TravelStream™ news feed for member globetrotters on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/globetrotters en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:06:03 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/barbados-2006/1153454760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/barbados-2006/1153454760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/barbados-2006/1153454760/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:06:03 -0400 Barbados Surprise

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Atlanta, United States

Our last day in Barbados was incredible. How could we leave such a beautiful place, where we have found such peace, calm, hospitality, kindness and relaxation? It wasn't easy, but we had to leave. As David said, "If we don't leave here, we won't be able to experience the next place." And there will definitely be a "next place."



So we enjoyed one final relaxing breakfast at The Fish Pot. Juliette, our waitress, was there to greet us with her usual friendly smile, which we have come to expect and appreciate. Over breakfast, we reflected on all that we had experienced over the past week.



While Michael went over to the office to close out the account and to take a few final pictures of the grounds, Arlette, David and I shared our top three memories of the week. It was funny to hear what we all remembered and how we ranked each memory. Then suddenly we fell into a hush, staring out over the Caribbean Sea. As Juliette went about preparing for the lunch crowd, she noticed our quiet reflection, and commented that we seemed sad. She had become so used to our morning chatter and laughter that our sudden silence caught her attention. Surely she had experienced this kind of reaction from other guests at Little Good Harbour. Who really wants to leave a place like this? But today was our departure day and our driver was due in about an hour, so we slowly marched upstairs to complete our packing and enjoy the view from our villa one last time. As Jason, our driver, loaded our bags into the minivan, we said our final farewells to Graham and Juliette, snapped some pictures and waved goodbye to the Hotel Little Good Harbour.



Ever since Sunday, when we met the angel in Holetown, who journeyed with us into Bridgetown, we hadn't been able to contact her via her cell phone, and we all wanted to thank her one last time for her help. We knew our trip wouldn't be complete if we didn't at least say goodbye to her. But we had been unable to reach her by phone. The funny thing is, we all had an eerie suspicion that she might not really exist, because after she departed us in Bridgetown, she seemed to just disappear. And then we hadn't been able to reach her by phone, so our minds developed a strange theory that she was an apparition that we had all experienced together.



David suggested we stop at the service station where she worked since it was on our way, and Jason gladly obliged. We didn't even know if she would be at work today, but it was worth a try. We even thought that we would go into the place, ask about this woman, and the people there would tell us that no such woman had ever worked there, or that the person we were describing was a ghost or something. Okay, it was just a little joke we shared. But you never know. Michael took the lead and hopped out of the van to go inside the Texaco Star-Mart to find her. And less than a minute later, who do we see running out to the van, but our little angel. David slid the door open and she flew inside to hug Arlette and me. It was like that scene in The Color Purple, when Celie (Whoopie Goldberg's character) sees her children for the first time in like 20 years. You would have thought we were her long-lost children, who had been taken to American and had returned to their mama in Barbados. Such a warm scene with lots of smiles and hugs. We could tell that we had made her day. She was so excited to see us that she ushered us into the store to meet her boss, a tall, burley guy, who seemed completely baffled by the scene. Before we left, she explained that her cell phone had been out of order, but she quickly jotted down her address and the fax number at work and told us to contact her any time.



The rest of the ride to the airport was enjoyable as we passed several chattel houses that dotted the side roads, and the acres of sugar cane growing like grass. We passed a statue that Michael had wanted to see - it depicted a man with broken chains on both wrists, indicating the emancipation of slaves in Barbados. Unfortunately, Jason was unable to pull to the side of the road for us to get a good picture of it, but click the link for more info.



  Check-in at the airport was quite a process - stand in line to receive boarding pass, stand in line to get the luggage inspected, stand in line to have passport reviewed at customs desk, stand in line to have carry-on bags inspected. With all of that you would think folks would be in a bad mood, but not us. We were as calm and relaxed as anyone could be. We took it all in stride and simply counted it as another experience on this fantastic trip. After some last-minute shopping at the duty-free stores in the airport, we headed towards our gate, boarded the plane and took off. Arlette snapped some final shots of the island as the plane ascended for a pleasant flight home.



Back in Atlanta, after going through customs once again, we separated -- David and Arlette headed for their flight back to New Orleans, and Michael and I headed home. On our way to the park-n-ride, Michael received a call from David, who explained that he had just had a serendipitous moment. While in Barbados, he had been reading a book titled The Pursuit of Happyness, and had been sharing how much he was enjoying the book. While waiting for their flight to New Orleans, he noticed a man sitting across from him and realized that he resembled the author of the book and that he was wearing the same suit that the author was wearing in the jacket photo. The man walked to the restroom, and David mentioned to Arlette that he thought that was the author. When the guy returned, David walked over to him and asked if he was Mr. Gardner. The man confirmed that he was, and mentioned that he was in Atlanta attending the T.D. Jakes Megafest Convention. David told him that he was in the midst of reading his book, and asked him to sign it. When David mentioned that his sister, Jackie had given him the book, Gardner said, "Get your sister on the phone." So David called Jackie and handed the phone to Gardner, who played "guess who this is" with Jackie, who eventually figured out that she was speaking to the author. They all enjoyed a laugh.



We all finally made it to our respective homes after a long day. As I fell off to sleep I could still hear the calming rush of ocean waves swooshing against the rocks. I'll never forget that villa, that view or the friendly people of Barbados.


