCameron

Description: Names (left to right):Yvette and Richard Cameron Where photo taken: This picture was taken from the top of the 1st tram stop, Morro da Urca, prior to riding up to the top of the actual Pao de Acucar. Best meal: We visited a fantastic meal at a resturaunt in Leblon called Resto. Gabriel was the Maitre 'd. It was a little off the beaten path but has excellent food and a very upscale atmosphere with art on the walls, interesting decor, and a pleasant ambience. Best deal: By far our best experience was a guided hike and rock climb up the eastern side of Pao de Acucar. Very few visitior get to the top of the peak by hiking and climbing, and the views and excitment of reaching the summit on foot accentuated the enjoyment of this exceptional landmark. Best time to go: This was our first trip, and May seems to be very nice, weather wise. Best travel tip: Check out the botanical gardens in Rio de Janiero. It has some beatiful spots for photos. We went thinking we might spend a couple of hours, only to discover 4 hours was barely enough.