Just so that you will know:
 
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]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/11/1232340600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/11/1232340600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/11/1232340600/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:00:04 -0400 Globetrotters Are Off To Washington DC for the Inauguration of President Barack OBAMA, 44th President of the United States.

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Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States

The pastor's message at First Baptist Church this morning was great. "Lest We Forget" was the title, and it took the congregation down memory lane, reminding us all of the brave men and women who suffered, struggled and endured incredible situations in history that helped us all get to this day -- one day before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and 48 hours before the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, who happens to be African American. Being with my loved ones makes this time even more special for me.   We met up with Aunt Janice (Jeffrey's mom) at church, then headed to Crossroads for brunch.





This is one of Tiffany's and Jeff's favorite Caribbean spots, and after savoring all of the flavors of the restaurant's specialized menu, I know why.  From traditional brunch fare of made-to-order omlettes and waffles, to the flavors of Caribbean delicacies such as Jamaican aki with salt fish, callaloo, jerk chicken, peas and rice and so much more. Yes, we stuffed ourselves and were ready for a nap afterwards, but with Tiffany's insistence that we walk off all of that food, we went home to change clothes then headed for the metro into WDC to catch a glimpse of the star-studded concert, "We Are One," at the Lincoln Memorial.





There is nothing like being in a crowd of excited people, all in a positive mood and thrilled to be in a place that is sure to make history. There were all kinds of people walking the streets of Washington, DC, who represented the diversity and inclusiveness of Ameirca that Dr. King spoke about; all of them on their way to the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall. Strangers smiling as they pass one another, wearing their Obama gear, munching on hot dogs and mustard-covered pretzels, bundled in everything from fur coats to bomber jackets, and feet clad in Nikes, Timberlands and every other kind of comfortable shoes you can imagine. 





Music filled the air from artists such as U2 and Mary J. Blige; Usher and Garth Brooks. Marissa Tomei, Denzell Washington, Tom Hanks, Tiger Woods, Queen Latifah, George Lopez and so many more celebrities came onstage to deliver their messages of hope. While all of this was happening, Tiffany, Don, Michael and I made our way through the streets of DC on our way to the National Mall. Soon enough, Michael gets a call from Cynthia suggesting we meet up with her, Jarvis and Anthony at a local restaurant. When we arrive at Tonic (a spot that Anthony adopted as one of his favorites during his summer internship at the State Department), we find not only Cynthia, Jarvis and Anthony, but Jane, Darrow and Joy inside. What a surprise! Who knew the entire crew would be here. After a brief hello, we left them to enjoy their lunch, then headed towards the concert to get lost among the crowd.





The entrance to the area surrounding the Lincoln Memorial had been closed hours ago (probably while we were at brunch), so we elected to view the concert on one of the jumbotron monitors near the Washington Monument.  And what an experience it was! Obama's speech was incredible, very inspiring. What a feeling to be in a crowd and hear Obama speak. The energy was electric, hopeful and exciting. 





Following the concert, we made our way towards the inaugural parade route, calling this a "test run" of what we'll do on Tuesday.  Michael remarked that the festive atmosphere reminds him of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We picked up a few souvenirs then boarded the metro to return to Maryland for the evening.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/puertorico-2006/1161491400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/puertorico-2006/1161491400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/puertorico-2006/1161491400/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:59:28 -0400 Off to San Juan, Puerto Rico

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San Juan, Puerto Rico

Grab some breakfast. Rent the car. Pick up Kristin. Stop for snacks (because you know the Globetrotters can never hit the road without some snacks). Then we're on our way to El Yunque (El Joon-kay) Rain Forest about 45 minutes from Rio Piedras. After a brief stop at the visitor's information center to watch a short film and browse around, we head up, up, up the mountain. What a beautiful drive up the narrow, winding road past trees I've never seen before. Our first stop is at La Coca Falls, a waterfall that gracefully drips down a flat rock surface. We gotta climb the rocks for a few pictures. Kristin passes Globetrotter test #5 - Adventurous and willing to climb to the top.



Then we drive up about four miles and decide to stop for a hike. Kristin dons the backpack and down the trail we go past such beauty-the trees, the rocks, even the manmade pathway blends perfectly with the natural beauty of the forest. The sound of water in the distance calls to us. Suddenly, the trail ends at a natural pool where water falls over the edge of a tall cliff like a sheer curtain over an open window with the wind blowing through it. Michael decides to get in and finds the water very cold. Soon, the waterfall is calling to Kris, and she can't resist. We have to change into our swimsuits. We find the perfect "dressing room" behind a tree and quickly change. Hey, Globetrotters gotta do what they gotta do . . .



Kris is determined to get under that waterfall; but once her body touches the cold of the water she has second thoughts. I know she won't be able to live with herself if she doesn't do it, so I encourage her to suck it up and go for it. Easy for me to say, I'm just knee deep in the icy water. But she does it. Then Michael joins her because he can't resist the temptation to let the water fall on him too. Why didn't I join them? Someone had to take picturesJ



Finally, we start back up the mountain along a different route. Michael insists that we're going to come out of the forest in a completely different spot than where we entered, but Kris and I don't listen. We're just enjoying the scenery. Sure enough, the parking lot we come to is not the one where we left the car. So we walk up the road with cars whizzing past us. Up, up, up about a mile and a half to another parking lot. This isn't where we parked either. It's hot and muggy. The road is steep. I've got pebbles in both my shoes. The Globetrotter candidate is handling things pretty well with that heavy backpack. Looks like she passes Globetrotter test #6 - carry your load without complaining.



Michael runs up ahead, certain that the car can't be too far. We wait. He soon drives up and tells us that the car was parked in a lot another mile and a half up the road. Thank goodness he went on ahead of us to retrieve the car.



Back down the road we stop at a pincho shop because Michael is now obsessed with those little kabobs. Then head out of El Yunque and back to the hotel we go to get ready for dinner. We have reservations at 8 and we don't want to be late.



We look fabulous as we go down to Tangerine for dinner. The food is delicious. Michael orders lobster ravioli; Kristin has the duck; and I had the pan-seared tuna. We share two quarts of sorbet (mango and raspberry). After all of that food, we're way too tired to go out dancing - at least the elder Globetrotters are. Something tells me Kristin is just catching her second wind. I hate to disappoint her, but I can barely keep my eyes open. We go upstairs and crash early, while Kris stays up to do some homework. Good for her.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/spring_fling_06/1145215080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/spring_fling_06/1145215080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/spring_fling_06/1145215080/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:58:56 -0400 Off to Rio de janeiro, Brazil

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Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We are totally beat today. Dog tired. After walking what seemed like 30 miles yesterday - from the Botanical Gardens to Ipanema Beach then to Copacabana - we awoke a little achy and subsequently got a very late start today. But we had to recuperate from the past few days, which were spent touring Rio by foot. We have found that one of the best ways to learn about a city, to really get the flavor of the place, is to travel through it by foot and public transportation. And that's what we've been doing. By Metro, bus and foot we have toured Rio de Janeiro, from Gloria to Catete to Flamengo to Laranjeiras, Botafogo and all the neighborhoods in between. By now the employees at Le Meridien's concierge desk probably think we are the craziest Americans to come through here in a long time. Who in their right minds would walk that far when there are so many taxis around? I'm sure they're wondering this. But they're getting a kick out of hearing our daily recount of how far we walked.



Our observations of this beautiful city are many and varied. We've noticed that the majority of the vehicles here are very compact - Fiat, Volkswagen, Peageuot, and the like. No big SUVs and Cadillacs. And these folks drive like maniacs, very fast. Rush hour traffic is typical. But I must say that we haven't seen one accident, although we've had a few close calls crossing the street as hurried drivers whiz past us or slam on their brakes to avoid what would certainly be a dramatic impact between the car and our bodies.



Despite the Mario Andredi-like driving, we have found the people to be very friendly. The language barrier we were initially concerned with has turned out to be a non-issue. Once people realize that you are a foreigner they try to communicate through facial expressions and hand gestures. My grammar school Spanish has helped us communicate on several occasions to the Portuguese speakers. But it has also helped to know some of the polite expressions. One that has gotten us very far is "thank you (obregado/obregada)". Fingers help for counting, thumbs up means "good", "sim" is "yes", "nao" is "no", and a smile is worth a million bucks.



If you're on a diet, don't come to Rio. There are so many great restaurants that you'd be sure to ruin your resolution to stay away from the bread. From neighborhood diners to expensive restaurants, people tend to gather socially around the dinner table, often in patio settings just sitting and watching people walking by as they enjoy their food and wine, often into the late hours of the night. We discovered this one type of buffet style restaurant where they charge by the weight of your plate. How scary is that? With dozens of selections it's hard to keep your choices to a minimum because everything looks so tasty. But it definitely helps cut down on waste and actually helps you control the cost of the meal. Very different from our American-style "all you can eat" for one price buffets. No wonder we're so fat in America. When you can eat all you want for one price, you're bound to go overboard and eat more than you need, and be wasteful on top of that. The Italian influence is very prevalent in the food and the language here. There are lots of pizzerias, and practically every restaurant has some kind of Italian dish on the menu.



This might sound strange after talking about all of the delicious food, but we've been hard pressed to find a fat Brazilian. Well, they're here, but they are certainly the minority. The people here are beautiful, with skin the color of caramel, bronze, cocoa, and charcoal, dark hair, slender, and some with hazel eyes. The locals are called Cariocas (carry o cuhs), and they are truly comfortable in their skin. Speaking of skin, you see it everywhere.

The human body is considered art here, not something to be covered up or ashamed of. It is appropriate to show some skin, and it's no wonder because it is very warm here - consistently 78 - 85 degrees, day and night.



Finally, the staff at Le Meridien has been exceedingly friendly, informed and willing to assist us wherever possible. I highly recommend this hotel, although there are hundreds more to choose from in Copacabana, as well as Ipanema and even into the inner city. And with this time of year being considered the "off season", we have been privy to several small perks - early check-in (10 AM), ocean view room, late check-out (6 PM) and more. Of course, we had to ask for these perks, but our boldness has paid off.



 So, with our late check-out we decided to take it easy today - a leisurely buffet breakfast at Café Fleur, the hotel restaurant (not pay by weight), one last day sunning on the beach, a dip in he hotel pool, and a final trip to our favorite Internet café to send off this journal. Of course, we had to take a nap before departing for the airport for our 8-hour flight back to Atlanta. So we're off to the airport. We'll check in when we arrive. Adios from Rio.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/10/1207972200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/10/1207972200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/10/1207972200/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:58:19 -0400 Michael's Birthday In Bermuda - 2008

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Somerset, Bermuda

Happy birthday, Michael! We are on our way to Bermuda. Everytime we get ready for another trip, Cleo gets sad. Somehow she knows we are about to leave her behind again. So on our way to the airport, we drop off Cleo for boarding and somehow find ourselves helping a woman capture her unleashed dog, who has gotten away from her (good deeds and kindness to others go a long way), before leaving Cleo presented Michael with some flowers, with a surprise look on his face, she assured him these were not peed on before picked and besides she found a basket at a neighbor's houose to place them in.....nice gift michael thought......  then off to the airport we go. 





We arrive in plenty of time to enjoy a beverage from Starbuck's before boarding our 2 ½-hour flight to Bermuda. The L.F. Wade International Airport is colorful, bright, and clean and we're greeted by a trio of "musicians" singing and playing instruments along to pre-recorded music featuring oldies, but goodies. Easy going through customs, then out to our awaiting shuttle van, which we arranged days earlier. Our driver, Herman, takes us on the 45-minute drive to 9 Beaches Resort.

 

The drive through the island reveals some beautiful scenery, reminiscent of the Bahamas or Jamaica, with lovely views of the beaches along the highway, colorful houses of aqua blue, lime green, lemon yellow, lavender, peach and orange. I'm checking my watch to ensure we get to our destination by 5:30 p.m. because unbeknownst to Michael, I've scheduled a very special surprise for his birthday and timing is critical.

 

As we drive onto the grounds of 9 Beaches, our first impression is that it looks kind of rustic and park-like. The individual tented cabanas are all raised on wooden stilts, each one facing a different direction, all with a lovely view of the ocean and the resort grounds. 

 

At the reservations area, we are greeted by Keret, who offers us a Bermuda rum swizzle drink as we check in. She gives us our personal cell phone, one of the unique items at 9 Beaches. All of the necessary numbers are programmed into the phone-front desk, concierge, mini bus, water sports, emergency, etc. All calls on the island are free of charge and we can get free incoming calls from anywhere. We debate on whether to email our families to let them know about this. We think not!

 

Soon we meet up with Willy, the concierge, whom I've been emailing for about a week and a half to schedule Michael's special birthday surprise, which is scheduled to begin promptly at 6:30. Willy and I speak in "code" so as to not give away the surprise in Michael's presence, and to make certain we have all the details straight. Michael surprised me so well for my birthday, with a cruise to Central America, that I had to find some way to surprise him for his birthday. With just about an hour before "show time" I'm on pins and needles hoping everything turns out okay.

 

The friendly bellman, Khomeini, loads our bags onto a golf cart and we climb aboard for the short drive to our cabana #18. When we walk in the door of the cabana, we are blown away. The place is gorgeous! With soft-sided vinyl exterior walls and canvas interior walls, the cabana features all the comforts of a customary hotel room, except for a television and radio (and I must say that I am pleased with that; a break from the daily news grind will be a welcome reprieve). There is a small closet, a mini-refrigerator, a hair dryer and a portable air conditioning unit for those hot and humid times of the year. There's no iron or ironing board, however; and who needs it? This place is the ultimate in casual.

 

The bathroom is small-slightly larger than on a cruise ship-and has a tiny shower and all of the usual amenities. The canvas ceiling inside the cabana droops lightly to resemble the puffiness of a down comforter. The windows and the doors leading onto the deck allow the natural light into the quaint cabana, and the colorful bedspread, furnishings and window coverings add to the brightness of the room. We are loving this place!

 

Right away, our cell phone rings. I take the call outside on the deck because I know it is regarding the big surprise. Meanwhile, Michael discovers a lovely fruit basket on the coffee table with a note wishing him a happy birthday from the staff at 9 Beaches. He is surprised, but little does he know this is only the beginning. We unpack a few things and Michael is ready to explore the grounds, but we can't leave now. I'm awaiting further instructions from my co-conspirators. 

 

Finally, there is a knock at the door and we find Khomeini ready to whisk us away to enjoy the birthday secret. The key word here is SECRET. "So, I understand you folks are going to enjoy a private dinner on the beach tonight," he says. Oh no, he wasn't supposed to say anything! It's a surprise, didn't they tell him that! Suddenly, I hear Michael yell, then laugh and there you have it; the cat is out of the bag. Thanks, Khomeini for spoiling the surprise five minutes before the big reveal! Actually, it was pretty funny for Michael to find out this way. Khomeini actually thought I was the one being surprised and I could tell he felt really badly about revealing the surprise.

 

Nonetheless, we arrive at Snuggler's Cove on the other side of the resort and are greeted by Paul and Anna Maria, then escorted down the steps to a table for two on the secluded beach. Michael is speechless, totally surprised and absolutely ecstatic. I love this. Our dinner is delightful, the service is top notch, and to top it all off, Chef Joseph comes out to greet the birthday boy and presents a signed, customized menu. This moment has gone down in the books as one of the most memorable experiences Michael and I have enjoyed together. Check out our photos and videos for more on the dinner menu and the experience.  

 

With tiki torches lighted, the sun completely gone and no sign of Paul or Anna Maria (it's been about an hour since we last saw those two), we decide to head up the steps to let them know we're done for the night so they can show us the way back to our cabana. Much to our surprise, our friendly wait staff has gone away. We have no idea how to get back, but luckily we come upon another couple and they kindly lead us in the direction of the reception area, from which we make our way back to cabana #18 in the dark. What a day; what a surprise. We are definitely looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/10/1208228520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/10/1208228520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/10/1208228520/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:58:04 -0400 Michael's Birthday In Bermuda - 2008

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Somerset, Bermuda

I don't know if the sunrise seems more breathtaking this morning because there are fewer clouds or because we're waking up to it in our upgraded cabana. Whatever the reason, it is truly fabulous; so much so that we sit for hours in the rocking chairs on the deck to watch it.  We also notice some fish in the water. They look like large red snappers. And out in the distance there are yellow tail and some kind of little fishes jumping out of the glistening water.

 

Our plan for the day is to have breakfast, drive the scooter through some of the local neighborhoods and then to the market to pick up some water and snacks, then back to 9 Beaches for kayaking and a few hours tanning on our semi-private beach. However, at breakfast we notice an ominous cloud coming our way. Could that be rain? The answer comes just as we finish eating.  A torrential downpour pushed along by winds that drive the rain sideways right onto the patio where people are finishing breakfast. 

 

  Chef Joseph emerges from the kitchen to see what all the commotion is about, and we have a quick chat with him about how much we're enjoying our stay here. As much as we would like to stay true to our plans of riding the scooter one last time before turning it in, we know it could be dangerous to ride on the slick rain-soaked streets. So instead, we turn in the scooter key at the front desk (very convenient; Oleander Cycles will come here to pick up the scooter), and we spend the day inside our cabana enjoying the sound of the rain as it beats upon the canvas rooftop.  While a rainy day in paradise might appear to have ruined our plans, in actuality, I was hoping to experience this. In fact, one of our fellow Travelpod travelers, Willbtraveling, suggested that we pray for rain one night. And here we are with a beautiful rainy day. Perfect! I don't even mind foregoing our plans for kayaking. I guess we'll have to do that on another trip.

 

As we update our travel journal, Ijahreen, the housekeeper comes in to clean the cabana and we enjoy a nice chat with her.  She explains that the cabanas are disassembled and thoroughly cleaned twice a year to ward off mold and keep them looking new. 



Eventually, the rain stops just long enough for us to tiptoe down to the beach and wade in the crystal clear waters. Oh no, here comes the rain again, and we dash up the stairs and back to our abode. Before we know it, it's time to freshen up for dinner at Hi Tide. We've made reservations, and are looking forward to a delicious meal on our final night here.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1134193500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1134193500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1134193500/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:57:36 -0400 To Egypt and Beyond, A trip of a Lifetime!

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NEW YORK, New York, United States

Dec 9, 2005 Our long-awaited departure day has finally arrived. We're on our way to Egypt! The first leg of our journey began this morning at 9:30 a.m. with our ride to the Metro station with our Volunteer Transportation service/ Medical Doctor-Anita's sister, Rene, who happened to be visiting Atlanta from Nashville for her son, Justin's 21st birthday yesterday. As we rode through the morning traffic, Rene quickly quizzed us on our preparations for the trip-did we receive the appropriate inoculations? Did we pack antibiotics for diarrhea? She proceeded to explain why we had no need for a Hep A shot, but rather needed the series of Hep B shots. Not only that, but she gave us a severe warning to look out for beg bugs! Yuck, a nasty thought considering how many strange beds we'll be sleeping in over the next 21 days. Needless to say, I was evaluating whether we should go on this trip. Once at the MARTA station, I asked Rene to take a picture of us departing, only to discover that the batteries in the digital camera hadn't been recharged the night before. Note to self, never let that happen again!



Upon arriving at the airport, we headed straight towards the automated Delta ticket counter for check-in to make things a little easier. And wouldn't you know, as we placed our fancy new red luggage onto the scale we were informed that one bag was over weight by 3lbs., and the cost would be an additional $25. I immediately thought of a phrase my nephew, Darrow often says in response to ridiculous situations - "You must have fallen and bumped your head!" I had to resist saying that to the Delta agent behind the counter. So instead, we kindly removed our luggage from the scale and moved to the side to shift some things around. As I opened the luggage I found that the overweight problem was most likely due the plethora of snacks we had packed for our journey, compliments of our sweet friend Karen, in San Diego, who sent us a care package from Trader Joe's just yesterday. We were loaded down with trail mix, almonds, dried fruit and candy - enough goodies to last us the entire 3 weeks. So we loaded Anita's carry-on backpack with the extra snacks and moved our toiletry back to another suitcase. That solved the weight problem and we were on our way.



At the departure gate, we awaited the boarding call and hoped the agent would announce the opportunity for ticketed passengers to give up their seats since the plane was full. We have learned the value of being "bumped", and secretly hoped we would have the opportunity to do so on this short trip from Atlanta to New York since we had no pressing plans for the evening. Our flight to Cairo isn't until tomorrow evening and we have loads of time. Instead, the announcement we heard was that the aircraft had experienced some pre-flight mechanical problem and that our flight would have to be shifted to another aircraft. We were informed that this slight change would set us back about an hour and a half. Despite the grumblings of some of the other passengers, we took it all in stride and decided to have some lunch.



As we approached the food court, Anita noticed a Popeye's Chicken and I couldn't resist an old New Orleans favorite. I couldn't believe that my usual meal -- three wings and a coke, with some read beans and rice and a small fruit cup came up to $10.97. Man, they really know how to jack up the prices in the airport. We grabbed our meal to go and headed back to the gate only to find the area empty of all passengers. Where the heck did everybody go? No need to panic, they simply changed gates on us. Thanks goodness it was only one gate away. So we ate our lunch while waiting to board the flight.



After a short nap during the 2-hour flight, we arrived at JFK International Airport and headed for baggage claim. I was reminded that I hadn't been in this airport since I took a trip to Paris 15 years ago. The airport looked old and dingy, and I was surprised at how tight the environment was. So many people from so many different backgrounds were all around us. I guess that's what you expect from a truly international airport. Once at baggage claim we waited for our luggage - and waited, and waited, and waited. Suddenly the conveyor belt came to a halt, leaving us and about 20 other passengers looking around like lost souls. Where's our luggage? We didn't want to think the worst, but as the crowd thinned, we suddenly became aware that our luggage had not arrived. So we headed with the other disappointed passengers to the baggage claim customer service counter to find out what the heck was going on.



While in line, I kept thinking to myself what we should do in this type of situation. I was reminded of a saying that my sister, Jane has in her office, "Attitude is EVERYTHING!" I asked Anita if she could recall the phrase, and she said she couldn't remember. So I reminded her that it's all about your attitude. And what a phrase to remember as we stood in line and listened to the complaints of the other passengers. I pondered some lessons of what to do in situations like this:

1. Hold your peace

2. Keep your mouth closed

3. Don't get caught up in other people's problems

4. Remember, you planned for the worst but hope for the very best

I realized that our perspective was slightly different from some of the other passengers - we weren't in any hurry to catch another flight and we had planned to stay overnight in New York prior to our departure to Cairo. So that helped us maintain our peace. But as we listened to the others we realized that they had some serious challenges with this unanticipated turn of events. Standing behind us was a woman from South Africa, who was on her way back home. Her flight was scheduled to depart within 2 hours and she had no luggage. She was traveling from Atlanta with a short stop in New York, headed over to KLM Airline to board a plane for an 11-hour flight to Amsterdam with a 3 hour layover, and then on to a plane for another 11 hour flight to South Africa. Man, she was really in a jam. We didn't feel so bad after hearing her dilemma.



We wished her the best and then approached the customer service counter to make our report. We were very careful not to refer to our luggage as "lost", but rather misplaced or that it just didn't arrive with us. The agent assured us that the luggage would arrive on the next flight from Atlanta, scheduled to arrive within the hour, and that our bags would be delivered to our hotel. I thought that was pretty cool - valet service! So after realizing that we didn't have to haul our luggage to the hotel, we proceeded to the hotel shuttle area to await our ride. But first we had to hop on the Air Train - a monorail system within JFK Airport that transports passengers to all gates and parking areas.



So we got on board the Air Train and quickly realized we were headed in the wrong direction. No problem, we're flexible. We just hopped off and got back on going the opposite direction to board the hotel shuttle. Here's another surprise - we had to wait outside in the cold! You would think that a city that gets as cold as New York would have an indoor waiting area for shuttle pick up. But not so. We waited outside in 34-degree weather with the other tired travelers to board our shuttle van.



The ride to the hotel was short. I'm glad I booked a hotel just 2 miles from the airport. After checking in, we decided to brave the elements and go out to dinner at a restaurant that the front desk girl instructed us was only about 2 blocks away - 2 icy cold blocks, as far as I'm concerned. We figured our luggage would be waiting for us at the hotel when we returned from dinner - our reward for a long day's journey. The meal was delicious and the ambiance enjoyable, and thankfully, the walk back to the hotel didn't seem quite as cold as the walk to the restaurant. I guess a belly full of warm food really does have its benefits.



Unfortunately, our luggage hadn't made it to the hotel by the time we got back from dinner. So we decided to call Delta to find out what was up. We checked on the baggage until 12:30 a.m., speaking to no less than five different people until we finally got a supervisor on the line, who insisted that he would call me back before the night was over with some information. And he did. The bags were scheduled to arrive on the last flight of the day at 12:44 a.m. So instead of having them delivered to the hotel the next morning and taking the chance that they wouldn't arrive before our 1 p.m. late check out time, he offered to instruct the JFK baggage department to hold our luggage at the airport to ensure we would be able to retrieve it for our trip to Cairo tomorrow. I guess that will work. We've decided that we really have just about everything we need - a warm bed to sleep in, our toothbrushes (which Anita packed in her backpack for some reason), and each other. What more do we really need? So we'll see what happens in the morning. I think we're ready for a good nights sleep.



Final recap:

Metro ride to the airport: $3.50

Charge for overweight bag: $25



Spending the night in a hotel room 2 miles from JFK airport without our luggage, which didn't arrive with us the night before leaving the country for the trip of a lifetime: PRICELESS!



Stay tune, I'm sure this isn't the last time we will have to remember that ole saying " It's all about your Attitude"
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1134797400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1134797400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1134797400/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:57:15 -0400 To Egypt and Beyond, A trip of a Lifetime!

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ASWAN, Egypt

December 16, 2005: A 3:30 a.m. wake up call started the day. This was no small feat after our road crossing and shopping experience of yesterday. We headed out to the airport for a 7 a.m. flight to Aswan, a city to the south of Cairo. It doesn't seem that this leg of our journey is over already. Our week in Cairo has been great. The chance to view the pyramids and the sphinx, among other notable sights. Lots of learning experiences that we were able to share with other Americans we ran into at the airport, who were either headed back to the states or on their way to Aswan, as we were. The 1 ½ hour flight to Aswan seemed to take no time. But Anita and I definitely took the opportunity for a nap while en route.



As we headed deeper into the country of Egypt, we suddenly realized that we were each the first in our families to set foot on the continent of Africa. This realization was cause for a moment of reflection. Two African American individuals sharing a first-time experience in the Motherland; one we hope we have communicated effectively to our family and friends. And as much as we thought we would find many differences between us and the Egyptians, we're actually finding that we seem to have much more in common than not. We have been told by several Egyptians that we look like them - a flattering comment, for certain.



As the airplane approached our destination, I could see the Nile River snaking through the barren landscape. From the air the place looked desolate, empty and void of life. But as we got closer to Aswan I could see definite signs of life - small villages on the outskirts of town, vegetation near the river's shores and there in the distance, a clump of taller buildings that must be downtown Aswan. It was hard to contain my excitement.

After gathering our bags, we boarded a bus with others who would be cruising the Nile with us. First, we stopped for a brief tour of the High Dam to view this industrial marvel. Constructed in 1971 in partnership between the Egyptian government and the Soviet Union, the High Dam was at that time the largest man made dam in the world, and currently serves a crucial role in maintaining the safety of Upper and Lower Egypt. With Lake Nasser on one side and the Nile River on the other side, it was pretty incredible to realize that if this dam ever broke it would take only 8 hours for a flood of water to reach Cairo and engulf everything in its path. So we see why it is such a strategic location and why the Egyptian Army guards and monitors this area so heavily. We couldn't even take video footage or use wide angle or zoom camera lenses because they are so protective of the area and concerned about terrorist attacks.



While at the dam, we ran into a group of kids who were visiting the dam on a school field trip. I couldn't resist going over to capture some photos of them. And as soon as I did they swarmed around me and began playing their drums to a beat that took me back to the line dancing that we do in my hometown, New Orleans. I broke out my camera and the kids gathered all around me wanting to have their pictures taken. It was great. They also wanted to practice their English on me, and said with their Egyptian accents, "Hello, what's your name?" I kindly answered, "Michael." One of the boys' name was also Michael, and of course there was a Mohammad in the group. All of them were hams for the camera.



At the location of the dam there is a monument erected to signify the importance of the dam, and the partnership between the Egyptians and the Soviets. Built in the shape of a lotus flower (the symbol of Upper Egypt in the south), it features five tall pillars with inscribed words and pictures depicting life along the Nile River.



The bus ride to our river boat took us across the dam and through the city of Aswan, a bustling village that stretches along the Nile River. I saw lots of men walking around in their colorful galabeyas (the local outfits), a lot of hotel construction, children in the streets, and women going about their daily activities. The area is a dry, arid landscape, but beautiful because of the life-giving Nile that runs through it and the mixture of people who call it home.



As we boarded the ship we had to cross through three other ships that were nested side by side. The first ship we walked through featured an impressive lobby with marble floors and mahogany wood paneling along the walls. I was really taken by this boat and hoped it was ours. But as we continued through the other boats, I admired their décor as well, and realized that our boat had to be on the same level. We finally reach the MS Anuket, a small vessel with light oak paneling, marble floors and lots of windows inviting in the natural light. This place is just perfect for a 6-night cruise up the Nile River.



After sipping on our welcome drink of sweet hibiscus we headed for our stateroom to drop off our carry-on bags. We were surprised at how large the room is - almost as large as a hotel room - and equally as nice as our room at the Cairo Marriott. Our cabin is first class accommodations. A quick tour of the room and then we decided to walk around the ship to become familiar with it. With three levels of staterooms, a sun deck, a comfortable lounge and a formal dining room, we feel pretty good about this place, and privileged to be on board with the other 100 or so guests.



What a beautiful view of the Nile from the sun deck. It is breathtaking, and we haven't even left port yet. Lunch in the restaurant was first class also. A buffet of more food than we could eat, caused us to quickly become tired and in need of a nap. After awakening there was afternoon tea (does the food ever end?) served on the sun deck.

Next was the ship's briefing of activities with the other guests on board. Then, believe it or not, it was time to eat again. Dinner was served. I don't even want to go into describing all of the food. Just know that is has all been great. But after such a long day, fatigue had finally caught up to me, and I nearly fell asleep at the dinner table; I could hardly wait for Anita to finished eating. I guess she must have really enjoyed the meal or the company or the atmosphere, because it seemed like she was eating especially slowly tonight. Finally Anita took my hint and we quickly said good night to our table mates and retired to our stateroom, where we were pleased to find that our cabin steward had come to turn down our beds and left a lovely towel folded in the shape of a lotus flower as a welcome. I love this kind of service.



So good night for now. We'll be back at it in the morning.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1135400940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1135400940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1135400940/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:56:59 -0400 To Egypt and Beyond, A trip of a Lifetime!

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Cairo, Egypt

December 23, 2005: On our last day on the Nile River I thought it would be a good idea to send message in a bottle. I've wanted to do that ever since I saw that movie with Kevin Costner. So I wrote a little note and sealed it inside an empty wine bottle and, with Anita by my side, I threw it overboard the M/S River Anuket to float northward (as you might know, the Nile is the only river that flows south to north). I'm hoping an English speaking Egyptian will fish it out of the water and email me.

After a light breakfast, we boarded a bus that took us to the Luxor International Airport in preparation for our flight back to Cairo. Luxor has a very modern airport, and I was very impressed with the facilities and the security. Once on the plane, our flight to Cairo took a mere one hour, just enough time for a quick little snooze.

As much as I wanted to go out and explore Cairo, Anita was a little apprehensive about walking around the city. She was tired, plus it was kind of chilly outside. And with another week ahead of us, she didn't want to risk either of us catching a cold. So we just linked into the Internet at the hotel business center and then met a few of the folks who were on the cruise with us for a drink before turning in early. It was good to have a final farewell to all of the people we had come to know for the week we spent in southern Egypt. They were all nice folks. Mostly older than us. Many said it was a pleasure for them to see such a young couple traveling and enjoying this type of trip.

Some of them were headed back to the states. Others will be traveling with us to Jordan. So we are now enjoying the sights and sounds of Cairo, overlooking the Nile once again. What a beautiful sight. A perfect way to end a lovely stay at the beautiful Cairo Marriott.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1135575120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1135575120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/globetrotters/egypt-_2005/1135575120/tpod.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:56:43 -0400 To Egypt and Beyond, A trip of a Lifetime!

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Petra, Jordan

December 25, 2005: Merry Christmas to all! It is so strange to be away from home in another country on Christmas Day, although it is nice to be so far removed from the utter commercialization of this holy day that has permeated an American Christmas. Today is a holiday in Jordan, as well. But the streets, stores and TV shows are pleasantly void of the pollution that has become associated with Christmas in the states. There are very few signs of Christmas here. But the traditional music piped softly through speakers at the hotel reminds me that it is indeed that time of year. But still, much different than the American Christmas that Michael and I are used to. Yet and still, it is a blessing to be experiencing something different on this revered day.



One night in Amman wasn't enough. But we'll be back in a few days. Today we rode out to Petra, a city in the southern part of Jordan with a population of about 15,000. After a stop to change our U.S. dollars into Jordanian Dinar (dee - nar) (only .70 JD to 1 dollar), we took off to find Nebo - Mount Nebo, that is. Some of you might know Mount Nebo as the place where God showed Moses the Promised Land, and where Moses is reportedly buried.



A three hour ride in the freezing rain took us to this place in the hills, and a steep trek up the stone paved walkway to the landmark left me wondering if this trip would have been better if made on a day when the sun was shining, rather than the rain blowing sideways into my face wrapped with a wool scarf. But despite the rain, I found it quite amazing just to be there. Yes, it was cold up there, but our discovery at the top of the mountain was well worth the walk and the rain. The view was beautiful. We could see the Dead Sea in the distance, and I imagined what Moses might have seen and thought as he stood atop that mountain surveying the place that God had led him along with the Israelites. How sad that he was never able to enter in.



   At the top of Mount Nebo is a church erected as a memorial to Moses. With beautiful stained glass windows, this limestone structure looked like an ancient ruin with some missing stone bricks and weather worn walkways. But the primary feature of this church was the colorful mosaic floor, the claim to fame of the local area called Madaba. Thousands upon thousands of tiny inlayed tiles formed the intricate designs that told the story of what was important to the people of the time - their history, their faith and their future.



From there we moved on through the town of Madaba and stopped at a mosaic institute to watch a demonstration of how the beautiful mosaics are made. This place hires disabled individuals, who are trained to cut, color and delicately place the tiny pieces of stone tile into hand drawn artistic designs to form wall tiles, table tops, vases, furniture, mats, flooring and other items. I was amazed at how intricate the process is; to cut and place each little tile perfectly in place. They used tools similar to those used to make jewelry, and they affixed the tiles with a special tile glue. The finished products are then sold in the accompanying store and shipped all over the world to be enjoyed by all.



After watching all of that beautiful mosaic tile work, we were hungry. Well, not really, but the tour guide said it was time to eat, so we did. We stopped at a quaint little restaurant in Madaba. I was surprised that it was open on Christmas day, but glad it was because the food was delicious. Traditional Jordanian food featured a buffet with dishes that included lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, lentils, a few spicy dishes, of course rice and lamb, chicken and fish. The place was decorated for Christmas, although the decorations were a far cry from the elaborate décor one would find in America.



From there we headed south to our next destination, the city of Petra. The trip to Petra took about three more hours, and of course we were ready for a nap after such a delicious meal. And after a brief nap on the bus we awoke to the sight of snow in them there hills, and our faces brightened at the thought of a white Christmas. But we were just fine admiring the snow from the warmth of our bus because we knew it was really, really cold out there.



During the ride, our tour guide, Anas (Ann iss) was pleased to share stories about his country, and that was fine, because Michael and I came here to learn, and we figured we might as well learn from a local than by reading it in a book or on the Internet. One of the most interesting facts Anas shared was that we were traveling a road known as "The King's Highway". This road dates back some 3,000 years and served as a major transportation route for traders throughout the Middle East, particularly between Egypt and Saudi Arabia from west to east, and Greece and Rome into Jordan. Anas spoke in detail about the commerce that transited this road, mentioning that caravans of diverse peoples moved spices, textiles, livestock, gold, silver and many other valuable items between countries.



Finally, we arrived at the Marriott Hotel in Petra - probably the most beautiful place we have stayed while on this trip. Set atop a hill overlooking a valley which hides the lost city of Petra, the hotel is decorated in a Southwestern style, with marble floors, woven wool rugs, huge glass windows, overstuffed furniture in the lobby, and gold trimmed counters. And our room was great. Perfect for a good nights sleep after a long day of sightseeing.
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